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I was just wandering around, and I found this article on the Herald Sun website from just before Christmas, about the delectable (
) Dean Solomon. You gotta love Solly!
Solomon hits back at Tarrant link
16 December 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
Jay Clark
DEAN Solomon has described jibes he was a "stable pony" for Chris Tarrant and a wasted trade as a driving force to cement a place with Fremantle.
The reborn forward was one of the club's few success stories of 2007, lifting himself off the AFL scrapheap to become one of Fremantle's most valuable and consistent performers.
But the 27-year-old, who took aim at being referred to as a minder for teammate Tarrant, said his extraordinary transition from Essendon discard to Fremantle enforcer would count for little if he couldn't repeat the dose next year.
"There was a lot of pressure through the media that I lost form, that the game had gone past me and that I was just a stable pony over here," Solomon said. "All that stuff was written, and you have to laugh, but if anything it made me more motivated.
"Because I firmly believe I am not just over here to make up the numbers, I believe I can play the game at this level.
"And while I am not a Brownlow medallist, or a best and fairest player, I know I can hold my own in this game.
"I just want to back up last year now and for me that's the toughest challenge."
The selfless nature of Solomon's role -- protecting teammates at the contests and assisting goals -- often meant he did not receive the kudos he deserved.
But the club's move to nab Solomon, for picks 42 and 47 in the 2006 draft, was clearly justified when he finished equal fourth in Freo's best and fairest award.
"I was satisfied with it but I don't think it was a great year," he said. "You do see a lot of footballers play really well in the first year at a new club and in the second year get a bit complacent.
"That's my main goal at the moment, not get complacent and just try and be consistent year on year."
In a twist, Solomon's former Bombers teammate Mark Johnson is in the same boat and Solomon has no doubt his mate can lead a similar revival at Fremantle.
Johnson was recruited by Fremantle in last month's national draft along with another Essendon discard, Kepler Bradley.
Solomon said Johnson's versatility and hardness would be a huge coup for a club desperate to play to its potential after a disastrous 2007.
"He is one of those players who I put in my top five guys who I've always loved to play with, because he is a competitor and you know he is always by your side," Solomon said.
"If you're ever in trouble he is there for you and he hates losing and he is going to be for two or three years a very good asset to this football club."
Hopefully in 2008 MJ MKII can give us a bit of what Solly did in 2007. We might get 2-3 years out of MJ - but if Solomon continues the way he did this year, we might still get another 3-4 years from him. He's not even turned 28.
) Dean Solomon. You gotta love Solly!Solomon hits back at Tarrant link
16 December 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
Jay Clark
DEAN Solomon has described jibes he was a "stable pony" for Chris Tarrant and a wasted trade as a driving force to cement a place with Fremantle.
The reborn forward was one of the club's few success stories of 2007, lifting himself off the AFL scrapheap to become one of Fremantle's most valuable and consistent performers.
But the 27-year-old, who took aim at being referred to as a minder for teammate Tarrant, said his extraordinary transition from Essendon discard to Fremantle enforcer would count for little if he couldn't repeat the dose next year.
"There was a lot of pressure through the media that I lost form, that the game had gone past me and that I was just a stable pony over here," Solomon said. "All that stuff was written, and you have to laugh, but if anything it made me more motivated.
"Because I firmly believe I am not just over here to make up the numbers, I believe I can play the game at this level.
"And while I am not a Brownlow medallist, or a best and fairest player, I know I can hold my own in this game.
"I just want to back up last year now and for me that's the toughest challenge."
The selfless nature of Solomon's role -- protecting teammates at the contests and assisting goals -- often meant he did not receive the kudos he deserved.
But the club's move to nab Solomon, for picks 42 and 47 in the 2006 draft, was clearly justified when he finished equal fourth in Freo's best and fairest award.
"I was satisfied with it but I don't think it was a great year," he said. "You do see a lot of footballers play really well in the first year at a new club and in the second year get a bit complacent.
"That's my main goal at the moment, not get complacent and just try and be consistent year on year."
In a twist, Solomon's former Bombers teammate Mark Johnson is in the same boat and Solomon has no doubt his mate can lead a similar revival at Fremantle.
Johnson was recruited by Fremantle in last month's national draft along with another Essendon discard, Kepler Bradley.
Solomon said Johnson's versatility and hardness would be a huge coup for a club desperate to play to its potential after a disastrous 2007.
"He is one of those players who I put in my top five guys who I've always loved to play with, because he is a competitor and you know he is always by your side," Solomon said.
"If you're ever in trouble he is there for you and he hates losing and he is going to be for two or three years a very good asset to this football club."
Hopefully in 2008 MJ MKII can give us a bit of what Solly did in 2007. We might get 2-3 years out of MJ - but if Solomon continues the way he did this year, we might still get another 3-4 years from him. He's not even turned 28.
i must admit, i dont mind sharing johnno with solly and to be honest if i was going to choose a second player to be my buddy it would have been solly.
