Past #39: Leigh Harding - selected with #13 in 2000 RD - retired at end of 2010 season - coaches at BL

[Angus1]

Jeremy Clayton is better then both of those hacks.
If JYD doesn't rate Clayton then he should at least drop Shane and play Brent soley as a forward pocket. I think it is quiet obvious to even Boomers greatest fans that he is totally f!@#$% useless as an onballer. As a forward pocket at least he can slot a couple of goals every week.
Players like Shane Harvey shouldn't be allowed to wear the royal blue and white until they show some f!@#$ heart. All Shane shows is an unsightly mess in his jocks. Hell we can't play Hawthorn every week. My sister could have scored last week.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Some people are actually calling S.Harvey a hack based on that one incident??

.....hmmmmmmmmm...............

 

[Anvil16]

Not gonna bag harvey but Turtle should have never been dropped

 

[R00StaR]

S.Harvey could’ve/ should’ve slotted 2 goals in a game where we were hammered on the inside 50s. If he’d kicked them then he’s done his job, hopefully he learns from his mistakes of not going in hard when needed and was dragged for it.

 

[Woodson]

Too many If's......

Originally posted by Shinboners
I don't think having Turtle in the side would have made the slightest bit of difference to the result.

**shrug shoulders** a 5 minute purple patch was all that was required tonight and Turtle is one who plays like that.

**hands on head** nothing can be done now.

Next week is another week and possibly the SEASON actually on the line!!

Q. Do the players really believe in thier hearts and is it in thier heads that they deserve to belong in the 8 ? All will be answered next week. No need to panic. I have faith that a more focussed ROO outfit will come out next week and give it thier best shot.

 

[scottywiper]

I don't think having Turtle in the side would have made the slightest bit of difference to the result.

You never know. Even one goal, particularly early, could have made a lot of difference. Harding is capable of that.
What is clear is that S Harvey made no difference to the result.

S.Harvey could’ve/ should’ve slotted 2 goals

But he didn't. Brad Rowe could've kicked a lot of goals for Collingwood, but he tended to miss and that was why his career as a forward pocket ended quickly.

I know Turtle's kicking is itself an issue, but I really think our forward line is more dangerous with Turtle there. We were playing well and since he's been dropped, have lost two out of three.
He did little against Freo, but still set up a vital goal for Rocca and almost made a goal out of nothing at one stage. Don't forget how good he was against Geelong.
He makes things happen, sometimes.

 

[Angus1]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
Some people are actually calling S.Harvey a hack based on that one incident??

.....hmmmmmmmmm...............

No not at all. He has always played like that. Ask an Essendon fan. He gets away with it at Port Melbourne because they are just kiddies but at the elite level it isn't acceptable.

 

[scottywiper]

I know this is my pet topic.
However, he has played 10 games this year and we have won seven of them.
The losses were to Brisbane, Geelong and Melbourne - three of the best teams in it. He kicked 1.3, 4.2 and 2.1 in those losses.
Therefore we have also won just three of nine without him.
Got his two goals last night and while not dominant by any stretch, if he keeps getting two a match he should continue to be our premier forward pocket.
That's my two cents worth.

 

[benno87]

Fair point,
provides a strong lead from the goal square consistantly, though they are usually out wide, allowing room for Rocca to lead straight. He seems to step up when we look low which is a healthy thing.

 

[scottywiper]

You are very wise Benno!

 

[NeoBlaze]

I've always said he's more value in the team. Defences are ******** scared of his speed, his defensive pressure is better than most people give him credit for and he kicks goals no matter how sporadic his kicking is. He could be a Jeff Farmer (ie 100 goals a season fp) if he could kick straight but he is a very very valuable player in our forward 50 and we look much better as a team with him in there than without him there. The same could be said for Rocca, which baffles me as to why Laidley frequently benches him.

 

[palisades]

i agree, he is a good player, his goal from the pocket from about 50 last night was v. good. He overran the ball a few too many times though when the pressure was on, but as our leading goalkicker last year he needs to play

 

[The Hippie]

i agree, he is a good player, his goal from the pocket from about 50 last night was v. good. He overran the ball a few too many times though when the pressure was on, but as our leading goalkicker last year he needs to play

Both of his goals were from that pocket last night. I reckon his set shots from difficult angles have been the one he's been kicking more consistently this year, it's the easy ones he misses. Fix that problem and he could be anything.

