Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

We certainly have a few too many older heads, which is why I thought we should have traded Cross at the end of 2010.

I think that we all know Cross will put his body on the line and take the bashing for the younger blokes any day of the week. With Ward leaving i think they need Cross just in case the young blokes like Libba, Wallis etc need another year to be able to handle a full year of AFL in the middle.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

Both will turn 31 in July.

Sorry my mistake.

[turtle]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

[QUOTE=The Bulldogs Bite;253986]. We certainly have a few too many older heads, which is why I thought we should have traded Cross at the end of 2010.[/QUOTE

I understand the point that you are making, and it's a valid point in the world of running a professional sporting business.

I must admit though that I find it very uncomfortable talking about some of these guys the way we do. Crossy is one of the heart and sole players (like Picken, Boyd, Libba version 1 etc) Whilst loyalty does seem to be out the door these days, I would rather have these guys for life, then turn themover just when their perceived usefullness is reduced. The example that these guys set is worth more than the benefit of trading them off just as they get closer to 30. If we can get the young guys follow the lead that Crossy (& Boydy) set then I believe we will have a net gain keeping these guys.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

I must admit though that I find it very uncomfortable talking about some of these guys the way we do. Crossy is one of the heart and sole players (like Picken, Boyd, Libba version 1 etc) Whilst loyalty does seem to be out the door these days, I would rather have these guys for life, then turn themover just when their perceived usefullness is reduced. The example that these guys set is worth more than the benefit of trading them off just as they get closer to 30. If we can get the young guys follow the lead that Crossy (& Boydy) set then I believe we will have a net gain keeping these guys.

Just my 2 cents worth.

No doubt that Cross is a fantastic role model and I wasn't a fan of tradinh im because he was nearing 30 or anything like that. At the time, he still had 3 (maybe 4) years left. However, I thought we had too many of his kind who were better ball handlers and/or distributors.

Funny though. With Ward leaving, he's obviously needed.

Crossy would definitely be one of the most courageous players I've seen play the game.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

[QUOTE=turtle;254412]

. We certainly have a few too many older heads, which is why I thought we should have traded Cross at the end of 2010.[/QUOTE

I understand the point that you are making, and it's a valid point in the world of running a professional sporting business.

I must admit though that I find it very uncomfortable talking about some of these guys the way we do. Crossy is one of the heart and sole players (like Picken, Boyd, Libba version 1 etc) Whilst loyalty does seem to be out the door these days, I would rather have these guys for life, then turn themover just when their perceived usefullness is reduced. The example that these guys set is worth more than the benefit of trading them off just as they get closer to 30. If we can get the young guys follow the lead that Crossy (& Boydy) set then I believe we will have a net gain keeping these guys.

Just my 2 cents worth.

It's also an example to the team: put it on the line and we'll stick by you, even if you are 30 years old.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

Crossy sets a great example not only for the younger players, for all of them, leads time trials every year even though he is "old" and puts his body on the line. I dont see why we would want to trade him.. Need more like this in the team imo.

And as BornAScragger said, if they put it all on the line no matter what age we will stick by them.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

I'd hate to trade any players who have been here for a long period of time away just because they are getting close or past the 30 year mark (apart from one). When looking at our list we still rely very heavily on this age group of players we have and quite frankly it is very worrying. If we lose them all at once we are going to go close to bottoming out altogether. That being said I'd feel sick seeing someone like Cross or Murphy running around in another jumper. It's probably something all AFL fans should get prepared for with free agency.

Big high five to Griff though!

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

How can we expect loyalty come Free Agency if we are talking about trading away the likes of Cross

We are better off simply retiring a loyal and consistent player like him when the time comes - like Melbourne did with James McDonald

[AndrewP6]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

How can we expect loyalty come Free Agency if we are talking about trading away the likes of Cross

We are better off simply retiring a loyal and consistent player like him when the time comes - like Melbourne did with James McDonald

You mean forcing him into retirement when he wants to go on?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

You mean forcing him into retirement when he wants to go on?

Every footballer gets forced into retirement when they want to go on.

No-one wants to give up $300-400K a year, especially when they have zero prospects to do anything else.

[Sedat]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

Not necessarily make or break, but I am fascinated by how Shaun Higgins will perform under the McCartney regime. He has been something of an annointed one all through Rocket's tenure, even joining the leadership group before he really earned the promotion. Injuries haven't helped him throughout his career but he has definitely stalled in his development at the kennel, and bad habits have crept into his game (notably his one-way running and poor defensive efforts). He has elite skill and talent, so I hope that he will thrive under the new challenges set by McCartney and also that his body will not let him down as it has done at inopportune moments in the past.

I keep going back to the comment made by Marc Murphy, who stated that Higgins was the best midfielder he played against at TAC Cup level. It would be a massive shame if his talent was not able to thrive long-term at the kennel, but he has been little more than a tease in his career to date. He really needs to stamp his authority all over the 2012 season.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

Not necessarily make or break, but I am fascinated by how Shaun Higgins will perform under the McCartney regime. He has been something of an annointed one all through Rocket's tenure, even joining the leadership group before he really earned the promotion. Injuries haven't helped him throughout his career but he has definitely stalled in his development at the kennel, and bad habits have crept into his game (notably his one-way running and poor defensive efforts). He has elite skill and talent, so I hope that he will thrive under the new challenges set by McCartney and also that his body will not let him down as it has done at inopportune moments in the past.

I keep going back to the comment made by Marc Murphy, who stated that Higgins was the best midfielder he played against at TAC Cup level. It would be a massive shame if his talent was not able to thrive long-term at the kennel, but he has been little more than a tease in his career to date. He really needs to stamp his authority all over the 2012 season.

I feel the same about Tom Williams. I talked to him down at Crown one day and he seemed really down to earth, but maybe lacking a bit of confidence in himself. With a good teacher type at the helm, I reckon he'll grow a few feet, metaphorically speaking. Can't wait to see the effect of the new coach on a number of players

[boydogs]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

Later in the year they find out Lake was right all along and he goes in for another lot of surgery.

Any reports on how he is doing now?

[stefoid]

Re: Make or Break year - Who's potentially out of favour?

I feel the same about Tom Williams. I talked to him down at Crown one day and he seemed really down to earth, but maybe lacking a bit of confidence in himself. With a good teacher type at the helm, I reckon he'll grow a few feet, metaphorically speaking. Can't wait to see the effect of the new coach on a number of players

Some bad luck with injuries have him 2 years behind where he should be.

If we didnt already have Tom on the list, we would be looking to trade for someone just like him - a physically ready tall, mid-age player who fulfils a need and has the potential for continued improvement.