Douglas - where to now?

[Ask Sandy]

did I win the Wonk award

and the wonker award goes to WAYNE'S WORLD

 

[amer]

I agree and would do the same thing. If he doesn’t show signs of improving across the season – trade him or delist him. Stop trying to make him into something he’s not. Clearly the experiment with turning him into a half forward is nearly over.

Agreed.

Gary Ablett Jnr. started his career in the same role and was erratic, at times maligned by the supporter base for making errors and not having sustained impact on games of footy. Most of us are guilty of ripping into Dougie but it's a tough gig in there and it can mask talent (not that I would compare Douglas' level of potential to that of Ablett).

Every time I go to write Dougie off I think about what good judges have said about him. He was talked up as a legitimate top line midfielder who would replace a member of the fab four. He has looked well and truly a class above when sent back to the SANFL at times, and there were signs when he spent time on the ball for us in 2009. It's time to make the move surely, and a fulfillment of potential could not come at a better time for us in the context of where we want to go this year.

 

[Tambaran]

He was terrible on the ball in 2009, got plenty of chances.

Ripe for permanent dropping.

 

[Crow-mo]

He was terrible on the ball in 2009, got plenty of chances.

Ripe for permanent dropping.

maybe Moran should take his spot

 

[Tambaran]

A second ruckman would be much better than using Tippett, who as he proved last season should be a permanent tall forward.

 

[subaru]

Put him in the midfield and leave him there. As much as I rip my hair out and make some aggressive remarks every time he muffs something up, I still feel like there's a faint hope he could pull it out from here. The story of Glenelg's coach falling off his chair in shock at how good a mid he was sticks in my mind, there just has to be something in the things we've heard. Would be bloody good timing if he stepped up this year.

Just a question ...if he can't slot a set shot kick through the goals which are what 5 metres wide or something , how will he pinpoint a forward from a pressure kick in the middle?

 

[Wood_Duck]

Someone, somewhere, has obviously seen something in Douglas. He must be able to do something, but a small forward, he aint. I wouldnt mind seeing him play the small defender roll, particularly while Stiffy is out. If he cant make a fist of that, we may as well delist him in a few weeks time and promote a rookie.

 

[Vader]

Just a question ...if he can't slot a set shot kick through the goals which are what 5 metres wide or something , how will he pinpoint a forward from a pressure kick in the middle?

Different kind of pressure. Hitting a target in general play is more about instincts. Kicking a goal from a set shot requires a player to think about what they're doing and how they're going to execute their skills.

Dougy is not the only one who struggles when it comes to the pressure of taking a set shot. The odds of McLeod kicking a goal on the run would be about 3x better than the odds of him kicking it from a set shot.

 

[subaru]

Yes....you are probably right .... but the shots he missed last week ... him and that one Thompson missed ... eeerrrrgggghhh.

I feel a bit sorry for him coz he does try really hard - and he did play well against Freo in patches. I just hate seeing the ball burnt over and over..... admittedly he was no orphan there either .

 

[Mismatched]

Yes....you are probably right .... but the shots he missed last week ... him and that one Thompson missed ... eeerrrrgggghhh.

I feel a bit sorry for him coz he does try really hard - and he did play well against Freo in patches. I just hate seeing the ball burnt over and over..... admittedly he was no orphan there either .

As a side in general this year we've just been horrible at taking set shots. Besides Walker and Danger, they've been deadeye dicks.

 

[Paladin]

We worked so hard early in the 2nd quarter and those 3 shots douglas missed just killed us. They were all from pretty much the same spot he could of at least nailed one. Better off without him getting the ball no matter how hard he tries. Drop.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

We worked so hard early in the 2nd quarter and those 3 shots douglas missed just killed us. They were all from pretty much the same spot he could of at least nailed one. Better off without him getting the ball no matter how hard he tries. Drop.

Bit light on for options at the moment. It's either players who can get the ball in dangerous positions but stuff it up, or players who can't get the ball in dangerous positions.

