Croadie

[Ripper]

I thought he was very good today and looks to be getting some form back.

Really impressed with Stinkys game also.

It was also good to get a reminder how good Daniel Haines is.

Heave ho 6 in a row?

 

[Kenny_01]

Yeah Hainesy was good.

Croadie was alright tosay aswell.

 

[Freo Hitman]

Originally posted by Kenny_01
Yeah Hainesy was good.

Croadie was alright tosay aswell.

Hainesy is all guts copped 2 heavy knocks at one stage and got up both times
Croadie with 3 is coming good

 

[masai]

Of the boys with "daggers" in their back :-

Croad put in a big effort and showed some results.

Walker played solidly.

Clive looked to move more freely and his marking and kicking was on the improve.

 

[Freo Hitman]

Originally posted by masai
.

Walker played solidly.

.

as he has all year !!!

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Croad was alright on a much younger opponent. I still question his ability to take a contested mark though.

Haines once again showed off his poise, vision, decision making, courage and determination throughout the course of the game. It was a bit surprising to see him have 0 tackles though considering he is one of our best tacklers and how physical the game was. Hopefully he can hold his place in the side and develop into a quality player for us by the end of the year.

Walker has improved this year and has been one of our better players throughout the season. We all knew how quick he was but his foot skills and decision making seem to have really improved as well.

 

[Ripper]

Walker was brilliant nearly BOG IMO.

Still the Blooz turned it into a one on one scrap and we still prevailed. As CC said the boys would have learnt something as that is how Finals footy is played.

 

[Kenny_01]

Originally posted by |D_J^B_J|
Croad was alright on a much younger opponent. I still question his ability to take a contested mark though.

He's not the type of player that takes contested marks in packs. That's more for Longmuir, Medders, etc. When he plays forward, he should be leading from the goalsquare like Clive but he played well up the ground yesterday and did some nice things. It's more about confidence with him. Like last year against Essendon, his confidence was up, he was leading well to the right spots and taking good marks against Fletcher, arguably the best FB in the competition. He is just down on confidence at the moment but hopefully he started regaining some of that.

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Originally posted by Kenny_01
He's not the type of player that takes contested marks in packs. That's more for Longmuir, Medders, etc. When he plays forward, he should be leading from the goalsquare like Clive but he played well up the ground yesterday and did some nice things. It's more about confidence with him. Like last year against Essendon, his confidence was up, he was leading well to the right spots and taking good marks against Fletcher, arguably the best FB in the competition. He is just down on confidence at the moment but hopefully he started regaining some of that.

I agree he is not a contested marking forward but he will never be a superstar like many expected him to be. He is a great athlete but his football brain is very poor, meaning that when he is playing forward, he will merely be a handy contributor as he often struggles to lead in the right areas. He did have some good games last year against Melbourne, Richmond and Essendon but against Melbourne he was playing against a second year player in Broadbridge and most of his goals were kicked from receiving a handpass or gathering the ball at ground level. He was good in the other two games, particulary against Essendon but his kicking let him down.

He looked out of sorts down back as well when he was playing against Fevola yesterday and was destroyed by Richardson last year when Parker came off injured.

I agree it is obvious he is currently out of confidence but it seems he has been out of confidence for too long now. It is no longer an excuse.

If we can get a first round pick for him this year like we did for Brown, I would be inclined to let him go back to Victoria where according to one football journalist , he wants to return. If no club is prepared to give a first round pick for him I'd continue to persist with him.

Call me harsh but as good as Croad has been for our club in terms of marketing and promoting, I don't think he will be the reason for us stepping up to the next level (if/when that happens).

 

[Kenny_01]

Who is expecting him to be a superstar? Croad himself knows he won't become one hence contract negotiations.

Croad actually took quite a few contested marks in that game against Melbourne you are talking about. And against Essendon, he kicked 4.5 but the ones he missed weren't exactly easy shots.

And against Fevola yesterday, well his first goal wasn't really his fault, he went to help out a teammate, Fevola was free with about 2 other Dockers next to him, and kicked a good goal. The 2nd goal, well, that was probably Croad's fault, was a bit out of position... but that will come with practice.

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Originally posted by Kenny_01
Who is expecting him to be a superstar? Croad himself knows he won't become one hence contract negotiations.

After his promising 2000 season with Hawthorn, many people were saying he could well become a superstar, which was part of the reason for the Hawks' supporters rallying to keep him in the 2001 trading period. Even the 2001 AFL Media Guide says he looks "destined to become a superstar."

Croad actually took quite a few contested marks in that game against Melbourne you are talking about.

Yeah, he took some contested marks in that game but they were against Troy Broadbridge; a raw, second year player. The majority of his goals were kicked in general play, not from a set shot after taking a mark on the lead, which should be his role as a key forward.

 

[Kenny_01]

Yeah, Croad was good in 2000. He was averaging about 15 possesions and 6 marks a game in his 3rd year of AFL. He can still be a good player and a key part of our team but it's clear he is not the sort of player that can take games apart like Pavlich or Polak might do in the future.

Yeah, last season he did kick a lot of goals in general play but as you said, he isn't the smartest player around and isn't a natural forward. Atleast he's working hard and trying to get himself out of his slump. Anyway, I still think he will eventually be a defender when Polak moves forward, and with Parker nearing the end of his career.

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Originally posted by Kenny_01
Yeah, Croad was good in 2000. He was averaging about 15 possesions and 6 marks a game in his 3rd year of AFL. He can still be a good player and a key part of our team but it's clear he is not the sort of player that can take games apart like Pavlich or Polak might do in the future.

Yeah, last season he did kick a lot of goals in general play but as you said, he isn't the smartest player around and isn't a natural forward. Atleast he's working hard and trying to get himself out of his slump. Anyway, I still think he will eventually be a defender when Polak moves forward, and with Parker nearing the end of his career.

At least we agree on something .

I'd still be prepared to trade him at the end of the year if another club offers us a first round pick though.