Barlow

[Dangas]

He has had shockers the past couple of weeks, was going to happen sooner or later...

 

[Swanee]

From the Sydney Swans AFL web site regarding Ed Barlow

"The tall midfielder played seven games to the middle of the 2008 season, but then missed five weeks with a hamstring injury and struggled to regain form. The Swans have high hopes for the mobile midfielder as he has great pace and is a good kick. He will be looking to make a big impact this season (2009) after making his debut late in 2007."

This season really hasn't eventuated for him, very little impact at all.

More available here http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/playe.../senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx

 

[db swannie]

Geez, there are some ruthless Swans supporters. Not every player is gifted with thoughness and courage.

Nick Davis, to use an example, wasn't the toughest bloke running around, but he had great skills, and could kick goals. I haven't really seen much of either skill or courage/toughness in Barlow. I would like to see it, but just haven't, that's all.

 

[Swanee]

Geez, there are some ruthless Swans supporters. Not every player is gifted with thoughness and courage.

Is that supposed to be "thoughtfulness and courage", "thoroughness and courage", "thoughtlessness and courage" or "toughness and courage"?

 

[TheMase]

If Barlow wants to stay, I reckon he will be kept. He has a lot of upside.

 

[Swanee]

Courtesy of the Sydney Swans -AFL web page found here http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/season 2009/tabid/7104/default.aspx

This is what Ed needed to do this year. to use the words of the Sydney Swans Corporate Hospitality advertising agency Excite, Entertain, Engage and Make Your Mark.

He has failed to do that!

 

[BIGBEZ]

Have heard from a reliable source that Ed doesnt want to be at Sydney let alone play AFL, he wanted to quit last year but was told to play on because of his lack of other choices. This could possibly explain his lack of intencity and hardness at a contest. Hope for his sake that he is kept on the list and improves because his athletic ability could make him a real good player.

I heard from Barlow himself that he loves the Swans (the bloods to be exact) and wouldnt want to be anywhere else... d**k head

 

[vonn]

I'm ****ing sick of this thread shut the **** up guys it's disgraceful!

 

[BIGBEZ]

I'm ****ing sick of this thread shut the **** up guys it's disgraceful!

x2, people criticising him couldnt get a kick in a stampede themselves..

 

[vonn]

They wouldn't even make the stampede!
Courage doesn't happen overnight FFS.

And for all the smartasses who say it's his job.
It's not our ****ing job to criticize him doing his job.
And I no what you guys are giving is opinion.
But it's disgraceful regardless.
He must feel terrible!

 

[BIGBEZ]

Smash em Vonn!

 

[AG]

Not every footballer is Brett Kirk or Jonathan Brown. Courage is a skill and if players don't know how to protect themselves why try and act the hero. Barlow just needs game time. He might never become a tough player but as long as he is mentally focused and skillful with the ball then he is still an asset. Dal Santo and Montagna have had brilliant seasons but courage or thoughness is not something I'd associate them with.
Goodes to an extent isn't brave. He doesn't run with the flight of the ball as hard as he can, go in and get the ground ball as hard as he can. He can still win the contested ball when needed but he has kept himself injury free for the majority of his career. I just don't get the need to call Barlow soft and call for his head.

 

[db swannie]

They wouldn't even make the stampede!
Courage doesn't happen overnight FFS.

And for all the smartasses who say it's his job.
It's not our ****ing job to criticize him doing his job.
And I no what you guys are giving is opinion.
But it's disgraceful regardless.
He must feel terrible!

If i was an afl player i wouldn't bother reading these sorts of threads anyway.

people are just expressing their thoughts. true, some things here have been way over the top (and not something i really agree with, even though i, along with everyone else, has been guilty of it at times) but it's the time of year when thoughts turn to the list, and not everyone is going to be on the list next year, simple as that.

I guess why some people are interested in this thread is because they share a suspicion that Barlow won't make it, me included. But only time is really going to tell...

and as they say vonn (and i think you've written it a number of times) if you don't like the thread, don't read it.

p.s. i have to agree a tad, in that this thread has nearly run its course.
p.p.s. i really hope Ed hasn't read it!

 

[vonn]

Interested in this thread??

their is a massive ****in difference between being interested in something and ripping someones head off for something that comes with experience

and I dont like this thread, but if I avoided all of the things I didnt like that would make me extremly piss weak. and I probs have said that they dont have to agree with my opinion.. not keep out of this thread.

 

[legend166]

I completely disagree that courage and putting your body on the line comes with experience. Craig Bird has been doing it since his very first match.

And I think you guys are wrong in terms of what people expect of him. I'm not expecting him to back into every pack. I'm not expecting him to be a Brett Kirk.

All I want is for him to do what is necessary to contest the football. On the weekend he dropped what would have been an uncontested mark because he was worried about contact and he pull his arms in instead of grabbing the mark. It was embarrassing. When he's running for the ball against an opponent, he'll pull up and harrass them rather than going in for the ball himself. He seems to have absolutely no core strength to stay on his feet. Again, on the weekend, he was going for a loose ball, and a Pies player laid what was essentially a weak bump. Barlow completely lost balance, stumbled away and his opponent ran away with the ball.

