P-man

FFS..I said Dunn shows mongrel and spirit. I purposely never used the word "tough" because I acknowledge real toughness in footy takes on other forms. Done with this topic now. I do hold high hopes for him this season in the actual football side of things.

Just on this before the chapter on Dunn bashing closes, he can't take much of a trick can he? I don't recall him doing much to warrant the reaction from Vickery, certainly nothing physical. It looked like Tyrone was merely taking out his frustration at how poor he had been all night. So Dunn drew a free, did nothing to ensure it was reversed, and still gets panned? Curious.

Nash, I'm not trying to paint Dunn as a toughman of the competition, but i'll be damned if refusal to be bossed by your opponent has no value. Or that standing up for your mate has no value. To say that he has hasn't done these things is not true, whether or not you think his tactics or behaviour are staged. We have been absolutely starved of players that display some form of fight or spirit.Anyhow, thank god for Jack Viney. No-one can argue that we dont have a player with all the necessary ingredients in him.

I said basically exactly that earlier in the thread.

Name a finals team from last year that carried a core midfielder who couldn't kick the footy. This isn't just based on last week. He's always been a liability in attack. We can't pretend it won't become a greater issue as we develop further.

I think the way the voting is going is spot on - Strauss/Evans/Kent. Hopefully all three will be long term players.

I take on board what Clint and others have said. Toughness is indeed best exemplified by the Selwoods and Browns of the competition. Bravery and putting your head over the ball best encapsulates toughness. However, there is NOTHING wrong with a bit of niggle, especially when your team is seemingly devoid of any spirit. On a weekly basis we have witnessed this team put in meek, heartless performances, to the point where a hip and shoulder from Tapscott had you cheering on your feet, and if it didn't, it should have. As for Dunn, he stands up in different ways, the likes of which you would never see from a Morton or a Gysberts. When he kicks a goal he gets in his opponent's face. When one of his teammates is being roughed up, he's first one on the scene it give it back to them. In short, he has a bit of bravado and stubborn refusal to be intimidated by anyone. The odd shirked contest may have washed over me because I'm just that used to it from those wearing red and a blue for the past few years, but when it comes to standing up to his opponent, Dunn has been the exception to the rule. If I'm in the minority for applauding him, so be it.

A great team wouldn't have Jordie anywhere near its best 22, simple. We aren't a great team yet.

I hate Deeland sometimes. The OP is posing the question on where Tapscott is at heading into this season based on past output, a legitimate question, and certain posters have this compulsive need to belittle and sound clever. Pull your heads in. Or out, as the case may be.

We have been considered the softest team in the AFL for a many a year. You can count on one hand the players who have stood in the face of that stigma. Dunn is one of them and I'm thankful to him for it.

Nice little interview with him has gone up. Looks and sounds very settled and confident in his new role and the trajectory of the club. Always liked Dunny and the mongrel he brings, but I think now he is in a position down back where his skills can be best utilised and the debates about whether he starts should hopefully be put to rest. In both he and Watts, and the largely unknown potential of Strauss, we are amassing some damaging rebounding defenders who can go forward and kick goals if required. At 25 years old, I think we're about to witness the best years of this bloke and they are coming at a good time.

They look to be thinking along similar lines.

It isn't right. It doesn't name Taggert for starters.

Then again, if you take out Hartlett and a couple of others, that Port side is a whose who of "who?".

Haha..I'm kinda glad it's not being broadcast now. We're gonna get pummelled!

Nice positive post, but it's TrenGOVE. He's our captain. Let's get his name right. Was casting my eye over the 2007 draft, and Dangerfield and Selwood would've been handy names to add to that list. Instead we got Morton and Maric. The colossal draft mistakes we've made the past few years can never be repeated. I am feeling alot more positive about those pulling the strings which is just as important as having confidence in those running out on the field.

Yep, I have to admit when I saw it go through I was thinking "nice finish, well done", but really we had a chance to win which he fluffed. Do I care? Not at all. It was NAB Cup and he's a first year player. He looks the goods to me. His mistakes were about composure, not skill, so he's going to only get better.

Worse than the Sydney game?? That game was 186-esque.

Seems to be the elephant in the room. Not gonna judge too harshly on pre-season, but if he doesn't pull the finger out this year and get some old fashioned desire, he's surely gone. Waiting time is over. He just doesn't seem to get his hands on it enough. It's frustrating because when he does he is easily one of the most damaging.

i admit it, I love him already.

I watched a replay of the North game last night, and Jordie's kicking is not AFL standard, it's that simple. My opinion is that at this level you can't carry that in one of your core midfielders, no matter what stage you're at as a team. Yes he gives his all and is a tackling machine, but not being able to kick the footy is kind of a big issue is it not? It's crying over spilt milk to an extent because he's in the leadership group and is here or at least another 3 years, but it's a concern if he can't improve it. That aside, watching the game again gave me alot of hope for this season. We could've easily won that first match and possibly should have won it.

Hm, had forgotten about that.

My hope is that the reality of his punishment is not so severe. That is, he will still be paid, he will still maintain some role of importance at the club during his suspension (how closely are the AFL going to monitor it, really..), and those in football's inner circle do not judge him too harshly for something in which he was made the fall guy. It is frustrating not being privy to the nature of the negotiations, and to what extent Connolly felt it best that he take the bullet.

Australian cricket scores or English cricket scores?

I just don't find it surprising that he's already showing he's going to be alot better this year than last, now that he has nothing to chuck the sooks over.