Toast George Horlin-Smith

[meto]

Up until the injury he was 21st for disposals and 23rd in Dream Team, "and he actually had a good game in there", to speak of him as a shining example in comparison to others as some do, is bewildering and annoying.
About the Boak deal, Varcoe's name was mentioned to get it done, "but it was hands off"!

A good point was made, we were looking for a hard inside mid to help Joel Selwood so surely this guy Varcoe who'd been out with a long term anyhow may have swayed Port at the time, considering all the hype that seems to follow our bloke.
Would have been perfect timing to unload for the ideal player we were after, but no, we had to keep him.
If it was another club the offer would have been tabled, no doubt.

 

[Toe Poke]

You heard it here first on 8 April:
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/thre...-effect-on-season-2018.1190391/#post-55043496

While it's hard to know where our injuries stand exactly due to the incompetent communication on the issue from the Geelong football club, it's clear now we are in a world of pain with our injuries.

Our defensive spine is facing at least another month on the sidelines.
Duncan has missed two important games with a hamstring.
Today, we lose Guthrie, Ablett and Cockatoo for a month each (you'd think).

Waiting to come in (Duncan aside) we have Murdoch, Thurlow, O'Connor, Cunico and two ruckman who are competing to be the lamest men over 2m within the Kardinia Park precinct.

Worse still, we are unable to drop under-performers like Parsons because we are just so short of soldiers.

This seriously threatens to derail our season before it even gets started.

This is all just the background to the great story of 2018 - when George Horlin-Smith won the Brownlow Medal after missing out on selection in the first three games.

OK maybe the Brownlow comment was typed with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but 26 disposals and 2 goals is a fair effort for a player who couldn't make the squads of 26 in the first four rounds.

And I'll repeat a screenshot that I added to the match day thread earlier this evening:

 

[FredLeDeux]

All hyperbole aside, easily his best game for the club.

 

[catempire]

*Bump*

Happy for George.

 

[foxdog50]

Always loved him. Iv never seen him had sh!t game like other players. He may not be exciting in speed like Dangerfield. He may not have the courage like Selwood. But he always knows how to find the ball and get it out to those faster players.
Hats of to you GHS

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Still a little slow.

 

[Tinlids]

We need soldiers and ghs is one of them. This is the type of finals player we need that doesent shirk a contest... drop someone else.

 

[Landgraft]

Just the ultimate professional and a fantastic bloke to boot. He'll probably never even be playing every week but nights like this or his winning goal v Norf do make the heart sing.

Onya Gorgeous

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Great game, yes he is a little slow but he got the ball and fed it out nicely and kicked 2 great goals and won several clearances. Cant ask much more than that.

 

[catamaran]

Great game, yes he is a little slow but he got the ball and fed it out nicely and kicked 2 great goals and won several clearances. Cant ask much more than that.

If our structures hold up, like they did tonight, he doesn't get caught out because of his pace and his footy smarts shine through. His goal out the back of the contest was a perfect demonstration of this. Champ

 

[catempire]

BTW, couldn't think of a side he's better matched to than Sydney.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

All hyperbole aside, easily his best game for the club.

His game a few years ago where he demolished the Swans would be right up there.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Still a little slow.

At risk of feeding a well known troll, so was Greg Williams and Cameron Ling. Who gives a shit.

 

[giggler99]

I'd forgotten he was still on the list lol I didn't see the teams sheet before the match at the pub I was watching, when he marked for that first goal I was like wtf? The hyphen is still playing for us!

 

[Nest of Cats]

George played tonight as most expected. He did his job. Thought he was BOG .

Class player.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

His game a few years ago where he demolished the Swans would be right up there.

Swans are on the menu next week. At home! Will his game from a few years ago be hyphenated to his game against the Swannies this time? Stay tuned!!!

 

[MacStradbroke]

Swans are on the menu next week. At home! Will his game from a few years ago be hyphenated to his game against the Swannies this time? Stay tuned!!!

Straight to Kennedy again.

 

[Seeds]

best game easily for the club. looks stronger.

 

[Benny78]

disposals and crap aside his poise was 10/10. Looked like the last player on the ground that would fall over. Just looks like a player. Never thought I'd say it!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

At risk of feeding a well known troll, so was Greg Williams and Cameron Ling. Who gives a shit.

Winning finals at the wide MCG does. And unfortunately for George the other bloke who shares his lack of legspeed is the captain's brother and a respected leader. You have to admire George's attitude though.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

At risk of feeding a well known troll, so was Greg Williams and Cameron Ling. Who gives a shit.

I was half-joking. Good game tonight, but I don't think there's been much doubt about him being able to rack up disposals at AFL level or contribute to an AFL side. I think he's proven himself capable of doing that before. The main issue with him has been whether he's been a good fit for the side given he does lack pace and the team has had multiple midfielders who lack leg speed and defensive running capabilities but who have performed better than him. While he played a strong game against Port, his pace still hurt him at times, and his long-term place in the side would be dependent on whether or not he tips the balance of the midfield too far towards the slow side or whether he is able to displace someone else in there who isn't that quick, such as a Menegola.

As I've said for a long time, he's a good depth player to have and he proved tonight how he's likely going to be more effective than a skinny kid.

 

[Turbocat]

We should enjoy a very good game from GHS ... I doubt it gains him permanent position in the side..I remember a few years when he played well V the Swans he looked to have become a locked part of the side... when all are fit..others will be picked.

If nothing else we know he has had chances to move.. and has preferred to stay , to enjoy being a this club , playing and training with bigger names etc. ..perhaps hoping for a chance last night to occur on the big stage. He is an old fashioned club man .. and it would not surprise me if last nights game gets him offer another couple of years contract. We see whats happen on the field ..but the total package of what he brings is probably worth his position.

 

[dazbroncos]

You cant fault the bloke.

As you say TC - had chances to move, has stayed and fronts up each week to the usual too slow mantra.

Well his too slow got him 2 goals and 20 odd touches in a very solid game after a very late change.

The bloke just screams clubman to me - and the example it sets IMO is brilliant.

GO Catters

 

[iameviljez]

Still a little slow.

So were Sam Mitchell and Jimmy Bartel... yes I wish he was faster but it's not a dealbreaker IMO. Got up and down the ground just fine.

The game tonight did suit him, that said.

I also think, though, that the composition of the side lets us carry a slower player now to a certain degree. Kelly and Parfitt's emergence - and of course Dangerfield and Ablett - does mean that there are now faster runners for GHS to feed the footy to.

 

[kickazz]

Someone mentioned in another thread that across the board, we are not as slow as we were a few years ago.

It raises the question as to whether we can "carry" his slowness now?

What I have always liked about GHS is that whilst he can have quiet games, his best really is better than a lot of other players we have. Good skills on both sides of the body, knows how to kick a goal and is hard at it. He won BOG in a VFL grand final so he can rise to the occasion.

Compare a bloke like Murdoch, who I like, but feel that has a much lower ceiling.

Hope he stays in the side next week. Sydney at KP is almost the ideal game for him to be playing in.