Robert 'Bushy' Copeland

[Grimreepah]

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6173/copeland2tm1.jpg

Lions Bio (http://lions.com.au/TheClub/Players/PlayerProfile/tabid/5189/playerId/13993/teamId/36/typeId/2/Default.aspx)
FootyWire Stats (http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-brisbane-lions--robert-copeland)
FinalSiren Stats (http://www.finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=273)
afl tables stats (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/R/Robert_Copeland.html)

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=44367) (warning - Afl.com link)

Bushie's goalkicking secret

9:05 PM Thu 31 May, 2007
By Simon White
for lions.com.au




LIONS fans might have been surprised to see Robbie Copeland line up in the forward line last week against Collingwood, but the regular defender was a goalkicking ace in a former footballing life.

Copeland's forward role against the Mapgies was more about containing the rebound of Heath Shaw than providing a scoring threat.

That said, despite an AFL career that has netted only 20 goals from 118 games, the man known as ‘Bushie’ does have form in front of goal.

"I actually played as a forward for a combined junior team called the Northern Dragons when I was younger," Copeland told lions.com.au.
"I think I kicked 11 goals in one game, 10 in another game and seven in another - so I did manage to kick a few goals.

"It was definitely different to find myself in the forward line again on the weekend and I had a bit of fun. But my role was pretty much to stop Heath Shaw running the ball out. I think he only had it nine or 10 times so I went okay.

Something else Copeland thinks would be a "bit of fun" is State of Origin football. The possible return of AFL Origin matches has been discussed at length in the media this week and Brisbane's Courier Mail named Copeland at half-back in a potential Queensland side.

"I think every player would love to play for their state. Playing for the Lions you get to represent your state every week," Copeland said.

"I suppose we'd be wearing the maroon and white and it would be great. You'd get to play with players you'd normally only play against and catch up with old mates. I played juniors with Mitch Hahn and I'd really like to play with him again.
In the shape of the free-running Andrew Raines, this week's opponent, Richmond, have a defender not unlike Heath Shaw. Still, Copeland suspects that he'll probably find himself back in defence come Saturday night's game at Docklands.

Fortunately for the Lions, the 26-year-old is accustomed to adjusting to new roles - including fatherhood. Over the summer, Copeland and wife Felicity welcomed their first child, Brock, and the youngster already has a footy in his hands.

"It's a great experience - your life changes a bit but I think we're coping pretty well," Copeland said of life as a dad.

"Brock means the world to us and we've been really lucky. He sleeps pretty much right through the night and he has done since he was three weeks old.

"When we beat Freo a few weeks back we kicked the footies up into the crowd and I kicked mine up to him. So he's got that footy and a few other little ones as well."


http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5428/copelandlt3.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

A great clubman.

Heart and soul of our football club.

[Kochie 16]

Suprising he hasn't got a single brownlow vote yet.

[TheBrownDog]

Suprising he hasn't got a single brownlow vote yet.

Might have earned one in the 2003 Grand Final if they gave votes for finals.

Did a great job on Buckley.

[Kochie 16]

Might have earned one in the 2003 Grand Final if they gave votes for finals.

Did a great job on Buckley.
I rekon! I remember the spoil where bushie jumped over buckley's back to fist the ball out of his hands! Classic!:cool:

[TheBrownDog]

No beard, no mojo.

Grow it back Robbie.

[danielcanberra]

Bushy, I already told you the last time you did this, that you must have freaked Browny out.

C'mon... be fair.

Beards look scary on some people.

But you not having a beard is even scarier.

[Grimreepah]

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6527/copelandry4.jpg

Copeland - an unexpected hero up forward. Could this be a new beginning for Bushy?

[Kochie 16]

^^^Hopefully it can be, need another target up forward with Jonho out!

[don vito of fitzroy]

He scored another bag of goals on the weekend against the Dees.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=47636)

Copeland, who played as a goal-kicking forward as a junior, says he’s enjoying life in the forward 50m, something Lions fans might have picked up on from his fist-pumping goal celebrations.
“I guess it’s just a different end of the ground – my main roles is still defensive, trying to stop a defender from the other team running and creating play,” Copeland said.
“It’s good to get on the end of the footy as well though and be able to kick a couple of goals. I suppose that’s the reward you get for doing the defensive stuff.
“With the celebrations, I’m definitely enjoying kicking goals, especially at this level. Every chance, you’ve got make the most of it!”


http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/6062/copelandzm9.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

Bushy's well publicised streak of games without polling a Brownlow vote has come to an end and will forever remain at 123 games.

