Dean Polo

[TigerAntho]

"A shoulder reconstruction in late 2007 disrupted Polo’s 2008 pre-season, affecting his confidence. The former Gippsland boy could not find the required consistency to win a regular senior berth, playing only six games for the year. Into his fifth season at Punt Road, Polo faces a crucial juncture in his AFL career, and appears best suited to half-back or run-with roles."

- richmondfc.com.au

Games (goals) :31(7)
Player honours: NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2006.
Brownlow Medal: career votes 5.
Draft history: 2004 NAB AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Richmond) No. 20 overall.

Like this guy. He's 23 now. The shoulder probably put him back a year and bit in his development but I would think 2009 is his year to cement a spot. He's in a gorup of about 6-8 really coimpeting for midfielders spots. Would find it hard to break into the midfield, and may be a long term replacement option. Needs to step up if he wants to hang around though in my eyes...

 

[Bojangles17]

shining light in pre season, playing his best footy, tough and hard at it, winning contested possies...will work his way into R1 side on what ive seen

 

[Artie Bucco]

So is Terry likely to select him??

 

[coke_zero]

So is Terry likely to select him??

on pre season form i think he should. but it may come down to team balance to wether he gets a game.

 

[Artie Bucco]

on pre season form i think he should. but it may come down to team balance to wether he gets a game.

I was looking beyond that, as far as I know he hasn't been in favour with Terry in the past. New year, new leaf who knows? I haven't heard anything in a while, so thought maybe you guys might know.

If he gets consistent senior games he could be a very handy player.

 

[krustyman]

wallace has his favorites and dont like him so he rarely get a game, he is usually in and out the side even if he plays ok.

 

[one eyedtiger]

Always liked him. I think he and Jacko are competing for the same spot this. Jacko has the edge having played the last 10 games or so. I've always said if hes given a proper chance he will be a very good player. This year is really make or break for him. Apparently only just got a new contract at the end of last year. Like the op said he must cement his spot in the side this year.

 

[Madtiger2006]

Polo should become our $1 tagger

 

[Sausage roll]

Poor old Dean.

he tries really hard, is super brave and has a good footy brain

Unfortunatley, he is just to sloooooooooow. He is also what the coaching staff call an "in between".

Too small to be called a big and too slow to be called a small.

The problem he faces is where to play him.
The opposition coaching staf will immediately put anyone in their team with speed on him.

Rory hilton ws in the same boat..where do you play them?

 

[beaver fever]

Midfield or bust for Polo. Was given a 2 year contract extention, but let's hope the second year was a conditional one. As people have pointed out he is slow and has average kicking skills. However he is pretty hard at it and has a decent footy brain. We will find out this year if Polo is an AFL footballer or just a wannabe.

 

[turtle27]

Midfield or bust for Polo. Was given a 2 year contract extention, but let's hope the second year was a conditional one. As people have pointed out he is slow and has average kicking skills. However he is pretty hard at it and has a decent footy brain. We will find out this year if Polo is an AFL footballer or just a wannabe.

Wannabe? Of course he wants to be, all AFL footballers want to be. It's whether or not he's good enough to be is the question.

 

[sante]

I like the way he plays, hopefully he finds a spot in our team for Round 1.

 

[CoggaRules]

Midfield or bust for Polo. Was given a 2 year contract extention, but let's hope the second year was a conditional one. As people have pointed out he is slow and has average kicking skills. However he is pretty hard at it and has a decent footy brain. We will find out this year if Polo is an AFL footballer or just a wannabe.

you have some valid points on alot of things beave, but the above post suggests you have NFI. The kids a champ in the making. He is slow? yeah but he is super quick in the brain and his average kicking skills are purely aligned to the asthetic, rather than what they end up producing. Keep watching him closely, he gets it and 2 or 3 plays later we are having a shot for goal.
The only maybe i have on him is if he really wants to play for the tigers and moreso the coach, that has been the stumbling block for him. Apart from that, for TW to not including him in the best 22, also suggests that TW has NFI, since the same coach "ear marked" Chris Hyde to tag Goodes, last year. If this kid cant get a gig in the 1s then there is seriously something pretty ****ed going on at the tigers.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

I like the way he plays, hopefully he finds a spot in our team for Round 1.

Same here and I think generally he makes space around him. I rate him.

 

[beaver fever]

Wannabe? Of course he wants to be, all AFL footballers want to be. It's whether or not he's good enough to be is the question.

Sheesh, take the literal meaning behind all posts on BF and you will seriously struggle. By wannabe I meant he is not good enough to be an AFL footballer. Not difficult stuff.

 

[beaver fever]

you have some valid points on alot of things beave, but the above post suggests you have NFI. The kids a champ in the making. He is slow? yeah but he is super quick in the brain and his average kicking skills are purely aligned to the asthetic, rather than what they end up producing. Keep watching him closely, he gets it and 2 or 3 plays later we are having a shot for goal.

I mentioned he has a decent football brain sprogga. You really didn't disagree with anything in my post.

The only maybe i have on him is if he really wants to play for the tigers and moreso the coach, that has been the stumbling block for him. Apart from that, for TW to not including him in the best 22, also suggests that TW has NFI, since the same coach "ear marked" Chris Hyde to tag Goodes, last year. If this kid cant get a gig in the 1s then there is seriously something pretty ****ed going on at the tigers.

Either that or his attitude towards doing what is necessary to be an AFL footballer was lacking. I think that is a much more reasonable explanation for Polo's lack of game time in 2008. I heard that he was very much on the cusp of delistment given his attitude last year. I'll wait and see this year before I make a call on him.

 

[CoggaRules]

I mentioned he has a decent football brain sprogga. You really didn't disagree with anything in my post.


Either that or his attitude towards doing what is necessary to be an AFL footballer was lacking. I think that is a much more reasonable explanation for Polo's lack of game time in 2008. I heard that he was very much on the cusp of delistment given his attitude last year. I'll wait and see this year before I make a call on him.

dude, whatever the case is, if Polo has the attitude problem, then that means that he is added to the attitude problem list that has Connors and Meyer in it.
Does that point you to how ****ed our recruiting was in that one year where we had to get it right? 2004? like 5 picks in the top 20 dude. And look now who is the only one that has actually delverered. And what has been the excuse forever on you know who? you know the 23 for the dawks, we were concerned about his attitude. Like WTF, did we have any ****ing idea on what we were doing back then?
It will set us back another decade at least. This year will be a drop in the ocean, we might have another year of some kind of light, but we will drop away fast and wallow on the mire for another decade. Unless some recent draftee comes out and does a houdini and becomes a star overnight, you can back it in that we will be once again the laughing stock and TW will be commentating and adding special comments before the years out.
Thomson, Hislop and Cousins is a good pointer to his desperation.
Round 1 cant come fast enough now. NO excuses on this one TW, they have no Stevens now and a cloud over Fev. We lose because we threw it away or we lose badly without effort, i.e. like the last game against this mob, and you are toast. That will convince me the players are sending a message to the big boys and to us. Even though they will come out and back TW in the media, they did the same with Spud, until he was gone.

 

[tugga]

Polo should become our $1 tagger

Contract extension for a gold coin donation madtugger? I think he's worth more than a dollar.