Why is it that coaches overlook this, If you look over the past premiers, especially Brisbane and Geelong are prime examples that you need to be able to win the contested football and be tough. Why do they focus on game plans which in a way are crap because the team that usually can win the tough contested footy become the superior football team. Why doesn't Bailey look at tougheniing up our side seens we are one of the slowest going around, why not look at winning the footy by bute strength instead of by flashy talent

Why is it that coaches overlook this, If you look over the past premiers, especially Brisbane and Geelong are prime examples that you need to be able to win the contested football and be tough. Why do they focus on game plans which in a way are crap because the team that usually can win the tough contested footy become the superior football team. Why doesn't Bailey look at tougheniing up our side seens we are one of the slowest going around, why not look at winning the footy by bute strength instead of by flashy talent

They all have game plans & are tough, but it takes time to find players who can play smart footy & are tough as well.

Jones, McLean, Sylvia.

Wouldn't call them soft

I concur with your thoughs and have shared this opinion before when creating a new topic...

Yes the game has evolved and teams like the Bulldogs have been the pioneers... But look at the Doggies late last season, Didnt basicaaly win a game after Rd14.... Beacuse they lascked big bodies tough players and this is what they have focused on in the off season, drafting the big boys and building up their strength.....

Finals footy is tough and to win a flag you need to be a combination of quick, skillful, work as a team and TOUGH.

So bring back the Biff!!!!!

Jones, McLean, Sylvia.

Wouldn't call them soft

Yeah but who have the got to kick to that is? Sylvia is no glen jackovich/ Wayne Carey/ Alistair Lynch if you look at him as a KPP,

There aint to many players who can win the contested footy one on one, If they have leg speed they are to weak example Davey, If they are strong they are to slow example Neitz. Our mid range players that lack speed should be making up for weakness with muscle and strength, Talent simply isn't good enough on its own anymore.

Jones, McLean, Sylvia.

Wouldn't call them soft

Colin Sylvia is one of the most mentally and physically soft players to ever put on a VFL/AFL jumper.

Colin Sylvia is one of the most mentally and physically soft players to ever put on a VFL/AFL jumper.

Personal bias shouldn't out way fact.

He ain't as bad as Demonland say he is at all.

Mick, you're right that being tough and winning the hard ball is a key component of any premiership side. That's not our main area of weakness though. We have very little speed across the ground and our skills are the worst I have ever seen from a Melbourne team. I think our clearances have been even this year, sadly we just have no idea how to use the football.

Colin Sylvia is one of the most mentally and physically soft players to ever put on a VFL/AFL jumper.

I find poster's accusations of players being "soft" (particularly when they hyperbolically state the most or the worst) as accurate proxy for the fact that the poster does not know and has not got a clue.

The comment about Sylvia is one of the more shallow ignorant examples of it.

I find poster's accusations of players being "soft" (particularly when they hyperbolically state the most or the worst) as accurate proxy for the fact that the poster does not know and has not got a clue.

The comment about Sylvia is one of the more shallow ignorant examples of it.

Ok. Tell me what he has done with his career? He has been on the list for 5 years. What has he got to show for it? Nothing. And it's not because he lacks ability. It's because he lacks heart. In the first couple of years he had OP. Fine, fair excuse. But since then? He refuses to gut run, does not play the percentages and basically pisses away the ability God gave him. Hardness is being willing to be uncompromising mentally, and to make your body overcome physical tiredness by pushing through it. It's not just putting your head over the ball, which it's hard to know whether he does or doesn't because he doesn't make enough contests.

This year Colin was supposed to be ready for a massive year (like last year). What does he do? Gets suspended by the club. The guy is also very lucky he was too [censored] to get into the car with Didak that night as well. The waste of talent, refusal to run and lack of contests is why he is soft. As butter.

Or is that too shallow for you?

The waste of talent, refusal to run and lack of contests is why he is soft. As butter.

Or is that too shallow for you?

About the same as before. But its better than the first ridiculous statement.

I share your frustrations about Sylvia like many other posters do but I and they just dont resort to having to utilise unnecessary slurs that a player is "soft". If a player is playing AFL football he clearly is not soft. Its a meaningless and pointless accusation that reflects more on the poster than the player.

Ok. Tell me what he has done with his career? He has been on the list for 5 years. What has he got to show for it? Nothing. And it's not because he lacks ability. It's because he lacks heart. In the first couple of years he had OP. Fine, fair excuse. But since then? He refuses to gut run, does not play the percentages and basically pisses away the ability God gave him. Hardness is being willing to be uncompromising mentally, and to make your body overcome physical tiredness by pushing through it. It's not just putting your head over the ball, which it's hard to know whether he does or doesn't because he doesn't make enough contests.

This year Colin was supposed to be ready for a massive year (like last year). What does he do? Gets suspended by the club. The guy is also very lucky he was too [censored] to get into the car with Didak that night as well. The waste of talent, refusal to run and lack of contests is why he is soft. As butter.

Or is that too shallow for you?

Your letting the notion that Sylvia has generally underperformed warp your view to the point where you believe he is soft. Rhino is right, no AFL player is soft, but some are gutsier and harder than others. I believe Sylvia is hard. I have seen plenty examples this year of Sylvia tackling and chasing hard and coming out at the bottom of a contest.

