Opinion The I Was Wrong thread- Where Tom Atkins posts go to die

[winty]

Pretty sure I've said this before, but I remember seeing Blicavs' first game in the VFL and watching him run around while getting nowhere near it thought he would be a wasted experiment.

200+ games and 2 B&F awards later, he sure proved me wrong. His game last night alternating between the ruck and tagging both Oliver and Petracca at different stages was amazing.

 

[dangerwood]

I couldn't see how we would be any good this year. Couldn't see where any improvement was going to come from all the while, the already aged list, ageing a bit more.

Even if we don't win it this year, I was still wrong, I thought we'd just be making up the numbers at best.

I also thought we'd be hopeless any time Tom Stewart wasn't playing.

I was wrong.

 

[feelinfeline]

I couldn't see how we would be any good this year. Couldn't see where any improvement was going to come from all the while, the already aged list, ageing a bit more.

Even if we don't win it this year, I was still wrong, I thought we'd just be making up the numbers at best.

I also thought we'd be hopeless any time Tom Stewart wasn't playing.

I was wrong.

I thought we might scrape into the top 4 at best. I salute the true believers.

Long way to go but we’re a chance, which I really didn't expect.

 

[winty]

I thought we would struggle defensively this year, especially with our key defender stocks, and would be relying too heavily on Blitz as a key defender.

Turns out SDK and Kolo have done a pretty good job defensively, and we've rarely had to play Blitz down there.

 

[Reppie]

Thought Scott was to pig headed too change what had been a problem for years our gameplan and may have even called him a clown.
As he has turned things around i will admit i was wrong about him and as such the club is going forward.
Lets hope we go all the way this year or next.
Would be great for us old bastards who have done it tough over the years.

 

[iameviljez]

I thought we might scrape into the top 4 at best. I salute the true believers.

Long way to go but we’re a chance, which I really didn't expect.

I thought there was a solid chance we'd even miss the eight, to be honest, but I thought we'd probably finish sixth or seventh. I was wrong.

Now... anyone want to bite on Jordan Clark? Has had a big year at Freo and is looking better by the week.

 

[Seeds]

I thought there was a solid chance we'd even miss the eight, to be honest, but I thought we'd probably finish sixth or seventh. I was wrong.

Now... anyone want to bite on Jordan Clark? Has had a big year at Freo and is looking better by the week.

Gees dont go too early. we are only two games ahead of seventh. We could very easily end up there.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Atkins... Probably the only player I have been wrong about.

Looks like he is basically doing now in the AFL what he was doing in the VFL before being drafted.

I just didn't think he would be able to do it at the level up.

 

[goyoucatters]

Pretty sure I've said this before, but I remember seeing Blicavs' first game in the VFL and watching him run around while getting nowhere near it thought he would be a wasted experiment.

200+ games and 2 B&F awards later, he sure proved me wrong. His game last night alternating between the ruck and tagging both Oliver and Petracca at different stages was amazing.

ABC's 'Corbin & Ben' podcast featured a discussion on Blitz this week. Like you, they celebrated that he appears capable of filling just about any role the coaches assign him at any point. And can change up that responsibility at any time within a game as well.

They named him as the most versatile player in the comp and noted what an incredible asset he is to the club by virtue of his transferable skill set. And yet we still have posters who mock his achievements, amp up every error he's ever made, and scream 'elite running patterns' whenever he is lauded on here.

There are truly none so blind as those who will not see.

 

[iameviljez]

Gees dont go too early. we are only two games ahead of seventh. We could very easily end up there.

With six games to go, we'd probably have to go 2 and 4 to fall to 7th. I think that's very, very unlikely given one of those games is West Coast at home.

 

[Seeds]

With six games to go, we'd probably have to go 2 and 4 to fall to 7th. I think that's very, very unlikely given one of those games is West Coast at home.

I agree its unlikely but its not unrealistic.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Gees dont go too early. we are only two games ahead of seventh. We could very easily end up there.

With the draw we have (ie no of remaining games at gmhba) and our current form it would be a fail if we dont make top 4 from here.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I thought there was a solid chance we'd even miss the eight, to be honest, but I thought we'd probably finish sixth or seventh. I was wrong.

Now... anyone want to bite on Jordan Clark? Has had a big year at Freo and is looking better by the week.

No on clark as i still dont think he would be getting a game here-we have had injuries to rucks and mids but good availability in mid sized backs and runners-and as such we would have got less for him in a trade this year so it was the right call.
As well as he is playing at freo he has holes in his game (defensively) so while i think he will be a 10 year player for them i think conway will be a good 10 year player for us which would then make it a break even trade at worst.

