The Dukes Brian
Debutant
HYPOTHETICAL... Now after you've stop laughing, rolling the eyes, chuckling, etc, I just wanted to see your thoughts on if Nathan Thompson came to the Cats. I know he has officially retired and it wont happen, but maybe it could be a good thing (IMO). This is my reasoning: -
Personally I believe he wasn't done. Just had the yips and was injured. Every player gets the yips at some stage, but they more often than not get over that and move on. He was going in for surgery and with a good pre-season, could have been back firing. In his day, he could take an awesome grab, kick a good goal and a bag of them at times. He was ace for Hawthorn, then unfortunately he succumed to depression. Went to North, did alright, and the rest they say is history.
Obviously the Cats forward line needs a little tweaking. Its been a big talking point since that "one day" and no doubt it will continue to be for a while. Since Gary Ablett, we've never really had a "super forward", just men who have done their bit and done what's needed. We're all looking to the likes of Tomahawk and Gamble to lift and take the forward in their stride from 2009, but what if they not quite ready, what if they need to be shown the way in some areas. This is where Nathan would come in... He can simply play in the forward line and teach the lads (TH and RG), show them the way. Make them learn from doing. You could move Mooney up the ground, get Stokes and the like under their feet. Open it up so that they can make it their own. IMO, they need the guidence just as they're starting out. Put him under his wing and lead the way. Sure you have forward coaches, but they're up in the box, not down on the ground where it all happens.
We could use the last of our picks and if it doesn't work, no great loss. Give him a one year contract and go year by year depending on his performance. He wont be worth a lot, so no real strain on the salary cap. IMO everyone is freaking out because of the next couple drafts, but maybe someone needs to think out side the square and take a risk. Dew to the Hawks is a good example. Rare yes that it would work so well with such a gamble, but a risk that worked wonders so far.
Like I say, its way out there and will obviously never happen, but its just a thought. Anything that can help our forward line. Nothing to loose and everything to gain.
Personally I believe he wasn't done. Just had the yips and was injured. Every player gets the yips at some stage, but they more often than not get over that and move on. He was going in for surgery and with a good pre-season, could have been back firing. In his day, he could take an awesome grab, kick a good goal and a bag of them at times. He was ace for Hawthorn, then unfortunately he succumed to depression. Went to North, did alright, and the rest they say is history.
Obviously the Cats forward line needs a little tweaking. Its been a big talking point since that "one day" and no doubt it will continue to be for a while. Since Gary Ablett, we've never really had a "super forward", just men who have done their bit and done what's needed. We're all looking to the likes of Tomahawk and Gamble to lift and take the forward in their stride from 2009, but what if they not quite ready, what if they need to be shown the way in some areas. This is where Nathan would come in... He can simply play in the forward line and teach the lads (TH and RG), show them the way. Make them learn from doing. You could move Mooney up the ground, get Stokes and the like under their feet. Open it up so that they can make it their own. IMO, they need the guidence just as they're starting out. Put him under his wing and lead the way. Sure you have forward coaches, but they're up in the box, not down on the ground where it all happens.
We could use the last of our picks and if it doesn't work, no great loss. Give him a one year contract and go year by year depending on his performance. He wont be worth a lot, so no real strain on the salary cap. IMO everyone is freaking out because of the next couple drafts, but maybe someone needs to think out side the square and take a risk. Dew to the Hawks is a good example. Rare yes that it would work so well with such a gamble, but a risk that worked wonders so far.
Like I say, its way out there and will obviously never happen, but its just a thought. Anything that can help our forward line. Nothing to loose and everything to gain.
