Fletcher

[Dan26]

Okay, now I know I'm not the biggest D.Fletcher fan in the world and I don't want to come across as one of those people that only conveniently post about him after a poor performance, but tonight's game was the latest in a long run of below-par performances this year.

I seem to be one of only a handful of Essendon fans that don't rate this player, and never have, but 2004 has been poor even allowing for his good work in past seasons. He looks all at sea when the ball comes in quickly and he has no concept of time and space when forced to use his brain to make a decision. His only asset is his long arms for his marking and spoiling, but there is more to being a footballer than that. Thank God he's hidden at full-back, where he can play to his strengths and the weaknesses in his game aren't exposed, because it would be hideous.

In his defence, the ball came in to Brisbane's forward line a lot, but despite that, he's still not playing well. If he can't use his "stengths" what use is he?

 

[Z_K]

Originally posted by Dan26


I seem to be one of only a handful of Essendon fans that don't rate this player, and never have,

Sorry to but in Bomber fans, but Dan, have you ever wondered why, out of the 500,000 misguided souls that support Essendon, there are only a handful of you that have never rated him...?

He is a gun, who because of the way he moves can look horrid when he is beaten in a contest. Can you imagine playing FB on a good player having that bunch of cyborgs kicking it to him like Bradshaw did tonight?

But, if you're still serious, call Sheeds and send him to Arden St.

 

[Dan26]

Re: Re: Fletcher

Originally posted by NorthBhoy
Sorry to but in Bomber fans, but Dan, have you ever wondered why, out of the 500,000 misguided souls that support Essendon, there are only a handful of you that have never rated him...?

He is a gun, who because of the way he moves can look horrid when he is beaten in a contest. Can you imagine playing FB on a good player having that bunch of cyborgs kicking it to him like Bradshaw did tonight?

But, if you're still serious, call Sheeds and send him to Arden St.

Stop trying to discredit me. I've seen EVERY game of his career and his full-back work has been very good, but when he gets the ball in the open and is forced to make a "football decision" he can be awful. He hasn't got a football brain. I like to think of myself as a perceptive watcher of the game and by playing at full-back, Fletcher is sometimes hidden from having his flaws exposed, hence many wouldn't agree with my opinions. Excellent full-back, average footballer.

 

[Darealrath]

I'm not too fussed with what he does when he has the ball, but my gripe with him at the moment is he is either getting beaten on the lead or in 1 on 1's far too often.

Our defensive key position stocks haven't looked so thin in a long time.

 

[Z_K]

Re: Re: Re: Fletcher

Dan, I am really struggling with you saying you "don't rate him and never have" and then saying he is an "excellent full back".

Am I missing something...?

 

[BomberGal]

Re: Re: Fletcher

Originally posted by NorthBhoy
Sorry to but in Bomber fans, but Dan, have you ever wondered why, out of the 500,000 misguided souls that support Essendon, there are only a handful of you that have never rated him...?

He is a gun, who because of the way he moves can look horrid when he is beaten in a contest. Can you imagine playing FB on a good player having that bunch of cyborgs kicking it to him like Bradshaw did tonight?

But, if you're still serious, call Sheeds and send him to Arden St.

He hasn't played at all well this year, and you can't deny that.

Another brain explosion will result in his annual holiday. How thoughtful of you, Dustin. Someone forgot to tell him we're not playing Port for another 4 rounds.

 

[Dan26]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Fletcher

Originally posted by NorthBhoy
Dan, I am really struggling with you saying you "don't rate him and never have" and then saying he is an "excellent full back".

Am I missing something...?

You're not missing anything. Excellent full-back, average footballer. The two are not the same. It's a little bit (but not exactly) like comparing the role of a goalkeeper in Soccer to the rest of the team.

His ability to asses the situation, and make "football" decisions has never been good, but it hasn't really mattered, because he has been shielded from that with the one-on-one nature of the full-back role.

And I've been happy with that, because full-back is where he is suited, but lately even his full-back work has been sloppy.

 

[M29]

I'm just suprised it's taken him 12 weeks to get reported. Though he should get off.

Anyway, a few were calling for his head on a platter last night.

5 goals kicked against you is never nice.

For the record, I thought Bolton was equally pathetic. Brown managed to bend him like a deck chair at times. Though I guess that was a 'set play' right Bolts fans?...

