Official on Ray

[lifelike_]

I'm obviously in the minority, but here goes.

So far it's safe to say he hasn't met expectations. You would expect any midfielder taken at pick four to be averaging more than 20 touches in their fifth year.

He's only ever had more than 25 disposals in a game once, being the elimination final against Collingwood in 2006.

However, IMO he's being used the wrong way. The following might be extremely basic in terms of stats, but IMO it's a fair indication of why many haven't seen his season as up to scratch.

In 2006 he stepped up and got us all excited. He was given a license to run and carry, he took games on and after the elimination final he was seen by many on here as one of our brightest prospects in years.

That year he disposed of the ball by foot 60% of the time.

Since then it's safe to say he's been a disappointment, and this year it's obvious he's been given a different role.

He's been used in a role that's completely unsuitable to his natural game. Instead of being the player on the end of a chain of handballs where he should be, he's playing the 'middle man', often the player who ends up firing a handball out to the player who runs and carries.

It's no surprise that this year he's only been disposing of the ball by foot a tick over 40% of the time.

So why are we using a player whose strength lies in his ability to run and carry in a role that at least 75% of players on an AFL list could play?

With all signs pointing to a trade at the end of the season, I can't help but think we might have lost a player who we'll be crying out for once Eagleton's career comes to an end.

I'm expecting the doom and gloom brigade to shoot this down, but if we let him go and he's given the right role he'll turn into the player we all though he'd be after that brilliant finals performance two years ago.

 

[Furious D]

I'm obviously in the minority, but here goes.

So far it's safe to say he hasn't met expectations. You would expect any midfielder taken at pick four to be averaging more than 20 touches in their fifth year.

He's only ever had more than 25 disposals in a game once, being the elimination final against Collingwood in 2006.

However, IMO he's being used the wrong way. The following might be extremely basic in terms of stats, but IMO it's a fair indication of why many haven't seen his season as up to scratch.

In 2006 he stepped up and got us all excited. He was given a license to run and carry, he took games on and after the elimination final he was seen by many on here as one of our brightest prospects in years.

That year he disposed of the ball by foot 60% of the time.

Since then it's safe to say he's been a disappointment, and this year it's obvious he's been given a different role.

He's been used in a role that's completely unsuitable to his natural game. Instead of being the player on the end of a chain of handballs where he should be, he's playing the 'middle man', often the player who ends up firing a handball out to the player who runs and carries.

It's no surprise that this year he's only been disposing of the ball by foot a tick over 40% of the time.

So why are we using a player whose strength lies in his ability to run and carry in a role that at least 75% of players on an AFL list could play?

With all signs pointing to a trade at the end of the season, I can't help but think we might have lost a player who we'll be crying out for once Eagleton's career comes to an end.

I'm expecting the doom and gloom brigade to shoot this down, but if we let him go and he's given the right role he'll turn into the player we all though he'd be after that brilliant finals performance two years ago.

Absolutely spot on

 

[smilingassassin6]

Back to where he belongs in WA.
Ill be happy to have murphy!

 

[smilingassassin6]

Bloody waste of a pick considering that brock mclean, beau waters, brent stanton, jed adcock, amon buchanan, heath shaw, sam fisher all went after him!

 

[stefoid]

I can see what Ray might become if his decision making and kicking improves. His decision making will improve, his kicking might be locked in. Cant recall too many players correcting fundamental kicking flaws - it seems to be something that is locked in during the teens, a lot of which he was playing soccer.

As for who we might of get, everyone can play that game, although Adcock would look good in the red whtie and blue, thats for sure, even if it was to ensure that he didnt break grifs kneecap.

 

[Gridlock'd]

Bloody waste of a pick considering that brock mclean, beau waters, brent stanton, jed adcock, amon buchanan, heath shaw, sam fisher all went after him!

Yeah and hes the only player ever to have a better player selected after him in the draft.

 

[W W Biscuit]

He's been used in a role that's completely unsuitable to his natural game. Instead of being the player on the end of a chain of handballs where he should be, he's playing the 'middle man', often the player who ends up firing a handball out to the player who runs and carries.

We saw two very good examples on Friday night where Farren was on the end of a passage of play. His two shots at goal were out of bounds on the full and a ten metre mis-kick to the opposition. His disposal by foot has always been horrendous by AFL standards. He simply cannot be the finisher that we would like him to be. Five years in the system and it has not improved one bit. If he had the foot skills of Shaun Higgins, then I would be fighting tooth and nail to retain him.

 

[soupaman]

With all signs pointing to a trade at the end of the season, I can't help but think we might have lost a player who we'll be crying out for once Eagleton's career comes to an end.

I'm expecting the doom and gloom brigade to shoot this down, but if we let him go and he's given the right role he'll turn into the player we all though he'd be after that brilliant finals performance two years ago.

