Welcome to the Western bulldogs Billy Gowers

[Bullies]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

And he already has a strut which typically comes after you've proven you can play.

Not so sure he should have the strut at this stage. I am not convinced as yet.

[Twodogs]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

He needs to hold the strut for awhile as I am still not convinced.

Might not get any better than this...

[Eastdog]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Gave him a vote in the WOOF player awards. Thought he has tried really hard this season along with Honeychurch. He is a great mark.

[hujsh]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Seeing someone hold a mark in the forward line has been refreshing that's for sure.

I know he's been criticised by a few for looking for the easy out the back option but isn't that exactly what we need? Someone who knows when to run forward and get in space or when to lead up and provide an hit up option so that when we break quickly out of defence we actually have someone to kick to?

Unlike with Stringer when we kick to this bloke in space out the back he actually shows some physicality to hold the space and take the mark. That and he'll often show strength in the air when leading up at the ball. You might think that it's easy pickings but we saw JJ up forward not really sure how to do it so obviously not everyone has that 'skill'. I think there is some value in the art of the cheapie (look how much Adelaide pay Jenkins to do it).

Now IF we can fix his kicking (big IF considering it's us but other clubs have shown it can be done) then we may just have our next 30-40 goal mid-small forward. It's not like we have a glut of guys showing signs that they can kick multiple goals over multiple weeks so he's probably worth persisting with for a while.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoMwhIW-Mhg

I've referred to this before, but I'm gonna post it anyway. People refer to Gowers poor kicking for goal which is true and needs to be addressed, but his field kicing is actually good. At 0.50, 1.58 and 6.40 of the above he delivers 3 I50 passes to the advantage of a teammate that all directly result in goals. Players who can deliver productive I50 kicks are gold in the modern game. 3 direct goal assists coupled with 2 for himself is an excellent return.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Because he's terrible and I have to watch him every week. He's probably a lovely guy but he has no business in the AFL.

In your own words:

Originally Posted by Happy Days View Post
Surely you've realised by now I know nothing about footy?

[GVGjr]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoMwhIW-Mhg

I've referred to this before, but I'm gonna post it anyway. People refer to Gowers poor kicking for goal which is true and needs to be addressed, but his field kicing is actually good. At 0.50, 1.58 and 6.40 of the above he delivers 3 I50 passes to the advantage of a teammate that all directly result in goals. Players who can deliver productive I50 kicks are gold in the modern game. 3 direct goal assists coupled with 2 for himself is an excellent return.

Given our inability to improve players goal kicking it's not just down onto Gowers but as I have said before, he was a good junior who played a lot of footy as a defender. Perhaps having him further up the ground could be a good thing for the team.

[Happy Days]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

In your own words:

Originally Posted by Happy Days View Post
Surely you've realised by now I know nothing about footy?

I've thought this through and maybe I was a little strong.

His defensive efforts (averaging less tackles per game than Laziest Person In The World Jake Stringer) are still lacking, he's still infuriating to watch at times and his skills are still bad.

But I don't really hate him.

[Mofra]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

I've thought this through and maybe I was a little strong.

His defensive efforts (averaging less tackles per game than Laziest Person In The World Jake Stringer) are still lacking, he's still infuriating to watch at times and his skills are still bad.

But I don't really hate him.

After round 2 they both average 2 tackles per game. I'm willing to cut Billy some slack to find his feet at AFL level.

The mere fact we are comparing a rookie listed forward who has 6 games to his name to a pick 5 former AA Premiership player who was traded for the points equivalent of pick 11 speaks volumes.

[Twodogs]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

After round 2 they both average 2 tackles per game. I'm willing to cut Billy some slack to find his feet at AFL level.

The mere fact we are comparing a rookie listed forward who has 6 games to his name to a pick 5 former AA Premiership player who was traded for the points equivalent of pick 11 speaks volumes.

And we probably would have/should have got a couple of those for him except for our unique sales pitch. "Oh yeah, we know he's talented but we still don't think he's much chop. Frankly you'd have to be insane to consider recruiting him"

[Remi Moses]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Been a bit of a surprise for mine . Great hands and decent pressure , and I think he’s getting better
Like the rest though, if he only could convert

[Twodogs]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Been a bit of a surprise for mine . Great hands and decent pressure , and I think he’s getting better
Like the rest though, if he only could convert

He is 9/10ths of a pretty solid player and if he can learn to kick (and it's teachable) he'd be a Brett Montgomery type, really good overhead, sticks a tackle and can deliver the ball I50 or take a shot.

[Bornadog]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

Like the rest though, if he only could convert

Last three games he hasn't missed. 6 games he has 8 goals 6, or 57% accuracy

[MrMahatma]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

I'm optimistic about him.

Good overhead and seems to lead to the right spots. Not sure why all the hate. Very unfair this early on, particularly when he's actually contributing. Makes some mistakes, but many do.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Welcome to the Westernbulldogs Billy Gowers

I think he has shown real determination up forward, and you know when you kick to him he is going to give it a contest even when he is outnumbered.
He either takes a mark or brings it to ground, and that is more than Tom Boyd can do.