Should Wirrupunda be dropped?

[F-U]

If anyone hasnt noticed lately Wirrupunda has been in absolutely shocking form this year. Hes very fat and slow which rules him out of playing back pocket and midfield and he is too small to play forward. Hes been averaging something like 10 possessions a game this year and for someone whose playing in his position that is shocking. I think its about time Wirrupunda got a kick up the bum and gets dropped. He earns 300 000 yet is playing like heis earning 50 000. Quite frankly i think Wirrupunda is hanging on by a thread.

Who else thinks he shud be dropped?

 

[materamagic]

if he played in the position he knows best that would help his cause, we have a good enough midfield, he does not need to play there, yes he had no spark but i would not drop him.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I think Wirra might be injured. He started on the bench today, spent about 10 minutes on the ground in the first 3qtrs, and played maybe 2/3's of the final quarter.

 

[F-U]

Hes been put in the position he plays and he has been getting absolutely murdered. I think Wirrupunda is spending such a long time on the bench is because they have no where to put him. You would think that the defence would be easier then the midfield for a injured player.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by F-U
Hes been put in the position he plays and he has been getting absolutely murdered. I think Wirrupunda is spending such a long time on the bench is because they have no where to put him. You would think that the defence would be easier then the midfield for a injured player.

You're kidding? Defence is a very hard position to play in, because not only do you have to watch your man, but also the ball, the play, all whilst knowing when to run off your man or support a teammate, etc. Defence is metally draining over 4qtrs, and if you're not physically up to it your direct opponent can have a field day.

 

[F-U]

Key words there were FOR A INJURED PLAYER, because it means less running and less work in general. Mentally defence is harder but not physically

 

[sabre_ac]

Should he be dropped?
Maybe
Should he be traded?
Defintely some how get hay to the eagles for a deal involving wirrapunda

 

[coasting]

Wirra provides a lot of rebound out of defence. Sometimes that rebound is ineffectual but his problem as I see it is that his opponent generally kicks goals. Its not really our style but I think he could do quite well as a loose man in defence.

 

[Exeter]

Should Wirra be dropped?

In favour of who exactly?

 

[Deegle]

Personally im a fan of Wirrapunda however i agree he is having a bad start to the season, the one complaint i have about wirrapunda is he 'zones off' a little to much. But i would keep him in the team simply because of his rebound/drive from defence and id love to see him used as a loose man in defence more often.

 

[vicki]

Originally posted by sabre_ac
Should he be dropped?
Maybe
Should he be traded?
Defintely some how get hay to the eagles for a deal involving wirrapunda

Yeah right. Trade Wirra for Hay! Hay is an injury prone, over-rated player.Has had one standout season. Exactly how many games has he managed in the last couple of years for Hawthorn?I would much rather keep Wirra thanks.

 

[jod23]

Wirrpunda isnt fat nor is he slow. He looks in the same shape he is always in and hasnt lost any of his pace. But yes his form is down.

Should he be dropped? No. We need his experience and cool head down back. Looking at the lineup that took on the Saints on the weekend. I think we had 4 100 gamers, Matera, Cousins, Braun and Wirrpunda. Maybe Morrison. Out of that 5 only Cousins has played over 150.

We also had a ton of players who have played under 20 games in Lynch, Doogs, Nicoski, Jones, Humm, Staker, Gaspar... the list goes on.

If anything, we need Wirra's experience. He is too good a player for this form slump to continue and I believe he will snap out of it sooner rather than later.

 

[bunsen burner]

I'd consider trading Wirra for Zantuck. Forget Hay, he's crap.

 

[southjoy]

Originally posted by jod23
Wirrpunda isnt fat nor is he slow. He looks in the same shape he is always in and hasnt lost any of his pace. But yes his form is down.

Should he be dropped? No. We need his experience and cool head down back. Looking at the lineup that took on the Saints on the weekend. I think we had 4 100 gamers, Matera, Cousins, Braun and Wirrpunda. Maybe Morrison. Out of that 5 only Cousins has played over 150.

We also had a ton of players who have played under 20 games in Lynch, Doogs, Nicoski, Jones, Humm, Staker, Gaspar... the list goes on.

