Nicholson

[eastaugh36]

Interesting listening to the radio tonight over here, one commentator was saying that if he can get a game with Melbourne then you guys are in strife for the season. I didn't think he has been too bad over the years. What are your thoughts?

 

[Demon Errol]

Bomber. IMO this is Nicko's do or die season. He is the bain of most Demon supporters but we keep the faith with him coz we have perservered with him for so long over the years and want to see him finally repay the club with consistent form.

He has the body and the height, but I say no more until round 22.

 

[AllStar7]

Warnock getting promoted to the senior list probably signals the end of Nicholson.

And thank f%&k for that!

 

[melbournemartin]

not a premiership FB, no need for him.

 

[JP2]

Has been "useful" at best over the years, but looks pretty much useless atm. Was pathetic tonight, even by his standards. Carrol, Rivers, Ferguson and Warnock should be ahead of him atm.

 

[BT]

He's the perennial scapegoat, despite being the only defender besides Carroll with any strength.

The promotion of Warnock probably sums up the defence as a whole in a way. Warnock is no worse than any of them, but only because they're decent at best as a unit.

 

[AllStar7]

Our backline without Rivers is like a car without an engine... a big pile of useless junk!

It was such a mess last night, that Nicho's efforts didn't even stand out. I thought Carroll was ordinary with his ball-use, and yet he was probably our best player.

Yze, Brown and Bizzell might provide some class on their day, but they are not 'defensive' defender. That pretty much leaves Rivers (excellent), Carroll (ordinary), Ferguson (lightweight), Wheatley (average) and Nicho (terrible). At least Wheels is still going strong....

 

[Supermercado]

Before he did his knee he was alright, but ever since he's been off the pace. The only person he is a cert to beat is Richardson.

 

[demon_magik]

Warnock getting promoted to the senior list probably signals the end of Nicholson.

And thank f%&k for that!

Warnock obviously is no full back just yet. He gives away 5cm and the weight of a small teenage girl away to him. We've got no-one else who can take on the gorillas unless we use Miller down back. The only other players who could play in the weight division of Richardson or Gehrig are Holland (too slow) Smith (ditto) Jamar (groomed as ruckman/forward) Johnson (green) White (don't be stupid) and Neitz (a possibility). Bringing in Warnock gives us another to add to a slew of players who fit into that mid-range category. Wheatley, Carroll, Bizzell, Rivers, Ferguson and now Warnock. That's to add to the smaller players who create the run, Whelan, Bell, Yze, Brown, Ward and maybe Pickett. Altogether that's 12 players that fill 6 spots on the team. Maybe plus 2 if you consider the bench.

Nicholson will get games this year, though maybe he'll only be used if absolutely necessary. I'd love to see him replaced, much as I love him, only because he is a mediocre player by AFL standards. But who replaces him? Neitz is our captain and should only go there to plug a hole in case of emergency. Maybe next year if he hands the captaincy over, but it's still not a great idea. We really will need to trade for someone else. Blooding a youngster could take years, and none of our young defenders are pushing 200 cm, except Ferg, who is 195 but is only 85kg.

So besides trading, which can't be done until after the season finishes, what do we do? Nicho is still our best big boy in defence. Unless....

Would it be ridiculous to suggest PJ for this role? Right now we are playing White and Jamar as 1st and 2nd rucks. PJ can do it, but is third. He's showing great signs up forward, but he has all the ingredients to be a good FB except mongrel. He's got the biggest hands and longest arms in his draft year, he can move pretty quick, is agile, fantastic below his knees, and though he has problems with overhead marking, who says he has to mark? Maybe it's enough for him just to spoil.

Just an idea.... This problem is not going away, Nicho is a goer, but is no solution, and we won't win a flag with a defence designed around a part-time Full-Back who plays as many bad matches as good.

 

[demon_chick7]

never been a fan of nicho. he is not fast or skilled enough to keep up with the ff players going around. he may be a big guy but unless he learns to use his height and strength he has no hope.

 

[Demon Errol]

Doe's any one know with certainty if Nicholson has ever appeared among our best players in the paper / also any Brownlow votes.

I remember driving to Maryborough in about 2000 for a practice match against Carlton and saw this big lump of a man in the ruck.

Any way Nicholson had the body and the height but thats about it.