 

[goyoucatters]

No on clark as i still dont think he would be getting a game here-we have had injuries to rucks and mids but good availability in mid sized backs and runners-and as such we would have got less for him in a trade this year so it was the right call.
As well as he is playing at freo he has holes in his game (defensively) so while i think he will be a 10 year player for them i think conway will be a good 10 year player for us which would then make it a break even trade at worst.

Conway will be entirely more crucial to any prospect of us staying relevant in the coming years. Whereas Jordy's much more the icing than the buttered confection itself.

So, as far as the two clubs are concerned, I think the trade will be a win-win. Well done, one and all.

 

[Seeds]

No on clark as i still dont think he would be getting a game here-we have had injuries to rucks and mids but good availability in mid sized backs and runners-and as such we would have got less for him in a trade this year so it was the right call.
As well as he is playing at freo he has holes in his game (defensively) so while i think he will be a 10 year player for them i think conway will be a good 10 year player for us which would then make it a break even trade at worst.

Clark is averaging the same amount of disposals as issac Smith only with a lot more tackles and 1 percenters then smith.

his trade value this year has gone up massively.

if he wasnt getting a game then the mc all need to be fired on the spot.

conway is just speculation at this point. Especially given he is already having concussion issues. He might be a gun. He may never play a single game for the club. To say conway is the better choice is just hope.

clarke is going to be a 10 year player. Possibly a gun player.

 

[iameviljez]

No on clark as i still dont think he would be getting a game here-we have had injuries to rucks and mids but good availability in mid sized backs and runners-and as such we would have got less for him in a trade this year so it was the right call.
As well as he is playing at freo he has holes in his game (defensively) so while i think he will be a 10 year player for them i think conway will be a good 10 year player for us which would then make it a break even trade at worst.

Clark is vastly more damaging on the rebound than any of our back six bar Tom Stewart - and any perceived defensive frailties appear to have not manifested at Freo AFAIK. He has also received coaches' votes in the last two weeks.

He would walk into any back six in the league right now.

I do agree that if we get a 10-year ruckman out of Conway, it's worth doing, but a lot of people were quick to sink the boot into Clark on the way out and he has certainly outdone that level of expectation.

 

[cats_09]

Clark is vastly more damaging on the rebound than any of our back six bar Tom Stewart - and any perceived defensive frailties appear to have not manifested at Freo AFAIK. He has also received coaches' votes in the last two weeks.

He would walk into any back six in the league right now.

I do agree that if we get a 10-year ruckman out of Conway, it's worth doing, but a lot of people were quick to sink the boot into Clark on the way out and he has certainly outdone that level of expectation.

You said the magic words in that opening sentence - Tom Stewart...

Both Stewart & Clark have similar strengths & weaknesses - neither are guys you really want to be relying on in a 1-on-1 situation or where they're made to be playing tight & accountable. They both play at their best when they have freedom to their game

We have some really strong defensive players around Stewart, were they do what they do best and it hopefully allows Stewart to do what he does best - though some teams are getting better at making Stewart play accountable football

As such, it was always going to be hard for Clark to find a spot in our defensive unit (the position he reportedly wants to play) when we have Stewart back there, who's going to be the preferred selection every day of the week - though with Stewart's absence across the season, Clark may have got a chance down back

I'm happy for Clark at Fremantle, good luck to him - but it's hard to argue that the trade wasn't the right option for all involved

 

[iameviljez]

ABC's 'Corbin & Ben' podcast featured a discussion on Blitz this week. Like you, they celebrated that he appears capable of filling just about any role the coaches assign him at any point. And can change up that responsibility at any time within a game as well.

They named him as the most versatile player in the comp and noted what an incredible asset he is to the club by virtue of his transferable skill set. And yet we still have posters who mock his achievements, amp up every error he's ever made, and scream 'elite running patterns' whenever he is lauded on here.

There are truly none so blind as those who will not see.

Agreed. Everyone screams - and not without reason - "just play (insert player) in his best position FFS!" without considering that you can't have eight inside midfielders and six half-back flanks.

Practically every small player looks best when they play on-ball. Guthrie, Duncan, Parfitt, Selwood, Danger, Higgins, Dalhaus, Menegola, Atkins, O'Connor - all of them have played their best football as pure on-ballers. But someone has to play wing, someone has to play half-forward, someone has to play back flank. And that's where having versatile players is a coaching godsend.

