" Could've Beens. "

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Over your era, so to speak, what players have come and gone who had potential - but never fully realised it? Who could've been, but wasn't?

I'm sure over the last 50 or so years there would be quite a few names.

To start the ball rolling, Mark West was a prime example. He was fantastic, his aggression and desire for the ball was brillant to watch and often team lifting. He was for the short period, somewhat of a cult figure, being darked skin with - if I remember correctly - dreadlocks, or perhaps braids?

In any event, Mark West could've been a very good player but he struggled with injuries and weight problems.

On a side not; I can't remember much about Jason Watts, what happened to him? I used to like him as a kid, being the whole "snap over the shoulder" type of player he was. Anyone able to shed some light on that one?

[Twodogs]

Lally.



Les Bamblett gave us one good season but what a season it was! Stood next to Simon Beasley and waited for Royal, Wallis, Buhagiar, the Cordy boys and the rest to pump the ball long and if Beazer didnt mark it then lally would swoop on it and kick a sublime goal.

He didnt ran, he waddled. Defenders would run into each other, fall over their own feet, drop marks and fumble and little Lally would waddle into the middle of all the chaos, tuck the ball under his arm and waddle into the goal square all by himself.


Amazing, prodigious talent and it was all gone after a season and a bit.

[Dry Rot]

Ask any Blues fan and they will just whisper "Bartlett".

[bulldogtragic]

Ask any Blues fan and they will just whisper "Bartlett".

Or Lance Angwin and Karl Norman.

Big waste of talent.



DR I hope you dont mean Trent. Trent is just a few more AFL seasons off realising his potential, i'm holding hope for a mature aged rookie spot in 2008.

[Dry Rot]

Or Lance Angwin and Karl Norman.

Big waste of talent.



DR I hope you dont mean Trent. Trent is just a few more AFL seasons off realising his potential, i'm holding hope for a mature aged rookie spot in 2008.

The reason they whisper his name is that tBlues fans are still in therapy after Bartlett destroyed their side.

Twice.

I'm expecting Bartlett to return as the mature age rookie in 2008 too, and with delivery from the likes of Aker, Griffen etc he will push either McDougall or Darcy into the Bees, and win the Norm Smith kicking the winning goal in our first premiership since '54.

And with a membership target of 45,000 in 2009, the club will build a giant statue of Bartlett taller than the Rialto building visible across all of western Melbourne......

[bornadog]

We have had a couple of big guys that showed a lot of potential but never went on with it. I can name Illia Grgic, Justin Charles, a player from the 80's, Campbell (can't remember his first name and its not Tony Campbell), Salmon from the 70's. Lots of big guys but not stars with potential unfulfilled.

[K9-54]

Adrian Campbell.

One of mine - Shane Loveless - there was an article somewhere recently about him.

And some comments on a few of yours I don't agree with :

Ian Salmon - always thought of him more as someone who got the most out of their limited ability

Grgic and Charles - they were tall and probably belong in the "I played AFL because of my height" club rather than the "could've beens"

[alwaysadog]

Adrian Campbell.

One of mine - Shane Loveless - there was an article somewhere recently about him.

And some comments on a few of yours I don't agree with :

Ian Salmon - always thought of him more as someone who got the most out of their limited ability

Grgic and Charles - they were tall and probably belong in the "I played AFL because of my height" club rather than the "could've beens"

Injuries wrecked Adrian's career.

Sock eye probably did his best work for us while looking after the young Steve Wallis at Leongatha.

Ilja had a spinal fusion and that meant he could never perform well over the longer haul. Played a great game against Melbourne in 1994 or 5 when he got hurt at the first bounce and kicked six in a forward pocket with a heavily strapped thigh. Wasn't he best man at Chris Grant's wedding?

Justin was the darling of the trainers who remembered his father Bob playing for us, prodigious talent not sure where the head was most of the time. Played baseball for Australia as a junior and ruined his league career hopping over to the states to try out a season there when he should have been honing his craft here.

[Twodogs]

Justin was the darling of the trainers who remembered his father Bob playing for us,

John.



He is a local plumber in the Western Suburbs. I once asked him if he saw any of Justin's career. He told me he much preferred surfing.

[alwaysadog]

John.



He is a local plumber in the Western Suburbs. I once asked him if he saw any of Justin's career. He told me he much preferred surfing.

Absolutely correct, it should have been John. Silly me having him sired by an NZ golfer. Mind you it says something. I know where I'd be if either of mine were playing.

[LostDoggy]

Cameron Faulkner.

[Remi Moses]

Cameron Faulkner.

The next mcleod

[Sockeye Salmon]

Injuries wrecked Adrian's career.

Sock eye probably did his best work for us while looking after the young Steve Wallis at Leongatha.

Ilja had a spinal fusion and that meant he could never perform well over the longer haul. Played a great game against Melbourne in 1994 or 5 when he got hurt at the first bounce and kicked six in a forward pocket with a heavily strapped thigh. Wasn't he best man at Chris Grant's wedding?

Justin was the darling of the trainers who remembered his father Bob playing for us, prodigious talent not sure where the head was most of the time. Played baseball for Australia as a junior and ruined his league career hopping over to the states to try out a season there when he should have been honing his craft here.

The best game Illya played at the Western Oval was when he kicked 6 on Craig Ellis while he was playing for Freo.

Edit: That was seriously stupid post. Daniel Bandy kicked 6 on Horse. Illya never even played for Freo!

[Remi Moses]

Daniel Hargraves anyone?Alistar Ford,John Georgiadis,Allan Jennings.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

NEIL Sache, Tom Alvin, Ted Whitten Jnr if he'd gone in harder. Brad Hardie should have given more than one good season. Shane Loveless was the one that showed so much so little.