Graham Polak.

Firstly people, well done on getting Tarrent. Will be intersting to see how Freo goes over the next few years. I am happy my side have got Polak. I know you will have mixed feelings on the issue but both clubs seemed to have got close to what they wanted.

Back on track - could you lads who have watched the game week in week out give me a good, long discription of what kind of player Polak is; strengths, weakness etc.

Please don't try to be too bias either way. I know many of you would have liked to hang onto him and see what he could become.

Much thanks lads.

I look forward to reading your thoughts.

A few of my thoughts here.

Bentleigh said:

Firstly people, well done on getting Tarrent. Will be intersting to see how Freo goes over the next few years. I am happy my side have got Polak. I know you will have mixed feelings on the issue but both clubs seemed to have got close to what they wanted.

Back on track - could you lads who have watched the game week in week out give me a good, long discription of what kind of player Polak is; strengths, weakness etc.

Please don't try to be too bias either way. I know many of you would have liked to hang onto him and see what he could become.

Much thanks lads.

Click to expand...

Assuming he is playing CHB - Brave, situation saving marking in the backline Bentleigh. He is quite happy to back into traffic when he is playing down back. He is also good in a contested situation, say if he is in a wrestle for a mark with a key forward. Also will be cool under pressure and not panic with the ball. Think of Jackovich a few years back - he reads the play very well from that position.

Like Jackovich, will get caught out sometimes on a fast leading forward, as he doesn't have the speed to go with them, but he is adept at holding them back a bit. Would be looking to him to play on guys like Lucas, Hansen, Hall, Brown, Riewoldt, Rocca. Don't however think he should play on guys like OLoughlin, Tarrant, Gerhig and Tredrea.

Polak always had a lot of potential with us, but he was very inconsistent and really lacked confidence this year. Over the past 2 years he has had a few knee, shoulder and groin injuries which have hampered his progress.

In his best years with us (probably 2003/2004) he was played in the backline and imo thats where he should always be played. He is one of the best contested marks in the league and has a great deal of courage backing back into packs. He can hold his own in one on one contests, but probably isn't strong enough yet to take on blokes like Gehrig and Hall (though if he puts on a few Kg... who knows). His skills are not too bad, but I think he is a bit rushed in his decision making sometimes.

In terms of playing him forward.... don't. He kicked a few goals here and there, but he has never been a good kick for goal and tends to go missing for long periods in the forward line. I would play him either as a CHB or pinch-hitting in the ruck.

For me Polly will always be the player that I was expecting to take the next step but never really did. I think the change of environment will do him the world of good and he'll play some good footy for Richmond though. Wallace will need to give him a clear goal and play him at CHB to get his confidence up. While I don't think he will ever be your number one defender, if he can reclaim his 2003 form he will be a valuable asset.

As I have said before, his best attribute is his mark, he just needs to sort out his off field problems and be backed in by your coaching staff. While I'm not too happy about losing him, you have to give quality to get quality.

One of the best third man up marks you will see when playing in the backline.
Reads the play well when playing in the backline.
Reasonable skills with hand and foot. But kicking lacks penetration.
Not a tight marking backman but usually gets to the contest to spoil.
Looks like a rabbit in a spotlight when taking a set shot for goal. And his conversion rate shows that.
Hasn't got a handle on when and where to lead when playing forward.
Dislikes the training track.
Has a big opinion of himself until the heat comes on. But does show great courage in marking contests.
Lazy...Needs to work out that his potential (and he has that in spades) will not be fulfilled until he gets his arse into gear.

Just my opinion.

Strengths -

Great mark - backing back and pack mark
Courageous
You can play him key position or as loose man (as 3rd man up he is wonderful)
Can pinch hit in the ruck - very handy for the games where your ruck is sidelined early
Mobile (but not on a hard leading forward)
When you play Sydney - park him in front of Hall

Weaknesses

Kicking for goal / even at times kicking 50m accurately
Can go missing for a quarter or half
Sometimes looks like he is lacking urgency - wont back pedal after taking a mark to get the ball on quickly
Appears disinterested at times - though I think he is growing out of it (I saw him play at WAFL this year and he looked like a bloke who was trying which is a great thing)

I think Richmond have done well. Dont listen to this Polhack stuff ...he will play (min) 150 games of AFL football - I have no doubt.

If you push for a flag in the next 5 years - I am sure Polly will be in the team as long as he can get his head right.

Superb mark and reads the play well. His kicking, and in particular his confidence in his kicking, isn't good. He often marks inside defensive 50 then goes back off the Denis Lillee run up because he doesn't want to rush the kick, allowing the opposition to get numbers back. He usually ends up kicking to a contest on the boundary because he doesn't have the confidence to spot up a target in the centre of the ground. You need to have your half backs/back pocket players running past to receive the handball after he takes a grab to keep the momentum going forward.

Will probably struggle on the more mobile forwards, he's not slow but doesn't have great pace off the mark. I'd expect Pavlich to kick a few goals against him.

Will be a good player, you picked him up cheap and if he finds confidence and improves his kicking he will be a very good player.