Player Watch Jack Buller

[Tippy78]

His first 5min were better than his whole game last week but unfortunately that was it for the night.

Has been shocking for two weeks like Mcstay (and Membrey just a tiny bit a head IMO). Someone makes way for West and wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Jack.

 

[rand corp]

Not feeling it yet from Buller, looks an ordinary hard worker. However, the garbage served up by McStay and Membrey so far should save him for a few more weeks.

 

[whiskeytown]

Hard worker but not an offensive threat. Made the same point last week to the chagrin of others

Put him in the twos and let him build some goal kicking form and familiarity with pies forward system

Bring west in, who seems to be more of a natural lead mark forward

 

[Buckley is my hero]

He looks reasonably athletic to me. Since we lack height in the backline why don’t we consider turning him into a defender where he’d find it easier playing behind the ball rather than struggling as he is to make it as a forward?

 

[gouki88]

He’s a 3rd tall (in talent) who can pinch hit in the ruck. Our issue is that our 1st and 2nd tall have been invisible. Schultz has been our best key tall!

 

[Gone Critical]

He doesn’t suck. But those expecting more didn’t check his resume

100%. If he can be a part of the tall forward structure and kick 20-25 goals for the season he will have been a clear recruiting win. There is a fair chance thats beyond him but for what he cost its clearly worth the risk.

He isnt a replacement for Brody M, West is the only one who may do that going forward of the current list

You need to look at a player like Bullers past to see what realistic expectations you should have

25 years old in 2 months, 6 seasons of senior footy in the WAFL, VFL and AFL prior to this year. 46 WAFL games, 10 WAFL ressie games, 24 VFL games and 10 AFL games. He, over a good number of seasons in the VFL and WAFL, went at around 1.4 goals a game, respectable but think of Charlie West at 2.5 as a 19 yo last year.

I dont want to knock Buller but he is unlikely to be more than a soldier if he can hold his spot. To expect more is to attach unrealistic expectations. At this age and with years in the AFL system its extremely rare to suddenly up production significantly. Billy Frampton the 2nd would be great

 

[ANewDawn]

He's played 12 games. Give him a break. He was a long shot attempt to get a forward when we had no trade capital. It was a free shot and it's far too early to call it, especially when there's clearly no connection between our forwards and mids.

That's all very well to say, but the problem is that he is virtually an automatic selection given the lack of tall stocks. Whether or not he is a 'free shot', it's one we have to live with on the field. We have no one else. Posters calling for West to replace him are doing so on the basis of no current form and a solitary game last year in which he failed to produce the goods. He is yet to play a real game this season. He also needs time. Buller offers ruck relief which West can't provide. If we believe Buller may come good given time, then let's be realistic about our chances of success this year. We just don't have the players to carry us to a premiership. It's going to be a long year

 

[Gone Critical]

Our other problem whe a guy like Buller comes in is our dearth of forward with goal scoring potential. Of the full time forwards Billy and Membrey have careers of very good scoring without being right at the top. Brody M was clearly our main guy while at the club. We have no other likely types to step up to the 1.5-2.0 goals per game range this year so I think Membrey and Elliott need solid years for us to do anything in 26.

West is the hope but its unreasonable to expect more than a goal a game at the start. JDG is the other who could pitch in. Makes it hard for Buller because posters are hoping he might do something with goal scoring that is almost certainly beyond him

 

[ANewDawn]

His first 5min were better than his whole game last week but unfortunately that was it for the night.

Has been shocking for two weeks like Mcstay (and Membrey just a tiny bit a head IMO). Someone makes way for West and wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Jack.

Surely West has to produce some form, take some marks and kick goals, preferably lots of them, before he is elevated. From what I have seen of him in practice games, he didn't look as though he is ready to step into the team and be the instant answer to our tall forward problems. We need to temper our expectations, then be pleasantly surprised if the player produces more than we anticipated.

