Dean Cox holds the key

[WCE2000]

i know thats a big call considering his only played 1 game, but it'sa very true call.

he played brilliantly today, and if he can keep that form all season, it will maximize our finals chances.

The eagles desperetaly need a CHF target, and if Cox is playing good enough football to play as our number 1 ruckman, that will free Gardiner up to play CHF.

Gardiner, is a Peter Everitt type player. When he goes forward, he will cause nightmares for the oppoisition and will give us a much better chance of winnig matches.

But if Cox isn't playing good football, it will mean Gardiner will have to move back into the ruck, and the eageles will be left with the same problems at CHF.


Now, Ken Judge needs to think of a good way to make Dean Cox keep his good form up.

What i suggest is that KJ has a talk to Cox at training this week and say to him:
"Dean, we've decided that you're going to be our starting ruckman for the next 5 games, no matter what.
At Round 7, we will access your form, and if we're satisfied with your form, we will make you our number 1 ruckman for the whole season."

If they say this, it will take the pressure right off Cox. If he goes into each match, knowing that he will be there next week, he is more likely to play much better than he would play, if he knew he was still battling for his spot.


If Cox' form doesn't hold up, i would move Gardiner back to the ruck and i would be inclined to test out Andrew MacDougall at CHF for a while.

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[jod23]

You could very well be right WCE2000. If Cox can continue to play well in the ruck then there is every chance of moving Gardiner into CHF which will give headaches to any oppositions defence.

But putting all this weight on young Coxs shoulders ( a veteran of 1 games) could also burn him out. I say name him on the bench and let Gardiner start in the ruck then just ease him into each game like today against Sydney.

But if Cox does continue to impress our forward line would look a lot better with Cummings and Wilson our two leading forwards, Matera and Merenda the two crumbing little forwards, Gardiner the big man and then maybe an athletic Embly type player like Jones or Williams. With Cousins and Flecther and even little Kerr able to push forward and kick goals our forward line may not be our weakspot this year like so many years before.

[Visro]

Sorry to tell you this but I was talking to Andrew McDougall the other day and he's still out injured with a hamstring problem which he got about september last year.

Vis

[GoEagles]

Cox was outstanding in his first game, and our game really picked up when he was winning them out of the ruck and allowing Gardiner to be the target at CHF.

I agree with jod saying we should ease him into the game. Maybe start him at CHF or even CHB so he gets the flow of the game before he is moved into the ruck.

[ah_19]

cox played most of his juniour career at full forward and was very good at it
he averaged about 5 per game at the under 18's level when he played in country week....
i am surpsied he was not given a chance to fill cummings shoes, i beleive he could have done it easy

[jod23]

ah_19 - in under 18's he would have been great but he is way to skinny to play at FF. McIntosh for example would easily out run him and would also out muscle him. Once he beefs up a little then i think he would he good up forward.

[ah_19]

not really
hes too tall for most backmen
hes quick,
he was one of the quickest in our high school
,and hes got a great mark,
(if you watched the WAFL GF last year)
you would have seen it

[Scotland]

Dean Cox Bump.

This guy made a call on Dean Cox based on one game.

I wonder if he meant that he would hold the key in 2008.;)

[anti.]

yeah, i think thats what he meant.

[SOSBenny]

now that's a good call! He made this call, roughly 3 1/2 years before Coxy started to take the reins and show us how good he was!

Nice work :thumbsu: :)

[Keyser Soze]

I'm guessing the OP's real name was George Michalzjck.

[Cuzz09]

I'm guessing the OP's real name was George Michalzjck.

why? Im thinking more along the lines of Bill J. Wojakiski

[Keyser Soze]

Michalzjck is Dean Cox's uncle and was the first person to bring him to Eagle's attention.