Smart Move

[Damp Squarie]

Ive admired "The Nige" ever since he had hair and walked on fire but I reckon he should retire NOW.

I dont think his form in the past season warrants that he be accepted to play on.

I wonder if Ayres really did welcome the decision for Nigel to continue?

Look at the tapes. Hes lost that ability to swerve out of a hot tackle in the backlines and I personally dont think we should jeopardise the clubs future by keeping him.

Will he become a "Mead" and limp over the line as next season ends?

Bickley is different (his form has been superb)and I just wonder whether he hasnt talked Smart into staying on for a testemonial.

 

[noddy]

Originally posted by topjars
Ive admired "The Nige" ever since he had hair and walked on fire but I reckon he should retire NOW.

I dont think his form in the past season warrants that he be accepted to play on.

I wonder if Ayres really did welcome the decision for Nigel to continue?

Look at the tapes. Hes lost that ability to swerve out of a hot tackle in the backlines and I personally dont think we should jeopardise the clubs future by keeping him.

Will he become a "Mead" and limp over the line as next season ends?

Bickley is different (his form has been superb)and I just wonder whether he hasnt talked Smart into staying on for a testemonial.

Your probably right, Nigel has been one of my fav players from day one & i would hate it if he ended up like Mead being dropped back to the sanfl for half of the year, but that said i trust the coaching staff & Nigel himself in that he has it in him for one more year & hopefully go out in style,

i took the easy way out & voted undecided,

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

get off the grass!

Nigel is a legend and he certainly has another good 1 or 2 years in him. He is terrific - don't compare him to that hack Mead at ****ta land. Nigel and Bicks are doing the right thing and playing on they are both super players.

k
xx

 

[King Crow]

Smart had a very good season I reckon, and he definately should and will stay on

 

[ajmart]

I think Nigel should play another year.

Hopefully it will not be one year too many but, if his form drops off, he'll still be valuable to the young players around the club.

Let's try to be more supportive of all the players at our club

 

[DaveW]

Nigel was fantastic this year, especially in the second half of the season! He must've been in contention for All Australian again. Besides who have we got to replace Nigel? The only other key defenders in our side to have cemented a spot are Hart, Bassett and McGregor. If he left, our defence, and hence our side, would be the much poorer for it.

 

[Damp Squarie]

I didnt think he had a fantastic year but I do think our defensive cupboard would look poorer if he did leave. I wont argue that point,but he cant go on for ever...

It would just mean having a bit more faith in the likes of Hart, Bassett,Hewitt, Crowell and Stevens.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I reckon Nigel is smart enough (pardon the pun) to work out whether he is OK to go on or not. The fact he has decided to play on is good enough for me. He may of lost a bit of agility, but he reinvented himself in 2002 as a great negating player, without as much of the run we have associated in the past (but we have younger players such as Crowell for that). He had plenty of big scalps this year & wasn't beaten too often. Keep it up Nige!

 

[snakebite01]

Originally posted by DaveW
Nigel was fantastic this year, especially in the second half of the season! He must've been in contention for All Australian again. Besides who have we got to replace Nigel? The only other key defenders in our side to have cemented a spot are Hart, Bassett and McGregor. If he left, our defence, and hence our side, would be the much poorer for it.

Exactly. Our defence needs another tall to strengthen it and right at the moment we can't afford to lose Smarty. His form towards the end of the year dropped off a bit against the likes of Tredrea, Richardson, Lynch so maybe next year after giving him the big jobs in the first part of the season we could rest him up a bit on the second or third best forward.

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by topjars
Ive admired "The Nige" ever since he had hair and walked on fire but I reckon he should retire NOW.

I dont think his form in the past season warrants that he be accepted to play on.

I wonder if Ayres really did welcome the decision for Nigel to continue?

Look at the tapes. Hes lost that ability to swerve out of a hot tackle in the backlines and I personally dont think we should jeopardise the clubs future by keeping him.

Will he become a "Mead" and limp over the line as next season ends?

Bickley is different (his form has been superb)and I just wonder whether he hasnt talked Smart into staying on for a testemonial.

Hear, hear topjars.

I too was worried by Nigels form this year. He started off well, but in the later part of the season he was soundly beaten by a number of opponents.

Since he has decided to play on, we must utilise his experience with our youngsters, whilst getting the most out of his natural abilities. To me, this means playing him on the number 3 or 4 opposition forwards or using him as a bit of a goal sneak in our forward line.

Nigel is a champion and I accept his decision. But ultimately this decision makes me uncomfortable to say the least.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Im glad Im not alone napsyd.

Maybe Nigel will do a "Bickley" next year and come out and have his best season yet!!

 

[Nige_Bix]

I'd hate to see our defence without Nigel in it next year. I think he performed well this year and wasn't that far behind Bicks. Someone needs to be groomed to take over that role - but who??

Isn't it going to be his testimonial next year?? It would be a pity if he starts the season on the wrong foot and is "forced" to retire before the organised events.