you know we are desperate when...

[matt decat]

we are relying on hoops to win a contestes ball. this guy is as soft as butter but finished up with 9 contested possesions last week, our second highest for the night. WTF?

http://xml.afl.com.au/swf/live_stats.htm?gameID=10220204

i rekon bentick will get a call up this week, we arent laying enough tackles to pressure the opposition, and he was top 3 in tackles last year in the afl. anyone know how he is goin in the ants?

 

[Juddrockz]

we are relying on hoops to win a contestes ball. this guy is as soft as butter but finished up with 9 contested possesions last week, our second highest for the night. WTF?

http://xml.afl.com.au/swf/live_stats.htm?gameID=10220204

i rekon bentick will get a call up this week, we arent laying enough tackles to pressure the opposition, and he was top 3 in tackles last year in the afl. anyone know how he is goin in the ants?

If we have to rely on Houla skirt we may as well just hand over the 4 points now.He's a soft ar*e and doesnt like getting grass under his fingernails.Should be playing in a girls netball team

 

[Big Bad Sammus]

we are relying on hoops to win a contestes ball. this guy is as soft as butter but finished up with 9 contested possesions last week, our second highest for the night. WTF?

http://xml.afl.com.au/swf/live_stats.htm?gameID=10220204

i rekon bentick will get a call up this week, we arent laying enough tackles to pressure the opposition, and he was top 3 in tackles last year in the afl. anyone know how he is goin in the ants?

Apparently Bentick is ripping shit up with the Ants, over 30 possies & BOG in his first game and IIRC BOG in his second game....just not quite 100% sure on the second game.

I'll go nuts if Bentick doesn't get a game this week against the Bombers. We need him for the in and under, Stevo was doing some of this but to no prevail!

 

[Il Naso De Gastev]

You know we are desperate when.....

.... people are starting an 'Official Bring Back Wiggins Thread'.

 

[as0l0]

If we have to rely on Houla skirt we may as well just hand over the 4 points now.He's a soft ar*e and doesnt like getting grass under his fingernails.Should be playing in a girls netball team

What does this say about the other 20 blokes then?

 

[[ToTTi]]

Another example of the 'sheer stupidity on this forum' that BlueBear was talking about...

 

[Blah Blah Blue]

Another example of the 'sheer stupidity on this forum' that BlueBear was talking about...

absolutely correct. We need the board broken into 2 halves, one half for the intelligent and rational and one half for the idiots and bleaters.

Actually going by what is being posted lately probably best to break into quarters, 1/4 for the intelligent, 3/4's for the idiots, they need the space

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

Another example of the 'sheer stupidity on this forum' that BlueBear was talking about...

Agreed. Sick to death of the bagging of a few of our blokes who are actually doing a pretty good job. Houla is one of the on-field leaders in terms of his skills, poise and general contribution. Quite possibly the most under-rated blokes on our list.

I really hope the players never get on BF.

 

[BlueWorld]

If we have to rely on Houla skirt we may as well just hand over the 4 points now.He's a soft ar*e and doesnt like getting grass under his fingernails.Should be playing in a girls netball team

You obviously don't have a clue. What about giving credit where it's due.

 

[Blues_Man]

absolutely correct. We need the board broken into 2 halves, one half for the intelligent and rational and one half for the idiots and bleaters.

Actually going by what is being posted lately probably best to break into quarters, 1/4 for the intelligent, 3/4's for the idiots, they need the space

I agree...our board is being taken up by moronic threads like this one ..usually they are started by brain dead newbies who a lot of the time are opposition supporters trolling .

 

[Thrawn]

Houlihan is one of our most skilful players, and plays his best at a HFF. Take him out and our side is suddenly less skilful. But sometimes I do have to question his commitment to the ball, and to his opponent. His game against St Kilda wasn't that good and was lazy at times... the lazy part is what I'm concerned about the most. Sure, he's soft as butter, but at least he can use the ball well.