 

[tashibatts]

Or, get the ball too him when he is in a difficult position goal kicking wise..

Go Roos

 

[year of the roo]

He could be a Jeff Farmer (ie 100 goals a season fp)

How many times has Farmer kicked 100+ goals in a season?

I don't think Harding becoming a Farmer is anything to get excited about. Harding probably is already > Farmer!!

 

[hopper]

Has to be part of our forward structure, chases hard when the ball's turned over, leading goal scorer from last season and is a better small forward option than S.Harvey . Our side looks better balanced with him in and apart from a few wonky kicks I like watching him play. At Canberra this year against West Coast he marked played on and missed form 20 then 2 minutes lated he hit a lead on the ****** with a 50mtr pass, he can play. Good thread Scotty.

 

[NeoBlaze]

How many times has Farmer kicked 100+ goals in a season?

I don't think Harding becoming a Farmer is anything to get excited about. Harding probably is already > Farmer!!

only once he got around 100 goals as a forward pocket which is unreal playing that position, probably the equivalent of a FF kicking 200 goals a season. Anyway I agree he's definately greater than Farmer is now, but my comment was more in reference to him getting heaps of goals a year rather than being a loose canon and angry angry man

 

[Shinboners]

only once he got around 100 goals as a forward pocket which is unreal playing that position,

The most Farmer has kicked in a season is 76 goals in 2000.

That was the only time he's kicked more than 50 in a season.

probably the equivalent of a FF kicking 200 goals a season.

Just a shame that goals from forward pockets don't count for double.

 

[Darky]

Quite often the forward pocket is referred to as a footballers' graveyard, hence not many specialist forward pockets having genuinely long and consistent careers.

Forward pockets are dependent on the ball getting down there, and in many cases are specifically there to sit at the back of packs waiting for spilled marks and loose ball opportunities. When things don't go their way, they look like soft receivers, when it's not necessarily their role to go in and get the ball. Obviously at least the willingness when necessary or appropriate is desirable.

A player of his type will probably get only 6 or 7 touches a game, and only needs to create 2 goals out of them to have done his job. If he gets those 6 or 7 touches and kicks none, he hasn't played much differently but is perceived to have had a dirty day. Very fine line for a player of that type, and in the end the goal return is everything.

I think 2 goals a game is a good return for a forward pocket in a mid-table side. Leigh's kicking does still let him down a fair bit, but he seems to have more confidence in his kicking this year than last year (as do we). The fact he is good on a lead adds a dimension that most specialist FPs don't have.

 

[year of the roo]

Just a shame that goals from forward pockets don't count for double.

Imagine if they did and then we had an away goals rule as well. This could mean that Farmer could have kicked nearly 300 goals in 2000 instead of his actual 76!!

 

[Hearts to hearts]

I liked Harding's work keeping the ball in the forward line, too - some good tackling and attacks on the ball to support the team, as well as a couple of nice marks and kicks for goal. I wanted S. Harvey to get a fair go too so I'm not biased either way, but Harding seemed to do more than enough in Sydney to hold his spot.

 

[Harvs29]

Quite often the forward pocket is referred to as a footballers' graveyard, hence not many specialist forward pockets having genuinely long and consistent careers.

Forward pockets are dependent on the ball getting down there, and in many cases are specifically there to sit at the back of packs waiting for spilled marks and loose ball opportunities. When things don't go their way, they look like soft receivers, when it's not necessarily their role to go in and get the ball.

in this sense, i reckon that Skunk is a better prospect as an opportunist goal sneak than Harding. I am more confident of the Skunk's roving abilities and kicking than Hardings. I wonder whether both can coexist in the same forward line.

 

[blue boy]

lance whitnall for leigh harding and 3rd round pick i think thuis is a very fair trade what do you kangaroos supporters think

 

[Back Seat Of A Taxi]

we've got Thommo now, no need for Fat Boy Slim.

 

[year of the roo]

I think we'd need a 3rd round pick, and you need a clue.