 

[Gone Critical]

That's all very well to say, but the problem is that he is virtually an automatic selection given the lack of tall stocks. Whether or not he is a 'free shot', it's one we have to live with on the field. We have no one else. Posters calling for West to replace him are doing so on the basis of no current form and a solitary game last year in which he failed to produce the goods. He is yet to play a real game this season. He also needs time. Buller offers ruck relief which West can't provide. If we believe Buller may come good given time, then let's be realistic about our chances of success this year. We just don't have the players to carry us to a premiership. It's going to be a long year

I am sceptical about the ruck relief. In 12 games of AFL he has had 8 hit outs and 7 of those came in one game. SO far he looks worse in the ruck than KPF and for a borderline player in the 23 I thinks its a big ask and probably unfair to ask him to ruck. He will struggle with that while he tries to tie down a KPF possie which he is no guarantee to keep

Either try Steene or give it to McStay who at least is established and we know is not a big goal scorer so we dont lose too much when he goes into the ruck.

 

[granniewolf]

Surely West has to produce some form, take some marks and kick goals, preferably lots of them, before he is elevated. From what I have seen of him in practice games, he didn't look as though he is ready to step into the team and be the instant answer to our tall forward problems. We need to temper our expectations, then be pleasantly surprised if the player produces more than we anticipated.

Did you see Charlie play in VFL games last year?
I'd rather see him playing and getting experience than wait for McStay to sort himself out.

 

[windchimes]

100%. If he can be a part of the tall forward structure and kick 20-25 goals for the season he will have been a clear recruiting win. There is a fair chance thats beyond him but for what he cost its clearly worth the risk.

He isnt a replacement for Brody M, West is the only one who may do that going forward of the current list

You need to look at a player like Bullers past to see what realistic expectations you should have

25 years old in 2 months, 6 seasons of senior footy in the WAFL, VFL and AFL prior to this year. 46 WAFL games, 10 WAFL ressie games, 24 VFL games and 10 AFL games. He, over a good number of seasons in the VFL and WAFL, went at around 1.4 goals a game, respectable but think of Charlie West at 2.5 as a 19 yo last year.

I dont want to knock Buller but he is unlikely to be more than a soldier if he can hold his spot. To expect more is to attach unrealistic expectations. At this age and with years in the AFL system its extremely rare to suddenly up production significantly. Billy Frampton the 2nd would be great

Not suggesting they play similarly but to end up with a Leigh ‘The Anvil’ Brown type would be a more realistic hope for Buller.

 

[sr36]

He dished off a couple of lovely quick hands handpasses to teammates after gathering the ball at speed. He is just a solid citizen finding his feet while we are not moving the pill with any confidence and fluidity into our forward line. Billy hardly touched it for three quarters and McStay who was playing his 200th showed no more than Jack Buller tonight and in fact butchered the pill when he did win possession. Time please before writing someone off.

Entry to the talls won't change much. The issue is we're cooked when teams have a spare behind the ball because our talls are too slow to get separation when presenting. So it's just a bomb to an outnumber. We're going to be rely reliant on our runners cutting through and finishing, rather than kicking to our talls. And if a team sets up to nullify that we haven't really got anything else. The forwards just aren't good enough.

 

[Gone Critical]

Not suggesting they play similarly but to end up with a Leigh ‘The Anvil’ Brown type would be a more realistic hope for Buller.

i see that as too much. Brown a 246 game players in 12 seasons. Played 21 games in season one and for 10 of the 12 seasons 20 games or greater. a very solid AFL tall without being a star. serious contributor to our 2010 flag

I think its a pipe dream for Buller to reach those levels. 4% of AFL players play 200+. Buller is miles off that.

 

[ANewDawn]

Did you see Charlie play in VFL games last year?
I'd rather see him playing and getting experience than wait for McStay to sort himself out.

Yes I did but I have also seen him play AFL and in the practice games and he didn't strike me as ready for the big time. I would rather see him replace Membrey because it seems a more like for like replacement. At least McStay got the ball, which is more than could be said of Membrey. In a way, I don't disagree about bringing West in now because our talls looked hopeless last night.

