Simon Prestigiacomo

[Lonie_from_50]

To Be Honest, I am not a great deal of a Presti fan, but I don't disrespect any Collingwood Players.

Prestigiacomo has been a reliable defender, not the most mobile, or even simply rated as a player by many, yet he always does his job, or close to it each week and keeps his spot.

This season, based on my opinion, It is time he performed or he should face the consequences and go to Williamstown. He is experienced and has been at the club since the 1995 Pre-Season, so is close to a veteran of the game. Is this a season where Presti has to do more to keep a spot, or is he capable and safe of keeping his spot.

But what I see is, Will Simon Prestigiacomo be playing as a Forward this season. He is far from us thinking he is a forward after being so defensive, but statistically, he doesn't get too many spoils in, he does get around 2 goals kicked on him a game, and is too slow to be always behind his opponent. I guess in a marking situation he usually takes out the honours, so when you think about it, his value is not too great, but is an experienced backman.

He has played the last 2 games as a Key Forward and the game I actually saw, he performed well despite kicking the one behind, but he showed more leadership and determination, and it looked like a great move. I think Mick may have got this correct. Tristen Walker is looking great down back and it may finally be his main position. Walker has been known to change from a key position defender, to a floating loose defender, to a strategic forward, to an actual full-forward, and also capable of playing ruck, but he may find the role as that key back.

My tip, is that Presti will play more forward this season. He came to the club as a forward and was chosen at no.10, so he must have been good.

Sorry to all you Presti Fans, but this is where I am coming from on Presti.

 

[guess_who]

Didn't read most of it, but I'm sure it said something along the lines of... PRESTI IS GOD

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Didn't read most of it, but I'm sure it said something along the lines of... PRESTI IS GOD

Not quite, but, there was no real bagging of Presti,

The main contention was, Prestigiacomo a Forward?

 

[FIGJAM]

There's two stats I want that is not readily available at the minute.

1) Goal Assists (ie. posession prior to goal...horrible Yank term, but it works).

2) Goals Conceded Against Direct Opponent.

Presti is outstanding at the second point, against all of the major tall forwards.

Indeed, I find the only forwards he stuggles against are usually the smaller full forwards such as Modra or Kingsley.

I'm a Presti fan in the fact that he's got a cool head and does his job exremely well. And one key difference of opinion: Presti is fast and athletic!

He is absolutely worth the tenth pick we paid for him. No way we should play him forward. I think Tex has more ability in this area and Tex hasn't yet shown me that he can hold down even a third tall at this stage (or any AFL standard player for that matter).

 

[browny4PM]

I just lost a lot of respect for you LF50.

Suggesting that one of the only blokes on our list that beats his opponent every single week should be playing at Williamstown is obsurd.

He may not talk a lot out on the field, but his actions speak a lot louder. If we had more blokes on our list that had the guts and determination that Presti possesses we would be in a much better situation.

Just because he doesn't rebound a lot out of defence doesn't mean he isn't a good defender.

I'd love to see us play without Presti and chuck a young bloke in in his place and see how well he goes. Against quality opposition he probably get 7 kicked on him as opposed to Presti's 2 or 3.

If you're going to start talking about sending players back to Williamstown or trying them in different positions, try making a thread about someone who isn't performing up to standard.

Presti would be one of the first blokes picked in the side each week. Why do you think last year Dunstall said that Presti is the sort of bloke you can build a team around??

 

[Lonie_from_50]

I guess it is one opinion that has it's Fors and Againsts.

Yes, I seriously have a liking for Text at the moment, and he has performed in the back line, while Presti has been moved forward. That was the main option I was looking at putting to discussion. The only reason why I have mentioned him being forward or back is because of the last month, wheras, once again, Text has played there and played successfully while Presti has been given thumbs up in the Forward line.

I would have rather seen Text at FF, and thought it was stupid to put him back in defence, but he has been in our best the last three weeks he has played in the defensive position.

I said that Presti is closer to the cut as a personal opinion, but I do know there are many Presti fans out here. I have a Presti badge, I only have 3 badges, the others are BK and BJ.

