Joel Smith signs on for 2022

[demon3165 1,918]

Will take Hibbo;s spot.

[titan_uranus 22,368]

Didn't disgrace himself by any means but I'm still not a fan. We don't need looseness or unpredictability in our back half but that's what he brings. I felt he was caught out of position too much. Lever and Petty played well and helped cover some of the gaps but IMO today showed two things: Smith is more than adequate depth, but he remains depth.

19 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I say it because the football department love him. He's a round 1 starter every season when he's not on the injury list.

God awful footballer? That's a ludicrous statement with no evidence to support.

I have absolutely no idea how you draw that conclusion.

When did Smith come off the injury list this year? Doesn't the fact he hasn't broken into the side at all this year until today as a late replacement really damage this statement?

[Return to Glory 7,728]

19 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I say it because the football department love him. He's a round 1 starter every season when he's not on the injury list.

God awful footballer? That's a ludicrous statement with no evidence to support.

Cheesy, I've watched more than a few bad performances from him where he's displayed zero game awareness. He played well today. I did add that I hope to be proven wrong.

[Kent 2,582]

24 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I say it because the football department love him. He's a round 1 starter every season when he's not on the injury list.

God awful footballer? That's a ludicrous statement with no evidence to support.

Watch the games he has played he is not afl standard

Curious to sign him up in my opinion

[Half forward flank 1,022]

21 hours ago, A F said:

Liam Jones is a footballer. Joel is an athlete.

Well, that is settled then.

[DeeSpencer 23,134]

I've always been a Smith fan and I still think if he got continuity he'd be a player, it's just the longer he goes without any continuity the less likely it is he'll A) stay healthy and B) have it all click.

He's also now in the position of either playing full back or as a lock down back pocket, neither of which really suit him, when the best role for him is probably the spot that Hunt has played this year using his pace and aerial ability to fill in gaps between the lines.

He doesn't read the play as well as Lever and doesn't hold enough marks, but I maintain he does read the player better than people give him credit for and he has the great athletic traits.

As always he made a few mistakes today - every player does. Luckily not too many of them were fatal. He also had 7 intercept possessions, only one off our team high.

Given how inexperienced our defensive depth players will likely be next year I'm fine with giving Smith one more chance when he knows the system.

[dazzledavey36 48,791]

Was just warming up the seat for May. Hopefully that's the last we see of him this year. A fill in player when needed.

Actually didn't do too bad today. But he did not have a disposal in the last 2 quarters just a FYI.

Edited August 15, 2021 by dazzledavey36

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Played the perfect role as a depth player today.

Unlikely he will hold his spot but didn’t do a lot wrong and was serviceable as a replacement for May.

I still want to see him forward.

[Binmans PA 26,136]

How many times did he run under the ball? He's done that whenever he's played back. 

Frost 2.0. Can take a good intercept mark, and explodes off half back, but if he doesn't mark it or kill the ball, he puts all his team mates out of position by his aggressive press towards where he thinks the ball is going to go.

Genuinely staggered by Healy's continual pump ups. I assume he, like some others, are swayed by his athletic attributes, rather than safe, disciplined defence. 

Edited August 15, 2021 by A F

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I have absolutely no idea how you draw that conclusion.

I didn't have to draw a conclusion, it's an historical fact.

Now, it doesn't mean I'm saying he's a gun player, but I think it's pretty fair to assume that the selection committee like him if he's being picked for round one games when available.

He has had a horrid run with injury and I'm open to the argument that these ongoing injury issues are enough to warrant him being let go.

That said, he's played no more than four consecutive games in his AFL career, almost exclusively due to injury. I can't see how that's enough footy to make a judgement.

His footy at VFL level has been exceptional.

[picket fence 15,180]

On 8/13/2021 at 4:43 PM, wizardinoz said:

Fence, if he is so good at playing forward why does he not line up there for Casey?

I know,its mystyfying but I still Hark back to a pre season game where he played Forward and kicked 3 or 4 goals in the ones... Go figure!!

[drdrake 3,038]

I thought he was our best defender in the first half.  Got the hibberd hit and went missing after that but showed enough

[picket fence 15,180]

And played a superb game today

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,585]

For a bloke that I suspect costs us SFA with respects to salary cap and trade capital, I think Smith was more than serviceable today.

