Team V Melbourne

[Allefgib]

You don't think he'll be played off the bench after 10 months out of the game??????

And I am only crying at the exclusion of an in-form player, for an unknown quantity in a returning Roo. I don't want him sacked, but I do want what's best for the TEAM. I am not convinced this is it. Maybe he will prove me wrong and have an absolute blinder today. I hope so.

I'm sure Neil Craig and the selectors, all the players, the board etc et al all wanted to **** the team over this week by including Roo.

You've convinced me Jenny.

Seriously though.. think long term. Roo needs to get back on the field. He gives us a chance to storm into the finals and a legitimate chance of competing for the flag. A fit and firing Roo gives us a potent forward option that will always take the best defender, not to mention have the lads walking 2 inches taller. Now is the time to get him back on the park and see if the long term goals of the TEAM can be served.

We are NOT hurting the long term goals of the TEAM in giving Luke a rest this week. He'd been given instruction, he'd come out and applied it, he got picked and performed and now he sits out and has a good think about it after making way for the greatest crow ever (I'd almost say thats fact). Neil is showing Luke that sure you performed but you've gotten lazy on me in the past. Show me you still want it. Show me you still deserve it.

Its for hell sure that Roo deserves it. And the TEAM deserves the chance to have their champion back in the side to see what a difference he can make.

 

[King Elvis]

Absolutely ridiculous that Jericho was dropped for an unfit Roo who will play off the bench in 5 minute bursts! I love Roo, but to drop someone who is currently in-form and showing us what he is made of is nuts. His confidence would be at an all time low.

Not happy Jan!

When Roo kicks a few goals, or gets a fair few touches, will you apologise to him?

I cannot believe people are questioning this - he is our Captain, our best player and the leader of our team; if he's fit, he's in - absolutely no question about it.

Roo isn't an uknown quality, even half fit, he's still a walk up start into any side in the League.

Once again, you're calling for people like Stevens and Torney to be dropped who have consistently performed well for us, while you want Jericho given special treatment because he's played ONE GOOD GAME.

 

[jenny61_99]

People recently asked us to list our top 10 players that we can't do without in our current team. I know I am NOT the only one who didn't have Roo in the top 10.

Roo to me now is an absolute luxury. I never thought he'd play again and to have him back is an awesome bonus. We talk about structure and what's best for the team - is having a half-fit, ineffective player in the side because of his name and reputation only, what is best for any team? (Please note, this is a hypothetical now). What I mean by this - IF Roo comes back and doesn't play up to expectations, does he hold his spot just because of who he is? At what point do you say no, this is not what is best for the team?

 

[Allefgib]

People recently asked us to list our top 10 players that we can't do without in our current team. I know I am NOT the only one who didn't have Roo in the top 10.

Roo to me now is an absolute luxury. I never thought he'd play again and to have him back is an awesome bonus. We talk about structure and what's best for the team - is having a half-fit, ineffective player in the side because of his name and reputation only, what is best for any team? (Please note, this is a hypothetical now). What I mean by this - IF Roo comes back and doesn't play up to expectations, does he hold his spot just because of who he is? At what point do you say no, this is not what is best for the team?

After he has put in the hard yards, got himself fit, busting to go, is given a few games and then form or another injury shows he is past it.

With a player like Roo you take the chance. You put him in and see.

HOnestly, some of the decision making wanted around here and comments I've read about how much effort so and so is putting in etc seems to ignore the fact that to be successful in this caper you have to have talent, you have to have leaders and you have to take a few risks.

Playing Roo this week was not even what I would call a 'risk' per se but if others deem it was.. well IMO a risk we had to take.

 

[jenny61_99]

After he has put in the hard yards, got himself fit, busting to go, is given a few games and then form or another injury shows he is past it.

With a player like Roo you take the chance. You put him in and see.

HOnestly, some of the decision making wanted around here and comments I've read about how much effort so and so is putting in etc seems to ignore the fact that to be successful in this caper you have to have talent, you have to have leaders and you have to take a few risks.

Playing Roo this week was not even what I would call a 'risk' per se but if others deem it was.. well IMO a risk we had to take.

Look I agree, better to find out now than in the finals. But how about having a go at my hypothetical

 

[Allefgib]

Look I agree, better to find out now than in the finals. But how about having a go at my hypothetical

I'd love to. Roo is neither half fit nor ineffective. Your hypothetical did not apply in this circumstance so why do we even need to discuss that hypothetical. There may be a perception that that is the case but bringing him back mid-year like this.. i've always thought they were delaying it to get him as right as needed to be. Sure he's lacking match fitness but how else do you get that? Maybe play SANFL but I think his 2 goals which could have easily been a few more by the sounds of it (sorry I haven't seen the game) justify his inclusion. Would it be fair to say he had almost as much influence on this game as Jericho did last week?

Lets pick another player as an example for your hypothetical hmm maybe burton and mcleod late last year for the final? Probably not 100% fit (roo is atm by all reports) and their effectiveness before that game would have been in doubt. What were your personal thoughts at that stage? I think most of us felt glad they were picked as we probably felt we needed what they 'could' have offered. It was a risk no doubt but one the club and most of its players were willing to take. The same situation in the middle of the year against a side 0-9, nah I probably wouldnt pick mcleod or bird in the same positions they were in last year with questionable fitness and effectiveness. Roo was neither unfit nor likely to be ineffective.

Roo was not that big a risk. Losing this game sucks and we have alot of problems at the club obviously. But playing Roo this week was almost a necessity.

Again, I was more than happy to entertain other players being dropped than Jericho, I never said he should be the first to go. He can possibly feel hard done by, but watch him come back next week hopefully with a bit of angst to really prove himself again. Craig might seem like a purely straight shooter but his man management has to include a little of blights mind games or he wouldn't be an AFL coach.

