Grand Uncle Horace
Nice to see the famous NMFC#wishboner spirit livii
In this strange epoch of human history, I think there is a real need for the forces of good (ie the Bloods) to have a fair play enforcer.
I am not talking about a dill like Hall became or a faux tough bloke as Jonesy tried on for a couple of years.
What I think we need is a couple of players who will not accept nonsense from filthy opposition players.
For me the twin low points of the last decade were encapsulated in Round 6 2017 with the loss to Carlolton. The loss was bad enough; the failure to respond to the bullying of Mills was intolerable.
The Bloods history is filled with blokes who would not accept crap from the Oppo. In my time otherwise ball players like Kenny Boyd, Stewie Gull, Paul Harrison, the SA John Murphy, Peter Morrison, Denis Carroll, Eric Sarich, Kirky, ROK, Dunks, Jude would square up and protect their mates. Mostly they would just run though Oppo filth who had made the error of getting between them and the ball. That is what we need IMO among all the other things on our short list.
Looking at our current list I am wondering where our next take no prisoners, deliver some fair albeit rough justice players will come from.
At the moment I cannot see any of our defenders doing this. No reflection on their courage at all. Blokes like Ramps, COR and Allir are too much the nice boy next door. Our forwards are pretty much the same.
Of the established players, only Parker and Papley strike me as having that bit of mongrel in them.
Of the emerging players, I reckon McLean strikes me as an enforcer in the Denis Carroll see ball get ball and if there is a dog Oppo player in the way, so much to the good. In his first ruck contest he copped the biggest knee in AFL history in the chest. He did not flinch, ran through other Oppo in chasing the ball. He is the perfect size to develop into a feared KPD (feared equally for his skill as for his ability to run through Oppo dogs).
I think Rowbottom is an absolute toughie. He has not taken a backward step and already can be seen as being prepared to fly the flag. Blakey too strikes me as tough as nails. He has already copped plenty of attention and seems to relish it. With a few more kegs (well a lot really) I can see Nick fairly running through and squaring up.
I am not suggesting we should play thugs. I am suggesting we need at least a few players who will put fear into the eyes of Oppo thugs.
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I am not talking about a dill like Hall became or a faux tough bloke as Jonesy tried on for a couple of years.
What I think we need is a couple of players who will not accept nonsense from filthy opposition players.
For me the twin low points of the last decade were encapsulated in Round 6 2017 with the loss to Carlolton. The loss was bad enough; the failure to respond to the bullying of Mills was intolerable.
The Bloods history is filled with blokes who would not accept crap from the Oppo. In my time otherwise ball players like Kenny Boyd, Stewie Gull, Paul Harrison, the SA John Murphy, Peter Morrison, Denis Carroll, Eric Sarich, Kirky, ROK, Dunks, Jude would square up and protect their mates. Mostly they would just run though Oppo filth who had made the error of getting between them and the ball. That is what we need IMO among all the other things on our short list.
Looking at our current list I am wondering where our next take no prisoners, deliver some fair albeit rough justice players will come from.
At the moment I cannot see any of our defenders doing this. No reflection on their courage at all. Blokes like Ramps, COR and Allir are too much the nice boy next door. Our forwards are pretty much the same.
Of the established players, only Parker and Papley strike me as having that bit of mongrel in them.
Of the emerging players, I reckon McLean strikes me as an enforcer in the Denis Carroll see ball get ball and if there is a dog Oppo player in the way, so much to the good. In his first ruck contest he copped the biggest knee in AFL history in the chest. He did not flinch, ran through other Oppo in chasing the ball. He is the perfect size to develop into a feared KPD (feared equally for his skill as for his ability to run through Oppo dogs).
I think Rowbottom is an absolute toughie. He has not taken a backward step and already can be seen as being prepared to fly the flag. Blakey too strikes me as tough as nails. He has already copped plenty of attention and seems to relish it. With a few more kegs (well a lot really) I can see Nick fairly running through and squaring up.
I am not suggesting we should play thugs. I am suggesting we need at least a few players who will put fear into the eyes of Oppo thugs.
.