The guy probably dominated junior football because he could get to more loose ball than other guys because he can seemingly run all day (not that fast, however). So he probably didn't even need to contest that much. But in the AFL everyone else is superfit also, and you can't simply run around the paddock all day with an opponent gasping for air 15m behind you. You have to contest for the ball. It's the absolute, number 1 most important part of the game. Contested posessions. Look at what has happened to Malceski since he lost his ability to contest the ball. He's completely fallen over from where he once was.

It's not acceptable for an AFL player to have a completely lack of physicality. Especially when you're not quick, and you're the size of Barlow. He has to be able to contest. He hasn't shown he can. Based on that, he has one more year. If he doesn't show that he can do that, he'll rightfully be given the boot. If by some miracle he's reading this, which some people on here seem to believe is the case, he'd probably agree. You'd have to be blind not to notice this deficiency in his game. I'm sure all the coaches have told him about it. It's a psychological thing, because he's clearly well built and suited to contest a football. If he can't get his head right in regards to this, he'll never make it. And it's a shame, because he has all the other attributes needed.

He's like the anti-Kirk.

 

[BIGBEZ]

I completely disagree that courage and putting your body on the line comes with experience. Craig Bird has been doing it since his very first match.

I agree too, but not all champs ouze courage, I just think some are being a bit harsh on him even if warranted and I get upset at that kind of 'support' from our 'supporters' who ever it is when they wearing the red and white, but its only a internet forum.

 

[Dangas]

Courage doesn't happen overnight FFS.

Yer, you either have it or you don't

 

[db swannie]

I agree too, but not all champs ouze courage, I just think some are being a bit harsh on him even if warranted and I get upset at that kind of 'support' from our 'supporters' who ever it is when they wearing the red and white, but its only a internet forum.

I think passion and anger are a bit hard to separate at times...Remember back to when the pies lost to the Bombers on anzac day and the main board was going nuts with angry pies' fans wanting blood etc. I was watching it like a car wreck, thinking, geez are these guys really pies' fans, because if they are they're not doing their club much of a service. But the more i thought about it i realized they were just angry and desperate for their club and team to do well. Was it aimed at Mick? Maybe, but it was just general frustration...

I don't think the situation is exactly the same with Barlow, but we've all seen how "average" he's been, and we want him to do better, but at the same time a spade is a spade.

 

[bedford]

I think passion and anger are a bit hard to separate at times...Remember back to when the pies lost to the Bombers on anzac day and the main board was going nuts with angry pies' fans wanting blood etc. I was watching it like a car wreck, thinking, geez are these guys really pies' fans, because if they are they're not doing their club much of a service. But the more i thought about it i realized they were just angry and desperate for their club and team to do well. Was it aimed at Mick? Maybe, but it was just general frustration...

I don't think the situation is exactly the same with Barlow, but we've all seen how "average" he's been, and we want him to do better, but at the same time a spade is a spade.

You are a worry

 

[BIGBEZ]

I think passion and anger are a bit hard to separate at times...Remember back to when the pies lost to the Bombers on anzac day and the main board was going nuts with angry pies' fans wanting blood etc. I was watching it like a car wreck, thinking, geez are these guys really pies' fans, because if they are they're not doing their club much of a service. But the more i thought about it i realized they were just angry and desperate for their club and team to do well. Was it aimed at Mick? Maybe, but it was just general frustration...

I don't think the situation is exactly the same with Barlow, but we've all seen how "average" he's been, and we want him to do better, but at the same time a spade is a spade.

if you sat down with him, what would you say to him? would you pay out on him like some on this thread have or offer encouragement?

Theres no right or wrong as its a internet forum but I know what line Id take for ANY of our listed players..Go Bloods!

 

[db swannie]

You are a worry

Why?

 

[Swanee]

x2, people criticising him couldnt get a kick in a stampede themselves..

I've usually respected your posts but this one is ridiculous.

If I failed in my job as often as Barlow has, i would be out the door and unemployed.

Thankfully I dont have a lot of spectators watching every move I make and posting comments on a forum, but this is AFL football. They get paid well and get privileges that most people in the community dont get, and if they become elite players, they get paid extremely well, so they need to learn to put up with criticism when they are not playing well.

 

[db swannie]

if you sat down with him, what would you say to him? would you pay out on him like some on this thread have or offer encouragement?

Theres no right or wrong as its a internet forum but I know what line Id take for ANY of our listed players..Go Bloods!

Maybe this is what I'd say:

"Ed, i know farcall about being an AFL player, and I hope you do well. If you ask my opinion (which he wouldn't, and why should he? I'm just a schmuck fan remember?) about your worth as a player, then you've got rocks in your head. Listen to your coaches and your fellow players. Let us never-bes and wanna-bes on BF blow all sorts of whacky-shaped smoke rings out our arses, with our holier-than-thou blahblah attempts at wit and insight thrown in. Good luck Ed, now start fuc*** tackling you soft c***"

 

[AG]

Yeah, but he has played 25 matches, players take time. Tambling has only come good this year. McVeigh took a while. You can't be too ruthless in your assessments. Persistence can pay big dividends in sport.

 

[db swannie]

Yeah, but he has played 25 matches, players take time. Tambling has only come good this year. McVeigh took a while. You can't be too ruthless in your assessments. Persistence can pay big dividends in sport.

I agree with what you're saying (incl. Tambling), but I am still no closer to working out whether he'll be given another year or not? I mean, will the club give him another year? I suspect so, and good luck to him if he gets another year. But IF he gets another year, he better start tackling, backing into trouble and breaking a few ribs (his own or others, I don't care!)...