Well done Robbie! :thumbsu:

[Cousin Jed]

11 Possession 4 Marks 3 tackles 2 goals!

1 Vote!

[Grimreepah]

11 Possession 4 Marks 3 tackles 2 goals!

1 Vote!

Round 16 against Carlton.

I thought he played better in round 14 against West Coast.

[Kochie 16]

Congrats Bushy!

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.lions.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=5085&newsId=52232)

2007 Merrett-Murray Medal Top Ten
Jonathan Brown - 68.0
Jed Adcock - 62.5
Tim Notting - 52.5
Luke Power - 51.0
Simon Black - 48.5
Nigel Lappin - 48.5
Cheynee Stiller - 45.5
Daniel Merrett - 44.0
Robert Copeland - 43.0
Joel Patfull - 42.0

Other awards
Most Professional Player - Robert Copeland



http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5045/copelandqw6.jpg

[notting18]

His final position was somewhat surprising, but a great result for Bushy:thumbsu:

[Grimreepah]

End of Season Player Review

As one of only nine players to have played more than 100 games for the Lions, Copeland had become a senior player in 2007. It was a year where he needed to step up and play a leading role in what was a very inexperienced defensive unit. But as has been the case in previous years, he was only just holding onto his spot rather than taking that next step. With the side really struggling midyear he was even dropped for a game in round 13.

The Lions had experimented with Copeland as a defensive forward in round 9 against Collingwood and he did very well, restricting Heath Shaw to 9 possessions. In round 14 against West Coast they tried him there again, and he played a vital role in the upset win. In the following weeks he continued to impress and stayed up forward for the rest of the year.

While Copeland’s main role was to apply defensive pressure and keep the ball in the forward line, he also showed he was good on the lead and could provide a target, kicking 15 goals in 9 weeks. This was somewhat of a rebirth for Copeland who had always been considered a dour defensive player.

With players returning from injury it is uncertain where Copeland will play in 2008. With the side still developing and evolving, he may well end up playing a variety of roles.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9318/copelandco7.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

Here is some footage of Bushy (and Strawb) at Australia Zoo.

A3TK5z8ITQM

[danielcanberra]

http://www.lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=55633
Den Diaries - 26 February 2008

I can’t believe it is seven years since I did my first full pre-season with the Brisbane Lions, and a lot has changed in that time.

Back in those days I trained with the club and helped my dad out with the family home relocation business.

I don’t do too much of the latter anymore – the commitment to the club has become so great.

I’ve been restricted to doing a lot of odd jobs around the house in the spare time that I do have.

Most of the guys in the team live with a five-minute drive of the Gabba, but I like my space on the water out on the Redcliffe Peninuslar, which is about 35 minutes north of Brisbane on a good run.

I like the water and my wife Felicity’s parents live just down the road. She grew up in the area and I grew up on the northside of Brisbane too, so it is ‘home’ for us.

There’s a lot of nice beaches and facilities around Redcliffe now and we often drive around the waterfront and have a lunch or picnic, and see what the council is spending the rates money on.

I have to admit, I’ve paid more attention to our lawn this summer than I ever have done before.

It was so dry before Christmas that the dogs had torn up the lawn and our little boy Brock couldn’t get outside to play, but the lawn has come on really well with all the rain we’ve had over the last couple of months.

The only problem with the rain is that it can really affect the traffic, but I’ve been doing the drive for so long now that it doesn’t bother me too much.

Fishing has been a favourite hobby of mind for a long time, but I haven’t done a lot of it lately because I haven’t had much time.

I can’t give you much of a fishing report, but I can tell you that there are a lot of mudcrabs around at the moment. The freshwater has been washing them out.

My dad came down the other day and caught a couple of big catfish off the pontoon. They’re too much trouble to skin and eat, so he threw them back.
It has been a big pre-season of training for us again this summer, and the game is getting more professional all the time.

In the pre-season especially, you can train in the morning, middle of the day, late afternoon…pretty well anytime. It’s just like being on call.

We have a lot of meetings and it’s a lot different to when I started - you’re at the club more and away from home more than ever before.

Some days you can be there at 8am and not get home to 8pm. Sometimes I’ll go home when there is a lull in the middle of the day, but that adds about 90 minutes extra driving time.

If I stay in the city, I usually go to Felicity’s parents car yard, Just Cheap Cars, on Old Cleveland Road. If Dad’s around I might go and give him a hand for an hour or two.

I do like to come home during the day to see Brock. I’ll probably have more time to do that during the year when I’m playing and in more of a routine.

This year I got a bit fatigued before Christmas. I’d had a long training load – I’m in the group of five elite runners and I also trained for the Noosa triathlon straight after the footy season, so I didn’t have much of a break.

