Goodbye Nigel Smart

[spindoctor]

I think it's over. He didn't look good today, got towelled by Fevola.

I think it's time for him to go. Permanently.

 

[DaveW]

He got absolutely taken to pieces by Fevola.

And that kick in the dying minutes... Bombing away into a flooded forward line? What was he thinking?

 

[maccas_no1]

Tell him it's over and give him a farewell game in Rnd 22 He was never an option for Fevola should have played McGregor or Torney on Fevola.

 

[Russian]

Did anyone really expect Smart to do the job on Fevola if he turned up to play?

The Crows have lost at least two games this year because there is no full back. Play a back pocket/flanker at full back on a good full forward and you're in trouble.

 

[kirky]

Originally posted by DaveW
He got absolutely taken to pieces by Fevola.

And that kick in the dying minutes... Bombing away into a flooded forward line? What was he thinking?

Bombing away is what he has been doing his whole career. When was the last time you saw him deliver a stab pass to a player on the chest. It never happens, don't expect things that have never occured previously.

 

[spindoctor]

Originally posted by Russian
Did anyone really expect Smart to do the job on Fevola if he turned up to play?

The Crows have lost at least two games this year because there is no full back. Play a back pocket/flanker at full back on a good full forward and you're in trouble.

He USED to be very good at full-back...think 2002, when he towelled up the likes of Alastair Lynch.

Sadly, he doesn't have it anymore.

And even if he isn't good at stab passes, to not even try one in the last quarter, when he had plenty of time to line it up and the game was on the line is ****ing disgraceful.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by spindoctor
I think it's over. He didn't look good today, got towelled by Fevola.

I think it's time for him to go. Permanently.

Last week's game between South Adelaide and North Adelaide was on Fox Footy this morning and he looked out of his depth there.

If he looked second best against Tim(?) Hargraves then christ knows how he was gonna be a match for big Fev.

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

yes..on todays performance - Goodbye Nigel.

k
xx

 

[Carmelo Anthony]

It was a recipe for disaster. He hasnt played AFL football for a good month and a half, hes old has no pace..and Ayres puts him on the only forward that couldve won the game for Carlton.

RESULT = FEVOLA BOMBS 7 GOALS AND CROWETTES LOSE.

The crows it was obvious didnt respet the carlton footy club today thats why they lost. Smart back in the team, after getting an early lead starting playing around like arrogant pricks. Goakicking was an absolute joke, our midfield got flogged by a bunch of players not even their mothers know what their names are.

What a crap season, I cant wait till october.

 

[macca23]

The club has a bit to answer for IMO.

It was obvious to all but Nigel that he was fading away quickly last year, and at the end of the season the club should have privately encouraged/told him that at 34 his time was up.

They didn't, he's played on and a legend of the club - and he is a legend - now looks like a billy goat rather than the great player he once was, but no longer is.

Further to that we missed out on at least one if not two draft picks if Nigel had retired and room made in the salary cap.

Where to for Nigel now?

Back to the SANFL IMO. Earmark round 22, but no earlier, for Nigel to make his farewell to the supporters, and give him a big send off and thank you for a great career prior to the last 12 months.

 

[bigman]

From all reports Nigel's form in the SANFL was poor as it was today. I do not why we included him given the fact it was the perfect opportunity to play Watto.

AS soon as Hart went off we looked rudderless down back and the certainty we had last week was gone.

Unfortuntely we did not have a real replacement for Smarty when it was clear that Smarty was not up to the job. I would have thought that Hentschell could have been given an opportunity much earlier in the game, but it never occurred.

Mass was also badly towelled by Lappin. I thought that the coaching panels moves today were very ordinary, after a good one last week. Fevola and Lappin and Campo inspired the Carlton comeback.

The real blame for this loss must be sheeted home to the players. Too many bad misses for goal - Edwards and Stiffy the main offenders. We should have been six goals up at quarter time. You never give a sucker an easy break and we did that today.

 

[kirky]

Originally posted by bigman
The real blame for this loss must be sheeted home to the players. Too many bad misses for goal - Edwards and Stiffy the main offenders. We should have been six goals up at quarter time. You never give a sucker an easy break and we did that today.

We were 29 points up - ie 5 goals. What cost us was the second quarter and the lamentable coaching move of when Whitnall went into the ruck so did McGregor (ah smart move that when you have a ruckman). Pagan outcoached us again. You play your game and don't worry about the oppoistion - if Clarke or Hudson had have taken those ruck taps I'm sure that Carlton would not have gotten back into the game. A lamentable coaching performance by ALL of those in the box.

 

[tribey]

As far as I'm concerned the club needs an entire purge from top to bottom.

Ayres, Curran, Craig (reassign him to 100% the fitness aspect), Mickan, Fantasia... and get rid of John Reid while we're at it.

Then there's all the crap on our list that simply isn't up to AFL standard - stop giving chances to rubbish that has never had a good game, or has one decent game in every five, that is NOT AFL standard.

It's time we started again, fresh blood and new ideas are needed.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Russian
Did anyone really expect Smart to do the job on Fevola if he turned up to play?

