Thoughts On Burgoyne?

[MadDawg]

Everything he does with the footy is simply class, I wish he would get more of the footy.

That said you can just see that situation in the finals where the score is close and the ball is there to be won and Burgers swoops on it, brushes off a tackle and hits Buddy on the chest...

 

[Rev08]

He seemed to start the year as a forward moving into the midfield and has ended it as a back moving in to the midfield.

We seem to use him in the guts when the pace has gone from the game and he can use his natural clearance ability.

I still think we paid too much for him. His knee looks shot and his best footy is well behind him.

If he does a Stewie Dew, then it will have been a great move. If he doesn't win a flag with us, then it will have been bad use of a top ten pick.

Has played every game this season and moves freely. He is doing OK.

We gave up a first round pick and an ailing Mark Williams for a guy who is going to be massively important to our finals plans.

At the absolute worst, we paid market price for him.

 

[Woodside Hawk]

My theory is we are using Burgoyne where we most need him.

If Gilham & Stratton were fit and firing alongside Gibson, then I reckon we'd be seeing Burgoyne playing a lot more midfield and forward, but with those guys out we've moved some class into the backline to help out.

Its an enormous luxury to be able to play a guy like Burgoyne out of the backline, as it allows us to use Hodge wherever we like, including down back when needed. This year, without Burgoyne, Hodge wouldn't have gotten to a center bounce, I reckon.

On that basis, I rate his year as very solid. Has been extremely reliable in the back half with some fantastic kicking and is a very cool head under pressure.

Come finals though, we may see Hodge & Burgoyne swapping roles a bit. Definitely a potential match winning move taking Burgoyne into the centre or even forward when the game is there to be won.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Has played every game this season and moves freely. He is doing OK.

We gave up a first round pick and an ailing Mark Williams for a guy who is going to be massively important to our finals plans.

At the absolute worst, we paid market price for him.

1) Of course we paid market price for him. Is it possible not to?

2) If his knee was fine and he was moving freely, he wouldn't be spending 3/4 of every game out of the midfield.

???

 

[Roger Rogerson]

My theory is we are using Burgoyne where we most need him.

If Gilham & Stratton were fit and firing alongside Gibson, then I reckon we'd be seeing Burgoyne playing a lot more midfield and forward, but with those guys out we've moved some class into the backline to help out.

Its an enormous luxury to be able to play a guy like Burgoyne out of the backline, as it allows us to use Hodge wherever we like, including down back when needed. This year, without Burgoyne, Hodge wouldn't have gotten to a center bounce, I reckon.

On that basis, I rate his year as very solid. Has been extremely reliable in the back half with some fantastic kicking and is a very cool head under pressure.

Come finals though, we may see Hodge & Burgoyne swapping roles a bit. Definitely a potential match winning move taking Burgoyne into the centre or even forward when the game is there to be won.

I agree 100% with Woodside. It is not necessarily what Burger has produced individually but what his presence has meant for flexibility and quality within the side that is of the most benefit.

He has been Mr Fixit this year and has shown his class in each role. I loved seeing him in the back half on friday night in a finals-like atmosphere being so cool under pressure. It adds so much class to our side.

You just cannot have enough class players in your side. The draft is uncertain. Trading for class players isn't.

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

He has spent a good third of the season in defence.
From memory he has not been beaten once in that time by his opponent.

 

[eldorado]

I still think we paid too much for him.

1) Of course we paid market price for him. Is it possible not to?

So did we pay market price, as you believe, or too much, as you also believe?

 

[MickyMoncrieff]

I've been watching Burgs all season and I think he is going to explode come finals time. He can obviously play down the back and our coaches have been shrewdly using him quite sparingly in midfield, keeping him nicely under everyone's radar.

He's just the type of player who can blow a finals game wide open and then change it in our favour, in the same style as new Hawthorn Lord Stuart Dew in that famous third quarter.

Burgs is our X factor player.

 

[Harry Yorkie]

Has been a bit of a disappointment for mine, just seems capable of so much more but we only see cameo performances. His effort in the last quarter against North got me a bit excited but nothing since. Was a clearance jet at Port yet we have him
playing off half back. Here's hoping it's part of some Clarko grand plan for finals domination but I'm not overly confident.

 

[grizzlym]

I think Burgoyne has been very important for us this year. He's added a little height off half back, some much needed composure, creativity and, more importantly, leadership. I expect him to spend more time on the ball, even up forward when the pointy end of the season come around.

 

[Dipper]

So did we pay market price, as you believe, or too much, as you also believe?

I think his point is that whatever we pay for him is the market price...as the market is made when we accept the price on offer.

And he believes that the market price was too high.

Semantics really.

 

[Ablett2CavillAve]

Stratton to the backline...

Burgers to Centre Square / Half forward

 

[Brant]

Has been a bit of a disappointment for mine, just seems capable of so much more but we only see cameo performances. His effort in the last quarter against North got me a bit excited but nothing since. Was a clearance jet at Port yet we have him
playing off half back. Here's hoping it's part of some Clarko grand plan for finals domination but I'm not overly confident.

Burgs is a jet.

We have had Hodge, Mitch & Sewell playing very well in the middle with plenty of others coming in for the odd bounce. Our ability to play Burgs at HBF has been a huge advantage. He has won the day against every opponent I can think of & his body wouldn't have taken a hit all year.

When Clarko needs him, Burgs will play on the ball; & I think Burgs will play in the middle (& to capacity) in 1 game this year; that being The GF.

