btdemon

Aussie is developing a lovely ability to appear in a hole in the forward line. He has a great sense of space. His converswion rate is pretty damn good as well.

IMO Aussie must be considered very unlucky.

Please post photos. Thanks heaps.

Arousal isn't just sexual you know. Just a general state of exitement.

I'm quite an old fellow (52) and I'm certainly a pathetic tragic (my wife tells me this constantly). I know that I'm surrounded by other pathetic tragics I on this site so I'm among friends. But I've never been so excited about the prospects of the club as I am now. I don't know if its the threat of extinction, the prospect of a backs to the wall fight for survival, the cleanout of the place, the arrival of Jimmy, the exciting crop of recruits including the young Messiah, the influx of indigenous players, the prospect of an 193cm quick forward with huge mits from the NT, or a combination of all of the aforementioned. I'm telling you, my blood is pumping and I am AROUSED!!!! We have a potentially wonderful mix of height, speed, skill, grunt and smarts. They will mature as a group in about three years. Its a very exciting era to witness. Yeah Baby Yeah!!

He just needs to learn to kick with accuracy and penetration. There is no room in the game now for wonky kicks under pressure, especially in the backline.

I love the look of this kid. I know he's a whippet, but he's strong and a very skillful tackler, (judging by all the footage). great decision making, creative, great kick, and super quick. Looks a little like a lightweight Joel Selwood to me.

If a bloke has the speed and spring of this bloke, and has a reasonable pair of hands, why could he not dominate at full forward? I know people are saying that he doesn't yet have the footy smarts, but I don't know if he has been tried there? Surely he would apply tremendous defensive pressure as well. The guy tackles like a monster. If his hands are not that good yet, just remember PJ a couple of years ago. Couldn't take an overhead pack mark to save his life. I think NickNat's potential to be anything is too precious to overlook, whether it be as a dominant ruck or forward, or even something like Adam Goodes, a tall quick powerful midfielder who can do anything. This would change the game forever. He is worth the risk. We know that Rich will be a good midfielder and that Watts will probably be a clever forward, but NickNat could be anything!!!!!

FWIW, I know a young bloke who played on Watts a couple of weeks ago. When he told me my ears pricked up and I asked him if he thought Watts was any good. He was pretty underwhelmed. This is just an anecdote but it supports my suspicion that maybe Watts is going to be a clever and skillful star forward but not an intimidating and imposing leader who scares the [censored] out opposition, which is what we need. The boy who told me this is pretty big and strong.

You're right Biffo. I made comment about his up and under kicking a year or so ago on this forum. At the time I didn't see a real possibly of much improvement. Kicking patterns are really learnt during childhood and teen years. However, I have seen a marked improvement in his kicking penetration this year and he has surprised me. Yesterday it was back to his old style. Maybe the poster who suggested that it was the horrible windy and greasy conditions was right. Any way Miller has given me hope that he will be a useful player for as in the future.

Halelujah brother! I watched Davey closely too (because he is our most skillful player), and I agree with you 100%

Newton did one good thing! Even that was flukey and undisciplined. Otherwise he was - SOFT, INEPT, UNCOMMITTED, CLUMSY, USELESS, DUMB. I'm sure he may be a nice person and doesn't deserve to be insulted and I hope he doesn't read this because I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I don't think he has what it takes. He is infuriating and frustrating to watch!! Please let him go Bailey! I watched Bell carefully today and saw a bloke who just didn't know where to run to. He is not soft. He is committed, strong and quick, but just continues to make dumb choices. This was true for a number of players today. Buckley is a good example. I think they have told to take them on at all costs, hence that embarrassing stuff up in front of goal. Jones also made a lot of dumb choices, but does continue to put his body in to the tough contests time and time again. On the other hand I saw a lot to like about Morton. Yes, he is skinny and his tackles don't stick, but seemed to have great vision, good hands and good disposal. Martin continues to impress me. I think he will improve his disposal under pressure. Davey played a great game IMO. He played around the centre stoppages and then drifted back as a sweeper. It appeared to me that it was a very disciplined game but also he was the only player who got the ball forward of the centre with any creativity.