Your letting the notion that Sylvia has generally underperformed warp your view to the point where you believe he is soft. Rhino is right, no AFL player is soft, but some are gutsier and harder than others. I believe Sylvia is hard. I have seen plenty examples this year of Sylvia tackling and chasing hard and coming out at the bottom of a contest.

Is he harder than me? Yes. Is he harder than the bloke on the street? Yes. Is he hard for an AFL footballer? Not in my view. But as I said, I rate hardness as more than just being able to take or give a hit. And I have to say, does anyone here actually believe he is harder than whoever his match up is most weeks? Surely not. Therefore, soft.

Is he harder than me? Yes. Is he harder than the bloke on the street? Yes. Is he hard for an AFL footballer? Not in my view. But as I said, I rate hardness as more than just being able to take or give a hit. And I have to say, does anyone here actually believe he is harder than whoever his match up is most weeks? Surely not. Therefore, soft.

Rivetting incisive analysis. You won me.

Just proved my proxy theory to a T!

Is he harder than me? Yes. Is he harder than the bloke on the street? Yes. Is he hard for an AFL footballer? Not in my view. But as I said, I rate hardness as more than just being able to take or give a hit. And I have to say, does anyone here actually believe he is harder than whoever his match up is most weeks? Surely not. Therefore, soft.

To be honest Choko, I think it's a bit rich that someone who has obviously never played AFL football is calling someone soft. By your logic every single player who is underperforming on an AFL list at this point in time is soft.

To be honest Choko, I think it's a bit rich that someone who has obviously never played AFL football is calling someone soft. By your logic every single player who is underperforming on an AFL list at this point in time is soft.

Do you have to drown to know you wouldn't enjoy it? Just because most of us here haven't played AFL doesn't mean we can't form a view.

By my logic, a player who has underperformed for the better part of 5 years and has poor application but enormous potential is soft. So a bloke who is underperforming because he is out of form but works hard on improving and at least contributing through 1%ers is not soft. A bloke who tries his hardest but is simply not up to it (AKA Godfrey) is not soft.

And Rhino, since you are so intent on playing the man, why don't you try answering the post? What exactly is so hard about Colin Sylvia mate? And since you are clearly a football professor in your own head, perhaps you can enlighten the whole board....

Do you have to drown to know you wouldn't enjoy it? Just because most of us here haven't played AFL doesn't mean we can't form a view.

By my logic, a player who has underperformed for the better part of 5 years and has poor application but enormous potential is soft. So a bloke who is underperforming because he is out of form but works hard on improving and at least contributing through 1%ers is not soft. A bloke who tries his hardest but is simply not up to it (AKA Godfrey) is not soft.

And Rhino, since you are so intent on playing the man, why don't you try answering the post? What exactly is so hard about Colin Sylvia mate? And since you are clearly a football professor in your own head, perhaps you can enlighten the whole board....

Alright mate, I flat out disagree with you. IMO Sylvia is a hard nut who has been trying to do the one percenters when he has been out on the ground. He had a poor game against Geelong, get over it. Whenever he is in the thick of things of late he has gone hard. You say that Sylvia doesn't try his hardest, you say that he does not work hard on improving and and does not contribute 1%pers. I say your full of it.

And Rhino, since you are so intent on playing the man, why don't you try answering the post? What exactly is so hard about Colin Sylvia mate? And since you are clearly a football professor in your own head, perhaps you can enlighten the whole board....

Well mate, as I have said any footballer that plays AFL is not soft. It does not mean he has to be then be termed "hard". Does your mind only work with direct opposites "hard/soft", "off/on" etc.? And as for playing the man, I would have thought labelling an AFL footballer on a public website as "soft" when clearly thats rubbish behind the guise of an anonymous non de plume is playing the man big time.

As I have said elsewhere on this site, Sylvia is a disappointment. He is not the first dibs midfielder we require. He has a limited tank, focusses more on the tackle than winning the ball and has limited awareness under pressure. He does throw himself in but what he does is ineffectual. He also has an attitude and maturity issue.

BTW, I have made these comments elsewhere and others have not had the need to get further enlightment...but you need it. Hmmm.

Anyway thanks for validating my proxy theory...well it was further validated.

Yeah but who have the got to kick to that is? Sylvia is no glen jackovich/ Wayne Carey/ Alistair Lynch if you look at him as a KPP,

There aint to many players who can win the contested footy one on one, If they have leg speed they are to weak example Davey, If they are strong they are to slow example Neitz. Our mid range players that lack speed should be making up for weakness with muscle and strength, Talent simply isn't good enough on its own anymore.

Doubt you'll find many players with Davey's leg speed (or close) and Neitz's strength

Jones, McLean, Sylvia.

Wouldn't call them soft

Wouldnt call them fast either.

Doubt you'll find many players with Davey's leg speed (or close) and Neitz's strength

Gary Ablett snr.

I haven't really seen enough of Ablett snr to judge that, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't go near Neitz in strength. Probably closer to someone like Chapman who's more similar in stature

Wouldnt call them fast either.

Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey.

Reckon all 3 of Jones, Sylvia and McLean have them pipped for leg speed

Colin Sylvia is one of the most mentally and physically soft players to ever put on a VFL/AFL jumper.

What does that make Cameron Bruce?

Doubt you'll find many players with Davey's leg speed (or close) and Neitz's strength

Lance Franklin

"many"

I had him in mind when I made the post