 

[windchimes]

i see that as too much. Brown a 246 game players in 12 seasons. Played 21 games in season one and for 10 of the 12 seasons 20 games or greater. a very solid AFL tall without being a star. serious contributor to our 2010 flag

I think it’s a pipe dream for Buller to reach those levels. 4% of AFL players play 200+. Buller is miles off that.

You are right. I only googled it after I posted to realise Brown played over 200 games. Sheesh he was handy

 

[granniewolf]

Yes I did but I have also seen him play AFL and in the practice games and he didn't strike me as ready for the big time. I would rather see him replace Membrey because it seems a more like for like replacement. At least McStay got the ball, which is more than could be said of Membrey. In a way, I don't disagree about bringing West in now because our talls looked hopeless last night.

To be fair, Charlie injured his foot during that game but at least he kicked a goal.
So, his AFL % is 100%
As for the practice game not sure how much that counts as half the top players were resting so not the same as playing in the A side.

 

[Bianconeri]

Ever since 2023 we struggle to bring in players that suit our style. Membrey would have suited our transition game in 2022 and early 2023 but wasn’t a fit for our long bombing style of last season or a fit for a possession style this season.

Houston didn’t fit our style bombing to the contest style last season but at least suits our possession style this season.

Buller would have suited our bombing to a contest style last season but doesn’t offer a great deal when we’re recycling possession.

 

[Gone Critical]

Ever since 2023 we struggle to bring in players that suit our style. Membrey would have suited our transition game in 2022 and early 2023 but wasn’t a fit for our long bombing style of last season or a fit for a possession style this season.

Houston didn’t fit our style bombing to the contest style last season but at least suits our possession style this season.

Buller would have suited our bombing to a contest style last season but doesn’t offer a great deal when we’re recycling possession.

Sometimes expectations are too much. Membrey did pretty much what he has done for years. Reliable goal kicker who kicked 30 goals at 1.4 per game last year for us. Was pretty close to what he does year in year out through his career. I would have thought he clearly met expectations. Houston yes was suited to role last year and Buller probably isnt AFL level no matter the game style. Too soon to write him off but hae doesnt have a great resume

 

[Bianconeri]

Sometimes expectations are too much. Membrey did pretty much what he has done for years. Reliable goal kicker who kicked 30 goals at 1.4 per game last year for us. Was pretty close to what he does year in year out through his career. I would have thought he clearly met expectations. Houston yes was suited to role last year and Buller probably isnt AFL level no matter the game style. Too soon to write him off but hae doesnt have a great resume

You’re conflating meeting expectations and suiting the gameplan when they’re separate things.

I never once said Membrey didn’t meet expectations.

 

[TradeDraft]

Surely West has to produce some form, take some marks and kick goals, preferably lots of them, before he is elevated. From what I have seen of him in practice games, he didn't look as though he is ready to step into the team and be the instant answer to our tall forward problems. We need to temper our expectations, then be pleasantly surprised if the player produces more than we anticipated.

Well he be no worse then our Forwards at the Moment

Not playing Games when he is the Hold Over as well like last night

 

[ksardog]

He tackles well, works hard in that aspect
But needs to start marking and hitting the scoreboard , I want my key forwards to kick goals

 

[pablo disco bar]

I cant understand why we are not playing steene over this bloke ...better ruckman and mark

JUST PLAY HIM (STEENE)

 

[Bogsey]

The hate is crazy. The service he has got the last 2 weeks has been absolute garbage. We have been terrible going forward. We won 8 centre clearances last week and 9 this week. 10 marks inside 50 each week. If we cant fix those things, he isn't going to get the opportunity.

The second efforts he has and the chase he gives for a big man is actually quite good.
I just want to see more one on ones from him.

 

[manicpie]

The hate is crazy. The service he has got the last 2 weeks has been absolute garbage. We have been terrible going forward. We won 8 centre clearances last week and 9 this week. 10 marks inside 50 each week. If we cant fix those things, he isn't going to get the opportunity.

The second efforts he has and the chase he gives for a big man is actually quite good.
I just want to see more one on ones from him.

He had a few 1 on 1 opportunities but just can't clunk them atm. Hopefully that improves