Retirees?

[matwt73]

At the start of the year we had three senior players who we might have thought were at or approaching their last year. How do we think they are going, for mine-

Hudson- Ben has already retired once so I don't expect him back next year but I'd be ok if he was. He has been immense this year. With Leuey out and Longer still developing, he has tucked almost all year with only Sauce for support and seems to be holding up. I would be tempted to ask him to stick around and do next year what we thought he would do this year, Ruck a few matches, spell Leuey and help with Longer's development.

Black- I suspected this would be Blackcs last year, now I'm not sure. There have been a few weeks missed which suggests his body is starting to wear down, and he now our number 4 midfielder, but when fit he is still in our best 22. He deserves to make the call but it could be a call based on Frank re-assessment of how we use him and that may take some careful thought. (i don't think he has the pace to play the small forward role)

Brown- for the last two weeks Brown has looked old and tired. Against GC he didn't look able to attack the ball and when he did he nudged it. He looked like a worn out lumbering dud. But he is still leading our Goal Kicking (or close to it), and Roger Merret led our forward line for years looking like that. Brown is getting on, maybe he has only more year but I'm not going to write him off yet. I think we need to look at our forward structure, get games into Lisle this year and see where we are at, but Browny should go around again.

NB- over a year as a Bf member and this is the first thread I've started.

 

[Grimreepah]

Hudson - I think the club would love him to play again, so it's a matter of whether he wants to or not.

Black - He is playing well enough so it will come down to a medical assessment on his knee. But I'd be surprised if he wasn't playing next year.

Brown - ??? recent form has been a worry. Not sure where he's at.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Could taking the captaincy away from Browny perhaps prolong his career? Or is he too entrenched in that position?

I didn't like the idea of Browny being sole captain at all. We've since become too reliant on him methinks.

 

[Nick Lions]

All three of those guys are still important cogs in the team, despite the drop in effectiveness from each of them. But, to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if all three called it a day. Browny really struggled yesterday, against Warnock of all people. His endurance hasn't dropped off yet though, so he may choose to go around again if he feels he can still run the opposition's best forward ragged and contribute towards the end of games. Black can still compete as well as any of our midfielders, but that knee problem could see him miss games in patches. I think Hudson deserves to retire. He's carried our ruck division all year, after choosing to retire last year. Another few who haven't been mentioned are McGrath and Drummond. McGrath's hamstring injury wasn't a pretty one, for want of a better word and now we may have another injury setback for Drummond and there is every chance he could call it quits if it is another long lay off.

My assessment sounds very doom and gloom, but I'm trying to be a realist.I truly think it is time to blood the youth in the positions these guys play. Give Brown and Black and Hudson a rest in the next few weeks and bring in the younger blokes for one or two games. We've already had a far better season than last year, so Vossy should feel his job is safe. West Coast is a perfect time to rest players. We aren't expected to win in Perth (rightly so), so saving Brown and Black a plane trip over can't hurt in the long run. Maybe freshen them up before potentially winnable games against Richmond and Carlton. Rest them again against Adelaide with a winnable game against Port the week after. We may be surprised by the performances of our youth and it may prolong the careers of our veterans.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Yay! Another contract for Monty!

 

[Bucking Beads]

Hudson is the best performing of the 3 old guys this year. He has simply been outstanding. Black should keep going if his knee holds up. He is starting to struggle with the pace though IMO. Browny is shot, just too slow and can't take a trick from the umps. Need to just sit him in the goal square more IMO.

 

[Black Magic 02]

I would not be at all surprised if Browny hangs up the boots this year. Devastated, but unsurprised.
Seems a shadow of his former self.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I could see Huddo go one more round.

 

[Haso]

I have a man-crush on Huddo. He has carried our ruck work all year, and then battles when the ball hits the deck. Long live the beard.

 

[alscotoz]

Could taking the captaincy away from Browny perhaps prolong his career? Or is he too entrenched in that position?

I didn't like the idea of Browny being sole captain at all. We've since become too reliant on him methinks.

Think this is a good call and is in no way disrespectful. It's worked well for other players and given them a new lease on footy life. He'll never stop being a leader anyway. Think all 3 can go around again but think Black will retire, not sure about Hudson but he has been a very astute recruit.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Taking the captaincy off Brown won't make him faster or more agile. I wouldn't be in favour of it tbh

 

[patfullfankezz]

Taking the captaincy off Brown won't make him faster or more agile. I wouldn't be in favour of it tbh

I'd take a bit of the pressure off him to be our game winner though. Worked for Tendulkar and Ponting.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

At times this year, when Huddo's been wrecked and has been rucking all day against some of the best in the comp (Cox and NicNat eg), I'm pretty sure I've just seen a look on his face of 'this is not what I signed up for'. He was probably counting on spending a fair bit of the year in the reserves, or if in the seniors, as the secondary ruck, so I'm not too sure he will go again for that reason. I'd love him to, but he was going to retire originally, and only came up here to help out a bit and give us a back up option. Turns out that's become the primary option all year, and I just don't know entirely if he's up to that body or mind-wise.