Actually thought his first half in particular was excellent.

Petty was fairly average in his first few senior games this season, but plenty of posters were willing to give him a 'hall pass'.

The oppertunity having Smith around to give Maysy a much needed break was invaluable and I don't think such depth should be under sold.

[BDA 20,079]

I had low expectations but i was pleasantly surprised. He's good defensive depth for us. Happy with the extra year after todays performance

[Ethan Tremblay 28,421]

13 minutes ago, picket fence said:

And played a superb game today

Superb? Come on, let’s not be hyperbolic. He was serviceable in the first half. I’m excited to be top of the ladder as well but I’m still happy to judge our player’s objectively and not get carried away due to that excitement. 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Ethan Trembley

[Winners at last 4,738]

I'm not a fan. But have to say he played very well. I was surprised. 

[Pates 9,537]

He was good without being amazing for me today. Did very Smith-like things at times but also did some good important acts. As a depth player he came in and played his role, not much more you can ask. 

[Dr. Gonzo 22,415]

3 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

Cheesy, I've watched more than a few bad performances from him where he's displayed zero game awareness. He played well today. I did add that I hope to be proven wrong.

He played ok today. Was he on Fogarty? Got beaten more than once. Still it was against poor opposition he didn't do anything to change my mind on him as a player going forward.

[titan_uranus 22,368]

56 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I didn't have to draw a conclusion, it's an historical fact.

Now, it doesn't mean I'm saying he's a gun player, but I think it's pretty fair to assume that the selection committee like him if he's being picked for round one games when available.

He has had a horrid run with injury and I'm open to the argument that these ongoing injury issues are enough to warrant him being let go.

That said, he's played no more than four consecutive games in his AFL career, almost exclusively due to injury. I can't see how that's enough footy to make a judgement.

His footy at VFL level has been exceptional.

I read your post as a statement about the future, not a reflection on the past.

You've concluded that, because he played Round 1 in 2017, which apparently (I'll take your word for it, it certainly sounds believable) is the only time he's been available for selection in Round 1, the FD likes him.

I'll take his non-selection for the many weeks he's been fit in 2021 as better evidence of the FD's current views on him.

[dimmy 1,114]

Considering he was a Cat B (I think) Rookie ,you would expect him to take a while to a) develop & b) to adjust to the change in pace of the game.

Think how much Petty has come along & developed, just through confidence in being on the ground.

On a different player young Bowey is adjusting to the pace of his opponents quite well and seems to be fitting in to the level be it this year or in the near future.

The other thing is that we had 2 first year players (Jordon & Bowey) and four "second year players" ( Jackson, Rivers & Kossie plus Sparrow ) in the side today plus the "Developers in Petty & Smith . Pretty good I would say !!!

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

46 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I read your post as a statement about the future, not a reflection on the past.

You've concluded that, because he played Round 1 in 2017, which apparently (I'll take your word for it, it certainly sounds believable) is the only time he's been available for selection in Round 1, the FD likes him.

I'll take his non-selection for the many weeks he's been fit in 2021 as better evidence of the FD's current views on him.

Probably a fair point re: round 1 selection. Double-checked squads and injury lists and you're right.

[Binmans PA 26,136]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

For a bloke that I suspect costs us SFA with respects to salary cap and trade capital, I think Smith was more than serviceable today.

Actually thought his first half in particular was excellent.

Petty was fairly average in his first few senior games this season, but plenty of posters were willing to give him a 'hall pass'.

The oppertunity having Smith around to give Maysy a much needed break was invaluable and I don't think such depth should be under sold.

It was clear from Petty's under 18 form that he was a natural reader of the play and would likely make a great interceptor at AFL level. Many of us were saying that earlier in the year and in previous years since he was drafted 

Whereas, many of us have been saying Smith is an athlete not a footballer since his first game. You can tell by the way the two read the game they're vastly different footballing talents.

1 hour ago, Pates said:

He was good without being amazing for me today. Did very Smith-like things at times but also did some good important acts. As a depth player he came in and played his role, not much more you can ask. 

This is fair. 

[Jaded No More 57,975]

He was serviceable.
That’s all you can ask from a depth player. 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Jaded

[rjay 23,922]

5 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

We don't need looseness or unpredictability in our back half but that's what he brings. I felt he was caught out of position too much.

Yep...