Crowley vs Peake

[AndSmithMustScore]

Both seem to show a good deal of promise.

How do you see their roles this season in the Dockers squad and who will make the bigger step up this year?

And who do you rate the better of the 2 players?

 

[masai]

I'm scared of how people are expecting big things from these players in 2006, I've seen too many players burst onto the scene and then struggle in their second senior season. Other teams will know more about them and thus be able to combat them.

Anyway putting that thought to the back of my mind, these are my thoughts :-

Crowley - solid workman like player who knows where the goals are, can play midfield forward.

Peake - took his chance in the AFL with both hands and improved weekly, has a bit of toe and seems to have a good footy brain. He is a "mature" recruit and seems to have knuckled down to the tough work required to bring his body up to AFL standard. (Please note, this time last year I very much doubted his ability to make the senior side).

Who would I prefer, horses for courses. Peake has the pace and evasive skills, Crowley is more workman like.

 

[surfsup]

Both seem to show a good deal of promise.

How do you see their roles this season in the Dockers squad and who will make the bigger step up this year?

And who do you rate the better of the 2 players?

I think both of them will be in and out of the side this year but Peake looks likely to play more games than Crowley. Mainly due to the fact that his speed will get him picked. We don't have too many pacey midfielder types though I heard once somewhere that Walker should get a run through there due to his speed. Walker may be quicker than Peake but he's not as effective with his disposals nor have I seen him run AND bounce the ball as quick as Peake does.
He's on the right wing in my side.

Crowley is a hard little nugget. Will probably fight for a spot with Cook, Dodd and maybe Medhurst if they decide HFF is his preferred position.
He's on the bench in my team.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

I rate Peake better in the sense of how much difference he can add to our side. (Ben Cousins has won a Bronlow but if you wanted to improve your team's tackling you wouldn't recruit him because he averages something less than one tackle a game).

Peake has two very good tricks which are sensational speed and endurance. Given how teams have run over us at Subiaco is one player that can make a difference in that aspect. Last year Kangarros beat us because Simpson, Harvey, Grant ran harder than we did (or could). Peake provides that kind of running.

And he is one player who can get the ball in close and get out of trouble. I was watching him at training last Friday and he was getting the ball, on come the afterburners and he's away.

Crowley doesn;t have any great tricks but still very quick and seems quite hard at it. He's also a bit bigger than last year.

I'm cautious about whether either will make a huge difference. Last year our problem was clearances, mental toughness and teamwork. Like any team, we need the core of experienced players fit and playing well. Trying to get by with a team that is full of half-fit players e.g. Bell, Hasleby, Josh Carr, Matty Carr, Schammer, Walker, etc. Where the finge players might make a difference is a fully fit Crowley or Dodd might soon be better than a half-fit Hasleby.

 

[Undertaker]

Crowley is a hard little nugget. Will probably fight for a spot with Cook, Dodd and maybe Medhurst if they decide HFF is his preferred position.
He's on the bench in my team.

I agree and I would have him in my team ahead of Cook & Dodd

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Crowley is a hard little nugget. Will probably fight for a spot with Cook, Dodd and maybe Medhurst if they decide HFF is his preferred position. He's on the bench in my team.

If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. To have Medhurst mentioned in that company is unfair. He is a HUGE talent. 40 goal a year forwards are rare as freakin' hens teeth. I've been watching the Eagles board and no one complains abour Sampi like we do Medhurst and yet Sampi is half the player Medhurst is.

I reckon Connolly has tried to make too much of Medhurst. If it was Sheedy or Pagan they would be just saying that he should play his own game.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

When i first saw Peake i thought he looked "flashy" and can see him being a handy winger/flanker for the Dockers.

Crowley i rate because of the job he did on Carlton, he looked pretty good that day.

 

[masai]

I agree and I would have him in my team ahead of Cook & Dodd

You under estimate Cookie and his value to the team.

Write him off at your own risk, because I reckon there is still alot of fight in Cookies body and if they want his position they will have to fight him for it.

 

[Wizard]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

When i first saw Peake i thought he looked "flashy" and can see him being a handy winger/flanker for the Dockers.

Crowley i rate because of the job he did on Carlton, he looked pretty good that day.

Sh*t i could do a job on Carlton, it wouldnt be that hard me thinks.

 

[theorangeapple]

If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. To have Medhurst mentioned in that company is unfair. He is a HUGE talent. 40 goal a year forwards are rare as freakin' hens teeth. I've been watching the Eagles board and no one complains abour Sampi like we do Medhurst and yet Sampi is half the player Medhurst is.

I reckon Connolly has tried to make too much of Medhurst. If it was Sheedy or Pagan they would be just saying that he should play his own game.

The problem with Medhurst isnt what he does (ie he kicks goals reasonably often), its what he doesnt do (he doesnt provide contests, plays for frees, wastes oppourtunities because he hogs the ball, poor on field demenour, doesnt chase etc).

 

[rgauci]

You under estimate Cookie and his value to the team.

Write him off at your own risk, because I reckon there is still alot of fight in Cookies body and if they want his position they will have to fight him for it.

