Bizzell

[lamby29]

No, this isn't a troll.


Just wondering if Bizzell ever played in defence for Geelong? If so, was his form consistent? Seems to love it down there, and has never looked comfortable up forward.

Was it the position change or just a different club that brought out the best in Biz?

 

[Seb]

Yeah, Bizzell was recruited by the infamous Gary Ayres to play predominately as a defender.

It just so happened, that Thompson managed to structure our defence in such a way where both Bizzell and Graham weren't really needed.

I think that it is also fair to say Thommo couldn't handle the Bizz machine. As you know Lamby, or you might not, Thompson has a 'good boy' recruiting policy where larrikins or people with troublesome backgrounds, tend to be overlooked. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Bizzell was troublesome, but he tended to be lively, boisterous and also distracted by off field things, girls etc... and Thompson couldn't really understand or handle him, which is sort of why he left Geelong in the first place.

It was only when Thompson came, and employed this new defensive structure - which saw Bizz and Graham moved out of the defense - that he was used up forward, as well. Once again, Thompson's coaching inability is shown up.

We (Geelong) have failed to find a replacement for the Great Man in the goal square. And with such a leap, we thought Clint was an Ablett incarnate or at the very least, a super forward. Of course, he was merely a classy defender, with mixed feelings who didn't fit the coach's good boy policy and who wasn't focused to the utmost extreme

Having said that, Bizzell did look rather comfortable in Geelong's defence and played some pretty good footy. Whether he was a consistent performer is debatable. Wherever he was played on the field, Bizzell was always erratic, playing 3 - 5 brilliant games a year and promising a hell of a lot, alas never really delivered on a consistent basis... I should know, I was a big supporter of the Bizz machine and had the number 9 sewn onto the back my Guernsey.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by lamby29
Was it the position change or just a different club that brought out the best in Biz?

I think a change of club has done the world of good for Bizzell's career. He is a very talented player, and at Melbourne is getting his chance to play in defence where he is more suited. If he'd stayed at Geelong, he'd have been stuck playing forward and considering how much we were paying him, it wasn't worth it for both club and player.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I remember him playing one very good game in defence on James Hird 98 or 99 pretty sure he got 3 brownlow votes.

 

[lamby29]

Thanks guys.

Seems like a mixture of a change of clubs and a chance to settle in defence that brought out the best in Biz.

Win-Win trade though. Kelly will be good, although he did go backwards a bit this year I feel.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by lamby29
Win-Win trade though. Kelly will be good, although he did go backwards a bit this year I feel.

Second year blues... next year will be a big year for Kelly.

 

[Seb]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
Second year blues... next year will be a big year for Kelly.

I wouldn't really call it 'second-year blues' he, like Gardiner, simply didn't get enough game time.