Is Bobby back?

[alwaysadog]

I write on behalf of Murphy’s Marauders to enquire if The Murph is officially “back”. We have been concerned by his somewhat subdued contributions in the first three games of the season. There has been some heated discussion amongst our members as to whether his four goals and spirited demeanour can be taken as evidence that “Bobby is Back”.

There are those, a majority, that think he ran himself back into form. Conversely there are a few miserly beings that maintain he waited till the pace had gone out of the game before showing his skills and so it is too early to make a determination. They also suggest that his two major miskicks; one in each pocket indicate that he is about two weeks from showing his best.

We would be interested in comments about his contribution to the side’s overall performance, whether he is back up with the pace of the game and where posters think his form is right now.

Yours for all things freckled

[Topdog]

I would absolutely love it if he is. I still think he will have games where he will struggly a lot as he increases his fitness and also just his confidence in himself and his legs. He was super important on Friday night and having him in the side helped our structure a lot.

[LostDoggy]

He's not back to 100% yet but another 3 or 4 weeks will show him in a more consistent light.

He was excellent on the lead Friday night and converted his chances. Very classy player when fit.

[alwaysadog]

He's not back to 100% yet but another 3 or 4 weeks will show him in a more consistent light.

He was excellent on the lead Friday night and converted his chances. Very classy player when fit.

Murphy's Marauders are pleased to note the high regard with which our Bobby is held.

While we think he made a terrific and necessary contribution we also think that the best is in front of him.

Mind you 4 goals is not to be sneezed at and were it any other lesser player than the Great Bobby we might think it an unreasonable ask.

On behalf of all wondrous and freckled things

[Bulldog Revolution]

Not quite fully there but an extremely encouraging display and the kind of display that suggests he may return to his freakish levels of agility, which make him an elusive and unstoppable piece of our premiership plans

[Go_Dogs]

Thought he was one of our best players for sure. Should have had a cool 5 goals too. His presenting and ability to quickly move the ball with accuracy and efficiency is so crucial around the F50 area.

[LostDoggy]

Thought he was one of our best players for sure. Should have had a cool 5 goals too. His presenting and ability to quickly move the ball with accuracy and efficiency is so crucial around the F50 area.

There is a fine line with players as talented as he isn't there? A week or so ago we were all concerned about his form and then he bounces back in such a big way.

You would expect most players coming back from a knee to start slowly and then gradually build a bit of momentum. Bob decides enough is enough and pretty much dominates a game.

[BulldogBelle]

It was great to see Murph starting to get his touch again after a couple of quiet weeks which is understandable as he is trying to adapt to the rigours of AFL football - in a few weeks' time and a few more games he will be all the better for it.

[bulldogtragic]

More games like that and he will be.

For me, before he was injured last year, he was the best forward in the Comp.

Long way to get back to there, but his has the skill, ability and aptitude to do it.

[The Coon Dog]

He's not back to 100% yet but another 3 or 4 weeks will show him in a more consistent light.

He was excellent on the lead Friday night and converted his chances. Very classy player when fit.

Tough, those shots directly in front 10 metres out!

[BulldogBelle]

Long way to get back to there, but his has the skill, ability and aptitude to do it.

No doubt about that - it will take time but he is very dedicated and as you said he has the skill, ability and aptitude and that hair style to return to what we know he is capable of.

[alwaysadog]

Tough, those shots directly in front 10 metres out!

It was most unusual to see him miscue two kicks on Friday. One was the miss you referred to; 10 metres out straight in front, the other was near the boundary line in the left forward pocket.

Not what we expect from somebody with such precise disposal skills. Does anyone have an explanantion? Could it have been just trying a bit too hard and tensing up, or has a technical fault crept in during his injury enforced lay off?

[bornadog]

I think he found a bit of touch and would have done his confidence no end of good. Still has plenty of improvement, but hey, its only round 4.

[Sockeye Salmon]

He ran to the right places and timed his leads well. He still dropped a few he got his hands on that he would normally have swallowed and got clean bowled by one that bounced in front of him, but it was a massive improvement.

[Raw Toast]

Good thread. A firing Murphy makes a huge differance to us, and one playing reasonably well is still a great help.

I thought one of the areas he improved on was his use of the ball and the speed of his decision-making. Had hatched it a few times before, but generally gave it off quickly against the Tiges and his centering of the ball early was important in getting our run going.

Agree with Sockey about getting to the right places but dropping of marks he would normally swallow - shows how someone coming back can still hurt you, we don't plan for him to drop those marks and rarely had a crumber nearby with the result that we turned over possession almost every time that happened. He started taking some of those marks later in the game which was a good sign.

The passage in the last when he handballed off for Cooney to goal was perhaps his most impressive piece of play. It looked like he was going to be caught but he able to acclerate away in a manner that suggested he's getting his cat-like speed and evasion skills back again.

Also pleased with his kicking apart from his gimme miss. Ok he kicked one out on the full, but most of his other shots weren't simple and he nailed them which was gruntling ().