I apologize for not finishing this in one hit, but it isn't easy to get on the computer around here at the moment. It is now complete - I hope it can inspire some thoughts:
The preseason is over for another year and the real stuff is about to begin. We've played 3 'practice matches' against fair dinkum opponents. So:
[1] What have we learnt about our chances for 2014?
[2] Do we look to have improved significantly?
[3] Has our recruiting and player development improved?
I am normally pretty positive. I like to find the good things and look forward hoping for the best. However, I am really struggling with that at this point. Maybe I need to have my antidepressants.... < :) >
Why am I not confident?
(1) Trend towards preseason performances corresponding to season's performances:
In many past seasons our preseason has shown little about how we are going to play in the main games. In 1995, for example, we lost every single preseason game and went on to win the premiership. We did the same thing in 1987 and 1979.
Similarly, most Malthouse coached teams have not done well in preseasons.
That would bode well, would it not?
However, this trend has not quite worked out in the few years. Since our Flags, back in the Pagan Days, our preseason and our season have been very similar: if we play poorly in the practice matches we usually start poorly and struggled to overcome that. We have seriously disappointed and lost to teams we shouldn't have.
Since Ratts became coach, we have ended up doing a lot less 'experimenting' and ended up playing combinations well below our best in rounds 1 and 2.
It may not be mathematically significant yet, but it is getting there.
This preseason looks to be following the trail of our recent ones. We haven't had a lot of guys coming through. We have had injuries and slow recoveries from surgery that have really meant we've started well below our best.
(2) List Management:
Our list does not appear to have improved significantly.
Firstly, of our current regulars, a number of really important players are well behind in their recovery and look seriously underdone. Judd will miss at least the first 3 games. Carrots has been missing and looks to miss more. Hendo may or may not be fit enough, but he is well underdone. Kreuzer is a long way from his best form.
We may not have huge numbers of injuries, but our present ones are particularly strategic. Few of guys who have been playing look like they can cover these players.
Secondly, our depth appears to be of concern. Our depth was once really important. We could introduce guys who would fill in adequately until our other 'better' players came back.
We certainly don't appear to have that depth at the moment.
The last time we appeared to was when Robinson and Garlett got their first game against Richmond. We looked very weak on paper, but we surprised Richmond and all of our new players had good nights.
Thirdly, we have barely introduced any new players in early rounds since then and have little success from the few we did. Certainly our team sheet appears to be quite predictable in early rounds.
At the moment we appear to be really short on good quality players around the packs, in the key defence and forward roles.
(3) Centre Square:
We have played 12 competitive quarters so far this year and have won in the centre square for only 3 of them. And those 3 were the first 3 against North Melbourne.
Although our clearance numbers do not appear too bad, we are really get smashed in the centre square. Against Adelaide, for example, we won1 centre clearance compared to every 4 the Crows won.
Basically, that is the difference between winning and losing in itself. We found it difficult to come back because we couldn't get the ball to our forwards in any approaching a reasonable manner.
Against the Dogs, they brought on Liberatore at half time and had him get 16 possessions for the 3rd term alone. He had more centre clearances for the quarter than our entire team did.
If we keep going like that we have no chance at all: our forwards don't get any reasonable opportunity.
I don't see where our clearances are going to come from either, with Judd and McLean suffering injuries.
It also make we wonder about our ruck division, as we are winning a reasonable number of hit outs, but not getting any advantage out of them.
(4) Lack of Intensity:
Granted that we only have the 3 games to compare to and none of the real thing, but we appear to lack the real intensity, the win at all costs belief and willingness to push that extra step that teams like Geelong and Hawthorn have. Without this 'killer instinct', the hyper competitiveness that guys like Silvagni used to have, we will not be able to beat the favourites. We just don't win enough 1 on 1 battles around the field, especially when it counts; our key forward and key defenders in particular.
(5) Fitness:
Late last year when Cordy left and Buttifant came in, the word around was that we were working on our ability to run out games. This was something that was really noticeable when Cordy started. teams feared our ability to come back in the last quarter.