 

[Allefgib]

What I mean by this - IF Roo comes back and doesn't play up to expectations, does he hold his spot just because of who he is? At what point do you say no, this is not what is best for the team?

Btw.. I never said he holds his spot just for being 'Roo'.

I have always said he HAD to go in this week. He's ready, he must be played. Thats what I have said.

 

[jenny61_99]

Btw.. I never said he holds his spot just for being 'Roo'.

I have always said he HAD to go in this week. He's ready, he must be played. Thats what I have said.

No I know you didn't say that, but it was the feeling I was getting from a lot in here. IMO Roo is not match fit having not played for 10 months - so that is where my "half fit" came from. He certainly didn't have the effect on the rest of the team that most believed he would - in fact they played worse than we've seen them all year. I am thrilled he got through the match unscathed and hope he gets back to the Roo we all know and love. I can only wonder though, how the game would have gone had Jericho not been dropped.

As for whether I thought Burton or McLeod should have been brought back? Hmmm, I think (but not sure) I wasn't happy with the changes. I remember thinking it is too unsettling to the team. I probably would have brought McLeod back (because at the time he was training the house down) but not Burton. Hammies are a different kettle of fish and of course hind-sight is a wonderful thing.

 

[RoosterLad]

We wouldn't have won the game if Jericho had played, why the **** do some of you lot think that?? We got ****ing flattened in the 2nd term, THAT is what cost us the game do you think a player like Jericho would have stopped the Dees running riot single handedly? Fair dinkum there is some ridiculousness on this board at times.

 

[Wood_Duck]

I can only wonder though, how the game would have gone had Jericho not been dropped.

FFS.

 

[jenny61_99]

We wouldn't have won the game if Jericho had played, why the **** do some of you lot think that?? We got ****ing flattened in the 2nd term, THAT is what cost us the game do you think a player like Jericho would have stopped the Dees running riot single handedly? Fair dinkum there is some ridiculousness on this board at times.

I didn't say we WOULD have won - just wondered what a difference he might have made. Over-reacting much????? In a team that is struggling to kick goals, seems to me people who are capable of kicking goals are a good thing!

 

[Allefgib]

I didn't say we WOULD have won - just wondered what a difference he might have made. Over-reacting much????? In a team that is struggling to kick goals, seems to me people who are capable of kicking goals are a good thing!

I dare say little to no difference sorry jenny. Jericho has not proven himself to be a player, yet, to have a reliable team lifting presence when in the side.

Roo has though. I agree it doesn't sound like he did on the weekend, but based on historical evidence and looking forward to what the club want to accomplish this year Roo HAD to come in.

I honestly think folks here find it hard to believe you can't agree with that. Not that you have to but the issue hasn't died because of it (and coz I keep bring it up again.. sorry ).

 

[jenny61_99]

I dare say little to no difference sorry jenny. Jericho has not proven himself to be a player, yet, to have a reliable team lifting presence when in the side.

Roo has though. I agree it doesn't sound like he did on the weekend, but based on historical evidence and looking forward to what the club want to accomplish this year Roo HAD to come in.

I honestly think folks here find it hard to believe you can't agree with that. Not that you have to but the issue hasn't died because of it (and coz I keep bring it up again.. sorry ).

Can we get passed this please? I never said Roo shouldn't come back, I just didn't believe he should have come back at the expense of an (at the moment) in-form player! There were plenty of others that had not performed as well as Jericho IMO that could have made way for the great man. We are also desperately short of goal kickers and to discard one as they did, was nuts. They did, we lost, let's move on.

As for "team lifting presence" I don't recall saying Jericho would have lifted the team. Clearly Roo's presence did NOT make the boys an inch taller as speculated for THAT game. That's the only game I'm interested in right now - next week is another game. Roo will be one game more match fit than he was, and with some luck Luke will get another run.

 

[Crow-mo]

Jenny,
isn't this subject becoming more about you than Jericho?

 

[jenny61_99]

Jenny,
isn't this subject becoming more about you than Jericho?

WTF?

 

[Allefgib]

Can we get passed this please? I never said Roo shouldn't come back, I just didn't believe he should have come back at the expense of an (at the moment) in-form player! There were plenty of others that had not performed as well as Jericho IMO that could have made way for the great man. We are also desperately short of goal kickers and to discard one as they did, was nuts. They did, we lost, let's move on.

As for "team lifting presence" I don't recall saying Jericho would have lifted the team. Clearly Roo's presence did NOT make the boys an inch taller as speculated for THAT game. That's the only game I'm interested in right now - next week is another game. Roo will be one game more match fit than he was, and with some luck Luke will get another run.

Apologies, I took 'what difference he would have made' to be something other than statistically. Because to be fair Roo's output wasn't that far behind Jericho's of the week before...(12 touches, 2 goals compared to 16 touches, 3 goals)

I believe you didn't say roo SHOULDNT have come in.

What I, and others, are still suprised by is that you are not saying he SHOULD have come in. To me that was the issue. He HAD to. Who goes out was a separate discussion and I am fairly certain thats exactly how the selection panel looked at it.

But as you said, lets move past it. This weeks in's are another headache. For mine I'd give Luke another chance. In fact I still feel Craigy might dropped him not only for structure reasons but to remind him to come out every game FIRED UP.

 

[jenny61_99]

Funnily enough, I think I personally would have kept Roo back until after the break just to make sure. We seem to be rushing people back (because of our injuries) and I think that could be detrimental to the side.

I agree about selection this week... our inuries are making it that much harder and it's almost a case of "put your hand up if you can play" at the moment.