Stephen Gilham

[Changamagic]

Guys, interested in the thoughts of others regarding Gilly's return. I read the BH reports etc but am still no more informed regarding when he is likely to return.

It is obvious that his return will give our defensive structure a far stronger look and with the imminent return of Gibbo I feel that our back 6 looks ok, even good!

Surely with Gilly and Gibbo beside him Schoey is granted a different hand most weeks...

 

[MJK_23]

If he gets back anywhere neat his best we have a massive boost to our flag chances! Just need to work on converting chances then lol

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Gilham should return in the next few weeks you'd think, depending on what program the fitness and conditioning guys have set for him.

With his return to the side, Schoenmaker's can then be used off the half back line, or possibly even as a swingman up on the forward flank.

One thing I'm certain of, Clarkson will be very keen to free Schoey up so we can use his disposal further up the ground.

 

[Changamagic]

Gilham should return in the next few weeks you'd think, depending on what program the fitness and conditioning guys have set for him.

With his return to the side, Schoenmaker's can then be used off the half back line, or possibly even as a swingman up on the forward flank.

One thing I'm certain of, Clarkson will be very keen to free Schoey up so we can use his disposal further up the ground.

Good point Echols, I totally agree that Gilly's return will possibly see Schoey removed from the 'key post' positions and allow him to further blossom as an important ingredient for the future success of the HFC.

 

[maxsmart]

wishful thinking seems to be turning Gilham into the monster defender capable of holding the big forwards that will solve all our issues- he was never big enough in the past to be the no.1 so l ask why will he be when he returns?
For those in the know has he got bigger and stronger whilst he has been sidelined?

 

[PenAndPaper]

wishful thinking seems to be turning Gilham into the monster defender capable of holding the big forwards that will solve all our issues- he was never big enough in the past to be the no.1 so l ask why will he be when he returns?
For those in the know has he got bigger and stronger whilst he has been sidelined?

The thing is though he has hardly ever been monstered. He may not be the monster size defender but at least he is able to to wrestle in a contest when no one else really can.

 

[xellis]

wishful thinking seems to be turning Gilham into the monster defender capable of holding the big forwards that will solve all our issues- he was never big enough in the past to be the no.1 so l ask why will he be when he returns?
For those in the know has he got bigger and stronger whilst he has been sidelined?

Got to agree with this - Gilham never has and probably never will be capable of taking the number one forward each week. Nevertheless, will be good to have him back.

 

[Roby]

Got to agree with this - Gilham never has and probably never will be capable of taking the number one forward each week. Nevertheless, will be good to have him back.

Yes he has.

 

[philohk]

Gilly's stats don't say 'monster', but as said above he was very rarely out-wrestled. He's also composed - picks good options and kicks neatly. I'm not sure that he'll free Schoey up though - maybe the two of them will take the big forwards with Gibbo to help out.

Anyway, Evans originally said 4-6 games at BH, FWIW. That's up pretty soon. Seemed to play well Saturday after a week's layoff. Another 1-2 weeks?

 

[Flukey!]

Got to agree with this - Gilham never has and probably never will be capable of taking the number one forward each week.

Really?
Since we lost Croady, who else have we had?

 

[jpzhawk]

Gilham is experienced, a good kick, reads the ball and is an average enough size to provide a good contest and at least not make it easy for oposition forwards.
He will also take the pressure of Gibbo, Shoey, Goo, Stratts and with the return of Hodge it makes our backhalf alot more capable.
Gilham is a much better option than Boumann.

 

[Buddysurkidsdad]

IMO Schoey is the bloke that we build our backline around. He is the 'monster' most of us have been craving since Croady retired. Gilham can still be a very important inclusion structurally but I think Schoey should play on the best opposition key forward each week. This week he should go straight to Clark, next week Pavlich etc...
He has all the tools to smash these blokes and still of plenty on the rebound. Despite the pasting he gets from some around here he is improving at a massive rate.
End Schoey rant.

 

[Flamin Joe]

I agree Shoey has been improving week by week which I think is largely due to a rise in confidence. I thought he played very well against Roo on the weekend.

My only question mark at the moment over Shoey is his slow decision making. He got caught holding the ball a couple of times against St Kilda because he was just too slow to dispose of the ball. I get nervous everytime he gathers the loose ball and hasn't got much space.

But back to Gilly, now that we are into the "easy" rounds I think it would be an ideal time to bring him back up to AFL speed.

 

[NICE1]

wishful thinking seems to be turning Gilham into the monster defender capable of holding the big forwards that will solve all our issues- he was never big enough in the past to be the no.1 so l ask why will he be when he returns?
For those in the know has he got bigger and stronger whilst he has been sidelined?

Spot on...still dnt think he is the answer to cambat the monstor forwards of the game

 

[realhawk]

Gilham is experienced, a good kick, reads the ball and is an average enough size to provide a good contest and at least not make it easy for oposition forwards.
He will also take the pressure of Gibbo, Shoey, Goo, Stratts and with the return of Hodge it makes our backhalf alot more capable.
Gilham is a much better option than Boumann.

Correct , and when he has played full seasons he has been amongst the leading spoilers in the competition. Gilly in our side is a must if we are to push into the top 4.

 

[Hawk88]

Don't think they were saying he would be the monster we are looking for. Just that he will strengthen our backline overall. Gilham is a natural defender and also has a very high kicking %.

