Johncock - The New McLeod???

[Bicks]

I see in an article on the Adelaide Now website Stiffy is putting his hand up to take over the role of Andrew McLeod as our "exit man" out of defence, even gone as far as appealing to Craigy to have greater faith in his ability to make a success of the position.

I'm pleased for two reasons he's done this...1. Signals he's committed to The Crows into the future when there had been murmurings that perhaps he was not happy here. 2. Appears he's becoming more assertive and taking more responsibility for his own performances. I'm tipping "Stiffy" will now go from being a very good footballer for us to the ELITE level!!!!

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...ws-leap-of-faith/story-e6frecoc-1225885427346

GRAHAM Johncock has appealed to Crows coach Neil Craig to have greater faith in his ability to replace Andrew McLeod as Adelaide's "exit man" from defence.
Johncock yesterday revealed he went to Craig last week taking exception to the coach's reactive move of hiding him in attack to break the tag Hawthorn applied to the Crows' small defender before the AFL's mid-season break.
Johncock also has broken his silence on last month's club-imposed ban, saying he disagreed with the one-match suspension for missing a rehabilitation session.
As Adelaide prepares for McLeod's impending retirement announcement in late August - and reflects on how it has lacked telling rebound from its defensive zone this season - Johncock has put up his hand to take up McLeod's charter in defence.
And he has asked Craig to put away the hook that dragged him from defence to attack in response to Hawthorn's tactic of using Beau Muston as a tag on Johncock at Launceston a fortnight ago.

 

[King Elvis]

Good on him.

I actually don't mind throwing Stiffy forward, because he's a gun down there as well, but it's great to hear him say that he'd rather work his way through the tag and do his job.

"I seem to get tagged every so often when Andrew McLeod or someone like that is not playing and teams try to stifle our run from down back," says Johncock on his club's website. "Craigy moved me forward straight away (against Hawthorn), so I spoke to him during the week and asked that if I got tagged again, to let me deal with it a bit more."

But more than ask for Craig's faith, Johncock - who was tagged by Melbourne's Lynden Dunn on Sunday - has taken charge of his destiny by seeking help on taggers.

 

[Vantz]

Johncock is not Mcleod, but he is still a fantastic player. It is great he wants to take on extra responsibility.

 

[Allefgib]

Johncock is not Mcleod, but he is still a fantastic player. It is great he wants to take on extra responsibility.

He also offers our defense alot of what Macca never could whislt carry his knee injuries for so many years. Fierce attack on the contest, good bumps and strong spoiling. Macca was good enough to not worry abou tthose things to a degree but I love that stiffy brings that to the table for us.

When up and about I would argue he is already elite anyway.

Hope he wins the gold jacket this year - be a fantastic achievement for him.

Also love the fact he is challenging Craigy's thinking. Will be great for both of them and the club overall. Also love that he disagrees with the ban and is allowed to voice that publically with everyone getting on with their jobs.

 

[Peter Doherty]

I'm pleased for two reasons he's done this...1. Signals he's committed to The Crows into the future when there had been murmurings that perhaps he was not happy here.

Those rumours just were never true, he loves the club and is very loyal.

 

[Huntercrow]

He will have big shoes to fill but I like the attitude and Stiffy is the next closest thing we have to Macca.
He's always been a barometer for our performancs, if he plays well we generally win.
Interesting also that with Mcleod in the team he has never been tagged.
Just shows the hidden value of having a class player like Bunji.

 

[Southerntakeover]

I dont know if im as happy about the tone as some of you are.

There are some good points, such as seeking the advice of other players on how to deal with a tag, but alot of this seems to be a petulant refusal to take responsibility for his own short comings, whether it be in his failure to have an impact on the Hawthorn game after faced with a heavy tag, or his failure to attend recovery sessions post injury.

Incredibly disappointed hes still running the 'i didnt deserve to be suspended' line.

