Unofficial Preview Changes vs GWS (team in OP; Wells, Blair, Aish and Schade in; Treloar, Broomy, Ramsay and Cox out)

[jathanas]

Somehow concluding that Blairs recall is destroying the youth policy is a massive stretch.

He (age 27) was picked on form to replace 23 year old Broomhead who was poor last week and unconvincing in prior weeks. Broomy is now past the potential stage. He cant be carried if hes not performing. He has to return to the seconds and do what Blair did. String some quality games together.

It's not that Blair is destroying the youth policy; it's that he has such a low ceiling (no pun intended) as a player. Even if he has his best game since 2013 for the club, what does he bring to the party?

At which point do we accept that we know what his best is (and that his best is not good enough) and that we must begin to look elsewhere?

Edit: BTW Timmy, I don't mean to sound argumentative; I always like reading your posts mate.

 

[MyManLynch]

It's not that Blair is destroying the youth policy; it's that he has such a low ceiling (no pun intended) as a player. Even if he has his best game since 2013 for the club, what does he bring to the party?

At which point do we accept that we know what his best is (and that his best is not good enough) and that we must begin to look elsewhere?

Edit: BTW Timmy, I don't want mean to sound argumentative and I always like reading your posts mate.

I think Blair was only offered a 1 year contract end last season.
So both the Club & he knows where he stands.
He has to produce something quickly (starting tomorrow) for his AFL career to continue.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

It's weird because when Blair has played, he's been the one who creeps forward and provides a target. If we could pin-point kick 20-30 meters with low passes we could even hit him! He's not an amazing goalkicker but he can kick them often enough.

I don't hate him being in. I hate our team having no soul right now. I have no idea how/when they are going to gel again as a tight unit.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It's not that Blair is destroying the youth policy; it's that he has such a low ceiling (no pun intended) as a player. Even if he has his best game since 2013 for the club, what does he bring to the party?

At which point do we accept that we know what his best is (and that his best is not good enough) and that we must begin to look elsewhere?

Edit: BTW Timmy, I don't want mean to sound argumentative and I always like reading your posts mate.

I always think we should play best 22 (team balance and injury management needing to be taken into account) and reward good VFL form.

Our two best VFL players recently have been Blair and Shaz. Unfortunately for Shaz, no vacancies in the backline, while for Blair a vacancy opens up.

The team (and most teams) will always have room for a few role players with little or no upside. Broomhead was rewarded with a spot but didnt grasp his opportunities, so he goes out. Its marginal but its probably equally a matter of Broomhead needing to be dropped than Blair banging the door down

Blair likely on a one man short list to go straight out again when Treloar returns so he has to nail this chance

 

[wicksy]

I would have also liked him to have been selected, but I don't think it's the end of the world for him to play one more VFL game. When he does get his chance he will hopefully get an extended run.

Remember Danny Stanley!?

 

[jathanas]

I think Blair was only offered a 1 year contract end last season.
So both the Club & he knows where he stands.
He has to produce something quickly (starting tomorrow) for his AFL career to continue.

Indeed.

When Blair was running alongside our 2010 guns he was a valuable foot-soldier; he had a well defined role that allowed him to perform within his limitations.

Our requirements today have changed and we need more from him, which he is unable to provide at the AFL level (not for lack of desire).

 

[MyManLynch]

Remember Danny Stanley!?

Played 88 games, weighed 88kg, 187cm tall, was born on the 18th Feb 1988, wore number 28 at Collingwood & played 8 games in his last season.

 

[The Dawes]

Indeed.

When Blair was running alongside our 2010 guns he was a valuable foot-soldier; he had a well defined role that allowed him to perform within his limitations.

Our requirements today have changed and we need more from him, which he is unable to provide at the AFL level (not for lack of desire).

yep, him playing is not the reason we are now crap.

 

[jathanas]

I always think we should play best 22 (team balance and injury management needing to be taken into account) and reward good VFL form.

Our two best VFL players recently have been Blair and Shaz. Unfortunately for Shaz, no vacancies in the backline, while for Blair a vacancy opens up.

The team (and most teams) will always have room for a few role players with little or no upside. Broomhead was rewarded with a spot but didnt grasp his opportunities, so he goes out.

That's not always the case. Croall got many best on grounds in the magoos during the 90s but played most of his career in the VFL.

I respect your point about rewarding performance and I appreciate that Broomy didn't do enough to hold onto his spot.

 

[The Dawes]

Played 88 games, weighed 88kg, 187cm tall, was born on the 18th Feb 1988, wore number 28 at Collingwood & played 8 games in his last season.

forged a semi-useful career at the Gold Coast.

 

[whiskeytown]

It's about who can afford to potentially miss a game if not required, (Shaz & Broomy need the continuity).
Or maybe it's about who will be least missed if not required.

Agree with the logic of not wasting a kids time... but if you are potentially short one to two midfielders then a midfielder should be the replacement. Hurts me to say it, but blair is a better fit as travelling emergency

 

[MyManLynch]

Agree with the logic of not wasting a kids time... but if you are potentially short one to two midfielders then a midfielder should be the replacement. Hurts me to say it, but blair is a better fit as travelling emergency

But Mayne is the travelling emergency.