The Crows have lost at least two games this year because there is no full back. Play a back pocket/flanker at full back on a good full forward and you're in trouble.

Spot on.

People and coaching staff for that matter must have realised by now that the days of Nigel Smart playing on a KPP are well and truely over. He can still be of some value playing on the flank BUT not as a key defender. We would have been better off playing someone like Hentschel on Fevola.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Well as soon as I heard Bassett was out I said I was going home I didnt and wish I did!

 

[ant]

Originally posted by dyertribe
As far as I'm concerned the club needs an entire purge from top to bottom.

Ayres, Curran, Craig (reassign him to 100% the fitness aspect), Mickan, Fantasia... and get rid of John Reid while we're at it.

Then there's all the crap on our list that simply isn't up to AFL standard - stop giving chances to rubbish that has never had a good game, or has one decent game in every five, that is NOT AFL standard.

It's time we started again, fresh blood and new ideas are needed.

Correct IMO. I think the pieces are there in some promising young players, the middle age group and most of the senior core still have some good years left. We need some good recruiting, someone new running the ship and a cleanout of the deadwood on our list. Must be done at the end of this season.

 

[-WWJD-]

The writing was on the wall at the latter end of last season. I still don't understand why he was encouraged to play on this year.

It was sad seeing a bloke that's been a club legend look so out of his depth at AFL level. Fevola owned him.

 

[Tas]

It is always sad to see a club legend just go for too long and end a great career looking like a hack. I hope he is not like Mick Martyn and refuse to accept reality.

Go out in glory I reckon.

Guys like Platten knew when their best was over and didn't wait until they needed to be wheeled out of the club in a wheelchair before accepting it.

Guys like him do not tarnish their playing record with several years of forgettable football tacked on just to reach personal milestones. If you do not reach them playing good football then you shouldn't reach them.

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

Nigel looked nervous yesterday - not sure why - other than even he knows he is on his last legs so to speak.

It is a tragedy so see hm go out like this. I was one who wanted him to play on this year...but I am now not sure I encourgaged the correct thing. Perhaps he should have gone out with Bicks last year?

We make decisions - not always the correct ones - and I reckon Nigel might be wishing he hung up the boots last year too.

k
xx

 

[spindoctor]

It's sad that one of our greatest players is sliding away so ungracefully...

 

[noddy]

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
Nigel looked nervous yesterday - not sure why - other than even he knows he is on his last legs so to speak.

It is a tragedy so see hm go out like this. I was one who wanted him to play on this year...but I am now not sure I encourgaged the correct thing. Perhaps he should have gone out with Bicks last year?

We make decisions - not always the correct ones - and I reckon Nigel might be wishing he hung up the boots last year too.

k
xx

Your right kb Nigel did look nervous & hesitant & completely out of sorts, in hindsight i bet he wished to high heaven that he could turn back the clock to last year & go out in style with Bicks.

For all those are pushing the barrow for Wayne Carey to play on next year i hope you are all having second thoughts.

Champion players such as Carey & Smart should be remembered for how they were in their prime not like yesterday when Nigel was made to look 2nd rate.

 

[Tas]

Originally posted by noddy
Champion players such as Carey & Smart should be remembered for how they were in their prime not like yesterday when Nigel was made to look 2nd rate.

Did Carey play bad?

From what I heard of the game the commentators here said he was playing okay.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Tas
Did Carey play bad?

From what I heard of the game the commentators here said he was playing okay.

NO He played OK. HIs last 5 or 6 games have been very good apart fromt he one against Collingwood wheer he was one again made to be the key in our forward line. When Carey is given a role of a roaming forward he is probably the most damaging in the competition in that role.

noddy, at this stage there is a significant difference between Smart's and Carey's situation. Last year Smart was blowing hot and cold. His second half of the year was very ordinary and he would have been dropped if not for his testimonal game which he started on the bench and didn't come on until just bfeor half time. Smart was struggling last year.

Carey so far has been playing the best footy he has for the AFC. There is still 11 games left in the season. If Carey falls away in the second half of the year then I would say he needs to retire. If he continues playing as well as he is ATM then I would leave the decision up to him.

I was one of only a handful of posters who wanted Smart to retire with Bicks. From memory, Jerome was another one and I think macca23 was also of this opinion.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by macca23
Where to for Nigel now?

Back to the SANFL IMO. Earmark round 22, but no earlier, for Nigel to make his farewell to the supporters, and give him a big send off and thank you for a great career prior to the last 12 months.

Yeah, no point playing Smart (til round 22) given we now need to look to the future.

Can't believe it took so long yesterday for the coaching staff to move Smart off Fevola. Sad way to kill of his career, as just doesn't have the pace of the mark anymore.

 

[Carmelo Anthony]

I say if Carey thinks he can go another year, then he should play next season. These youngsters like Shuback, Jericho, Watts, Hentschel and even McGregor can do with playing another year learning off the king. Smarts biggest problem is his pace at the moment, and Carey has done pretty well for us for 2 seasons with no pace at all. Carey greatest strengths right now are his smarts, and his body strength... I dont see them leaving him anytime soon! He could very well still be able to kick 40 goals next year and teach the youngsters a trick or two.....or 5.