However, in recent times we appear to run out of gas and rarely score more than our opposition in the last stanza. We managed it a couple of times towards the end of last season and it really stuck out. Not only did we come back to win, but it gave our team a of of confidence and momentum leading in to the next week.
So, with this as our goal, it appears we have improved in no way. We have been overrun in the last quarter in 2 of the 3 games and we have been unable to overcome a tiring opponent in the 3rd. The Dogs were definitely losing momentum, yet were unable to bridge the gap.
That is really bad.
(6) X Factor & Kicking for goal:
Back in the day we had a lot of players who really had x - factor and who could take the spectacular mark or get the miracle goal that could kick start the lineup. We seem to be lacking that at the moment.
Our kicking for goals appears quite pedestrian, especially with Waite and Casboult. There is no longer and Eddie Betts to make a goal out of nothing. Nor is there the Fev who can pull out a mark and kick a goal from almost anywhere.
I am hoping that Daisy Thomas can make an improvement in this area as he gets his form and fitness back, but he can't do it alone. We need someone who can really lift and lift the side with him.
Our goal kicking is also suspect under pressure. We have a lot of guys who miss clutch goals. Kreuzer, once one of the best shots at goal, has scored 1 in every 3 attempts in the last couple of years. Waite and Casboult have been known to miss from close range. Our former Captain is one of our worst offenders. he used to be able to make goals out of nothing at the Weagles, but now he misses 3 out of 4 shots.
So, to answer my original questions:
[1] Our chances do not look good, as a number of teams appear to be very much on the rise. Our better players are one year older and we appear to be a mid round team at best.
[2] We do not appear to have improved significantly in the areas we really needed to. Our forward line and key defensive posts look suspect and we appear deficient int he centre square.
[3] While our kids look a little better at this point than last year, they do not appear as yet to be the answers to our prayers.
I will be heading to Etihad next weekend with a lot of foreboding. I'll be shouting my guts out and willing us to do well. But my expectations at this point are low. I really hate that.
Whilst CRASH is fossicking about for his meds...
As I mentioned previously, like the CRASHmeister, I am used to being optimistic at this time of year - there's been something to hang an optimistic hat on. Oh, except for that recent pre-season under Ratts where we looked rubbish and the season ended up following suit.
We've had brilliant pre-seasons in the past decade and still managed to not continue on (even two pre-season premierships which were followed by seasons that pioneered new levels of embarrassment for the club).
For the first time... ever, I think... I'm not optimistic about this season and pray that I am shocked and surprised and so wrong I begin to question my eyesight.
I do see a side that is playing hard and strong. The attitude and commitment looks great. But we look inept and incapable of actually over powering another side. We still seem fragile... and that is the first thing that I have learnt from this pre-season. We still seem fragile in terms of ruthlessly grabbing the ascendancy, keeping it and even extending up it.
And the other thing I have learnt from this pre-season... we still rely too much on too few. Top sides win when missing stars as it is ingrained in their culture. I fear our culture has more years to go to be truly strong, and that we do not have the personnel to deliver significant success hence more years of serious culling at season's end to get the right blokes into the place. We're still making excuses for Kreuzer, Rowe, Casboult, Lucas, Warnock, Watson, Bootsma, Waite... we justify and rationalise their inadequate efforts. And that just should not be happening.
Now I'm going to find my anti-depressants. Wanna share, CRASHmeister??
To offer a different point of view....
Lets look at things we can be positive about.
#1 - Daisy Thomas.
Firstly, he is playing. Some suggested his ankle would see his career over.
Secondly, he is playing...well. From what i saw of him after the Adelaide match, i've just about got a new favourite player.
Thirdly, he is leading. Both with his actions and with words out on the field and on the track.
#2 - Andrejs Everitt
Great pickup, playing well, adds flexibility, versatility and class.
Perhaps his biggest attribute is in combination with...
