The Paul Bevan Question

[BruceFromBalnarring]

I adore Paul Bevan. It is that kind of proud paternal love that a supporter has for a player who came on the scene and just wanted it so badly that he threw himself into contests in such a way as he could have been killed at times. For that reason, I have been prepared for a long time now to overlook his deficiencies. I suspect Paul Roos was of a similar mind.

In one of the pre-season matches Roosy was commentating and it was as if he was providing some sort of an explanation to Swans' supporters as to why he had felt compelled to drop him during the finals. He said, after a goal to the opposition, something like "Bevan simply can't make skill errors like that at this level".

Watching on Friday night, at least 3 Carlton goals came about due to fundamental skill errors from Bevan. Failures to provide an effective contest, fumbled handballs, that kind of thing. There may be a place for him up forward but I am increasingly doubting it. There is certainly no place for him in the midfield or defence.

Maybe he has the excuse that rule changes have hurt the effect of players like him. I'm not sure. But at 28yo surely he should have developed the nous to adapt to the game. He hasn't.

He has a premiership medallion, and I am truly glad about that, but it's well past time that the coaches need to look elsewhere.

We simply can't continue to carry a player who makes that many errors. No matter how much we love him.

 

[BarneyBent]

He's rubbish in defence. However, he's proven to be a pretty valuable contributor up forward. He should play as a HFF or FP, and just tackle, tackle, tackle, and have a ping whenever the opportunity presents itself. He's got a very long and accurate kick on him when he's not under pressure.

He'll make some mistakes, he'll give away some frees, he'll miss a few shots, he might burn a few teammates, but when its in our attacking half the damage is far less than it is in the defensive half, and he'll actually kick one or two goals a game.

 

[magic.merkin]

^bloodstainedangel5
+1

 

[Gezbo]

I agree. Bevan = decent forward but terrible backman.

 

[Swans120]

He seems to need consecutive weeks and plenty of time down back to find a groove. Last year he was more than reasonable over about a 2 month period in defence. Beat some quality smalls and medium forwards.

I don't think he is good enough to be just thrown down on a whim having been playing and training as a forward. Looks like he needs time to become accustomed to playing down back.

I prefer him up forward but dunno if there is room for him, Moore and TDL (given he comes back in some time soon) with McGlynn being a lock.

 

[CAS79]

He's rubbish in defence. However, he's proven to be a pretty valuable contributor up forward. He should play as a HFF or FP, and just tackle, tackle, tackle, and have a ping whenever the opportunity presents itself. He's got a very long and accurate kick on him when he's not under pressure.

He'll make some mistakes, he'll give away some frees, he'll miss a few shots, he might burn a few teammates, but when its in our attacking half the damage is far less than it is in the defensive half, and he'll actually kick one or two goals a game.

It's got to be tried. He's been given every opportunity up back and we are inconstant at forward pressure. I don't know he's going to make it but a sustained effort of three or four games. If he fails to contribute there it's time to consign him to the dustbin.

 

[legend166]

Not point playing him down back. None at all. We already struggle with disposal coming out of defence and he just adds to it.

Play him up forward. He could kick 20+ a season up there and provide tackling pressure.

 

[SM]

Shit didn't realise he was 28, thought he was 25, 26...

 

[Swans120]

He's 26. Turns 27 on 27th September (2 days after my birthday for those playing at home).

 

[SM]

Thought so, would have been shocked if he was 28, but still, yeah.

 

[vonn]

He has the defensive skills required to be a good HF.

 

[strauchanie59]

^^^
Agreed.

Definately a forward. Steps up in big games, e.g: EF last year, 3 goals at half-time. Just doesn't have the speed to go with the small forwards today.

 

[bungee]

Agree with above. Bevo is a talented defensive forward who leads well, takes a good grab and can kick goals. He also tackles hard and adds enormously to our forward pressure. Horse should just leave him forward. If we need a defender so badly White may be the man to try there (if his forward role doesn't click). At the least it'd be good for Jesse to play on some gun forwards and learn a few things. TBH I'd love to see the big man ripping his way out of defence with his speed, strength and mobility. His kicking is long and accurate and he can play tall or small. Pity the guy who tries to tackle him.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

forward
back
simple as that

He's good for depth up forward, can kick goals and apply defensive pressure without leaking goals. He's a liability down back.

 

[barry fu]

He would not make the Collingwood or Geelong first 30 - forward or back. To win the 2011 flag we need to overcome either or either of the aforementioned and this is beyond bevan's station.
The game has gone beyond Bevan's best for many a season now, even allowing for the odd cameo. Such as the 2010 Carlton final.

