Dick

[Dogs_Playing_Poker]

Thought he played a very good game... I think we are a better side with him in the team...9 Tackles - 9! Thats amazing for a crumbing forward, and the tackles werent on a Masten or a Cockie, they were on Kerr (a seasoned, hard bodied midfielder, and Dick threw him to the turf) Watching Rioli yesterday made me think we should persist with Dickie and give him the confidence, to be a player for us like Rioli is to Hawthorn...

 

[Quicky]

I said before the game it would be a good idea to bring in Dick in for his tackling pressure in the forwardline and as a crumbing option. We have severely lacked both these aspects of our game all season. I thought a break even for Dick would be if he could apply the pressure you would want from him, 9 tackles said he did. The fact he kicked a goal on top of this is a bonus.

He didn't play a great game because his skills were down but for his designated role in the team he gets a pass mark for me. I think the more time he spends at AFL level the more likely his skills are going to improve. I remember when he first broke into the team in his first year some of his kicking was sublime so I think it is a confidence issue after his reco and not an ability thing. He gives us more balance in our forwardline structure so while he continues to apply the defensive pressure and kicks a goal or so a game there is no reason for him to be dropped - even when Medhurst, Didak and Cloke are back in.

At full strength i'd like to see a forward line like this:

-----Didak----Cloke----Thomas----
------Dick---Anthony--Medhurst---

Davis, Didak and Thomas all play roles more up the ground these days and Medhurst is more of a third-tall marking target than a genuine crumber. That leaves a spot for a crumber that provides defensive pressure and Dicks the man.

 

[shawthing09]

I thought he was very good. You have to love the way he goes about it. Hopefully he can replace some of that danger around goal and foward pressure we are lacking with Davis and Thomas playing higher up the ground. His certainly good for team balance and the work rate and love for the game is probably infectious. Good to see him preform deffinately has earnt the spot in the two's and hopefully continues to preform.

 

[Axl the great]

I distincly remember a young Alan Didak butchering a few when he started out. Some may laugh, while he did show that he was a lovely kick he kicked a few mungs. Its called the pressure of stepping up to the big league and for same can take a bit to adjust to. Remember the kid is coming back from a knee recco and is in his 3rd season. Might be trying just a bit to hard and rushing his kicks a little. This is why we needs a few games. Let him settle and then we can see what he is really capable of.

Yeah Good call! Very nice comparison.
The other thing with Dick and a lot of youngsters is it takes them a while to realise AFL players are a lot quicker to read the play and where you intend to kick, a lot of these kids go for targets and kick to certain spots where they would have got away with it at lower leagues but quickly learn the margain for error is so much smaller.

They are quite often not bad users of the footy or poor kicks just need to adjust the decision making a bit, it really annoys me too when people call young players with a handful of games a shit kick or turnover merchant when the likely problem is making the right decision in the first place, after 50 games fair enough but players like Dick need the gametime and opportunity to get used to this.

 

[NatheM]

YES! I was like "WTF?!" when he was dropped after the Geelong game.

Dick must stay in our 22!

 

[Nardz]

Yep, our Dick get very excited.
He played a much better game than Cox last night.
On a serious note though, how on earth does he manage to butcher the ball during the game when in fact he is supposed to be one of the better kicks at the club
I think he will improve as he gets more games under his belt and confidence.
He is coming of a knee reco, soi we should give him time.
Hope he blossoms into a MKII of Neon Leon.

will there ever be a brad dick thread without penis related jokes?

 

[Jabso]

Dick's kicks weren't that bad at all. Most of them were under pressure inside 50, so he didn't get a chance to show his prowess at hitting up a pass inside 50 often.

 

[rose jam]

thought he was pretty ordinary, his kicking has been awful at AFL level this year and he doesn't get involved enough for his backman to even bother paying him attention. He never took shots but butchered it trying to give it off. Thought his game was worthy of getting dropped with MEd, Dids and Daisy coming back.
Cook and Goldsack certainties to go out

 

[#1 pies]

thought he was pretty ordinary, his kicking has been awful at AFL level this year and he doesn't get involved enough for his backman to even bother paying him attention. He never took shots but butchered it trying to give it off. Thought his game was worthy of getting dropped with MEd, Dids and Daisy coming back.
Cook and Goldsack certainties to go out

Really?! Totally disagree! His pressure was bloody fantastic!

 

[Territory Magpie]

will there ever be a brad dick thread without penis related jokes?

They said on TV that Dick was a realtive of Willie Dick, who used to play for Essendon. I think his middle names are John Thomas.