Past #8: Nathan Hrovat - won't be offered a new contract - thanks Rat

B4Bear

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The Dingrel

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wow. Zero tackles for Ahern. That’s kinda embarrassing in a team that has kicked 1 goal in 4 quarters. Only time that is even conceivable is if you dominate possession so much that you the opposition are chasing you all day and that clearly wasn’t the case.
 

remfan101

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wow. Zero tackles for Ahern. That’s kinda embarrassing in a team that has kicked 1 goal in 4 quarters. Only time that is even conceivable is if you dominate possession so much that you the opposition are chasing you all day and that clearly wasn’t the case.
He's playing as a small defender, where you're rarely in a position to tackle. Look at the other backs- JMacs had 4, Thommos had 2, none of the others got above 1.
 

The Dingrel

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He's playing as a small defender, where you're rarely in a position to tackle. Look at the other backs- JMacs had 4, Thommos had 2, none of the others got above 1.

yes I know, and I'd agree 100% say for a small defender like Zac Tuohy who also had zero tackles, BUT certainly had a lot less opportunity to lay a tackle given the relative side performances, in fact wouldn't be surprised if he had his tracksuit on and doing star jumps down there trying to keep warm.
 
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I'm on the fence about Hrovat playing this week, on one hand you pick him on form. On the other hand he and Watson are basically certain delistings.
 
I'm on the fence about Hrovat playing this week, on one hand you pick him on form. On the other hand he and Watson are basically certain delistings.

Shaw spoke about players who'd earning their spots the other day. He's earned a chance in the midfield to show what he can do. If he's s**t we get a better draft pick. If not he may be what the midfield needs to start winning clearances. Either way he earned another go. Might be his last ever game of AFL.
 

SlyCunnington

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yes I know, and I'd agree 100% say for a small defender like Zac Tuohy who also had zero tackles, BUT certainly had a lot less opportunity to lay a tackle given the relative side performances, in fact wouldn't be surprised if he had his tracksuit on and doing star jumps down there trying to keep warm.
So do you agree or not?

Pretty straightforward I reckon.
 
Jun 9, 2001
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Us looking to Hrovat to fix our midfield is an indicator of how badly this season has gone.

Bit unfair maybe HOF? Nathan is putting up some really solid numbers in a different position to where he's participated in the seniors.

I'd hope anyone on the list is given a fair opportunity under such circumstances regardless of whether decisions had been penciled in already.

If he was to come in and playing slashing football in the middle for the next 2 weeks then that's a nice problem to have from a list management perspective.
 

Heaps of fun

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Bit unfair maybe HOF? Nathan is putting up some really solid numbers in a different position to where he's participated in the seniors.

I'd hope anyone on the list is given a fair opportunity under such circumstances regardless of whether decisions had been penciled in already.

If he was to come in and playing slashing football in the middle for the next 2 weeks then that's a nice problem to have from a list management perspective.
I don't think it's unfair. Most people would have said he was the first cab off the rank for delisting at the start of the year. We've gone through Cunnington, Higgins, Ziebell, Anderson, Simpkin, Hall, Tyson, LDU, Ahern, Thomas and even Garner apparently. They've either failed to gel together, accelerate their game for a whole season or stay uninjured. Jacobs is going another season playing zero games.

I do think the idea of us throwing a 25 year old 5'9 bloke who lacks physical strength and acceleration into the midfield in the last two rounds is probably a sign that things haven't gone to plan.

Should play though, we don't have anyone else to try and we have to drop players after last Saturday.
 
Jun 9, 2001
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I don't think it's unfair. Most people would have said he was the first cab off the rank for delisting at the start of the year. We've gone through Cunnington, Higgins, Ziebell, Anderson, Simpkin, Hall, Tyson, LDU, Ahern, Thomas and even Garner apparently. They've either failed to gel together, accelerate their game for a whole season or stay uninjured. Jacobs is going another season playing zero games.

I do think the idea of us throwing a 25 year old 5'9 bloke who lacks physical strength and acceleration into the midfield in the last two rounds is probably a sign that things haven't gone to plan.

Should play though, we don't have anyone else to try and we have to drop players after last Saturday.

Fair enough. I see it as a clean slate as it's a different position for him.

If a Dec Watson switched to a wing for the last 3 weeks of VFL and picked up 20 touches a game I'd hope the club would be self-aware enough to recheck their assumptions. This is a similar case.
 

Heaps of fun

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Fair enough. I see it as a clean slate as it's a different position for him.

If a Dec Watson switched to a wing for the last 3 weeks of VFL and picked up 20 touches a game I'd hope the club would be self-aware enough to recheck their assumptions. This is a similar case.
Fully deserves his shot I just can't see it working. Had a long time to have a look at the Rat and I'm not going to be dazzled by VFL stats. I can't think of a single player of his description that is a best 22 AFL midfielder.
 

Themanbun

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Bit unfair maybe HOF? Nathan is putting up some really solid numbers in a different position to where he's participated in the seniors.

I'd hope anyone on the list is given a fair opportunity under such circumstances regardless of whether decisions had been penciled in already.

If he was to come in and playing slashing football in the middle for the next 2 weeks then that's a nice problem to have from a list management perspective.

Unfortunately some people would almost rather someone fail so that they're proved correct rather than have their assessment of a player contradicted and it benefit the team. The bloke has done everything right since his position change (my guess is that a hard conversation was had and he was given a month to prove himself in his preferred position). Need to reward that and give him a shot.

At worst, we give a serviceable player a send off game. At best, we unearth a 25 year old mid with a new lease on their game.
 
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