Gumby pick 55

[wirra44]

Really looking forward too seeing scotty play for you guys, hopefully he can cement a position in your forward line and stay injury free, a very talented player when up and goin

 

[manpurple]

I think some posters are falling into the sentimentality trap with Kepler. His knee was operated in in late April. I would be surprised if he is ready for selection at the start of the H & A season. He will be 28 in a couple of weeks and his knees seemed dodgy before his injury - despite the fact that he could evade speeding bullets.

Our list spots are so valuable that having him, Griffin and Morabito all waiting to be match fit will put strain on our list from the start of the season.

In 2013 he played 5 games and given our key forward shortage it would have been hoped that he would be a suitable answer. He averaged 10 disposals and 2.6 marks and 1 and a 1/2 goals a game. Whilst he did get 3 goals in his one full game without Pav, I am not convinced that he is our best backup solution. Tabs, in his rookie season, played 4 games and averaged 7 possessions and 2.8 marks. Further, Keps averaged one tackle, Tabs 2.2. With another preseason, he may be the more useful player. From an economical perspective, a draft player would probably be a cheaper option.

I have loved watching Keps over the years but the reality is that we have become a club which is willing to make the hard decisions. Do not be surprised if that in Keps, we have another example.

By My calcs we only need one to go and Mello wants to. I would think that its a Roberton situation there for us. But that means that we keep Kep on the list and draft 3.

 

[Kunna17]

jesus just realised -
Pav = 1st Defender
Gumby = 2nd Defender
Mayne = 3rd Defender

Sandi forward with Clarke/Griff rucking will create nightmares for opposition teams!
Tall blokes cant stop him, imagine our back line vs forward line in this order you get -
Pav = Mcpharlin
Gumby = Johno
Mayne = Dawson (CHanges to Ibbo due to logic)
Sandi = Ibbo (Changes to Dawson due to logic)
Sylvia = Duffman
Ballas = Spurr

A couplf of those match-ups i feel pretty damn comftorable looking at, no disrespect to the defenders but forward line can create some mismatches there.

Like the looks of Mayne
Sylvia
and SANDI!
Ballas to a lesser extent (Pace)

Ultimately Mayne will play on that 4th defender quite a lot, for them in terms of that's where he slots into the forward line, for us - he can limit there run off and make them accountable.

West Coast Backline (Off Memory)
Pav = Mckenzie
Gumby = Glass
Mayne = Hurn
Sandi = Schofield
Sylvia = Waters
Ballas = ____

Sylvia can also force accountability but play a good defensive game for us also im thinking.
Sandi will dominate schofield in the air.
Press still has potential to have strong effect, Gumby can run - even if he's lost his pace he's fit and can run well for a big fella.
Sylvia should add a fair bit to the press as he gives added pace.
Think we may need to push one player further in to counter for Sandi's lack of pace but both he and Pav bought in and laid some strong tackles late this year, exciting times next year are!! As much as anything to find out the structure.

 

[OzBomber]

Gumby

You guys are a great bunch, treat him well, please Docker's fans.

 

[Arcassius]

Keplertyne

Oh My Darling Ballantyne

Still not sure who's lovechild he is

 

[Ripper]

Keplertyne

Oh My Darling Ballantyne

Still not sure who's lovechild he is

Lol they are all from the same general vicinity .

 

[mike91]

Feeling very relieved this went though today. Would have hated to have the uncertainty of the psd hanging over everyone involved. I remember an interview with Gumby before he played his first game against Freo at subi. He said how weird and hard it was going to be cos he had grown up supporting Freo. So like Jono Griffin - he's 'come home' and just to add the romantic twist to it... Make his childhood dream come true.

 

[Happy Daze]

RE: his back, pretty sure its not that much of an issue now. He basically just went undiagnosed for years for a certain condition. Once they worked out what was going on and operated accordingly he's been much better. His best days are definitely ahead of him. Sorry he's leaving us - has super-elite endurance (talking NRoo sort of stuff) and if given a clean run at a mark is almost unstoppable. Ball below his knees isn't great but its not bad either - probably from all those years with a bad back. TBH I think he'll be a star for the Dockers - super pickup for a late round pick. Good luck Scott, hope you provide the Dockers with frequent highlights in coming years (just not against us, please).

