Tidbits

[BlueTongue]

2 taggers, nah it's too negative. I'd hate to see that. Yove got to remember that AJ is a pure shut down player, he doesn't hurt his opponent the other way, we would be losing too much from the midfield. Also I think AJ is not a good option for defence, he could do the job on short people like hooper but again he won't provide drive from the back pocket. On last years form I wouldn't have AJ in the 22 with a full squad to choose from and with Armfield as chief tagger.

100% agree with every aspect of this post ^ . Much as I like him, AJ needs to start the year in the Ants and I think Army would be a much better option as chief tagger who could also play a more attacking role.

Why does a tagger have to be exclusively negative? The fact is that they don't, and most aren't. There are a number of taggers that are great at stopping their man, and are equally good at finding and using the ball. In fact, most of the best taggers in the game do both the offensive and the defensive stuff.

Which is exactly why I would start Army in the 22 at the expense of AJ.

 

[Blue and Silver]

AJ has the potential to be quite damaging through the middle, but I think we haven't seen this for a few reasons.

Firstly he has spent almost the entirety of this year playing deep in a back pocket, if we don't expect Jamo to get a tonne of the ball, then why should we expect AJ who is playing just as close and deep. Secondly the year AJ did spend more time in the middle, 2009, was his first year of seniors and he had exclusively defensive roles.

AJ was an U/18 All-Australian playing as an offensive midfielder. I think we haven't seen anything near his best.

 

[Effes]

I wouldn't say Kane Cornes has been successful offensively - he's left to run around and do what he wants. Much better as a lock down player.

Carrots is one of Ratten's first picked - if Ratten went to war the first he'd take with him is Carrazzo...I don't agree that he's an automatic selection but the man that matters does. Like K Cornes Carrots can lose focus and chase the footy (to the detriment of the team).

 

[Effes]

AJ averaged close to 30 touches in the U18s but I don't want the ball in his hands too often. Poor kick and a poor decision maker. Very lucky to keep his spot for a lot of the year.

 

[Red Bull]

Carrots is one of Ratten's first picked - if Ratten went to war the first he'd take with him is Carrazzo...I don't agree that he's an automatic selection but the man that matters does. Like K Cornes Carrots can lose focus and chase the footy (to the detriment of the team).

Well when you make your bed you've got to ly in it .
As Andrew Hilditch is now finding out if you get it wrong , the heat is on !
4th year coming up for Ratts , the list is now there , he's got to get it right !
Swann has said as much .

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

Yeah I think some of our battlers have run their races and despite their attitude and commitment sometimes you gotta make the tough calls. Chief among these battlers who I can't see being part of the team in the next couple of years are Setanta and AJ, with possibly Ellard and Robinson to join. Still think Carrazzo and Mclean can hold their spots.

 

[Jock]

Yeah I think some of our battlers have run their races and despite their attitude and commitment sometimes you gotta make the tough calls. Chief among these battlers who I can't see being part of the team in the next couple of years are Setanta and AJ, with possibly Ellard and Robinson to join. Still think Carrazzo and Mclean can hold their spots.

Id still give any of them a run ahead of Thornton or Houlihan as they aren't scared of physical contact and don't just pretend to chase and tackle, but true with our added depth they are all on the fringe.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Would be great to see Den in the midfield.
Tough and fast. IMO could be an excellent midfielder if he can add a little polish to a few of the basics.

Players that need to put a little polish on the basics can stay out of the midfield, IMHO.

We have plenty ahead of Armfield, in Lucas and Gibbs, who don't need any polish, along with Walker and others who are streets ahead of Armfield for a midfield role.

The thought is nice, really nice, but his dash off of the half back line is too important to forgo for the time being, especially without Walker down back.

 

[thylacine60]

Players that need to put a little polish on the basics can stay out of the midfield, IMHO.

We have plenty ahead of Armfield, in Lucas and Gibbs, who don't need any polish, along with Walker and others who are streets ahead of Armfield for a midfield role.

The thought is nice, really nice, but his dash off of the half back line is too important to forgo for the time being, especially without Walker down back.

Too obvious.

 

[parrot]

Prefer to keep AJ and Armfield in defense. Their role is massively underrated IMO. I remember watching games from 3-4 years back, and we used to get killed by opposition smalls. AJ and Armfield run them down so routinely now, it's easy to forget what would happen if we didn't have 2 high-speed quality small defenders in our lineup. AJ's skills are far from shabby. His pace is phenomenal. Also has a steely temperament, and never gets flustered. Armfield might want to play wing, but the fact is he's often up on the wing following his opponent anyway. Best keep them in their current position, and work on their rebounding skills.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Totally Agree Parrot. These days you need 2 small defenders like these 2 as well.
I don't understand the negativity towards AJ and Army either.

