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Player Watch Jack Buller

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West has had a year in the system. Cox and Checkers are gone. Buller was recruited because there was a need and the club see him as a more experienced and physically player. Howes was on the edge of the cliff during the post season period. To bring in West and give him a block of games over Buller would be a huge turnaround I would be shocked to see. Buller needs the clubs support to develop and the club should not give in to constant switching.
Edit: Buller is a player who may have limitations but he is what we have here and now. I would like an established forward to come in end of year.
 
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manicpie said:
The problem with Buller is that he'll never be a first string FF. He needs a quality FF around him. I'm hoping we took him with the knowledge King will be here next year.
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He isn’t a FF. Should be the roaming tall forward. Does he have the athleticism?
 
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I would love to see his 1on1 stats for the first two rounds. I reckon he hasn't lost many, granted he hasn't won many either though at least he's halving and bringing the ball to ground.

Two things we can't fault him for are his attack on the ball and his tackling. Both have been good.

He's played two games, both against elite defensive teams so I'm giving him a long rope here. The issue is our forward entries are atrocious.
 
WanderingDude said:
West has had a year in the system. Cox and Checkers are gone. Buller was recruited because there was a need and the club see him as a more experienced and physically player. Howes was on the edge of the cliff during the post season period. To bring in West and give him a block of games over Buller would be a huge turnaround I would be shocked to see. Buller needs the clubs support to develop and the club should not give in to constant switching.
Edit: Buller is a player who may have limitations but he is what we have here and now. I would like an established forward to come in end of year.
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Agree with most of this (think Howes has a bit more to offer than your description however), the thing is Buller was brought to the club to lend height and contest to the forward line but too many people are claiming he's supposedly the "Checkers" replacement....he's not, he's the Mason Cox replacement and as such should be being judged on those characteristics and stats.

Losing Checker's competitive spirit and huge body means that the rest of the forward line now has to compete harder, something they've struggled to do in the first two weeks, but to blame Buller for it is simply too convenient. Anyone who watched Checker's game for the Dees on the weekend saw his traits first hand. He competed hard and took all the pressure away from Van Rooyen and Fritch...it was a typical Checker's game. Whether he can continue to play at that level when the injuries mount up is the gamble Melbourne have taken on with him for the next 3 years, but you can see immediately what his strength and forward craft do for a struggling forward half.

West has the size and ability to play the Checker's role albeit does anyone have that same combative nature and willingness to sacrifice their own body as Brody Mihocek has displayed in the past 8 years? I hope that young West does indeed possess the courage and the stamina required to play that Key Forward role. If he can it will allay many of the fears currently being expressed by many of the Magpie brethren.

I too believe that a key forward should be on our shopping list again this season ( as it has been most of my lifetime!) but in 2026 at the very least we need as a supporter base to accept that players of the ilk of Buller, McStay, Membrey, West, Howes and Steen are going to play roles as our key forwards. How they're utilised and how their strengths are best developed will be an interesting watch.

As always, our early draw means that we have little chance to experiment (as we're playing all the best sides bar the Bombers up until round 11).... hopefully we'll have some semblance of a workable structure after the bye.

p.s: I also have an inkling that the Captain might get a run up forward at some stage as well.
 

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Robroy22 said:
Agree with most of this (think Howes has a bit more to offer than your description however), the thing is Buller was brought to the club to lend height and contest to the forward line but too many people are claiming he's supposedly the "Checkers" replacement....he's not, he's the Mason Cox replacement and as such should be being judged on those characteristics and stats.

Losing Checker's competitive spirit and huge body means that the rest of the forward line now has to compete harder, something they've struggled to do in the first two weeks, but to blame Buller for it is simply too convenient. Anyone who watched Checker's game for the Dees on the weekend saw his traits first hand. He competed hard and took all the pressure away from Van Rooyen and Fritch...it was a typical Checker's game. Whether he can continue to play at that level when the injuries mount up is the gamble Melbourne have taken on with him for the next 3 years, but you can see immediately what his strength and forward craft do for a struggling forward half.

West has the size and ability to play the Checker's role albeit does anyone have that same combative nature and willingness to sacrifice their own body as Brody Mihocek has displayed in the past 8 years? I hope that young West does indeed possess the courage and the stamina required to play that Key Forward role. If he can it will allay many of the fears currently being expressed by many of the Magpie brethren.

