Player Watch Jake Soligo

[Thylacinus]

The thing I like most about Soligo is his quality of possessions. He’s a real thinker who sets the chain in motion, with skillsets that match his creativeness. He’s also one of the most ambidextrous players we have from what I can remember him doing really nice kicks on his left.

With more body mass and confidence, I think he’s got a good a chance as anyone to have a breakout year.

I agree with what you write about Soligo, who is looking like a real draft bargain. You mention ambidextrous. One of the things I will miss seeing when Tex retires are those times where he creates a bit of space using his sidestep, evasiveness or selling the dummy, then starts to get closed in on, so uses the left leg to pinpoint a 50m pass or to kick a goal with his left also from the same distance. He has done it more than often enough to be dismissed as a fluke. In fact, it has been a sight to behold. I am sure at careers end someone will make a Tex highlight reel including some of these.

 

[FR0GGY]

I agree with what you write about Soligo, who is looking like a real draft bargain. You mention ambidextrous. One of the things I will miss seeing when Tex retires are those times where he creates a bit of space using his sidestep, evasiveness or selling the dummy, then starts to get closed in on, so uses the left leg to pinpoint a 50m pass or to kick a goal with his left also from the same distance. He has done it more than often enough to be dismissed as a fluke. In fact, it has been a sight to behold. I am sure at careers end someone will make a Tex highlight reel including some of these.

I’m struggling to think of a better skilled bigman and when you combine it with footy smarts you have a guaranteed gun.
It’s a shame he did his knee in his prime otherwise he’s looking at another 100- 150 career goals and a couple more AA’s

 

[kirky]

I’m struggling to think of a better skilled bigman and when you combine it with footy smarts you have a guaranteed gun.
It’s a shame he did his knee in his prime otherwise he’s looking at another 100- 150 career goals and a couple more AA’s

Tex has equal or better stats than Hawkins who has 5 AAs compared to Taylor’s 1. Very underrated is Taylor Walker.

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[morris086]

Tex has equal or better stats than Hawkins who has 5 AAs compared to Taylor’s 1. Very underrated is Taylor Walker.

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

It makes me cringe every time Tex is in a ruck contest a commentator mentions Hawkins also does it, like they're contractually obligated. I agree, severely underrated.

 

[Sanders]

I’m struggling to think of a better skilled bigman and when you combine it with footy smarts you have a guaranteed gun.

Carey.

Both have/had lasers off either foot, even off one step

 

[FR0GGY]

Carey.

Both have/had lasers off either foot, even off one step

His prime was before my watching time.
Was he a good handballer too (probably didn’t need to be)

 

[Sanders]

His prime was before my watching time.
Was he a good handballer too (probably didn’t need to be)

Tex is a poor man’s Carey.

Old Wayne could give it off by hand too. Not sure about his left, he could dish it off his right with blokes hanging off him

Carey was a lot more physical and contested, admittedly not Tex’s strong suit, but other than that they’re pretty similar

Should say, being a poor man’s version of the greatest player ever is no insult

 

[rabidcrow]

Tex has equal or better stats than Hawkins who has 5 AAs compared to Taylor’s 1. Very underrated is Taylor Walker.

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison

Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Lack of winning has cost Tex a better reputation over the years - and not playing for a Vic club


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[Gtowncrow]

Carey.

Both have/had lasers off either foot, even off one step

Peak Carey absolutely belongs in a GOAT conversation.
Tallest of the others in contention too.

 

[Jarman3]

Tex is a poor man’s Carey.

Old Wayne could give it off by hand too. Not sure about his left, he could dish it off his right with blokes hanging off him

Carey was a lot more physical and contested, admittedly not Tex’s strong suit, but other than that they’re pretty similar

Should say, being a poor man’s version of the greatest player ever is no insult

Tex also never slept with Sloane's wife (as far as I know), so he's a better team man, at least

 

[Big Dub]

Tex also never slept with Sloane's wife (as far as I know), so he's a better team man, at least

Didn't Collective Minds check to see if everyone would be OK with that sort of stuff?

(No evidence that it was anything other than a hypothetical)

 

[Gtowncrow]

Tex also never slept with Sloane's wife (as far as I know), so he's a better team man, at least

Just a better man full stop.

 

[beartoo]

Didn't Collective Minds check to see if everyone would be OK with that sort of stuff?

(No evidence that it was anything other than a hypothetical)

Think this was just part of the bs sprayed around by journos with diseased minds.

On SM-A115F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[BACCS]

ROB mentioned Soligo as his standout of pre season so far (5AA interview last week). Soligo, Rachele and Rankine all training with the midfield a lot more this off season.

 

[CrowToon]

Is now our best player and the one Nicks, despite not rating prior to Rd 1, has to build the midfield around.

He is the no. 1 ticket holder to that spot. Never to be dropped again.

He is the future 3x Brownlow medallist I've been convincing the Main Board of.

He is our messiah and all fertile women should be presented for his consideration to ensure a lasting dynasty of talent flows through the AFC.

 

[dogs105]

Career high number of handballs tonight

 

[Velvet George]

Is now our best player and the one Nicks, despite not rating prior to Rd 1, has to build the midfield around.

He is the no. 1 ticket holder to that spot. Never to be dropped again.

He is the future 3x Brownlow medallist I've been convincing the Main Board of.

He is our messiah and all fertile women should be presented for his consideration to ensure a lasting dynasty of talent flows through the AFC.

How he didn’t play rd 1 and to think there were posters who backed the club in

 

[Scorpus]

That turn around in match fitness is astonishing

 

[Jarman3]

That turn around in match fitness is astonishing

All those runs up and down the boundary line in round 1 are really paying dividends.

 

[Dangerousfield]

The way he is tracking, probably cost himself a lot of money signing a 6 year contract. Looking like a top shelf player.

 

[1990crow]

The way he is tracking, probably cost himself a lot of money signing a 6 year contract. Looking like a top shelf player.

Be nice if some of it rubbed off on Rachele.

 

[Brett Cummings]

That turn around in match fitness is astonishing

Its embarrassing how incompetent nicks is. He's worse than gary ayres. He's definitely not better than those that coached after him.

 

[AFC979810]

That turn around in match fitness is astonishing

Yeah - imagine that! Player who wasn't 100% fit for round 1 plays an absolute blinder in his 4th game of the year.

Its almost like he is working back from a month long ankle injury:

Week 1 - Sub
Week 2 - 15 touches - 79& TOG
Week 3 - 21 touches - 79% TOG
Week 4 - 27 touches - 83% TOG.

#sackburgess

 

[Soggy2112]

Career high number of handballs tonight

They were good handballs though, he would often take the ball cleanly in tight or break free of a tackle and release someone in space. They weren’t junk panic handballs to pass the pressure to someone else.

 

[Soggy2112]

Be nice if some of it rubbed off on Rachele.

I don’t understand the criticism of Rachele, I think he’s been good. He needs opportunities on ball.