19 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

What do you mean by limited athletically? ANB can run all day and he is not slow by any means. Before he became a footballing asset to us many branded him as just a fit athlete. The guy can match Langers in fitness and stamina. Like Langer he can run all day. Maybe you had tongue in cheek with your 'limited athlete' comment. Please explain what you meant.

Not quick, not particularly strong, doesn't have a great leap, or possess great agility. 

Yes he can run all day.  Also limited in terms of skill.

It's not a sledge, he is a player that gets the absolute best out of himself and I have liked him since day 1.  He reads the game as well as anybody and has a high footy IQ.  Plays in the most difficult spot on the ground.

He is a very intelligent and thoughtful player and a valuable member of a successful team.

Its a nuanced expression of a view, not an easy thing to be comprehended in this day and age.

Edited March 31, 20223 yr by Guest

I think he is quick as most, but his trick is taking posession then stopping on a dime, swivelling and summing up his options quickly. His decisions are normally pretty good now, but its his quick stop and evasion which buys him time. He and Ed langdon are favorites because I think they're both reasonably humble.

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I assume this is correct, because it's otherwise hard to explain the reason for how much better he has become. He also needs to be credited with having put in the hard work necessary to be better. It doesn't matter how good the coaching is if the player doesn't do the work.

Fair enough - but it used to infuriate me how he would always turn back into play once he got the ball - it didn't seem to be dependent on whether he was trying to get on his right side or not.

Someone has obviously picked this up and taught him to keep pushing forward - hence I think its been coached out of him.

Agree - he has also worked hard to be an integral part of the team - so much that he now fronts media conferences etc;

Not convinced he's very good at that but!!