Complete soft rubbish today. CU later

People who want to trade Davey are deluded. He is the most exiting and skilled player on our list. He is not a Travis, he is not lazy. He is a small forward and sometimes midfielder. His disposal is second to no one in our team and I would rather see him with the ball than anyone. I don't expect him to play like Jones. He is not engine room, he is icing on the cake.

While his disposal is very frustrating, his instinct to run is great. He is predictable in that he almost always takes off from any situation, but he sure breaks the lines. The thing that is so impressive is that he seems to have that wonderful ability to evade tackles. A subtle sideways movement that is so prized in rugby league. No one seems to be able to get their hands on him properly.

I disagree with the poster who says that Bate's skills have not improved. His decision making and disposal (maybe not today) are way better.

After the last few weeks I must admit to thinking that we would win today. The reality is that a very young list like ours will perform inconsistently. For example, Aussie has been our most reliable and productive forward. He cannot be expected turn it on every week. He is young. Likewise, Garland, Martin, Morton and even Jones and Bartram. For the past few weeks we have gone OK because they have played with real desperation, not necessarily skill and control. For this season and probably next, we will be teased by great spirited performances and a degree of disappointment. Despite all of this, I am still extremely happy with the direction. Bailey is playing the goers, and by and large, they are doing just that. There is a new mongrel attitude, which I love. I am still very hopeful for the future. PS. I'm not a big fan of Juice so far. I hope I'm wrong.

Very interesting. You want to trade all of the players who are playing well. I do think Newton is a lazy and uncommitted player. The one thing that Bailey has done has isolated lazy players. If he continues as a lazy player he won't last.

Aaron Davey is my favorite player and keeps me going to the footy. That's all.

Jeff White has been a fantastic player for us. He is much smaller than the average ruckman yet yet for the past ten years he has helped propel us into the finals many times. When he was playing well we were playing well. He has had to endure horrible injuries and showed tremendous courage. No, he is not the physical type ruckman who imposes himself and intimidates. That sort of aggression does not seem to be in his nature. I see him as a true professional AFL player who prepared himself physically for every season and consistently did what was asked of him and more. To see him slip out the back door without fanfare and acknowledgment would be a great travesty. Bailey is correct to experiment this year, and probably drop him on form, I hope he gets a number of good games before the season's end and we can send him off properly. Yze as well.

It might be a lot of bula. but I'm willing to go along with it.

Are you saying that someone like Jezza or Bobby Skilton or Leigh Matthews wouldn't train so that they would reach the fitness demands of today's game. What a ridiculous idea! of course they would. And they would be the same elite champions as they were in their day. In fact, I was watching a bit 'footy flashbacks' and saw Skilton do the same side step and change pace that Ablett would employ today and slotted through a goal. ..........)thinks) Jezza probably wouldn't have a [censored] at half time

Oh and I forgot Dean Cox, who is just awesome atm in a crap team.

How do you expect Warnock to be racking up stats when Freo have a number one ruckman like Sandilands? To compare his stats with Cox's at the same age is a little spurious. Given more opportunity at number one he might be more impressive.

He has become very good in the last couple of years. He's hot at the moment. I've seen a lot of players, and he's good, but no way is the best I've ever seen. His father was pretty good you know. So was Wayne Carey, Leigh Matthews, Alex Jesaulenko, Greg Williams, James Hird, Robbie Flower, Michael Voss, Barry Cable, Royce Hart, Darrell Baldock, Ian Stewart, Polly Farmer, Ted Whitten, Dermie, Nathan Buckley. So are some current players - Andrew McLeod, J Brown, Buddy Franklin, Chris Judd, Adam Goodes. Yes, Ablett is HOT at the moment, and is the best in the league at what he does, extract the ball out the middle and do something very creative and effective with it. Judd at his fittest was just as effective and even more explosive. Ablett jnr. is an amazing player, and he may get even better, but he is not the best I've ever seen.