Grover

[paul8241]

Now look at this thread, now that's a kiss arse thread that makes me puke, sure Grover would even puke if he read it. I guess he'll be able to run like the wind, be as light as a feather this year with all the wind everyone's blown up his ass. Don't get me wrong, i like Grover, but people, it is not an obituary, everyone doesn't need to say how he's a fine 100% effort player, a gentleman, that they respect the fact that he's never taken a piss in the 1/4 time huddle or taken a dump that made people dry reach.

He's a spare parts player, and sometimes as he'd agree, the part doesn't fit. The older he is, the less parts he can play. He is too big now to play on small players, to slow to play on fast players, but can still wrestle gorillas. Just a shame there aren't many gorillas in the midst now, they're becoming extinct, too slow to outrun the poachers bullets.

 

[estibador]

Now look at this thread, now that's a kiss arse thread that makes me puke, sure Grover would even puke if he read it. I guess he'll be able to run like the wind, be as light as a feather this year with all the wind everyone's blown up his ass. Don't get me wrong, i like Grover, but people, it is not an obituary, everyone doesn't need to say how he's a fine 100% effort player, a gentleman, that they respect the fact that he's never taken a piss in the 1/4 time huddle or taken a dump that made people dry reach.

Did you get lost on your way to the useless banter and sledging thread?

 

[paul8241]

I guess the biggest problem for Grover is that he isn't dangerous on the rebound to make his opponent accountable enough to have them play him close. So he has to keep finding them for the whole game.

 

[paul8241]

Did you get lost on your way to the useless banter and sledging thread?

Maybe

 

[E Shed]

I guess the biggest problem for Grover is that he isn't dangerous on the rebound to make his opponent accountable enough to have them play him close. So he has to keep finding them for the whole game.

And on the other hand he is an excellent reader of the ball. On his good days he takes many strong overhead saving marks after reading it better than anyone else.

 

[paul8241]

And on the other hand he is an excellent reader of the ball. On his good days he takes many strong overhead saving marks after reading it better than anyone else.

He does, just a shame the pace of the game isolates so many of the veterans from being able to extend their careers these days.

 

[DockerLand1]

He does, just a shame the pace of the game isolates so many of the veterans from being able to extend their careers these days.

Isnt it funny that teams with strong coaches and decent lists seem to be able to extend the playing lives of defenders. The Pies have Presti, and had Wakelin. Both very serviceable but not great. The key is creating an additional defender eg Maxfield to assist in taking the load off and then as an avenue out of defence.

Until recently I had not seen much in the way of assistance for our boys in the backline for a long time. I am hoping that with the inclusion of Broughton a fit Hayden, Taz and Elvis we will be able to rebound a lot more than we have in the past.

Up until that point it had been a horrible mish mash of man on man and an awful attempt at a zone. The Midfield must also take some of hte heat off, having Crowley and Palmer back will be a blessing and lift us greatly in that area. Another pre season for Haze should also make him even stronger. The key for Freo will come down to disposal, finally as a team we are getting players into the team that have skills AND speed. Not one or the other.

All this bodes well for Grover, I seriously expect him to be able to perform at a higher level because the team will be performing at a higher level.

2010 will be a better year for Freo and in turn Grover. An excellent servant of the club.

 

[paul8241]

Isnt it funny that teams with strong coaches and decent lists seem to be able to extend the playing lives of defenders. The Pies have Presti, and had Wakelin. Both very serviceable but not great. The key is creating an additional defender eg Maxfield to assist in taking the load off and then as an avenue out of defence.

Until recently I had not seen much in the way of assistance for our boys in the backline for a long time. I am hoping that with the inclusion of Broughton a fit Hayden, Taz and Elvis we will be able to rebound a lot more than we have in the past.

Up until that point it had been a horrible mish mash of man on man and an awful attempt at a zone. The Midfield must also take some of hte heat off, having Crowley and Palmer back will be a blessing and lift us greatly in that area. Another pre season for Haze should also make him even stronger. The key for Freo will come down to disposal, finally as a team we are getting players into the team that have skills AND speed. Not one or the other.

All this bodes well for Grover, I seriously expect him to be able to perform at a higher level because the team will be performing at a higher level.

2010 will be a better year for Freo and in turn Grover. An excellent servant of the club.

Here's hoping that's a good prediction for 2010

 

[theGav56]

The recasting Grover as a forward early last season was one of the more bizarre notions we have seen coming from a coaching panel.

Murphy in the midfield was memorable too, but at least they tried something. But having just extended his contract I had thought Harvey may have been considering Murphy as a forward.

