2 most important on the list.

[roostertalk]

While I'm still optimistic of a much better year I think if any of these two went down we'd be in strife.

1.Thursfield is very imporant to the backline structure, seems silly we're so dependant on a 20 year old bean, but without him taking the no 1 forward we get in a bit of strife.Hopefully Silvester can rectify this problem if need be.

2.Foley gives us X factor in the middle and without him we are on par with Essendon as the worst midfield in the league.We need him on the park all year if we're to do any damage.

In my opinion they are the two hardest to replace. Thoughts?

 

[sante]

Simmo is obviously there as we saw last year...

 

[Tigerrific]

Simmo and Brown

 

[beaver fever]

Thursfield and Simmonds are the two in my opinion.

 

[smokey_58au]

The 2 we can least afford (will directly influence games the most) to lose - Simmonds and Foley.

 

[Tigersman]

Simmonds absolutely, and foley.

 

[Rancid_Beasties]

Simmonds and thursfield. Foley 3rd.

 

[Ando_4]

Simmonds & Brown

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

Ruck and backline were deficient last season - so I would rate Simmo and Bowden as significantly important to our success this season.

 

[Tigerrific]

It would be interesting to know what our win/loss percentages are with and without Simmonds and Brown and both...

 

[IDGAF]

1.Thursfield is very imporant to the backline structure, seems silly we're so dependant on a 20 year old bean, but without him taking the no 1 forward we get in a bit of strife.Hopefully Silvester can rectify this problem if need be.

Totally agree with you on that one ... Something about this kid . A couple of solid injury free years and i reckon he could be anything , whiffs awfully of Dustin Fletcher for mine , just could be a cornerstone for decade ... in a much more better and positive way than Darren Gaspar .

The other i will sleep on

 

[Wally Matera]

I find it bizarre that after 10 years of topping our goalkicking award every year that Richo is not see as one of the most important. He goes... who kicks them?

Remember, the aim of the game is to score.

 

[smokey_58au]

I find it bizarre that after 10 years of topping our goalkicking award every year that Richo is not see as one of the most important. He goes... who kicks them?

Remember, the aim of the game is to score.

Fair point but I just think that when he hasn't played in the past we have still been able to cover his loss fairly well. Last year proved that without Simmonds, structurally we were stuffed and I hate to think how worse it would be if Foley went too.

 

[Collins is god]

Collins and um..Collins.

 

[Wally Matera]

Fair point but I just think that when he hasn't played in the past we have still been able to cover his loss fairly well. Last year proved that without Simmonds, structurally we were stuffed and I hate to think how worse it would be if Foley went too.

As good and exciting as Foley is, you would hope that being a year older, that Deledio, Tambling, Polo etc could step a little to make Foley's absence not as damaging.

You're right, Simmo is a massively important player and yep, he would most likely be my other choice. You cant go past key-position players when determining the most valuable in terms of holding the structure together. Look at the Bulldogs when they had no defenders or key forwards, or the Aints without a ruckman.

 

[smokey_58au]

As good and exciting as Foley is, you would hope that being a year older, that Deledio, Tambling, Polo etc could step a little to make Foley's absence not as damaging.

You're right, Simmo is a massively important player and yep, he would most likely be my other choice. You cant go past key-position players when determining the most valuable in terms of holding the structure together. Look at the Bulldogs when they had no defenders or key forwards, or the Aints without a ruckman.

Yep. Good argument. I'll live with that.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Simmo-Structure wise he,s very important.His return will allow us to use both Simmo and Patto at CHF.Last year with the failure of Shultz up fwd we had one option in Richo.This year with Patto and Simmo in the fwd line it gives us another Tall option to at the very least bring the ball to ground for the likes of Brown,Pettifer and Morton to pounce on.

Tambling-Without putting to much pressure on Tambo,the fact of the matter is we need someone to take the heat off Foley.Some say he,s not an inside player.I beg to differ.He showed glimpes of his ability in tight last year.By all accounts this pre-season he,s been very impressive before his ankle.If he can translate his training form into the heat of battle then Tambo will go along way in taking the heat off Foley.

 

[deliberate!!]

A question?
Are you able to have a crap Ruckman who never wins the tap-outs yet his team mates around that Ruckman still win the ball everytime, due to their ability, anticipation, strength and skill?

Haven't we seen this before?

Beware the over emphasis on Ruckman.
We could even play games of football without Ruckman, and nothing would change.

 

[roostertalk]

A question?
Are you able to have a crap Ruckman who never wins the tap-outs yet his team mates around that Ruckman still win the ball everytime, due to their ability, anticipation, strength and skill?

Haven't we seen this before?

Beware the over emphasis on Ruckman.
We could even play games of football without Ruckman, and nothing would change.

Agree with you as i don't think that Simmo's tap skills are that special anyway, I would think that Simmonds value is being talked up as another quality marking option playing on the ball and up forward, also pretty handy defending ruckmen.

 

[deliberate!!]

And to flip that around Roostertalk, you could have a brilliant ruckman tapping it down the throat to sub-standard, fumbling men in the middle. So the work of that Ruckman is negated.

I'd much rather have a gun group in the guts receiving or competing for ANY tap out, than just a great ruckman.

I think if a team relies on a Ruckman constantly saving their ass in the Forward Line or Back Line....you have problems in that area. But if he's the icing on the cake in that already successful area, than that's cool.

 

[smokey_58au]

And to flip that around Roostertalk, you could have a brilliant ruckman tapping it down the throat to sub-standard, fumbling men in the middle. So the work of that Ruckman is negated.

I'd much rather have a gun group in the guts receiving or competing for ANY tap out, than just a great ruckman.

I think if a team relies on a Ruckman constantly saving their ass in the Forward Line or Back Line....you have problems in that area. But if he's the icing on the cake in that already successful area, than that's cool.

I agree to a certain extent but I think that sides who are flogged in the ruck rarely win (there will always be the odd game of course). Agree with the gun midfield, thats essential, but I think that you need both to be competitive at the top level, just one or the other will only ever make you partially competitive and middle of the road. A recent good example would be St Kilda when Thomas made the fatal mistake of undervaluing the importance of a competitive ruck.

 

[cormick]

Simmonds and Richo

Next year, Thursfield and Deledio

 

[emperor]

browny - i think he gives the whole team a lift in confidence with his ability to do the seemingly difficult things very easily, ie doesn't let an opportunity go to waste, rarely gets beaten etc

Simmonds - early on anyway until we can develop our ruckman further, but a ruckman is only as good as his midfield, so it's also the midfield who make him important

 

[Rayzorwire]

ATM, Tuck and Foley.

If one of them is well down on average output in the centre we struggle. If both of them are down we get belted. If they're both playing well and winning the ball, we're very competitive even against the top sides.

*Hopefully* that will gradually change over the next couple of years as the younger brigade come through and can lend a hand (particularly Polo and Tambling who should be close, with Edwards and Connors to follow), but right ATM, we can't even hope to win games without them.