Paul Koularoutis

[catluke]

Your Thoughts?

PRETTY quick
Averaged around 22 disposials per game last year

Most people think hes crap and shouldnt get a game for a while.

 

[GeeCat]

Most people think hes crap and shouldnt get a game for a while.

I'd like to see some evidence to back up that claim.

 

[nananana catman]

I think hes crap! nah seriously though, howd he go in the VFL?

 

[bulletproof]

I would expect Koula will play a role in our campaign at some stage. In the mix if we get an injury or two. Very capable player.

 

[*koulagirl]

Koulouriotis

He's quick, he can kick long and straight, is good at finding space. Problem is we don't really *need* someone in the squad who can do what he can the way we're going. We're already getting the ball forward, and the 1-2 goals he'd contribute are superfluous.
That's not saying he shouldn't be in. I think that when he's fit he's in our best 22. He could replace Kane Tenace, and there would be no issue.

He's been doing rather well in the VFL, catman. He's been averaging about 21 possessions and kicking a goal a match, but he's been a little wayward and I'd expect him to be given a few more weeks just to tighten up his skills before he's brought back. I'd suspect that he's just being looked after to make sure he doesn't do any more damage to his hammy when he returns.

 

[Sammy D]

I think hes crap! nah seriously though, howd he go in the VFL?

Didn't play. Interstate round.

 

[cats56]

Koula has the ability to play at AFL level. The question is will his body cope to allow him to play regularly to try to cement a spot? (Has a history of injuries.).

 

[Cattas_21]

I think Koula, along with Callan are very stiff not to be playing AFL! Put them at any other club in the league and they would both be playing every match! Just puts in perspective how much the mighty cats are flying at the moment Touch wood

 

[danny_ablett5]

He is a very good player and would get a regular guernsey at about 10 other clubs, it's just we have a midfield of about 10-12 and to break is very tough, kane tenace is a great player but stuggles to get a game, will slade, blake, it's very tough to break in to this midfield, thats why some will leave at the end of the year hopefully not too much so we have enough depth

 

[fishman]

You'll find Mcarthy sacked, Slade also. Riccardi might retire and Mackie i reckon traded. Special K might get traded also i reckon, poor bugger might struggle for a game.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Don't think Paul would have any trade value, especially if he doesn't crack it for much of a run this year.

 

[Seb]

We are bound to have another injury in the midfield between now and the end of the season; Koula would make an 'adequate' replacement then.

 

[*koulagirl]

Don't think Paul would have any trade value, especially if he doesn't crack it for much of a run this year.

Double considering that despite "interest" he didn't get traded at the end of '03. He'd get bonus points if he played out the VFL as best on ground.

However I think that the lack of a trade would more be because he wouldn't be enough consideration for the quality player we'd be wanting to trade for given our current side (and that trading to a detriment is pointless and therefore not an option), than solely on his own merit.

 

[*koulagirl]

I think Koula, along with Callan are very stiff not to be playing AFL! Put them at any other club in the league and they would both be playing every match! Just puts in perspective how much the mighty cats are flying at the moment Touch wood

I think you'll find that people say that about their fringe players at every club. Then again, you are probably right. The scary thing is that Koula and Callan would be walking into some other sides and being named in the best players every week as well. That's perspective for you.

I think it's just a matter of team balance and matchups that these guys aren't playing. Also, we don't want to rotate all our players through before the break and let other clubs work out all our strategies. We have to play seven of these teams again, and one way of repeating a victory is to not play the same team and the same game, because experience will teach them how to better match up and compete. We may find that some players are relegated to the VFL in the later rounds as part of a non-core player rotation, to ensure we have as many players with 2005 experience available if we make the finals.

 

[nananana catman]

I think you'll find that people say that about their fringe players at every club. Then again, you are probably right. The scary thing is that Koula and Callan would be walking into some other sides and being named in the best players every week as well. That's perspective for you.

Thats not perspective, thats just silly. The great thing about depth is you can overrate the players who arent playing as much as you want. If they were to get in the best of other AFL sides, we wouldnt be losing every VFL game by 10 goals and theyd be playing seniors.

 

[*koulagirl]

Thats not perspective, thats just silly. The great thing about depth is you can overrate the players who arent playing as much as you want. If they were to get in the best of other AFL sides, we wouldnt be losing every VFL game by 10 goals and theyd be playing seniors.

I'm led to believe and I'm not the only one that the losses of the VFL side are not because of a lack of quality of players but a lack of team cohesion due to an imbalance of players. Else how do you explain Thurley and Lonergan's form on coming into the side?

There will be quality players left out of the 22, precisely because it is a 22 and not a 38. Saying that players could walk into 'any other' AFL side is equally as silly by your reasoning. Do you think that Brent Prismall would walk straight into West Coast's midfield?? Probably not, but he'd have a good chance of being in Collingwood's top six.

 

[nananana catman]

Else how do you explain Thurley and Lonergan's form on coming into the side?

Thurley has been the best player in the VFL and Lonergan has impressed and was a late inclusion...