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
#4 - Lachie Henderson
With Andrejs and Watson stepping up it allows us to swing Lachie around more often and not have to worry too much about leaving a gaping hole at one end of the ground.
Andrejs can play up forward and kick goals, meaning Hendo doesn't have too.
Andrejs can play down back meaning Watson and Jamo get some extra help from him coming 3rd man up, and allowing Hendo to play forward.
In theory, if the above talls hold up, we can make a big improvement on last year.
To offer a different point of view....
Lets look at things we can be positive about.
#1 - Daisy Thomas.
Firstly, he is playing. Some suggested his ankle would see his career over.
Secondly, he is playing...well. From what i saw of him after the Adelaide match, i've just about got a new favourite player.
Thirdly, he is leading. Both with his actions and with words out on the field and on the track.
#2 - Andrejs Everitt
Great pickup, playing well, adds flexibility, versatility and class.
Perhaps his biggest attribute is in combination with...
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
#4 - Lachie Henderson
With Andrejs and Watson stepping up it allows us to swing Lachie around more often and not have to worry too much about leaving a gaping hole at one end of the ground.
Andrejs can play up forward and kick goals, meaning Hendo doesn't have too.
Andrejs can play down back meaning Watson and Jamo get some extra help from him coming 3rd man up, and allowing Hendo to play forward.
In theory, if the above talls hold up, we can make a big improvement on last year.
Actually, Krud, you really have found one things that really does look promising for the year: the improvement involved by the 4 guys mentioned above.
[1] Thomas looks to be an excellent pickup, given that he is still far from form and fitness. I am looking forward to seeing him in action, as he has some of the X factor that we need.
[2] Everitt: I am not quite as convinced as you yet, but he is doing at least as well as he did when he started at Sydney. If he can find the form he had late last year, and it looks likely, we have made a great pickup with him.
[3] Watson: I can only hope he can continue, as he has shown he could be an answer. Certainly, his playing well would make our lineup more unpredictable, as it would release Henderson and/or Everitt while keeping a key forward under control.
[4] Hendo: fitness is the thing that worries me about him. He is important to us and could be the missing piece of the puzzle. But he needs to be 100 % fit and he is weeks away from that.
[2] Everitt: I am not quite as convinced as you yet, but he is doing at least as well as he did when he started at Sydney. If he can find the form he had late last year, and it looks likely, we have made a great pickup with him.
Will be a gun imo.
Biggie issue for me is when will Matt Kreuzer start to deliver something a #1 draft pick should deliver....?
Another season of 'he would have/could have but for injuries'.... and I would look at trading him.
25 in May and 100 games under his belt now - he needs to become a Mike Sheehan top 20 list player.....
Time for Special K to live up to his moniker?
I've learnt why Mick went after Thomas and, to a lesser extent Everitt.
The kid just loves playing football.
@Baggers
That list of yours................. Kreuzer, Rowe, Casboult, Lucas, Warnock, Watson, Bootsma, Waite. probably identifies our next clear out unless things change this year.
Kreuz and Lucas - potential trades.
Rowe & Casboult - delists.
Waite - retires.
Watson - possible trade, but I think he'll be OK.
Boots - steak knife.
They have it all to do this year.
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
He desperately needs 5 exceptionally reliable back man working with him. No speculative players, no maybes. Jammo, Touy, Walker, Simpson, Henderson. No Scotland, no Buckley, No Yarran, no Everitt (further up the ground).
Watson can work........if.
Boots - steak knife.
He will not be playing Northern Blues firsts by the end of the year.
Boots - steak knife.
He will not be playing Northern Blues firsts by the end of the year.
Pen knife then? ;D
Boots - steak knife.
He will not be playing Northern Blues firsts by the end of the year.
Pen knife then? ;D
Bamboo skewer maybe.
I don't think we know any more than we already did. I expect we may start slow again this year and maybe finish hard but maybe not. I'll take each win and look for improvement in players and the team as a whole and hope that we look like there's a tilt next year.
MM said it was a marathon, but winners don't start at the back of the pack.
[2] Everitt: I am not quite as convinced as you yet, but he is doing at least as well as he did when he started at Sydney. If he can find the form he had late last year, and it looks likely, we have made a great pickup with him.
Will be a gun imo.
Biggie issue for me is when will Matt Kreuzer start to deliver something a #1 draft pick should deliver....?
Another season of 'he would have/could have but for injuries'.... and I would look at trading him.
25 in May and 100 games under his belt now - he needs to become a Mike Sheehan top 20 list player.....
Time for Special K to live up to his moniker?
x 2
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
He desperately needs 5 exceptionally reliable back man working with him. No speculative players, no maybes. Jammo, Touy, Walker, Simpson, Henderson. No Scotland, no Buckley, No Yarran, no Everitt (further up the ground).
Watson can work........if.
Ideally, i reckon the back 6 would look something like this.
Simpson Jamison Tuohy
Walker Watson xxxx
Now xxxx would depend on who we were playing against and what kind of setup they had. If they had an extra tall we could use McInness/Everitt....or Hendo/Waite if we get desperate.
If they had an extra small it could be Gibbs/Buckley/Curnow/Scotland/Carrazzo who would all change through the middle at stages too.
If Watson can prove himself to be reliable at CHB, then he could be THE most important player on our list when it comes to structures. Without him, we have to completely alter our lineup.
We all keep hanging it on Kruezer but the truth is he is not a forward,he is better than warnock as warnock once the tap is is over so is he,in general play he is is a goal post.I believe we have to have Kruezer in the ruck and cas as the back up as even though he is not performing how we want him to at least he crashes packs and does gra one every now and then.And as for he's kicking I'd rather have a bloke that has a shot and misses than someone like warnock that does not even have a shot.You cannot rest warnock in the forward line so if he goes to the bench it means you are a rotation down,and if he is having a stinker which is more often than not it really stuffs you up .WArnock is not a footballers a.......e and should not be in the side.Its time we played the likes of cas and other young blokes because if we go back to what we have had over the last couple of years we will end up a so so team again.
Play crips ,play cas play Watson play bell play grahamplay menzel owhat have we got to loose.Put walker in the forward line play Judd of the bench play Gibbs I the center and if it doesn't work at least you have tried to step it up.The past is finished its time for the future .
like it or not at least it's my opinion
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
He desperately needs 5 exceptionally reliable back man working with him. No speculative players, no maybes. Jammo, Touy, Walker, Simpson, Henderson. No Scotland, no Buckley, No Yarran, no Everitt (further up the ground).
Watson can work........if.
Ideally, i reckon the back 6 would look something like this.
Simpson Jamison Tuohy
Walker Watson xxxx
Now xxxx would depend on who we were playing against and what kind of setup they had. If they had an extra tall we could use McInness/Everitt....or Hendo/Waite if we get desperate.
If they had an extra small it could be Gibbs/Buckley/Curnow/Scotland/Carrazzo who would all change through the middle at stages too.
If Watson can prove himself to be reliable at CHB, then he could be THE most important player on our list when it comes to structures. Without him, we have to completely alter our lineup.
Agree on Watson ...like I have said on the Port match thread he has to make it as a KP defender and allow henderson to partner Waite up forward and give us an edge........
McInnes is very much the negative defender...gives no drive and I'm starting to think Simon White who at last has some grunt and muscle might be the better man as your 3rd tall defender...
Nup White too much of a brain fade specialist even more so than McInnes.
McInnes is very much the negative defender...gives no drive and I'm starting to think Simon White who at last has some grunt and muscle might be the better man as your 3rd tall defender...
Given who else is around in that backline, do we need to rely on McInness to give us drive??
Simpson, Walker, Tuohy....find me 3 players from any other side who will provide more run and carry! Won't be able to do it. McInness can stay at home. ;)
[2] Everitt: I am not quite as convinced as you yet, but he is doing at least as well as he did when he started at Sydney. If he can find the form he had late last year, and it looks likely, we have made a great pickup with him.
