Strauss, Blease, Tapscott: End of an era

[bing181 8,355]

With Tappy not being re-rookied, thought this trio needed a farewell thread. They're somehow emblematic of our past 5+ years, and encompass the ups and downs ... mainly downs ... we've experienced along the way.

Unfair to lump it all on them, or even to lump any of it on them, but through the Bailey and Neeld sackings, the Tanking, 186 and strings of horrible horrible defeats, they were the ever-present three, somehow rubbing our faces in how our drafting and/or development hadn't worked, how bleak our future looked, and how we'd become the laughing-stock of the competition.

With their departure, it feels like a chapter of Demons history closes, the chapter that covers all the above, but equally takes us through the untimely deaths of Jimmy, Dean Bailey, Sean Wright and Robbie, as well as the Icarus-like fall of Liam Jurrah ... (to select just a few of our lowlights).

Perhaps now, more than ever, we can move forward.

Thanks for the memories guys. Amongst it all, there was the odd moment.

Hope you have better luck at your next clubs.

[Wormburner 674]

I think your thread title says it all 'End of an era'.

It's time to move on, please!

[Lucifers Hero 37,505]

The 'perfect storm' that Roos referred to yesterday has passed. But there is a way to go to say the storm clouds have entirely gone and that era has ended as there are still 14 players that were on our list for the '186' game and thru the Neeld years. Another 9 players have been coached by Neeld. 23 players who carry some scars from that 'perfect storm' who never learnt how to win. Still some healing to be done.

One more year, of list changes, before the end of that era but its end is nigh. Nonetheless wish Strauss, Blease, and Tappy the best for their careers. It was not their fault to be caught up in that 'perfect storm'.

[chook fowler 18,555]

Better titled " end of a nightmare"

[poita 3,734]

Tapscott and Strauss were both poor selections, who were never going to make it in any circumstances. I would love to visit the parallel universe where Blease was taken by Hawthorn at pick 16 and see how his career panned out. Nevertheless, it does feel like the end of an era and hopefully the next crop do a better job.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The sad part for me is that all three can actually kick a ball which is what we desperately need, it's just all other aspects that they struggled with. However, it must be said all three had a fairly horror run of inuries for a while.

[Don24 103]

Tapscott and Strauss were both poor selections, who were never going to make it in any circumstances. I would love to visit the parallel universe where Blease was taken by Hawthorn at pick 16 and see how his career panned out. Nevertheless, it does feel like the end of an era and hopefully the next crop do a better job.

This is a silly comment, both were regarded highly, particularly tappscott who had a great U18 career, his body just wouldnt let him build an AFL level tank. Strauss was probably a poor selection but even he showed promise in the senior team prior to leg injury.

I still think Tappy has talent to make it, hopefully casey snap him up and he can get his body right.

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

I feel sorry for all three. They were all poorly developed, I feel all could have made it in the right environment with the right development. Our club is somewhat to blame for their failure. For the record Strauss and Blease were fair picks, both went at about the level that most recruiters ranked them. Tappy went a little earlier than most rated, clearly that Neeld was seduced by the big body.

[Uncle Fester 2,841]

Tappy went a little earlier than most rated, clearly that Neeld was seduced by the big body.

Bailey.

[Ethan Tremblay 28,776]

Better titled " end of a nightmare"

Or 'end of an error'

[Sir Why You Little 35,318]

I think Strauss would have been a good player if he hadn't broken his leg.

He was playing well that day.

It was a bad break....

[dazzledavey36 49,736]

The sad part for me is that all three can actually kick a ball which is what we desperately need, it's just all other aspects that they struggled with. However, it must be said all three had a fairly horror run of inuries for a while.

Blease is a shocking kick. His supposedly good kicking skills is overated.

On par with Daniel Nicholson possibly even worse.

[drdrake 3,059]

I feel sorry for all three. They were all poorly developed, I feel all could have made it in the right environment with the right development. Our club is somewhat to blame for their failure. For the record Strauss and Blease were fair picks, both went at about the level that most recruiters ranked them. Tappy went a little earlier than most rated, clearly that Neeld was seduced by the big body.

