You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus
Love the honesty Sockeye in your assessment of players. Some on here I believe are too biased.
I would be interested to know who of the following players you think has a long term career at the dogs or at AFL level?
Addison
Stack
Hooper
Djerkurra
Mulligan
Minson
Reid
Markovic
I think they are all list cloggers.
Last edited by Desipura; 02-08-2011 at 02:07 PM.
You can be biased either way.
Of your list (I know you asked SS but I'm weighing in with my ten cents worth), I'd pick to still be here at the end of 2013:
DJ (contract runs out then, so we'd have to trade him otherwise).
Minson (if he doesn't retire).
Reid could go either way.
Addison has a crack but just isn't very good any anything in particular. Perhaps if he was quicker he might be a chance but he ain't.
Stack may not make it but at least I see enough to think he has the tools. He moves well enough and his skills are good enough.
Hooper has shown nothing that makes me think he will ever be any more than a fair/good VFL player. Miles off AFL and I can't see where he can improve.
DJ's ball handling simply is not of AFL standard.
Mulligan is similar to Stack. Has the physical attributes but will he ever turn into a player? Probably not.
I think Minson is actually quite a decent ruckman, he's just a very ordinary forward. No doubt he has been hurt by Hudson being an even worse forward than Will is.
Reid - too slow, can't kick.
Markovic could make an honest go of a 4-5 year/ 50-70 game AFL career but will ultimately get pushed out by the time he's 28 when someone younger is found to do as good a job. Would only survive if he was adequate enough that replacing him didn't become a high priority. Potential eker.
Dre would be lucky to have 1% of Barlow's work ethic and desperation. I've watched him live 3 times now and he simply does not stop working his arse off and running to provide an option for his mostly static teammates. He sucked in the first half on Saturday but it certainly wasn't for lack of effort, and he was as instrumental as anyone else (with the exception of Boyd) in the fightback.
In answer to MJP's post earlier, for mine Barlow is ruck relief/follower in the Stefan Martin/Leigh Brown mould, but can pinch hit up forward or down back as needed. He could also be used as a run-with option to blunt the effectiveness of the top-echelon mobile ruckmen (such as a Cox type). None of Minson, Hudson (if he is retained) or Roughy can go with these types, and we have the perfect person to blunt their effectiveness.
The bloke can outrun Crossy in a time trial - he gets huge props for this alone. Not every tall is going to be blessed with the sublime skill of a Hart or a Templeton or a Grant - he might be a potato but he's my potato.
I don't think he lacks intensity - he goes hard enough when needed. His main problem is his decision making when he has the ball. When he doesn't have to think about the consequences, he can do some great things on the park. But give him time and space with the ball and he goes to water.
Last edited by Daughter of the West; 02-08-2011 at 10:04 PM. Reason: Picture didn't work
Wake me up when we get to heaven, let me sleep if we're going to hell
Good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath
And we all found heaven - 2016 Premiers!
Great Post Sedat.
Western Bulldogs: We exist to win premierships
I agree with this. I think the thing he lacks is confidence. When he stuffs up it's because he seems unsure in what he is doing. This is happening less, and I actually think he's been fairly solid this year, and unlucky to be dropped at times (after an early trip to Perth perhaps was the most suprising). I'm more than happy to give him another year if his performances stay at the same level or higher, certainly ahead of a Hooper. Stack at least has several AFL qualities, we are just waiting on them to come together. They probably won't, and like many say he probably will never be a quality AFL player, but I actually don't think he's too far off being a good average player.
I should leave it alone but you're not right
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus
I re-watched the WC game last night and I thought Stack played very well and did little wrong. I think his decision making is getting better as he gains more experience. He is very athletic and has some good skills. The 60 metre kick off one step to nail a goal was brilliant as was the 40 metre grass cutter pass to hit Hall on the chest.
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.