Gives us another option on the ground if the shoe is getting owned also, while atm if shoey gets touched up we got no back up plan.

 

[NICE1]

Don't think they were saying he would be the monster we are looking for. Just that he will strengthen our backline overall. Gilham is a natural defender and also has a very high kicking %.

Gives us another option on the ground if the shoe is getting owned also, while atm if shoey gets touched up we got no back up plan.

Yeah fair enough....does anyone think Boumann should be given time to be that answer?

 

[Prudster]

Gilly doesn't have to be the monster we need. He can play a role that we have nobody else to play, and that is to free up Gibson. How much better does Schoey look when Gibson is constantly coming third man up? Gilham will also receive a fair amount for help from Gibson and others. Geelong's defence is not fantastic because they have the best defenders, it is because they have great structures, and they all know when it is their turn to go and back each other up.

 

[philohk]

Yeah fair enough....does anyone think Boumann should be given time to be that answer?

Boumann might turn out to be a good player, but he's simply not in front of Gilham. When Gilham's ready he has to come straight back in.

So someone's going to miss out if we play a six-man defence, but I can't think who. Do we do this?

Guerra, Gilham, Gibson
Stratton, Schoe, Birchall

That looks nice and releases Burgoyne and Hodge to midfield / forward. Is it too tall though? Can we back Stratts, Gibbo and Birch to cover quicker small forwards? And if Burger goes back in there, who misses out? We need both of Gilly and Schoe, I think, and Goo, Gibbo and Birch are automatic selections. So Stratts dropped? Birch to a wing? A seven-man backline? What do the learned folk of BF think?

 

[maxsmart]

Philohk touched on what l was getting at- we cant play all 4 of Shoey, Gilham, Gibson and stratts can we? we would lack defensive run
Gilham might be a good footballer with great disposal etc but is he much better than stratts and Shoey at the minute? How improved is our side going to be? yes it gives us more options but it wont solve the perceived problem
Remember the game has changed a lot in the 12 months he has been out- a lot more long bombs to the top of the square than when he last played- he would be outpointed as much, if not more than Shoey

 

[philohk]

Philohk touched on what l was getting at- we cant play all 4 of Shoey, Gilham, Gibson and stratts can we? we would lack defensive run
Gilham might be a good footballer with great disposal etc but is he much better than stratts and Shoey at the minute? How improved is our side going to be? yes it gives us more options but it wont solve the perceived problem
Remember the game has changed a lot in the 12 months he has been out- a lot more long bombs to the top of the square than when he last played- he would be outpointed as much, if not more than Shoey

Agree that we might also lack run, but I don't know about your other points. As I and others have said, Gilly was rarely outwrestled, so in that way, yes, he would be a better option than either Stratts or Schoe. I think Schoe has to play though, and I reckon Clarko will want him to.

 

[Rev08]

Gilham should return in the next few weeks you'd think, depending on what program the fitness and conditioning guys have set for him.

With his return to the side, Schoenmaker's can then be used off the half back line, or possibly even as a swingman up on the forward flank.

One thing I'm certain of, Clarkson will be very keen to free Schoey up so we can use his disposal further up the ground.

Out of interest, whose role "further up the ground" will Schoey take? Could only be half forward, because I can't see him removing any of Birchall, Guerra, Suckling etc from half back. And if he goes forward, that would surely put an end to Hale's spot in the team. A forward line consisting of Rough, Hale, and Schoey would be far too slow.

IMO Gilham's return should see Schoey take the #2 forward, Gilham #1, and give Gibbo greater freedom to play 3rd man up.

 

[Roddy]

Interesting that out of the three important players who copped long term injuries last year, Rough, Stratts and Gilly, the latter seems to be the one we're being the most cautious with. His must have been the worst.

 

[gianytee]

IMO Schoey is the bloke that we build our backline around. He is the 'monster' most of us have been craving since Croady retired. Gilham can still be a very important inclusion structurally but I think Schoey should play on the best opposition key forward each week. This week he should go straight to Clark, next week Pavlich etc...
He has all the tools to smash these blokes and still of plenty on the rebound. Despite the pasting he gets from some around here he is improving at a massive rate.
End Schoey rant.

This is right!!!!! 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Schoey with or without Gilham is our number 1 key defender and it should stay that way however Gilham returning gives us options GREAT OPTIONS for one thing i love schoeys disposal on the run on the wings but last line of defence he may be that last player i want with the ball. Gilham is great at switching up play. Also what happened against Geelong wont happen as often as Schoey can get matched up on a CHF which he matches up great against rather than a power forward. Gilham seems to hold his own on power forwards but has problems with faster forwards. Also imagine against geelong when Schoey was getting smashed allowing schoey to be freed up on the wing to use his long kick and have Gilham and Gibson take on Pods and Hawkins.

However like others have said there is no way we can have stratton, gibson, schoey, gilham in the one team particularly with guerra and birchall you have to factor in. Stratton hasn't been great in 1 on 1 situations or loose man compared to Gibson so if he wants to stay in the team he'd better improve.

 

[Rumblah#16]

Gilham comes straight in when fit. As much as I love him I think Stratton makes way. Gilham and Schoenmakers on the two main forwards, Gibson becomes third man to most contests. Our defence will look so much stronger.