Smart and Bickley to continue

[Stiffy_18]

According to Channel 10 (one hell of a source I know) both Nigel Smart and Mark Bickley could play on next year. How the AFC supporters feel about this??????

 

[Blues_Girl]

Love it!

I vote we clone them

 

[DaveW]

Hard one. I thought Bickley was a cert to retire, whilst Smart's future was still up in the air.

Their form is still quite reasonable. But sometimes, especially in Smart's case, not as good as it could be. You get the feeling that if either of them decide to continue they may not be good enough to hold their spots in the side. And it would be sad for them to finish their careers by coming in and out of the side.

I think they should both go at the end of this year.

 

[bluecrow]

I wouldn't mind if Bicks played on in 2004, but as for Smart...after his last 2 games, hell no! He's had 2 shocking games in a row, which is pretty unusual for him. On the weekend against the Saints he looked like he couldn't be bothered? Not sure what's going on with him!

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

play on, play on, play on, play on, play on, play on!!!!!!!!!

this is a "no brainer" both should play on and I am with Anne, lets clone them.

I can't imagine a Crows team without these two wonderful players.

k
xx

 

[PainKiller]

Dont know if Smarty will retire, he's played pretty well this season (last two games aside), and I don't know if we have enough defensive talent to cover his absence at this stage.

I think this will be Bicks last year though, he's still playing well enough to command a spot in the 22, but I would think he'd like to go out still at the top of his game. Chances are he would have retired last year if not for the Wakelin incident, as I daresay he wouldn't like that to have been his last game. We've got enough midfield talent to make up for his loss in any case.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Bickley is having another good year and it looks as if he can go on another year. However, if he plays on then I feel he is holding back a youngster. We really need to give more game time to the likes of Reilly, Schuback and Bode. If Bickley and club decide that he should go on then I would not be against it but as long as Bickley is brought off the bench ie. still rotate him with Bode but have Bode start on the ground and play 20 minutes of each quarter.

Apart from last 2 weeks, Nigel has had a decent season. Last 2 weeks are really starting to concern me. On both occasions he has been well and truely beaten by his opponent and as a result has spent time on the bench. He just like he is not interested at all. If he doesn't improve then he better hang up the boots at the end of the year.

Bickley is probably "easier" to replace than Smart but there comes a time when you have to put all emotions aside and move on. In the long term its probably better that they both retire at the end of the year.

 

[tribey]

Both of them play on... wack them on the vets list.

They're 1000 times better than some of the players we've brought through in the past season.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Both players have been very handy contributors this year.

Bickley has had a great season (though had a bummer last week) & should continue if he is mentally willing to do so. His body is holding up OK. He is smart enough to work out himself whether or not to continue in 2004. He has probably even surprised himself a bit & would appear he is having 2nd thoughts on retirement.

Smart's form has been more patchy. He has played some damn useful gamed (eg. v Lloyd) but a heap more shockers than in other years. Also, doesn't seem to be the old-Nige physically. I would prefer to reserve my judgement on Smarty until the end of the season.

 

[tribey]

Can I just say that I don't want it to become a nursing home situation like with Mick Martyn at Carlton and Nathan Burke at St. Kilda whereby these players are absolute passengers being carried to 300 games/St. Kilda's club record.

As soon as it becomes painfully clear that the likes of Smarty and Bicks are over the hill, they should be thanked for their service and retired.

 

[napsyd]

Love both blokes to death.

Bickley would appear to have the form to go on, the rest is whats in his head. BUT, there is no doubt in my mind that he is holding back a younger developing player. Take this week for instance. Earlier (before we knew Massie would miss another) we argued about whether Massie should come in and someone else dropped. I suggested Shirley. Is Bickley playing better footy than Shirley at the moment? No IMO. Is Bickley playing better footy than Massie was prior to injury? No IMO. There are intangible things that he brings to the field though. Leadership, fearlessness and strength. Extremely difficult to call, but I think it's time for Mark to hang up the boots.

I was one of the few who believed Smart should have gone at the end of last season. This season he has played some good games and some bad, which really has always been Nigel to me. There is a similarity this year with last in that he had a bad form fade at the end of the year which seems to be repeating this year. Again, I think it's time for Nigel to hang up the boots and let some kids develop further. IMO 2004 will be the year that Mattner becomes a regular contributor and maybe Parker becomes a part of the team, but with a bloke like Nigel who's shadow is huge and who's boots are even bigger still around it might be tough for them.

Tough call, particularly on Bicks, but I think its time for both of them.

 

[Jars458]

Bickley will retire

Smart should have another year.

If we win the flag I think Smart will retire as well probably.

Losing both at once would be a huge blow to the Club.

Nigel does well on the big players and there would certainly be a role for him in my view, even if he pinch hits up forward.

Mark is certain to retire so he can go out on top and start his media career.

Round 22 may be his last game at Footy Park. Hopefully the boys can win for him.

 

[noddy]

As much as i love & admire both these guys i believe both of them should call it quits after this year regardless how we finish up,

time to make way for the young blood,

 

[Damp Squarie]

Both should go-with a premiership medal

Emotion aside, they should retire gracefully IMO.
I was all for Nigel not goin around again this year so I definately would like him to pass the baton, so to speak.

As for Bicks he could go again I think but it seems to me hes being nursed a bit. I wouldnt want to see that increase next year at the expense of some youngun.

 

[macca23]

I voted for both to retire.

These two players have been the heart and soul of the Adelaide Footy club since its inception.

I want them to be remembered exactly as that and not take the risk of perhaps playing one year too many.

Overall Bicks has had a great year playing every game, with most of them just being classic Bicks. Nige has played every game as well and while quiet in a few of them that's Nige - he saves his good ones for when he is standing the champions of the game.

And that's how I want to remember them.

 

[maccas_no1]

I unsure on this one I voted both to play on as the side just doesnt seem the same without their names in it

But then you think about the future and getting new blood into the AFC..................hard decision I think if we win the flag they will definately both go,Im pretty certian this is Bicks last season and I think Smarty might go one more.

 

[lozstar]

i voted for they should keep on playing next year.

if they get a bit like mick martyn (with only playing just to get to 300 games) they should retire, so that they won't be remembered in a bad way.