Herald sun Article

[nut]

Well it was by Mike sheahan.

Dream Team

Cameron Gasper Kellaway

Hilton Holland Campbell


Bowden Johnson Tivendale


Fiora Richo Blumfield


Rodan Ottens Krakker


Stafford Cog's Chaffey



Not to bad. But Fiora will be a Starter.

mine

B ZANTUCK GASPER AK

HB CHAFFEY HOLLAND CAMPBELL

C FIORA COUGHLAN BOWDEN

HF TIVENDALE OTTENS JOHNSON

F RICHO HALL MCGRATH (smokey)

RUCKS STAFF BLUMFIELD RODAN

IC. KRAKKER NEWMAN CAMERON HILTON

EMERG: DRAGGA PETTIFER HYDE VARDY DUNC.

 

[CJH]

I had a bit of a rant about this at 'The Name That Shall Not Be Spoken' ....

Have you ever paid real close attention to what he writes?

He is apparently one of the more senior football journalists around but has managed to achiev this pinnacle by sprouting nothing more than repeated generalastions and common wisdoms. There is no in depth detailed analysis and plenty of high level subjective drivel.

Even for all their faults, even Connolly and Wilson at least get down and dirty and try and find their own facts (usually at the expense of the Kangaroos). How long has it been since ****e Mike wrote a biting expose based on his own research?

Take todays Richmond offering for example.

Quote:
For three or four years, Melbourne was lampooned fot its decision to take Travis Johnstone ... At the end of the 2002, Johnstone had gone past Ottens for value for their respective teams


I have issues with this comment on 2 levels. Firstly ...

Common wisdom has it that Ottens had a poor 2002, especially after his 2001. This is a line often pushed through the mainstream media, which really is just one big mutual appreciation society.

IMV, Ottens was overrated in 2001. Shielded by Benny Gale in the ruck and playing second fiddle to a rampant Richo in the forward line. Anyone who is 200cm tall and a reasonable mark would have done well.

Fast Forward to Ottens in 2002. Richo was injured for half the season. Benny was retired. Stafford isn't really a ruckman's arseh*le. As a result, Otto was thrown into the ruck and then thrown forward, trying to fill 2 positions at the one time. This was never going to work.

But take a close look at the time spent in the ruck. While still quite spindly as a 21 year old, he still was able to better than hold his own against all but the very top ruckmen in the competition. This is moreso due to physical inferiority rather than skill or talent.

The point - Ottens showed a lot more last year when he hard to do the hard stuff for himself than what he did the year before when it was served to him on a platter.

Which leads into the second point. Johnstone more valuable than Ottens? Even allowing for Mikes view of the world through Red and Blue coloured glasses, this is plain bollocks.

I like the way Johnstone goes about his football, especially now he appears to have shaken off the niggles. The way he moves and delivers the ball with those loping strides and raking trajectories - not unlike a Leon Cameron. He does have the ability to move the ball forward with precision and will often cut teams apart with this delivery.

Nonetheless, I cannot see how an outside, running ball - carrier can ever be more important than a dominant ruckman - cum ruck rover - cum key position forwards.

Who would you be more concerned about matching up on - Ottens or Johnstone?

Quote:
Coughlan finished third in the Best and Fairest from 16 games; more an idictment on the bulk of the senior players rather than an idication he is another Geoff Raines


Is their any among you that doensn't have a good opinion of what Coughlan did last year? Do anyone of you not think that he would be able to hold his own in any other teams midfield?

Coughlan finished 3rd in the Best and Fairest because he IS better than the bulk of the senior players. No idictments necessary.

And what's with the Raines comparison? Coughlan would never be a Geoff Raines kind of player - a more suitable comparison would be - say - Brett Ratten or even Mark Riccutio.

Quote:
Rodan is exciting ... but as he has found ... playing as a small forward is the toughest task in the game


If Mike paid any attention to the detail invovled, he would know that Rodan's future in the game certainly isn't as a permanent small forward. Once his stamina levels pick up, he is a monty for an on-ball role. In fact, with his flashy play and crisp delivery, maybe he is more suited to the Geoff Raines tag?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

well said and i totally agree chris.johstone while no doubt he has the abilty and is now finally making his mark there is no way in hell you can say he has passed otto in any shape of form just by one good season.
both are different type of players.
as for his lack of acknowledgment towards what a fine season coughlan had just shows mike sheehan is an overated toe rag.

maybe someone should take mike to task on the weekend.

cheers!