Steven King

[Sttew]

Mark Blake is getting better by the week. What a dilemna the selection committee faces. On Sunday's form Blake CANNOT be dropped for King (who notched up 27 disposals in the VFL). Ottens is safe - he is a great ruck, and good insurance in case the forward line falters.
Thoughts?

 

[YOTC]

Whilst Kingy is a good ruckman and better than Blake at this stage, he will just become a liability.

Persist with Blake

 

[thehoff]

I'm extremely glad i am not on the selection committee...

 

[sarah.13]

A lot will depend on whether N. Ablett comes up! If he does leave King in the Vfl for one more game,playing 2 full games and getting plenty of possessions will be good for his confidence.
If Nath doesn't come up then play king, otto FF and King and Blake rotate in the ruck. Hawkins can rotate with Ottens in the forward line.

 

[JUBJUB]

I'm extremely glad i am not on the selection committee...

So is a certain #25

 

[Rockford]

I don't see how they could drop Blake, he has shown constant improvement and his performance on Sunday was great. That said, it wouldn't surprise me to see a straight swap Blake for King As said previously, if Nath isn't fit then we can expect to see Ottens up forward and Blake and King in the ruck.

 

[RememberMe]

Remember how good King was... We haven't really seen anything of him this year. Why should we abandon all hope now. If he goes down again, then lets let him down. If we overplay Blake his body will go down the same way.

 

[Catdog]

A lot will depend on whether N. Ablett comes up! If he does leave King in the Vfl for one more game,playing 2 full games and getting plenty of possessions will be good for his confidence.
If Nath doesn't come up then play king, otto FF and King and Blake rotate in the ruck. Hawkins can rotate with Ottens in the forward line.

I just hope Kingy gets back to his best dont you guys think that would be a big plus for the Cats??? Dont care just wish him the best for he deserves it.

 

[Tonycam*]

There is no question about it. They are bound to give him a go. that is a sure thing. As sure as it is he will break down again and we will be back with Blake & Ottens anyway. Think it would have to be his last chance though.

 

[RememberMe]

It used to be frustrating, just because we didn't have anyone to fill his big boots. We now know that Blake could come in at any stage. King has been that good previously that he deserves a few more chances. He would know though, that the pressure is on him, and if he fails, it's all over.

 

[crosby123]

I want him to come back into the side and have a massive game so I can see the headline: "Return of the King"

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Remember how good King was... We haven't really seen anything of him this year. Why should we abandon all hope now. If he goes down again, then lets let him down. If we overplay Blake his body will go down the same way.

Rubbish. He is 21 now. If Blake's body is falling apart, something is wrong.

 

[Partridge]

A lot will depend on whether N. Ablett comes up! If he does leave King in the Vfl for one more game,playing 2 full games and getting plenty of possessions will be good for his confidence.
If Nath doesn't come up then play king, otto FF and King and Blake rotate in the ruck. Hawkins can rotate with Ottens in the forward line.

Don't think N.Ablett comes into it personally. My own view is that only 2 of King, Ottens and Blake should ever play. Because they are all ruckman and nothing else. If the last 2 weeks have taught us anything, it's that Ottens' future is as a ruckman - not a forward. It's also shown that our forward line can function perfectly adequately with only 2 big guys - whether it's Mooney and Hawkins, or Mooney and N.Ablett.

I'd rest Ottens occasionally down there for very brief periods, but otherwise I'd leave Mooney and the 2 young guys to carry the forward load. They're performing at the moment, so I'd be very reluctant to change it.

 

[gus17]

From all reports Steven King had a pretty solid pre season?
From all reports Steven King is more motivated than ever?
Steven King is know longer carrying the load of Captain!
Steven King know longer has to put up with pressure to play when not fit!
Steven King isnt going to be rushed into the firsts when not fit and out of form!
Steven King wont have to put up with the extra duties of Captain!
Steven King will get support in the Ruck from Blake or Ottens therefore King will not have to play 4 full quarters every week = save his body
Steven King now has a bit of pressure on him as number 1 ruck (which he has been for a long time) from mOttens and Blake.

It sounds a though Steven Kings situation has changed since last year.

Therefore I am still holding onto the dream that my hero ( i have his number on my jumper) will return to his best form. 27 possesions in the VFL is promosing in his first game back.

Does anyone think KING can return to his best or am i a over the top optimist who needs to stop dreaming and face the facts?

 

[year of the cat]

Don't think N.Ablett comes into it personally. My own view is that only 2 of King, Ottens and Blake should ever play. Because they are all ruckman and nothing else. If the last 2 weeks have taught us anything, it's that Ottens' future is as a ruckman - not a forward. It's also shown that our forward line can function perfectly adequately with only 2 big guys - whether it's Mooney and Hawkins, or Mooney and N.Ablett.

I'd rest Ottens occasionally down there for very brief periods, but otherwise I'd leave Mooney and the 2 young guys to carry the forward load. They're performing at the moment, so I'd be very reluctant to change it.

There was a need to play the three when Ottens was required as a key forward. Not now that Hawkins is down there. As we know also Ottens is a far better ruckman than a forward.