If anything, we need Wirra's experience. He is too good a player for this form slump to continue and I believe he will snap out of it sooner rather than later.

Good comments. I'm sick of all the lets trade Wirra talk. The grass is greener on the other side mentality. This guy is extremely loyal to the club and is simply not in the best of form.
However he is still the calmest of backline players that we have and I think that Woosha was sending him a strong message with last weeks game.
Woosha should play him like we played McKenna. We deliberately played him on the weakest forward so as to enable Wirra to zone off and help out with the other defenders which is why Wirra is often the player who we see standing in the way of the rampaging forward. Obviously against Saints their weakest forward was prob Guerra and we all saw that he needed close attention which is what limited Wirra being used in his usually manner. I still would of played him on Guerra. It wouldn't of been any worse.
All players have slumps and this is where we as supporters should also get behind him. But we Eagle supporters in general are good at victimising players. Sumich, Gerhig, Cummings just to mention a few. No wonder gehrig left!
Lets get behind our loyal servants and give them the support that they give the club.

 

[str8khlr]

He's always been rated on potential and glimpes. Now he's near the end of his career and we have to say he was always over rated. IMO he's past his peak and that wasn't exactly match winning.

 

[southjoy]

Originally posted by str8khlr
He's always been rated on potential and glimpes. Now he's near the end of his career and we have to say he was always over rated. IMO he's past his peak and that wasn't exactly match winning.

How old do you think he is?

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by str8khlr
He's always been rated on potential and glimpes. Now he's near the end of his career and we have to say he was always over rated. IMO he's finished, but he'll still get a game because of the situation we're in again.

He's only 24 and going through a form slump. He's still a very good player.

The reason why I would consider trading him is:

1) We have other players who can fill his role. Maybe not as good, but near abouts - Waters, Nicoski, Selwood.
2) He is valuable. No point in trying to trade Kasey Green for Mal Michael. If we want a good player, we have to trade a good player.
3) We are short on KPP's. What we've got maybe be developing, but they're an unknown quantity. I'd like us to trade for a player who is most likely to be a solid contributor and is destined to play 200+ games.
4) Gaspar is 28, Hay is unreliable, Corns, Mcguire, Scarlett, and Harley aren't going anywhere, and Michael and Leppistch are too expensive.
5) Zantuck is 22, 188cm, solid build, can play both ends, and won't cost an arm and a Judd. It's a speculative trade, but I would be happy with it.

 

[str8khlr]

He looks over 30 and he's been acting over 30 the past couple of seasons. He is not 24. That is bull****. He has lied about his age which was why he killed them at the 16s.

 

[ozzult]

Originally posted by str8khlr
He looks over 30 and he's been acting over 30 the past couple of seasons. He is not 24. That is bull****. He has lied about his age which was why he killed them at the 16s.

Hahahahahahaha.

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by str8khlr
He looks over 30 and he's been acting over 30 the past couple of seasons. He is not 24. That is bull****. He has lied about his age which was why he killed them at the 16s.

Ok stroker.

 

[str8khlr]

If he is 24...does he have another 6 years in him to play until he's "30". I don't think so. Trade him. We don't need another 300k per year player finishing up their career with us.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

The first clue was seeing him use a pensioners card on the bus ... the high pants simply confirmed my suspicions. He's actually in his late 50's. OMG!!1

Anyway, I reckon Woosh has been using Wirra more around the midfield/forward line in the last couple of weeks - so it's perhaps understandable that he's had a few quiet games adjusting to a new role. Before that his form had been good.

He shouldn't be dropped. But he did deserve a bit of a kick up the arse from Woosh.

Oh, and I like the idea of using him in a more attacking role. Let Nicoski, Waters (where has this bloke gone?), Selwood and Chook spend more time in the backline.

 

[coasting]

There was a lot of speculation in Victoria about Wirra's real age because he doesn't have a birth certificate and he had facial hair when he was playing u14s. Regardless of his real age, I think he will be another eagle who retires early and probably has another 3-4 years left in him.

 

[materamagic]

many indigenous children have facial hair in their early teens, thats not unusual. he is 24 and after this form slump will rejuvenate and will have 8 more seasons at least in the AFL

 

[mumma cass]

wirrapunda is the best player in the whole world. i hope they never ever ever get rid of him