Yet last year when he was out of the team we had a 1 point loss to the Saints away (a game which we should have won) and a convincing 35 point win over Port Adelaide at home.

I like his hardness and tackling too, but i'm afraid you need more than that these days. The problem i have with his game, is he causes too many turnovers.

I have a very similar opinion of Walker too, IMHO if Hayden was fit and firing Walker would find it tough to keep his place. He has been playing as a small defender for the majority of the past 2 seasons, if a team we play has only 1 small forward i imagine it should be a decision between the two. If a team has 2 small forwards i have no problem including him in the team.

Walker has been tried in the midfield endlessly and just doesn't cut it. His position is definately as a small defender, which should come under competition this season with a fit Hayden.

Anyway on the topic i like both Crowley and Peake. Crowley as a tagger, particularly against players who sweep across half-back, because he has the ability to push forward and kick a goal or two. Peake should settle on the wing for Fremantle with stints on the ball.

Both could settle in the team depending on their form this season. I would hope they both play around 15-22 games for Fremantle. Much like Dodd progressed from 2003-2004.

 

[purplepavlich_29]

I expect both Crowley and Peake to play the most matches next season. Peake will spend a fair bit of time in the midfield and Crowley, I think, is well suited to a position in the foward line or wing. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

Peake's pace is a brilliant asset for the side and the way he uses it to his advantage helps in a big way. Walker doesn't ustilise his pace as well as he could from the backline.

Crowley impressed me against Carlton with his four goals and in his debut match against Geelong, where he slotted through three majors. He shows alot of grit and determination.

I respect both players highly and expect them to continue their good form in 2006. Dodd's agression is vital and I also expect him to improve his tagging roles.

 

[Kapow!!!]

They'll be second year players next season. Don't expect anything of them accept to develop whether it be by making mistake after mistake and finding out their limitations or just developing their fitness and developing with match practice. A bit unfair to expect anything other than development from a second year player.

 

[theorangeapple]

They'll be second year players next season. Don't expect anything of them accept to develop whether it be by making mistake after mistake and finding out their limitations or just developing their fitness and developing with match practice. A bit unfair to expect anything other than development from a second year player.

They technically be 2nd year players but older than most thing e.g. Peake is the same age as Kerr (give or take afew months).

 

[Slacker]

They'll be second year players next season. Don't expect anything of them accept to develop whether it be by making mistake after mistake and finding out their limitations or just developing their fitness and developing with match practice. A bit unfair to expect anything other than development from a second year player.

I hope Peake will be the exception to your rule. He is the Subiaco suited player we need in the team. I think we will be needing Peake to fire a lot more than people realize for 2006 to be a good year.

Crowley, on the other hand, looks great but his player type has more overlap with our existing senior midfielders.

Thus I am rating Peake > Crowley.

I am also fed up with the anti-Medhurst view many freo folk take. He is a quality small forward with runs on the board, drives me mad when people bag him on all the intangibles listed by OA. I want him hungry, showy and annoying the hell out of the opposition. I'll be happy if he has one handball a game and doesn't pass off unless it is an absolute no-brainer.
40 out deep in the pocket = have a dob medders.

 

[tico]

what does everyone think of peake's defensive game? i think at this stage it needs to improve greatly, if this part of his game develops he can then be someone who we should expect in the first 22 everyweek.

 

[theorangeapple]

I am also fed up with the anti-Medhurst view many freo folk take. He is a quality small forward with runs on the board, drives me mad when people bag him on all the intangibles listed by OA. I want him hungry, showy and annoying the hell out of the opposition.

Intangibles? He is a professional footballer playing for free kicks and having little sooky fits. However, he is not the only player doing that so I will cut him some slack. But, he needs to contest and chase alot more and not concede front position so easily. I think he is just lazy. The best way he can annoy the opposition is by kicking goals, that will actually hurt the opposition. At the moment all his actions do is hurt or annoy the Fremantle FC.

I'll be happy if he has one handball a game and doesn't pass off unless it is an absolute no-brainer.
40 out deep in the pocket = have a dob medders.

Oh dont worry, you dont need to tell him twice.

BTW, has anyone actually tried to do that Medhurst style kick which he always does. The one where he plays on from the mark, wheels around on the angle and does that lookaway half- drop punt half -banana kick which goes incredibly high. No other player in the league does it and I have tried and its near on impossible. He certainly has mastered the art of it, I think he has invented his own kick.

 

[Slacker]

Intangibles? He is a professional footballer playing for free kicks and having little sooky fits. However, he is not the only player doing that so I will cut him some slack. But, he needs to contest and chase alot more and not concede front position so easily. I think he is just lazy. The best way he can annoy the opposition is by kicking goals, that will actually hurt the opposition. At the moment all his actions do is hurt or annoy the Fremantle FC.

He did kick the odd goal in 2005 and IMO he does chase. Compared to one J Farmer he may look lazy, but Jeff is an incredible chasing & harassing forward.

However, he was guilty of trying to suck the umps into cheap free kicks. He seem have a bad diving habit when he is out of position in a marking contest. It is a fair criticism towards him and something he needs to address.

Oh dont worry, you dont need to tell him twice.