King should come in if fit imo. Whilst Blake has definitely improved I remember last year him being embarassed against the hawks in the first game. Grant you that Everitt is no longer in their team. King is a better ruckman and more effective at stopages around the ground at this stage so therefore should be played in front of Blake.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

From all reports Steven King had a pretty solid pre season?
From all reports Steven King is more motivated than ever?
Steven King is know longer carrying the load of Captain!
Steven King know longer has to put up with pressure to play when not fit!
Steven King isnt going to be rushed into the firsts when not fit and out of form!
Steven King wont have to put up with the extra duties of Captain!
Steven King will get support in the Ruck from Blake or Ottens therefore King will not have to play 4 full quarters every week = save his body
Steven King now has a bit of pressure on him as number 1 ruck (which he has been for a long time) from mOttens and Blake.

It sounds a though Steven Kings situation has changed since last year.

Therefore I am still holding onto the dream that my hero ( i have his number on my jumper) will return to his best form. 27 possesions in the VFL is promosing in his first game back.

Does anyone think KING can return to his best or am i a over the top optimist who needs to stop dreaming and face the facts?

I love Kingy too, but unfortunately I think his best form is past him. I'd be happy to be wrong though. I predict he will retire at season's end. We should persist with Blake, he's our future.

 

[Ozzie72]

Stuff King his shit his too slow and can't take any contested marks around the ground for a man of his size is a joke. King's best was back in 2000 stop living in memories the bloke should seriously retire or we trade him for a quality player because King is way too overrated. Stick with Blake his exciting and has a crack which is what I like.

 

[gus17]

I still believe King deserves one last chance without the captaincy burden!!!!!
Not this week but maybe next (it is important to give Blake a series of succesive games if he is going to improve which he is showing.)

 

[thegerman]

IMO King should be resting Ottens in the ruck. Otto is slightly younger I believe and also he seems to be a better tap ruckman.

King is easily better than Blake. I find it funny that people are beginning to rate Blake but whenever he picks up the ball they scream - KICK IT, KICK IT, KICK IT. I laugh at that.

Blake is a good tap ruckman, but around the ground he is lacking. Plus it seems whenever he is in the ruck we lose out, we were killed around the stopages against the Dees.

So King off the bench, with Otto as the main ruck. This is all of course when Nathan is fit and Hawkins is ready to play out an entire season.

 

[SUPASTARR]

I love Kingy too, but unfortunately I think his best form is past him. I'd be happy to be wrong though. I predict he will retire at season's end. We should persist with Blake, he's our future.

Well said Moons. Totally agree Steven is just about finished. Looks slow and if you have a close look at him he has lost his bulk, that he used to good advantage when he was firing. Now it's he who gets pushed around. I'm really worried for his sake. You could tell in his body language sitting in the stands on Sunday when the cameras focused on him. He didn't look real happy and his side was 10 goals up!!! Surely I am not the only one who noticed it.

By the way Moons, you are goin alright in the SC league at the moment but beware- the Superstars are coming

 

[tin can sam]

From all reports Steven King had a pretty solid pre season?
From all reports Steven King is more motivated than ever?
Steven King is know longer carrying the load of Captain!
Steven King know longer has to put up with pressure to play when not fit!
Steven King isnt going to be rushed into the firsts when not fit and out of form!
Steven King wont have to put up with the extra duties of Captain!
Steven King will get support in the Ruck from Blake or Ottens therefore King will not have to play 4 full quarters every week = save his body
Steven King now has a bit of pressure on him as number 1 ruck (which he has been for a long time) from mOttens and Blake.

It sounds a though Steven Kings situation has changed since last year.

Therefore I am still holding onto the dream that my hero ( i have his number on my jumper) will return to his best form. 27 possesions in the VFL is promosing in his first game back.

Does anyone think KING can return to his best or am i a over the top optimist who needs to stop dreaming and face the facts?

I King returned to his best (2000) form, we'd finish top 2, and might win the flag. But he won't.

 

[someday-somehow]

IMO King should be resting Ottens in the ruck. Otto is slightly younger I believe and also he seems to be a better tap ruckman.

King is easily better than Blake. I find it funny that people are beginning to rate Blake but whenever he picks up the ball they scream - KICK IT, KICK IT, KICK IT. I laugh at that.

Blake is a good tap ruckman, but around the ground he is lacking. Plus it seems whenever he is in the ruck we lose out, we were killed around the stopages against the Dees.

So King off the bench, with Otto as the main ruck. This is all of course when Nathan is fit and Hawkins is ready to play out an entire season.

Interesting thoughts but I disagree. King around the ground is next to useless these days.....contested marks anyone?, I know Blake is not taking any contested marks either but at least he moves around the ground more than King.

Do you really think that a ruckman that can only play 10 minutes a quarter and has to be benched because he offers no value up forward when he is being rested is going to win us finals against quality teams?, I don't think so.

If King is fit he must play more game time and push himself to his limits, if he breaks down then he must realise it was not meant to be.

 

[Cat in Newcastle]

King and Blake in the same side rucking? not sure about this, as this would leave Ottens, for the majority, in the forward line. I think we have established Brad is a better ruckman than forward. I'm not sure if i want Blake to go back to the VFL either. I'm out on this one!!

 

[Rockford]

King and Blake in the same side rucking? not sure about this, as this would leave Ottens, for the majority, in the forward line. I think we have established Brad is a better ruckman than forward. I'm not sure if i want Blake to go back to the VFL either. I'm out on this one!!

I think it should be simple, Ottens is our premium ruck option at the moment, whoever is in better form out of King and Blake takes the 2nd ruck spot. There should be no automatic ins to the 22 because of who you are or who you were, it's that mentality that kept Ling in the squad last season when he was below par.