 

[Ripper]

RE: his back, pretty sure its not that much of an issue now. He basically just went undiagnosed for years for a certain condition. Once they worked out what was going on and operated accordingly he's been much better. His best days are definitely ahead of him. Sorry he's leaving us - has super-elite endurance (talking NRoo sort of stuff) and if given a clean run at a mark is almost unstoppable. Ball below his knees isn't great but its not bad either - probably from all those years with a bad back. TBH I think he'll be a star for the Dockers - super pickup for a late round pick. Good luck Scott, hope you provide the Dockers with frequent highlights in coming years (just not against us, please).

We are "due" to win one or four against your lot.

 

[ChimpaWompa]

Let's just hope this Gambleton pays off

 

[Happy Daze]

We are "due" to win one or four against your lot.

We were on drugs when we won those and you couldn't beat us, so don't hold your breath.

 

[Wee Jessies]

RE: his back, pretty sure its not that much of an issue now. He basically just went undiagnosed for years for a certain condition. Once they worked out what was going on and operated accordingly he's been much better. His best days are definitely ahead of him. Sorry he's leaving us - has super-elite endurance (talking NRoo sort of stuff) and if given a clean run at a mark is almost unstoppable. Ball below his knees isn't great but its not bad either - probably from all those years with a bad back. TBH I think he'll be a star for the Dockers - super pickup for a late round pick. Good luck Scott, hope you provide the Dockers with frequent highlights in coming years (just not against us, please).

Thanks most of us feel the same way about Michie for Melbourne, I think the additions for Essendon are pretty solid considering the lack of picks.

 

[Spoken4]

They arent going to suspend anybody, they can't prove that anybody at Essendon took any banned substances. All the AFL knew is that Hirdy and the boys were being gung ho with their injections program but if they had of had any evidence of doping Hird would of copped a lifetime ban to save the image of the game and ASADA would have moved by now. Hird and the club fought it so hard because they knew that nobody could prove that there was any doping happening. ASADA will be hoping more evidence comes to light and that's why they won't say that they won't charge a player.


Anyway re. Gumbleton, all I can think is that Zac Clarke has a much nicer highlight reel and will probably not be on our list after next year if Pav and Sandi play on and maybe even if they don't. I really don't see Gumby as being better than Kep or Clarke, I hope I'm completely wrong though.

Clarke ain't going anywhere. He is playing in a side that is a premiership contender, and he will play plenty of games next year. Should be number 1 ruck by 2015.

 

[PantaloonRazorblade]

Gumby!

He was once a little green slab of clay. Gumby!
You should see what Gumby can do today. Gumby!
He can walk into any book, with his pony pal Pokey, too.
If you've got a heart then Gumby's a part of you.

*sigh* the memories

You know, I always preferred this theme song...

 

[Dockernut]

You know, I always preferred this theme song...

Haha well done!

 

[Wigarus]

I think some posters are falling into the sentimentality trap with Kepler. His knee was operated in in late April. I would be surprised if he is ready for selection at the start of the H & A season. He will be 28 in a couple of weeks and his knees seemed dodgy before his injury - despite the fact that he could evade speeding bullets.

Our list spots are so valuable that having him, Griffin and Morabito all waiting to be match fit will put strain on our list from the start of the season.

In 2013 he played 5 games and given our key forward shortage it would have been hoped that he would be a suitable answer. He averaged 10 disposals and 2.6 marks and 1 and a 1/2 goals a game. Whilst he did get 3 goals in his one full game without Pav, I am not convinced that he is our best backup solution. Tabs, in his rookie season, played 4 games and averaged 7 possessions and 2.8 marks. Further, Keps averaged one tackle, Tabs 2.2. With another preseason, he may be the more useful player. From an economical perspective, a draft player would probably be a cheaper option.