I don't think we can beat Collingwood by playing safe - I think we will back ourselves & really go at them & I think Burgs will be a huge part of this; either on the ball or further forward.

I see Hodge as likely to play loose HBF again & try to nullify their big men when the high ball comes in; & Burgs to replace him in the middle & provide the run that Hodgey doesn't seem able to do at the moment.

 

[lickmerocks]

Has been playing a role on taller players in the past month and doing it well. For is to beat GeelOng or Collingwood he will be required centre forward where he can influence the result.

Last game against the pies he kicked 0.4 and that won't happen again.

We recruited him for the short term to help us win a premiership. If that happened to be this year we may see Burger call it a day as he is struggling to train these days.

I would love to see Bailey knocking it down burgers throat in the Finals.

 

[Tall Tales and True]

Recent commentary suggests two things - he's taller than you think and can play tall-ish (one of the reasons Clarkson gave for his move to defence, following the injuries to Stratts & Gilly) and he's still regarded as one of the quickest at the club. Hard to beat that combo, wherever he goes (not forgetting his composure, balance, clearance/close skills, disposal & experience).

He also appears to be a leader within the group, especially influential with the indigenous boys; a very positive addition all round.

Teams that can play blokes like Burgoyne at half-back are teams that win flags!

 

[Agent Smith]

Recent commentary suggests two things - he's taller than you think and can play tall-ish (one of the reasons Clarkson gave for his move to defence, following the injuries to Stratts & Gilly) and he's still regarded as one of the quickest at the club. Hard to beat that combo, wherever he goes (not forgetting his composure, balance, clearance/close skills, disposal & experience).

He also appears to be a leader within the group, especially influential with the indigenous boys; a very positive addition all round.

Teams that can play blokes like Burgoyne at half-back are teams that win flags!

Good post.

Silk is playing in the backline because we need him there to shore it up, not because he's an 84 year old cripple with chronic knee problems, as some posters are suggesting. Often, when the game opens up and we want to give Hodge (or others) a rest, Clarko will make the move and regenrate the midfield with a fresh set of legs, swapping them with Silk. There is no conspiracy theory. It is what it is. And what it is is good coaching. As TTT indicated, it's something that might land us a premiership in a few weeks times.

 

[Rev08]

1) Of course we paid market price for him. Is it possible not to?

2) If his knee was fine and he was moving freely, he wouldn't be spending 3/4 of every game out of the midfield.

???

Hmmm...gun Hawthorn midfielder being used across half back instead of in the midfield. When has that been done before?

He has helped us win games playing forward, back and midfield. Anyone that can do that is worth a fair bit IMO.

Essendon were willing to give up their first round pick and the pick they got for Lovett - we gave up our first round pick and Mark Williams. Sounds like we paid fairly similar to what the rest of the market was offering.

 

[dipper86]

For a player with so much talent he doesn't get the ball nearly enough, no doubt when he gets it he is composed and always creates something when he has it......he needs some urgency in his game and a pure want for the ball like Bateman Hoidge Mitchell etc, If he had that quality he'd be our best player.

 

[Taskmaster]

Silky smooth will be released into midfield/forward line, once Stratts/Lisle take on that role.

I agree that silk will be the X factor in finals.

I think some on here get caught up on how many stats a player does or does not get. Silk is playing a role and is doing it well. Its not about stats, its about playing your role and making an impact. I mean look at Junior, does not rack them up, but, plays the role and has an impact.

 

[dipper86]

Silky smooth will be released into midfield/forward line, once Stratts/Lisle take on that role.

I agree that silk will be the X factor in finals.

I think some on here get caught up on how many stats a player does or does not get. Silk is playing a role and is doing it well. Its not about stats, its about playing your role and making an impact. I mean look at Junior, does not rack them up, but, plays the role and has an impact.

Cyril is playing in the forward line very different....Burger is currently playing in a position on the half back flank that is known for its creativity, it also See's large amounts of the ball......We never drafted Burgoyne to be a role player, we have plenty of those..... he is a play maker, he is too talented to be just a role player and needs to find more of the ball, if the ball is in hands you know he will use it accordingly.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

So did we pay market price, as you believe, or too much, as you also believe?

We paid the market price, but given our situation and list, it cost us more than the benefit he has delivered, IMHO.

For mine, we didn't need another aging mid-paced clearance winner.

 

[Mitchemx]

We paid the market price, but given our situation and list, it cost us more than the benefit he has delivered, IMHO.

For mine, we didn't need another aging mid-paced clearance winner.

Whilst he hasn't set the world on fire, he has class, poise and you are always confident when the ball in his hands. Not to mention his leadership. He was also by far and away our best player in that horrible final last year.

I'll take him over a gamble in the draft anyday of the week.

 

[MinerBoy]

Thoughts On Burgoyne

2011 Norm Smith Medalist.

 

[willo_k]

We dont even seem to use him to rebound from 50 (averages only 1.4 rebounds from 50 per game [ranked 16th]) all that much. Which seeing him start at defense i assumed would be his role. Maybe he'll be a traditional defender with cameos in the midfield come finals time...

 

[Mojo]

We dont even seem to use him to rebound from 50 (averages only 1.4 rebounds from 50 per game [ranked 16th]) all that much. Which seeing him start at defense i assumed would be his role. Maybe he'll be a traditional defender with cameos in the midfield come finals time...

He def seems best suited to the swing-man role.