The Bockster

[spindoctor]

Very impressed with his game last night - excellent second efforts, always went hard at the ball, presented and contested well.

As I think Dermie said, whatever his current skill level, he offered a lot as a 'bang-crash-contesting' centre-half-forward, brought the ball down well when he didn't mark it and his kicking wasn't as bad as it has been.

Best game I've seen from him.

EDIT: that mark and play-on was bloody good work, a real touch of thought about his football and picked up by the commentators

 

[tribey]

He's a gun in the making and I could never understand the persisent lack of faith in him on these boards (when I was rattling his tin) long before his debut and immediately after it.

If he can put a tad more weight on he'll be a definite CHB/CHF option in the years to come - his attack on the ball and determination are brilliant and his set shot kicking is rather good.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

He has improved with each game, and last night he looked and played as if he was starting to feel a bit comfortable about being in the team.
He needs to get a lot fitter, and work on keeping his long kicks with less air, so they get to the forwrds quicker.
His skills below his knees are awful.
But to see a 193 cm player hit the pack at speed like a midfielder, is enough to suggest he is well and trully worth perservering with.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
He needs to get a lot fitter, and work on keeping his long kicks with less air, so they get to the forwrds quicker.
His skills below his knees are awful.

But to see a 193 cm player hit the pack at speed like a midfielder, is enough to suggest he is well and trully worth perservering with.

Could it be that Gary is doing something right for once in trying to get his aerobic capacity and confidence up by running him around - a) so he can get used to his new status as an AFL footballer, and b) by also giving him the fitness to regularly reach and compete as a KPP in contests?

 

[spindoctor]

If his skills below his knees are as bad as you say, his future may be limited.

Hmmm...maybe just trade or delist him then.

We don't need big men with poor skills below the knees....

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by spindoctor
We don't need big men with poor skills below the knees....

While my sarcasm detector is picking up usually high levels from you...

Funny about those who are saying his below-knees skills are rubbish - he's soccered through a few goals hasn't he?

He can only improve in all facets of his game. I want a KPP who can always get to the contest, is strong, can mark and spoil. If our biggest worry is this supposed lack of skill below the knees then bloody hell... no wonder we're struggling.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by dyertribe
Could it be that Gary is doing something right for once in trying to get his aerobic capacity and confidence up by running him around - a) so he can get used to his new status as an AFL footballer, and b) by also giving him the fitness to regularly reach and compete as a KPP in contests?

He's doing what this board has said of its juniors, that is to play them, and give them plenty of time to adjust to the pace of AFL.
Doing it with Jerricho, Hentschell, Bock.
With Bock though it is a little disturbing to see him constantly being rotated as a defender and a forward. Consequently his form will fluctuate wildly. This must be really unsettling for the kid, as he should be put in a position and allowed to learn the position at this level, to gain confidence and experience.

However I suspect the coaching panel is evaluating where Bocks longterm future is, as a forwrd or a defender?
Similar dilema to Smart in his early years.

 

[spindoctor]

I think he is an in-and-under pack midfielder personally. Just a bit of extra length on him than the usual pack midfielder.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by dyertribe
While my sarcasm detector is picking up usually high levels from you...

Funny about those who are saying his below-knees skills are rubbish - he's soccered through a few goals hasn't he?

He can only improve in all facets of his game. I want a KPP who can always get to the contest, is strong, can mark and spoil. If our biggest worry is this supposed lack of skill below the knees then bloody hell... no wonder we're struggling.

He soccers, so he doesn't have to pick the ball up below his knees

He hopefully will improve, but ask yourself this: why does a 193 cm mobile player with good hands, and AA U18, not get drafted?, when all clubs are on the lookout for this player type.

Every player has deficiencies, some can be refined over time, some cannot. Hopefully our patience with Bock will be rewarded, as his type is really hard to matchup on.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
He hopefully will improve, but ask yourself this: why does a 193 cm mobile player with good hands, and AA U18, not get drafted?, when all clubs are on the lookout for this player type.

Players always slip through the cracks... Aaron Davey being the perfect example.

Bock has shown more in his first few games than Hentschel ever did and look how he's coming along - but you're right, hopefully our patience with Bock will be rewarded, and personally I think it will in spades.

 

[spindoctor]

Originally posted by dyertribe
I think it will in spades.

So if we hit him with spades, our investment will be rewarded?

Interesting suggestion, spade violence is under-utilised in modern society, and certainly one out of left field.

I mean if a dude is wandering down the street with a big f*cking spade, you're not going to f*ck with him are you? You're just going to go 'f*ck, that dude has a serious spade, better not f*ck with him, I'll give him some respect instead'.

 

[conVINCEd]

Welcome to the Spindoctor's Comedy Variety Hour board.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
He soccers, so he doesn't have to pick the ball up below his knees

He hopefully will improve, but ask yourself this: why does a 193 cm mobile player with good hands, and AA U18, not get drafted?, when all clubs are on the lookout for this player type.

Every player has deficiencies, some can be refined over time, some cannot. Hopefully our patience with Bock will be rewarded, as his type is really hard to matchup on.

Pavlich went undrafted as a 17yr old.

 

[jc67]

Leave him alone!
he is a project/long term player. He will be very good in the long term.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Crow-mosone
Pavlich went undrafted as a 17yr old.

Yes but where did he get drafted as an 18 year old - the same age as Bock?

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
Yes but where did he get drafted as an 18 year old - the same age as Bock?

True, but big guys do develop later and at an irregular pace.

Primus was 22 when he was drafted by Fitzroy, having been discarded by geelong. Matthew Clarke was discarded by Hawthorn.

it's an inexact science.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Crow-mosone
True, but big guys do develop later and at an irregular pace.

Primus was 22 when he was drafted by Fitzroy, having been discarded by geelong. Matthew Clarke was discarded by Hawthorn.

it's an inexact science.

Your right, bigmen most often don't start to show much until 24-25.
Makes the selection of Hudson quite appropriate, and says that mature age draft picks aren't neccessary lunacy by club recruiters.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
Your right, bigmen most often don't start to show much until 24-25.
Makes the selection of Hudson quite appropriate, and says that mature age draft picks aren't neccessary lunacy by club recruiters.

Also, why I believe we should put a higher than normal % of big men on our rookie list, as they are more specualtive at a younger age & we then have 1st crack at an rough diamonds we may uncover.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Originally posted by spindoctor
Very impressed with his game last night - excellent second efforts, always went hard at the ball, presented and contested well.

As I think Dermie said, whatever his current skill level, he offered a lot as a 'bang-crash-contesting' centre-half-forward, brought the ball down well when he didn't mark it and his kicking wasn't as bad as it has been.

Best game I've seen from him.

EDIT: that mark and play-on was bloody good work, a real touch of thought about his football and picked up by the commentators

I agree!
He played a good game with some flair.
At least Gazzas given the younger breed a go.

With the flair and risk taking ability of him and also Jericho we've got the makings of two champs.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Also, why I believe we should put a higher than normal % of big men on our rookie list, as they are more specualtive at a younger age & we then have 1st crack at an rough diamonds we may uncover.

Unfortunately the max age for Rookies is 23??
This maturation process is also why IMO Andrews should be pursuaded to stay on the rookie list for a 2nd year.