2 hours ago, old dee said:

Source is sticking to story, in hospital now if correct having angiogram. 

Geez, why can't this club gain any sort of momentum, something always f's us in the brown round hole.

17 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Geez, why can't this club gain any sort of momentum, something always f's us in the brown round hole.

Why are you believing it already.

5 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

Why are you believing it already.

I am beginning to doubt it. It would be out by now surely!

2 minutes ago, old dee said:

I am beginning to doubt it. It would be out by now surely!

I would think mainstream media would of been onto it by now

3 hours ago, old dee said:

Source is sticking to story, in hospital now if correct having angiogram. 

Can I have a glass half full ?

would this injury or could it have caused his fade out in the 2019 or 2020 seasons, might it be a contributing factor, at the very least,

and of course can he get over it ?   Hope it has not happened of course,   but.. the glass might be more empty than full.

Any Sports Medicine type doctors can reply ! or indeed anyone at all.    Go Dees

19 minutes ago, old dee said:

I am beginning to doubt it. It would be out by now surely!

Don't give up on your mate just yet, od.

Maybe Tom's privacy is being respected by the media as this would be a non footy health issue rather than an injury.

If there is an impact on his training or playing we may hear about it otherwise nothing may ever be known.  Lets hope that if there is a health issue he recovers quickly, regardless of the impact on our games.

Maybe the track watchers this week can keep an eye out for him at training.

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Don't give up on your mate just yet, od.

Maybe Tom's privacy is being respected by the media as this would be a non footy health issue rather than an injury.

If there is an impact on his training or playing we may hear about it otherwise nothing may ever be known.  Lets hope that if there is a health issue he recovers quickly, regardless of the impact on our games.

Maybe the track watchers this week can keep an eye out for him at training.

He won’t have a secret angiogram on his leg without it becoming news. Your first point is correct. If it’s true then either the press hasn’t got wind of it yet or they are waiting for health reasons. 

4 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

We have plenty on the list that have been there for longer and showed far less.

Neville Jetta took a few years to become an overnight success.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

He won’t have a secret angiogram on his leg without it becoming news. Your first point is correct. If it’s true then either the press hasn’t got wind of it yet or they are waiting for health reasons. 

Trained today.

Maybe he was visiting Aaron Neitschke in hospital?

2 hours ago, old dee said:

I am beginning to doubt it. It would be out by now surely!

Maybe your source was having a lend of you.

Amazing the amount of people on this site who believe any rumor tossed up.

4 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Hey 58er, again don't disagree, IF older players are cooked, then lets move on and not gift games on reputation. But theres a tendency to characterise form fluctuations of senior players as terminal and never to be regained, rather than simply a phase they're capable of working through.

I find the talk of Rossman, Bowrey etc... being in for Round 1 is fanciful and laced with the allure of the new and shiny that denys the reality that the AFL is a football competition for men, not boys, and our fortunes this season will rely on the men standing up while we continue to develop our boys into men. In that context I' more excited about Chandler and Sparrow as likely starts than Bowery and co. 

Also, as a VDB fan and with a soft spot for a good come back story, i object to the writing him, Jones, Melksham, Hibberd off... and if those players find form and get a game it will be because they've earnt it now, like every player should.

Don't disagree with Hibbo good last season Jonesy half and half but pretty good on Friday. Jets has slowed a bit was ok on Friday. It's AVB and Melksham. When was their last recognised form?? Not last year or in 2019 I don't reckon.

 Basically 2018 and weren't there on Friday and have been in rehab most of pre season so match fitness AND form a worry. It's a different story with Jack V and Gus as they are tracking for around 1. Even then I am not sure we should risk both vs Freo with true young on ballers! Let's trust Sparrow and Jordon as slightly older recruits if they both go ok vs Bullies on Monday. They deserve their opportunity especially Jimmy Jordon and we do know what Tom gives honestly and with heart.

You seem to not recognise the draftees from 2019 and 2020 as chances to be: selected. Kossie  won't make it I assume on form and little bit of match fitness But on last year Jacko and Riv are certain selections with good form fitness and great opportunity after bulking up over summer. 
The 2020 draftees are your different kettle of fish. Did you see Bowey on Friday admittedly in the B Practice match Looked an AFL player with composure time and excellent disposal from BP and defence. Laurie was slick and sure in and under and also good use of the ball including a long goal.  Skill level commented upon. Rosman did not stand out on the wing so did not really press his claims.

Finally at FB Harry Petty was prob our best player with about 10 marks and 7 intercepts. His disposal was good and he looked ready to replace Tommo IMO at FB or CHB with Maysie the other and allowing Jake to also show his best form intercepting On numerous  occasions Halting the Tigers forward Thrusts.

So we have some youth ready others  chafing at the bit and some will have to wait.Choco has torn up or burned these youngsters Birth  certificates apparently !!!

The improvement will come with speed and aggression in the game plan and youth can often provide that with no backward steps. Some of our 2018 heroes are not exactly racing to the finish line. There are some others also that can add to our list if they train and get the right development from our coaches. 
Let's all hope that any player earns their spot from training form and fitness Plus their ability whether it is past or future that excites the selectors and the balance is to give us the best chance of success from Round1.

 

18 hours ago, kev martin said:

That is a strong opinion of an AFL listed player. @Port Demons

I think Joel Smith has an upside.

He can do the spectacular and should be played forward as an impact player.

He can get a bit lost out there.

As he matures then put more responsibility/expectations on him.

Hoping to get some remorse from you, either this or the next season.

