No doubt there are other threads about him, but thought this bloke deserved an updated one.

Roos always had that ability to find a player from another team, bring them in to his environment, then watch them get to levels that many didn't think would be possible.  I know we got sucked in to that sort of thing when we picked up the likes on Michie and Newton (no disrespect to either of those blokes).  Vince has always been a quality player, but has probably been more consistent than anything else.

The one that I think has the ability to develop in to something else is Tom Bugg.  For some weird reasons that I won't go in to in this forum, I've watched Bugg a lot since his debut at GWS.  At the start of this year I was stoked that he was now playing for us, so that I didn't have to watch GWS games.  Not once did I think that he could become an outstanding player, but this view is fast changing.

What I will throw out there for discussion, and I'm happy for people to shoot it down, but by geez he reminds me of a young Brett Kirk.  Kirk turned out to be one of Roos' great leaders, so I'm not sure where Tom sits with his leadership ability, but he just looks to me like the kind of guy that is one of the first picked each week because of the roles he can play, is happy to play, his unselfishness allows him to play.

Welcome to the Melbourne Football Club, Tommy, I think you will enjoy your time with us, not nearly as much as we're enjoying it though!

 

Always said he will be the Nick Smith of Melbourne. Any job you give him he will get it done with no fuss and no media attention.

A seriously underrated playee is Bugg.

Without wanting to be too negative about a player who played well in a good win, Bugg is such an unclean user of the ball at times that I find him hard to love as a player.

That said, he'll remain in the side so long as he continues to play the way he has this year; with strength and toughness. I think being a Kirk like leader is too high an expectation; if we want to compare to mid 2000s premiership players, reliable foot soldiers like Paul Bevan or Rowan Jones are probably a closer match.

Edit: I obviously haven't watched him as much as you though Billy. I've got to admit I'd never paid any attention to him before we picked him up and I was surprised to see how many games he already had up his sleeve. He can obviously play.

  On 14/06/2016 at 02:50, Nasher said:

Without wanting to be too negative about a player who played well in a good win, Bugg is such an unclean user of the ball at times that I find him hard to love as a player.

That said, he'll remain in the side so long as he continues to play the way he has this year; with strength and toughness. I think being a Kirk like leader is too high an expectation; if we want to compare to mid 2000s premiership players, reliable foot soldiers like Paul Bevan or Rowan Jones are probably a closer match.

Averages at just under 75% disposal efficiency in his 77 games to date.

Did acknowledge that I have no knowledge of his leadership abilities, and to be honest, I'm not asking him to be a leader like Kirk, just think their playing style is very, very similar.

His name is pencilled into the starting lineup without a second thought.

Great pick up.

  On 14/06/2016 at 02:50, Nasher said:

Without wanting to be too negative about a player who played well in a good win, Bugg is such an unclean user of the ball at times that I find him hard to love as a player.

I agree, he's the type of player that we can afford to carry one of, but any more and we are in trouble.

Beneath the rough exterior is a quality footballer. There are some levels to this kid Bugg. He is a real player. Massive pick up by Roos & co.

  On 14/06/2016 at 02:39, billy2803 said:

.  For some weird reasons that I won't go in to in this forum, I've watched Bugg a lot since his debut at GWS. 

Cheers. Now I can't concentrate on work . . .

  On 14/06/2016 at 02:39, billy2803 said:

No doubt there are other threads about him, but thought this bloke deserved an updated one.

Roos always had that ability to find a player from another team, bring them in to his environment, then watch them get to levels that many didn't think would be possible.  I know we got sucked in to that sort of thing when we picked up the likes on Michie and Newton (no disrespect to either of those blokes).  Vince has always been a quality player, but has probably been more consistent than anything else.

The one that I think has the ability to develop in to something else is Tom Bugg.  For some weird reasons that I won't go in to in this forum, I've watched Bugg a lot since his debut at GWS.  At the start of this year I was stoked that he was now playing for us, so that I didn't have to watch GWS games.  Not once did I think that he could become an outstanding player, but this view is fast changing.

What I will throw out there for discussion, and I'm happy for people to shoot it down, but by geez he reminds me of a young Brett Kirk.  Kirk turned out to be one of Roos' great leaders, so I'm not sure where Tom sits with his leadership ability, but he just looks to me like the kind of guy that is one of the first picked each week because of the roles he can play, is happy to play, his unselfishness allows him to play.

Welcome to the Melbourne Football Club, Tommy, I think you will enjoy your time with us, not nearly as much as we're enjoying it though!

 

Bugg is doing a great job, but please tell me more, I'm very intrigued.

  On 14/06/2016 at 04:04, Skuit said:

Cheers. Now I can't concentrate on work . . .

 

  On 14/06/2016 at 04:05, Django said:

Bugg is doing a great job, but please tell me more, I'm very intrigued.

Going to be a let down - when my wife and I were expecting our first child, we nicknamed the foetus "The (Love) Bug".  Just after that Tomas debuted, so he sparked our interest and ended up in Dream Team's, etc.

Sorry it wasn't any better than that...!

  On 14/06/2016 at 04:10, billy2803 said:

 

When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we nicknamed the foetus "The (Love) Bug". 

