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Jared Rivers

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davey_magik

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Really hate to say this, but I'll go out on a limb here and say this guy will not be in our best 22 in two years time.

Sure he reads the game well and is a very good mark, but he can't play on a key forward because he is slow and isn't exactly a gorilla. He isn't an ideal loose man either as he doesn't get a lot of the ball going the other way.
 
I am a huge fan of his, but i reckon you might be on to something.

Consider we have Martin and Warnock as the 'big' KP backmen, and Garland and Frawley as the mid-sized backmen, once they are all fit, Rivers could struggle to be in that back 6.

I think a huge bonus for him will be being able to get nearly a full season out of himself with no injuries, which will give him a massive shot of confidence to take his game to the next level in 2010.

OR I guess we could look at trading him while he's still got currency.

Really tough call to make.
 
davey_magik said:
Really hate to say this, but I'll go out on a limb here and say this guy will not be in our best 22 in two years time.

Sure he reads the game well and is a very good mark, but he can't play on a key forward because he is slow and isn't exactly a gorilla. He isn't an ideal loose man either as he doesn't get a lot of the ball going the other way.
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LOL, did you see his game on Kosi? Has been our best backmen the last two weeks we are a better team with him in the side.

Rivers>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Warnock
 

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With natural development of Garland and Frawley into not just medium talls but guys capable of playing on the bigger forwards as well I think we will be looking at only fitting in one of Warnock/Martin and Rivers in the best 22. I also think we would only need to keep 2 of them on the list.

So I agree the Rivers will have to turn into a stopping defender more than just a zoning half back. I would say though to say Rivers isn't capable of playing on the big forwards might be wrong - he did a nice job on Kosi up on the GC. However Warnock has done a reasonable job all year on the oppositions number 1 big man.

If Rivers gets through the rest of the season in sound shape I think we will see good improvement as he will have a decent preseason and some confidence in his ability to play out a season. I've got no doubt it takes a year for most players to come back from a long time out.
 
in reply to the OP

i think you are spot on and thanks for noticing, at least im not the only one...

for a while now i thought it was just me, but i actually dont see a position available at all for rivers unless he turns into a forward...it pains me to say this because i was a massive fan of his before

he doesnt have any speed to take the game on which he would need if he is to be a zoning half back like he plays, yet he doesnt have the greatest defensive skills either when it comes to actually keeping a forward quiet

Martin IS our future FB, seriously he is a gun backman and he is not given nearlly enough credit....actually watch him play and he is a fantastic player and will be great for a long time to come.

i personally reckon Warnock had a great season last season and has backed it up this year...he isnt a star, he is never gonna be but when we have a winning side he will be solid as a rock and hard for forwards to actually beat...he is very solid in defense.

Garland is a gun. simple as that! i can see him being an all-australian player when we start winning...he is versatile and does some good stuff, he may end up being a leader down back too!!

Frawley would be one of our most improved this year and he is a great prospect who is starting to reach a bit of his high potential...he can tandem with garland to create a very solid mid-sized back versatile combo that will hurt alot of oppostion forward lines...

Bennell is as exciting a player as i have seen in a long time at the MFC...his run off half back and defensive skills ooze class....he has andrew mcleod written all over him and he is gonna provide pace and pressure down back that will be a delight to watch.

Strauss/grimes - one of these 2 will develop into a polished midfielder and the other will be our final backman. good skills and creativity plus good decision making and there we have a back 6 that i see in 3-4 years time being the absolute best in the competition!!

no jokes...a back 6 that looks like this is too exciting to even think about right now:

Frawley Martin Bennell
Grimes/strauss Warnock Garland

IMHO rivers hasnt shown he can be as vital as one of those 6
 
demonboy13 said:
Martin IS our future FB, seriously he is a gun backman and he is not given nearlly enough credit....actually watch him play and he is a fantastic player and will be great for a long time to come.
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Martin has a heap of work to do to be able to play on the big dangerous forwards. He gets turned around and dropped off too easily. Ie. Tippett against Adelaide this year, and Lloyd who had 4 on him in a quarter last year. He can't do the body work to stay really tight to an opponent like Warnock can, and Rivers can. Whilst he should replace them in time because he has athletic capabilities and height that they don't he isn't there yet. Hopefully the VFL has players like Rocca, Nathan Thompson, Podsiadly and Sauntner to let Martin practice on.
 
