Harley's future?

[year of the cat]

Aside from the latest finger injury I was very concerned watching the bulldogs game at Tom's lack of mobility. Grant you he was matched against an inappropriate smaller running forward in Johnson, but he just looked slow and "bulky" to me. I wonder whether he has spent too much time in the gym and has lost some pace and agility as a consequence? Unless matched up with a slower tall forward such as Whitnall, I wonder what his on field role will be this year? The modern tall backman is much quicker and more mobile than Tom.

 

[darren forssman]

i think he has probably lost agility with all the soft tissue injuries and other injuries. probably worried if he puts in hard yards he will fall apart.

 

[GeeCat]

Definitely slower, in many aspects too.

Lost pace, agility, slower in reading the ball flight, and slower in decision making and disposal.

He should no longer be an option for the quicker, yet smaller, mismatch-type forwards.

 

[year of the cat]

I agree, he seemed to misjudge the ball flight on more than one occasion. Missing another 6 weeks is hardly beneficial to giving him much needed match practice.

 

[BigBadCam]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305924&highlight=harley

Looks like everyone saw this coming.

 

[worms_mcallum]

I think Harley is awfully unlucky with injuries. I'm a big Harley fan and hoped that he would be on the park this season to lead the cats. Time now for Mooney to step up, the captaincy may be just what he needs.

 

[Sttew]

Aside from the latest finger injury I was very concerned watching the bulldogs game at Tom's lack of mobility. Grant you he was matched against an inappropriate smaller running forward in Johnson, but he just looked slow and "bulky" to me. I wonder whether he has spent too much time in the gym and has lost some pace and agility as a consequence? Unless matched up with a slower tall forward such as Whitnall, I wonder what his on field role will be this year? The modern tall backman is much quicker and more mobile than Tom.

Let's face it - the Bulldogs made most of the Cats look slow.

 

[Rustybugles]

It wasn't just the Bulldogs' speed - we were poor for most of the day and they made us look stupid. But Tom Harley's uncharacteristic fumbles and slowness worried me more than anything else - kept the binoculars on him and he was so out of form that Scarlett's fumbles looked less of a concern. As Captain, we need him on the ground - King was in the coaches' box or on the bench for most of his capataincy.

 

[carn_the_cattas]

Harley's poor game could be related to his finger injury. He wasn't doing too bad early on.

 

[Budda 230]

I've also noticed that Harley hasn't been as good in pack situations since his 2005 injuries. He used to have such sticky hands, but doesn't seem to have the confidence anymore to bash and crash a pack.

Its a real shame because the defence is so much more effective when he is at his best.