 

[Mr Meow]

I thought there was a solid chance we'd even miss the eight, to be honest, but I thought we'd probably finish sixth or seventh. I was wrong.

Now... anyone want to bite on Jordan Clark? Has had a big year at Freo and is looking better by the week.

I think we've all been thinking that for 6 years at least. That we will finish more 5 to 8 but there is every chance finals could elude us (old, slow, too many deficiencies around our line up). Then the boys surpass expectations to make top 4 but completely realise those initial feelings come finals time.

2020 and even perhaps 2019 were better than expected overall even with finals accounted for (just being overwhelmed by a Dynasty Tigers team in the second halves of those PF/GFs). Hard to say about 2021 with the Dees H&A match seemingly derailing our finals assault and then flu-gate in the prelim.

But one thing is certain we've all thought Geelong would have fallen off the cliff by now but still they are in contention. Pretty remarkable, it just isn't glorified as much by them ultimately being about the third best team in any given year.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Clark is averaging the same amount of disposals as issac Smith only with a lot more tackles and 1 percenters then smith.

his trade value this year has gone up massively.

if he wasnt getting a game then the mc all need to be fired on the spot.

conway is just speculation at this point. Especially given he is already having concussion issues. He might be a gun. He may never play a single game for the club. To say conway is the better choice is just hope.

clarke is going to be a 10 year player. Possibly a gun player.

He wouldnt have been averaging those disposals with us because he would have been in the vfl and ooc and a fringe player we would have been lucky to get a pick in the 50s for him. As it is we got 24 (conway)and an extra pick this year. Assuming he wouldnt stay we sold him at his highest value that was my point. I think clark will be a good player but its not a bad trade.

As for conway i stand by my rating of him and he has been very promising til he got knocked out in an accidental head clash on friday..thats very different to recurring concussion issues.

 

[00VicWard001]

He wouldnt have been averaging those disposals with us because he would have been in the vfl and ooc and a fringe player we would have been lucky to get a pick in the 50s for him. As it is we got 24 (conway)and an extra pick this year. Assuming he wouldnt stay we sold him at his highest value that was my point. I think clark will be a good player but its not a bad trade.

As for conway i stand by my rating of him and he has been very promising til he got knocked out in an accidental head clash on friday..thats very different to recurring concussion issues.

Also - Clark being in Freo has probably done wonders for his own mental space. Friends, family around him, back in his home state would make a big difference in his performance.

 

[goyoucatters]

Also - Clark being in Freo has probably done wonders for his own mental space. Friends, family around him, back in his home state would make a big difference in his performance.

Absolutely. He's at least 3,000 kilometres away from Scarlo, for a start.

 

[catscratchfever]

I used to think Hawthorn were the biggest pack of scumbag supporters imaginable but I was wrong. The Tuggers are the worst by far: irrational, stupid, biased, obsessed, hateful, idiotic, nonsensical, foolish…

…and they smell really bad.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

He wouldnt have been averaging those disposals with us because he would have been in the vfl and ooc and a fringe player we would have been lucky to get a pick in the 50s for him. As it is we got 24 (conway)and an extra pick this year. Assuming he wouldnt stay we sold him at his highest value that was my point. I think clark will be a good player but its not a bad trade.

As for conway i stand by my rating of him and he has been very promising til he got knocked out in an accidental head clash on friday..thats very different to recurring concussion issues.

Precisely. Not a defender's arseh*le.
Any Geelong player that can defend is better than him as a backman. He's not compared to dour stoppers like Henry or Zuthrie.

Menegola, Smith, Duncan, Holmes are his competition.
All 4 would have him in our reserves in 2022. Instead we turn him into hopefully a long term ruckman.

 

[Seeds]

Precisely. Not a defender's a-hole.
Any Geelong player that can defend is better than him as a backman. He's not compared to dour stoppers like Henry or Zuthrie.

Menegola, Smith, Duncan, Holmes are his competition.
All 4 would have him in our reserves in 2022. Instead we turn him into hopefully a long term ruckman.

He's ahead of smith and holmes this season and menegolas been injured.

averaging same disposals per game as smith (and only 2 less then duncan) but double the tackles and 1 percenters per game then both of them. His 1 percenters is at the same rate as tom atkins.

you cant fault clark defensively compared to his peers this season And his offsensive side has improved further.

its just plain denial to assume he wouldnt be going well at geelong this year. We would be discussing him as a revelation this season alongside dekonning and stengle.