He hasn't played at the heights of 2004-06, but he is still capable of keeping his spot in the side long-term. You've gotta remember that he missed a lot of footy over the last three years, and is only just getting some games under his belt now. He missed 35 out of a possible 44 games in 2007-08, that's huge.

Give him some time and he will get better. It also helps when the team is up and about, not sitting on the bottom of the ladder like we currently are.
 
Rivers definantly is needed. He has been our best defended this year. Martin will hopefully develop and be able to play on the monster full forwards that are more common these days such as Tippett, and younger players such as Vickery coming through, replaying Warnock. Frawley and Garland are both very promising and have both been able to show that they can play. Eventually im hoping Martin, Frawley and Garland will be the key backman, Possibly through in Mcnamarra, Stauss, Bennell as the running defenders and Cheney as a lock down nuggety back pocket.
 
That backline is exciting, good mix of players who could play a variety of roles. Pity about the midfield ATM though. Rivers for me is not versitile enough to play HF, maybe trial at FF? Personally though he still has value in the backline, if only he could get a good run with injuries.
 

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Agreed, possible trade bait although would only get a late 3rd rounder with his injuries. Feel for the guy, but hey that's the business.

He's down shit 'River' without a paddle.
 
i Think we could get more that pick 40 odd for 'Old man' Rivers though. Someone like Hawthorn may be interested if they were reportedly after Thorton..
 
Don't get rid of him, he's missed pretty much three years of football, mainly due to osteitis pubis, which can do some damage that comes back to bite you later. Just look at Yze, he got one bout of it, it stuffed his pubic bone so badly he couldn't kick, then to top it off he got a hernia, another biter.
 
davey_magik said:
Really hate to say this, but I'll go out on a limb here and say this guy will not be in our best 22 in two years time.
Click to expand...
That's not going out on a limb.

Going out a limb would be to suggest he won't be there at the end of the month, which could very well happen.
 
davey_magik said:
Really hate to say this, but I'll go out on a limb here and say this guy will not be in our best 22 in two years time.

Sure he reads the game well and is a very good mark, but he can't play on a key forward because he is slow and isn't exactly a gorilla. He isn't an ideal loose man either as he doesn't get a lot of the ball going the other way.
Click to expand...


Your a dead set idiot, that is one of the stupidest comments ive ever read on bigfooty. It his first full year since his first season in 2004 and hes been our best backmen in recent weeks. He is twice the player any of our backmen are. If anyone should have there spot in doubt its Warnock, consistently gets goals kicked on him and makes dumb decsions to punch instead of marking it.
 
dee-stroyers said:
Your a dead set idiot, that is one of the stupidest comments ive ever read on bigfooty. It his first full year since his first season in 2004 and hes been our best backmen in recent weeks. He is twice the player any of our backmen are. If anyone should have there spot in doubt its Warnock, consistently gets goals kicked on him and makes dumb decsions to punch instead of marking it.
Click to expand...

Irony at it's finest.

Warnock is extremely underrated, he doesn't consistently get bags kicked on him and in most of the situations he's expected to punch instead of mark. His spoiling is excellent in my opinion and he's a lot better than some people give him credit for.
 

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Playing devils adovate here (and not suggesting we should trade him)- if we do trade him who would want him and what could we get?
I wouldn't mind highly skilled outside midfielder. (draft picks aside)

Maybe:

Carlton could use him - not sure what I would want from them though.

Hawthorn could use him - Wouldn't mind Bateman (not sure how old he is though) or Mitch Thorp

Sydney could use him - Would love Ryan O'Keefe

Thoughts?
 
O'Keefe is about 28 isn't he? Really although that's still a few years left in the game, he'd still be way off in our recruiters radar as 28 is still too old for our current crop of players.

I severely doubt we would get Bateman for Rivers, Hawks nor us would be doing that deal I don't think.

Nothing I'd want from Carlton that we could get for Rivers anyway.
 

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