Sam Power

[GVGjr]

I also think Power is in for a big year. I was one who last year was almost writing him off at stages, but he has really grown into a solid player. His versatility will be paramount to him retaining a spot in the side, and I feel he will be able to play a number of roles to good effect. Like a lot of players, it's going to be hard to get opportunities this year, so when they arise for Sam, he has to really grab them with both hands. I think he will start in our best 22, at least for the first part of the season.

Is he now just a role player or is he capable of establishing himself in one or two positions?

As much as I rate him he is probably more of a handyman than a specialist. The modern game caters for both so it shouldn't be a problem for him.

[Go_Dogs]

Spot on. He'll play where he can get a game, and do a good job.

[Mofra]

As much as I rate him he is probably more of a handyman than a specialist. The modern game caters for both so it shouldn't be a problem for him.

He is the same size as Hargrave & has played back and forward so is arguably more versatile, although he lacks the mean streak Hargrave shows on field.

His best position is delivering into the forward line, looking at his best games he leads the team in assists and that is his real value to the team. Not a star but could be close to our most important pure utility player we have in the coming seasons.

[alwaysadog]

He will have a very good season and establish himself. Exactly where will depend on what happens to his rivals in the team for various spots. Essentially a flanker who can play back and forward and cover a tall at times.

Too many people don't see how he plays for the team and sets things up or blocks out for others. Because his roles have been limited few have appreciated him and because he doesn't do flashy things he gets underated.

We've had the PSLA and no one can have missed ther BHAStards we need a first WOOF cult hero and I nominate Sam Power. Someone with a marketing/advertising background could surely develop a name and a campaign, couldn't they?

[bulldogtragic]

He will have a very good season and establish himself. Exactly where will depend on what happens to his rivals in the team for various spots. Essentially a flanker who can play back and forward and cover a tall at times.

Too many people don't see how he plays for the team and sets things up or blocks out for others. Because his roles have been limited few have appreciated him and because he doesn't do flashy things he gets underated.

We've had the PSLA and no one can have missed ther BHAStards we need a first WOOF cult hero and I nominate Sam Power. Someone with a marketing/advertising background could surely develop a name and a campaign, couldn't they?

How about:

"Playing with Power" or
"The Power play" ?

Perhaps "The Power Posse"?

[bulldogtragic]

Perhaps "The Power Posee"?

[mjp]

...likewise that Faulkner can get the pill, but can't dispose of it.

Off the track, but surely Cam's problem is (well, has been) that he just doesn't get the thing enough? 1%'er king, but that is not enough.

As for Sam, I am not sure about the 'Another Power game, another win' thing, but do believe that last year particularly the poor bloke was needlessly picked on by a heap of supporters. I seem to remember creating a thread on this somewhere, but might be wrong.

He will be fine, just fine. He has exceptionally quick hands, and whilst he was pretty serviceable down back for large parts of 2006, showed a real creative ability in the forward line near the end of the season.

[alwaysadog]

Off the track, but surely Cam's problem is (well, has been) that he just doesn't get the thing enough? 1%'er king, but that is not enough.

As for Sam, I am not sure about the 'Another Power game, another win' thing, but do believe that last year particularly the poor bloke was needlessly picked on by a heap of supporters. I seem to remember creating a thread on this somewhere, but might be wrong.

He will be fine, just fine. He has exceptionally quick hands, and whilst he was pretty serviceable down back for large parts of 2006, showed a real creative ability in the forward line near the end of the season.

Good balanced post mjp. The "Another Power game..." thread seemed to me somewhat tongue in cheek while trying to get some balance because a few kept getting stuck into him.

IMHO the real problem has been finding where to play him to get the best outcome for the team. Many wrongly assumed he would be like his brother, but he's a completely different type of player and although Shaggy's size isn't in that mould either. I think the coaching pannel is a lot closer to working out the puzzle of where to play him or in what combinations he works best.

Faulkner is a worry, and that's the problem; I think he puts too much pressure on himself. He slotted a beautiful goal from the boundary line last season but did little else with very limited opportunities. Given his increased bulk let's hope he can stay healthy and work his way in to the side.

