All Australian Team 2008

[premiers06]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

i think hes a great leader but not an AA quality player. milburn should be in there instead of him

 

[cat in sydney]

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

What should I judge him on then, the fact he plays on the oppositions least dangerous forward, that Adam Schnieder can outmark him in a one on one contest, what, enlighten me because as you can see I am baffled he made the AA squad let alone the team.

You have no idea about football if you really want to go down that line of argument.
You base a theory on one single incident in one single game, do you?

If so, Shannon Byrnes' goal against Sydney would have made him Brownlow, AA captain and Coleman medallist all in one hit.

Also, least dangerous forward?? What do you call Motlop, Medhurst, etc.

Try again.

 

[Glassjaw]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

Simple question is not if he should be there, it is who is another defender who deserves to be there more? I can't think of one. (Croad doesn't count, as he didn't make the 40 squad).

 

[Budda 230]

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

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.

This post deserves much, much more recognition than it has received.

Big Carl, your credibility will struggle to replenish itself after this statement! You have obviously never seen a game of football in your life. I'm guessing you also think that Xav Clarke would get a game before Harley at St Kilda?

 

[benhawk]

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

You have no idea about football if you really want to go down that line of argument.
You base a theory on one single incident in one single game, do you?

If so, Shannon Byrnes' goal against Sydney would have made him Brownlow, AA captain and Coleman medallist all in one hit.

Also, least dangerous forward?? What do you call Motlop, Medhurst, etc.

Try again.

Is that Paul Medhurst from Collingwood that kicked three goals, took 7 marks, had three goal assists and 16 disposals against the Cats?

And is that the Daniel Motlop that kicked three goals out of Ports seven in a 59 point loss?

 

[Teddy Picker]

Re: Brett Kirk - Bit Stiff?

Had a pretty good year, but Sam Mitchell, Simon Black and Joel Selwood (maybe Daniel Cross) all had better years then Brett Kirk.

And the players above didnt make the final team either, so in summary he was a little stiff but the above players can claim to be even stiffer

 

[doona]

Re: Brett Kirk - Bit Stiff?

I think Kirk was really stiff not to make the team. He gets overlooked quite often though because alot of the work he does in at the bottom of packs feeding his team mates or laying tackles.

If you look at his brownlow record and all australian honors in the last few years he doesn't nearly get enough credit.

If you look at his stats and the impacts he has had on games this year he deserves to be in their, but saying that i think that there are quite a few players that should feel abit stiff for not getting in.

There are only 22 places yet there are more players that deserve recognition.

So summing up i think there would be about 10 or so players that are extremely unlucky, but players dont play the game for personal recognition. Its nice to be recognised but you play for the respect of your team mates and for a flag; and to a lesser extent the recognition of your peers (other AFL players). They dont play for recognition from umpires, commentators or AFL 'experts'.

 

[grimlock]

Re: Brett Kirk - Bit Stiff?

Had a huge middle part of the season, I think in the top 2 in SuperCoach averages, but then fell away towards the end of the year. I have no arguments, midfield is always the toughest part of the AA team to get into.

Should easily win another Swans B&F though

 

[luke ball14]

And the Johnson on the goal kicking list is actually BRAD Johnson(who apparently has had a "terrible season") not Steve Johnson.

No pretty sure it's Steve Johnson i think u will find.

 

[dylan123]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

Simple question is not if he should be there, it is who is another defender who deserves to be there more? I can't think of one. (Croad doesn't count, as he didn't make the 40 squad).

well i dont think the top 40 man squad was the best 1 they could have picked i dont see how players like leon davis,swan,didak and s.thompson ect did not make it even into the top 40.

 

[spartan hawks]

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

Harley earned his stripes this year.He has had a great season and i feel his selection in the all australian team was warranted.Judd did deserve the captaincy and harley deserved the vice captaincy.I would have been pissed off if mackie had made it.

 

[thejester]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

I would think the question would probably be answered by the five page thread halfway down the page devoted to this very topic.

 

[phonepopeye]

Re: Brett Kirk - Bit Stiff?

Don't think the fair dinkum blokes playing today are too fussed about AA. Selection always speculative anyway. Just a gimmick to sell papers.

Right about Kirky though. Should have been first selected.

