Review Simon Buckley - 2011 Season Review

[haydenboii]

Simon Buckley:
Number: #27
Height: 190cm
Weight: 93kg
DOB: 18 April 1987
2011 Games: 13
2011 Goals: 8

Simon Buckley endured a frustrating 2010 season with his new club, unable to break into the side. However after putting together an impressive NAB campaign, he was given the chance to debut in the Collingwood jersey in the opening round against Port Adelaide. He finished off the game with a solid 14 disposal game also scoring 2 goals. However he didn't spend that long in the first side, after 2 games being dropped for the Carlton game. Simon's best game was arguably his 26 disposal game against Geelong in round 8. On the night he gathered 14 kicks, 12 handballs and 8 marks. Although he only managed 13 games in 2011 it was a breaking out season for him. Simon averaged 18.7 disposals in 2011 which is a good stat from a back line player. However Simon's biggest problem is he tends to rush things while he has the ball which something he can not afford to do as he is a back men. Simon's biggest strength is his long kicking ability and a great example of this is when he kicked that 60m goal in the NAB Cup campaign. With the recuirtment of Marty Clarke it may be hard for Simon Buckley to pick up a back position however I wouldn't mind seeing him used as a half forward flank player, his kicking may be a weapon going forward, his long kicking towards Cloke will create pressure on the opposition backmen. Hopefully in season 2012 we can see Simon on the field abit more often.

Season Highlights:

22 disps (14 kicks 8 hballs), 5 marks and a goal in Rd 18 54-pt win over Gold Coast

24 disps (13 kicks 11 hballs) and 6 marks in Rd 15 41-pt win over Hawthorn at the MCG

26 disps (14 kicks 12 hballs) and 8 marks in Rd 8 3-pt loss to Geelong at the MCG

 

[blaze036]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

Will be a depth only player in 2012

 

[Magnus the Magpie]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

There were quite a few on this Board had him out the door when delistings talk was at its peak. I like him - if the GF (and the previous 5 seasons) showed anything it's that, when it really counts, you need running players with serious size. Buckley (190cm and 93kg) fits the bill here - and a lot of what he did this year was very good.

Personally, I'm really hoping he establishes himself as a walk-up, 1st-team regular next year. Maybe the solution to his occasional disposal problems is to get him to limit his ambitions and take easier options when they are on. That approach has worked with plenty of others. With his namesake taking over (the guy who 'wrote the book' on disposal), it just might happen. Here's hoping!

 

[Ed D]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

I think he adds depth to the team but there are a few obvious flaws he needs to work on. He has the skills to be able to make it, it's all in his mind as to whether he does or not.

 

[Swooop]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

I wonder, in the mould of Leon except in reverse, If Buckley might be a third forward option.

Given that most think his decision making is his Achilles' heel, I wonder if we utilised his size, mobility, marking and kicking length and accuracy ( from the bits we saw) as that third forward.

That would to a large extent, take the complex decision making out of the equation...he'd either kick it through the goals or kick to the 20 metre hotspot.

Worth a try maybe?

 

[blaze036]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

I wonder, in the mould of Leon except in reverse, If Buckley miaght be a third forward option.

Given that most think his decision making is his Achilles' heel, I wonder if we utilised his size, mobility, marking and kicking length and accuracy ( from the bits we saw) as that third forward.

That would to a large extent, take the complex decision making out of the equation...he'd either kick it through the goals or kick to the 20 metre hotspot.

Worth a try maybe?

Keep him in his current position and let him take his chance when it comes thru injury/resting/suspension. u'd only try a drastic move such as him to the forward line if there was a glaring hole he could fill, which there isnt.

He wont make it as a best 22 player, already been delisted once. Nice kick but lacks in quiet a few areas.

Good for our depth if his on minimum wage deff worth keeping

 

[Ed D]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

I wonder, in the mould of Leon except in reverse, If Buckley miaght be a third forward option.

Given that most think his decision making is his Achilles' heel, I wonder if we utilised his size, mobility, marking and kicking length and accuracy ( from the bits we saw) as that third forward.

That would to a large extent, take the complex decision making out of the equation...he'd either kick it through the goals or kick to the 20 metre hotspot.

Worth a try maybe?

It would be interesting to see but I'm sure he's been tried in that position before and there is a reason for him playing in defence.

 

[lgarth80]

If Buckley would move forward, I think it would be more like Reid in reverse.

Personally I want all our team to have the ability to go forward or back as the situation demands - it just means half way through a grand final we aren't hamstrung by a lack of options as occurred this season.

I see the VFL and senior matches against GC, GWS and whatever other stragglers emerge as being great matches for this sort of experimentation.

Let's face it, there are enough tough matches against quality opponents to have our A game well and truly tested by September.

On Buckley, certainly think he improved as the year went on. He's probably a spot off Goldsack, and would play a different style to Clarke, so you'd think he might be 2 spots off a game in defence. However if he could get his engine up to play a mix of wing-half back-half forward, I think that would make him a very useful swing man (or even substitute if it came to that).

 

[MarkT2]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

There were quite a few on this Board had him out the door when delistings talk was at its peak. I like him - if the GF (and the previous 5 seasons) showed anything it's that, when it really counts, you need running players with serious size.

IMO what it showed is you need poise and time. Buckley should not be in finals calculations. He has a good kick when he has time but no poise when he doesn't and no ability to creat time/space. At his age if you can't make it in year 2 at Collingwood you won't IMO.

I don't see why we got rid of O'Bree & Lockyer and kept a younger version of what didn't quite work. Nearly good enough at most things but not good enough when it's hot.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Made massive improvement in year two, interrupted by a few injuries along the way. Theres no reason why he cant make further improvement next year.

I think he's been a good pickup. Whether he makes it from here is up to him but his improvement is encouraging. Talk of keeping OBree and Lockyer in his place is just ridiculous. They were cooked. Especially OBree. You have to constantly invest in youth, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt, and sometimes it takes an extra year or so.

 

[doppleganger]

Re: Player Review - Simon Buckley 2011

IMO what it showed is you need poise and time. Buckley should not be in finals calculations. He has a good kick when he has time but no poise when he doesn't and no ability to creat time/space.

Agree with this.