 

[Vader]

I agree with you on the suspension bit, but I think the tagging comment is a positive - he's seeking to take responsibility for his own performances, rather than allowing the coach to give him an easy way out.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

LOVE the fact that he's stood up to the leadership group and said that he didn't agree with their decision.

I hope these old duds realise that all they are doing with their posturing and high-horsing is needlessly screwing up our team.

Has any player in recent memory given more of himself when out of the ground than Johncock? Always goes in hard, never shirks a contest, always in the thick of the action in big games, never retreats into his shell and kicks backwards.

It is a DISGRACE that absolute nuffies like Symes, Stevens and Doughty are allowed to pass judgment on Johncock. They haven't earned the right ON THE FIELD which is where it counts. Yes, they probably know our play book cover to cover and yes, they probably leave an apple on Neil's desk after every training session but that stuff means bugger all in the hurly burly of an AFL contest.

Give 'em hell, Stiffy. Hopefully they pull their heads in.

Leadership Team 2011
Johncock (c), Dangerfield, Bock, Thompson, Vince and Jaensch

 

[cammo84]

Agree with your post, Carl, up until this bit -

Johncock (c)

Fantastic player, one of our most important by a fair stretch, but not really captain material.

 

[dplggr47]

Leadership Team 2011
Johncock (c), Dangerfield, Bock, Thompson, Vince and Jaensch

Leadership group:
OUT: Goodwin (retired), Edwards (retired), Burton (retired), Stevens (omit)
IN: Dangerfield, Maric, Thompson, Sloane.
NO CHANGE: van Berlo, Rutten, Symes.
UNDECIDED: Doughty.

 

[BunjiMac]

LOVE the fact that he's stood up to the leadership group and said that he didn't agree with their decision.

I hope these old duds realise that all they are doing with their posturing and high-horsing is needlessly screwing up our team.

Has any player in recent memory given more of himself when out of the ground than Johncock? Always goes in hard, never shirks a contest, always in the thick of the action in big games, never retreats into his shell and kicks backwards.

It is a DISGRACE that absolute nuffies like Symes, Stevens and Doughty are allowed to pass judgment on Johncock. They haven't earned the right ON THE FIELD which is where it counts. Yes, they probably know our play book cover to cover and yes, they probably leave an apple on Neil's desk after every training session but that stuff means bugger all in the hurly burly of an AFL contest.

Give 'em hell, Stiffy. Hopefully they pull their heads in.

Leadership Team 2011
Johncock (c), Dangerfield, Bock, Thompson, Vince and Jaensch

Well put Carl and yes I'd be more than satisfied with Johncock as captain, I couldn't care less if he couldn't handle the media or speak at sponsorship functions, he shows it where it counts most, on the field.

 

[King Elvis]

I agree with you on the suspension bit, but I think the tagging comment is a positive - he's seeking to take responsibility for his own performances, rather than allowing the coach to give him an easy way out.

Exactly my reaction to that post.

The suspension thing, we don't know the full detail so we don't know if he has a reason to feel hard done by, but I don't think his thoughts on it are that bad. And, as Carl said, I have an issue with the guy who has been our best player, who has given 110% without question, was 'judged' by his peers, who, if they were being honest, should have dropped themselves.

The tag thing, I read that as a positive as well. To me, he was actually acknowledging that he didn't have an impact on the Hawks game, but he wanted to be challenged to work his way through the tag, instead of potentially been given an easy out.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

IN: Dangerfield, Maric, Thompson, Sloane.

Interesting one. Has certainly been impressive the last few weeks with his hardness and composure under pressure. Looks like he exhibits some of the on-field characteristics you'd want in a leader.

 

[FlyingCrow]

I dont know if im as happy about the tone as some of you are.

There are some good points, such as seeking the advice of other players on how to deal with a tag, but alot of this seems to be a petulant refusal to take responsibility for his own short comings, whether it be in his failure to have an impact on the Hawthorn game after faced with a heavy tag, or his failure to attend recovery sessions post injury.