 

[BarneyBent]

He would not make the Collingwood or Geelong first 30 - forward or back. To win the 2011 flag we need to overcome either or either of the aforementioned and this is beyond bevan's station.
The game has gone beyond Bevan's best for many a season now, even allowing for the odd cameo. Such as the 2010 Carlton final.

I disagree with this. Bevan would make both the Collingwood and Geelong first 30 as a forward.

 

[CAS79]

I disagree with this. Bevan would make both the Collingwood and Geelong first 30 as a forward.

Who would Bevan replace from anyone who has played at either of these clubs this year?

That doesn't quite make top 30 but goes to effect for justifying why a 26 year old would be in the mix as a depth player there.

 

[BarneyBent]

Who would Bevan replace from anyone who has played at either of these clubs this year?

That doesn't quite make top 30 but goes to effect for justifying why a 26 year old would be in the mix as a depth player there.

Right now, Bevan could probably get a game ahead of Dick, Buckley and Davis, and would be depth before a bunch of their young guys who are yet to debut.

From Geelong, Christensen, Guthrie, and again a bunch of their young guys yet to debut.

That's not to say he'd replace them on the list, many of these players have much greater upside, but if you were picking a team, right here, right now, devoid of any context, Bevan wouldn't get into a best 22 of either side, but he'd definitely be in the top 30.

People tend to seriously underestimate just how close in ability most teams actually are.

Furthermore, Bevan actually suffers for being in a team like the Swans. When the thing we lack most at the moment is clean skills, good decision makers, speed and forward structure, and Bevan is quite profoundly deficient in the first three of these (and offers little in the last), it doesn't exactly press the case for his inclusion, and yet he's still managing to scrape a game.

In a team like Collingwood or Geelong, where they are highly skilled, smart and fast, and can afford to carry a player or two who is below par in this area for the other things they bring to the table, Bevan would actually be relatively more useful. That's not to say he'd get a game easier overall, since they are also quite a lot better than us, but it certainly works to cancel out some of that influence.

 

[barry fu]

I disagree with this. Bevan would make both the Collingwood and Geelong first 30 as a forward.

Instead of whom, out of the listed below.
Collingwood run Didak, Cloke, Dawes, Thomas, Dick, Davis, Blair, Brown, MacCaffer and Krakouer as forwards. Then Also at times Wellingham, Sidebottom and Swan to great effect.
Geelong have only to call on Chapman, Hawkins, Mooney, Byrnes, Duncan, Varcoe, Menzel, Podsialy, Wojcinski, Johnson and Stokes. Then add an Ottens or Bartel when resting to the mix.
One has at least ten of options, plus mids. The next has 11, with others at the ready.
So who of that lot.

 

[BarneyBent]

Instead of whom, out of the listed below.
Collingwood run Didak, Cloke, Dawes, Thomas, Dick, Davis, Blair, Brown, MacCaffer and Krakouer as forwards. Then Also at times Wellingham, Sidebottom and Swan to great effect.
Geelong have only to call on Chapman, Hawkins, Mooney, Byrnes, Duncan, Varcoe, Menzel, Podsialy, Wojcinski, Johnson and Stokes. Then add an Ottens or Bartel when resting to the mix.
One has at least ten of options, plus mids. The next has 11, with others at the ready.
So who of that lot.

Answered above, but again, from Collingwood, he'd swap in and out, dependant on form, with Dick and Davis, and he could replace Simon Buckley with a slight restructure.

Geelong, he's better than Christensen (who you don't mention), and again there are other players he could replace with a slight restructure.

He's not best 22, but he is definitely best 30 in both. Pretty much any player who is getting a regular game at pretty much any half-decent team, especially one with a premiership medallion around his neck, will be in the top 30 players at any other club.

 

[bungee]

Not really a question of whether he fits in at Geelong or the Pies. When playing as a forward he's done as well or better than some others. Until we have a glut of talented forwards ready to play he's handy as a depth player. Left in the forward line he may even improve his output.

 

[MF]

Agree he doesn't belong in defense and I think he's been great for us up forward but it comes down to him vs Moore (As it did in the final last year). We can't afford to have both Bevan, Moore & our resting midfielders in the forward line at the same time.

 

[Aardvark]

Bevans ability or lack of it was confirmed by the amount of interest shown in him during trade week. No interest, little ability. Premiership medallions have been won by plenty of duds in the past and are no reflection of a players ability.

 

[BarneyBent]

Bevans ability or lack of it was confirmed by the amount of interest shown in him during trade week. No interest, little ability. Premiership medallions have been won by plenty of duds in the past and are no reflection of a players ability.

More a reflection of a player's upside. A a player of Bevan's ability would be handy depth at any club, but at his age, with little upside, there's no real point in trading for one when younger players, with more development ahead of them, would be equally handy.

 

[crimson]

better options up forward with TDL etc - kicking not reliable enough for a small forward - trade to GWS