Will be a gun imo.
Biggie issue for me is when will Matt Kreuzer start to deliver something a #1 draft pick should deliver....?
Another season of 'he would have/could have but for injuries'.... and I would look at trading him.
25 in May and 100 games under his belt now - he needs to become a Mike Sheehan top 20 list player.....
Time for Special K to live up to his moniker?
x 2
x3
#3 - Matthew Watson
Seems to have kicked it up a notch and becoming more confident in his abilities. We desperately need big blokes to stand up and he (and Andrejs) appear to be doing that which leads me to...
He desperately needs 5 exceptionally reliable back man working with him. No speculative players, no maybes. Jammo, Touy, Walker, Simpson, Henderson. No Scotland, no Buckley, No Yarran, no Everitt (further up the ground).
Watson can work........if.
Ideally, i reckon the back 6 would look something like this.
Simpson Jamison Tuohy
Walker Watson xxxx
Now xxxx would depend on who we were playing against and what kind of setup they had. If they had an extra tall we could use McInness/Everitt....or Hendo/Waite if we get desperate.
If they had an extra small it could be Gibbs/Buckley/Curnow/Scotland/Carrazzo who would all change through the middle at stages too.
If Watson can prove himself to be reliable at CHB, then he could be THE most important player on our list when it comes to structures. Without him, we have to completely alter our lineup.
Agree on Watson ...like I have said on the Port match thread he has to make it as a KP defender and allow henderson to partner Waite up forward and give us an edge........
McInnes is very much the negative defender...gives no drive and I'm starting to think Simon White who at last has some grunt and muscle might be the better man as your 3rd tall defender...
With you there, EB1. McInnes is a very good 'negater' and really puts in. But White also offers this plus better grunt, takes a good grab and can pinch hit up forward. Very flexible. I suspect this bloke will only get better and surprise.
It's only pre-season, reckon we look a little underdone, thats just my two cents.
Not making any calls based on 3 practice games.
McInnes is very much the negative defender...gives no drive and I'm starting to think Simon White who at last has some grunt and muscle might be the better man as your 3rd tall defender...
Given who else is around in that backline, do we need to rely on McInness to give us drive??
Simpson, Walker, Tuohy....find me 3 players from any other side who will provide more run and carry! Won't be able to do it. McInness can stay at home. ;)
Don't forget the Yazz Krudds!
McInnes is very much the negative defender...gives no drive and I'm starting to think Simon White who at last has some grunt and muscle might be the better man as your 3rd tall defender...
Given who else is around in that backline, do we need to rely on McInness to give us drive??
Simpson, Walker, Tuohy....find me 3 players from any other side who will provide more run and carry! Won't be able to do it. McInness can stay at home. ;)
Don't forget the Yazz Krudds!
I'm not forgetting, he just plays further up the ground. The other 3 play almost exclusively in the backline and generate the run from there. Thus, why McInness doesnt need to worry about running.
But does he, will he?
It's only pre-season, reckon we look a little underdone, thats just my two cents.
Not making any calls based on 3 practice games.
The pre season is a bastard. If we do well it's a curse, yet if we fail alarm bells ring.
With you there, EB1. McInnes is a very good 'negater' and really puts in. But White also offers this plus better grunt, takes a good grab and can pinch hit up forward. Very flexible. I suspect this bloke will only get better and surprise.
He is shight and he's 26 this year. If we're relying on him to be any more than a backup player we're forked the guy goes to water under any sort of decent pressure.
I think MM ideally would like a McInnes or White to play the deep 3rd tall in defence allowing Walker and Everitt to play between half-back and half-forward and also not ask an undersized Tuohy at 187cm to play that role or a lumbering Rowe at 198cm to be that man. Might depend on who we play and the like but its a tough one because we don't want to 'carry' blokes either though structure is very important too.
The HB/HF's we have of quality is great and probably a real strength of ours - guys such as Walker, Simpson, Everitt, Yarran, Tuohy. Dynamic. Could add an understudy in Buckley there we hope this season along with the new Docherty too.
