The last three games is exactly the reason why we brought him to Melbourne. To be in those positions and needing his guidance and leadership out there does make it infuriating that he got suspended. That said I feel both he and Hogan got hard done by by one week each. 

It's been interesting to hear his change in attitude on screen when speaking to Fox Footy. The immediate week he was mostly unapologetic, I think he sort went the line, "it's unfortunate but we move on". After Geelong he started to recognise he felt could've helped, and after Freo he definitely could feel his absence had hurt the team. 

We've missed him and all the teams we've lost to should be very thankful he wasn't out there because in at least one of those games I feel he would've made a difference. 

On 4/25/2017 at 8:21 PM, TGR said:

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.

 

 

 

2.5 more years of carrying this guy.....tick tock tick tock.

 

Loses his feet  more than any other player since Simon Eishold.

 

 

 

The experts and majority were wrong on this one.

 

 

 

 

pTGR

Was an absolute liability today. Slow, fumbly and indecisive.

Edited June 12, 20178 yr by dee-tox

Just now, dee-tox said:

Was an absolute liabilitytoday. Slow, fumbly and indecisive.

Give him a spell in the 2nd's. Dent his pride so he comes back breathing fire.

Still a quality player with plenty to contribute. In a team such as ours, you get exposed when you're out of form.  For the hawks he could be carried without the attention and scrutiny.

 

He needs to work harder, but he's quite a ways off being dropped.

1 hour ago, TGR said:

 

2.5 more years of carrying this guy.....tick tock tick tock.

 

Loses his feet  more than any other player since Simon Eishold.

 

 

 

The experts and majority were wrong on this one.

 

 

 

 

pTGR

Wonderful. Focus on a perceived negative after a great win. Lewis' leadership is invaluable. Hell be back. U have a sad life rono.

Just now, martin said:

Wonderful. Focus on a perceived negative after a great win. Lewis' leadership is invaluable. Hell be back. U have a sad life rono.

We weren't winning at half-time.

Just wondering who cut the corridor off in the second half.

You don't need to have the ball to have an impact 

5 minutes ago, TGR said:

We weren't winning at half-time.

So you'd given up. Nothing different. Always a chance in this one. Dominated second half but not on the board. Just admit Rono that you r glass is,and has always been, half empty. Sad individual.

He didn't seem as hard around contests today. I wonder if he is carrying something. 

Hard to know the impact of leadership as armchair viewers, as bad as he was today I think his cool head would have been very handy today when the game was in the balance.

We can revisit his form in a few rounds, today was just one to forget.

5 minutes ago, Adzman said:

He didn't seem as hard around contests today. I wonder if he is carrying something. 

Hard to know the impact of leadership as armchair viewers, as bad as he was today I think his cool head would have been very handy today when the game was in the balance.

We can revisit his form in a few rounds, today was just one to forget.

Forget it we hope. But enjoy 4 in a row with the team against the Wobbles we hope he does. It's always a team effort.

Make no mistake late in the final quarter when we were deep inside our defensive 50 under immense pressure he pit his head over the ball to draw high contact and stem the tide. Many of our other players would have panicked and kicked blindly

12 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Make no mistake late in the final quarter when we were deep inside our defensive 50 under immense pressure he pit his head over the ball to draw high contact and stem the tide. Many of our other players would have panicked and kicked blindly

Agree. Wasn't his best game but still contributed by steadying the ship.

smart player 

He was awful today, but he had a few as company

Just watched the replay. He was generally awful but stood tall in the final stanza to draw what they a "professional" free kick. 

Anyone saying he should go to the VFL has rocks in their head.

2 minutes ago, praha said:

Just watched the replay. He was generally awful but stood tall in the final stanza to draw what they a "professional" free kick. 

Anyone saying he should go to the VFL has rocks in their head.

Not saying he should go to VFL.  I am saying he should have retired at the end of last year.  Not blaming him.  Good luck to him.  If I was him, I would have signed the 3 year deal.

 

I am blaming the consensus of wisdom that is SEN, a majority here, and those that didn't stand up with a clear head at the club when he called Todd Viney.

 

 

A 3 year deal for a guy who should have retired in 2017, will go down as an absolute clanger.

Leadership, off ball setting up and positioning, articulate and inspiring when he speaks in public. A great addition to the Dees. His day today was very ordinary and he will cop a blast from the coaches for his work rate at times. But still worth every cent over 3 years. 

34 minutes ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Leadership, off ball setting up and positioning, articulate and inspiring when he speaks in public. A great addition to the Dees. His day today was very ordinary and he will cop a blast from the coaches for his work rate at times. But still worth every cent over 3 years. 

We should have appointed him as runner then.  Problem is, that Goody would only get 4 messages out per quarter.

I would still play Lewis, but he needs a new role. The midfield is to quick now. 

A 4 time Premiership Player is still very usefull to us this year and quite possibly 2018

6 minutes ago, TGR said:

We should have appointed him as runner then.  Problem is, that Goody would only get 4 messages out per quarter.

Looking forward to a positive post from you.

A number in here questioned the 3 years, seemed and seems steep. Has been aging but provides the older "head" player we have needed and as noted above just puts himself in the right spot at the right times.

Started the season well but does seemed to have dropped away. Thought the break would freshen him up, might need more breaks during the season and a slower start to the next 2 preseasons moving fwd.

Will his decline be too rapid for him to play finals for us in a meaningful way, we are yet to see. 

We're 6-2 with Lewis and 0-3 without. I dunno, he was poor today but I'd still do the trade.

 

 

Agree he was average but who comes in for him today? Nobody comes to mind.

He was down, I expect him to bounce back.

Main redeeming feature was him setting up the backline in those last few minutes

I don't expect Lewis to star every week, and am happy for him to just do his bit. However, his bit has to include being accountable for an opponent occasionally, and doing his share of the defensive work. He is sorely lacking in those areas at present.