Dodd or Polak?

[Stronzo]

The good news of former Docker Graham Polak getting back to training got me thinking about when he left and the circumstances with which he did.

Now the accepted argument around here is that he couldn't get a game with us so took the easy option and played for a young Richmond side. Which brought me to a series of comparisons to try and justify that. The most obvious is Polak Vs Johnson, it was a lot more clearly in favour of Johnson at the time Polak left, but I would still rather Johnson; Polak Vs Grover, Grover easily, so much more consistent and committed; Polak Vs McPharlin, no comments needed.

Which leaves Polak Vs Dodd. Dodd had a decent year the time Polak left, but his last season has been pretty average. My old man reckons Dodd without question, but I am not so convinced. Taking away his recent accident, who would you rather?

 

[Kram]

Polak for sure. Early on he looked like he was gonna be a gun then I don't know what happened. Though he was pretty decent for the Tigers when up and going. He's still young so he could get better. Dodd whilst handy is just your standard toiler.

 

[FootyEater]

The good news of former Docker Graham Polak getting back to training got me thinking about when he left and the circumstances with which he did.

Now the accepted argument around here is that he couldn't get a game with us so took the easy option and played for a young Richmond side. Which brought me to a series of comparisons to try and justify that. The most obvious is Polak Vs Johnson, it was a lot more clearly in favour of Johnson at the time Polak left, but I would still rather Johnson; Polak Vs Grover, Grover easily, so much more consistent and committed; Polak Vs McPharlin, no comments needed.

Which leaves Polak Vs Dodd. Dodd had a decent year the time Polak left, but his last season has been pretty average. My old man reckons Dodd without question, but I am not so convinced. Taking away his recent accident, who would you rather?

personally, i would have polak ahead of dodd. that is if polak was seriously able to get back into footy after his head trauma.

my reasoning for this, is that polak, while inconsistent for us, had all the potential to become a key position player, he has a great mark, his field kicking as quite good, and he was quite courageous in the way that he threw himself into packs. dodd for my mind offers very little, when in defence he gets beaten regularly one on one, he hasnt got a great mark, people say that he can tag, but while he is physically very fit with great endurance, he has no speed, and his kicking is really quite ordinary. he has aggression at the man rather than the ball, often resulting in him giving away stupid free kicks, he tries to act tough, but i think this is to compensate for his all round lack of ability.

all in all i dont think we lost anything by losing polak as we got a pick for him (im not sure who that pick turned out to be) but i certainly dont think our team gains anything by having dodd on our list either, i think 09 will be dodds last year at freo. it would be nice if we could offload him to the gold coast for a pick

 

[poshman]

The good news of former Docker Graham Polak getting back to training got me thinking about when he left and the circumstances with which he did.

Now the accepted argument around here is that he couldn't get a game with us so took the easy option and played for a young Richmond side. Which brought me to a series of comparisons to try and justify that. The most obvious is Polak Vs Johnson, it was a lot more clearly in favour of Johnson at the time Polak left, but I would still rather Johnson; Polak Vs Grover, Grover easily, so much more consistent and committed; Polak Vs McPharlin, no comments needed.

Which leaves Polak Vs Dodd. Dodd had a decent year the time Polak left, but his last season has been pretty average. My old man reckons Dodd without question, but I am not so convinced. Taking away his recent accident, who would you rather?

not sure either would have a huge role next year, as I would have hope drummy would take dodd's position, unless mcpharlin goes forward on a permanent basis. If that was to happen you would throw drum against the next best forward or johnson and then bring in doddy. so although i dont think either will have a huge role I would choose dodd.

 

[Kram]

all in all i dont think we lost anything by losing polak as we got a pick for him (im not sure who that pick turned out to be)

Swapped our 13 for the Tigers 8 which we traded for Tarrant. Collingwood then drafted a bloke that kicks even worse

 

[freodog]

Polak can only play loose man in defence. He gets butchered everytime he has to play man on man. So a more likely comparison is Mundy (when he played in defence) & Polak.

I liked Dodd as a tagger then for some reason they tried to make him into a defender. The other players used to hate him so much. But I guess we had the Carr Brothers & Crowley so that was enough stoppers.

 

[silverscope]

If we were talking about what our team needed at the time, dodd wins obvious reasons.
Potential than its Polak but at the moment its a bit hard to say which one is better as both have had pretty ordinary years but i think if dodd can get himself right, as some as said above, he could be good in the middle he's not a short arse so that will help with the height of our midfield and can to the tag role with crowley.

 

[theGav56]

Which leaves Polak Vs Dodd.

