The Importance of this guy is huge in our side with out a doubt. After last night and both the Freo and Geelong games it is clear that his calmness and leadership when the opposition comes hard is bigger than we think. Not insinuating that no Lewis no Melbourne or Lewis the messiah, but his leadership under pressure and when other teams press hard is going to be vital for The Hunts, Olivers and Petraccas and their careers. The best part is Lewis doesn't need 30 possessions a week just his expertise and footy professionalism at the contest is super for our club. Can't wait for his return.

On a side note Michael Hibberd was a sight for sore eyes last night brilliance kicking out of defence was mouth watering.

 

The injuries this season have made me sad.

The suspension have made me furious.

 

Hogan played like a guy who hadn't touched the ball in three weeks and when he tried to handle it in the wet, you could see the time out had effected him.  While we talk about injuries effecting matches, the absence of Lewis, in tight finishes such as round four and last night, has been very telling.  We traded him in for those exact circumstances.  He will be a big inclusion and he owes us big-time.

 

And yes, Hibberd was well worth the wait!  GUN. 

Can't help injuries.

Can help suspension.

Hard to judge importance when the guy got himself suspended.

And here I was at trade time thinking he was the smart leader we needed....

13 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Can't help injuries.

Can help suspension.

Hard to judge importance when the guy got himself suspended.

And here I was at trade time thinking he was the smart leader we needed....

Given his suspension wasn't smart for the side, his experience and leadership when games are in the balance and there to be won is huge. He was one of the guys that stood up for us in Rnd 2 when Carlton were pressing. 

 

No doubt at all we start the season 5-0 with both Lewis and Hogan playing, even with Gawn out. They both play such important roles and they were important cogs removed suddenly from a team that was playing good team footy.

Edited April 25, 20178 yr by praha

Footy gods against us re injuries....

Dumbness by Lewis & Hogan...

Tigers getting exited who struggled to beat a side on one leg!

Lewis has been given 3 years at big money. He probably has 1 year of good footy left, 1 of ok footy, and then 1 at Casey. Obviously, we had to do it, but missing him now in 3 close, winnable losses has almost made this acquisition a failure before it has even started. We recruited him for matches like these past 3 and now our season is slipping down the drain.

I hope Goodwin isn't always as friendly as he is in his post match pressers and has told Jordan how much he owes this club. The honeymoon is over.

22 minutes ago, Watts Jurrah Dunn? said:

Lewis has been given 3 years at big money. He probably has 1 year of good footy left, 1 of ok footy, and then 1 at Casey.

Lewis will play zero games at Casey.  Will retire still a regular player in the MFC side.  

51 minutes ago, Watts Jurrah Dunn? said:

Lewis has been given 3 years at big money. He probably has 1 year of good footy left, 1 of ok footy, and then 1 at Casey. Obviously, we had to do it, but missing him now in 3 close, winnable losses has almost made this acquisition a failure before it has even started. We recruited him for matches like these past 3 and now our season is slipping down the drain.

I hope Goodwin isn't always as friendly as he is in his post match pressers and has told Jordan how much he owes this club. The honeymoon is over.

If we get half a year of OK footy, that is more than I predicted.  The game has passed him by.  No pace.  No tricks forward as a superannuation.  His suspension against Carlton overshadowed numerous losing of the feet.

 

Can't believe that a majority of our supporters hailed this decision to give a 3 year deal to him.

 

Mitchell and Lewis had great years last year, but Hawthorn got pulverised in contested ball and clearances.

 

Leadership experience whatever.  Bulldogs didn't really need it last year.  Small sample size yes, but they didn't need it.

 

 

I agree that his leadership has been sorely missed.

i know it was a meaningless JLT game against the Dogs, but in the dying minutes he knew exactly where to position himself in defensive 50 and took a couple of match saving marks. It was a terrific simulation for the season proper.

I'm almost certain we would not have conceded that last goal vs Freo if he was hanging around the back line.

On a side note, Geez he must have given Cripps a decent whack to the jaw. How many game has Cripps missed as a result of his "broken jaw" - according to the CFC doc.

Edited April 25, 20178 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

This is a very good topic for many reasons, however the most important question needs to asked.

Nathan Jones has been our Captain for a number of years, yet we are now rudderless unless Lewis is in the team to lead.  Where does this leaves Jones, and the rest of the leadership group?  I will tell you.....Jones has been a warrior in a sustained period  of club disaster on field, and Jones in my opinion has proven to be a poor leader during periods when we needed composure to win  games.

If the club cannot win without Lewis's leadership - then the club is in strife. I love Jonesy as a player, but it's time others stepped up onfield to lead, otherwise we are stuffed.  Lewis brings success, leadership and experience, but WTF are others doing?

Jones and Viney need to step up and lead by example.  Not just rely on Lewis to do it all.

I agree Soidee but I think there are a few others like McDonald and Jetta who could show better maturity and leadership as well.

I wouldn't heap all the blame on Jones. He just looked stuffed in that last qtr last night.

