Deemolition

Completely agree about all you've said here. I highlighted a point in my original post about players who should be considered should have almost hit there full playing potential. You highlighted it perfectly that Grimes is nowhere near this as he could be incredible but just hasn't come on due to injuries and possibly the burden of the Captaincy. Jones/Garland for me to fight it out

RPFC, Most of the people reading this have understood my post but it sounds like you're missing the point of my "largely, injury free" comment. Of course if someone get's injured like you said that is ridiculous but I mean chronic soft tissue injures that seems to hinder certain players. Grimes was given the captaincy when his biggest downfall had not been his leadership skills or potential talent, but his ability to be actually playing so for me, players of this ilk are better off trying to get their body right and not trying to come back early beacuse you 'should' be playing. This is another reason that a player like Jones fits the bill. Seems to be injury proof (touchwood) and ticks almost all of my unofficial criteria in being a good captain of our club. My list is of course not what I expect to be followed to the letter but do you not think that there should be some sort of criteria similar to what I've proposed??

For me, a good football club's captain should... warrant selection on form every week be largely, injury free not be type to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons be respected amongst his teammates have almost hit their performance ceiling so the captaincy will not affect their development does the little things that can lift a team when the chips are down be willing to bleed for the club Taking all of these factors into account, you can eliminate the following key candidates... Trengove Grimes Jamar Clark Dawes Sylvia Viney So this leaves three players that should be considered.. Jones Frawley Garland For me, there's one player that stands out and that is Jones but I would not be surprised to see all 3 combine to share the captaincy as he used formula this well in his time at Sydney with Hall, Kirk & Barry when he took the Swans to a flag. Thoughts?

No, he didn't have the worst game ever and I do love the bloke as he bleeds Red & Blue but for me Nathan Jones (especially in the first half) was tagged out of the game. Correct me if i'm wrong but he rarely gets a tag as he is not a hugely damaging player but he had one tonight and struggled big time. I'd be surprised if it happens every week but when it does, I'll be watching to see how he handles it. Trengove I will judge after a full pre season which he has not had at all. Last month has been decent and we all know he has talent but I miss his ability to play taller than his height like he did in year one. Not happening anymore but I think the injury may have had a say in that. He gives his all so let's cut him some slack until at least next year when he's on the track for the whole pre season...

As someone who has always tried to see some sort of hope every week, I think this week will be a shocker for us. Sydney more than any other team in the competition this year have the potential to smash every clearance record that's ever stood with two top ruckman & an abundance of clearance midfield machines. I think our backline will do a good enough job on containing Tippett but... I worry about their gut running mids and half forwards flooding down and kicking their 2-3 each because our mids are either too indisciplined or tired to chase back. I worry that Horse Longmire has his troops so well disciplined that once it actually goes in their forward line, they will press so hard that the only way to get it out is for them to score (hopefully a behind). I worry that because of this Dawes, Howe & Watts will be doing their best work 100 metres from goals chasing a kick and when they get it there is nobody to kick to. As you can tell, I am worried about this game. I hope that I'm wrong but I think it will be a 130-50 scoreline. If we get within 6 goals the media scum may leave us alone for another week which is what I'm hoping for. Am I wrong or have I just been mentally scarred by this season??

completely understand your point about getting rid of the older gen but the ones you mentioned were leaders (excluding Miller) so never should have left but Jamar is clearly not a leader but just an experienced player.

This maybe controversial to some, but in my very humble opinion, unless Mark Jamar can begin to move his game with the times, it's time for him to move on at the end of the season. The old style ruckman who taps to midfield and picks up the odd stat here and there has gone with the introduction of the new bench rules and from what I've seen in the past month especially, he just doesn't help out by dropping into the hole between the opposition full forward & their 50 metre arc and offers nothing as a forward resting. His disposals in the last month read 6 vs Richmond, 1 vs Fremantle, 4 disposals vs Hawks, 12 disposals vs Pies - not good enough when you play the entire game! Yes he gets a truckload of hit outs but it's extremely rare that they go to advantage so if you take those hit outs away, what's the point of him? We need a ruckman in the Ryder, Kruezer, Cox, Nic Nat, McEvoy, Goldstein, Bellchambers, Jacobs, Minson mould (I could go on!) I would much rather a ruckman who creates a decent contest in the middle and then floats around the ground to offer a decent target. We have got rid of leaders in the past which has been a huge mistake (Junior stands out) but do we see Russian as a true leader of our club that would be missed in the same way?? So what's the answer you ask? Well I say we stick with Gawn for starters and give him experience as well as Fitzy. Chopping in and out of the senior/reserves is pointless. We are not making finals and to be honest, we will be probably giving GWS a run for their money for wooden spoon so it's time to blood these players and STICK WITH THEM. They will take plenty of time so as a solution for next season, why not go for a player like Shaun Hampson, Sam Rowe, Zac Clarke or Daniel Currie?? Yes, they are a risk but they do get around the ground and get disposals as well as offer a threat up forward. They also are number 2 or 3 choices and may even turn out to be a decent pick up in the Josh Jenkins mould. I'm not sure of their availability but I'm sure many of you will. Am I the only one thinking along these lines? Thanks for reading if you got this far!

First time poster but lifelong supporter and member so go easy people. Five points about our current situation and some questions.. 1. Jamar is not worthy of a spot on our senior team. He's had no pressure on his spot and since the contract extension his form has been terrible. Five possesions in the last 2 games is not useful, regardless of how many hit outs you get. The modern game is past that type of ruckman. Gawn has plenty of potential but can we rely on his knees? Need a boost here. 2. Watts can be a gun but needs a position up the ground, perhaps HFF or FP. I'm sure stats show he is one of the quickest players over 20 on the list so when coming out of the backline or off wing, how good would it be knowing he will have 5 metres on his opponent leading into space. Still developing but getting burnt playing here there and everywhere. 3. Game plan/skills/development is shocking. I'm positive some of our young 'guns' over the years could have been much better players with a better coach and development team. We get good young players and ruin them. Our game plan at moment is interesting at best. We constantly go down the wings but butcher it. This plan will work with a skilful team who can hit targets (not us). The few times we came through the middle (kent & garland), we looked dangerous and got on the scoreboard. I actually sat up and got mildly excited by it. 4. Where is Josh Tynan? I really rated him last year when he had his chance. His attack on the footy was great to watch but lacked a little composure. Did I see his was in Casey reserves the other week? How has this happened. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this but with spuds like Rodan, Pedo and J.Mac running around, i do wonder if we are looking to the future as Neeld and co say. 5. This leads me to point 5. We are getting thrashed each week anyway so why not get games into these kids. Neeld talks up week by week that it's a 5 year plan but if that's the case, why is J Mac, Pedo, Rodan playing at all? Get games into these kids and persevere with them. At all times unless injuries mean we need to, we should never give J Mac, Pedo, Gillies, Davey, Jamar, Dunn, Sellar, Jetta, Spencer a game again - too many chances and just not up to it with no leadership skills for younger guys. I saw things today and if you can have one, it was an ok 98 pt loss but if you add Grimes, Clark, Sylvia, T Mac, Viney, Blease and Toumpy into that side and play them all every week, you have a glimmer of hope! Am I around the mark here???