Remove this Banner Ad

Gamble

  • Thread starter Thread starter DanA
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

DanA

DanA

Norm Smith Medallist
Veteran
Joined
May 15, 2006
Posts
9,599
Reaction score
6,672
Location
Richmond
AFL Club
Geelong
Will he get a game round 1?

He's played very well this preseason with two exceptional performances against Brisbane and today against Richmond. Surely he deserves a game.

What do you guys think?
 
It's a tough one. I would love to see him get a game but it is pretty tough to nab a spot in there at the moment. I would play him and put Hawkins on ice until he kicks a few big bags in the ressies. This would also throw a different forward mix at opposition teams for a few weeks and give them plenty to think about. We can't just do the same with the same structure as last year. We have to move forward. Furthermore, I think it is important that one of Taylor, Prismall or Gamble gets rewarded for an excellent preseason. It sends a very positive message to the younger players as well as the estabilished players. I have chosen Gamble. How many weeks he will last will be up to him.
Gamble is an unusual type. He is not a genuine crumber to replace Byrnes nor a lead up tall to replace Ablett. Yet he can do a bit of both and I like him a lot. He is probably most similar to SJ but a bit more athletic and a lot less flair at this stage.


My team for Round 1 barring any unexpected injuries.

Hunt, Scarlett, Milburn
Enright, Harley, Mackie
Kelly, Ling, Corey
S Johnson, Lonergan, Chapman
Stokes, Mooney, Gamble
Ottens, Bartel, Ablett

Int: Blake, Selwood, Rooke, Wojcinski

From our flag team of last year:

Out: Byrnes, N Ablett, King,

In: Lonergan, Blake, Gamble

Desperately unlucky: Prismall and H Taylor. Prismall will get an opportunity once an onballer dips in form or gets injured. If Selwood gets even a mild dose of 2nd year blues then he is in for mine. Taylor has shown during the preseason that he has a role. I have given Lonergan first crack because he can play eithor end and if Gamble is given a role forward more flexibility elsewhere will be required.

Waiting on the next level: Varcoe, Tenace, Hawkins

I have totally shelved Byrnes. Too much young talent around to get another opportunity in my view. I wouldn't be suprised if Wojcinski is under pressure to keep his spot before too long either.
 
It's freakin hard but I think Gamble has won a shot in place of Byrnes.

I'd probably have it identically to you except with Hawkins in at FF and Lonergan out.

Agree that Harry & Prismall have earnt a spot while Varcoe a bit unlucky after performing well last year.
 
I was just thinking would Gamble get a game ahead of Hawkins for round one? I'm not sure if there is room for both but Ryan has played some great footy not just this pre-season but last VFL season too. I know it's a big call but I think he deserves a chance in the senior team. After watching pre-season games I think I actually rather Gamble ahead of Hawkins in the forward line.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Gamble has earnt a spot round 1 but he just needs to go ask Prismall exactly what that means at the GFC these days.

Geelong is all about team balance at the moment. You only have to look at Harry Taylor's opponents in the Nab to understand how Geelong is trying to keep the defensive balance together by getting Taylor to take players usually earmarked for Egan...this means everyone else can just keep doing what they do best. The same can be said for the forward line....its not just a matter of dropping Byrnes for Gamble...they play completely different roles in the team.

Geelong was still experimenting up forward too today so I am still waiting to see a full month or so of the real stuff before I get an understanding of their real forward plans for this year...

Anyway back to the point...Gamble has earnt it but in the end it will be to do entirely with team balance and who we are playing and nothing else.
 
Gamble will provide a mobile marking option if Hawkins or Mooney are being held. He is a difficult one to match up on - good in the air and quick off the mark - reminds me a little of Paul Lynch.

Whether he can fit in to a round one team is another thing - if Stokes doesn't come up he may be a chance.
 
Hawkins in for Lonners in the team above.

How can we not fit prisa into the team? Honestly I feel soooooo sorry for the bloke, he is a genuinely good player.
 
Gamble in for either Byrnes or Chapman if unfit. The kid's ferocious attack on the ball is in perfect line with the team ethos and he can clearly kick a few.
 
