View Full Version : Hardwick Will Be The Player We Miss Most
Santos L Helper
25 Feb 2005, 22:53
Trust me on this. If there's a reason we don't repeat this year it will be due to Dimma's exit (he's more important than Carr). We don't have anyone with absolute mongrel in them, who's also prepared to take ALL the opposition's aggression. I'm becoming a tad concerned that we might be going back to possibles rather than probables for this years premiership.
Thoughts?
wishbone
25 Feb 2005, 22:56
Nah. We kept winning while he was out of the side, either through injury or while he was warming up in the SANFL.
He was handy in the finals though.
PortProudWA
25 Feb 2005, 22:59
Will be missed, but I am sure we can find someone to fill his shoes!! He was great at what he did though, gotta luv Dimma!!
Santos L Helper
25 Feb 2005, 23:03
Nah. We kept winning while he was out of the side, either through injury or while he was warming up in the SANFL.
He was handy in the finals though.
I don't think you're being realistic. "Handy in the finals"? That's a joke right? He virtually won the first half for us with agression, niggling AND leading in possessions.
Who's going to do that job?
PPWA.....who will fill those shoes? We have nobody with the mongrel in them right now.
Arsene Wenger
25 Feb 2005, 23:40
Take it easy turbo
Dimma was great yes, but i think other players were more important than him in the GF
I love the bloke but mate no need to be so negative...
Ford Fairlane
25 Feb 2005, 23:45
He was also there two years previous when we crashed and burned in finals. In the finals last year he had 9, 10 and 12 possessions. Virtually unsighted after 1/2 time in the GF when we kicked away. Don't get me wrong, I loved his toughness but I wouldn't be writing off the year either now he's gone. Remember we've climbed the mountain and we should have the overall confidence, even arrogance to scale the heights again.
Don't forget the small matter of a man mountain named Matty if you want to talk toughness ...
Porthos
26 Feb 2005, 00:31
Carr is the loss, because now Cassisi or Cornes have to shift into that role instead of being excellent second or third tier.
Ford Fairlane
26 Feb 2005, 07:44
Yep. We've taken quite a few hits to our midfield in the past few years and yet again players will have to step up. Even losing Schoey showed up on Sunday - as a guy I was with pointed out, no one was taking up the link role between lines in the open spaces as we brought the ball out of defence. It may have made Schoey a receiver, but we missed that - often we kicked to outnumbered contests. Nick Stevens was the other one before who did it well. I've only seen him play once but I think Eckermann could take on that role. He has the footy nous and pace to get to the right places and the skills to move it on well. He should play tonight according to the tiser, so I look forward to seeing him in real action.
Santos L Helper
26 Feb 2005, 07:47
He was also there two years previous when we crashed and burned in finals. In the finals last year he had 9, 10 and 12 possessions. Virtually unsighted after 1/2 time in the GF when we kicked away. Don't get me wrong, I loved his toughness but I wouldn't be writing off the year either now he's gone. Remember we've climbed the mountain and we should have the overall confidence, even arrogance to scale the heights again.
Don't forget the small matter of a man mountain named Matty if you want to talk toughness ...
I still have it on good authority (I'm mates with one of Choco's cousins) that Matty is gawn (sic).
I also still don't agree that we are the same (or better) team without Dimma. We'll still be a powerhouse, but I'm concerned about on field agression. Yes he was there when we bombed out, but he had a different role, and those losses were all Choco's fault. ;)
Ford Fairlane
26 Feb 2005, 08:00
I still have it on good authority (I'm mates with one of Choco's cousins) that Matty is gawn (sic).
I also still don't agree that we are the same (or better) team without Dimma. We'll still be a powerhouse, but I'm concerned about on field agression. Yes he was there when we bombed out, but he had a different role, and those losses were all Choco's fault. ;)
Matty's apparently training well. If he is gawn then it makes ditching Ackland look pretty silly (altho his form in internal trials and Wizzer Cups is hardly a guide). Fingers crossed Choco's cousin is wrong.
We can't be the same, and certainly we're not necessarily better, with Dimma gone and the other changes to personnel. But we have to cover, it's really that simple. And winning the flag will give them extra confidence that maybe they needed before with Dimma's bravado, but don't need now with their own self belief. Don't know what you think of Shattock, but he was very much in the faces of crow players on Sunday.
Santos L Helper
26 Feb 2005, 08:14
I like Shattock and Walsh, and of course Wilbur has to come back to. We will also miss Schoey (well I'll miss his pirouettes) as all teams need one dedicated receiver.
I just felt the need to ruffle some feathers and take some people out of their comfort zones and think about all possibilities.
ps. I hope my mate is wrong too, but if I told you who gave him his info, I'm sure you'd use this :eek: smilie.
portentous
26 Feb 2005, 08:43
I like Shattock and Walsh, and of course Wilbur has to come back to. We will also miss Schoey (well I'll miss his pirouettes) as all teams need one dedicated receiver.
I just felt the need to ruffle some feathers and take some people out of their comfort zones and think about all possibilities.
ps. I hope my mate is wrong too, but if I told you who gave him his info, I'm sure you'd use this :eek: smilie.
Maybe you should ask Geoff Morris instead. Matty absolutely knocked the stuffing out of him at training yesterday. He in fact looked fitter than Ladey does atm......
Macca19
26 Feb 2005, 11:06
I think Dimmas game in the GF is extremely underrated. He was outstanding in the first half and really set the scene in regards to standing up to the Lions intimidation.
PtLincolnpower
26 Feb 2005, 11:53
He was awesome for us. He will be missed. He played in Port first AFL flag. but I can see people filling the void. Surjan is going to be a serial pest i can see that comming a mile away.
I think he'll be the one we'll miss least actually. I've always been of the opinion Hardwick's greatest benefit was not what he himself did, but the confidence that inspired in his teammates. He - along with Wangas - were the only ones who could niggle the opposition without having 'chokers' thrown back at them. And Wangas is an action, not backchat kind of guy.
Now we've won the flag our players don't need that, they can laugh at anyone who niggles them and say 'Reigning premiers'. They all know they are good enough, there aren't any subconcious doubts in the back of the mind needing the Hardwick like niggle to remove during matches.
We'll miss Carr most definitely. Walsh or Shattock can potentially niggle like Dimma and Schofield - well his going is still a plus in my eyes.
This is not to say Dimma wasn't a critical part of our 2004 flag - he most definitely was, BUT he's not required at all for 2005. The most important part of his job in my eyes has been done completely and done well.
I was always a huge Dimma fan, and thought his GF was superb. Who else can suck guys in like Dimma could? Tough, hard, reasonable skills. I think his loss and Carr's are on a par, but it's the fact we have lost both of them that's a bit of a worry. But if all our players can harden up another 5%, may be able to mitigate the loss. I must say though, it has me worried too.
Powerstufff
26 Feb 2005, 16:47
I've liked the attitude Shattock has shown so far. As for the role Hardwick filled in the GF I could see Monty used there i.e. skillful player, lippy, with a bit of aggro to back it up.
Santos L Helper
26 Feb 2005, 17:09
I've liked the attitude Shattock has shown so far. As for the role Hardwick filled in the GF I could see Monty used there i.e. skillful player, lippy, with a bit of aggro to back it up.
No, no, no! We would be wasting Monty and he'd be suspended all the time. He doesn't have the skill to stay out of trouble and we need him too much to have him sitting on the sidelines.
No, no, no! We would be wasting Monty and he'd be suspended all the time. He doesn't have the skill to stay out of trouble and we need him too much to have him sitting on the sidelines.
Nothing to add to the above post, but worth printing it again.
portentous
26 Feb 2005, 18:37
I'm sure Wilbur won't mind stirring things up a bit when he gets back.....
Cassisi and Kane Cornes will step up the toughness on ball, Surjan in the back lines. Further, James Ezard is the shiz, let's face it.
Powerstufff
26 Feb 2005, 19:47
....James Ezard is the shiz....Is that a good thing? What is a 'shiz'? Because I like the kid.
Santos L Helper
26 Feb 2005, 21:49
Cassisi and Kane Cornes will step up the toughness on ball, Surjan in the back lines. Further, James Ezard is the shiz, let's face it.