Incredibly disappointed hes still running the 'i didnt deserve to be suspended' line.

Rucci set the "tone".

Read the quotes from Stiffy

"It was a bit of a surprise, actually," said Johncock of his suspension that was served with a game in the SANFL at the Port Adelaide Magpies. "But that was the decision the leadership group made and I couldn't do anything but respect it.

"All I had to do was go back to the Maggies and show the club I still feel and have the desire to play football," added Johncock, whose form in his comeback match against Fremantle on June 5 was among his best this year. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm just moving forward with the Crows."

Does not sound like sour grapes at all. He was a bit surprised at his suspension, but accepted the decision of his peers. Then went back to the Port Magpies (another club he loves, goes to watch them a bit) and played his best to show his coaches and peers at the Crows he is more than worthy of a spot there. Nothing but a positive attitude.

However Rucci sets the tone by saying

Johncock is said to have taken exception to being banned by the leadership group for missing a rehabilitation session while a member of this group - retired veteran Tyson Edwards - was not sanctioned for missing a training session after he was told by Craig he would be dropped for the clash against St Kilda

I dont see a quote from Stiffy about Edwards not being suspended. Nor him having a problem with the method of which his peers hands out discipline.

 

[King Elvis]

Interesting one. Has certainly been impressive the last few weeks with his hardness and composure under pressure. Looks like he exhibits some of the on-field characteristics you'd want in a leader.

Sloane is going to be something special.

I know we get carried away all of the time, but there is just something about him.

I had seen very little of him until the Freo game, after that, I was encouraged, now, I no-homo love him.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Sloane is going to be something special.

I know we get carried away all of the time, but there is just something about him.

I had seen very little of him until the Freo game, after that, I was encouraged, now, I no-homo love him.

Yeah, I've decided that I am going to allow myself to get carried away with Sloane.

 

[King Elvis]

Is it because of his golden blonde locks and boyish good looks?

 

[Deaneus!]

LOVE the fact that he's stood up to the leadership group and said that he didn't agree with their decision.

Absolutely x 1,000,000.

The club is always prattling on about honest feedback. You can't get more honest than that. But he's not going on about it like a petulant kid, he's showing his commitment by blitzing it on the field.

Love the guy. Leader by actions on the field. Likes to be quiet off the field. Would the captaincy embiggen his game, or shackle him?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Is it because of his golden blonde locks and boyish good looks?

Yes. But you forgot to mention his come hither eyes too.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

Sensational player, he never gets the praise he deserves. An excellent leader on field, hard at the ball, skillful and a genuine game breaker. My favourite Crows player

 

[crowralph]

johncock is the most under-rated player in the afl. what he can do on the footy field is unbelievable. not only does he shut down an opponent, but he gets the nut in traffic, finds a way out and delivers downfield. his defence in the air is super for a player his size. i just wish he'd been able to develop his engine to play midfield and be able to display his talent for a greater amount of the game.

and yeh, sloane is super. his first game handballs and tackles made him look like being a great in and under player. but he's going to be that and a line breaker when he completely believes in his ability at afl level.

 

[macca23]

Leadership Team 2011
Johncock (c), Dangerfield, Bock, Thompson, Vince and Jaensch

Leave out Dangerfield.

The others are then quite capable of having one hell of a piss-up.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Leave out Dangerfield.

The others are then quite capable of having one hell of a piss-up.

Ok, Out Dangerfield, In van Berlo.

Leadership Group... also known as the Committee to Plan Parties. For fans of The Office, I've brought VB in to be Angela.

 

[Gary17]

Interesting one. Has certainly been impressive the last few weeks with his hardness and composure under pressure. Looks like he exhibits some of the on-field characteristics you'd want in a leader.

One of the young blokes on the weekend (Jaensch?) said that Sloane is basically the leader of the 1st and 2nd years.