LifeSpan-Void said:
i'm not expecting rooke & chapman to both play round 1. Just a hunch that one or both are more injured than has been stated.
Click to expand...

Rooke is the one I expect to miss Rd1.He might need a run in the VFL when he returns.He was very rusty in the NAB game in Canberra.
 
Prismall should be considered before Gamble. He could play Half forward going into the midfield, and we can say adios to Byrnes.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

thejester said:
Gamble in for either Byrnes or Chapman if unfit. The kid's ferocious attack on the ball is in perfect line with the team ethos and he can clearly kick a few.
Click to expand...

Has Chapman done a pre season this year? I know he was injured but I'm unsure of his fitness base atm?

By the way, I love the look of Gamble. He's going to be a great player.
 
Scarlett Fever said:
Waiting on the next level: Varcoe, Tenace, Hawkins

I have totally shelved Byrnes. Too much young talent around to get another opportunity in my view. I wouldn't be suprised if Wojcinski is under pressure to keep his spot before too long either.
Click to expand...

you are spot on about byrnes, but are u kidding about wojo?? he is one of the first picked every week and one of our most important players.... adds super pace, breaks lines, kicks goals, hard at it, would get a game in every other team in the league easily.

Lonergan didnt play yesterday, and hawkins will definately be there rd.1, and given plenty of time to cement his spot. lonergan is backup for the key talls this year, thats all.

Tenace on the next level?? Turn it up! He's been playing half back/wing and there is no way his disposal or decision making are up to afl standard in pressure situations. shocking kick (two-handed drop??), and is not the speed demon we thought he was going to be when drafted. d.johnson is next cab the off the rank for that spot. tenace will be gone at years end. fingers crossed.
 
Scarlett Fever said:
Waiting on the next level: Varcoe, Tenace, Hawkins

I have totally shelved Byrnes. Too much young talent around to get another opportunity in my view. I wouldn't be suprised if Wojcinski is under pressure to keep his spot before too long either.
Click to expand...

you are spot on about byrnes, but are u kidding about wojo?? he is one of the first picked every week and one of our most important players.... adds super pace, breaks lines, kicks goals, hard at it, would get a game in every other team in the league easily.

Lonergan didnt play yesterday, and hawkins will definately be there rd.1, and given plenty of time to cement his spot. lonergan is backup for the key talls this year, thats all.

Tenace on the next level?? Turn it up! He's been playing half back/wing and there is no way his disposal or decision making are up to afl standard in pressure situations. shocking kick (two-handed drop??), and is not the speed demon we thought he was going to be when drafted. d.johnson is next cab the off the rank for that spot. Unfortunately for him, tenace will be gone at years end.
 
Lol, there is no way Wojak is going and Tenace was lucky to not be delisted last year.
 
Would love to see Gamble force his way into the side for Rd 1 (I told a fellow Cats fan a few weeks back he could be something of a dark horse) because he oozes that certain something that, dare I say, is marked with X

Whether he finds his way in or not is tough to call on as there are clearly a few guys that have put their hands up in the pre-season (Byrnes, Prismall and, to a lesser degree, Varcoe to name three others) but I do think Gamble may add something to an already dangerous forward set-up.

However, I get the feeling that Byrnes may get the nod for Rd 1.
 
I for one would love him in the side. Reminds me of a young Bernard Toohey. Adds far more versatility than Prismal and has that match winning factor with his pack marking and Goal kicking.:thumbsu:
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Wojo was BOG I thought in a couple of games last year. His disadvantage is that his skills aren't great - although they aren't terrible either - so once his speed is gone he'll struggle to hold his place I think. Still I didn't see any signs of that, if anything he seemed to get faster as the year went on.

Sometimes it'd be nice if he took an extra couple of steps to balance himself before kicking, especially when shooting at goal.
 
I'd love to see Vegas get a go in round 1, but is he a straight swap for Byrnes like everyone is intimating? He seems to be more of a leading forward than crumbing forward pocket/flanker like Byrnes is. I don't know that they would play the same role.

He has certainly earned a place, though.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom