Stevens or Bock ???

[Wood_Duck]

With Bock choy a possible starter in about 4 weeks time, is he an automatic inclusion into the first 22. Stevens has surprised all of us with his form over the last month or so. Hes certainly no Glen Archer but he has done the job now for the last 4 or 5 games. Given that it was only a little over 12 months ago that we thought Bock was a dud, who is our first pick for CHB?

 

[noddy]

As good as Bock was last year he still has to earn his spot in the 22 whenever he becomes available.

At the moment Stevens is doing the job & NC couldn't have asked for more of him than what he is giving at this stage.

Things will get a little trickier when/if Bock has reached match fitness & form & Stevens is still holding down chb without too much difficulty but that scenario is likely to be played out quite often in the second half of the year when players who are now out through injury regain fitness & form.

Bad luck to those that miss out.

 

[drakeyv2]

As good as Bock was last year he still has to earn his spot in the 22 whenever he becomes available.

At the moment Stevens is doing the job & NC couldn't have asked for more of him than what he is giving at this stage.

Things will get a little trickier when/if Bock has reached match fitness & form & Stevens is still holding down chb without too much difficulty but that scenario is likely to be played out quite often in the second half of the year when players who are now out through injury regain fitness & form.

Bad luck to those that miss out.

Yep. We are very lucky Stevens has stepped up. Now we wont be forced to play Bock before he is ready (injury permitting) and as Noddy says, we will have genuine competition for the CHB spot.

 

[Alex99]

Yep. We are very lucky Stevens has stepped up. Now we wont be forced to play Bock before he is ready (injury permitting) and as Noddy says, we will have genuine competition for the CHB spot.

Not just CHB but all over the ground we will be having genuine competition come round 18 or 19. When all of the injured player come back there could be as many as 30 or 31 player fighting for a spot in the starting 22.

 

[RogerRabbit69]

When/if they're both fully fit, I'd go with Bock. He's stronger and quicker.

 

[FCAGJAT]

It'll be hard to split them both but Bock is definitely better at contested 1on1s however Stevens has been improving somewhat in this area. Bock has been an established kpp in the CHB position for last year until injury set him back and it's hard to forecast his form when he does recover from his injury.

Both players have great disposal by feet and provide great run out of defense and setting up plays but Bock just has that superior strength to actually compete with the stronger forwards of opposition teams. Bock's best is definitely better than Stevens' but as he regains fitness it just depends whether Bock can sustain the consistency he maintained last year.

My preference would be Bock but only ever so slightly as I've become a bit of a Stevens fan and he would be hard done by not being selected. Would be happy both ways. Win Win situation for us but not for the players

 

[RogerRabbit69]

Must admit I'd feel very sorry for Stevens if he was dropped. It certainly seems he has worked extremely hard to improve his game. 10/10 for effort.

 

[beartoo]

Hardest of hard calls. Bock at his best just shades Stevens IMO. But can Bock get enough match fitness this year to play a role? Bassett cast doubts about that last week. Same applies to a couple of other long-term injured, Hudson and Welsh. Craig was talking up Welsh's prospects in the post-match interview. Was it this week or last?

 

[CrowTwig]

All these players who are lacking match fitness will be lucky to get a spot in the starting 22, as our current kpps have done well to to cement their spot there. Bock and Welsh will have a particularly tough time working themselves into the starting 22. Looking on the bright side, "if" (touch wood) we are unlucky enough to get injuries to those suggested players, it shows we have the depth to cover them.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Given Bock has missed all the season so far, he will take a while to get match fit & no guarantee of regaining his spot before the end of the year. The beauty of Stevens' finding form is that not only do we not need to rush back Bock, but he will have to earn his place back in the team. I cannot recall our depth & competition for spots being so good.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Stevens on 5AA now.

 

[The Crows Truth]

As good as Bock was last year he still has to earn his spot in the 22 whenever he becomes available.

At the moment Stevens is doing the job & NC couldn't have asked for more of him than what he is giving at this stage.

Things will get a little trickier when/if Bock has reached match fitness & form & Stevens is still holding down chb without too much difficulty but that scenario is likely to be played out quite often in the second half of the year when players who are now out through injury regain fitness & form.

Bad luck to those that miss out.

Agree

with gobson coming on also we may have another spare backman next year

 

[crowsarethebest]

Stevens on 5AA now.

What did he say.

 

[The Crows Truth]

What did he say.

what you would expect....normal cliches etc

 

[-VC-]

If Bock regains his 2005 form (and fitness considering how long he's had off) then definitely him.
Stevens has exceded expectations and has done really well but I still feel safer with an '05 model Bock. I just hope he is able to find that touch.

 

[drakeyv2]

The AFL site has named a WA state of origin team. Stevens got a mention.

Antoni Grover, Jaymie Graham and Scott Stevens were all unlucky to not be named in defence.