All Australian Team 2008

[bungholes_premiers]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Yes I am. The quality of his touches was sometimes extraordinary in that game. He wasnt loose as such either IMO. Just backed himself often to run off and/or help out his team mates. Also in that game he did a hell of a lot that is not measured in stats.

No need to justify how good Hodge was that game with so few possies - its only a twit with no clue about footy that automatically regards those as "easy" possessions, when in fact he chopped off so much attack and made a lot of spoils that dont get counted in those stats.

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

No need to justify how good Hodge was that game with so few possies - its only a twit with no clue about footy that automatically regards those as "easy" possessions, when in fact he chopped off so much attack and made a lot of spoils that dont get counted in those stats.

So if that is how you measure Hodge's worth to the side, and what makes him an AA player, then why on earth would you not see how valuable Harley is? He chopss off more attack than Hodge does, and yet you're claiming that's what made Hodge's last game so brilliant?

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

So have you watched Geelong and Tom Harley as closely as you have watched Hodge throughout the year?

If you want to make this a Hodge v Harley thread I'm not interested. Hate those threads.

I have seen the vast majority of Geel games this year in answer to your question.

I watch Harley do what he does against the 3rd to 6th best forwards, and he generally does it pretty well. I just dont think that what he does is at the absolute elite level. I think the AA defenders need to be the type that consistently take out the best forwards or be the very attacking classy ones like you know who.

 

[Exhale You]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

its good to see a geelong person "catsfan16" who doesnt think every one of their players is a champion (and champion is a word thrown around much too loosely these days).

Who has said that Tom Harley is a 'champion'?

its sad that hes going to be a back-to-back premiership captain someone who contributes more deserves that honour.

It's only sad for envious, ignorant people who have no understanding of all Tom Harley has done for this football club, both on and off the field.

FWIW I think Geelong are terrific and this is 100% not a dig nor troll at your club. My post pretty much suggests how good I think you are despite my opinion of Harleys selection.

Your post wasn't a troll, but it was full of flawed logic and ignorant about Tom's role.

 

[bungholes_premiers]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

So if that is how you measure Hodge's worth to the side, and what makes him an AA player, then why on earth would you not see how valuable Harley is? He chopss off more attack than Hodge does, and yet you're claiming that's what made Hodge's last game so brilliant?

As MB just said, thats for a hodge vs harley thread - in which case i would not be able to stop laughing at the comparison before i could reply ..

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Who has said that Tom Harley is a 'champion'?



It's only sad for envious, ignorant people who have no understanding of all Tom Harley has done for this football club, both on and off the field.



Your post wasn't a troll, but it was full of flawed logic and ignorant about Tom's role.

I'm well aware of tom's role. Just dont think he is the best at it.
Which of the AA forwards would you play him on and be confident of him consistently beating or breaking even on??
Keep in mind you can only have one loose one and that posi would go to Hodge on the BFlank due to his supreme foot skills.
Answer my original question. If he was not Captain of your club (and as such very much in the limelight due to his very good performance as captain) do you really think he would be chosen as one of the best 6 defenders in the comp?

 

[Big Carl]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

What a surprise, a Hawthorn supporter posting about Geelong!

Being surrounded by other great defenders did help. He could feel free to leave his opponent to go for his marks knowing that guys like Scarlett and Milburn were around to back him up.

But if the AA side ever did play a game, he would be able to do the same thing, as his fellow defenders are class players.

But that is the same with the majority of players selected. Being surrounded by other good players certainly helps. Buddy getting good delivery etc..

Nothing to do with bias or who you support. In fact I would take it a step further and say that if he wasn't captain (and a good one at that off the field) he would not be getting a game.

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Who has said that Tom Harley is a 'champion'?

Bingo !!!
Most Geelong fans would say he's probably not in our best 10 players on the list [CatFan79 & martykflex would say top 43 ],but he's had an outstanding season.

Players like Chapman,Milburn,Kelly and Ling are better players,but for one reason or another their year hasn't been as good as Harleys this year.

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

As MB just said, thats for a hodge vs harley thread - in which case i would not be able to stop laughing at the comparison before i could reply ..

No it's not for a Hodge v Harley thread, because they play different roles for their teams.
Hodge is clearly more attacking, better skills (except when under pressure ) etc.
However, MB was claiming that Harley is not an AA level player, but also said that hodge's last game was excellent because he "just backed himself often to run off and/or help out his team mates. Also in that game he did a hell of a lot that is not measured in stats."
That is exactly what we appreciate about Harley, yet it is what MB and others claim makes him no good.
So how is it that the exact same aspects of the game is one players strength while another's weakness?
As people who watch the Cats a lot more than you do, he plays his role for the team and does it well.
I admit he is borderline AA, I would not have been put out if he did not make it. But some of the claims made by Hawks posters in particular are just ignorant and perhaps envious at best.

 

[ShinSplints]

My main beef is that Bradshaw >>>>>>>> Medhurst

 

[bungholes_premiers]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

I admit he is borderline AA, I would not have been put out if he did not make it.

OK so you kinda agree with the thread then ...

 

[AussieRocks]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Even though i am a cats supporter i have to agree with you. He basically plays a loose man in defence yet he averaged only 14 touches and five marks per game, usually playing (very loosely) on the oppositions fourth or fifth best forward. He is a great captain and leader however i wouldn't even have him in Geelongs best 15 players

nice to see an honest Cat fan so how the f***ing hell did he get in the AA team?

 

[Sttew]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

...would he be in the AA team?

I doubt it.