There will be quality players left out of the 22, precisely because it is a 22 and not a 38.

There are some good players, but no-one in Geelongs VFL side would get in
the best of any AFL side.

Do you think that Brent Prismall would walk straight into West Coast's midfield?? Probably not, but he'd have a good chance of being in Collingwood's top six.

Not really, but hey thanks helping to prove my point that players in our VFL wouldnt get into the best at other AFL sides. Collinwood have possibly the worst midfield in the comp, yet Prismall wouldnt be in their top 6 midfielders. Your man Koula probably would when fit, but he wouldnt get in their best players, hence my point.

 

[*koulagirl]

Thurley has been the best player in the VFL and Lonergan has impressed and was a late inclusion...

Yet Rahilly has two or three BOGs to his name and hasn't had a run. Hmm.

There are some good players, but no-one in Geelongs VFL side would get in the best of any AFL side.

I didn't say any. I said 'some'. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm quite happy to defend mine.

Not really, but hey thanks helping to prove my point that players in our VFL wouldnt get into the best at other AFL sides. Collinwood have possibly the worst midfield in the comp, yet Prismall wouldnt be in their top 6 midfielders. Your man Koula probably would when fit, but he wouldnt get in their best players, hence my point.

I said 'some'. You're taking it as all. West Coast have arguably the best midfield at this point, and Collingwood the worst. Note I didn't say top six midfielders, I merely said top six. If he was on Collingwood's list instead of ours, Prismall would have a good chance of making their best the way they're playing, and I don't see how this advances your point at all.
"[My] man", btw, would be in our midfield "when fit" and therefore I wouldn't expect to see him in any other team's midfield, and I'd hope he'd prove better than his opponent and prove his quality that way. Much as I'd like to see every man on our list do at some point, just because I know they would.

 

[Turbocat]

I think our list is almost heading towards a musical chair situation , sombody is going to be left standing with out a position at years end. We have started to see the emergance of the future forwards with more to come so it would make sense trim and to top up with the best young mids we can get our hands on at years end, even if they are bottom aged, this will put pressure on the current players
I was never enarmoured with PK before him getting in the A's last year but with quality around him he improved each week he played till he was quite a relaible mid.He would probably fit the Spriggs, Mcgough type that no trade would probably be aranged but would be picked up by sombody. As I said though , just like last year, things change, injuries happen by years end he could be into the main game.If that happened it might be sombody else looking for a seat.

 

[nananana catman]

Yet Rahilly has two or three BOGs to his name and hasn't had a run. Hmm.

Yes, he is also a poorly skilled has been.

I didn't say any. I said 'some'. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm quite happy to defend mine.

does it matter whether it is some or all?

I said 'some'. You're taking it as all. West Coast have arguably the best midfield at this point, and Collingwood the worst. Note I didn't say top six midfielders, I merely said top six. If he was on Collingwood's list instead of ours, Prismall would have a good chance of making their best the way they're playing, and I don't see how this advances your point at all.
"[My] man", btw, would be in our midfield "when fit" and therefore I wouldn't expect to see him in any other team's midfield, and I'd hope he'd prove better than his opponent and prove his quality that way. Much as I'd like to see every man on our list do at some point, just because I know they would.

Prisser is a fair way off senior football no matter how bad the senior side was travelling, hed probably average about 10 touches a game in the VFL. Has nice skills though.

 

[*koulagirl]

Yes, he is also a poorly skilled has been.

Who's rating higher in the best players than Thurley.

does it matter whether it is some or all?

If you're going to argue the point, yes. If all teams were identical in strength and depth then what would be the point?

Prisser is a fair way off senior football no matter how bad the senior side was travelling, hed probably average about 10 touches a game in the VFL. Has nice skills though.

That's not to say that if we were decimated by injury we'd play 17 on the field than put him on, of course.

 

[keepzitreal]

Surely Koula could get recalled next week after that. The guy was in the best for the second half of last season, played a decent finals series, gets injured and they dont bring him back. I reckon his better than Tenace

 

[crazy_big_al]

. I reckon his better than Tenace

Only time will tell. but on previous form i would not agree

 

[GeeCat]

Surely Koula could get recalled next week after that.

He'd be an almighty chance.

Not a knock on him, but Koula's never come across to me as a player who can stay in this side without getting his name mentioned as an ommision every few weeks. Perhaps it comes automatically, but he seems to come across as a fringe player (not on the list as a whole, but on selection matters for our best 22).

That all being said, it's times like these when he'd really be wanting to make a case for selection. Our midfield needs an injection of some serious freshness. We relied on Ricco and Byrnes to provide us with those fresh legs early when we were winning, but it appears to be a far different story when the results aren't falling our way. Koula's proven he can be a handy asset to this team when there's a calling.

Tenace has to go this week, and shouldn't even be up for selection again until he earns it. You can all argue he's only going to find confidence if he stays in the side, but the fact of the matter is, we can't afford to carry players like him. We need to reward the players who play well, and from most accounts Koula is one of those players (Callan and Egan would be two others from the top of my head).