 

[DirkDiggler]

Prefer to keep AJ and Armfield in defense. Their role is massively underrated IMO. I remember watching games from 3-4 years back, and we used to get killed by opposition smalls. AJ and Armfield run them down so routinely now, it's easy to forget what would happen if we didn't have 2 high-speed quality small defenders in our lineup. AJ's skills are far from shabby. His pace is phenomenal. Also has a steely temperament, and never gets flustered. Armfield might want to play wing, but the fact is he's often up on the wing following his opponent anyway. Best keep them in their current position, and work on their rebounding skills.

Not a big fan of Aaron Joseph playing back in defence. Will get exposed in air as he is very average above his head.Army running out of defence is probably his best position but if he continues to improve his decision making and disposal can't see why he can't form part of the midfield rotation with some run with roles when required.

 

[CarltonFan]

Not a big fan of Aaron Joseph playing back in defence. Will get exposed in air as he is very average above his head.Army running out of defence is probably his best position but if he continues to improve his decision making and disposal can't see why he can't form part of the midfield rotation with some run with roles when required.

What's that based on? AJ is actually great above his head. Has a good leap and continually takes good marks. The problem would be his height and him getting exposed on taller players if played in the back pocket.

 

[BlueTongue]

Players that need to put a little polish on the basics can stay out of the midfield, IMHO.

We have plenty ahead of Armfield, in Lucas and Gibbs, who don't need any polish, along with Walker and others who are streets ahead of Armfield for a midfield role.

The thought is nice, really nice, but his dash off of the half back line is too important to forgo for the time being, especially without Walker down back.

One could argue that a midfielder can get away with lesser footskills than a defender. This is really the only real flaw in Army's game (apart from bouncing when tackled )

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

One could argue that a midfielder can get away with lesser footskills than a defender. This is really the only real flaw in Army's game (apart from bouncing when tackled )

I actually have no issues with Armfield's field kicking all things considered.

He can deliver down a forwards throat at speeds that most other players could only dream of reaching (see : C.Judd) and has the body strength to bust through tackles as well.

I think we'd all agree that delivering the pill when at top pace is the hardest skill in the game - Army rarely delivers the ball at any other pace, but when he does he is generally quite clean.

 

[Gravyman]

Armfield defensive forward.
Simple.
Do itt.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Armfield to stay where he is thanks.

Need to build a stable defence. He and JR are our reliable smalls. Wouldnt go changing it.

 

[Jeremias]

Reckon they've changed it by recruiting Duigan.

(to an extent)

 

[Red Bull]

Armfield to stay where he is thanks.

Need to build a stable defence. He and JR are our reliable smalls. Wouldnt go changing it.

Have to agree BD .
Love Armfield's courage and dash out of defence .

Armfield Jamison Bower

Russell Watson Laidler

This backline has size , strength , speed and skill .
Adding 2 beautiful left foot kicks tops it off .

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

What's that based on? AJ is actually great above his head. Has a good leap and continually takes good marks. The problem would be his height and him getting exposed on taller players if played in the back pocket.

It's based on the fact that time after time, Joseph gets outmarked by his opponent inside 50. His spoiling is non-existent. Love him as a player, but he gets found out repeatedly in the air.

 

[Blue and Silver]

It's based on the fact that time after time, Joseph gets outmarked by his opponent inside 50. His spoiling is non-existent. Love him as a player, but he gets found out repeatedly in the air.

I agree, but he blankets small crumbers and can completely shut them out of a game. No better example than how he mops up Milne everytime he plays on him. Joseph was always a step behind Milne wherever he went. AJ needs to get a better balance between offence and defence, but not having to fear getting slaughtered at ground level in the forward line is very nice

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Probably old news, or entirely useless, but I noticed on my run around PP this morning one of your players walking laps with his arm in a sling. Didn't recognise him, but young, dark hair, not hugely built, maybe 190cm. Was curious as to who it was but couldn't find a pre-season injury list.

 

[Jeremias]

Probably old news, or entirely useless, but I noticed on my run around PP this morning one of your players walking laps with his arm in a sling. Didn't recognise him, but young, dark hair, not hugely built, maybe 190cm. Was curious as to who it was but couldn't find a pre-season injury list.

Luke Mitchell from all reports has his arm in a sling.

Has young and dark hair but he's much taller than 190cm. He's at 198cm/94kg, so he's a pretty big unit.

Unless there's someone else in a sling that we don't know about...

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Yeah, could well be him. Was at a distance and I was obv. running so a bit of a guesstimation. Cheers.

 

[LouderNowBlue]

Firstly, I have read in another thread but received no confirmation of the fact that Hendo has an injury? Can we get anymore details on this?

Secondly, any other Christmas Tidbits for us BIB??