Opinion Lukey D - Where do you stand?

[fronkalicious]

We all love Luke Dahlhaus. Let’s just get that out of the way straight up. He’s inspired us when footy was tough to watch, been a key cog in rebuilding the club, and eventually became a premiership hero.

But time waits for no man. So the point of this thread is simple. At 4 years and $2million (do we all agree that’s about what it will take to keep him?), are you in or are you out?

The case for:

1. Premiership legend
2. Great character guy and important part of the fabric of the group.
3. Excellent pressure player.
4. Great tackler
5. Consistent with effort.
6. Midfield depth
7. Experience

The case against:
1. Ball butcher
2. Slow, slow, slow
3. Small and no longer effective forward
4. West, smith/Walsh/hateley coming in
5. Give ourselves a run at Josh Kelly with the extra cap space in 12 months.

My feelings are clear. It’s time to move on. Our money can be better spent elsewhere. We’ll get back into the second round of the draft. We can open things up for west and Walsh or any other mids we draft.

I also look at what north have done shifting ziebell and swallow out of their midfield. And west coast doing the same with Mitchell and Priddis.

We need to be more dynamic, quicker and better skilled in our midfield.

I’m a firm No on Dahlhaus. Where do you stand?

 

[Bazza Bulldog]

I can see where you are coming from Fronk - though what will Libba do is Dahl (and Wallis) leave? When at his best he is our Ben Cunnington (though a better kick). Should we keep Dahl if it means Libba stays?

 

[joel_billo]

Seems to have lost pace and any kind of urgency he used to play with.

 

[dergert]

Cannot carry passengers during this rejig. Unfortunately Dahl appears to be one.

 

[Bemoreboyddog]

I’ve said it for a while. Let him go. I’d prefer he left than Wallis but it seems like the opposite will happen. Would like to see him almost permanently moved out of midfield into forward line.

 

[StringyDog]

Keep, highly durable player who people mention as having lost zip and pace, he us 25 you dont lose that at his age, he is playing with a bung knee since early in year. sign him up if he accepts 3 year deal and stops holding out for long term deal and get the surgery he needs to get him ready for next year.

 

[King Harold]

Again last night , he showed us why fronk is right.
Not sure what's happened to this bloke , has now become a D grade plodder.
He is at an age where he should be at his peak.

 

[Draft Pick]

I think we need to keep him if Wallis (or heaven forbid Libba) is leaving.

It is such an inexperienced list and I fear a repeat of what happend at Melbourne when they let go so much experience 5 or so years ago.

Then again his limitations are not worth paying overs for. Hard one.

 

[dogwatch]

Fronk makes a compelling case. I'd definitely let Dahl go IF ...

1. We can replace the 150 games experience somehow (that's in addition to Libba's expected return)
2. He's not battling a lingering injury. It's been rumoured all year and could explain his drop in effectiveness if true. Natch we'd want to know it could be fixed in the off season. He seems too young to have lost his mojo so comprehensively. Dahl of 2016 would definitely be an asset in 2019 if he could get that form back.

On balance I'd reckon he's gorn. Like others I'd prefer to keep Wallis.

 

[King Harold]

But can anyone explain to me what's happened to him ?
He was one of the first picked every week 2 years ago.
Now he should be playing for Riddells Creek.

 

[Yojimbo]

They forced the man to cut his hair.
That is all I have to share.

They gave the man the number six.
Only to knife his back like murderous pricks.

Does he stay or does he go ?
How the hell am I suppose to know.

Forget the poetry in reality it is a fair question to pose by fronk
and if I am honest I am no fan of the small player who does
not have elite traits. The ball is either in the air or on the ground
and you have to be able to impact both situations in my opinion.

 

[Del165892]

Get rid of him and Wallis too while we're at it.

 

[SCRAY72]

I am in the lowball Dal camp and work hard to keep Wallis.

 

[BRWB]

So at the ripe old age of 25 Dahlhaus is cooked. Wow.

Luke was tracking for AA a season or two ago.

Is carrying an injury or three IMO.

Its all very well to rissole player like Wallis and Luke but who are we replacing them with? Honey, Webb, R Smith and Jong?

Just wow.

Was at least relieved to hear our list manager sound keen to retain Luke. Get him right and he is a game changer.

 

[Dogsman16]

It’s not a question of whether or not I want to keep him or not, really it comes down to how much we are willing to accept for his loss. If the compensation is 2nd round then I’m right on the fence whether to try and keep him or not.

If it’s end of first round then I’d probably say goodbye. Ditto with Wallis really it boils down to compensation.

FWIW if we lost one or both I’d want some senior reinforcements to keep our depth. Maybe Dom Tyson or someone of that ilk. Also could bolster the defensive flankers (even though we have plenty of those) and make Williams perma mid.

