dee-fresh

Absolutely agree with warren dean and Big Kev - Trav is the only thing resembling a player who could win a final off his own boot at the dees. While he may not have dragged us all the way across the line in any finals, he battled to pull us to a winning position against adelaide in 02, and against essendon in 04 when we were being utterly embarassed until he came on and turned the game. To say that he couldn't be relied on in the big games is just ridiculous - the one thing we could always count on was that he would be one of those who would always slog it out in those games and not wither. And to complain about his lack of AA representation is not particularly fatal, as I don't think anyone on this board can honestly say they put much stock in it. Most would agree I'm sure that he deserved to be in the 02 team. There are often curious AA omissions, such as Robbo being passed over for Brad Johnson a few years ago in a season in which he kicked 73 goals. As Big Kev noted, people exaggerate his failures and underperformance - whenever fit over the last 6 or so years he has been a very good performer. As far as I'm concerned, he was one of few who could deliver the ball to the standard required. And to trot out efficiency statistics isn't really to the point, as they're skewed by factors outside the player's control anyway. I don't think many people could honestly say they'd choose to have anyone other than tj delivering the ball into our forward line while we had him. I'm in the camp that favours the view that the decision to trade him was a bad one. And yes, I recognise that we'll potentially have pick 14 for a decade, as compared to tj for 4 more. I still fail to see the value in the trade, and I worry that our midfield will be shown up because of it, and others are going to have to learn how to deal with a tag. Remember that brock has struggled greatly with any pressure, and has always benefited from having tj in the midfield. Even with a tag, tj's continued to pick up 20 possessions a game, which I think others will struggle to do in the near future. To which you'll probably respond that the near future isn't the priority - but if our supposed future 'premiership' team is to eventuate, which mature players are we going to be able to count on if we've done away with our senior players for draft picks?

Truly the most underappreciated (or even unappreciated) footballer our club has known in my lifetime. Unfairly criticised for faults that people see in him but not in others who possess them to a greater extent. A remarkable talent, freakish kick, and devastating player when free from injury. It has truly been a privelege to support trav, and I will always remember his time at the dees fondly. And I thank him for giving us a couple more years than would have been the case if he had opted to take the easy road and make the move to Sydney when he had the chance. There have been many games that I have dragged myself along to for the sole reason of watching trapper, knowing that it will otherwise be a dismal day. I can't imagine the dees playing without the sportsperson who I have enjoyed watching more than any other, and this is a devastating day for the dees as far as I'm concerned. Cheers trapper.

On afl.com.au they have 'gameday live' where you can check the stats of any game from the round. Enjoy.

How about one thing that did help Bruce was Johnstone receiving the hard tag all day to free up other players, and then receiving no help back from anyone at bounces helping shake the tag with blocks.