Luke Tapscott, the forgotten man.

[jnrmac 19,914]

Not sure if I've seen a player get concussed (or at least seeing a few stars) as much as Tapscott.

Suggest you review Rohan Bails early career and Daniel Bell.

[Ted Lasso 18,862]

I reckon there was an opening for Tapscott but Nev has grabbed that role with both hands, the tough back pocket stopper.

[dazzledavey36 53,034]

His problem is that he's not a great runner. Has footy skills, toughness etc, but if you can't run in the modern game then you're stuffed. He needs to get his running up to AFL standard.

Neville Jetta and Cam Pedersen aren't gut runners.

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Neville Jetta and Cam Pedersen aren't gut runners.

Pedersen not a gut runner???? Have you watched agame this year. His workrate is right up there not sure his skill are in the same category.

[Axis of Bob 11,270]

Neville Jetta and Cam Pedersen aren't gut runners.

Pedersen was, for most of his career, an undersized ruckman where he used his running to play as an extra midfielder.

Also, that was one of the main thing that caused Jetta to be delisted. He was rookied and did a really good preseason. This allowed him to play AFL, although it's in a role that requires very little running.

[John Crow Batty 8,805]

Bit of an odd comparison between Jetta and Tapscott. Jetta is like a limpet and usually in the right place most of the time and actually plays the ball. Tapscott was always far too loose. Rarely manned up. Too often it looked like he wanted to hang off opponents so he could come in with a cheap shot at the last moment rather than attack the ball.

Edited July 10, 2014 by america de cali

[DeeSpencer 24,822]

Bit of an odd comparison between Jetta and Tapscott. Jetta is like a limpet and usually in the right place most of the time and actually plays the ball. Tapscott was always far too loose. Rarely manned up. Too often it looked like he wanted to hang off opponents so he could come in with a cheap shot at the last moment rather than attack the ball.

I think it's more because they are both good tacklers and pretty hard at it. If you taught Tapscott to defend closely then he'd have the toughness for is probably the point. But I've never seen him used in that role and with Jetta doing well I wouldn't really bother training him for it.

His one year he did play half back he was pretty loose checking but it was also his first year of AFL and he was meant to be providing some attack as well. I think that was 2011. Then Neeld came and he was switched back to being a forward and patches of some good play were all he showed. Too slow, not fit enough, not as great overhead as imagined and even more worrying for a guy who was meant to be a great kick he torched the footy.

I thought he'd make the defensive forward position his but he doesn't seem to have the tank or application to do so. Who knows maybe this year will be different.

[beelzebub 23,206]

I cant help but think that come seasons end Tappy will hear a voice:

"Use the doors Luke !! "

[Don24 103]

Neville Jetta and Cam Pedersen aren't gut runners.

Pedo is a great runner for his size.

Jetta has said himself that he was told he needed to get fitter this past summer to cover ground better or his career was over. So clearly he has improved in this area which is why he is finally a regular in seniors

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

'forgotten' as in, 'trying to forget'

pick 18 in his fifth season, grand total of zero good games for the club

another melbourne drafting success story

[Whispering_Jack 29,290]

No, it's not the last place. The last place is as a high half forward and you'll find the GPS results of players supports this.

At least that's the situation at Melbourne, I don't know about other clubs.

Point taken. Probably explains the productivity of our high half forward flankers this season

Perhaps someone could explain why is it so?

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Literally came in with a BANG with his hit on shaw, and has been nothing but underwhelming since then.
Really had hopes for this kid but feel that Jetta has taken his back line role, and Dean Kent (who i absolutely adore) has taken the gritty Chapman like role we tagged Tappy with early on. Who knows, perhaps he is still a chance?

[Beats 190]

Unfortunate, but he looks like it'll be a case of poor (inept) player management ruining his career.

Watching him through juniors he played the lead up half forward/ part time mid role well. He'd find the ball in a bit of space 60-80 out and bomb it long to the top of the square/ for a goal, his clearance work was pretty good then as well - did it similar to Moloney, grab it and bomb it 55m+ forwards. However, I don't think he transitioned to AFL in the manner he should've.

Upon joining the AFL, despite having an AFL grade body, he managed to put on more muscle - he should've been reigned in and done nothing but running. He doesn't have the speed or tricks to get in to the same sort of space he had in juniors, which in turn affects his kicking as he doesn't have the time to look long.