I will grudgingly apologise if he can't cut it. 

I believe he will be a game winner and not just one of our best 26.

 

I'm with you kev. He's got something i reckon. Personally i'd play him as a forward. 

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

 secret angiogram 

Donald Mac gel?

Edited March 1, 20214 yr by binman

Great clearance by Oliver, but the real hero in this passage is Harmes.
Starts the clip with a block on Cotchin, then blocks the tagger pursuing on Oliver.
2 blocks in 4 seconds - clearance, goal.

May be maturity and selflessness, may be the the influence of Yze as midfield coach, but this is the type of teamwork we need to see more of.

17 hours ago, Dr.D said:

yeah. if. he was shown to be consistently unreliable in front of goal. i'd love to be proven wrong. 

We've put up with ANB and of late Fritta with goal kicking accuracy issues. why pick on Kossie  in his first developmental year. 

13 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

Maybe your source was having a lend of you.

Amazing the amount of people on this site who believe any rumor tossed up.

I didn't notice anyone definitely believe it, really  just hanging out for confirmation or hopefully dismissal.  OD's not given to wild rumours and his posts were reasonable.  Maybe though his source should be asked to provide coronory care for some of us older members.

6 minutes ago, sue said:

I didn't notice anyone definitely believe it

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

There's kinship there amongst those guys in that grab, so much so that one would be reluctant to break it up under any circumstances, other than injury of course.

18 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Great clearance by Oliver, but the real hero in this passage is Harmes.
Starts the clip with a block on Cotchin, then blocks the tagger pursuing on Oliver.
2 blocks in 4 seconds - clearance, goal.

May be maturity and selflessness, may be the the influence of Yze as midfield coach, but this is the type of teamwork we need to see more of.

Great clip, and summary. I think for ours mids to go from a mix of very good players to a real dominate force is that focus on not necessarily becoming better players (not that they shouldn't be trying to improve all the time), but to become much better team mates.

They, and I'm counting Trac, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney and Harmes have all played around that 100 game mark now so sometimes I think it takes a while for younger guys to not just see ball/get ball and think they make an impact through pure numbers, but to realise that they'll get those numbers and more if they are doing the blocking, shepparding etc. to help a teammate out, the focus then goes to the one getting the quick clearance who in turn lets them free a little more. 

The addition of Williams and Yze can only help in that regard, as I'm sure they value that stuff very highly. 

Edited March 1, 20214 yr by Red and Blue realist
Comment on Yze and chocco

i'm pretty sure Cotchin pushes Harmes in the back and in doing so takes his own team mate out lol.

18 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Great clearance by Oliver, but the real hero in this passage is Harmes.
Starts the clip with a block on Cotchin, then blocks the tagger pursuing on Oliver.
2 blocks in 4 seconds - clearance, goal.

May be maturity and selflessness, may be the the influence of Yze as midfield coach, but this is the type of teamwork we need to see more of.

 

Not sure I'd call that a block on Cotchin, who works him in to the contest, first legally and then gives him a big shove in the back.

Harmes does well to turn that in to an assist on Oliver but it could have easily turned in to the same problems of last year with players converging on the ball and giving the player who wins the ball no room to move.

The big change up here is Oliver being prepared to take back spot and not always been so desperate to be first to the ball. Then the way he uses his legs to clear away from traffic

Less of a focus on first to the ball and more of a focus on keeping good spacing around a contest is what our midfield need. 

5 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Hey 58er, again don't disagree, IF older players are cooked, then lets move on and not gift games on reputation. But theres a tendency to characterise form fluctuations of senior players as terminal and never to be regained, rather than simply a phase they're capable of working through.

I find the talk of Rossman, Bowrey etc... being in for Round 1 is fanciful and laced with the allure of the new and shiny that denys the reality that the AFL is a football competition for men, not boys, and our fortunes this season will rely on the men standing up while we continue to develop our boys into men. In that context I' more excited about Chandler and Sparrow as likely starts than Bowery and co. 

Also, as a VDB fan and with a soft spot for a good come back story, i object to the writing him, Jones, Melksham, Hibberd off... and if those players find form and get a game it will be because they've earnt it now, like every player should.

I reckon Bowey will play early in the season.

I’m not sold on Bowery or Bowrey just yet but if all 3 play it would be a great story!

17 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

 

It's an interesting play because it's all set up for Cotchin to be the target for an aggressive Nankervis tap (against Jackson, not Gawn). Cotchin goes for the outside space and runs forward, but Harmes keeps body contact with Cotchin and maintains position on the defensive side, which blows the play up. After that it's just Oliver winning a one on one and Dusty finding defence a bit too difficult.

But, in short, the set play is broken up by Harmes' initial bodywork on Cotchin, allowing our best two players to win the footy. It's certainly a much better structure (and was all game) than we've seen the last year or two.

Good clip, TPF39.

On 2/26/2021 at 12:23 PM, Pickett2Jackson said:

 

Get Harmes out of there.  

Couldn't agree more, he's a liability

43 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Great clearance by Oliver, but the real hero in this passage is Harmes.
Starts the clip with a block on Cotchin, then blocks the tagger pursuing on Oliver.
2 blocks in 4 seconds - clearance, goal.

May be maturity and selflessness, may be the the influence of Yze as midfield coach, but this is the type of teamwork we need to see more of.

 

The incisive screen, a skill overlooked in Harmes and sadly, so often. He virtually made the play for this goal - opening up a crowded midfield corridor against the reigning Premiers. Well annotated, TPF39!