 

[Bartholin Juice]

Bolton was ok, M29. He held Brown well for the first half when the midfield battle was even. When they were well on top in the second half, of course Brown was going to take a stack of marks and kick a couple of goals. He is a gun player and when he gets that many opportunities he will take advantage of them. Lucas wouldn't have done much better.

 

[windyhill]

Proven champion. Proven champion. A B&F from FullBack in a season where we lost once , won both flags and took on all comers ( bar The Pups) speaks for itself. Bagging Fletcher reminds me of the fans that gave it to Scotty Lucas
My only worry with Fletch is his age, who the **** is going to replace him in a few years time ?

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by windyhill
Proven champion. Proven champion. A B&F from FullBack in a season where we lost once , won both flags and took on all comers ( bar The Pups) speaks for itself. Bagging Fletcher reminds me of the fans that gave it to Scotty Lucas
My only worry with Fletch is his age, who the **** is going to replace him in a few years time ?

Given that you've seen his every game, I'm suprised you rate him as highly as you do. Comparing him with Lucas is laughable. Scotty is a footballer, who plays like a footballer. Fletch is a full-back, and only a full-back, and this season hasn't been a very good one.

People who bag Lucas either don't watch the games properly, or don't understand his importance to the team. Fletch is a different story, because he hasn't got a football brain, and this is exposed in him, many, many times. It's just that full-back (thankfully) hides these flaws.

He'll probably come out and play a blinder on his bunny Neitz nexy week, now that I've said that. I've been watching him very closely this season, and I've bitten my tongue so far. I could have bagged him 5 or 6 times, but I have refrained. After last night, enough is enough. When his confidence is down, he is awful. He just had no idea in that second quarter. I don't care how often the ball is coming in, there is no excuse for having 5 goals kicked on you in 30 minutes by a makeshift full-forward

 

[windyhill]

You are having an each way bet Daniel , " he is an excellent full back" ...."an average footballer"...."he`ll probably come out and play a blinder on Neitz next week" This is called covering yourself or having an each way bet.
Amusing.

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by windyhill
You are having an each way bet Daniel , " he is an excellent full back" ...."an average footballer"...."he`ll probably come out and play a blinder on Neitz next week" This is called covering yourself or having an each way bet.
Amusing.

I'm not having an each way bet at all. I have held this opinion for a long time.

Fletcher IS an excellent Full-back, and I have said this time and time again, but that is also the one position on the ground where a player can get away with a lack of football nous. To say he is an excellent full-back (debatable this season) yet an average footballer is a perfectly reasonable comment. Full-back is different to other positions.

If I wanted to have a go at Fletcher, I could have done so plenty of times already this season Johnny. I'll be the first to give him credit when he plays well too, but even you must realise he's been garbage this season so far.

 

[windyhill]

Towelled v Adl/Geel/Stk.
Port D.N.P
Very good V everyone else. We only hear how bad he is following a game he struggles in. You are open for exposure at FullBack more than any other spot on the ground. I fear for us when he hangs up the boots.

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by windyhill
Towelled v Adl/Geel/Stk.
Port D.N.P
Very good V everyone else. We only hear how bad he is following a game he struggles in. You are open for exposure at FullBack more than any other spot on the ground. I fear for us when he hangs up the boots.

If he's been towelled up in 4 games out of the 11 he has played then that is too much for a full-back, although I acknowledge the percenatges have been better for him in past years. But it doesn't excuse his limitations, in regards to his decision making. His value to us is not as much as you think. I'd take Scarlett any day of the week, wouldn't you? He's got a bit of mongrel in him too, Scarlett, and Flecther has never really had that in him, like, say a Mickey Martyn.

 

[Bartholin Juice]

The worrying sign is that he's been comprehensively beaten in games against good opposition. I don't really count Adelaide, McPhee played on Carey for most of the match.

You'd think that those are the games when we really need Fletcher to stand up and keep the oppositions FF quiet.

 

[Stealth bomber]

Well, I haven't seen every game he's ever played...not even close.

But I haven't ever seen him in worse form, at least as long as I've been watching.