 

[dplggr47]

no way he will be dropped... there's just no one to come in for him.

 

[Crow-mo]

Better off without him getting the ball no matter how hard he tries. Drop.

luckily we are spoilt for choice when it comes to players who don't get the ball.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Someone, somewhere, has obviously seen something in Douglas. He must be able to do something, but a small forward, he aint. I wouldnt mind seeing him play the small defender roll, particularly while Stiffy is out. If he cant make a fist of that, we may as well delist him in a few weeks time and promote a rookie.

If we are going to write him off lets at least write him off as a midfielder and not as a small forward. He played junior footy as a midfielder and we recuited him as a midfielder so lets give him a real good crack in the midfield before we give him his marching orders.

 

[dougie26]

Just a question ...if he can't slot a set shot kick through the goals which are what 5 metres wide or something , how will he pinpoint a forward from a pressure kick in the middle?

well he can, its just a confidence issue. the fact that he didnt consider other better options just pisses me off. so confusing, he kicked all 4 goals in the challenge match a month or so ago and only kicks one on the weekend, so obviously its a confidence issue as he can kick them, though more often than not hes let down by his set shots. he obviously has more luck on the run when hes got momentum and doesnt have to think about it too much.

 

[Tambaran]

If we are going to write him off lets at least write him off as a midfielder and not as a small forward. He played junior footy as a midfielder and we recuited him as a midfielder so lets give him a real good crack in the midfield before we give him his marching orders.

He had one last year and failed. Enough is enough.

 

[subaru]

well he can, its just a confidence issue. the fact that he didnt consider other better options just pisses me off. so confusing, he kicked all 4 goals in the challenge match a month or so ago and only kicks one on the weekend, so obviously its a confidence issue as he can kick them, though more often than not hes let down by his set shots. he obviously has more luck on the run when hes got momentum and doesnt have to think about it too much.

A year ago (round a bouts) there was a thread that asked what you wanted to see from the Crows this year - referring to 2009.

My point was more goals from set shots. Missing an easy shot is not only bad news on the scoreboard, but must absolutely shit the backmen to tears when they have done the hard work. Missing shots like his and Thompson is unacceptable at this level. I don't often get cross at my team, but I do when this happens. Slot those goals last week, and who knows.

 

[jenny61_99]

It's not like this (missing set shots) is a new thing for the Crows? It has been an issue for us for MANY years.

 

[cmndstab]

Annoyingly, it has indeed been a Crows thing I've lost track of how many games we've looked great in the first quarter but have failed to make it count on the scoreboard, only to see our opposition kick a late goal to level the scores, get their shit together in the second quarter, and run over us.


I'm not against trying Douglas in the midfield, but it's worth noting that we're currently getting fairly soundly beaten in the midfield, and putting another player with questions over his form in there may not be the best plan.

Still, nothing wrong with Douglas' ability to get his hands on the ball, and perhaps a position that calls more for a sharp handball than a forward 50 entry will help his disposal efficiency out. Usually the other way around for most people, but in Douglas' case...

 

[curiouscrow]

Geelong have been the most notorious for this and lost a GF because of it. They also won two premierships in spite it tho.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Where to for Richard you ask?

To Fremantle along with Trent Hentshell for Stephen HIll, Nick Suban and there first round pick!

 

[cmndstab]

Where to for Richard you ask?

To Fremantle along with Trent Hentshell for Stephen HIll, Nick Suban and there first round pick!

Finally a worthwhile suggestion!

 

[WALL-e]

We get bent over!

 

[Dandy_GO]

Given that it was bumped every freaking time Douglas had a bad game, I think it's only fair that this thread gets bumped now that he's played yet another good game on the trot. Our best player 2 weeks in a row, and has been one of the few to have really improved this year. Cemented his place in our midfield.
I know we have a tribute thread to Dougie already, but I really think bumping this particular one is appropriate, given the sheer amount of vitriolic nonsense that certain posters filled it with.
Keep it up Pizza Boy!