Is The Beard in trouble?

[boydogs]

He has had a great season, but he will be 32 when the 2011 season starts and likely to be in decline. 2010 taught us nothing if not that a good season does not guarantee another next year when you are north of 30.

The proposed interchange rule changes make it an even bigger disadvantage to have 2 specialist ruckmen such as Hudson and Minson. Roughead is a lot better around the ground, and we can expect more from Minson next year without the soy milk debacle ruining his pre-season

Some posters are suggesting a Minson trade, but then what do we do in 2012 or 2013 when Hudson is likely to be gone? Roughead & Cordy would still be very young to be shouldering the load alone.

Retiring Hudson would prevent us from keeping Roughead and possibly Cordy at some stage out of the side, slowing their development. It would free some room in the cap to invest elsewhere to address key needs.

We may need Williams, Everitt or a new recruit backup behind Minson & Roughead, but those options would be more versatile than Hudson, which will allow us to compete in terms of running power with any interchange restrictions in place.

Thoughts?

I think we are probably better off holding him until Cordy is an option, but I think there are some valid questions raised here that have not been discussed

[Greystache]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

His first season as an AFL footballer was when he was 25, he also had a year out with a knee, so I think his body isn't anywhere near as battered as your average 31 year old, I look at him more as a 28-29 year old.

[mjp]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

No. By far our best ruckman. By far.

He will be fine.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

Isn't he coming off his career best season?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

How dare you question the beard!

[Flamethrower]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

I read the title and though that someone had shaved it off on Mad Monday.

[chef]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

He still has at least another 2 seasons in him, barring serious injury.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

With Minson, Roughy and Cordy there to provide backup he could have a well earned rest for a week to help him get through if need be, there probably won't be a need to do so, but the option is there.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

I read the title and though that someone had shaved it off on Mad Monday.

Me too!! I couldn't see him playing up at Mad Monday but I could see others taking advantage of one's state of intoxication.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

Me too!! I couldn't see him playing up at Mad Monday but I could see others taking advantage of one's state of intoxication.

Who was the intoxicated? And are you far off from the pearly whites? Not appearing with them on The Footy Show Grand Final tonight are you?

[EasternWest]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

No. By far our best ruckman. By far.

He will be fine.

I think the OP raises some valid concerns. I agree that without him, we would definitely have lost more games, no question. He was super. And he probably will be fine, but for how long?

Isn't he coming off his career best season?

And Johnno finished fourth in the B&F the year before. And we saw how that one worked out.

The point is that as we've all seen once the decline starts, it happens very quickly. I thought Huddo had his colours lowered in the PF. The Saints obviously targeted our ruckmen for their lack of run and it hurt us.

The issue is that the day of the slow lumbering ruckman is passing. You need only look at our own club for proof. Our two ruck prospects, Roughead and Cordy, are lean mobile rucks.

I'm not calling the end of Huddo's career. Despite age, form does count, and he has been super. But at 31, and with the bang and crash style he loves, I wouldn't be surprised if 2011 was his last year. To say that he only started at 25 doesn't count for too much IMO. He's still 31 and still has a big, banged up body.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

Hudson needs to stay. But he needs to be on 1 year contracts from now on. Minson needs to stay so he can take over once Hudson goes.

Just don't know if Minson will be happy to spend a year at the VFL waiting for Hudson to finish.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

Who was the intoxicated? And are you far off from the pearly whites? Not appearing with them on The Footy Show Grand Final tonight are you?

I have a very good source (Wend1604) who saw DaDruid Monday morning with his new pearly whites.

[Mofra]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

And Johnno finished fourth in the B&F the year before. And we saw how that one worked out.

The point is that as we've all seen once the decline starts, it happens very quickly. I thought Huddo had his colours lowered in the PF. The Saints obviously targeted our ruckmen for their lack of run and it hurt us.

This is what worries me too - not just Hudson, but Hall as well.
We need to make provisions for a sudden drop off for our over 30s. Hudson I expect to play longer simply because he started later, but chances are with the new interchange rule he will spend more time in the ruck with Roughy spending time forward.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Is The Beard in trouble?

Hudson needs to stay. But he needs to be on 1 year contracts from now on. Minson needs to stay so he can take over once Hudson goes.

Just don't know if Minson will be happy to spend a year at the VFL waiting for Hudson to finish.

Surely with both Hall and Hudson getting on in years, we need to give them rest periods.
I would advocate 1 week off in 4 for both of them.

I see an easy rotation using Minson and Roughead with one of the four out of the senior line-up each week.

When Hall is rested, Roughead becomes the marking target, but backs up Minson/Hudson when Hall plays. It would not only help Hall and Hudson get through the season, but would also take some pressure off Roughy's shoulders as his body develops. It would also help develop the extra dimension of Roughy as a forward.