- Mar 27, 2018
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Really happy with his game tonight along with Hugo.
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Player Watch #27 Thomson Dow Re-Signed until 2025
- Thread starter NaturalDisaster
- Start date
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I thought he went well, without being eye-catching with the ball. He played in a midfield without Prestia, Taranto, Ross,Short & effectively Hopper, Graham, Martin & Graham. It was a night where someone was going to get the touches eventually. He was good, excellent with his work-rate on tackles - don't get me wrong - but it didn't blow my **** off. I think RCD's "Best Games" at the same age were far more impressive for example.
I watched his hands tonight as someone claimed "Edwards like" - i saw nothing like that. He isn't a a creator like Edwards. I also thought tonight underlined how bad his decision was to "kick to the square" instead of taking a set shot from 42-45m out, when we were only 11 points up against the Swans. Some here said he didn't "have the distance", but he did tonight with aset shot from almost the same spot in Q4, which the post 3/4 high. I was happy to see him take the shot tonight though, as it shows he was willing to at least be in that moment Ultimately though, he hit the post. It would have been a far far better and impressive game if he had actually kicked that goal. It's when i see him doing stuff like that in moments of games that mattered, i will start to get my belt off for him.
The question on Dow will be is he a player for "moments" or is his ceiling the unassuming accumulator who can stop play with tackles - but not change games with tackles & goals. His game tonight though was a clear positive
Absolutely right ... this will probably be his only AFL game that he gets 20+ in his entire career
prodigy
Taj Hotton Loyalist
- Jun 20, 2013
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A fair assessment.
well, bingo. ha, we found something to agree on.
To me though the biggest trait of an elite player is, how you can impact a game & possibly change it. Dow's game tonight felt more like an arm wrestle effort than that. I also felt Melbourne we really really flat in that area. They were shithouse tonight.
Noidnadroj
Norm Smith Medallist
- Dec 8, 2020
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FMD … he was playing his 24th game and was one of our best players on the night, playing arguably his best game against the premier midfield in the competition. Just give him some credit and move on. He wasn’t BOG but he was very good and if he continues with games like that he will be a long term player for us. Stop looking for reasons to shitcan him.
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Danog
17 19 & 20 - Dynasty
wtf are you on about? Hopper was playing great until he got injured.
FFS, some people are just blind
He had a good game but nothing special and should be the min expected from a player 4 years in the system
But nothing fantastic but an improvement.
I did give him plenty of credit - but we don't need to milk his sausage dry mate. He isn't here and can't hear us. His game was good, but it lacked a lot of the things that make you get excited about a player. He is a hard working player with a promising defensive side, but undersized, very little offensively, creativity, & goal sense. Doesn't seem to be up for the big moments either. Games like tonight become more impressive the 4th week in a row & are less impressive when remembering the fairly meek performances against Eagles & Saints prior. I think you are just being overzealous with a single game - it doesn't deserve everyone to celebrate it. Was a very minor positive on a fairly ordinary night
wegetpumped
Norm Smith Medallist
Guy -plays his best game for us and gets hung unreal.
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Easily the best game he's played for us. Was impressed with some moments were he looked very composed and took some time to dodge some tackles when under a good amount of pressure.
That's a hugely positive sign of someone start to feel comfortable at AFL level.
That's a hugely positive sign of someone start to feel comfortable at AFL level.
I think the clear difference between Dow and the absolute best midfielders is that so much of his best work sees him and the ball moving sideways or backwards. This should be by no means terminal for him, it will just keep him below the top tier of mids who can escape congestion going forward.
With just that rider in place, I too was impressed with Dow, he seems to be gaining confidence and purpose. Hopper's presence may have been beneficial for him so the Hopper injury could be a bigger blow than it looks. You could see a world where with Dow fully confident and both D Rioli and Short fully fit, and some better long targets actually on the paddock in Balta and Lynch, that Dow's style could lead to more scores for Richmond. Last night at least it was stopping Melbourne controlling the loose balls around stoppages. Just keep playing him and see if some good connection can develop around his playing style.