It is incredible really that such a high draft pick ends up being debated as whether he is the better selection for 4th best tall backman (and that is after we discount Mundy as a tall backman). Just such a disappointing selection for us.

I would pick Dodd even though it is a very marginal decision. Dodd has more versatility as a defender, whereas Polak's second string *cough* is as a forward, or perhaps a backup ruckman in the mould of a ruckman who competes but never actually wins the ruck, and we have enough of them. But most importantly, Polak's failure to react well to his non-seection, and threats to go PSD to Richmond for nothing, demonstrate his flawed character.

 

[theGav56]

I liked Dodd as a tagger then for some reason they tried to make him into a defender. The other players used to hate him so much. But I guess we had the Carr Brothers & Crowley so that was enough stoppers.

Poalk is part of the reason we tried to turn Dodd into a defender. If Polak could actually take care of one of the key forwards, Dodd wouldn't have got a game.

 

[dockers4ever]

I always rated Polak.
If you go back to his first year he was great as a CHB in the first half of the year.
Not an unaccountable CHB but a real one.

McPharlin came back from injury and we moved Polak all round the ground and stuffed him up completely.

Interesting that its now almost unanimous that we are 1 key defender short.
I woudl love to see a McPharlin (FB) and Polak (CHB) combo

 

[E Shed]

I loved Polly. That game he played against the Eagles just before he left when he tackled Seaby at the Ball up was priceless. Having said that he is a useless kick really if he wasn't such a good mark he would be a hack.
I rate Dodd, would be in my first few picked every week. Guys like him are the nuts and bolts you need a few of in a good team. Not super talented by super committed and always give 100%.
I'd take Dodd.

 

[yakamoto]

I rate Polak as the most disappointing draft pick we've ever had.

 

[FootyEater]

I rate Polak as the most disappointing draft pick we've ever had.

he was definetly disappointing, id still have him over dodd though. but there has been a few disappointing picks, dunn, collard, polak, leigh brown i mean all of them completely underachieved at our club.

 

[TigerGlory]

I think Polly was great in his debut with us, but because of that, he looked a lot flashier than he did the next season, which i think dosent accurately portray what he contributed.

Had he not been injured, I think his best spot would have been in our forward line.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

Steven Dodd is criminally underrated. Criminally.

His 2008 form was not as good as 2007, where he was fanfreakintastic. He's one man that you can rely on to be within arms reach of his opponent whenever the opposition have got the footy. He wins or halves most of his contests and whenever he doesn't, his opponent doesn't get off easy by any means. He and Antoni Grover are easily the most effective spoilers in the side.

I still remember reading through the Must Rape Purple's findings each week in 2005 (Dodd's debut year) and more often than not finding "Player X was cited for striking S Dodd (Fremantle)." He very obviously got under the opposition's skin and many senior, experienced midfielders took out their frustrations on the young rookie with the tendency to be more annoying than a mosquito. He never took a backward step despite the fact that he was a boy playing in a man's game. I like that sort of mongrel factor. He's the sort of player you want to have around.

 

[FootyEater]

Steven Dodd is criminally underrated. Criminally.

His 2008 form was not as good as 2007, where he was fanfreakintastic. He's one man that you can rely on to be within arms reach of his opponent whenever the opposition have got the footy. He wins or halves most of his contests and whenever he doesn't, his opponent doesn't get off easy by any means. He and Antoni Grover are easily the most effective spoilers in the side.

I still remember reading through the Must Rape Purple's findings each week in 2005 (Dodd's debut year) and more often than not finding "Player X was cited for striking S Dodd (Fremantle)." He very obviously got under the opposition's skin and many senior, experienced midfielders took out their frustrations on the young rookie with the tendency to be more annoying than a mosquito. He never took a backward step despite the fact that he was a boy playing in a man's game. I like that sort of mongrel factor. He's the sort of player you want to have around.

hmm, i just dont see it that way, to me he doesnt seem to stop anyone out of the game, i will give you that he is annoying and obviously frustrates the opposition, but they always seem to be the ones getting the last laugh after they end up getting the ball 30 times. its funny how people see the game differently, im not saying your wrong or that your right, i just dont see it that way, but then again, i dont dispise scott thornton, i dont love brock obrien, and i dont think johnson is that flash either

 

[FootyEater]

Dodd owns Brett Burton, and a couple of other forwards. He does need to be given the right opponent though (and I think Hayden's absence this year probably hurt him in that regard), but if he gets the third tall or the less clever smalls, he generally does a very good job. He's not a superstar and never will be, but he gets the job done.

hey im happy to be proven wrong... if dodd, johnson, gilmore, murphy and obrien all prove me wrong then i reckon we will be on our way to september i just am not that impressed so far

 

[youarewrong]

I really dont rate Dodd.