Cassisi is a plodder, Surjan is looking vulnerable against real pace and Ezhard is still 1-2 years away.
Paralowiepower
27 Feb 2005, 11:37
We will miss Josh Carr a hell of alot more than Dimma IMO
Porthos
27 Feb 2005, 13:11
Cassisi is a plodder, Surjan is looking vulnerable against real pace and Ezhard is still 1-2 years away.
I guess we'd better start playing for draft picks then.
I guess we'd better start playing for draft picks then.Yeah, we're gaaaawn.
portentous
27 Feb 2005, 16:32
Yeah, we're gaaaawn.
Season over-ok I can concentrate on my hockey prowess then.... :D
crazy_big_al
27 Feb 2005, 16:38
Season over-ok I can concentrate on my hockey prowess then.... :D
what prowess ;)
portentous
27 Feb 2005, 16:42
what prowess ;)
If you can't beat them, hit them! :D
Trust me on this. If there's a reason we don't repeat this year it will be due to Dimma's exit (he's more important than Carr). We don't have anyone with absolute mongrel in them, who's also prepared to take ALL the opposition's aggression. I'm becoming a tad concerned that we might be going back to possibles rather than probables for this years premiership.
Thoughts?
I agree to an extent.
There is no other way to describe Damian Hardwick other than an @rsehole, but he was one of the best @rseholes in the business. He was IMO the best free kick winner through sheer niggling and annoyance in the AFL. Shall be sorely missed at your club.
That said I really think Carr will be an enormous loss at your club. Tough and skillful and everything to love in a footballer, he is one tough little bastard with silky skills and the drive and clearances he helped to provide your club were invaluable. It's just plain awful to see a bloke as tough as that wearing purple :eek:
I'm becoming a tad concerned that we might be going back to possibles rather than probables for this years premiership.
No offence but you were never probables, there's just no such thing in the AFL anymore. Even people who hated their guts admired Brisbane for this very reason, they set up a dynasty in a time of football where the chances of winning 2 premierships in a row is highly unlikely, let alone 3. Brisbane were never probables for winning the flag up until last year and look at how that panned out....
There's probably 5 or 6 clubs at least who on their day could win the flag this year, then another 3 or 4 after that who could at least make the prelims and knock out one or two big scalps with them. I'd have you in my top 2 for favourites to win the flag this year yes but nothing is ever guaranteed in footy.
Toots Hibbert
27 Feb 2005, 21:11
I'm sure Wilbur won't mind stirring things up a bit when he gets back.....
On Wilbur, I recall him saying he'd mow Choco's lawn if he would put him into the middle. What are people's thought's on playing him there? IMO he'd do a pretty fair impersonation of Josh Carr. Same aggro attitude and ball winning ability plus I think he's faster and a better kick. Would we lose too much run off half back or could the Surj and/or Walsh plug that gap?
Santos L Helper
27 Feb 2005, 21:53
On Wilbur, I recall him saying he'd mow Choco's lawn if he would put him into the middle. What are people's thought's on playing him there? IMO he'd do a pretty fair impersonation of Josh Carr. Same aggro attitude and ball winning ability plus I think he's faster and a better kick. Would we lose too much run off half back or could the Surj and/or Walsh plug that gap?
Wilbur's a definite goer in the middle. I also like Walsh off half back more than the trier.
That ought to get things stirred up again. ;)
Toots Hibbert
27 Feb 2005, 22:15
Wilbur's a definite goer in the middle. I also like Walsh off half back more than the trier.
That ought to get things stirred up again. ;)
I think you should wait til the Surj has 20 - 30 games under his belt before you start to put a limit on your expectations of him. I like what I've seen so far.
On Wilbur, I recall him saying he'd mow Choco's lawn if he would put him into the middle. What are people's thought's on playing him there? IMO he'd do a pretty fair impersonation of Josh Carr. Same aggro attitude and ball winning ability plus I think he's faster and a better kick. Would we lose too much run off half back or could the Surj and/or Walsh plug that gap?