To me the rumours of 'Bailey letting the players do what they want' make me think of Tapscott (along with Moloney and Sylvia). Spent too much time in the gym improving his bod for the beach, rather than doing the hard yards running.

[Watts Jurrah Dunn? 735]

I also struggle to understand why we play the blokes that can kick (Tapscott, Blease, Kent, Salem) as undersized and not exceptionally quick half forwards, which I think is one of the hardest roles on the ground, and rely on blokes that can't kick to bring the ball out of defence.

What is the point in having Tapscott, Blease, Kent and Salem leading to Grimes, Frawley, McDonald and Terlich?

Tapscott and Blease's best games for the club were down back where they could get some cheaper possies and break a line with a bounce or a 60m kick.

I was also rapt when we drafted Tapscott but clearly he's a ball of muscle and power athlete and is a bit of a victim of the way the game has changed. I don't think he would run the 15 beep test you need to be able to run now as a 5 ft 10" half forward flanker.

[chook fowler 19,279]

Tappy playslike a muscle bound battering ram. Unfortunately has no agility with poor lateral movement and no subtlety to his game. A little like Beamer I think.

[old dee 23,506]

I live for the day he plays as many good games as Beamer played !

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Tappy playslike a muscle bound battering ram. Unfortunately has no agility with poor lateral movement and no subtlety to his game. A little like Beamer I think.

Not a bad comparison really, although Tapscott is better overhead and can play forward and back, but he could never find the footy like Beamer could.

[Don24 103]

Unfortunate, but he looks like it'll be a case of poor (inept) player management ruining his career.

Watching him through juniors he played the lead up half forward/ part time mid role well. He'd find the ball in a bit of space 60-80 out and bomb it long to the top of the square/ for a goal, his clearance work was pretty good then as well - did it similar to Moloney, grab it and bomb it 55m+ forwards. However, I don't think he transitioned to AFL in the manner he should've.

Upon joining the AFL, despite having an AFL grade body, he managed to put on more muscle - he should've been reigned in and done nothing but running. He doesn't have the speed or tricks to get in to the same sort of space he had in juniors, which in turn affects his kicking as he doesn't have the time to look long.

To me the rumours of 'Bailey letting the players do what they want' make me think of Tapscott (along with Moloney and Sylvia). Spent too much time in the gym improving his bod for the beach, rather than doing the hard yards running.

Get your facts right, his first 2 pre seasons were ruined by hip surgery, how are you suppose to do nothing but running when you cant run?

[Beats 190]

Get your facts right, his first 2 pre seasons were ruined by hip surgery, how are you suppose to do nothing but running when you cant run?

My facts weren't wrong as nothing was quoted as fact, purely opinion, lose the sanctimonious attitude and read the comment properly.

I said that he put on mass which IMO wasn't needed.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,664]

Pedo is a great runner for his size.

Jetta has said himself that he was told he needed to get fitter this past summer to cover ground better or his career was over. So clearly he has improved in this area which is why he is finally a regular in seniors

It was reported that Neeld was surprised to find out how relatively unfit the squad was when he took over. Now after a further two years where fitness seemed to be a priority, Jetta says he wasn't fit enough. Just how unfit were we?

[beelzebub 23,206]

It was reported that Neeld was surprised to find out how relatively unfit the squad was when he took over. Now after a further two years where fitness seemed to be a priority, Jetta says he wasn't fit enough. Just how unfit were we?

Pretty F......d !!!

[Roger Mellie 3,887]

Suggest you review Rohan Bails early career and Daniel Bell.

Talking about frequency over severity and yes Bail has had both.

Back to the context, IMO (and one more time IMO) Tapscott has had a lot of knocks

[jnrmac 19,914]

Pedersen was, for most of his career, an undersized ruckman where he used his running to play as an extra midfielder.

Also, that was one of the main thing that caused Jetta to be delisted. He was rookied and did a really good preseason. This allowed him to play AFL, although it's in a role that requires very little running.

I think your definition of very little is a bit misguided. Maybe relative to NJones but he does a lot of kms out there....

[spirit of norm smith 15,349]

Must play this week and at least 3 more games.

Give Luke the 4 matches to show his ability.

Its now time to show what he can do ... or the trade table awaits

[titan_uranus 24,790]

IMO his biggest problem has been his running - too slow, and (consequently or otherwise) not enough of it (e.g. defensively).

Gets his chance this week to show he's worked on that.