Rarely shuts down his direct opposition, hit and miss with his disposal and doesnt offer much in the creativity stakes.

Looks to be a list filler, wasnt too flash for the Sharks when he was tossed back their either.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

Dodd owns Brett Burton, and a couple of other forwards. He does need to be given the right opponent though (and I think Hayden's absence this year probably hurt him in that regard), but if he gets the third tall or the less clever smalls, he generally does a very good job. He's not a superstar and never will be, but he gets the job done.

Add Matthew Lloyd to that list. Stompy handed Lloyd's arse to him on a silver platter in our last game against the Bombers.

 

[dugrene]

Steven Dodd is criminally underrated. Criminally.

His 2008 form was not as good as 2007, where he was fanfreakintastic. He's one man that you can rely on to be within arms reach of his opponent whenever the opposition have got the footy. He wins or halves most of his contests and whenever he doesn't, his opponent doesn't get off easy by any means. He and Antoni Grover are easily the most effective spoilers in the side.

I still remember reading through the Must Rape Purple's findings each week in 2005 (Dodd's debut year) and more often than not finding "Player X was cited for striking S Dodd (Fremantle)." He very obviously got under the opposition's skin and many senior, experienced midfielders took out their frustrations on the young rookie with the tendency to be more annoying than a mosquito. He never took a backward step despite the fact that he was a boy playing in a man's game. I like that sort of mongrel factor. He's the sort of player you want to have around.

I'm with you.
He wins more than he loses. He needs to watch his niggle though, too often it's cost us.
Now the dog is (appears to be) wagging the tail we might see less undisciplined acts.
As for Polly I think my first post on the Freo board was about him and his decision making or lack thereof. He makes Happy look like a football Einstein. One of my mates a toaster, said 'all he needs is to be put within 30 metres of the goals and kick it long to him. He will mark a plenty and wont have to think. Should get two to three goals a game by doing that.'
I was glad to see him go.
If he gets back into the team and makes poor decisions the ninths will blame the tram. We all know he was always hopeless.

 

[DOCKER MAN]

I actually cannot believe how many people here have absoultly no idea what they are talking about in regards to Dodd. Bar the end of this year where he lost his form, he rarely gets beaten probably wins his duels 9 times out of 10. And probably 4 out of the last 5 games where he has played no Nick Rievoldt he's smashed him, not to forget he also dominated Lloyd this year as well. Dodd over his career has been much better and more consistent then Polak

 

[E Shed]

I actually cannot believe how many people here have absoultly no idea what they are talking about in regards to Dodd. Bar the end of this year where he lost his form, he rarely gets beaten probably wins his duels 9 times out of 10. And probably 4 out of the last 5 games where he has played no Nick Rievoldt he's smashed him, not to forget he also dominated Lloyd this year as well. Dodd over his career has been much better and more consistent then Polak

Yes I don't understand the lack of respect as this is how I see him too. In 2007 as BigKev pointed out he was probably our most consistent back. I don't know whether it's because my seat is on the flank where he normally plays but I constantly marvel at his ability to spoil the ball in the air without giving away a free and then clean it up on the ground. As I said in my earlier post would be in my first dozen picked every week.

 

[PapaJ]

I'm trying to stay off the boards and concentrate on my studies at the moment, but I'll jump in on this one.

I'll add voice to Dodd being underated, so much so that if I had to choose between the two I would go Dodd for the simple reason that we need a Dodd type player more than Polak - far more versetile & dependable (except for the going too far on the niggle).

As for Polak, I don't think there is any player who has ever played the game who has such a poor kicking to marking ability ratio. He's as good in the contest as you will ever see, but he just doesn't know how to kick under anything resembling preasure. He's improved slightly in this regard at Tiger land - but still nothign special. He's always been a good loose man because he can kill a fwd thrust so easily with his arial ability and as a third man up, he's king. But that's about it when it comes to his top qualities, he's just not a rounded out enough player for mine.

 

[sabre_ac]

I think I agree with those saying that Dodd is a decent player but nothing more.
The guy break's even most of the time, rarely completely shuts down his opponent.

That said all teams have a player of his ilk, the player that is on the last line of defence everytime.

As far as Dodd vs Polak, no contest. Polak had issues on and off field and for all his marking ability we were making no progress in teaching the guy to kick.