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How Important was Spargo

Farmer
Farmer
in Melbourne Demons

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Just watched  On Utube our match v GWS the last round before the finals in 2018. Although I was at that match, I hadn’t realised just how clever was Spargo, both by hand and foot setting up a number of goals . Lost his way last year, but having watched this I believe we should persevere with hiM

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    Just watch the final v Eagles and then in 2019. His disposal was poor (to be fair) and tackling was non existent.  Certainly went backwards. Not sure at 173 cms that the kid has any tricks  to succeed at AFL level. He’s not a Harvey or Gresham with pace and energy.  

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    No, spargo has been an average player and was carried in a good side. Lacks pace and aggression to make the cut imo but i hope he proves me wrong.

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    At the lower end of 170cm, Spargo has no weapons that helps him maintain his position on the list.

    For a small forward, he lacks most of the traits required to forge an AFL career. Looking at Pickett's recruitment, it appears the brainstrust at the club agrees.

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    I'm not a huge fan, but there's no doubt he's a better player than what he showed most of last year and in Round 1 this year (that was an all time shocker).

    If he can get back to his best, there's a spot on the list for him, but whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

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    The only way Spargo makes it as an AFL player is as Jetta's replacement. Some of his skill errors under no pressure are astonishing for a player who offers nothing in the way of goals, tackles or speed.

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    1 hour ago, poita said:

    The only way Spargo makes it as an AFL player is as Jetta's replacement. Some of his skill errors under no pressure are astonishing for a player who offers nothing in the way of goals, tackles or speed.

    Nevs 180cm and 83kg

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    he's not a genuine small forward, or a small defender for that matter. he needs to strengthen up but also get fit enough for a half fwd/mid role where he can push up around the contest and use his ball skills and smart decision making to best affect.

    although he's small he has shown previously he can play at the level and he's still young enough to have the necessary improvements in his game. at times I felt for him last year as he was pretty much the only one selected in the side to apply pressure in our forward half, which is an impossible job to do on your own. he had a shocker in R1, we will have a better idea of where he is at by the end of the year. but at this stage i'd rather we offload the Wagner, Baker and Chandler types before him.

    the problem for Spargo is we already have a few of those HF/mid types on the list. but Jones looks well past it and will retire this year, and Bennell is still yet to show his body can back up from week to week let alone year to year. same goes for Vanders with his injury concerns.

    Dunkley hasn't really had much of a crack yet but can play a similar role to Spargo, and maybe Jordon can as well, so it could all come down to which of those young guys is showing the most by the end of the year that will stay on the list.

     

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    Brent Harvey holds the record for most AFL games ever played and I reckon he's the same height as Spargo.

    Collingwood are the flag favourites and have 2 sub 180cm half forward types in Daicos and Cal Brown neither of whom are big goal kickers or have any particular one on one skills. They're clever footballers who do a job for the team.

    Spargo has the footy smarts to run to the right spots, he has a good tank that can go to another level, he has very clean hands and a neat kick and he's meant to have an angry competitive side.

    At the moment I think the biggest concern is are we providing the right coaching and culture to push a guy like Spargo to improve and is he committed to getting the most out of himself. The covid ban wasn't the only time he's been out on the town.

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    26 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Collingwood are the flag favourites and have 2 sub 180cm half forward types in Daicos and Cal Brown neither of whom are big goal kickers or have any particular one on one skills. They're clever footballers who do a job for the team.

    They won't carry both into the finals...Brown for me.

    Daicos won't make it long term.

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    7 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

    Looking at Pickett's recruitment, it appears the brainstrust at the club agrees.

    Completely different players and roles. Being short doesn't automatically make you a crumbing forward - that's not what Spargo was recruited for, and he'll never will be that type of player. At his best, he's a very clever link man across half forward - he makes good decisions, has neat skills and provides good defensive pressure. His problem is the same as half our list - the gulf between his best and his worst is enormous. I'm yet to be convinced he's a long-term player for us, but I've seen enough to suggest he's worth persisting with.

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    Throughout parts of last year, he was the only player who was lowering his eyes for forward 50 entries, and it paid off more than it didn't. I don't think he could keep another player out of the team at this stage, but very handy to have in the Jones/Vanders position. 

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    2 hours ago, rjay said:

    They won't carry both into the finals...Brown for me.

    Daicos won't make it long term.

    Yep if full strength Brown is the one, and I wouldn’t bet on Daicos playing more than say 100 games. 
     

    The point is we want every player to be perfect, I’m as guilty as anyone in doing it. What we need is players who play to their strengths and do the job they are sent out to do. Spargo was doing that in ‘18

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    He'll either be a poor man's Sam Mitchell, or a wealthy man's Richie Vandenburg. I think he is comfortably worth persisting with.

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    29 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

    He'll either be a poor man's Sam Mitchell, or a wealthy man's Richie Vandenburg. I think he is comfortably worth persisting with.

    He is neither, just a really poor draft selection.

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    If you are as short as him you have to some very good skills to make for your height disadvantage.

    He is not fast, he is not a good mark and seldom gets off the ground, he can just kick 39 metres.

    We have a number of other players who bring as much if not more to the side.

    Will be gone in 2021.

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    15 hours ago, Elegt said:

    No, spargo has been an average player and was carried in a good side.

    You could say the same of Melksham, Hibberd, ANB, and a few others, E.

    Spargo was an important role player towards the end of 2018.

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    1 hour ago, old dee said:

    If you are as short as him you have to some very good skills to make for your height disadvantage.

    He is not fast, he is not a good mark and seldom gets off the ground, he can just kick 39 metres.

    We have a number of other players who bring as much if not more to the side.

    Will be gone in 2021.

    didn't he kick a pretty important goal from 50 during a final?

    i'm happy to persist with charlie

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    33 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

    didn't he kick a pretty important goal from 50 during a final?

    i'm happy to persist with charlie

    He was just 40 and made it by about half a metre.

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    34 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

    didn't he kick a pretty important goal from 50 during a final?

    i'm happy to persist with charlie

    Yeah against the Hawks. Kicked 2 in a semi final as an 18/19 year old kid which is a fair effort.

    I've been as guilty as the next poster around here to bag him, but he's obviously got some attribute in order to be on an AFL list, I just can't put my finger on what it is.

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    he's obviously got some talent, but anyone on an afl list who has played a few games has too

    his problem is consistency, or more accurately inconsistency

    i'd say his future is on the cusp and how he goes this year (difficult with no magoos) will determine his future

    reduced list sizes for next year will make it tough for him. my 2c says he's probably gorn

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