Three ageing champions who have served the club well, but the end comes quickly.
Murphy and MBoyd will be 36 next year and Morris will be 36 at the end of next year.
We need to plan for their exit.
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Three ageing champions who have served the club well, but the end comes quickly.
Murphy and MBoyd will be 36 next year and Morris will be 36 at the end of next year.
We need to plan for their exit.
Based on their performances so far this season;
Boyd...definitely his last year. Webb looking to be a possible replacement. Similar leg speed but a much better kick.
Murphy...probably his last year. Has been solid but showing signs that another season would be too much of a stretch. Has lost that explosiveness in his running and tends to glide around. Williams looking to be a likely replacement.
Morris...probably his last year. Started the season well before being injured. Back half of the year will tell the story. Cordy and Roberts likely replacements.
Have we seen enough from Morris to make an informed decision yet? Let's see how he goes in the 2nd half of the year before we make a call on him.
I'm not writing either Murphy or Morris off, especially Morris.
Boyd's time has come, both in terms of his own output and the fact we have other players to transition into his role.
AgreeQuote:
Originally Posted by Mantis
Boyd yes, the other two we can review later in the year. Bob was almost our best player last night and has not lost any of his agility and pace. Let's not look at the birth certificate and instead judge the onfield output.
Yeah, I've read a few comments about Bob's foot skills but he looked like the only one capable of slicing through Geelong's zone and hitting targets in the corridor. Tommy Porkins running him down wasn't a great look but he's not ready for the Old Yella treatment just yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedat
To be fair though, Hawkins running down Bob is symptomatic of where Bob is. He glides along without his characteristic burst of speed nowadays. Whilst his pace over 20-30m seems to be okay, it's that explosiveness over the first 10m he is now missing.....understandably.
We were on the receiving end of 130+ tackles - don't think any team would complete every single kick with precision on the back of that level of opposition pressure. I'd still rather the ball in Bob's hands than most of his teammates.Quote:
Originally Posted by comrade
Yep, way too early to make a call on MorrisQuote:
Originally Posted by Mantis
I have seen it time and time again, players playing well in their mid 30s and bang a brick wall. I would rather do a North and pick a fresh batch of kids or a marque player from another club. To me the risk is too high to play 36 year olds next year.
Murphy in my votes last night, Morris will no doubt come good over the next few rounds. However tell me should we take the risk?
Depends.Quote:
Originally Posted by bornadog
If they are clearly better than their replacement yes.
If they are comparable with their replacement but their replacement will improve with game time probably.
If they are much better than the expected output of their replacement, keep.
Boyd and Murphy should be surpassed by Williams and Webb by the start of next year, with Lynch being a possible and Biggs another who in form is good enough.
Morris is harder. Cordy and Adams are kind of the cover, but Adams is a different style. I think if his form remains decent then he gets another year. W can afford to invest one list spot on him.
Last year for all 3 I think. The replacements are there
It's the spot in the senior side as well as the spot on the list. If Morris went on he might be relegated to a Will Minson break in case of emergency roleQuote:
Originally Posted by soupaman
I agree. He was playing well before his injury and he came straight back into the team friday on night without any match time to find some touch. Let's wait for a few games before we retire him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mantis
Murph will make the right decision for the right reasons. He will know if he's right to go on.
Would say Morris is most likely to continue. Hardest to replace IMO. But we'll see.
Yes it is an interesting question. Out of the 3 MBoyd probably looks the most likely to finish up first. Bob and Dale I still think are very important but best to see at the end of the year how all 3 are going.
Agree 100% with this statement. The end comes very quick. Club has to make the hard call no matter who the player. 35 is a good innings.Quote:
Originally Posted by bornadog
Yep, it is a hard call. I remember many on this board criticising the club in the past for holding on to our champions too long.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bullies
I am not saying these guys are no good, I think they are all still best 22, however, we should not be risking three spots on the list for three 36 year olds in 2018. We have to think about the future years.
What is the risk if at the end of the season if Murphy and Morris are in our best 15 players based on performance?Quote:
Originally Posted by bornadog
Sure players of that age can slow down quickly but we take risks on players all the time and you do need a balance of experience.
Biological riskQuote:
Originally Posted by GVGjr
You & I will take matters into our own hands again. So same again, at training, you distract the security guard with a low cut top and I I'll commander the golf buggy. Easy.Quote:
Originally Posted by bornadog
What does baffled mean?
A couple of weeks ago against the Giants, Greene was tearing us apart and Murphy had to go back and settle him down (which he did). That same game, he was the ONLY player who recognised both the state of the game AND showed an understanding of what to do - run the lines with the footy (which he did under immense pressure) and hit a target inside 50.
When he was out of the side vs West Coast, we are +20 for i50's but all we could do late in a close game is bomb the ball forward to - well, I would say no-one but since McGovern, Barrass and Yeo marked every kick let's say them.
Again on Friday, sure, Hawkins ran him down but 'dems the breaks...if you understand the need to run and break a line to kick through a press then you are going to get run down from time-to-time. Plus, he actually kicked it. And showed good humour about it after the game rather than blaming umpires. And despite laughing it off, how a key forward (who has elite 20m speed) is cruising around putting on pressure in a crowded defensive zone without someone sticking an elbow in his chest is a question for the rest of the group.
