Are we carrying Johno?

[dogman]

Aker has been on the today show this morning saying we are carrying Johno. That he no longer is good enough and should step down himself, as he is captain. He gave examples of his lack of chasing and tackling and labelled him as a liability to the team. Said he was a great bloke but the game has past him. Strong words or sour grapes?

Majority of calls on sen agreed with him.

I personally disagree, he has an important role to play in our team and to me is a great leader.

[chef]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Sadly he has gone a year to long, but I can't see the club shooting Bambi this close to the end of the season.

[Bornadog]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Sadly he has gone a year to long, but I can't see the club shooting Bambi this close to the end of the season.

I agree, he looks a shadow of his former self.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

He isn't playing the best, but I see him chasing, he just ain't fast enough.

[Greystache]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

There's truth in what he's saying, but his motivations are no doubt sour grapes. Our defensive pressure is poor and defensive pressure will play a major part in deciding who wins the flag, Jono even when fit was weak in this area, now he's struggling with his body it's even more exposed.

There's need to make an announcement, leave him out of the team with injury and just tell the media he hasn't been able to get it right and he'll be back if he can over come it.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

I think it was against Fremantle (?) where he really dominated the first quarter playing around the fifty. He still has plenty to offer.

[Mantis]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Johnno's great strengths (one on one marking, strong hands, big tank) are no longer strengths and he is really struggling.

I guess we don't have alot of other options to play a forward role so he will probably survive, but at the minute I can't see Johnno playing an influential role in our finals campaign.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Sadly he has gone a year to long, but I can't see the club shooting Bambi this close to the end of the season.

Agree Chef - clubs hands seem tied till seasons end - been a great but think his time has come. Maybe a tough call needs to be made?

Might have to wash my own mouth out here but I agree with Aka

[G-Mo77]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Before this game I really though Johnno put together 4 - 5 really good games. I think he is still important to the team and can contribute in the Finals. That being said we should not rely on him so much anymore.

[Raw Toast]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Glad to see Aker helping us along again

Johnno is unlikely to dominate a game for four quarters again this year, but he's still an important cog for the team. His delivery into the forward 50 is particularly important, he takes a quality defender and still knows where to run.

We've hopefully got 6 games to go, and if he can keep building his fitness up he'll do well - he's been an important part of our recent success (before this weekend), and I'm happy to back him in, just hope he didn't hurt himself again on Saturday night.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

I wish Aker would just shut the hell up.

Johnno is obviously not as quick as he once was but I believe he still has a lot to offer, experience & leadership.

[Mantis]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Glad to see Aker helping us along again

Johnno is unlikely to dominate a game for four quarters again this year, but he's still an important cog for the team. His delivery into the forward 50 is particularly important, he takes a quality defender and still knows where to run.

We've hopefully got 6 games to go, and if he can keep building his fitness up he'll do well - he's been an important part of our recent success (before this weekend), and I'm happy to back him in, just hope he didn't hurt himself again on Saturday night.

Field kicking has never been a great strength of Johnno's.

His pass in-field to Murf on Saturday night took an eternity to arrive and was gleefully picked off by Selwood for a goal at a point where we needed to steady.

As far as taking a quality defender goes I would think that each of the top 3 teams have very good & even defences so it isn't like Johnno will be able to take one for the team. In his current shape I am starting to dreed how exposed Johnno could become against H.Shaw in our first final.

[Mantis]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

I wish Aker would just shut the hell up.

Johnno is obviously not as quick as he once was but I believe he still has a lot to offer, experience & leadership.

On Saturday night how did Johnno show on-field leadership?

When we were under the pump Johnno moved Everitt to defence to play as a spare man, but within 10 seconds Everitt had been moved back to the forwardline by the MC. Then in the last qtr Johnno decided head to down to defence again, but had no impact.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Definitely still in best 22 for mine. He is a smart player, delivers the ball well to the forwards (he and bazza seem to be in synch) and is a hard match up for the opposition.

He has definitely lost his overhead marking, and seems to lose his feet alot more these days but i think its due to his achilles injury. From personal experience they are hard to shake!

Im backing him in to come good...

[Raw Toast]

Re: Are we carrying Johno?

Field kicking has never been a great strength of Johnno's.

His pass in-field to Murf on Saturday night took an eternity to arrive and was gleefully picked off by Selwood for a goal at a point where we needed to steady.

As far as taking a quality defender goes I would think that each of the top 3 teams have very good & even defences so it isn't like Johnno will be able to take one for the team. In his current shape I am starting to dreed how exposed Johnno could become against H.Shaw in our first final.

Disagree with this. When Johnson doesn't try to do too much with it, his field kicking is very good, particularly his ability to mark, turn quickly to his right and stab a pass to a leading forward. In his few matches this season he has one been one of our best at kicking the ball to Hall on the lead.

Where I agree with you is that I don't like to see him playing in the back half where he tends to try and do too much (either by trying to create with run or by foot). The strength of his field-kicking is kicking to a leading forward, and he needs to stay around the front-half of the ground.

The Heath Shaw match-up worries me as well, but if we play with some intelligence about when we go to Johnson I still think he can turn it into a win or at least a break-even contest. What's important is to go through Johnno when Shaw gives him a little space around half-forward, but to avoid him when Shaw is manning him up closely (and so deprive Shaw of the ball as well).

Of course it's a disaster if we isolate Johnno and Shaw and put the ball on his head, but we can play to Johnno's existing strengths against all three defenses (who often tend to give half-fowards a bit of space).