Would prefer the best burst mid available but not many teams have that type.

 

[stefoid]

Play him to his strengths as a crumbing defensive forward. The teams needs one and thats his best footy.

 

[WallyStringhaus]

Some players have all the talent in the world and do nothing more than skate by on their skills. They drift in and out of quarters, games, seasons, careers. We've had enough of these types over the years and generally they end their careers elsewhere with nothing to show for it. Stringer, Cooney, Brown, Hardie, etc.

Some players embody everything I love about my football club. They throw their bodies around with reckless abandon just to put their teammates in a better position. They love the jumper so much they would die for it. They train the house down and set a culture for the future generations to uphold. They play hurt and dont complain. They sacrifice for the greater good. Morris, Boyd, Cross, Picken, West, Liber Snr, Wynd, Macpherson.

Dahl belongs with the second group. He deserves to retire a Bulldog and be a 250 game player.

4 years at 1.6 - 1.8...somebody get me a pen.

Some players bring more to a club then what their footballing skillset is. Look at his reaction when Naughton kicked his first last night. Priceless. If footy was all about pure skills then GWS would have two flags. The reason they don't is because they have no heart.

Luke Dahlhaus is all heart. He is a must keep for mine.

 

[AjsGuns]

So at the ripe old age of 25 Dahlhaus is cooked. Wow.

Luke was tracking for AA a season or two ago.

Is carrying an injury or three IMO.

Its all very well to rissole player like Wallis and Luke but who are we replacing them with? Honey, Webb, R Smith and Jong?

Just wow.

Was at least relieved to hear our list manager sound keen to retain Luke. Get him right and he is a game changer.

Agree, I'm in the 100% keep camp. I'd prefer to see him be played as a full time small forward though.

 

[bontshow]

2. Slow, slow, slow

Never used to be. What gives?

 

[joel_billo]

Agree, I'm in the 100% keep camp. I'd prefer to see him be played as a full time small forward though.

Well if he is injured they might aswell put him on ice for the year now. but they wont, because i dont think hes injured. Just lost his pace i think when he did his pcl? Few years back.

Anyone who is playing injured now should be rested until right

 

[hutchy31]

Some players have all the talent in the world and do nothing more than skate by on their skills. They drift in and out of quarters, games, seasons, careers. We've had enough of these types over the years and generally they end their careers elsewhere with nothing to show for it. Stringer, Cooney, Brown, Hardie, etc.

Some players embody everything I love about my football club. They throw their bodies around with reckless abandon just to put their teammates in a better position. They love the jumper so much they would die for it. They train the house down and set a culture for the future generations to uphold. They play hurt and dont complain. They sacrifice for the greater good. Morris, Boyd, Cross, Picken, West, Liber Snr, Wynd, Macpherson.

Dahl belongs with the second group. He deserves to retire a Bulldog and be a 250 game player.

4 years at 1.6 - 1.8...somebody get me a pen.

Some players bring more to a club then what their footballing skillset is. Look at his reaction when Naughton kicked his first last night. Priceless. If footy was all about pure skills then GWS would have two flags. The reason they don't is because they have no heart.

Luke Dahlhaus is all heart. He is a must keep for mine.

I think he’ll end up being a weakness from a pure football perspective and I wouldn’t personally be that annoyed if he left, but it’s difficult to argue with any of this post. Nicely put.

 

[AjsGuns]

Well if he is injured they might aswell put him on ice for the year now. but they wont, because i dont think hes injured. Just lost his pace i think when he did his pcl? Few years back.

Anyone who is playing injured now should be rested until right

I assume you think Bont isn't carrying an injury as well then?

 

[Norm De Guerre]

So at the ripe old age of 25 Dahlhaus is cooked. Wow.

Luke was tracking for AA a season or two ago.

Is carrying an injury or three IMO.

Its all very well to rissole player like Wallis and Luke but who are we replacing them with? Honey, Webb, R Smith and Jong?

Just wow.

Was at least relieved to hear our list manager sound keen to retain Luke. Get him right and he is a game changer.

3 and possibly 4 of those straw men will almost certainly go at the end of the season. If the club has a strategy to lure one or two quality mids in, I'd be fine with them moving on Dahl as well. Something that I have advocated doing on here for quite some time.

 

[immortalmike]

Never used to be. What gives?

Injuries.
Needs an extended break. Won't get one until the end of the year. We should be doing everything to re-sign him. Very good player and a big culture guy. Not the type of bloke you let go.

 

[Packofdogs]

Fonk, going to Geelong! House for sale in Williamstown. Source ~ told a friend of mine! Libba trouble too! Source ~ close family friend and also club source!