I hope the club isn't in strife if we don't have Lewis playing. Also he's only played two games. He was great in one and ok in the other. Not sure if he alone is the answer to our leadership problems.

23 minutes ago, Soidee said:

This is a very good topic for many reasons, however the most important question needs to asked.

Nathan Jones has been our Captain for a number of years, yet we are now rudderless unless Lewis is in the team to lead.  Where does this leaves Jones, and the rest of the leadership group?  I will tell you.....Jones has been a warrior in a sustained period  of club disaster on field, and Jones in my opinion has proven to be a poor leader during periods when we needed composure to win  games.

If the club cannot win without Lewis's leadership - then the club is in strife. I love Jonesy as a player, but it's time others stepped up onfield to lead, otherwise we are stuffed.  Lewis brings success, leadership and experience, but WTF are others doing?

Jones and Viney need to step up and lead by example.  Not just rely on Lewis to do it all.

We've lacked leadership for many years. Jones has been our best leader over the last 5-6 years, but many others should have stood up. Dunn wasn't a leader. Don't think Dawes was, but he wasn't on the park enough to lead. Vince a leader, no. Watts, no. TMac, no. 

ATM Lewis is the best we have.

I've banged on in other threads about our opponent's leaders the last two weeks and how they inspired their team to get over the line. Fyfe, Sandy, Cotch, Martin, Riewoldt.

so who are our future leaders that will make a difference? Oliver? Stretch? Salem?

55 minutes ago, Soidee said:

This is a very good topic for many reasons, however the most important question needs to asked.

Nathan Jones has been our Captain for a number of years, yet we are now rudderless unless Lewis is in the team to lead.  Where does this leaves Jones, and the rest of the leadership group?  I will tell you.....Jones has been a warrior in a sustained period  of club disaster on field, and Jones in my opinion has proven to be a poor leader during periods when we needed composure to win  games.

If the club cannot win without Lewis's leadership - then the club is in strife. I love Jonesy as a player, but it's time others stepped up onfield to lead, otherwise we are stuffed.  Lewis brings success, leadership and experience, but WTF are others doing?

Jones and Viney need to step up and lead by example.  Not just rely on Lewis to do it all.

Jones and Viney lead by effort and ethic but they are not smart footballers and struggle to see the game unfold and then demand when and where their team meats should position or what to adjust on field when under pressure. Listen to Hodges commentary in our last quarter he could basically read what we were doing wrong immediately at the stoppages and what we needed to do. That is the type of leadership that Lewis brings and we need. 

27 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

We've lacked leadership for many years. Jones has been our best leader over the last 5-6 years, but many others should have stood up. Dunn wasn't a leader. Don't think Dawes was, but he wasn't on the park enough to lead. Vince a leader, no. Watts, no. TMac, no. 

ATM Lewis is the best we have.

I've banged on in other threads about our opponent's leaders the last two weeks and how they inspired their team to get over the line. Fyfe, Sandy, Cotch, Martin, Riewoldt.

so who are our future leaders that will make a difference? Oliver? Stretch? Salem?

Yes we need players who will stand up in the dying minutes to inspire us to win.  Where are they?  Our backline still looks totally unorganised and frightful when the heat is on. Hibberd was great, but again TMac seems to poo himself and find himself out of position at crucial times.  He is in the leadership group, about time he showed significant improvement in this area.

Our young guys are travelling well, it's the guys who have been around for a few years who let us down in leadership.

we just don't seem to have at this stage players who inspire and drag the group over the line. 

Actually losing Max was crucial not only for his ruck work, he is a good leader.

 

Edited April 25, 20178 yr by Soidee

Just as well Lewis comes back this week...

...

There's a punchline here...

...

...

He's our most experienced ruck.

Hitouts: Lewis, 444. Pederson, 196. Watts 137.

 

The thing I find he brings to the table most, is a win at all costs attitude. 

Not sure if it's inherent or acquired, but he knows what it takes. 

If for some god awful reason we are in a tight game on Sunday, I feel more confident with him in the side.

 

4 hours ago, Watts Jurrah Dunn? said:

Lewis has been given 3 years at big money. He probably has 1 year of good footy left, 1 of ok footy, and then 1 at Casey. Obviously, we had to do it, but missing him now in 3 close, winnable losses has almost made this acquisition a failure before it has even started. We recruited him for matches like these past 3 and now our season is slipping down the drain.

I hope Goodwin isn't always as friendly as he is in his post match pressers and has told Jordan how much he owes this club. The honeymoon is over.

I will wait to see how Lewis executes over the next 6 months. I am not sold he is as great a kick as we've been led to believe. So far he has been sloppy by foot. There is a big difference between executing on a training track, and doing so in a game. The fact that Lewis does hit most targets on a training track - yet can't in a game - suggests that it is above the shoulders. He was also quite wasteful at Hawthorn as well. Found a lot of the footy, but could have been more effective. I hope Lewis has been working hard in his time off to improve his execution. He needs to.

