- Aug 18, 2018
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I mean I can't see us winning a flag this year or next, but I'm not putting that on Atkins playing midfield
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Toast Tom Atkins - Premiership Player - 100 games
- Thread starter allrighty
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- Jun 22, 2008
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Has been a scrubber until this year. He's been very good most weeks and looks a completely different footballer.
People still say you can not win a flag with Atkins in the best 22, You will win a flag if you have a player like Atkins in your bottom 6
Most flag teams don't have a bottom 6 player getting so many midfield minutes
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
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Hes our Maciintosh from the Tigers.
Hard as, not overly skilled... but does the team stuff that allowed Dusty to not look defensive.
And it makes a good team greater.
We'll just disagree on this.
GO Catters
In a way , I agree.. in way I disagree. That Atkins is playing in our midfield says something about other options. If we had better options would he be playing? He is 27 in Sept and is the zone and age we desperately need and he has moved to the guts ... its our list and need that says something about our chances. Maybe Atkins as a blood and bone type still gets a game with an Ablett and a Bartel and Corey etc.. or maybe he finds another role like Rooke. As far as in our best 22..flag etc. Id say in every flag side there are players who are lucky to a degree and are just in the right spot at the right time, there are also players that bring more than their apparent talent would seem to add.. there are lots of reasons why he might still be in a flag side... I doubt he would have been out of sorts in the Melb side last year or Richmond at their best.
Its not so much that we cant win a flag with a player like Atkins..its that those around him are probably not up to it. Him playing in the midfield is a tell..we have have failed to refill our midfield with 24-28 years olds.. and now we are scratching at the edges, We have tried MOC, now Atkins .. I think our next try will probably be bringing in a player. Meanwhile Tom will give us everything he has. .. and he is still getting better. 69 games .. and it would seem he is one the way to 100. Great outcome for a guy who has done it the hard way.
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
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Tigers won flags with McIntosh.... we could with Atkins - not likely as the teams are different but if we dont I dare say Atkins wont be the reason
GO Catters
- Feb 9, 2015
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Not true, most have a similar guys running around who goes through the midfield.
James Harmes, Marlion Pickett, Marlion Pickett, Mark Hutchings, Jack Graham, Clay Smith.
All guys with at a similar level who give gave their side some crucial midfield time throughout their campaigns.
I have a few guys on my "you can't win the flag with him" list, but not Atkins.
- May 3, 2013
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I thought friday was one of ,if not the, best ever game for the cats. Was huge in stopping the bleeding in the 2nd/3rd quarter. I thought.
He was fantastic on Friday.
A first class game.
A first class game.
Proving to be a very versatile player - fixed up our ground ball gets in defence last season , now bolstering a depleted midfield.
Making the absolute most of his ability, puts his head over it every time and won’t die wondering
Making the absolute most of his ability, puts his head over it every time and won’t die wondering
I think referring to Atkins as a player of ‘limited ability’ is selling him a bit short. From day one he has been a reasonable ball user with good vision at the coalface. Now he is comfortable in the team we are seeing what he was always capable of. The terrier stuff is just the icing on the cake.
MacStradbroke
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Amazing how much a player can improve when given the opportunity in the position he was drafted playing. (Understand than most are drafted as midfielders)
catempire
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It’s more than that though. He has been great in all kinds of roles this year. It seems to be a case of a player adjusting well to the pace of the game and recognising his limitations.
MacStradbroke
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Agree, but his last month has seen Further improvement.
I see Atkins as a Liberatore, Brayshaw type. Still needed in our modern chaos style footy.
Glad to see him making his mark as a grunt mid. Dragging others like Guthrie along with him
Glad to see him making his mark as a grunt mid. Dragging others like Guthrie along with him
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
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Totally… deserves all the kudos he’s getting… we don’t win that game without his efforts. Not a high ceiling player… but has drug his above where many thought it could exist.
Some call plodder… and sorry IMO they are DEADSET wrong
Go Catters
Some call plodder… and sorry IMO they are DEADSET wrong
Go Catters
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catempire
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Absolute jet and one of our most improved
- Dec 11, 2009
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I just love how fierce he is.
Not the most talented, doesn't pretend to be, but my oath he's got some tenacity in him.
dazbroncos
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I seem to recall Scott being pilloried by at least one poster for throwing Atkins into the centre in the second half of the prelim last year. He was far from disgraced then as well. Petracca ran past him, as he ran past all our players. Guthrie was clearly unwell so we needed someone else in the midfield.
It'd be good to see the coach get credit for the move now, but I guess that's too much to ask from some on here.
It'd be good to see the coach get credit for the move now, but I guess that's too much to ask from some on here.
Jhye Clark 13
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When you've been critical of him in the past I never understood - I rate your evaluation of players - so I watched closely and still couldn't see why you didn't rate him.
Every team needs a player like Atkins. What he's starting to do more of is win those 'burst' possessions in the contest. By burst I mean win the hard ball and burst away.
He's having a fine season.