Geelong could quite feasibly have chosen Ablett, Milburn, or Chapman as their Captain and if so the footy world would not be completely and utterly seduced by him and he would not be in that side.
He is obviously a very good club captain, and obviously a very smart choice as club captain, but his footy is not quite AA standard for mine.

If (yes I know these are all if's!) Geelong were a few rungs down the ladder and his form was exactly the same, I guarantee you he would not be chosen in the AA side.

If (and this is a real if) you are chosen as a big bodied defender in the AA side, you need to be good enough to regularly play on the big bodied forwards also chosen in the AA side and we all know Tom is not good enough for this.

It's not Tom's fault he was chosen and I mean no disrespect to him but I firmly believe this was a bad choice. Hudghton Rutten or Croad are better big bodied defenders, and from his own team, Milburn or Mackie are better choices to take the not so big bodied AA forwards. Even Taylor gets the big jobs ahead of him.

The love for Harley in the Footy world has surpassed that of Judd at the moment. Apart from him being a smart man and a good speaker I just dont get it.

Stupid thread! If Buddy Franklin was playing for Melbourne (and not getting the supply he receives from Mitchell, Bateman, Sewell, Crawford etc) would he be in the AA? Possibly not. We'll never know.

Harley had a great year and his statistics bear this out.

 

[Animosity1989]

I'm just relieved that they did'nt choose Mooney ahead of Franklin again.

 

[TheNumber4]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

What has that got to do with the AA team?



What a shit comment. You have no idea how much he contributes. Tom would be the first to put his hand up, as he did when he was named VC, to say he's not sure about the selection. Obviously people with a bit more knowledge than yourself think him worthy of being honoured in this way.

I agree that is a terrible comment. We all want to stick up for our players when we see rubbish like that. I thought Tom Harley was superb this year as a player and leader for the cats. Deserved the AA selection. Would love his height and courage in the Blues backline to go with some of our kids developing.

It's an honour to receive the VC too as they do not award the Captaincy or VC to first up players in the AA team. Well done Tom (and Juddy)

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

OK so you kinda agree with the thread then ...

No I don't. The thread suggests that because Harley is captain at Geelong, he got an AA jumper. I suggest that he had an outstanding year playing the role he was given by the club, which got him up amongst the other best defenders vying for the position. He was then chosen by the selectors because he played that role so well. If he didn't play that role, he wouldn't have been in consideration.

 

[Exhale You]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

I'm well aware of tom's role.

Your comments in the OP indicate otherwise.

Which of the AA forwards would you play him on and be confident of him consistently beating or breaking even on??

There's only one medium forward he'd play on, and that's Medhurst, who he has smashed twice in the three times they've played on each other.

Answer my original question. If he was not Captain of your club (and as such very much in the limelight due to his very good performance as captain) do you really think he would be chosen as one of the best 6 defenders in the comp?

What is the point of irrelevant 'what ifs'?
They're wholly meaningless and simply fodder for whingers looking for an angle to justify their opinion.

 

[benhawk]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Stupid thread! If Buddy Franklin was playing for Melbourne (and not getting the supply he receives from Mitchell, Bateman, Sewell, Crawford etc) would he be in the AA? Possibly not. We'll never know.

Harley had a great year and his statistics bear this out.

No they don't! For example, where does he rate in the league for rebound 50s?

Question for Cats fans as they obviously can't appreciate players from other teams, is he a better player than Milburn and Mackie?

 

[AussieRocks]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Mackie is by far a better player then Harley now he was stiff to miss out

 

[Exhale You]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

Question for Cats fans as they obviously can't appreciate players from other teams, is he a better player than Milburn and Mackie?

I'll ignore the rubbish generalisation and focus on the actual question.

He's not a better player than them, but he certainly had a better year than both.

Now i've answered your question, i've got one of my own.
Why do you think it's always Hawthorn supporters starting such threads about Geelong players and how they're ''overrated'?

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

No they don't! For example, where does he rate in the league for rebound 50s?

Question for Cats fans as they obviously can't appreciate players from other teams, is he a better player than Milburn and Mackie?

Can you appreciate that the AA team is not strictly the 'best 22 players in the comp'?
If it was, there would be no balance to the team.

With a bit of flexibility and creative license, generally they pick a team that could take the field structurally. Is it possible that the structure they thought would work best meant that Harley fitted in better than Makie or Milburn, despite them being just as 'worthy' of a spot?

 

[AussieRocks]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

I'll ignore the rubbish generalisation and focus on the actual question.

He's not a better player than them, but he certainly had a better year than both.

Now i've answered your question, i've got one of my own.
Why do you think it's always Hawthorn supporters starting such threads about Geelong players and how they're ''overrated'?

I have a question for u Exhale where have all the Pussy's supporters come from in the last 2 years? All aboard the Bandwagon.

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

No they don't! For example, where does he rate in the league for rebound 50s?

Question for Cats fans as they obviously can't appreciate players from other teams, is he a better player than Milburn and Mackie?

He's better than Mackie and he's had a better year than Milburn.Milburns last 4 or 5 weeks would've gone against him [rubbed out 1,injured 1 and struggled in his comeback]

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

I have a question for u Exhale where have all the Pussy's supporters come from in the last 2 years? All aboard the Bandwagon.

Well done on making yourself look like an idiot

AussieRocks
BigFooty Member

Hawthorn

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Melbourne

Bandwagoner

 

[Exhale You]

Re: If Tom Harley was NOT captain of Geelong...

I have a question for u Exhale where have all the Pussy's supporters come from in the last 2 years? All aboard the Bandwagon.

Any chance of answering my question rather than trying to deflect?

BTW I'll play along, despite the horrible logic.
Weren't Hawthorn undefeated until the last day of May?