I was starting to push it a bit too much just before Christmas, so I slowed down a bit - I knew I’d done the work.

As you can imagine, after such a long preparation I was really looking forward to the NAB Cup starting.

I still get excited about playing and just competing – it is important that the enjoyment factor is still there.

[Homer Jnr]

I need a favour...

Does anyone has a picture of Bushy and Browny? I need a new background for my desktop, and the only one I can find of these two, I can't actually save onto my computer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Grimreepah]

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4387/brownzb7.jpg

[Homer Jnr]

Thanks plenty Grim!

[Dylan12]

I was against it early in the week, but I reckon Bushy would have been the perfect match-up for Aka - at leat he would have got in his face anyway!

[Homer Jnr]

He did well in the final 3 quarters last week on Farmer. Totally nulified him. But he gave him some latitude late in the 1st after starting a bit further up the ground. His chasing and second efforts were also far better. Was stiff to miss for mine, would have been between he and Stiller for the last spot on the bench. Sadly his elite athletic ability was overlooked for Stiller's more fine-tuned ball winning ability.

He has poisitional flexibility and harndess, which may help him at some stage at the selection table.

Undoubtedly he'll go back to Suncoast and lead them with aplomb this week, leaving McGrath for Aker I'd imagine. Will be an enthralling battle.

[xplo]

Yeah, I guess the reality is that when your playing ok as a side, there are probably 3-5 blokes who deserve to be in the side but aren't. Other times there might only be 15 blokes who have performed well enough to earn their current spot.

Either way, you pick 22, deserving or not.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://supercoach.heraldsun.com.au/?p=league&leaguenum=2)

Robert Copeland was sensational in the opening term, as was Scott Clouston, the duo kicking four goals each as Suncoast surged to a 9.2-1.2 quarter-time lead.

Copeland spent some time at halfback in the second half, where he continued to dominate, before heading back to the forward line and booting another three majors to take his haul to seven for the day.

There's been a bit of talk that Copeland is playing for his career so it's good to see him tearing it up for Suncoast. Kicking 7 goals, you'd have to consider giving him another run in the forward line.

[Old Den]

Bushy did well in 2007 leading out of the forward pocket although his goal kicking went off as the season progressed - been good as a defensive player over the years

He is very experienced now - his selection depends on form,who's injured and what young players are coming through and demanding game time - aged 26 with over 130 games - a very handy man to have around - good to see his top game for Suncoast this weekend

[Ray Button]

There seems to be an undercurrent that Copeland is getting on and past his use-by date. Consider this:

He was born in the same year as Brown (1981) and is only 5 months older. Anyone consider we should look at pensioning off Brown?

He's also younger than Travis Johnstone was when we recruited him.

[J-Train]

There seems to be an undercurrent that Copeland is getting on and past his use-by date. Consider this:

He was born in the same year as Brown (1981) and is only 5 months older. Anyone consider we should look at pensioning off Brown?

He's also younger than Travis Johnstone was when we recruited him.

True but he's not in the same class as either of those two guns. I like his hardness at the footy though and is a good depth player for your list for sure. :):thumbsu:

[dlanod]

It's not his age on it's own. It's more of his less-than-silky appearance coupling with his lack of effectiveness the last few times he's had a run in the top team. That, coupling with the fact that he's older than several of the others who also fit that description on our list, puts him in a bit of a precarious position.

I personally don't think the Lions will get rid of him at the end of the year given his years of faithful service, but it doesn't mean that he won't be given a long hard look. It also didn't mean much for Keating though...

[Grimreepah]

There seems to be an undercurrent that Copeland is getting on and past his use-by date. Consider this:

He was born in the same year as Brown (1981) and is only 5 months older. Anyone consider we should look at pensioning off Brown?

He's also younger than Travis Johnstone was when we recruited him.

Age isn't the only criteria in list management. If Copeland is struggling to make the senior team at 27 years of age then I would have thought it is fairly obvious that he is going to be under the pump. The thing he's got going against him is that he is not developing, and indeed seems to be going backwards, whereas the younger players are generally on the up and up.

[Ray Button]

The point I was putting across was that Bushy's age shouldn't be a determining factor in his future at the Lione, at least not for a couple more years. Other factors like ability and form can certainly lead to his demise.

However, if we consider the typical AFL team (if there is such an animal), it is likely comprised of a handful of stars, a core of established, experienced players, and a handful of emerging talent.

Brisbane over the past couple of years has been blessed with a fistful of stars, a skinny core of established, experienced players (Notting, Copeland, Charman, Beau McDonald and er . . . ), and an unduly large tail of emerging talent. Some are entering the middle group (eg Adcock, Drummond), but the central core is still rather skinny. Hardnut footsoldiers like Bushy remain pretty important until more of the emerging talent gets the required experience. I wouldn't mind betting that Matthews would have liked to have Bushy in the forwards last Saturday when the young ones were making no impression.