I wouldn't be retiring these guys if they want to keep going. And if they are playing the same standard of footy in 2018, they will be pretty darn handy...suggesting that Williams, Webb, Dale, Roberts et al are ready to step in now is fanciful...those guys can do it for 15 minutes at a time but the season is a grind and I don't have faith from contest to contest, let alone from game to game right at the moment.
Players are a long time retired...
Baffled from Highlander?
I really don't get the Bob retirement calls. He is playing really well. Why not just retire anyone over 30 then?
I don't get it, some people are way to quick to write players off looking closer at their birth certificate than their displayed form. Matthew Boyd has struggled, Murphy has been good and and Morris injured. At the moment it's only Boyd who has a question mark against his name and it really comes down to how the MC manages it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Jones
There is no hurry to make a call yet
M Boyd has not had ideal preparation. The injury to his ear which led to him wearing a helmet was likened to a dog bite - nasty. And he suffered a really awful sickening knee to the head in the Richmond match. I was amazed that he returned to the field. It might well be that age is indeed catching up with MBoyd and this should be his last year but given his career and his great year in 2016 - right now we should also take into account that there are other factors affecting his form.
It's true that it is so hard to call time on champions. I hate the prospect. Yet more motivation to win the 2017 flag so the three warriors can go out their own way.
The call North has made is not looking too bad. Some of those guys would not be playing if Harvey & co were still around. You also run the risk of losing players you have brought through the system because of lack of opportunities. Sometimes a hard call needs to be made. Not many retire on their own terms as where would they get $300 - $400k in their next job.Quote:
Originally Posted by bornadog
I think it's too early to call, but there are certainly signs that the end is coming for Murph. However, we don't need him to be a top 5 player anymore and he hasn't lost his agility. His skill level is slightly down, but the same can be said for 90% of the team.
Happy to wait on Murph, happy to wait on Morris.
Boyd looks done to me and I'd rather we develop Williams.
None of them are 'done' yet and all should be judged at the end of the season.
Yes agree none are done yet, the question I pose is do we take a risk on 3 spots for 3 x 36 year olds ( next year)Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnGentStand
This will be a very difficult call for Bevo.
All three have been wonderful servants of our Club over a long period of time. Given their longevity with the break neck speed of today's game injuries are beginning to catch up with all three. We are well off for defenders given the now 3 year contract extension for Adams who together with Wood JJ Roberts Cordy Biggs and Williams does provide us with depth. Murphy has shown before his weekend injury that he does have the flexibility to go forward and play well plus he has proven to be a fine leader. Morris has probably been the best defender I have seen at our Club over the past 20 years or more. He is never beaten. Matthew Boyd has turned his game around since moving to defence and is a multiple B & F winner. Better to wait in my opinion until season's end before jumping to any conclusions.
If Morris is still playing at the level he is now I think he and the club will want him to play on.
I'm guessing both Murphy and Boyd will retire.
Should Murphy maintain the form he has shown this year or maybe x fingers improve (since his return I think understandably he has lost some of his pace and as a consequence is a bit more rushed with his disposal leading to a few more errors) he might go on, however if he does I think he should pass captaincy onto Wood next year.
Murphy's body is wrecked. It's held together by duct tape and cable ties. I can't see him getting up for another season. This will be it I reckon.
Sadly I think Boyd is done Murphy is the most interesting in my mind. Physically I think he can continue but he has two young kids and needs to think of the damage he has done the last couple of years to an ageing body. Morris I think will continue but wouldn't blame him if he hung em up to.
Old Father Time catches up with all of us eventually but it's too early to make the call on these three remarkable players. My wish is that a Flag win will make the decision for us. What a way to go out! GO DOGS!
We should not forget Roarke Smith if he can get back after the cruel injury he has showed some promise and could be a handy replacement.
That 6 month gap between the last game of 2017 and the first game of 2018 can seem like 16 months for anyone over the age of 30, let alone 36 year olds.
Matty Boyd has been one of our greats of all time, but I feel that he will read the tea leaves and call time at some stage during the year.
Dale will bravely hold on, as Dale does, but will probably need to be tapped on the shoulder at the end of the year.
I'm happy to wait to see how Bob finishes the year, specifically how he recovers from this hamstring. Depending on the progress of Williams and others while he is out of the side, there may be a role for Bob up forward in the back half of the year. If he can play that role and not hinder the development of the likes of Williams, Webb, Dale etc, I'm happy for the club to keep him on the list for one more year. Having said all that, if we go back to back and Bob's an integral part of it, that'll be it.
All three are out or have been out with injuries this year. Thats usually a sign of time catching up with players. You'd hope for their aspirations for playing finals (especially) or playing on in 2018 that there's no more injuries.
There's a long way to go this year. At this stage, I reckon Boyd is more likely to be playing his last year than not, whereas Morris is more likely to go on. I was thinking Bob had another one left in him prior to this last injury, if he can return in similar form to early year I can see him going on again.
In terms of list progression, I don't think it's ideal for all 3 to go at once, even though we do have strong leaders amongst the 20somethings. I'd like to see something like Boyd 2016; Bob 2016 or 2017; Morris 2017 or 2018.