 

[HBF]

Houlihan is one of our most skilful players, and plays his best at a HFF. Take him out and our side is suddenly less skilful. But sometimes I do have to question his commitment to the ball, and to his opponent. His game against St Kilda wasn't that good and was lazy at times... the lazy part is what I'm concerned about the most. Sure, he's soft as butter, but at least he can use the ball well.

Spot on Thrawn. He has played his best footy on the HFF, and this is where he should play every week, with perhaps a stint in the midfield as part of the rotation.

 

[Thrawn]

Spot on Thrawn. He has played his best footy on the HFF, and this is where he should play every week, with perhaps a stint in the midfield as part of the rotation.

His passes to Fevola are often pinpoint accurate - he did that quite a few times last year when given the opportunity. And he's not a bad set shot either. Considering his lack of defensive abilities it makes most sense to play him to his strengths - in an attacking role. Why he is persisted down back against the likes of Milne, I do not know. Surely Ratten would've learned from last year that it is a mistake to put him down back?

I remember watching a young Houlihan in 2001 when he was around the goals, most people thought he was a flanker. Kicked some nice goals too back then.

 

[Magnificence]

U know we are desperate when Bentick trains with the main squad and we start a thread like this

 

[thylacine60]

...when someone from Keilor Downs is allowed to join BF.

 

[walshy93]

Houlihan is one of our most skilful players, and plays his best at a HFF. Take him out and our side is suddenly less skilful. But sometimes I do have to question his commitment to the ball, and to his opponent. His game against St Kilda wasn't that good and was lazy at times... the lazy part is what I'm concerned about the most. Sure, he's soft as butter, but at least he can use the ball well.

Spot on Thrawn. He has played his best footy on the HFF, and this is where he should play every week, with perhaps a stint in the midfield as part of the rotation.

His passes to Fevola are often pinpoint accurate - he did that quite a few times last year when given the opportunity. And he's not a bad set shot either. Considering his lack of defensive abilities it makes most sense to play him to his strengths - in an attacking role. Why he is persisted down back against the likes of Milne, I do not know. Surely Ratten would've learned from last year that it is a mistake to put him down back?

I remember watching a young Houlihan in 2001 when he was around the goals, most people thought he was a flanker. Kicked some nice goals too back then.

Thankyou, glad Im not the only fan out there. I love his work, he is skillful, and accurate, and always chips in with a goal or two on the HFF...

 

[Dramoth]

People that joined up a couple of months back shouldnt be allowed to start pointless posts.

As for the topic, Hoops is, as several people have acknowledged, best played on the HFF.

Playing him anywhere else is a waste of his talents.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

Houlihan is one of our most skilful players, and plays his best at a HFF. Take him out and our side is suddenly less skilful. But sometimes I do have to question his commitment to the ball, and to his opponent. His game against St Kilda wasn't that good and was lazy at times... the lazy part is what I'm concerned about the most. Sure, he's soft as butter, but at least he can use the ball well.

Your assessment of him is spot on in relation to skills and committment, the latter is what frustrates me the most about Princess Ryan. I was speaking to Juddy about Hoops on Sunday arvo at a function and he said that he even said that Hoops is one of the best kicks going around at present.

I have raised this previously but I think we would be better served by swapping Hoops and Carrots around in defence. Carrots kicking does worries me but if we can't put him doen back to release Hoops then try Armfield or Browne as they were both recruited as small running backs (seeing that Anderson is still out).

We need to use Hoops skill to hurt the opposition I have never liked him down back.

 

[matt decat]

i do agree with everyone that hoops is a very talented player and important to the team, im sorry if it didn't come across that way. i dont think that he doesnt deserve to be in the team but i do believe he is of more value up forward than down back. what i was trying to highlight was the teams inability to win contested balls. many people believe that hoops doesnt put his body on the line on a regular basis at all so i was surprised to see that he had the 2nd highest contested touches on the weekend. however this, to me, shows that there aren't enough players on our list, especially at an elite level, who are able to extract the ball from a contested situation.