houl a han

[woodsmen]

with pagans decision to keep houlahan which was against alot of members decisions i believe he must now play him in the forward line. he has frustrated us many times with his hatred of the tough defensive style of game so it is about time for pagan to accept he will never do those things and play him up forward where he can do some special things.

now this move will leave a vacant rebounding defender which jordan russel now has the opputunity to make his own! If by chance this doesnt work out Andrew Walker is another option to play as the running defender.

What do you guys think? also will Hartlett have any chance of craking the seniors next year?

 

[Chemical]

Don't know why he has being playing back. I believe he should be playing a HFF position.

Bring back the chainsaw!

 

[elgranto]

he should be rotated through the midfield. I think when given a major challange, like against port adelaide this year, he lifts. his skills are as good as anyone else at the club and fevs and co love when they see hoops kicking the ball to him.

 

[Andyt30]

hope fev will be at his best now he's had the operation on his Groin, maby it will free up his run, no point struggling with a goin injury
cheers

 

[audas]

Does anyone remener that time Hoops ran 30 meters ++ down the wing and kicked a grubber from fifty.....missed by the hair on a bees dck. TWO minutes later he ran 30 ++ meters down the wing same grubber, bouncy kick, from fifty, same spot on the boundry, this time it went through. AMAZING play. Really was inspiring.

What happened ?

 

[WTTF]

Personally I'd play him on a HFF, with Lappin & Russell on HBF. Everyone acknowledges that Houlihan has goos skills, so why not put him where those skills will benefit the side most up forward?

It would be a change of mind set for him. instead of having to get 20 possessions a week on a HBF setting things up, he's only have to get 10-15 possessions on a HFF with a instruction to either kick goals or set Fevola up.

I'm sure Fevola would appreciate being on the end of a few of his passes each week.

 

[Tuppaman]

Houla always has a few clangers with disposal by foot per game, at least if they are on the forward line they dont hurt as much as down back.

If playing decent footy, he is a very viable choice for midfield rotation

 

[Kooley]

best game for him in 2005 was in the draw against PA when he played in the midfield. he was surprisingly hard it that night. actually it was wiggins best game as well.

 

[irish_setanta]

Agree that houlihan needs to move forward, as for hartlett he needs to play seniors this year, if he cant crack a game in the weakest team after 2 years then he needs to be moved on, but in saying that i hope he does get a game this year because i think he has something to offer us.Same goes for russell, its time denis and the match committee gave these young guys a go.

 

[btdg]

Houlihan's been in defence to try and develop his overall skills. That seems to have failed as he just doesn't seem to have it in him to do those defensive 1-percenters. Not a criticism necessarily, it just isn't his game. Which leaves him as an attacking midfielder, or a small forward.

As a midfielder, he can only really fill that Camporeale "I'm ignoring my opponent and running ahead of the ball to kick goals" position cos he doesn't run both ways well. Problem is, we have a host of other guys in midfield positions who can do that equally well (at the moment), and are more accountable - Simpson and Stevens the obvious ones, but Waite should see more time there, Russell, Walker, and in future Murphy as well. It might be worth trying to develop him as a midfielder, but it'll be a frustrating process and I think its better to simply ignore him there.

Can he play as a forward? No doubt he can, but do we have a spot for him there? This year we'd surely be looking at a 3-big, 3-small forward setup, with Fevola, Whitnall and Kennedy/Deluca in the air, and Fisher, Waite and Betts on the ground. We need the bigs to stretch defences an dmaximise our ball - and with Bower, Edwards and Saddington hopefully Whitnall can stay out of defence. Fisher is clearly ahead of Houlihan on the ground, and Betts provides the x-factor. The only ways Houlihan could play forward seem to be if a) Waite becomes a full-time midfielder/running defender, which is possible but unlikely, or b) we get injuries.

There might be a spot for him as a bench guy capable of pinch-hitting in the midfield or in attack. But I reckon it might just be better to send him off to the Bullants to try and develop his game, rather than leaving him in the big-time where its too easy to exploit his faults. Pity, cos he's an exciting player to watch

 

[stokesy]

Does anyone remener that time Hoops ran 30 meters ++ down the wing and kicked a grubber from fifty.....missed by the hair on a bees dck. TWO minutes later he ran 30 ++ meters down the wing same grubber, bouncy kick, from fifty, same spot on the boundry, this time it went through. AMAZING play. Really was inspiring.

What happened ?

Chainsaw?

 

[BIG_RED]

Agree that houlihan needs to move forward, as for hartlett he needs to play seniors this year, if he cant crack a game in the weakest team after 2 years then he needs to be moved on, but in saying that i hope he does get a game this year because i think he has something to offer us.Same goes for russell, its time denis and the match committee gave these young guys a go.

I dont think the match committee are not letting the young guys play because they are purely not good enough, the kids need time to grow and adapt, you cant just throw them in the big league, it could ruin them. Much like walker even though he had a cracker first game i believe he needed to be nurtured more in the bullants. So id rather they build players like russell and hartlett up in the bullants while carlton as a side also need time to grow that way when we are climbing the ladder we have a stronger young list.

 

[bibi01]

walker would be a good option on HBF,
let him hame HBF his own then move him inot the midfield once his confidence and consistency is up

 

[Chemical]

Does anyone remener that time Hoops ran 30 meters ++ down the wing and kicked a grubber from fifty.....missed by the hair on a bees dck. TWO minutes later he ran 30 ++ meters down the wing same grubber, bouncy kick, from fifty, same spot on the boundry, this time it went through. AMAZING play. Really was inspiring.

What happened ?

Essendon in the rain. On the boundary and drills it . Chainsaw

 

[Blue70]

with pagans decision to keep houlahan which was against alot of members decisions i believe he must now play him in the forward line. he has frustrated us many times with his hatred of the tough defensive style of game so it is about time for pagan to accept he will never do those things and play him up forward where he can do some special things.

now this move will leave a vacant rebounding defender which jordan russel now has the opputunity to make his own! If by chance this doesnt work out Andrew Walker is another option to play as the running defender.

What do you guys think? also will Hartlett have any chance of craking the seniors next year?

This season will be make or break for Hoops and he knows it. Pagan will play him midfield forward. In my opinion this is his natural position as it allows him to use his skills and creativity in an attacking way and will ensure that there is improved delivery to the forwards.

 

[Muji]

Can't forget that Essendon game, very nice goal.

 

[HBF]

IMO, Houlihan is best suited to the HFF, along with Waite and Fisher. IMO, Waite will move more into the midfield next year, depending on fitness, thus allowing Houlihan to play exclusively as a HFF.

Not sure about Walker on a HBF, he is much more suited to a wing with his pace.

Perhaps this could be our team for Round 1 next year:

Backs: Carrazzo Livingston Teague
H-Backs Lappin Thornton Saddington
Centres: Simpson Stevens Walker
H-Forwards: Waite Whitnall Houlihan
Forwards: Betts Fevola Fisher
Followers: French Scotland Koutoufides
I/C: McLaren Murphy Bentick Blackwell