Prediction Michael Barlow

[FR0GGY]

He's in the Phil Harper corner

Theyre staring to pile up

 

[mistylake]

Sometimes in the shower I set the soap Bar Low, sometimes even on the tiles.

Well as long as it's not in the pantry or the fridge.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Maybe we've censored young Justin ?? I sure hope so.

I should think so after the Gibbs debacle.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Could we or should we be into Xavier Richards?

 

[Danger Zone]

Could we or should we be into Xavier Richards?

I was wondering the same thing, seems like he could be played as a swingman.

 

[marty36]

Is there any indication what Barlow is looking for in terms of a contract 2 or 3 years probably would be the suggestion.Im sure that will come into play when he is deciding on a club

 

[Pugsley]

Could we or should we be into Xavier Richards?

No. He is set in returning to Victoria.

 

[Rear Admiral]

I think Kennedy is proof there there's still plenty of room in the game for someone that doesn't really possess much speed or punish the opposition with sharp skills

Just like Thommo you mean?

What's been hurting us (badly) for the last few years is our inability to run and spread from Centre Bounces and Stoppages around the ground. This more than anything else. The top teams link up a few precision handballs from Centre Bounces and Stoppages, run and carry away from then congestion, then hit a team mate lace out downfield. Then repeat. We just effect a blind, hacked kick to nobody because we don't have any pace to clear the congestion, and our field kicking skills are poor.

There are other issues, sure, but until we address that one, we're not going to improve. At least not significantly.

 

[Rear Admiral]

Another year of Thommo, Mackay and Douglas with Barlow instead of Menzel, Hampton, Knight, Milera and Wigg and we are going nowhere.

 

[Rear Admiral]

If we did happen to grab Barlow, my worst nightmare would be seeing him, Thommo, Douglas and Mackay all selected ahead of Knight, Wigg, Milera and Hampton.

I could deal with Barlow if it meant replacing the above mentioned.

Thommo, Douglas and MacKay aren't going anywhere. And you would've known that before you even posted the message.

 

[Rear Admiral]

but he's as slow as the earth is patient and a worse kick

LMFAO!!!

 

[Rear Admiral]

Barlow is an elite ball hunter, but he's as slow as the earth is patient and a worse kick

But worst of all he's a ball movement black hole. If you thought thommo slowed the ball down you haven't seen anything yet. Play terminates in his hands.

He's like the hamburglar, stuffs the ball under his jumper, leaps the fence running off through the crowd, and into a getaway car type of ball movement

Remember he moved the ball too slowly for Ross Lyon.

Let that sink in

I don't know enough about Barlow to comment either way.

But in regards to his pace and foot skills (or lack there of)....is he truly that bad? If he is, this is not the player we need.

 

[dylan123]

Just like Thommo you mean?

What's been hurting us (badly) for the last few years is our inability to run and spread from Centre Bounces and Stoppages around the ground. This more than anything else. The top teams link up a few precision handballs from Centre Bounces and Stoppages, run and carry away from then congestion, then hit a team mate lace out downfield. Then repeat. We just effect a blind, hacked kick to nobody because we don't have any pace to clear the congestion, and our field kicking skills are poor.

There are other issues, sure, but until we address that one, we're not going to improve. At least not significantly.

Of course but you remove Thompson and Dangerfield from our midfield and the issue is no longer the run and spread, the issue is actually getting the ball in the first place.

Thompson has his faults but I'd happily have him in our side if he was at 28 years old as he was playing great footy for us then. Thompson has only really become a liability when he's no longer been able to rack up the ball consistently like he has been able to do in the past.

 

[Prahran 2 Sturt]

Weren't we the top scoring team last year

Just like Thommo you mean?

What's been hurting us (badly) for the last few years is our inability to run and spread from Centre Bounces and Stoppages around the ground. This more than anything else. The top teams link up a few precision handballs from Centre Bounces and Stoppages, run and carry away from then congestion, then hit a team mate lace out downfield. Then repeat. We just effect a blind, hacked kick to nobody because we don't have any pace to clear the congestion, and our field kicking skills are poor.

There are other issues, sure, but until we address that one, we're not going to improve. At least not significantly.

re

 

[lunacy]

I'd like to see what the average team demographic looks like for premiers at the time they win.

If we really do rule out Thompson, MacKay and Douglas as many of us want, I feel our list looks quite young and inexperienced. It can be done, or course, the Bulldogs did it this year, but I feel our window opens wider when our 20-23 year olds are 23-26.

I'm not sure where the idea that it's 17/18 or bust comes from.

I 100% agree. We are definitely not boom or bust for 2017. I think our injury free year possibly gave many a false read of where our list is really at. We think we have nice 'potential' depth, but up to now it hasn't yet been proven (ie Menzel Hampton Wigg Milera Doedee Dear Keath etc.

Plus our upper end 28+ years old on our list is very poor compared to other top 6 sides.
Thompson, Betts, Douglas, Jacobs, Henderson, Mackay.
In that group there is 1 star, 1 very good ruckman who could be on the decline, and the others are club whipping boys who will either be delisted or fighting to get afl games.