With just that rider in place, I too was impressed with Dow, he seems to be gaining confidence and purpose. Hopper's presence may have been beneficial for him so the Hopper injury could be a bigger blow than it looks. You could see a world where with Dow fully confident and both D Rioli and Short fully fit, and some better long targets actually on the paddock in Balta and Lynch, that Dow's style could lead to more scores for Richmond. Last night at least it was stopping Melbourne controlling the loose balls around stoppages. Just keep playing him and see if some good connection can develop around his playing style.
You need to realise the pulled kick against Sydney was the right option , it took time off the clock and went along way to winning us the game . We were out in our feet.
The fact you use that instance at every instance to deflect positivity around Dow shows you’re struggling to maintain your negative attitude toward him .
Just admit it , the kid can play and if he gets more opportunity he’ll become more consistent and there’ll be more flare .
Muddiemoose
Moderator
- Aug 24, 2017
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Fwiw he had 21 v the and 27 v the power last year
It’s going to be a long period for you if all you can do is try and tear players down
I actually agree ,Hopper has no awareness . His disposal is terrible whilst he bores into a contest leaving his man free and in space often when the oppo has or is clearly about to win the ball .
Was a little disappointed in Dow's use of the ball early in the game where he just gave it to a player next to him without any thought or awareness of what was coming next. But longer the game went the better he distributed, I guess that is confidence and continuity and having a midfield that played pretty well overall until they tired.
Whilst not a great kick, I think that will probably get better as well. What surprised me most was his tackling. Much stronger in the arms and was able to hold players who previously would have broken his tackles. This again is a confidence thing, all of a sudden he realised that he could do it.
He has a great trait of being able to pick up the ball at speed in traffic, so whilst he is not a speedster, he can be very quick getting in and out with the ball, which offsets his lack of size, but makes him damaging around the pack. A lot of small mids have this trait, Prestia, Edwards, Neale, Butters etc.
Unfortunately we lost Hopper who was very good, now our midfield is back to being without a 'leader.'
Whilst not a great kick, I think that will probably get better as well. What surprised me most was his tackling. Much stronger in the arms and was able to hold players who previously would have broken his tackles. This again is a confidence thing, all of a sudden he realised that he could do it.
He has a great trait of being able to pick up the ball at speed in traffic, so whilst he is not a speedster, he can be very quick getting in and out with the ball, which offsets his lack of size, but makes him damaging around the pack. A lot of small mids have this trait, Prestia, Edwards, Neale, Butters etc.
Unfortunately we lost Hopper who was very good, now our midfield is back to being without a 'leader.'
TigerPaul71
Tiger chef for life
Played a great game
- Aug 15, 2015
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Big improvement last night
Actually won clearances against very good opposition.
Like some others I’m not sold on him, but credit where credits due, well played
Actually won clearances against very good opposition.
Like some others I’m not sold on him, but credit where credits due, well played
wtf are you talking about, see how he used the ball? about as good as his team mate.
Sloppy and bad at kicking, open your eye and watch the game.
Karp3_dm
Brownlow Medallist
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Didn’t have 35 and kick 3
Dud delist
Dud delist
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Cmon Karpy it's not about stats .lol
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We’ve got some great kids. Rioli, Ralph, Brown, Miller, Campbell, Lefau, Gibcus, Mansell, Ross, Clarke
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RCD's 'best games'?! Manufactured memories?....RCD's 'best games' were against Sandringham!
RCD never remotely produced what Dow produced last night, on a big night, in the big league.
Well, since you said something ridiculous, I'm going to say something ridiculous -
Was getting some weird, young/playing days Jimmy Hird vibes last night - from a distance and squinting - probably nothing more than the slim/lanky build of Dow versus the bulk of everyone else!
A lot of that is to do with the options available, and the connection and familiarity between the player and his team-mates. Remember also Hopper himself was bound to be a bit rusty after 4-5 weeks on the sidelines.
