Hannabal

Yes. Do you watch football ? You're becoming the greatest apologist I've ever seen on the forums. No wonder this club has been mired in crap for 40+ years. You're a typical Melb supporter. Btw, I like Gysberts before you start getting precious - as usual.

I know that Watts is a mate of yours, so it's understandable that you'd defend him to the hilt. The only question mark in footy circles prior to Watts being drafted was whether he was soft. I need to make this point though. Being soft doesn't necessarily mean one lacks courage, and it's an important distinction to make. Encouragingly, Watts put his body on the line in the Port game and doesn't pull out of contests. He lacks physicality and plays in a way that protects himself from certain situations, which is why he often plays from behind. He does this because he doesn't trust his strength in contests and it's not a natural part of his game. Right now, 'one-on-one' is his achilles heel. The first question he asked Grant Thomas around at Thomas' house the day he was introduced to Nick Riewoldt was whether Riewoldt was as skinny as he was when drafted. His weight, or lack thereof, has played on his mind from the moment he joined AFL ranks. So, just to reiterate, I'm not saying that he lacks courage, in fact I don't think he does, but I am saying that he presently lacks the required physicality for AFL footy. Pack marking takes courage and Jack won a game for Vic Metro against Vic Country by taking a great pack mark with seconds to go. He also had the courage to kick the goal. Morton is soft, but has improved in this area in 2010. Jurrah is also soft, but gets away with it due to his type of game. There were many glaring examples at Casey last year where Jurrah avoided body contact in marking contests and if you do a search you'll note that I mentioned it at the time on this website. Jurrah is fine on a lead, or going for a high grab coming from behind, but noticably avoids situations that expose his front. Robbie Flower was skinny too, but he was also as brave as they come. Jurrah falls short in this department. Other people may have different versions of what "soft" is to them.

You've graduated in a diploma for the irrelevent. Congratulations. As for Watts being a superstar ? Let's hope so, as his natural ability is undeniable. He's not presently AFL ready, but I'm happy they're getting games into him. When he has another 7-8 kgs of muscle on his frame it may well give him the confidence that he's presently lacking. I saw a 17 year old, skinny, Dermott Brereton play finals in his first year. From day one Brereton not only didn't avoid contests, he craved them. It's one thing to make allowances for Watts, it's another to not understand the player at your disposal. Physicality isn't a natural part of Watts' game. If he can develop it through confidence, maturity, development from his coaches, then there's no doubt we have a potential superstar on our hands. There's also a possibilty he'll be a Steven Smith and play 200 soft games. Let's hope things fall the right way. He couldn't possibly be as soft as David Cordner. Could he ?

He didn't get picked up relatively early in the draft and put on an AFL list if he couldn't play. And I was particularly impressed with his Vic Metro game versus WA at the Dome in 08, so I know he can play. And I've seen him train and I've watched him at Casey, so any opinion being formed isn't on the back of "one bad game". He's soft. And if he doesn't eradicate it from his game he'll have a limited career. I'm yet to be convinced he'll develop a yearning for the contest. Needless to say, I hope he can, as the ability is evident.

No, it's called describing what happened in the field of play. I prefer not to spoon feed people. It was obvious that Jurrah hadn't played for 4 months, so why would I feel it necessary to state the bleeding obvious ? It was obvious to most that read here that it was Fitzpatrick's first senior game for Casey, so why would I feel the need to point that out to those reading here ? After all, I can leave the platitudes for you.

If they'd won by 5 goals I'd make the same observations. Have you heard of 'calling it as you see it' ? You and others are welcome to spend your lives making excuses for players and I'll critique what I see - good, bad, or indifferent. There's no need for me to outline any of the reasons why a player may have performed in a particular way, such as coming back from injury, lack of preseason, first year player, etc, as I've got 95% of forum members that do little else.

Not all posters like fawning over their team's players just because they play for the club that one supports. Some supporters like to be somewhat dispassionate and call it as they see it. I hope Strauss makes it and he certainly has the ability to do so. To date, he hasn't shown me that he has the physicality or yearning for the contest to be an AFL player. If he's able to successfully address this aspect of his game then he'll become a good AFL player because he has the skill sets to do so. Watts is in the same boat. Yes, he hasn't had a full preseaon in two years, but he also doesn't like physical contact, in fact, he tries to avoid it. This is why he plays from behind and loses his feet too easily. Watts has immense ability, but unless he starts changing the makeup of his game he'll only become a good AFL player, not a great one. Due to his height, marking ability, etc, I at worst see him as becoming a decent AFL footballer. Perhaps he would have made a better basketballer.

The neck and the nose belong to Tapscott, imo.