We ve learned that our skills by foot and hand havent improved, and that we re still going to have massive issues with Key position forwards.
So, to answer my original questions:
[1] Our chances do not look good, as a number of teams appear to be very much on the rise. Our better players are one year older and we appear to be a mid round team at best.
[2] We do not appear to have improved significantly in the areas we really needed to. Our forward line and key defensive posts look suspect and we appear deficient int he centre square.
[3] While our kids look a little better at this point than last year, they do not appear as yet to be the answers to our prayers.
I will be heading to Etihad next weekend with a lot of foreboding. I'll be shouting my guts out and willing us to do well. But my expectations at this point are low. I really hate that.
You've saved me a lot of words there crash.....100% agree with what you've written above. Feel as though we're treading water, whilst others overtake us & those above us continue at their higher standard. Sick of hearing the likes of Kreuzer, Murphy & Gibbs described as "Very good players who haven't developed into the players they were expected to become....." - sick of hearing it, 'cos it's 100% true.
Another 'meh' year beckons.....
With you there, EB1. McInnes is a very good 'negater' and really puts in. But White also offers this plus better grunt, takes a good grab and can pinch hit up forward. Very flexible. I suspect this bloke will only get better and surprise.
He is shight and he's 26 this year. If we're relying on him to be any more than a backup player we're forked the guy goes to water under any sort of decent pressure.
Not sure 'goes to water under any sort of decent pressure' is fair. Especially when you factor in his neck injury then seeing his commitment in hard contests since. Seen him often be very physical at the contest and bring some hurt to opponents. Not sure Bootsma will ever deliver hurt in a contest... unless he squirrels someone ;) :)
With Boots he just doesn't have the body to make him a key defender. I'd play him in another role: I don't want to waste a top draft pick just because he isn't going to be FB of the Century.
Seems that every game he's played the opposition coaches look to isolate him one out. Sometimes with a small , sometimes with a tall.
I like the kid and reckon he has some good qualities but be has to either improve his one out ability or find a position somewhere else on the field or the coaching staff have to be aware of what he can do.
With Boots he just doesn't have the body to make him a key defender. I'd play him in another role: I don't want to waste a top draft pick just because he isn't going to be FB of the Century.
who in late first round or early second has really shone from '11?
Maybe I am wrong but do we always play him on bigger stronger players...he is our Zac Dawson and we keep finding Anthony Rocca's to play on him each game.
Think he is better suited to the wing where he can run and use that long boot of his, reminds me a bit of Frank Marchesani without the leg speed....
Reckon this will be his last season and he will back in WA in 2015 and probably have Kane Lucas to keep him company unless we have some divine intervention of the football variety.
With you there, EB1. McInnes is a very good 'negater' and really puts in. But White also offers this plus better grunt, takes a good grab and can pinch hit up forward. Very flexible. I suspect this bloke will only get better and surprise.
He is shight and he's 26 this year. If we're relying on him to be any more than a backup player we're forked the guy goes to water under any sort of decent pressure.
Not sure 'goes to water under any sort of decent pressure' is fair. Especially when you factor in his neck injury then seeing his commitment in hard contests since. Seen him often be very physical at the contest and bring some hurt to opponents. Not sure Bootsma will ever deliver hurt in a contest... unless he squirrels someone ;) :)
He doesn't shirk the issue but does tend to miskick or fumble or make a silly decision when the pressure is on.
FWIW, I don't rate Boots but at least he has some upside and could possibly still come good.Go into a final with White and I think there will be issues if it's a tight contest.
FWIW, I don't rate Boots but at least he has some upside and could possibly still come good.Go into a final with White and I think there will be issues if it's a tight contest.
I'm a harsh critic on some players but I think Simon White has something to offer.....took him a while to settle and then he keeps getting injured which always sends him back to square one and stifles his progress. I think he offers more than McInnes and can play both ends of the ground. Until Giles comes through I reckon White is better value and I do like the way he tackles and likes it physical....reminds me a bit of a taller Steve Da Rui. I know he can turn it over by foot but I think he was getting better in that area until that terrible neck injury.