 

[Finley Hawk]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

Simple question is not if he should be there, it is who is another defender who deserves to be there more? I can't think of one. (Croad doesn't count, as he didn't make the 40 squad).

So, you're admitting that Croad deserves to be there more than Harley..
Take your pick - Milburn, Mackie or Hudgton all deserved to be there more than Harley

 

[catguts]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

My thoughts were similar, but, Harley has improved immensley in the past 3 years. He is now confident in patrolling the half back because he knows he has quality players backing him up.
His ability to cut across the opposition forward line and take strong marks in front of big packs has given him the nod.
He is a real springboard of attack for the Cats, has had a great season and has been a terrific captain for his Club.

 

[cat in sydney]

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

Is that Paul Medhurst from Collingwood that kicked three goals, took 7 marks, had three goal assists and 16 disposals against the Cats?

And is that the Daniel Motlop that kicked three goals out of Ports seven in a 59 point loss?

Yes, those are the guys.
Two points though:
1. Do you just take stats and automatically assume that those stats came on Harley? With the amount of rotations amongst the Geelong backline, it's far more difficult than just using stats to prove your point. Maybe go and watch those games to find out.
2. While those players played well on those days (Pies won by 86 points remember), Harley has beaten them other times quite convincingly. Do you want me to talk you through the GF last year?

Yes, I know we are talking about this year... but don't say he plays on the least dangerous forwards when he clearly doesn't. Find another argument to use.

 

[Glassjaw]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

well i dont think the top 40 man squad was the best 1 they could have picked i dont see how players like leon davis,swan,didak and s.thompson ect did not make it even into the top 40.

It's not a matter of who didn't make it though, it's who did they deserve to be there in front of.

 

[BigWardy12]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

I thought he deserved it. was excellent in the games ive seen him play(only about 5 or so this season though).

 

[OneEyedHawk]

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

Are you one of those who believed that Hodge was one of your best against the Dogs the other week? 16 touches floating loose around the backline?

If you're suggesting he wasn't, then you've got no idea. That kinda goes without saying though. Hodge was not one of the best, he was the best.

Ver much agree with the OP, Harley was very, very fortunate. Shouldn't have made the team, let alone skipper. At Geelong alone, Mackie, Enright and possibly Milburn were more deserving.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

He should win the Brownlow

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

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

Is that Paul Medhurst from Collingwood that kicked three goals, took 7 marks, had three goal assists and 16 disposals against the Cats?

Yeah mate, was a shocker for every Cat bar Ablett.

And is that the Daniel Motlop that kicked three goals out of Ports seven in a 59 point loss?

Yep, 3 goals from 6 kicks, junk time too I believe.

 

[benhawk]

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

Fair enough, but please tell me which forwards he has beaten this year to warrant AA selection as a defender. If his role is not to beat the oppositions forward then what is it and how did he do it well enough to warrant AA selction when he gets so little of the ball?

 

[cat in sydney]

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

If you're suggesting he wasn't, then you've got no idea. That kinda goes without saying though. Hodge was not one of the best, he was the best.

Ver much agree with the OP, Harley was very, very fortunate. Shouldn't have made the team, let alone skipper. At Geelong alone, Mackie, Enright and possibly Milburn were more deserving.

He didn't make skipper

Mackie - no, didn't make the team, nor did he deserve it
Enright - made the team, deserved it
Milburn - unlucky, but let himself down in the last 4 rounds imo.

 

[Glassjaw]

Re: Tom Harley in aa team

So, you're admitting that Croad deserves to be there more than Harley..
Take your pick - Milburn, Mackie or Hudgton all deserved to be there more than Harley

I'm not saying that. If it was for a KP I'd say Croad definitely, but it's not. Out of the back 6 there is 3 KPP. Scarlett, Fisher and Bock. They've obviously balanced the side (3 KP backs, 3 smaller backs / 3 small forwards, 3 KPF / interchange consisting of one back, mid, forward, ruck). So there'd be no room for Hudgton, as the other 3 were all better. Milburn, and Mackie especially, haven't been as good as Harley this year either.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

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

If you're suggesting he wasn't, then you've got no idea. That kinda goes without saying though. Hodge was not one of the best, he was the best.

Right back at ya, your username says it all.