all we are saying is give rovers a chance

[twaters]

Yes, I know it's an old fashioned idea to have a rover who can be both in-under and outside playmaker at the same time, as needs be.

1990 - Francis

Yes, old fashioned for smalls to lead our kicking goals

1990 - Daicos

= with great defence (as at present) = premiership

At draft, PSD, we don't need no more wingers, utilities, that-would-be-nicers, we need rovers and ball-thirsters and goal-sensitives.

Yes, Didak, Davis and so on may newly inhabit our midfield for a time, but Francis and Diacos etc were not developed or created and cajoled into midfielders like these, they are born naturals.

Let's get some naturals in the draft and let them grow. Who cares if they are five foot almost nothing. Have ball, will travel. Will win.

 

[leonmagic]

Tony Francis = one of THE most underrated players in our history.

I totally agree with what you're saying, but these types of players dont grow on trees (smart, football instinct, finds the ball with ease, etc.)

Dare I mention the word 'McGough'...

 

[twaters]

Agree, they are not on trees.

But even more so invisible if we don't look that way and rather just keep looking for the safe utility type (under which I'd have listed McGough originally - not picked in firsts till someone kept having migraines who he replaced almost by accident).

In UK soccer for instance, you don't win the league or cup unless you have the crazily unpredictable playmaker (Cantona, Hughes etc for Man United, alongside their steadily brilliant Nathan Buckley equivalent). Someone, just above the cut, but not their midfield mainstay. Brisbane has encouraged that in Aker etc.

So, all we are saying for Draft/PSD is go a bits nuts. Outside the square is where great things are possible - thanks Tony Francis.

 

[MarkT]

Do rovers exist any more? Midfielders with good height, strong bodies and good skills are what coaches want drafted. Buckley & Voss are the prototypes. Neither are rovers. Ray Shaw was a rover. The last real rover that wore a Collingwood jumper was Clinton King. He might have been the last rover in the AFL.

Personally I just want us to get someone who can be a gun. A midfield capable player with good skills and real pace would be nice but there is no point taking a midfielder just because Buckley and Burns will retire if there isn't a good one there to take. I'd love another winger if it was Ricky Barham without the dodgy hamstrings. I'd love a utility if it was Gavin Crosisca with a right foot. I'd love a rover if it was Tony Francis without the bad legs. I'd love a ruckman if it was Len Thompson without the attitude.

 

[Skoff]

Please simply find us another Gavin Brown who can simply inhabit the wing for his whole career and watch the Premierships and Brownlow medals roll in.

 

[Jabso]

The word rover is never used but I think it still lives on. If you mean a rover as in a small quickish player who is adept at the inside game as well as the outside game and can kick a goal or two then there are certainly a few around. On our list Brodie Holland would fit that role best but he is labelled as a tagger.
The position that HAS been lost is the wingman. The wing positions are given up to midfielders that have been rotated out of the centre square and are just extra midfielders. There are a few wingman out there but still hardly any TRUE wingmen that are tall and float to dangerous postions in the forward line and fill in holes in the backline. Andrew Williams was adept at this for his first 3 games for us.