 

[windyhill]

Originally posted by Dan26
If he's been towelled up in 4 games out of the 11 he has played then that is too much for a full-back, although I acknowledge the percenatges have been better for him in past years. But it doesn't excuse his limitations, in regards to his decision making. His value to us is not as much as you think. I'd take Scarlett any day of the week, wouldn't you? He's got a bit of mongrel in him too, Scarlett, and Flecther has never really had that in him, like, say a Mickey Martyn.

Martyn was a thug, Fletcher a pure ball player, complete opposites. ......waits for someone to bring up Fletch`s tribunal record.

 

[lmnop]

fletcher has been in bad form as has wellman, but i believe bolts has been in good form. why was he playing on brown anyway gave it a real go killed him for a half but it was a mismacth in my opinion and brown eventully destroyed him as i thought he would the whole night. Bolton showed great commtiment and suprise for a half. not the type for a brown type.

As for fletcher he was aweful but even with this he is a great fullback, in bad form very bad probably vfl form but the great thing about fletcher is hes kicking ability from fullback, it is known we are one fo the best and going coast to coast, this is because of fletcher, as for other situations when he gets the ball: note: a fullback is not really supposedd to get the ball, so the fact he is getting enough of the ball to worry about his sometimes woeful choices is more of worry.

If ever we were going to lose wellman and fletch, this is the best time to lose them and this seems the case. becasue their both playing ****e, so therefore we will lose two players in very average form and be giving two up and coming kids: future replacemnts a go. Not dissapointed in the slightest as wellman and fletch will come back better then directly before their "holidays" and can forget abouy being out of form and just play again.

judt like i wouldnt be dissapointed if hillie got injured only if one of our replacements was fully fit. Laycock,cartleidge.

Makes very tough decsisons a lot easier for caoches. Sheedy almost smiled as wellman went down. Doesnt have to drop him and shatter his confidence, now the kid can come back in a few and kill it.

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by windyhill
Martyn was a thug, Fletcher a pure ball player, complete opposites. ......waits for someone to bring up Fletch`s tribunal record.

Fletch's tribunal record doesn't make him "tough" I might add. Most of the incidents were stupid, and reckless. Martyn might have been a thug, but he was a thug who I would have wanted in my side.

 

[TD]

Problem with Fletch is the gap between his best and worst. His best is awesome. He will repel attacks, he will stop his man from taking marks and kicking goals as well as setting up goals from defence himself. His worst, unfortunately, is unbelievably bad. So bad, that we would be better off with 17 men rather than 18 men + Bad Fletch. He was destroyed on the weekend, and has been destroyed on a number of occassions this year. He has also played 1-2 almost BOG performances.

What we need is a Sam Hunt (or anyone else) to stand up and be capable of taking on the oppositions best forward without copping a bath. If we have this, we can either put Fletch on the Bench or throw him forward where he will cause us less damage. IMO he could be a very dangerous pinch hitting forward. Until we have someone who can step in when Fletch is getting beaten, we will continue to lose against the good sides. Against the good teams, we need Fletcher to play well because the forwards will be getting more of the footy. We have too much reliance of Fletcher, such that if he has a bad day, we inevitably lose.

 

[Stealth bomber]

Spot on TD - Fletch is the only one on the entire list who appears capable of holding down FB. It wasn't that long ago that our back six was arguably the best in the comp and we had great depth; now it just looks like swiss cheese.

A pressing need last year was a ruckman to spell Hille; we got one (who turned out to be better than Hille anyway) - now we need a tall defender to spare Fletch.

Yeah, maybe Hunt and Bradley can do it, or maybe they can't. We need to find out sooner rather than later, regardless.

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by windyhill
Towelled v Adl

By whom?

 

[windyhill]

Originally posted by Dave
By whom?

He had Carey for much of the night. It was The Wayne of old as our complete backline six went gaga at the sight of him. Not Kellie Stevens gaga either.


Not sure if this is a good sign when Sheedy agrees with me. IE, we only hear about Fletch after he has a poor one.

 

[Yabba]

Originally posted by windyhill
He had Carey for much of the night. It was The Wayne of old as our complete backline six went gaga at the sight of him. Not Kellie Stevens gaga either.


Not sure if this is a good sign when Sheedy agrees with me. IE, we only hear about Fletch after he has a poor one.

Mcphee had carey for his first 4 goals and then fletch was moved on to him