Liam Picken

[The Bulldogs Bite]

TBB, what have you seen of Liam that makes you think he'll make a competent forward?

I don't see any value in putting him up there, when all he's shown to this point, other than one or two good games as a defender is competence in the midfield as a tagger. If he's struggling to be a defender, I don't see how he can add value in the hardest positions to play in the modern game, which are small to medium sized forward roles.

You very well could be right jeemak.

I've seen him play bits and pieces in the forward half, such as the first half on Goddard in the 2010 PF. I think he kicked two to half time, was later shifted to another player (Hayes?) and Goddard subsequently ran riot in the third. I recall him kicking a few goals on Deledio too, although this was probably more of a 'drifting forward' than actually lining up there.

In any case he is very good overhead, a decent shot for goal and can apply good defensive pressure. Perhaps an upgrade on Addison in the same role.

If he can't add value there, though, it's very difficult to find a spot for him. It doesn't help we've recruited the likes of Smith, Stevens and Lower in the last two years.

[w3design]

Boy guys, I some times find myself wondering..... is their anybody on our playing list, or match committee that does not get poster molested on here?

Would be nice to see a little more positivity from time to time.

What if we were to spend more time, not blindly optimistic, but perhaps a little more creativity on our part.

You know, what do players have to offer the side, and what more could they bring to the team if their talents were better utilised?

By the way, I am not excluding myself from this little slap on the wrist, I have been as guilty of negativity from time to time as anyone.

But surely in tough times for our beloved club, positive contributions from our supporter base would be more helpful than joining with the media and opposition supporters in decrying our own.

[hujsh]

I recently thought back on how we recruited Picken and found it amazing to think that without the arrangement with Williamstown that such a good player might not only not have come to our club but may have missed out on AFL all together. It's also amazing to think back at how we weren't using the full rookie list and imagine the players we may have missed.

Of our current vets all of Picken, Boyd and Morris were rookies IIRC.

So lets take a moment to thank the fates that we did get Picken and marvel at what he's become.

[F'scary]

I recently thought back on how we recruited Picken and found it amazing to think that without the arrangement with Williamstown that such a good player might not only not have come to our club but may have missed out on AFL all together. It's also amazing to think back at how we weren't using the full rookie list and imagine the players we may have missed.

Of our current vets all of Picken, Boyd and Morris were rookies IIRC.

So lets take a moment to thank the fates that we did get Picken and marvel at what he's become.

That's where we were before Gordon came back and pumped $$$ in.

[jeemak]

It looks like I'll be having roast words for din dins...........

Liam's gone to a level I didn't think was possible of him as an accumulating midfielder and I'm stoked for him. He is confident and creative and it's a credit to him. While I still don't think permanent positional roles at either end of the ground are suited to him, he's certainly well suited to our current style of play in which almost everyone's a midfielder.

[F'scary]

Picken shares a characteristic that we are now stocking up well on compared to 4 years ago: medium size players who, in addition to knowing where the ball is and knowing how to dispose of it, know how to take a contested mark. Others include Jong, Stevens, Hunter, McLean, Dickson, Webb, Dunkley even Dahlhaus has improved remarkably since his first season in this area.

This characteristic makes them useful on the forward line.

[merantau]

Liam Picken is a very good footballer - don't you worry about that. He is a ferocious tackler and in his new attacking role he is showing us a whole new bag of tricks. Who would've thought he could jump over tall buildings? Last night's leap into the upper atmosphere had my jaw paddling around on the Axminister.

[bornadog]

I thought Liam was almost BOG last night, he was everywhere, both in and under and outside. Gee wish he had of held on to the mark.

[Smads57]

I thought Liam was almost BOG last night, he was everywhere, both in and under and outside. Gee wish he had of held on to the mark.

So do we all!

[Twodogs]

I thought Liam was almost BOG last night, he was everywhere, both in and under and outside. Gee wish he had of held on to the mark.

That mark would have done Billy proud.

[Twodogs]

Having watched Liam blossom from a lock down small defender I wonder how many other of our seemingly one dimensional players have hidden talent in other areas?

Could Dale Morris with his leap and courage possibly be an All Australian ruckman instead? Maybe we should gave Wil Minson an extended run on the wing? We will never know unless we have a go.

[F'scary]

I thought Liam was almost BOG last night, he was everywhere, both in and under and outside. Gee wish he had of held on to the mark.

He was in my votes.

[westdog54]

Having watched Liam blossom from a lock down small defender I wonder how many other of our seemingly one dimensional players have hidden talent in other areas?

Could Dale Morris with his leap and courage possibly be an All Australian ruckman instead? Maybe we should gave Wil Minson an extended run on the wing? We will never know unless we have a go.

Having spent most of my night coughing up a lung I needed that laugh. Thanks TD.

[EasternWest]

Liam Picken is a very good footballer - don't you worry about that. He is a ferocious tackler and in his new attacking role he is showing us a whole new bag of tricks. Who would've thought he could jump over tall buildings? Last night's leap into the upper atmosphere had my jaw paddling around on the Axminister.

It surprises me a lot of people are saying this. He's not Jeremy Howe (thank god) but he's always been able to get up.

[Ozza]

It surprises me a lot of people are saying this. He's not Jeremy Howe (thank god) but he's always been able to get up.

Has got the genes for it.