Good post, and I too feel that he will be a good player, and if we trade him it will come back to bite us on the arse.

My biggest problem with him is that after defending him all year, he went out and was in my opinion our worst on Friday night (which is really saying something). So at the moment like many others I am understandably frustrated.

 

[kleptomjc]

I'm a Ray fan. See any of my other ray thread posts. I think that we will be bitten badly if we were to trade him. Furthermore, I would be bitterly disappointed in a player that I respected if he were to burn us in the PSD, if he wanted to go that is.
NOW to the point of this post: Does anyone here remember a player by the name of Jason Akermanis? Who IF he was going to get TRADED, the team would HAVE to give up a decent player AND a top ten pick. Oh wait a min......what did we give again? pick 35 odd?

Point is, although the animosity isn't there, Kerr wants to go. Discounting for a moment that Ray may want to go also, if a player wants out, then he wants out. Think on that for a momnet.

Ray may want out, Kerr wants out. It may take us a little more than Aker did, so perhaps with the inclusion of picks it may happen, but whoever shoots down the possibility of a pick and Ray for Kerr needs to think again. He wants out, and it is better than the pre season draft. Although I think a three way trade is more likely, and reports are coming out St Kilda are after him, it is something to think on. You never get what you want for a player who wants out.

Hopefully being that West Coast and the Doggies both have players who (may) want out, we can at least get something good going for both parties.

Perhaps food for thought?

 

[Tom Fraser]

ray, 1st round pick, hill (wa boys)
for
kerr

 

[SCRAY72]

Officially Farren Ray should make way for Callan Ward this week..

 

[The Coon Dog]

ray, 1st round pick, hill (wa boys)
for
kerr

No way Jose!!

That's way too much, also, we'll probably be compelled to use our 1st round pick for Ayce Cordy.

 

[Gooka]

ray, 1st round pick, hill (wa boys)
for
kerr

Hill will be a jet. And will play Ray's role better than him within 12/18 months. Don't trade him FFS.

 

[anti.]

i'll say, you'd be stupid to trade hill.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

We saw two very good examples on Friday night where Farren was on the end of a passage of play. His two shots at goal were out of bounds on the full and a ten metre mis-kick to the opposition. His disposal by foot has always been horrendous by AFL standards. He simply cannot be the finisher that we would like him to be. Five years in the system and it has not improved one bit. If he had the foot skills of Shaun Higgins, then I would be fighting tooth and nail to retain him.

Rays kicking wasn't too bad in 2006. I remember he played forward in our run home and snapped some beauties home. Also kicked a couple streaming into the 50. He's an instinctive player thats lost all confidence in his kicking and unlike kids brought up on AFL, doesn't have the foundation technique to get him through his rough patch.

 

[Sedat!]

Good post, and I too feel that he will be a good player, and if we trade him it will come back to bite us on the arse.

My biggest problem with him is that after defending him all year, he went out and was in my opinion our worst on Friday night (which is really saying something). So at the moment like many others I am understandably frustrated.

Whilst it was frustrating as hell seeing him butcher the ball time and again, he was running himself ragged getting into position to command the ball. By contrast some of our other players on Friday night didn't get a bead of sweat on their jumpers.

The guy who make a couple of glaring turnovers will, rightly or wrongly, always be the subject of post-game ridicule.

 

[Pigdog]

We saw two very good examples on Friday night where Farren was on the end of a passage of play. His two shots at goal were out of bounds on the full and a ten metre mis-kick to the opposition. His disposal by foot has always been horrendous by AFL standards. He simply cannot be the finisher that we would like him to be. Five years in the system and it has not improved one bit. If he had the foot skills of Shaun Higgins, then I would be fighting tooth and nail to retain him.

And if Shaun Higgins had Farren's running abilities he would be a gun.

 

[gilly111]

Up until this year I remember Farren being a pretty good kick, and in saying that a pretty handy player with lots of promise. I think we'd be crazy to let him go unless he really wants to go home or the trade will make us significantly better, as his room for improvement left is huge.

 

[Pigdog]

Whilst it was frustrating as hell seeing him butcher the ball time and again, he was running himself ragged getting into position to command the ball. By contrast some of our other players on Friday night didn't get a bead of sweat on their jumpers.

The guy who make a couple of glaring turnovers will, rightly or wrongly, always be the subject of post-game ridicule.

Yippee... Finally someone with a clue.

Ray tried his guts out, yeah he butchered the ball, but he was trying. He will probably get the boot this week and shipped off at the end of the year, but atleast he has a crack and I am still confident that in 1 or 2 years time he will be a very good player, it's just going to be frustrating til that time comes.

But hey were Bulldogs fans we love the frustration, it's all part of the journey!!!