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Universal Love Craig Bird

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AG

AG

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This guy has surprised the hell out of me since returning from injury last year. Had major doubts he would make it but he has smashed that theory on the head. Good mark for his size, can go forward and kick goals, runs both ways, and has proved to be a player capable of changing games.

Would be our 3rd best player so far this year imo and it's guys like him who have taken another step in the right direction that have led to our good start.
 
Quickly becoming one of my favourite players on our list. Another who has blossomed into a major ball winner after serving an apprenticeship as a tagger. Learnt how the best go about winning their own ball and now that he has a proper fitness base (after having a bit of puppy fat when first entering the club), he has become a very good inside midfielder.

If he continues on in this fashion, he will have a similar season to Kieren Jack's 2010 and go close to a B&F. He'd be 2nd right now by my estimates (behind JPK of course).
 
I've made some bad calls on our players over the years. Backed some that turned out to be duds (Barlow), criticized some that proved me wrong (Jetta) but I'm proud to say I always backed Bird to become a top line player. He just needed an uninterrupted string of games to hit his straps.

Really happy with how he's going this year.
 
MalceskiFan said:
I've made some bad calls on our players over the years. Backed some that turned out to be duds (Barlow), criticized some that proved me wrong (Jetta) but I'm proud to say I always backed Bird to become a top line player. He just needed an uninterrupted string of games to hit his straps.

Really happy with how he's going this year.
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Same here, particularly with Barlow (also was an early fan of Meredith, though that was a while back, and I had a man-crush on Sumner who disappointed me). I've always loved Birdy, and it makes me all gooey inside to see him proving the haters wrong.
 

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Had my doubts about him, always thought he was far too slow and disposal a bit meh to make it afl level, didn't see what the club saw in him. Thought all he had going for him was his sidestep :) Very happy to finally see what everyone was talking about.

Amazing what a full preseason can do.
 
MalceskiFan said:
I've made some bad calls on our players over the years. Backed some that turned out to be duds (Barlow), criticized some that proved me wrong (Jetta) but I'm proud to say I always backed Bird to become a top line player. He just needed an uninterrupted string of games to hit his straps.

Really happy with how he's going this year.
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Have to agree. Since his debut in 2008 I've always been a fan, just needed to string the games together.
 
I massively criticised him but am slowly coming around, he didn't look slow yesterday.

The best thing about midfield depth is the opposition working out who to tag. Kennedy, Parker, Bird, Hanners, Jack, Bolton, Goodes will all benefit from a bit of space at times this year.
 
BarneyBent said:
Same here, particularly with Barlow (also was an early fan of Meredith, though that was a while back, and I had a man-crush on Sumner who disappointed me). I've always loved Birdy, and it makes me all gooey inside to see him proving the haters wrong.
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this - Even in his first few games I knew he would become something, I was worried he may have been overtaken in the team when he had his foot issues a couple of years ago. It's great to see him in there.

lock33 said:
We gave him the number 14 for a reason.
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and this!
 
MalceskiFan said:
I've made some bad calls on our players over the years. Backed some that turned out to be duds (Barlow), criticized some that proved me wrong (Jetta) but I'm proud to say I always backed Bird to become a top line player. He just needed an uninterrupted string of games to hit his straps.

Really happy with how he's going this year.
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Yep, same. They didn't give this kid No 14 on hope or speculation. I've been saying for several years how good and fast his hands are ... he's got a good football brain and a great work ethic, now he's had a preseason and regular games.
 
along with Nick Smith, he is arguably our most underrated player - certainly by clueless opposition fans. Now he is proving to be a damaging forward as well as a brilliant tagger and great rover. He reminds me a lot of Jared Crouch - perhaps not as quick but makes up for it in other ways.
 

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His development has been sensational. Such an important part for us because he has a great offensive brain but puts himself in great defensive stances at stoppages.

His intelligence is through the roof, too. Understands his limitations and gets in the proper running lanes around the ball to make sure his direct opponent at stoppages can't burn him off with pace.

When he gets the ball, he is starting to look quick, just because he is so calm under pressure. But he's not the only one. Our midfield is virtually full of one pace players but can look quick at times with dash and carry. Our run in the 3rd vs Hawthorn was sensational. For me so far, our best 5 mids this season have been:

JPK
Bird, just over...
Parker
Jack
McVeigh

The best part: All of Hannebery, Goodes, Bolton, and O'Keefe have also stood up at times when their number has been called and have a case for the top 5.

Love our mids!
 
I've thought he's been one of those guys around the 19th-25th best player on the list. OK to have in the team, but never quite sure of his permanency.

Indeed with 3 players to be cut at the end of the year and Bird coming out of contract I do recall saying he needed to step up and establish himself as a regular in the team.

Methinks a contract extension will be forthcoming. :o
 
disgruntled goat said:
Yep, same. They didn't give this kid No 14 on hope or speculation. I've been saying for several years how good and fast his hands are ... he's got a good football brain and a great work ethic, now he's had a preseason and regular games.
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yep here here, I was up close to him at the game at Kardinia Park when we knocked them off, I mentioned on here that he was waiting in the race to run on the ground at the end of the match to do some sprinting obviously because he missed game time being named an emergency and I said he looked chubby.. He has trimmed down and is starting to look very fit I hope he can keep on improving and his foot gives no more trouble, he is a gun.
 
Skystyler said:
along with Nick Smith, he is arguably our most underrated player - certainly by clueless opposition fans. Now he is proving to be a damaging forward as well as a brilliant tagger and great rover. He reminds me a lot of Jared Crouch - perhaps not as quick but makes up for it in other ways.
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Bird's a better player than Crouch, with all due respect to Crouch.
 
The club obviously must have rated him to give him the number 14, and I think now that he is fully fit his true ability is starting to shine through. He reminds me a bit of Pendlebury...
 

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RoosysLoveChild said:
His development has been sensational. Such an important part for us because he has a great offensive brain but puts himself in great defensive stances at stoppages.

His intelligence is through the roof, too. Understands his limitations and gets in the proper running lanes around the ball to make sure his direct opponent at stoppages can't burn him off with pace.

When he gets the ball, he is starting to look quick, just because he is so calm under pressure. But he's not the only one. Our midfield is virtually full of one pace players but can look quick at times with dash and carry. Our run in the 3rd vs Hawthorn was sensational. For me so far, our best 5 mids this season have been:

JPK
Bird, just over...
Parker
Jack
McVeigh

The best part: All of Hannebery, Goodes, Bolton, and O'Keefe have also stood up at times when their number has been called and have a case for the top 5.

Love our mids!
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention we have Mitchell and Lamb yet to have a run. Midfield is looking good now just to sort out our forward line.
 

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