As for Browny... something needs to change. I don't think it's past him yet, but something needs to. AFL isn't so much a game of the big, powerful lead up forward anymore (imo a big reason why those saying Fev would dominate if given a contract are off the mark), but he can do so much more than he currently is. I think he just needs the end of season break to get here as soon as possible. And you can bet all money that he's beating himself up more for his bad form than anyone on here is.

I've got a feeling Blacky will stay. It was interesting last night that even with Rich gone, he wasn't the primary midfielder. I think with that responsibility off his shoulders, he'll stick around.

 

[Monkey Daniel]

Brown to stay at Full Forward ( like Lynchy in his final years ) with Blacky at his feet in the forward pocket or off the HFF. Would like to see Hudson go around again.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Browny hit a fairly good patch of form going back a month, but has since been average at best.I lamented at the intra-club that he looked shot - couldn't run or jump off the ground. I then had to eat my words as he started playing up the ground a bit more. Now he's back to looking like a lame duck.

The trouble is he's a CHF first and foremost but looks as though it's taking its toll.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Browny hit a fairly good patch of form going back a month, but has since been average at best.I lamented at the intra-club that he looked shot - couldn't run or jump off the ground. I then had to eat my words as he started playing up the ground a bit more. Now he's back to looking like a lame duck.

The trouble is he's a CHF first and foremost but looks as though it's taking its toll.

Maybe it'll come down to having to be a stay-at-home full-forward ala Alastair Lynch (GOD), although is there any place in the modern game for the big-bodied full-forward? I look at the first goal of the 2003 Grand Final and wonder if in todays game Lynchy wouldn't have been pinged?

 

[Bucking Beads]

Brown playing as a stay at home forward doesn't play to his biggest strength IMO. I have a bad feeling his time is running out. I hope he proves me wrong

 

[Jorgo]

I'd almost go as far to say that we need Huddo to go around again...

 

[patfullfankezz]

Brown playing as a stay at home forward doesn't play to his biggest strength IMO. I have a bad feeling his time is running out. I hope he proves me wrong

Maybe a reinvention is what he needs.

Drop the captaincy so he can focus on his own game more, and reinvent himself as a stay-at-home forward. They say change is as good as a holiday.

 

[Football Pope]

I'd take a bit of the pressure off him to be our game winner though. Worked for Tendulkar and Ponting.

Yeah.. but both Ponting & Tendulkar could use a 1.2-1.5 kg pieces of willow while going for the ball and bodyline tactics of deliberately aiming at a player with intent to injure have been outlawed..Brownie hasn't been given that luxury..

 

[Elixuh]

At times this year, when Huddo's been wrecked and has been rucking all day against some of the best in the comp (Cox and NicNat eg), I'm pretty sure I've just seen a look on his face of 'this is not what I signed up for'.

He always has a look of shock/surprise/awe on his face hahaha. A gaping mouth and bulging eyes.

 

[Ceebee]

Love Huddo, hope he goes round again.
Deserves a bonus for what he has done for us this year,been outstanding.

I am wondering if Brownys form is a lack of confidence after his head knocks,or lack of cognitive skills from them.
Whatever it is ,makes me sad to see him as he is now.
Lets hope he picks up and we have him another year.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I love what Huddo has done for us and am happy to see him go around again but with any luck Leuy plays the whole season in 2013 and Huddo isn't needed

 

[alscotoz]

Maybe it'll come down to having to be a stay-at-home full-forward ala Alastair Lynch (GOD), although is there any place in the modern game for the big-bodied full-forward? I look at the first goal of the 2003 Grand Final and wonder if in todays game Lynchy wouldn't have been pinged?

Good question. Not so sure there is unless they're adaptable/flexible.

 

[Last of the Roys]

Personally I would be shocked to see any of Hudson, Brown or Black not play on next year. They are still all very important to us. Yeah they are all near the end, and they can go through some down periods (like Brown in the last three weeks) - but they can all still be game winners for us and have been this year.

Brown is the one most people have now jumped on after three so/so games (39 disposals and 4 goals is still not that bad for three poor weeks). But his year so far = averaging 15.1 disposals a game vs. 14.8 career average; 7.3 marks a game, same as his career average; and 1.9 goals a game down 0.4 from his career average of 2.3. Still most forwards would take those figures any day of the week, and the Lions certainly still need him out there at this stage.

About Hudson, I must admit I was very much against us picking him up at the start of the year. He has completely proved me wrong though and we desperately need him to go around again next year.

The only retirement / forced retirement that is definitely likely is Buchanan.