Wilson would do everything Josh did in the midfield and more. The problem is he's so damn good at leading the defense. However given our defense has held up ok and we can put the likes of Surjan, Walsh and Shattock through there as smalls, until we have at least 3 of P. Burgoyne, K. Cornes, James and Francou fully fit - physically and match fit - then I'd have Wilbur playing midfield if possible. Unfortunately he won't be back anytime before those so it's not :mad:
I can see another frustrating year where we start slowly due to injuries. Hopefully all our injuries/suspensions are out the way by round 5 or 6 and we can, for the first time in over two years, actually field our best side.
I have no doubt we can go back to back - if we can get our players on the park. Seems our injury curse doesn't want to go without a fight though :(
PJ Power
28 Feb 2005, 16:44
No question we will miss Hardwick and Carr a helluva lot. As Pred said, it is the combined loss of those two that really hurts.
I don't think that there is anyone in our side who can do or should try to do the job that Hardwick did for us. He had a unique ability to do that, and although it was very useful, perhaps critical to us winning last year, we are going to have to do the best we can without that sort of a contribution this year.
What we can do and need to do, is to replace some of Carr's hardness at the contest as well as his creativity and cleanness around stoppages.
I really think that Dom Cassisi is best suited to a run-with role - he is good when he is drawn into a contest by a quality opponent. He is not a Carr substitute IMO.
Michael Wilson is the obvious replacement for Carr around the middle. Francou plays a different game. Salopek certainly isn't the sort of player that Carr is but may give us some of the link/finishing skills that will be missed by not having Schofield or Stevens.
The key to playing Wilbur in the middle, will be to do so without sacrificing his kamikaze-ism from defence. Walsh hopefully can fill that void. I do not think our backline can fit Chad, Dewy and JB back there as loosish rebounders. I have more faith that Surjan will make it than SLH does but he is still 20-40 games away from giving us Wilbur's experience and calmness.
A midfield of Peter Burgoyne, Kane Cornes, Roger James, Michael Wilson with able support from an improving Josh Francou and Steven Salopek and specific roles for Dom Cassisi and Adam Kingsley, is still good enough in my mind to match it with West Coast and Brisbane, but time will tell.
Toots Hibbert
28 Feb 2005, 16:54
No question we will miss Hardwick and Carr a helluva lot. As Pred said, it is the combined loss of those two that really hurts.
I don't think that there is anyone in our side who can do or should try to do the job that Hardwick did for us. He had a unique ability to do that, and although it was very useful, perhaps critical to us winning last year, we are going to have to do the best we can without that sort of a contribution this year.
What we can do and need to do, is to replace some of Carr's hardness at the contest as well as his creativity and cleanness around stoppages.
I really think that Dom Cassisi is best suited to a run-with role - he is good when he is drawn into a contest by a quality opponent. He is not a Carr substitute IMO.
Michael Wilson is the obvious replacement for Carr around the middle. Francou plays a different game. Salopek certainly isn't the sort of player that Carr is but may give us some of the link/finishing skills that will be missed by not having Schofield or Stevens.
The key to playing Wilbur in the middle, will be to do so without sacrificing his kamikaze-ism from defence. Walsh hopefully can fill that void. I do not think our backline can fit Chad, Dewy and JB back there as loosish rebounders. I have more faith that Surjan will make it than SLH does but he is still 20-40 games away from giving us Wilbur's experience and calmness.
A midfield of Peter Burgoyne, Kane Cornes, Roger James, Michael Wilson with able support from an improving Josh Francou and Steven Salopek and specific roles for Dom Cassisi and Adam Kingsley, is still good enough in my mind to match it with West Coast and Brisbane, but time will tell.
For what it's worth I'm in agreement with you. Now isn't that nice. :)
portentous
28 Feb 2005, 16:56
For what it's worth I'm in agreement with you. Now isn't that nice. :)
Awwwwww how sweet it is tootsie! :D
Santos L Helper
3 Oct 2005, 01:39
Nostra-Santos!
All the good ones end in -os.
All the good ones end in -os.Like toss? ;)
JeNnO_powerfreak_21
3 Oct 2005, 15:57
.....Maybe we can draft Chris and James Gowans? :D Eckermann and hopefully Ezard will step up next year and provide some grunt.