I have loved watching Keps over the years but the reality is that we have become a club which is willing to make the hard decisions. Do not be surprised if that in Keps, we have another example.

Those stats are skewed because against Essendon he played down back after McPharlin got concussed. Also he took a pretty nasty knock from memory and probably would have been subbed if McPharlin hadn't already been and against Richmond he tore his ACL.

In the three games he played as a forward and didn't get injured he kicked 2, 2 and 3. I think we would be mad to get rid of him this year.

 

[Righteo]

Keps was a decent foil for us up forward and handy in that he could give Sandi a chop out in the ruck but he'll be nothing more than depth next year. I'm having a hard enough time trying to think what we're gonna do about Griffin if he ends up recovering to a level similar to which we saw this year (as in pretty bloody good).

 

[Rob]

Knowing our luck Gumby will be penalised with a 2 year ban from ASADA

True but the lulz with the team Essendon will have to field will be epic.

 

[Ripper]

Let's Go Freo!!!

 

[Wigarus]

Keps was a decent foil for us up forward and handy in that he could give Sandi a chop out in the ruck but he'll be nothing more than depth next year. I'm having a hard enough time trying to think what we're gonna do about Griffin if he ends up recovering to a level similar to which we saw this year (as in pretty bloody good).

And yet this year we used every big man currently on our list.

I don't hold much hope in any of Pav, Kepler, Gumbleton or Sandilands to be able to play the whole year.

I hope they do but they probably won't.

 

[Righteo]

And yet this year we used every big man currently on our list.

I don't hold much hope in any of Pav, Kepler, Gumbleton or Sandilands to be able to play the whole year.

I hope they do but they probably won't.

So you're agreeing he's a depth player then? FWIW I was agreeing with your original point that he's definitely worth retaining even if he isn't best 22 because as you say injuries are inevitable, particularly to our big men.

 

[Outshined]

Welcome aboard Gumby, now help win us a Premiership.

 

[Kepfan]

Soo we have got essendons 2004 and 2007 first round picks and all we had to give up is a pick in the fifties?

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Soo we have got essendons 2004 and 2007 first round picks and all we had to give up is a pick in the fifties?

Just a pick in the 50s sounds so impersonal. I refer to it as the sacrifice of Michie.

 

[go_the_dockers]

jesus just realised -
Pav = 1st Defender
Gumby = 2nd Defender
Sandi\Clarke - 3rd Defender
Mayne = 4th Defender

Sandi forward with Clarke/Griff rucking will create nightmares for opposition teams!
Tall blokes cant stop him, imagine our back line vs forward line in this order you get -
Pav = Mcpharlin
Gumby = Johno
Mayne = Dawson (CHanges to Ibbo due to logic)
Sandi = Ibbo (Changes to Dawson due to logic)
Sylvia = Duffman
Ballas = Spurr

A couple of those match-ups i feel pretty damn comftorable looking at, no disrespect to the defenders but forward line can create some mismatches there.

Like the looks of Mayne
Sylvia
and SANDI!
Ballas to a lesser extent (Pace)

Ultimately Mayne will play on that 4th defender quite a lot, for them in terms of that's where he slots into the forward line, for us - he can limit there run off and make them accountable.

West Coast Backline (Off Memory)
Pav = Mckenzie
Gumby = Glass
Mayne = Hurn
Sandi = Schofield
Sylvia = Waters
Ballas = ____

Sylvia can also force accountability but play a good defensive game for us also im thinking.
Sandi will dominate schofield in the air.
Press still has potential to have strong effect, Gumby can run - even if he's lost his pace he's fit and can run well for a big fella.
Sylvia should add a fair bit to the press as he gives added pace.
Think we may need to push one player further in to counter for Sandi's lack of pace but both he and Pav bought in and laid some strong tackles late this year, exciting times next year are!! As much as anything to find out the structure.

In Bold, but do agree.