I too believe that a key forward should be on our shopping list again this season ( as it has been most of my lifetime!) but in 2026 at the very least we need as a supporter base to accept that players of the ilk of Buller, McStay, Membrey, West, Howes and Steen are going to play roles as our key forwards. How they're utilised and how their strengths are best developed will be an interesting watch.

As always, our early draw means that we have little chance to experiment (as we're playing all the best sides bar the Bombers up until round 11).... hopefully we'll have some semblance of a workable structure after the bye.

p.s: I also have an inkling that the Captain might get a run up forward at some stage as well.
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I absolutely wanted Howes to stay, I was presenting the clubs position. At the point where the club was considering delisting him, I would love to know the options. The problem is our forward options are young. Membrey and McStay are older or injury prone players. I hope they have a temporary case of oldie disease and fire up soon.
 
WanderingDude said:
West has had a year in the system. Cox and Checkers are gone. Buller was recruited because there was a need and the club see him as a more experienced and physically player. Howes was on the edge of the cliff during the post season period. To bring in West and give him a block of games over Buller would be a huge turnaround I would be shocked to see. Buller needs the clubs support to develop and the club should not give in to constant switching.
Edit: Buller is a player who may have limitations but he is what we have here and now. I would like an established forward to come in end of year.
Click to expand...
I don't see why Buller should get more club support than Charlie. This is Jack's 4th year, it's Charlie's 2nd.
Charlie has shown enough for him to be given a proper chance.
I doubt that Jack is more physical than Charlie and not sure he is as fast.
I'm not suggesting we should drop Jack.
Maybe a stint in the 2's might help McStay get his confidence back if that is what's wrong with him.
 
granniewolf said:
I don't see why Buller should get more club support than Charlie. This is Jack's 4th year, it's Charlie's 2nd.
Charlie has shown enough for him to be given a proper chance.
I doubt that Jack is more physical than Charlie and not sure he is as fast.
I'm not suggesting we should drop Jack.
Maybe a stint in the 2's might help McStay get his confidence back if that is what's wrong with him.
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I am not sure it is Buller vs West. At the moment of Buller, West and McStay I would drop McStay. I had huge hopes. 2023 is a long time ago when he performed well. I see Steene’s jump as more important if a change is required. Who goes out is difficult despite wishes here.
 
WanderingDude said:
I am not sure it is Buller vs West. At the moment of Buller, West and McStay I would drop McStay. I had huge hopes. 2023 is a long time ago when he performed well. I see Steene’s jump as more important if a change is required. Who goes out is difficult despite wishes here.
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For me it's McStay out Charlie in.
I also want to see Oscar Steene in, not sure who he would replace though.
Edit, I think if it's a choice between Charlie and Oscar I would give the nod to Oscar.
 
Couple of things in a game mcstay been frustrated with him

In swoop lukes video Elliott frustrated with him at training.

He seems to be struggling with game plan/system

Lack of footy smarts maybe.?

Needs time

Had a guiness today with a swans supporter (st patty's day) said can't understand why pies wanted him


Goodbye
 
manicpie said:
The problem with Buller is that he'll never be a first string FF. He needs a quality FF around him. I'm hoping we took him with the knowledge King will be here next year.
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None of the Mature KPF we brought in that they where always a Compartmental Tall Forward and not the main Tall Forward
 

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Dtennent94 said:
Worth a go, can’t make him any worse.
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We need a poll on whether Buller or trampoline hands Dawes is worse overhead! You can have all the competitiveness in the world, but if you struggle with the most basic fundamental of a key forward as much as Buller does your days are numbered.
 

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Yeah
No SPIN said:
I’m very hopeful on Howes, big body great hands, and kicked goals last including 4 in one game in the VFL.
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Hoppefully he or Charlie West can step up. Both would be a dream. 2026 though we are very.light.on for proven goalkickers with Brody M and Hill gone. Billy and Membrey are our only proven reliable scorers and need to be the mainstay of our attack
 
yeah man said:
what are you even saying? try reading what you've typed before you hit post. jesus
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I think it was just a literal statement and quote positive - it's a good thing that he's not a ruckman's bunghole.
 
sr36 said:
I think it was just a literal statement and quote positive - it's a good thing that he's not a ruckman's bunghole.
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I see, was hard to tell but thanks. I read it as, hes so sh*t that he couldn't even be labeled as the bunghole of a ruckman, let alone a whole ruckman 😂
 

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