Garbage, Blease was lazy plain and simple. I remember watching preseason our two young midfield stars Gysberts and Blease the last pair in the running and battling, you can go back through training reports would have been Gysberts 2nd or 3rd year and Bleases 3rd or 4th, a number of us expressed concern back then about these two, nothing to do with development it was them doing what they needed to do to get better, basic fitness. Bailey and co put up with is, Neeld didn't and Roos didn't, be interesting how Blease goes at another club, my money is like Gysberts he will be out of the AFL in a couple of years.

Strauss and Tappy unfortunately just couldn't stay healthy. You need some luck with your body and these two got none. Strauss I still think could have been a decent AFL player, Tappy to me was extremely limited, couldn't run through the midfield to slow for that forward pocket role, to small for a hit up HFF, looked OK as a small defender but his pace would have been exposed so even if fit I don't know where he would fit.

[El Gordo 13]

All limited in one respect or other.

Biggest problem for all three was that they just didn't or couldn't get enough of the footy!

[Bang Bang Bang 5,594]

I feel sorry for all three. They were all poorly developed, I feel all could have made it in the right environment with the right development. Our club is somewhat to blame for their failure. For the record Strauss and Blease were fair picks, both went at about the level that most recruiters ranked them. Tappy went a little earlier than most rated, clearly that Neeld was seduced by the big body.

Not sure about that. Strauss was considered a reach at 19 (was expected to go in the 30s). Tapscott was in the first round of most media (and BigFooty) phantom drafts, and was considered a steal if anything.

I'm not sure where the 'real' recruiters rated them, but not many people do.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

The sad part for me is that all three can actually kick a ball which is what we desperately need, it's just all other aspects that they struggled with. However, it must be said all three had a fairly horror run of inuries for a while.

Not true. I remember a commentator once saying that Blease was quite fast.

[Qwerty30 196]

The sad part for me is that all three can actually kick a ball which is what we desperately need, it's just all other aspects that they struggled with. However, it must be said all three had a fairly horror run of inuries for a while.

I think we needed the other facets more and that's why there gone.

[The Reverend 1,718]

They're gone. Let's wish them well and move on. There are bright things to look forward to in the next couple of years.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Why do we feel sorry for these guys?

At the end of the day they got paid a shet load and did nothing.

At lest they got the opportunity to be on an AFL list and play the game we all love at its highest level.

[w00dy 146]

I think Strauss was the only one that we could have handled better. We drafted a wingman with an elite kick, so we tried to turn him into a defender, which he clearly never was. I was disappointed we didn't just try and let him be a midfielder at any stage.

Blease was never fit enough after how many years on the list? Posters are right, talented but lazy. And Tappy just never quite got it all together unfortunately.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Tappy was hardly a controversial selection at pick 18 in his draft. Some had him going higher than that.

Strauss was a shocking pick at 19 in his draft, and Blease picked just before Shuey in the same draft - well, that was a disaster.

And not to forget Gysberts at pick 11. Bennell over Sloane, and Jurrah over Rockcliff.

We could've set up our list quite nicely if we didn't stuff up our picks in 2008 and 2009 so badly.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Tappy was hardly a controversial selection at pick 18 in his draft. Some had him going higher than that.

Strauss was a shocking pick at 19 in his draft, and Blease picked just before Shuey in the same draft - well, that was a disaster.

And not to forget Gysberts at pick 11. Bennell over Sloane, and Jurrah over Rockcliff.

We could've set up our list quite nicely if we didn't stuff up our picks in 2008 and 2009 so badly.

If Jurrah over Rockliff was a first round selection I'd agree, however we could have taken him with any pick that draft.

Jurrah is one of the most talented players I've ever seen and despite all that's happened I don't begrudge the club for drafting him.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Rockcliff would've delivered more value to the club.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,021]

Still two or three to join them. Hopefully the days of delisting a qtr of your list every year are gone.

Edited December 7, 2014 by Al's Demons

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Rockcliff would've delivered more value to the club.

But we could have taken him instead of any player in the draft, not just Jurrah.