In an alt universe, Lewis didn't take out Cripps and Carlton beat us. We then win the following 3 games to redeem our fanbase after the digraceful Carlton effort.

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

Just as well Lewis comes back this week...

...

There's a punchline here...

...

...

He's our most experienced ruck.

Hitouts: Lewis, 444. Pederson, 196. Watts 137.

 

Did he do it as third man up around the ground, or some lone centre bounces ? Said this yesterday, but if our game plan is to blow teams out of the water, then we should have a defender to alternate in the ruck so that Watts stays forward. Or if Pedo and Hogan are forward, have Watts and Lewis in the midfield together but alternating ruck stoppages, similar to third man up, but not. So to clarify like, it would be 60or70% Pedo and 40or30% Watts/Lewis or some Frostiness.

Edited April 25, 20178 yr by DominatrixTyson

18 hours ago, deefella said:

The Importance of this guy is huge in our side with out a doubt. After last night and both the Freo and Geelong games it is clear that his calmness and leadership when the opposition comes hard is bigger than we think. Not insinuating that no Lewis no Melbourne or Lewis the messiah, but his leadership under pressure and when other teams press hard is going to be vital for The Hunts, Olivers and Petraccas and their careers. The best part is Lewis doesn't need 30 possessions a week just his expertise and footy professionalism at the contest is super for our club. Can't wait for his return.

On a side note Michael Hibberd was a sight for sore eyes last night brilliance kicking out of defence was mouth watering.

 

who are all these Hunts, Petraccas and Olivers? when footy people talk in plurals, to quote Teryy Wallace, if I hear it  "I'll  spew up"

Hibberd was good though

We would be 4-1 at a minimum if he played the last three weeks.

He takes so much pressure off the likes of Jones, Viney and Vince through his leadership.

With Hibberd in the team now this should release Vince back into the middle of the ground, preferably as a tagger who can get his own ball.

 

13 hours ago, Soidee said:

This is a very good topic for many reasons, however the most important question needs to asked.

Nathan Jones has been our Captain for a number of years, yet we are now rudderless unless Lewis is in the team to lead.  Where does this leaves Jones, and the rest of the leadership group?  I will tell you.....Jones has been a warrior in a sustained period  of club disaster on field, and Jones in my opinion has proven to be a poor leader during periods when we needed composure to win  games.

If the club cannot win without Lewis's leadership - then the club is in strife. I love Jonesy as a player, but it's time others stepped up onfield to lead, otherwise we are stuffed.  Lewis brings success, leadership and experience, but WTF are others doing?

Jones and Viney need to step up and lead by example.  Not just rely on Lewis to do it all.

Lewis brings on field 'footy smarts' the lack of has cost us dearly the last three weeks.  And his role is to pass on his experience to our young players.  So I am rapt we have him. 

Both our co-capts went into their 'leadership shells' while he wasn't playing.  And I didn't see signs of co-capts communicating very much on field in recent weeks when the game was on the line.  So we are very reliant on Lewis playing.

But what happens in a year or two when Lewis plays less and less?  It doesn't worry me that Jones lacks them if Viney had them.  Viney  is a champ and a bull and he will make better decisions with experience but I don't think 'footy smarts' can be taught.  

So who do we have with 'footy smarts' that can step up when Lewis stops playing.  For mine (no order):  Watts, Salem, Hunt and potentially Brayshaw. 

The most likely to step up I think is Hunt. 

• He made a brilliant, articulate and humble speech at our B & F - leader stamped all over him. 
• He is inspirational in how he plays and will lead from the front - fights to the last minute. 
• He has footy smarts and understands the state of play: last week in the last minutes asked Jones for a defensive structure at the stoppage but Jones decided to set up to go direct to goal.  Don't know if it would have changed the result but it was the right idea.
• He is a thinking player who makes no excuses  - have a read of this interview on our website.
• He desperately wants to win and won't settle for less.

Have I convinced anyone yet?  

So Lewis is an asset and when he stops playing I would be delighted to see Hunt become a Vice Cap then a Co Cap with Viney.  A formidable pair.  The yin and the yan. 

Edited April 26, 20178 yr by Lucifer's Hero

So far Lewis has played one very good game against St Kilda, one very average game against Carlton, and has spent the past three weekends scratching his arse. I can't see how you can judge his importance on that sample. I was thrilled with his recruitment, but he has let us down badly so far.

Im  less annoyed at Lewis than I am the MRP giving him 3 weeks for a love tap to a guy who played a week later.

Everyone's upset about the suspension. What Lewis brings to the club is much more than the on field stuff we expect. Picking Lewis up will be repaid multiple times over in forthcoming seasons.

What is much more important to the club now is to continue to play with the mindset we are now bringing to each game. It's no longer lambs to the slaughter each week like it was. Make no mistake about the fact that we are an entirely different group nowadays, and Lewis is the embodiment of the change in culture that will see us feared and revered in years to come.

Lewis is driven and he has even more reason now to spark the Dees to seldom seen levels