A young leading midfielder at another club told my Brother that he didn't rate Strauss. This was just after we drafted Strauss and Blease. They played Vic Metro with each other and Strauss was the captain of Scotch. It was mentioned that he's "soft". Since then I've watched Strauss reasonably closely. I can't say that I disagree with the assessment. Like Watts, maybe he needs to take up a non contact sport.

I reckon it's Tapscott in the photo and not Trengove.

I'm in a vexed situation. The thread is clearly stupid, but at the same time I hate Russell's guts, ergo I fully endorse this thread.

You saw it wrong. He didn't contest and he needed to. No doubt he's been told during his review with the coaches.

People weren't asked how well they think he should play given his injury circumstances, just how well he did play. Next time I'll spoon feed people.

I wouldn't get into a long winded debate about this as it's not the time nor place, but I'd dispute this view. The most positive and strong willed people have and do die of cancer and some of the most negative people from the outset survive. I don't think there are any studies that support your theory, but I'm happy to be directed to them. That said, I know which state of mind I'd recommend to people. And no, I have no expertise in this field whatsoever.

A poster asked how he played. Do you want people to water down their observations, or just not respond ?

I don't mind him except, imo, he's a poor caller due to the constant mistakes he makes. With monotonous regularity he incorrectly identifies the player with the ball. He also makes interpretation errors. Yesterday he stated that a West Coast player "threw" the ball when in fact he knocked it on with a clenched fist. This type of example happens every game. He's overrated in media circles.

Jurrah: played his opponent from behind and didn't work hard enough. Aussie: has an ar$e the size of a poisoned pup. Cheney: solid, but is on borrowed time. Not enough dash. Fitzpatrick: showed pace for such a tall. Didn't contest a mark in the last where a Willi kid ran the wrong way with the flight and marked with no Casey player making body contact. Fitzy had a look and turned his toes up. Bell: tries. The less said the better. Strauss: he's soft. Great kick, but he won't make it. Bennell: needs to find a position. Has class, but needs more strength. PJ: pass. Spencer: just won't be skilled enough to make a competent AFL ruckman. I doubt I've ever seen a side fumble more. Just got back from my boy's under 10's match and they were cleaner in slippery conditions. I'm not exaggerating.

Anybody that has an ounce of understanding of our great game knows that it's far easier to play well in a good side. Take out some of the middle tier players at Geelong and put them in Richmond's side and you'll see a far more fallible footballer.

And that's the key and it's also the reason that Flower's legacy is undersold when 'best of' lists and teams are re-created. Yes he was rated very highly and was named on the wing in the HS's team of the decade in the 70's and 80's, but he'd be remembered for being greater than he is if he'd played at a successful club. He's also marked down for just the one B&F. He should have been named on the wing in the team of last century. He was better than Greig and his ability was never exemplified better than when he shone as a Victorian player. When playing with the best of the best he regularly stood out as in a class of his own.

He kicked 9 against Carlton in 2002 and 9 against Richmond in 2004. He kicked 8 against North and St.Kilda in 2006.

I don't live in the bush and actually attended that game. I don't want to denigrate a Demon great so I'll leave it at that. Needless to say, I disagree with you completely.

Surely you're kidding. He was good on a lead, but never took a high pack mark in his life. Actually, he did take one, but I'm not sure who was more surprised, him or me. Anyone that watched him regularly knows this.

Good pick up, I'm wrong there. I was actually referring to Michael (not the Son of) and not Chris. Michael, a left footer, actually showed a bit of class early on.

It's futile to compare eras. You can really only compare players to others of their own generation, which is where Lyon falls down. Jimmy can hold his head higher in this regard. Lyon was a poor overhead contested mark, which stopped him taking the next level. His other attributes were superb. Stynes ended his career a great ruckman/follower, but I wouldn't have him as one of the greats of the game. He's a great of the MFC no doubt. That said, I wouldn't get into an argument over it and he was definitely in the upper echelon for his era.

I was dealt a cruel blow having been born post our last premiership. Although one of my older Brothers had a large poster of Tassie Johnson on our bedroom door. My early memories are of names such as Henry Ritterman, Osborne, Parke, Ditterich, Brewer, Alves, Wells, Callery, Marty Lyons and the incomparable Flower. Then it was on to the Viking, Steve Smith, Jarrott, Graham, Cattogio, Moore, Sparks, the late Wayne Gordon and the stellar Chris Woodman. The latter once missed a goal from 15 metres out - he didn't make the distance. Then more pain was to ensue with Seddon, Reynolds, Bamblett, O'Sullivan (Son of), through to Bailey, Battiston, O'Brien, etc. before finally getting some class in the late 80's. Unfortunately, the best I've seen in Lyon, Viney, Stynes, Neitz, Tingay, Schwarz, the Lovett's, etc were a rung below the greats of the game and hence never won a flag. I best be thankful for small mercies I suppose.