[alwaysadog]

Perhaps "The Power Posee"?

I like it!

Now what we need is the campaign for the recognition of his football genuis.

[bulldogtragic]

I like it!

Now what we need is the campaign for the recognition of his football genuis.

That's a bit tougher. I could rock up to the intraclub on 16/02 with a bed sheet with a painted on slogan...

[dog town]

I like and appreciate some of Powers assets but see him as a bit of a spare parts man at this stage. He has alot of quality players ahead of him in a couple of his preferred positions particularly if we get somewhere near full strength. He finds alot of targets with very safe and short sideways passes but when required to kick with a bit of penetration he tends to spoon it a bit. His short passes are pretty effective when he plays forward because he does spot up players very well and when in a goal scoring position he can hurt sides but when playing down back some of his passes can be a little pointless.

I like his tackling and his quick hands although just occasionally he can fire out his quick hands in a bit of a panicked fashion. Just cant see what role he will play with a near full strength side. I do like him as a potential tagger if he gets a chance because he can stick to a task and being in traffic alot his hands will be used a little more. As a forward where he did ok later in the year he really doesn't suit our structure because he doesn't push up to the ball carrier that well and could get a bit lost in our structure and that is something he will need to work on if he plays forward.

[Raw Toast]

I agree that he faces stiff competition as a forward but actually do think he fits our forward line structure. While he doesn't push up to the ball carrier as well as others, he seemed a good 'get out of trouble' option - when the ball was bombed in towards him he was generally able to bring it to ground, win the one-on-one contest with his opponent, and then hold it up until he could use it to advantage. Because he was generally playing on a hff the balls lobbed up to him didn't draw a crowd, obviously if he was more central a bombed ball would be likely to draw a pack and I'm not sure that would suit him.

The question would be how much of the ball he gets as a forward if we have a stronger forward line than late last year - if he gets enough then his creative use of the ball should keep him in the team.

I agree that a run-with role is another option, and as most of remember he took Nick Dal Santo apart a few years ago, but hasn't really been given many more opportunities there.

[GVGjr]

I like and appreciate some of Powers assets but see him as a bit of a spare parts man at this stage. He has alot of quality players ahead of him in a couple of his preferred positions particularly if we get somewhere near full strength. He finds alot of targets with very safe and short sideways passes but when required to kick with a bit of penetration he tends to spoon it a bit. His short passes are pretty effective when he plays forward because he does spot up players very well and when in a goal scoring position he can hurt sides but when playing down back some of his passes can be a little pointless.

Do you think he is in the best 22? I'm not 100% certain which position he will fill be I think he is a terrific player to have coming off the bench.

[dog town]

West , Johnson , Cross , Cooney , Grant , Gilbee , Morris , Mcmahon , Griffen , Harris , Boyd , Guido , Aker , Ray , Robbins are all ahead of him as players IMO then you have important plyers to the structure like Hargrave , the two ruckmen and possibly Wight which makes 21 already. Put in Darcy , Murphy and Hahn returning from injury along with players like Doogs (Eade will want to play him as early as possible) , Higgins and Montgomery and it is hard to put him in your top 22 players. The fortunate thing for him is that we will never have our best 22 avaialble all at once so he will get opportunities depending on who is injured at any given time. With Johnson , Aka , Darcy , Murphy , Hahn , Cooney , Doogs , Guido , Robbins , Grant and others to push forward I find it hard to find a spot for him up forward unless he can add a string or two to his bow.

That paragraph was not an attack on Power but just a realistic appraisal of just how tough he may find it. He will really have to continue improving and make every post a winner to claim a spot which is fantastic for our club. I can actually see a situation where he may end up competing with someone like Monty for a forward/backmen role coming off the bench. Both are versatile and can play similar sort of roles.

[Raw Toast]

I was going to say that Monty and Power will probably be competiting for the same spot, and DFA seems likely to be pressing for a place as well.

Sounds like Power is impressing a fair bit at training and has his confidence up - you'd think the pre-season comp would be pretty important for the fringe players like him and Monty.

Hopefully we can keep enough depth to be able to rest players when need-be this year...