 

[loki04]

No not everyone, just Racists, Bigots and the incredibly stupid, although I admit that last category expands almost daily.

So you ignore yourself then.

Somehow concluding that Blairs recall is destroying the youth policy is a massive stretch.

He (age 27) was picked on form to replace 23 year old Broomhead who was poor last week and unconvincing in prior weeks. Broomy is now past the potential stage. He cant be carried if hes not performing. He has to return to the seconds and do what Blair did. String some quality games together.

Except Blair DID NOT string together quality games. He also has been inconsistent.

The issue with Broomhead and others who get games is there will be inconsistencies (even given his age) due to lack of AFL games played/experience. He is a novice at AFL level.
On top of this Scharenberg was much better then Blair and yet he is still rotting, ok so its not like for like but it does not have to be if Buckley shuffles the deck chairs.

Then there is the Daicos debate would do no worse then Blair. Except the disposals he does have will have more hurt factor, be cleaner and add to his experience needed to become a quality AFL player.
Daicos has proven with every rise in level to be able to step up to the plate, I have no doubt he would be able to come up and play a role while gaining invaluable AFL experience to set him up in the future.

You don't invest a few games and then say ah that was shit see ya buddy, then default back to player who is OFTEN shit and often given carte blanch on his spot in the best 22.

 

[loki04]

It's weird because when Blair has played, he's been the one who creeps forward and provides a target. If we could pin-point kick 20-30 meters with low passes we could even hit him! He's not an amazing goalkicker but he can kick them often enough.

I don't hate him being in. I hate our team having no soul right now. I have no idea how/when they are going to gel again as a tight unit.

Quite often he is leading into other forwards space drawing extra defenders to him or to the area and often spoiled. The players look for Blair more then our KPF targets when he is in the team so lack of opportunity is not what prevents him being the next Lockett.

 

[wicksy]

Played 88 games, weighed 88kg, 187cm tall, was born on the 18th Feb 1988, wore number 28 at Collingwood & played 8 games in his last season.

Also dominated in the VFL, would be brought in for 2 games max and then relegated back to the Scoobs for the next 18 years!
Malthouse hated him.

 

[jackcass]

Or theres considered to be no uncertainty about Adams

Still prefer to see coverage for Pendles +1. Be a shame for Pendles to jump on a plane home and then something untoward happen to 1 of the other players in the warm up.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Who cares gonna be

Yes.

A massacre

 

[whiskeytown]

But Mayne is the travelling emergency.

I know that!

 

[jackcass]

Hey jmac, Blair as a selection choice is controversial because of what that decision signifies i.e. mediocrity over potential. We are refusing to back the young troops.

Even though it's still early in the season I'm ready to accept more losses knowing at least that we're setting up our future rather than select the same troops that have got us to where we are, and hope that we can scrape together some wins. It's an exercise in futility.

I agree that Blair as an individual deserves no hate; he is chosen to play by our selection panel.

But Blair at a minimum ensures we get mediocrity. The youth could potentially really stink it up... or not.

 

[jathanas]

But Blair at a minimum ensures we get mediocrity. The youth could potentially really stink it up... or not.

True! That's why it takes courage to back "unrealized potential" over known mediocrity; courage or an acceptance that this is as far as we're going to get with this mob, let's aim higher.

 

[jackcass]

It's not that Blair is destroying the youth policy; it's that he has such a low ceiling (no pun intended) as a player. Even if he has his best game since 2013 for the club, what does he bring to the party?

At which point do we accept that we know what his best is (and that his best is not good enough) and that we must begin to look elsewhere?

Edit: BTW Timmy, I don't mean to sound argumentative; I always like reading your posts mate.

I think the club has already signified it is prepared to move on (1 year deal, less certainty on selection), but at some stage the guys who have been given the senior opportunity in his stead need to start performing. At a minimum, we need mediocre (if that is what you believe Blair brings to the team) from them to at least match Blair's contribution.

 

[nahnah]

Can't remember the last time its taken me till Friday to post in one of these threads... enthusiasm for this season has been drained completely.

 

[jackcass]

Remember Danny Stanley!?

I'd be really really really really disappointed if Scharenberg isn't a hell of a lot better footballer than Danny Stanley. And that's not a slight on Danny Stanley in any way shape or form.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Played 88 games, weighed 88kg, 187cm tall, was born on the 18th Feb 1988, wore number 28 at Collingwood & played 8 games in his last season.

Hes a poor mans David Cloke then. He played 333 games, played at 3 clubs (two of them being Richmond), played in 3 Grand Finals, scored 3 3 and 3 Brownlow Medal votes in his last 3 games, and had 3 sons who wore 32 33 and 34 (what does that average) at Collingwood.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

True! That's why it takes courage to back "unrealized potential" over known mediocrity; courage or an acceptance that this is as far as we're going to get with this mob, let's aim higher.

Lets just pick Kirby Daicos Brown McLarty McCarthy and Cox then