Maybe I am wrong but do we always play him on bigger stronger players...he is our Zac Dawson and we keep finding Anthony Rocca's to play on him each game.
Yep - boggles the mind that both Ratts & now Mick contiunue to groom him as a key-defender type, when for mine, he's anything but. His best game was his debut, when he was allowed to roam free & 'chase the ball'. I thought once Mick took the reins, it'd be the last we'd be seeing of Bootsma in defence....sadly I was wrong, as this ridiculous experiment in futility continues....
FWIW, I don't rate Boots but at least he has some upside and could possibly still come good.Go into a final with White and I think there will be issues if it's a tight contest.
We agree on most players, disagree on White.
Think he has a lot to offer with a decent run at it. I don't see the silly decisions myself, will keep an eye out for it. McInness is the one i'm worried about, started so well and now looks shaky. Only young though.
Re: Boots. The famous, we picked him for his ability to play on the wing, siad Hughes. Plays KPD. More rose covered poop from the club.
@Shadesy
The awful brain fades happened on multiple occasions when we gave up the lead to the Scum last year, it was pointed out on FC he was directly responsible for three of the goals, all the result of terrible decision making/brain fades. I too was a fan up until then but what I saw was unacceptable IMO.
FWIW, I don't rate Boots but at least he has some upside and could possibly still come good.Go into a final with White and I think there will be issues if it's a tight contest.
We agree on most players, disagree on White.
Think he has a lot to offer with a decent run at it. I don't see the silly decisions myself, will keep an eye out for it. McInness is the one i'm worried about, started so well and now looks shaky. Only young though.
Re: Boots. The famous, we picked him for his ability to play on the wing, siad Hughes. Plays KPD. More rose covered poop from the club.
We have a bad record of doing that with players. I won't re-open specific cases, but more than one guy being played out of position has been made to look ordinary and crucified, on here for instance.
Josh Bootsma aged 19 versus Dustin Fletcher aged 19.
This is why he is being tried in defence, I'm hazarding a guess.
Very similar physically at the same age.
Fletcher had the strength and ability to play on Kernahan in the '93 GF. Bootsma can't even get a game. The two really don't compare other than having faces only a mother could love. With all due respect Nathbear, he will not play 200 games for us, he probably wont even play 50 but to get to 200 he will have to play pretty much every game for the next 9 years. Not gonna happen.
Fletcher had the strength ...........
He was the best deliberate tripper in the league by some margin!
Maybe I am wrong but do we always play him on bigger stronger players...he is our Zac Dawson and we keep finding Anthony Rocca's to play on him each game.
Yep - boggles the mind that both Ratts & now Mick contiunue to groom him as a key-defender type, when for mine, he's anything but. His best game was his debut, when he was allowed to roam free & 'chase the ball'. I thought once Mick took the reins, it'd be the last we'd be seeing of Bootsma in defence....sadly I was wrong, as this ridiculous experiment in futility continues....
You are right, but lets not forget though that his debut was against GWS - in their first year - in a game we won by 10 goals without getting out of first gear! He was playing against kids, and I would have 10 possessions in that game!!
The point is though the coaches clearly don't see him as a wingman, and he has plenty of established players ahead of him for that spot. He doesn't appear to read the game well enough for mine to play that role, or have the precision skills and decision making you need. We have a 'hole' in the structure for a 3rd tall, which is what they are trying to get him to fit into - with limited success so far.
The vexed questions is whether [a] you continue to try and 'fill a need' in the team structure by developing him into something he wasn't originally drafted as, or (b) keep him playing in a role which we have plenty of other cover for, and he doesn't appear to have the capability to play in at the highest level?
