rjay

Would love to clone him. A bit will depend on how quickly Hogan comes up and whether Dawes does, that will open our options up. In the best case I would play him ruck and have him resting for periods forward a bit like what Ottens did for the Cats. For now I think he will play forward as I agree he is our best forward.

Means he's not carrying any injuries and is ready for a full preseason for the first time. The club are easing in his workload until all the players are back. Great news I would think.

Thanks for the stats on this 'rpfc'. interesting reading. I suspect that Jamar was doing more of what 'deanox' is talking about back in 2010 but has dropped the ball a bit, probably not in line with the Neeld game plan like many. He really needs to give us a lot more this year. My preference is still for Clark to play in the ruck (this is obviously not the Roos plan at the moment) probably with Fitz as the back up. I think Clark gives us that Moore, Stynes type utility ruck/midfielder.

Not with you on this one, can't afford to carry a one dimensional player like King. We have enough of our own to offload.

Just thinking the same thing today 'Robbie'.

I wouldn't be using King as the benchmark for anything, the Tiges are going nowhere until he is moved on.

The games changing 'Nasher', we can beg to differ on this one. Give me a Peter Moore or Jim Stynes any day.

...and I am saying we should be aiming above par and shooting for the best.

I think you might find that Will Minson was AA for a reason this year and Cox is a multiple AA ruck. I know you will bring up Jamar but out of interest can you stats people let me know his average disposals in his AA year, not being a stat-o-phile my guess is more than than the last couple. Marks around the ground are also very important and I know Jamar was taking them in his AA year. I hold the Grant Thomas line that a ruck man is useless....unless he does more than tap the ball.

My argument is that taps and clearances are only a part of what the ruck man needs to do. We need a ruck man that can get his own ball, not just tap it. We have one in Clark but prefer to use him forward so we need to find another. There is also an argument that clearances are not as important with a lot of teams relying more on the counterpunch.

Nah, Newton was an athlete who looked good when he got lucky and in the right place. Hogan is a footballer with athletic ability and a real competitive hard edge who knows how & where to get the ball and what to do with it when he has it. That judgement we can make now.

If it was Neeld and Schwab I would be worried but could't think of anyone better than Roos. Agree 'stuie' was having fun with the Carey line. I do think his game style is more Carey like though.

Seeing as Gerard Healy says he is the new Carey I reckon you can.

Yep, they could have gone with Longer, made an offer on Hampson, even Jolly or traded in for Jamar. They didn't because they wanted mobile, flexible.

Clark is our only well rounded ruck at the moment. We may need to trade one in or draft over the next few years if Gawn doesn't come up. I know most want to see Clark as a permanent forward and the coach has flagged him as a 2nd ruck option but we do need a ruck who can influence the game around the ground and not just contest centre bounces. We're down one mid if Jamar doesn't start holding his grabs and get a bit of ball around the ground.

I agree with you on most of it 'billy' and we've been talking in circles a bit. Hard is good, nice is not good, aggressive can be stupid but I still think work rate is a big part of it. Without the work rate you just don't get there unless you get run into, it's always someone else's problem. I think the mindset can change but not easily, it's a habit. Watched the boys do some tackling with the rugby guy last preseason and he had them tackling low to take the opponent out of the contest and free the ball (as you rightly say). As soon as the games started these same players where hanging there arms out, tackling high and giving away frees. Totally agree with you on our tackling and I hope it changes because it is one of those things that is not hard to do.

You heard it from someone and then made an interpretation of what was said, ever heard of Chinese whispers. Ok, you were there, good for you, you didn't say you were in your post you said you heard from someone. It really doesn't matter. I think Watts problem with tackling is a mix of technique and commitment to tackle. Work rate is part of commitment, you have to work to get to the contest or the player with the ball unless he runs into your arms. I don't relate tackling to physical development or aggression although both can in some cases be a positive and in others a negative.

They have a good record with this sort of pick...Gysberts.

sorry, re read your initial post on this. It seems neither of us was at that training session.

For one I don't think you know what's going through Jack's mind and want or have to tackle makes no difference so long as they tackle and do it correctly. The difference I'm talking about and the where I am talking about work rate is in not letting the guy out of your area without chasing and tackling, if he is running at you, you have no choice. by the way, I'm pretty sure I was at the same training session you are talking about.

Well you have a preconceived idea that's why you don't understand. You can teach all the technique you want but if a player is not committed to tackling it means nothing. Tackling is purely technique and commitment, aggression doesn't really come into it and in fact these days is more likely to get you weeks on the sidelines.

Don't agree here, with less rotations it is more important than ever that the ruck man carry his weight around the ground. A well rounded ruck gets kicks and takes marks otherwise we are one mid down.

Sly's story seems backward to me. He is talking infraction notices before Dank has been interviewed. He may be on the money but logic would say all the evidence is not in.

Joel Corey? Enright is a 5x AA back.

I think you are reading what he said the wrong way. He's not talking about aggression, courage or anything but getting off your a.... and making the effort to lay the tackle. He's talking work rate.