Western Bulldogs V Essendon - Pre-Season 15/2/25 Whitten Oval 2.00pm

[GVGjr]

I don't get the Crossley support at all, he clearly wasn't targeted by our recruiting team based on what they had seen previously. He only got called in for the Queensland intraclub game at the last minute because English was unavailable and he happened to be living locally. In his two hitouts with the club he has shown he is an unfit big body who is hard to move off the ball in ruck contests and contributes absolutely nothing anywhere else. Most of his praise seems to be based purely on the fact his name isn't Tim English. If we really want a back-up ruckman, I would much rather we leave the list spot open and do our homework leading into the mid-season draft. If Crossley really wants the spot, then he has the chance to get fit and show the Club what he can do.

A few things to note. I've seen internal practice games at Skinner reserve where we hand Caleb Daniels and another small mid doing the ruck work in the centre square so I doubt we went from Crossley purely because he lived in the state. Even if that is true then why invite him down to Melbourne?
It's more likely we panicked a bit when Tim was injured. Remember were were keen to offer train on spot to Harry Boyd but the Saints beat us too him.
I don't think we will leave the spot open and it's either Crossley or Brew.
From what I saw on Saturday, Crossley covered the ground okay

[chef]

Agree. Just in context of recent events it's interesting it's not been raised at all with him.

Been mentioned a few times on here tbh.

How long ago was his stuff up?

[Grantysghost]

How so? It's been mentioned numerous times in all the Crossley discussions on here. I think it's an absolute non factor.

His apparent inability to influence the game outside a 5 metre radius of the contest is a far bigger concern for mine.

He was delisted from an AFL club due to a doping ban.

His current fitness levels don't scream dedication.

I see it as a factor.

Totally ok with a second chance btw.

[Bornadog]

Been mentioned a few times on here tbh.

How long ago was his stiff up?

5 years ago

[Bornadog]

He was delisted from an AFL club due to a doping ban.

His current fitness levels don't scream dedication.

I see it as a factor.

Totally ok with a second chance btw.

You know my feelings on lumbering big blokes who do nothing for 95% of the game and hitouts for 5%.

[Axe Man]

How long ago was his stiff up?

I believe you can get pills for that.

[Grantysghost]

I believe you can get pills for that.

Ahahahaaaaaaà

Ok genuine lolz

Ian Turpie has entered the chat.

[Grantysghost]

Been mentioned a few times on here tbh.

How long ago was his stiff up?

Ah ok missed it. I had a break for a bit after BTgate. #btcomeback

[Countrydog5]

Fully understand the hesitation with Crossley regarding his fitness and impact around the ground, but from my position on the weekend his tapwork was elite. The question for our list management team would be whether we can reconcile the fact he might be next to useless around the ground, but give our mids regular first use once he gets some conditioning back. My only other concern is he absolutely will be jumped all over by the more athletic types like Jackson, but he'll hold his own against the wrestle type ruckmen.

I watched him regularly move Draper and Bryan off the drop of the ball, create the lane and palm the ball directly where our receiving mid "should" have been. The issue was that he was palming it to Sanders, Garcia for large chunks of the day who probably don't have that connection and understanding due to the limited time training together and so the clearances didn't eventuate like they probably should have. Get him fit, get him connected to Bont, Libba and Ed and the clearances will become our strong suit again.

He seems a perfect backup to have, IF we think he can offer more than being just a tap ruckman. Another Sweet dilemma all over again if we do pick him up.

[JanLorMill]

Not sure if you were at the game Sedat, but.... he would fit in nicely in the WRFL div 3. How we expect him to get to AFL level is beyond me tbh. Other rucks will destroy him around the ground. He literally can not jump!

The more I think about it the more I just can't see it happening.

If Crossley is Wrfl div 3 then what does it make our current backup rucks of Gardner and Smith? He smashed them both at vfl level in finals.

[Grantysghost]

Good point!

[Bornadog]

If Crossley is Wrfl div 3 then what does it make our current backup rucks of Gardner and Smith? He smashed them both at vfl level in finals.

Yeah, Gardner is no ruckman and Smith was an 18 year old Kid

[Rusty12]

Crossley and English aren't either/or options. Their respective skill sets compliment each other perfectly IMO, and have the potential to cause major problems for the opposition as the season progresses. English is an elite connector and has excellent skills by hand and foot, not to mention a massive tank. Crossley is old school 'People's Beard' style bash and crash stoppage ruckman - we all know this is not English's go and it actually blunts his strong assets by making him do too much energy-sapping stoppage ruck work.

Also, with JUH being unavailable in the early rounds (and there are genuine questions marks on him staying at the kennel longer-term), we are clearly going to need English deployed forward of centre more - he could cause absolute havoc if used in this capacity, in turn making Darcy and Naughton even more dangerous.

Crossley is coming from a long way back but I would back in our F&C staff (and Crossley himself) to get AFEL rock-hard fit. If he can (assuming we go with him over Brew), it could be fantastic for both players and the club. I keep reverting back to the first 6 rounds of 2021, where Stef Martin was doing most of the stoppage donkey work and English was incredibly dangerous free-ranging around the ground and going forward of centre. It is by far the best and most dynamic stretch of footy we've played under Bevo outside the 2016 finals series. Crossley is 25yo and not 35yo like Martin was (and it still nearly got us a flag).

I'm not concerned about February tune-ups if the long game will benefit the club.

Sorry Guys, this is way off.
If we start the season with Crossley and English in the same team, we will be 0-6, and Bevo interviewing for the Tassie Job in June

[Rusty12]

Wasn't at the game and only saw bits and pieces on the day on TV.

I'll just say that Stewie Dew was about 130kgs when Hawthorn drafted him at the end of 2007, and he was a premiership hero 10 months later - without his absolutely critical cameo in the 3rd qtr, they arguably may not have even won that flag.

Players can get very fit and very quickly when they are in an elite training environment. We have a pressing need on the list for stoppage ruck support/depth, much more so than inside mids who are not elite ball-users and not super quick. We have one spot open on the list and I know which of the 2 contending players I would be selecting.

2007 ain't 2025

[Warrnambulldog]

Crossley only had a couple of weeks to prepare for the weekend, his copping it for being unfit. Yet people are saying Jamarra needs 3 months or something to be match fit again. I find that a bit odd
Thought he was well beaten on the weekend but he’ll be better for the run. I didn’t see much of the vfl, how’d Coffield go?

[josie]

Crossley only had a couple of weeks to prepare for the weekend, his copping it for being unfit. Yet people are saying Jamarra needs 3 months or something to be match fit again. I find that a bit odd
Thought he was well beaten on the weekend but he’ll be better for the run. I didn’t see much of the vfl, how’d Coffield go?

Didn’t play. I believe he is injured.