I can see why the club thinks Option A has a better (albeit very small) chance of success. It is however a perfect example of our terrible list management / drafting in the first place. Although that draft, post pick 20 [Boots was 22], has been pretty lean so far. That was however the draft where pick 24 got Jack Gunston traded in, and we could have got you either Josh Jenkins or Tommy Walsh - both big strong aggressive types that we desperately lack.
I have to say, I thought Bootsma did some good stuff against the Kanga's in nab challenge game.
Went up third man and spoiled often for a few 1 percenters.
That being said, I think we have a few players in the same boat as him where they are neither here nor there, and cannot be relied upon to hold down a position.
Kane Lucas is another.
Too many blokes who are not good enough to even pinch hit at this point.
I have to say, I thought Bootsma did some good stuff against the Kanga's in nab challenge game.
Went up third man and spoiled often for a few 1 percenters.
Are there any AFL level players who don't look good going 3rd man up?
I am not sure we are ever going to see Bootsma stand one on one with someone his own height and defeat them body on body. But maybe that is not his go, maybe he is better to play on a Lindsay Thomas type and make it hard for the smaller players.
@Shadesy
The awful brain fades happened on multiple occasions when we gave up the lead to the Scum last year, it was pointed out on FC he was directly responsible for three of the goals, all the result of terrible decision making/brain fades. I too was a fan up until then but what I saw was unacceptable IMO.
I'm a White fan, always have been - but yep, THAT game really tested my loyalty towards him.....possibly the worst quarter by a Carlton defender I've ever seen. But geez, McInnes has hardly put a foot right since coming back from his knee - has zero physical presence, just bombs the crap outta the ball from defence & now along with White, shares the dubious honour of costing us games against Essendon in the same year....both games we should never have lost.
I've also got zero confidence in Jamo, who I reckon's best is behind him....he was mostly terrible last year. Unfortunately that means we need a horribly underdone Lachie to play in defence & a fast improving Watson to shore-up our key defensive stocks.
Then we've got the issue of Judd and whether or not he'll be returning from his recent injury/surgery (the rumours are out there....)
*sigh*.....
Kane Lucas has shown more in a few of his better games than Boots has in his career.
Granted Lucas needs to become a regular 22 player and play more consistently, but he has shown he can win the ball and kick a few goals.
Bootsma has really shown jack.
Josh Bootsma aged 19 versus Dustin Fletcher aged 19.
This is why he is being tried in defence, I'm hazarding a guess.
Very similar physically at the same age.
Agree they would have started out the same weight but Fletcher is way taller, not sure what height he started at but is 198cm now and Boots is around 190cm......I'm thinking at least Fletcher had some advantage when playing on bigger players but Boots is usually giving away height and weight.
@Shadesy
The awful brain fades happened on multiple occasions when we gave up the lead to the Scum last year, it was pointed out on FC he was directly responsible for three of the goals, all the result of terrible decision making/brain fades. I too was a fan up until then but what I saw was unacceptable IMO.
I'm a White fan, always have been - but yep, THAT game really tested my loyalty towards him.....possibly the worst quarter by a Carlton defender I've ever seen. But geez, McInnes has hardly put a foot right since coming back from his knee - has zero physical presence, just bombs the crap outta the ball from defence & now along with White, shares the dubious honour of costing us games against Essendon in the same year....both games we should never have lost.
I've also got zero confidence in Jamo, who I reckon's best is behind him....he was mostly terrible last year. Unfortunately that means we need a horribly underdone Lachie to play in defence & a fast improving Watson to shore-up our key defensive stocks.
Then we've got the issue of Judd and whether or not he'll be returning from his recent injury/surgery (the rumours are out there....)
*sigh*.....
Fair enough. I was in Vegas that game and went to bed 5 goals up, checked my phone in the morning and was shocked. Never watched the game.
I've also got zero confidence in Jamo, who I reckon's best is behind him..
I told someone at lunch this exact thing. Hope I'm wrong (as is usual :P)
Then we've got the issue of Judd and whether or not he'll be returning from his recent injury/surgery (the rumours are out there....)
Must admit I just don't want to think the worst but I am fearful about what the great man will produce this year.