Copeland's best puts him inside the 22, but his form can slide over time. When he does get relegated to the Bs, he always manages to play himself into some form and puts pressure on the lower end of the As - no bad thing for those young ones to look over their shoulder and see Bushy ready to grab their spot.

I don't think sentiment will come into it at the end of this year. I think Bushy's a keeper until more of the younger brigade can climb into the middle group.

[Grimreepah]

Hardnut footsoldiers like Bushy remain pretty important until more of the emerging talent gets the required experience.

I would have thought that definitely was the case in the last few years, but with a number of our players now reaching the 50 game mark his experience may not be as big an asset as it was.

[xplo]

I've had the impression he's had some nagging leg issues that seem to restrict his movement a bit -- just hasn't looked free in his movement. I doubt there'd be any real pressure on his position though at the year's end, but he's not an automatic selection.

In reality, JMac's emergence has probably taken his old spot in the back half at the moment. Joel doesn't lose much to Bushy in hardness, and is a bit quicker, fitter and (amazingly enough) slicker than him.

Copeland and Selwood are currently pretty similar in value IMHO.

Both JMac and Bunno worked their ways back from further down than Bushy is right now, so there's no reason to write off Copeland.

[POBT]

Was nice to see Bushy enjoying his footy again. Big smiles and almost knocked Browny out with one of his goal celebrations.

He wasn't very clean with his hands last night but the endeavour was still there. But the fumbles didn't cost as his opponent was playing 50 metres off him.

And I agree with xplo - he looks to be restricted, particularly in terms of agility. He just doesn't seem to be able to move with any freedom which, for a guy who is so reliant on his athleticism, must be so frustrating.

[campbell]

Ran on well, gave options, was in space. Did all that was asked of him in his position. Smart footy at times.

[notting18]

He certainly played a role last night but you could tell something wasn't right. I am not sure if he picked up a ball/took a mark cleanly at all. He isn't fit and I think he doesn't really have the confidence in his own game at the moment (which is possible when restricted by injury), but especially while Bradshaw is out he can do a job for us up front.

[POBT]

According to the AFL site's stats, Bushy had 8 disposals which included 5 clangers and 2 goals, 1 behind! More shots on goal Bushy - will get that clanger rate down!

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11867628&postcount=49)

"We left Rhan Hooper out of the team last week partly because we decided to play Robbie Copeland as a defensive forward on Jordan McMahon which actually worked quite well, so much so, that they moved McMahon to the wing."

"This week's a different game and a different opposition so we'll work out who is our ideal team considering the match-ups."

Interesting comments there from Leigh. Bushy has been criticised a lot as being 'past it' but this suggests he's going a bit better than what some are suggesting.

[acuguy]

It concerns me that Lethal would play a defensive forward on McMahon instead of trying someone on him that could exploit his lack of strength, isolate him one on one in the square etc etc

[POBT]

It concerns me that Lethal would play a defensive forward on McMahon instead of trying someone on him that could exploit his lack of strength, isolate him one on one in the square etc etc
Pretty common occurrence these days though. So many times, you see the least talented player in the forward pocket or on a half forward flank, tagging the opposition's most talented player, a half back flanker. Shaw has been completely destroyed this year by the tag. Gram struggled in the first half of the season. McLeod has been beaten on numerous occasion. Not sure if I like the tactic but it seems to be modern footy.

[TheBrownDog]

Pretty common occurrence these days though. So many times, you see the least talented player in the forward pocket or on a half forward flank, tagging the opposition's most talented player, a half back flanker. Shaw has been completely destroyed this year by the tag. Gram struggled in the first half of the season. McLeod has been beaten on numerous occasion. Not sure if I like the tactic but it seems to be modern footy.

Exactly. Richmond set up their attacks from defence, to the point where they actively kick backwards to get their structures right running forward.

Its smart to try and increase the defensive pressure up forward to counter this. Like you said, Heath Shaw has been completely shut out this year when opposing teams have used put a defensive forward on him, and Collingwood look alot less dangerous as a result.

[Grimreepah]

AFLQ
(http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-4711-0-0-0&sID=56333&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=6115450&sectionID=56333)
Copeland has shown a penchant for kicking goals in his previous two stints at State League level this season and yesterday was no different, the determined utility kicking four goals in a prominent display.

[TheBrownDog]

Bushy always seems consistently good for a mini-bag of goals for Suncoast recently... has trouble reproducing that at senior level unfortunately.