Big Otto

[Boundary-Rider]

As a high prioirty recruit many expected amazing things from him. So far he has provide the following

Focal point to take the best defender
assist in the ruck
Forward line structure
by taking the best defender he allow players such as KK, HP, CG, NA etc to take a lesser defender and a better match up positive for us.
His ruck work is excellent as demonstrated.
Yes has had had injuires but when fit has been intergral for the team.
With a good fitness base he will be an asset for the team and if we can use him as a key deep forward we will be better off and allowing him to ruck in the front half will stretch most teams and also allow us to play our premier ruckman just behind the play.

What do others think.

My personal opinion is so far OK future looks even better

 

[The Hulkster]

I totally agree.

His ruckwork on the weekend was excellent.

 

[volcboy]

All my Richmond supporting friends bag him out, but only because they wish they still had him (instead of Stafford, Knobel and Simmonds). Enough said.

Fingers crossed he stays fit for most of this year. He would have got us across the line when King went down with a hammy in the 3rd quarter vs. Sydney last year if he had been fit and in the side.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Because of our preliminary final finish in 2004, many people outside of Geelong expected Ottens to be the 'messiah'.

He may very well just be a contributor to the GFC for the rest of his career, without taking games by the scruff of the neck, but his value will never be underestimated if we go on to win a premiership.

 

[MTBTYT]

All my Richmond supporting friends bag him out, but only because they wish they still had him (instead of Stafford, Knobel and Simmonds). Enough said.

Bulle

 

[LongBomb]

All my Richmond supporting friends bag him out, but only because they wish they still had him (instead of Stafford, Knobel and Simmonds). Enough said.

Same.
I've got some great Richmond mates - not like like most of the bitter knobs on Big Footy.
They all concede he is a better ruck option than knobel et al.

 

[tusk]

He is one of the best touch Ruckmen going around and why Thompson took him out of the middle for the last 10 minutes against the dogs had me scratching my head

At the very least he is an execellent backup for the more the injury prone King. I doubt he'll ever be the answer to Geelongs woes up front though.

 

[CatNut]

Most of my mates are Richmond supporters - all but one would have him back in a flash the other one is to bitter and twisted over losing him.

 

[thehoff]

He is one of the best touch Ruckmen going around and why Thompson took him out of the middle for the last 10 minutes against the dogs had me scratching my head

He played a fair few minutes. I think he was deadset stuffed!

Overall, i am still very happy with the trade.

It was Otto's second best game for the club. His best was his magical performance against the Power last year. That mark is still one of the best i have seen. STRONG HANDS!

 

[geelong_boy]

He played a fair few minutes. I think he was deadset stuffed!

Overall, i am still very happy with the trade.

It was Otto's second best game for the club. His best was his magical performance against the Power last year. That mark is still one of the best i have seen. STRONG HANDS!

Watching Ottens' performance in that Port game, and especially that mark, just puts the biggest smile on my face. We have one of the best contested marks in the league, it seems so simple to put him one out in the square and kick the ball long to him....

 

[Copernicus]

Watching Ottens' performance in that Port game, and especially that mark, just puts the biggest smile on my face. We have one of the best contested marks in the league, it seems so simple to put him one out in the square and kick the ball long to him....

And therein lies the problem - we can't put him down there!

Geez, so bloody frustrating. Good to see him play such a great game on the weekend, especially with so much responsibility on his shoulders. What I wouldn't give for a team without injuries all the time...

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

What I wouldn't give for a team without injuries all the time...

hopefully now, with bertolacci getting the handshake, we might see some of these injury worries disappear.

 

[Copernicus]

hopefully now, with bertolacci getting the handshake, we might see some of these injury worries disappear.

That would be wonderful, but I wont be holding my breath. The next few weeks will be crucial for injuries.

 

[Statistician]

Dud forward. He takes the best defender and all but has no impact on games.

Gun ruck. Better than King. Why King is the #1 ruck is beyond me.

 

[thehoff]

Dud forward. He takes the best defender and all but has no impact on games.

Gun ruck. Better than King. Why King is the #1 ruck is beyond me.

You really should head back to the Melbourne board dopey!

 

[tusk]

He played a fair few minutes. I think he was deadset stuffed!

Overall, i am still very happy with the trade.

It was Otto's second best game for the club. His best was his magical performance against the Power last year. That mark is still one of the best i have seen. STRONG HANDS!

fair call.

As for that mark. Lets hope we can see a bit more of that this year. We just have to get it down there quickly and give the big guy a chance in a 1 on 1.

 

[Statistician]

You really should head back to the Melbourne board dopey!

I'm sorry. Ottens is a gun forward and King is a gun ruck.

 

[nananana catman]

Hes a better ruck than forward and will always suffer much criticism as long as he plays the majority of his games in the forward line.

 

[MTBTYT]

All my Richmond supporting friends bag him out, but only because they wish they still had him (instead of Stafford, Knobel and Simmonds). Enough said.

Same.
I've got some great Richmond mates - not like like most of the bitter knobs on Big Footy.
They all concede he is a better ruck option than knobel et al.

Look he's a great player when he's on. Hopefully he will come good for you guys. Couldn't care less who is better between Stafford, Knobel, Simmonds and Ottens. Ottens wanted to play for you guys and he sure as hell wasn't going to play good footy for us. I'm happy with pick 12 and 16 for him, whether we chose wisely with those picks is another story, time will tell.

Richmond supporters I know bag Ottens because he chose not to stick with us, has nothing to do with ability.

When we first drafted him I thought he was amazing and he can be again. Good luck to him and Geelong.

I still think your statement is rubbish!

 

[geelong_boy]

fair call.

As for that mark. Lets hope we can see a bit more of that this year. We just have to get it down there quickly and give the big guy a chance in a 1 on 1.

I'm surprised they don't kick it to Ottens one out in the square more often. Same goes for Nathan Ablett last week. Even Kingsley at times has out-manoeuvred his opponent and taken a mark.
I remember the Lions when they were the best kicking it to Alistair Lynch one out heaps of times and he rarely let them down. Maybe just something the Cats could do more often.

 

[RHAS]

Same.
I've got some great Richmond mates - not like like most of the bitter knobs on Big Footy.
They all concede he is a better ruck option than knobel et al.

If Ottens could reproduce his 2001 form then you have a world beater. After 2001 Richmond renewed his contract and paid him more than his worth based on his perceived potential. Due to injuries (he was consistently injured) he didn't justify the huge contract so we offered him a lower contract based on his output. He thought he was worth more money so he left.

Richmond supporters were just tired of him saying he was going to produce and then failing. So most Richmond supporters were not unhappy to see him go.

The difference is that in your side he is just another star whilst for Richmond we needed him to be the best player.

Would we have him back yes if he was playing in 2001 form - no if he was playing in 2002 2003 2004 form