The main reason for pointing out he may go into the seconds is that, I think with Text Walker and Nick Maxwell bearing down after great performances down there it just has added more pressure on Presti this season. He has done everything right as a defender, i was just confused as to the reason playing him forward.

I guess it is a good sign, having more depth in the defensive department.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

BTW - This is a bit of a joke, but I would love to see Presti play forward more than this bloke

*picture thanks to Browny

 

[browny4PM]

I personally think he's been playing forward for the same reason that Wakes played for Willi last week. So we can see how Tex and Maxwell go without our best 2 defenders in the match and to see how they handle the extra responsibility.

I think Maxwell is top class, but Tex has a bit of work to do before he pushes Presti out of the back line.

Tex looks a more likely type up forward, but that a pretty tough forward line to break into aswell. He'll have a tough type breaking into our best 18 in my opinion.

 

[grayza]

from what i have seen of him as a forward...and i admit it isnt much, id much rather see him in the backline week in week out beating his opponents....he is very dependable back there, and with Wakes form a solid union

 

[Lockyer24]

Which part of Presti being back to his absolute best down back have people missed this preseason?

Hes fit, hes firing, hes our #1 full back easily. Any talk of him or Wakes being dropped is silly talk IMO.

 

[grayza]

Which part of Presti being back to his absolute best down back have people missed this preseason?

Hes fit, hes firing, hes our #1 full back easily. Any talk of him or Wakes being dropped is silly talk IMO.

i agree

 

[hotpie]

Fully fit he's our best defender by a mile

But he cant play 3/4 or half fit. Needs to be 100% or he's a waste of space.

Walker is coming along nicely and will replace Wakelin and/or Presti in a few years, but until then he'll be a stop-gap tall, playing ruck, forward, defence, or wherever required on a given day.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Against Richmond in the Wizard Cup, Tristen Walker played in the Forward Line from about the 25 min mark of the third quarter, after sitting on the bench most/all of the night. He managed to kick 2 vital goals and was a hard player to match up on in the goalsquare, and this resulted in a Collingwood, come from behind victory.

The Next Week, Chris Tarrant was sidelined with injury. Suprisingly, Tex Walker was played in defence, and Anthony Rocca had to fill in at Full Forward. That was something I found strange considering we had our defence, but we had no forward line.

Micks Mindgames!!!

 

[hotpie]

Tex is learning the game at both ends of the ground. He is being nurtured by Malthouse into a versatile player. Happy to see him at FF one week and CHB the next.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Tex is learning the game at both ends of the ground. He is being nurtured by Malthouse into a versatile player. Happy to see him at FF one week and CHB the next.

I guess another question that comes up is whether Jason Cloke is our starting CHB or if it is Walker.

I have Walker there in my best 22, and suprisingly - so does Mike Sheahan.

 

[browny4PM]

Jason isn't close to our best 22.

Although he is gutsy and strong, we have other blokes that have the potential to be anything. So why have JC in the side and postpone the development of these better players ie Maxwell, Walker. By giving these 2 guys as much senior footy as possible under the guidance of Wakes, Presti and Jimmy, it will only put us in a stronger position come the retirement of Wakes and Presti & Jimmy a few years later.

Jason's done his job, he got Cam and particularly Trav to the club.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Jason isn't close to our best 22.

Although he is gutsy and strong, we have other blokes that have the potential to be anything. So why have JC in the side and postpone the development of these better players ie Maxwell, Walker. By giving these 2 guys as much senior footy as possible under the guidance of Wakes, Presti and Jimmy, it will only put us in a stronger position come the retirement of Wakes and Presti & Jimmy a few years later.

Jason's done his job, he got Cam and particularly Trav to the club.

Totally agree.

Each year Jason has got worse. He played several games last year, only missed due to injury, but got criticised alot, and didn't perform.

His debut season will always be remembered as his best. He looked to have a great future, but whenever Grand Final week pops up, it is not a week to reflect on with Jason. Each of those two weeks, Jason has managed to have a negetive impact on his career, especially the 2003 GF when he played forward and his career was totally screwed.

