Where's Gia's Bake?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Point 2 - Most knowledgable supporters know that Gia isn't soft (the general knock), but everyone still gets frustrated with his occassional inability to impose himself on a game or even contests within the game.

I'm not sure where that label of soft comes from, lazy would be a more apt description. He appears to let the game get the better of him, if the 50 -50's don't go his way he seems to lack the ability to find that extra motivation to get involved.

It seems very strange that this is the case with Gia, from all reports he is one of the best trainers in the side and is a great motivator.

[cinder]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Spot on with this one. Gia has bursts of brilliance but also big form slumps - no idea why as he is so talented. For that reason I also don't agree with him being captain. I would prefer Murphy (especially now he seems on top of his injuries, touch wood) or Boyd.

[Bornadog]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

from all reports he is one of the best trainers in the side and is a great motivator.

Watched him train last week in the boxing ring and he was hard at it for along time. Spent more than 30 minutes hitting away, followed by more boxing outside the ring, then back in again, followed by a run around the park. I was there for about two hours and he was working pretty hard.

We have to accept that Gia is not going to get 30 possessions a week. He is a link man and when he gets the ball he creates something. He is one of the best goal assists in the AFL and his passing and handballs are usually spot on.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

I get the feeling that Gia often sacrifices his own game for the sake of the team. That being said there is an obvious mismatch between the clubs value of him and the supporters perception of his value. It certainly seems as if he is a welded on senior player (I haven't seen Rocket ever give Gia a bake), when guys like Hill are on much shakier ground

[GVGjr]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

How can someone who doesn't win his own ball be Captain?

Gia is a skilled outside player that lacks a tank and speed. His longevity in the may be shorter than we think.

Boyd should be Captain full stop.

Tom Harley was generally regarded as a very good captain but wasn't a ball winner so whilst I'm not necessarily supporting Giansiracusa as the captain it shouldn't discount him.

I'm actually a fan of Morris as a potential captain (or vice captain) and he certainly isn't a ball winner.

[chef]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

How can someone who doesn't win his own ball be Captain?

Gia is a skilled outside player that lacks a tank and speed. His longevity in the may be shorter than we think.

Boyd should be Captain full stop.

Hows he go in the media, revving up the troops and selling the club?

Boyd seems like someone who would lead by example, but there is more involved nowadays as a captain of a football club.

Bob Murphy would be my choice.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Hows he go in the media, revving up the troops and selling the club?

Boyd seems like someone who would lead by example, but there is more involved nowadays as a captain of a football club.

Bob Murphy would be my choice.

Marketing is part of most senior players portfolio these days. Good little earner on the side for players. I know though that it would not figure in who I picked for Captain. I would be happy with Bob as well.

[Topdog]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Hows he go in the media, revving up the troops and selling the club?

Boyd seems like someone who would lead by example, but there is more involved nowadays as a captain of a football club.

Bob Murphy would be my choice.

I don't know how he goes in the media but Boyd is a good "talker"

[LostDoggy]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Tom Harley was generally regarded as a very good captain but wasn't a ball winner so whilst I'm not necessarily supporting Giansiracusa as the captain it shouldn't discount him.

I'm actually a fan of Morris as a potential captain (or vice captain) and he certainly isn't a ball winner.

I would have thought that both Morris and Harley could win the ball in a contested situation. Either through Marking a contested ball or winning one one battles on the ground. That is my interpretation of winning your own ball. That is not to say Gia does not do this at all. As he does occasionally get contested marks or balls out of the pack. Seeing as he is a link up man mainly it would be hard to lead from the front as he is simply not involved in the play when the team is going poorly. Therefore I would be more likely to give the captaincy to an on baller or key position player. A player who can show by example and is in the firing line most of the time regardless of how the game is going. Morris would also be a good choice for Captain.

[chef]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

I don't know how he goes in the media but Boyd is a good "talker"

He doesn't seem comfortable in front of the cameras in the limited times I've seen him interviewed, so that may count against him.

[Dazza]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

With effort and courage shown on the park + commitment off it you can't really go past Cross. Not sure what the go is personality wise but from the outside looking in he'd be a great candidate.

[choconmientay]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

We all know what he can offer when on song, but there has been very little singing in 2010.

Maybe the pressure of the captaincy is getting to him. A lot of players (in any sports) are doing quite well as individual, but when taking over the captaincy, they crack under pressure.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Point 1 - In my opinion this surge in form in the second half was a direct result of our midfield getting on top and supplying more ball to Gia. What disappointed me on relation to Gia's first half was his inability to win the 50:50, which is unlike most of his team-mates. His contested play needs to improve.

Point 2 - Most knowledgable supporters know that Gia isn't soft (the general knock), but everyone still gets frustrated with his occassional inability to impose himself on a game or even contests within the game.

Mantis, totally agree with you - IMO, the perception is that Gia doesn't chase or contest enough. However, that being said, he is a great goal assist, and usually has very clean ball handling skills. I think it's only early, and maybe his best is yet to come. I guess like someone else said, we can't expect Gia to get 30 touches each week, and yes, I also agree he sometimes sacrifices his game for the sake of the team.

[boydogs]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

I don't think it was the players involvement that Eade was talking about, but it was more following team rules.

Yeah you're right, but that's the point. It seems small minded to me to only react to the errors you see from the players involved in the play, as opposed to focusing on making sure our players are competing hard and getting themselves involved in the game, particularly our better ball users.

Why wasn't Gia the get out option instead of Minson in those handball chains? Minnow was having a go, and he stuffed it up once or twice, but rather than criticising Will why don't we ask why Gia wasn't there to avoid us having to rely on a ruckman's skills in that situation?

Watched him train last week in the boxing ring and he was hard at it for along time. Spent more than 30 minutes hitting away, followed by more boxing outside the ring, then back in again, followed by a run around the park. I was there for about two hours and he was working pretty hard.

It would be good if we didn't have to watch a boxing session to see this side of him. He needs to bring this intensity on to the park.

Griff is taking the game on and Gilbee is setting up play, now we need Gia to work hard to get to contests and find space so we can take advantage of his delivery going forward

He is a link man and when he gets the ball he creates something. He is one of the best goal assists in the AFL and his passing and handballs are usually spot on.

Who does this remind you of? (Hint: he wears number 29 for Geelong)
What do the Cats do? Play through him at every opportunity, protect him at all costs
The result - a brownlow and a premiership

Hugely oversimplified I know, but especially when you are going forward, you want the ball in the hands of the player with the best skills to hit up a target. I don't think we should accept Gia will never be a 30-possession player, I can tell you now I would rather 30 from Gia than Boyd.

Gia needs to get involved and present, and the rest of the side need to use him.

[Mofra]

Re: Where's Gia's Bake?

Interesting that 30 disposals has been mentioned a few times as if it is some sort of benchmark. Only Boyd has averaged that this year, and nobody averaged that last year at the Bulldogs.

FWIW Gia is in the top ten in disposal average this year for the Bulldogs - as he was last year.