BTW, has anyone actually tried to do that Medhurst style kick which he always does. The one where he plays on from the mark, wheels around on the angle and does that lookaway half- drop punt half -banana kick which goes incredibly high. No other player in the league does it and I have tried and its near on impossible. He certainly has mastered the art of it, I think he has invented his own kick.

I know the one. I'm sure the folk here at bigfooty could come up with a good nickname for it.
The oof (only one foot)?

 

[rgauci]

Intangibles? He is a professional footballer playing for free kicks and having little sooky fits. However, he is not the only player doing that so I will cut him some slack. But, he needs to contest and chase alot more and not concede front position so easily. I think he is just lazy. The best way he can annoy the opposition is by kicking goals, that will actually hurt the opposition. At the moment all his actions do is hurt or annoy the Fremantle FC.



Oh dont worry, you dont need to tell him twice.

BTW, has anyone actually tried to do that Medhurst style kick which he always does. The one where he plays on from the mark, wheels around on the angle and does that lookaway half- drop punt half -banana kick which goes incredibly high. No other player in the league does it and I have tried and its near on impossible. He certainly has mastered the art of it, I think he has invented his own kick.

Medhurst is a unique player. I think the reason he looks lazy is because he is unfit. Partly due to being lazy partly due to conditioning staff turning hes legs into tree trunks. I believe that problem has been rectified during the preaseason and he has improved his fitness.

He is a rare talent where people are unsatisfied with a 30 goal year. Which is incredible, i mean he was picked at number 56 in a draft, we should be extremely happy is in the 22 for starters. For comparison Sampi was picked at 6. They are both so similar its uncanny. Both have the ability to take a spectacular mark. Run hot and cold in games and generally appear lazy. Both if pulled there finger out have the talent to have a year like Russell Robertson in 05. Both are still young and are learning their trade. They both are unfairly picked on by the media in WA. Medhurst slightly more than Sampi.

Why do we kick our talented players when they are down. It seems a WA thing to do?

 

[pinkus maximus]

Medhurst is a unique player. I think the reason he looks lazy is because he is unfit. Partly due to being lazy partly due to conditioning staff turning hes legs into tree trunks. I believe that problem has been rectified during the preaseason and he has improved his fitness.

He has lost 5kg this pre season,so he should be back to his ideal weight. I feel for him a bit. It seems like every pre season he is being groomed for another role

 

[Freo Shark]

They technically be 2nd year players but older than most thing e.g. Peake is the same age as Kerr (give or take afew months).

Age is irrelevant apart from perhaps the length of his career - Whats your point ?

Kerr debuted in 2001 he has a few more seasons of AFL experience than Peake does !

 

[wehavethepassion]

I'm scared of how people are expecting big things from these players in 2006, I've seen too many players burst onto the scene and then struggle in their second senior season. Other teams will know more about them and thus be able to combat them.

Anyway putting that thought to the back of my mind, these are my thoughts :-

Crowley - solid workman like player who knows where the goals are, can play midfield forward.

Peake - took his chance in the AFL with both hands and improved weekly, has a bit of toe and seems to have a good footy brain. He is a "mature" recruit and seems to have knuckled down to the tough work required to bring his body up to AFL standard. (Please note, this time last year I very much doubted his ability to make the senior side).

Who would I prefer, horses for courses. Peake has the pace and evasive skills, Crowley is more workman like.

its no coincidence that both Crowley and Barru played as if they belonged on the AFL stage. i think this is due to them both playing in the subi prem of 2004. Bomber worked his way into the AFL thru a year(2004) in the Wafl.

I think they will both go on with it in 2006 if they get the opportunity- which is very much in their own hands. We have a very fit list competition for places will be very hot - as it should be.

Finally comparing bomber with second chance crowley is useless two totally different type of players.

 

[theorangeapple]

Age is irrelevant apart from perhaps the length of his career - Whats your point ?

Kerr debuted in 2001 he has a few more seasons of AFL experience than Peake does !

My comment was in reference to his being called a 2nd year player. Peake is nearly 23, alot different to a 19year old IMO. Both in life skills and maturity.

 

[rgauci]

My comment was in reference to his being called a 2nd year player. Peake is nearly 23, alot different to a 19year old IMO. Both in life skills and maturity.

Do you think he should be able to progress quicker because he is more mature? OR do you think he'll struggle to make an impact because his improvement is limited due to his age?

I think he'll progress quickly, similar to his dad, a late bloomer.

 

[theGav56]

I think they can both continue to improve. They seem like they learnt quickly last year, and were not intimidated at the step up to AFL level. Both add some zip, with Peake obviously a little extra. He will be more important to us in my opinion as he fills the weakest area we have.

Medhurst? I think his problems are at least in part a coaching problem.

How do you best use him? How do you get him playing at his peak?

From his point of view though, he has looked a little bit like the type of player who wants to be the focal point, and is less committed when he isn't. Could be wrong of course, but as he matures and has confidence in how his role is changing and evolving with some strong KPP up forward, then he will have a party up there. I prefer the idea of him a little further from goals, kicking to the other forwards or dobbing them himself, rather than seeing him close to goals or as a short FF.