 

[tarrant]

first things first.....presti was drafted as a CHF and he was a star forward int he udner 18s......but he is our best one on one back line player and will play defence as his main postion for the rest of his carreer......MM is playing presti forward in these preactice matches for basic security (injuries to tarrant and rocca...touch wood)...and also to get him use to taking a shot on goal......(sydney last yr and rich wiz cup)....

 

[Andrew Lovett]

first things first.....presti was drafted as a CHF and he was a star forward int he udner 18s......but he is our best one on one back line player and will play defence as his main postion for the rest of his carreer......MM is playing presti forward in these preactice matches for basic security (injuries to tarrant and rocca...touch wood)...and also to get him use to taking a shot on goal......(sydney last yr and rich wiz cup)....

Ronda hes still a disgrace as most of the collingwood team is.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Ronda hes still a disgrace as most of the collingwood team is.

What is the whole point risking your whole big footy account by saying something like that??? Seriously, what is the logic???

 

[Cyclops]

I love Presti, he's an old fashioned fullback like McCormack or Kel Moore. He negates a KP very well, and only huge brutes like Gehrig and Tredrea have tested him (I think his record vs Tredrea is extremely good).

Presti only ever takes very occasional risks like going for as bit of a gallop. 99% of the time he is blanketing his man in a fair but utterly frustrating manner.

He is a real linchpin in defense, and is well complemented by a player wioth a bit of flair/risk taking, eh Wakelin with his flys and runs, or Lonie and Clemmo.

 

[you idiot sheehan]

I was one of the ones who advocated for Presti to be traded to Melbourne for Johnstone. Had we been able to get Johnstone, believe me, Presti would have been the trade. However, he wasn't traded, and I think we all have to say he is still in the best 22. Our predicament is that over the last few years we have collected a heap of talls, who can play at either end of the ground. It's a good position to be in, and leaves us with a lot of bargaining power at the trade table. Because of our abundance talls, and with quality coming through in the likes of Walker and Maxwell, he have to wonder where that leaves players like Presti and C1. I still think C1 is a great asset to have, even if he doesn't line up in the best 22. Because how often does the best 22 line up? It would be a bit sad it a Cloke found themselves at another club.

But if it becomes evident from this year that we need another quality midfielder, we'll certainly have something to bring to the table.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

I was one of the ones who advocated for Presti to be traded to Melbourne for Johnstone. Had we been able to get Johnstone, believe me, Presti would have been the trade. However, he wasn't traded, and I think we all have to say he is still in the best 22. Our predicament is that over the last few years we have collected a heap of talls, who can play at either end of the ground. It's a good position to be in, and leaves us with a lot of bargaining power at the trade table. Because of our abundance talls, and with quality coming through in the likes of Walker and Maxwell, he have to wonder where that leaves players like Presti and C1. I still think C1 is a great asset to have, even if he doesn't line up in the best 22. Because how often does the best 22 line up? It would be a bit sad it a Cloke found themselves at another club.

But if it becomes evident from this year that we need another quality midfielder, we'll certainly have something to bring to the table.

Good Call

I think our Midfield is quite good, but with Buckley soon to retire, along with Burns in the same period, it is valuable for the long-term we look at midfielders in the trade period at the end of the year. We have picked up Morrison and Caracella who are midfield options, yet they were specifically for the flanks, and also experience. Leon Davis is now set to play midfield as is David King and maybe Alan Didak, but we did get a handy midfield contribution from Benny Johnson last year. We do have the Woewodins, Licurias, Hollands, Shaws, Lockyers but it would be necessary to look at bringing in another experienced yet young midfield player like Sam Mitchell for example (example!!!)

 

[Cyclops]

Its easier to find a midfielder than a KPP. Presti as a good KPP is worth more than a good midfielder like Johnstone.

Anyway, if we wait a year all the overpaid Saints should start falling off the tree. They're due to crash and burn, with a growing rift in the admin, and way to many young fellas getting way to mucvh money with nothing to show for it. I'll take Dal santo and Ball thanks.

 

[tarrant]

totally agree


presti will ahve a very good season this yr