Cheers. Now can't concentrate at work . . .

I like that he's a pest. You've got to have one or two players that opposition fans hate. 

Was keen to get him and he hasn't let me down.

Okay, there was that kick to Stretch at the death against North, but other than that, he hasn't let me down.

Yeah alright, that shove on an injured Riewoldt wasn't a great look. But he apologised. Other than that, he hasn't let me down.

  On 14/06/2016 at 06:00, Ricky P said:

I like that he's a pest. You've got to have one or two players that opposition fans hate. 

Let alone the opposition players.

My father used to tell me when you get the opposition want to fight you then you know you are on the way to beating them.

I see him as one of those who sort of slip under the radar.  A lot of hard inside work and not a lot of flash or flair.  Just gets the job done.  Won't be a champion but a cog in the wheel.

 

  On 14/06/2016 at 06:00, Ricky P said:

I like that he's a pest. You've got to have one or two players that opposition fans hate. 

Thats going to be Bugg, Viney and CP5 they have the attitude and/or skills to drive any supporter mad

  On 14/06/2016 at 02:50, Nasher said:

Without wanting to be too negative about a player who played well in a good win, Bugg is such an unclean user of the ball at times that I find him hard to love as a player.

That said, he'll remain in the side so long as he continues to play the way he has this year; with strength and toughness. I think being a Kirk like leader is too high an expectation; if we want to compare to mid 2000s premiership players, reliable foot soldiers like Paul Bevan or Rowan Jones are probably a closer match.

Edit: I obviously haven't watched him as much as you though Billy. I've got to admit I'd never paid any attention to him before we picked him up and I was surprised to see how many games he already had up his sleeve. He can obviously play.

I love what he has brought so far. However with the likes of Brayshaw, Salem, ANB, Harmes and Melksham (debatable value but goody loves him) all not playing for various reasons. The likelyhood that we will get another talented midfielder or 2 in at the end of the year one way or another. Just makes me wonder where Bugg will fit 2017 and beyond

  On 14/06/2016 at 06:27, ArtificialWisdom said:

I love what he has brought so far. However with the likes of Brayshaw, Salem, ANB, Harmes and Melksham (debatable value but goody loves him) all not playing for various reasons. The likelyhood that we will get another talented midfielder or 2 in at the end of the year one way or another. Just makes me wonder where Bugg will fit 2017 and beyond

He brings other qualities to the table with his genuine aggression and ability as a tagger. You need role players as well as stars.

I also think he will get better with age. He's a long way from hitting his peak.

  On 14/06/2016 at 06:35, P-man said:

He brings other qualities to the table with his genuine aggression and ability as a tagger. You need role players as well as stars.

I also think he will get better with age. He's a long way from hitting his peak.

Yeah that is true. Hopefully he will get there but with Jones, Viney, Vince to a lesser extent Tyson. We have the in and under types who are capable of aggression and even vince does well tagging. Kent and Harmes are both pests. Bugg is both a pest and aggressive which is good but he will need to bring some pure skill to hold his spot when there are players who have aggression and the skill to back it up.  I dont mean this as a criticism of bugg he has been fantastic i mean it more as a compliment to the rest of the list. Its in good shape and role players will always be struggling to keep their spot. Brayshaw and Salem in particular are going to be very hard to keep out of the team once they are fit.

I have to admit to not being a fan. The strutting, the ridiculous hair do, the push on Riewoldt all had me grimacing every time he was in the play. But I can now definitely see his place in our 22 and I reckon Roos loves his attitude. His work on Frontbum on the weekend was first rate, and his team play is far better than many other "better" footballers in our team. 

  On 14/06/2016 at 09:06, Maldonboy38 said:

I have to admit to not being a fan. The strutting, the ridiculous hair do, the push on Riewoldt all had me grimacing every time he was in the play.

This is exactly why I am a fan. That and the showboating against Richmond. Young Tomas has a fair bit of [censored] in him - I love it.

How can any Demon supporter not love Buggy?  Wow.  He snuck a coaches vote this week btw

 

Melbourne v Collingwood
9 Max Gawn (Melb)
9 Bernie Vince (Melb)
6 Nathan Jones (Melb)
3 Tom McDonald (Melb)
2 Dean Kent (Melb)
1 Tomas Bugg (Melb)

Tommy Bugg... a footballers footballer. Give him a job and he will deliver. All sides need the blue collar mid who gets in and dirty when needed.

Big job coming up this week on Hannebery.

I thought Bugg was going to be a fringe player after watching the NAB challenge. He was ok in the port and doggies games then showed a bit against the saints. I didn't invest too much hope given it was pre season.

Bugg has worked hard on his game and is now a lock in our best team. Loving his footy right now.

Was helping out with Caulfield Grammars footy teama few years back and their captain was one Tom Bugg. Could seriously play that kid. One of the best junior footballers I have seen close up. Had a good few chats with him about his future then was super keen to get to the Dee's (apparently we showed some strong interest then but he was a pre-selection for GWS and took the offer to avoid the draft - can't blame him for that) son think it was in the cards to get here a long time ago. Really happy to see him start making a good fist of it now, although thought he'd be a skillful flanker as opposed to a hard nosed pest at this level!