 

[Wee Jessies]

The recasting Grover as a forward early last season was one of the more bizarre notions we have seen coming from a coaching panel. Whether this was responsible for Grover's slide in form for the whole season I do not know. He definitely looked like a player on the slippery slopes though. In our final game at home however he appeared to have recovered some of his zest and looked more like his old self. Could easily be his last season coming up though.

I know this is a dying thread but I noticed in the stats that based on most people's best 22, we would be likely excluding our best tackler and the bloke who took the most marks last year for the club.

Who took the most marks Pav, Sandi, McPharlin, Tarrant....nope Super Grover. Most tackles someone playing inside midfield Schammer, Hase ...nope Solomon.

Now I know lies and statistics and all that but geez pretty tough call to driop your best tackler and marking option.

 

[FarmersWife]

I named my dog after him. Absolute champ. Love his shit stirring ability. The old Gerhig battles were pretty sweet when he got the big man fired up.

In my opinion, the negative criticism that he has copped this year is due to how poorly we played as a team. Players like McPharlin and Grover looked poor, because they were sacrificing their games for the team. Tarrant did great because he was given a simple job. While I loved seeing Tarrant doing over opposition teams best forwards week in and week out, he wasn't involved in much other than his direct opponent.

As the team continues to improve over the next two years, playes like Grover and McPharlin will look better, extending their playing careers a couple of years on top of what it looks like now.

 

[sonson]

Grover has only ever been a solid player, at best. To those who are putting him on a pedestal and admiring his outstanding work ethic, dont you think that's part of the reason why we remain in the myre?

Idolising blokes who try hard, but havent got any talent?

I think Harves showed he had lost faith in Grover as a back when he decided to try him up forward, unlike the Tarrant experiment it didnt come off.

Grover is and has been nothing special, I admire the fact that he has gotten the best out of himself but continually playing blokes of his ilk is the reason we've only ever made two finals series.

 

[believe_it]

The reality of the situation is that in his years at Freo he has been asked to do a role that is perhaps beyond his natural ability. As a key defender often playing on the big guns I have always felt he has struggled mainly due to a lack of size . He's only a touch over 6'2 and always just seemed a bit undersized as a holding defender.Tarrant this year has shown what it is to be at the next level in that job.

Grover sure is somebody who has always given his all . Nobody can knock him for that . He has been a loyal servant to the club and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

 

[estibador]

Grover has only ever been a solid player, at best. To those who are putting him on a pedestal and admiring his outstanding work ethic, dont you think that's part of the reason why we remain in the myre?

I think the main reason we've been stuck in the mire all these years is because we haven't had enough players with outstanding work ethic.

 

[dugrene]

Murphy in the midfield was memorable too, but at least they tried something. But having just extended his contract I had thought Harvey may have been considering Murphy as a forward.

The recasting Grover as a forward early last season was one of the more bizarre notions we have seen coming from a coaching panel.

There is a lot about '09 that you would not hope is part of the master plan. Not some whimsy of the coaching staff.

 

[legitimatic]

I think the main reason we've been stuck in the mire all these years is because we haven't had enough players with outstanding work ethic.

Couldn't agree more esti, it's pretty obvious really.

 

[E Shed]

I think the main reason we've been stuck in the mire all these years is because we haven't had enough players with outstanding work ethic.

Great post. Our newer players like Palmer Hill etc are showing the way already in this area.

I would also disagree with the premise that Grover is just a solid player. He's maintained a standard of excellence over a long period in a mostly poor team.
In his prime would get a game in any team in the league.

 

[Gooseman]

Grover has only ever been a solid player, at best. To those who are putting him on a pedestal and admiring his outstanding work ethic, dont you think that's part of the reason why we remain in the myre?

Idolising blokes who try hard, but havent got any talent?

I think Harves showed he had lost faith in Grover as a back when he decided to try him up forward, unlike the Tarrant experiment it didnt come off.

Grover is and has been nothing special, I admire the fact that he has gotten the best out of himself but continually playing blokes of his ilk is the reason we've only ever made two finals series.

Bit harsh on the haven't got any talent, maybe it depends on your definition of talent.........

And on the experiment up forward, it wasn't like we had a number of key forwards last year and Harvey thought Grover was a better option than the rest of them. What were his options?? Campbell (average), Murphy (battling), McPharlin (used a bit), Pavlich (mainly midfeild), Johnson (injured most of the year) why not try Grover who was left Dodd?? Someone has to play up there.

My whole point of this thread was not to blow smoke up Grovers backside or make him out as some messiah but to just throw a bit of recognition around about a guy who has been around for a long time and deserves a bit of credit for his efforts. They are rarely talked about by us experts at bigfooty or in the media.