Coaches Award

[Mead]

Just a question which sprung to mind- not which three eagles players are the best, but which three Eagles players appeal to you the most in terms of work ethic, unselfishness,courage, footballing smarts, tackling and all the other things coaches tend to like??
If I were going to nominate on the basis of these things, I'd go for-
1. Daniel Kerr: I don't think anyone would disagree with this one. Dan the Man does perhaps the dirtiest job in footy, sticking his head under packs, going after the hard ball gets, laying tackles, and getting his eyes poked out. With Kerr's skills, he could easily be a 30 possessions a game player by hanging around on the edges of packs getting clean possessions, but instead he always takes it upon himself to do the hard stuff.Almost every single one of his 20ish possessions each week is a hard ball get which would otherwise have resulted in a ball up. Earns his pay, in every sense of the word.

2.Rowan Jones: This might seem a bit of a wierd choice, but since last year when he deservedly netted the best clubman award, Rowan Jones has been the archetypical quiet achiever. Not quite big enough to be a HF focal point or backman, not quite quick enough to be a top class midfielder, Jones gets by as an excellent, disciplined tagger, strong tackler, and courageous pack mark. Not only is he committed, he's *smart*- always knows where the ball is heading, and gets in the right spot. Classic example of this was last week against sydney, where he kicked multiple goals simply by getting in the right place at the right time repeatedly. Smart footballer, good tagger, strong mark.

3. Glen Jakovich: Nothing needs to be said. IMO the most courageous, resolute defender of the nineties and beyond. Makes players around him better.

Apologies to Peter Matera, Josh Wooden (this season's version!) Dean Cox, Cuz, Michael Collica and Troy Wilson.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

1) Dan Kerr:
Tough, hard, tenacious midfielder who fights for every contested ball like his life depends on it. Great tackler and brings other players into the game with a deft tap or quick handball.

2) Mike Collica:
One of my favourite players. Is very flexible and able to play on a crumbing forward or a tall key position player. Plays good one-on-one footy, tackles hard and is hardly ever beaten.

3) Cousins:
He's a fantastic player simply because he works his ass off on the training track. Only Shane Crawford or Robert Harvey (in his prime) can claim to be as fit as Cuzz. Runs all day, and you can see him kicking for goal just seconds after helping out in the backline at the other end of the ground.

 

[jod23]

4 people came to my mind...

Daniel Kerr - its already being said but this kid spends half the game on the bottom of packs and in years to come will be a brownlow threat because the umpires are bound to notice him with the amount of times he gets up off the bottom of a pack and hands the ball to the umpire

Glen Jakovich - courage and leadership personified. He is unselfish which he has shown by not kicking up a fuss when he was overlooked for the captaincy, he has a great footballing brain, reads the play better than anyone in the comp and does all the small things that makes players around him better.

Phillip Matera - can be selfish at times, but i think that selfishness is really mistaken for hunger. Hunger for goals...he loves them, never afraid to get his hands dirty and his tackling to keep the ball inside our 50 is a highlight of his game. Reads the play really well which is a trait of most small forwards.

Ben Cousins - he isnt one of the best footballers in the competition because he looks pretty. He isnt afraid to get the hard ball get, tackles, reads the play extremely well which is why he amasses loose ball gets. Loose ball gets are often mistaken to be a stat for soft players but its in actual fact a stat for those who read the play very well and know where the ball is going. Cousins does this very well. He also runs like a headless chicken, he is everywhere, never tires and has unmatched courage...this s why he is our captain.

 

[iceman]

Daniel Kerr - enough said

Michael Braun - now i know he doesnt recieve half the accolades of our other midfielders but i think his workrate and in-and-under stuff is top rate. never stops working and has excellent disposal into the forward line

Cousins - you see him on the field struggling to breath one minute and the next he's running from the backline to support a player at half forward. his workrate is amazing

 

[Voice of Reason]

Collica
Kerr
Jakovich

Nearly all coaches are ex-defenders and hate forwards, so no surprise that I've gone for the solid, reliable defenders and our best "in and under" midfielder. Honourable mention to Jones, who just missed out.

 

[carlyp]

Originally posted by jod23

Glen Jakovich - courage and leadership personified. He is unselfish which he has shown by not kicking up a fuss when he was overlooked for the captaincy, he has a great footballing brain, reads the play better than anyone in the comp and does all the small things that makes players around him better.

Yep exactly true Jod! I felt sorry for him when he got overlooked for the captaincy. Not that Cuzzy hasnt done a great job or anything. Its just Jako has given the club so much for such a long time and I feel he deserved it. I kinda feel that he should have atleast got the Vice captaincy (IMO its stupid that the club havent named a vc)

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by carlyp


Yep exactly true Jod! I felt sorry for him when he got overlooked for the captaincy. Not that Cuzzy hasnt done a great job or anything. Its just Jako has given the club so much for such a long time and I feel he deserved it. I kinda feel that he should have atleast got the Vice captaincy (IMO its stupid that the club havent named a vc)

I was annoyed and happy about the decision to overlook Jako for Cousins. When Whoosha took the captaincy he was about Cousins age and it gave the team a real young and strong feel. I thought considering where the club was at the time it was appropriate to give the honour to Cousins to usher in a new era for the club.

Jakovich took it in his stride and he aswell as everyone else really know that he is just as much the captain of our club as Cousins is.

Im for the no VC's though, i think its a good idea, it gives you one leader...it gets rediculous sometimes with Co-Captains and 4 or 5 VC's...you end up with a massive leadership contingent, something you dont need.

 

[Frodo]

1) Jako
2) Milli
3) Roo

None of the others IMO has had as much work ethic, unselfishness,courage, footballing smarts, tackling etc as these guys have shown for a decade.

 

[Goldenblue]

Originally posted by Frodo
1) Jako
2) Milli
3) Roo

None of the others IMO has had as much work ethic, unselfishness,courage, footballing smarts, tackling etc as these guys have shown for a decade.

Agreed, but I also would add Gardy to that list too.....

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by jod23


I was annoyed and happy about the decision to overlook Jako for Cousins. When Whoosha took the captaincy he was about Cousins age and it gave the team a real young and strong feel. I thought considering where the club was at the time it was appropriate to give the honour to Cousins to usher in a new era for the club.

Jakovich took it in his stride and he aswell as everyone else really know that he is just as much the captain of our club as Cousins is.

Im for the no VC's though, i think its a good idea, it gives you one leader...it gets rediculous sometimes with Co-Captains and 4 or 5 VC's...you end up with a massive leadership contingent, something you dont need.

Totally agree on this one. Thing is, Jako is going to be hugely respected by the other players, and a club leader whether or not he has a C, VC or nothing after his name. I think at the time when discussing the decision to drop the vice captaincy idea, Worsfold said that he expected all of the senior players to take leadership roles. Good move, since it doesn't let any of the senior players off the hook.

 

[carlyp]

I think Cuzz needs a pat on the back..he's doing so well for us at the moment. Did anyone see him on rex's footy panel. He did well in the interview and even made the guys laugh? He'll be the next captain to hold a premiership cup for the eagles! Its sad that Jako will never be captain but as you all said he has ALOT of respect within the team and he already is a leader without having a c or vc after his name.