BL v StK · WB v FRE · RIC v HAW · ADE v SYD · NM v COL · GWS v PA ·
And post your "Liked, Learned, Hated" right here.
The question being though, will he only play if one of Laird or Crouch come out of the team? Or will Nicks give him a run with the other two still in the side? I feel as though he is seen as depth for these guys and will have to wait for one to get injured or rested.
Honestly Dowling's skillset is vastly different to both Crouch and Laird, only thing he really has in common with those 2 is his ability to accumulate. Crouch and Laird are basically 1st touch inside mids, Dowling is way more balanced as a balanced mid (inside/outside), not overly quick but for size is very good overhead and has shown at U18's level he can be effective as a lead up medium forward that can hit the scoreboard. I'd like to see him given a go on the wing working between the arcs as a starting point to his AFL career.
Even when the facts around the intel are incorrect? Dowling is not in a contract year.
Players can break contracts, and clubs don’t only watch those out of contract.
You just know the club will use the Hardwick Bounce to roll thrugh the same group
Uhhh
, "the Hardwick Bounce" ...?
)
2015 Richmond finished 5th and 2016 dropped to 13th and rumbles led to a review where instead of sacking Hardwick the board gave him more support and then 2017Uhhh
Ah yes OK, thanks, see edit please.
You wouldn’t have thought he’d be made sub the other day either…
yeah, when it comes to our under-developed youth, good-old-Nicksy is full of (disappointing) surprises
Which just highlights the fact that he should have already come into the team for either Mchenry, Sholl or Jones and play on a wing. None of these guys have been performing at a level which should guarantee their spot.
Nicks
Guess it was a good game for him, low bar though. Lacks polish.
Uhhh
(P.S. I'm familiar with the Hardwick Hold, eg Eddie, goalsquare 2017 GF,
the Hardwick Incidental Punishment ie clobbering a bloke after disposal.
The Hardwick Pack Ploy, ie holding a man down in a marking pack on an Ump's blindside,
even the Hardwick Fake-out, ie pretend to be cooked, resign, then do a deal with the AFL to Coach GCS
on squillions
Taking whose spot? It's easy for Nicks to say that as no doubt, an injury/opportunity will arise.
My intel about clubs circling Dowling is not wrong, even if the contract bit is. Source is someone in list management at an interstate club that tracks talent not getting regular AFL games closely.
Bombs to a pack? His kick to Rachele at the top of the square had to be precise, especially with the sun in Rachele’s eyes.
You're optimistic, we would still have to face Sydney, Brisbane, Essendon and Geelong away with guys like Jones, McHenry, Smith, and Murphy running around
I’m sure Sydney, Carlton and GWS supporters felt the same at mid season of 2023 too! IF we won our next 3 and knocked off Sydney at home, those games don’t look as scary. Big IF though as our form this year would dictate it’s unlikely we are winning our next 4 anyway.You're optimistic, we would still have to face Sydney, Brisbane, Essendon and Geelong away with guys like Jones, McHenry, Smith, and Murphy running around
No argument from me if he gets a shot on the wing in place of Sholl or Jones at some point if they don't perform.