Compare that to the top 6 over 28yr olds:
Bulldogs
Murphy Boyd Morris Picken Cloke Dickson Suckling Crameri
(Easton Wood almost fits in, he's 27yrs)

Sydney
McVeigh Grundy Buddy Tippett Jack Smith Kennedy

Geelong
Longergan Mackie Taylor Selwood Hawkins (this year had Enright & Bartel too)

GWS
S.Johnson H.Shaw Mumford Griffen Deledio Mohr

Hawks
Burgoyne Gibson Hodge Roughead Spangher Puopolo Birchall Frawley
(This year they had Mitchell & Lewis)

These guys still play huge roles in their team and provide great leadership.

Our older guys (apart from Betts) just aren't good enough and don't provide tha quality, experience & leadership that the other sides have.
Everyone says Bulldogs & GWS are young but they both have a quality senior core of players. We don't.

Yes we could have snagged a premiership this year and if we added Gibbs we would have been stronger in that age demographic next year, but I think when our core senior group is Tex Sloane Talia Lynch, Smith who are all currently 25-26 yrs old, rather than our current senior players, we'll be very strong.

In the mean time our bottom end (in terms of age) needs 1 more year of bolstering by bringing in 1-3 more players plus Edwards next year.
During that time the rest of the squad will get another year of development & experience and we'll be in a far better position to start adding to our older demographic to really push for a premiership.

We weren't tested by injury. Imagine if Tex, Talia, Sloane, JJ went down. Yes any team would struggle to cover players of that quality, but we didn't really have anyone ready this year to cover them at all. In another 1-2 years we'll more adequately be able to replace them.

We are definitely not boom or bust for 2017. We are just approaching our genuine window and hopefully it will be sustained success.

 

[mattymac]

Yep last Tuesdays.

Just had a listen. Bang on mate. Small balls at the club.

The rant filter was pretty funny too haha

 

[Swooping Crow]

Any leaks on Barlow?

 

[feenix67]

Just had a listen. Bang on mate. Small balls at the club.

The rant filter was pretty funny too haha

Great minds etc

The rant filter was a Crowcast classic haha

 

[BRL121]

No. He is set in returning to Victoria.

Because the cost of living is so much less than in Adelaide.

 

[MRB37]

Because the cost of living is so much less than in Adelaide.

Moving back with the 'rents from what has been said previously.

 

[Rear Admiral]

Of course but you remove Thompson and Dangerfield from our midfield and the issue is no longer the run and spread, the issue is actually getting the ball in the first place.

Not saying you are right or wrong, but you think inside accumulation (or lack there of) has become more of the problem now than lack of run and spread? I am generally leaning more towards lack of run and spread being the main issue. Not exclusively so, but mostly. What particularly angers me is the lack of quality inside accumulation. i.e. quick possession, clumsy misdirected 1-2m hospital handball to team mate getting tackled, inability of anyone in the scrimmages to show any run, flair, lateral ability, or quality foot skills.

If we have someone that isn't necessarily quick, but has superb awareness in congestion, and elite disposal skills (e.g. Sam Mitchell)....with one or two lightning quick Mids surrounding him....all the go. But if you're referring to a tough-as-nails inside ball hunter that racks up a kazillion possession, but is all crash and bash, and as clumsy with his ball use as newly born giraffe, and is surrounded by Mid-speed plodders....then no, I do not want to go there. I am more interested in quality of possessions than quantity.

Thompson has his faults but I'd happily have him in our side if he was at 28 years old as he was playing great footy for us then. Thompson has only really become a liability when he's no longer been able to rack up the ball consistently like he has been able to do in the past.

Could not agree more strongly. Years ago, when Thommo was in his 20's, he did his job superbly. But now? He's become worse than a liability, and not just in 2016. I would've traded or delisted him at least 2 years ago. Some people agree, some don't. Just my opinion.

The one thing about quick outside runners - while they often don't get their hands dirty in the contests themselves, they do an awfully good job of running down and tackling opposition players....if/when they get the ball and are trying to run with it. Tough, slow, inside-Mids can't. At least not out in open field play.

 

[Pugsley]

Because the cost of living is so much less than in Adelaide.

Some Victorians are small-minded.

 

[Rear Admiral]

Just had a listen. Bang on mate. Small balls at the club.

Could not agree more....

The rant filter was pretty funny too haha

Indeed, as was....

 

[skoobydoo]

Not saying you are right or wrong, but you think inside accumulation (or lack there of) has become more of the problem now than lack of run and spread? I am generally leaning more towards lack of run and spread being the main issue. Not exclusively so, but mostly. What particularly angers me is the lack of quality inside accumulation. i.e. quick possession, clumsy misdirected 1-2m hospital handball to team mate getting tackled, inability of anyone in the scrimmages to show any run, flair, lateral ability, or quality foot skills.

If we have someone that isn't necessarily quick, but has superb awareness in congestion, and elite disposal skills (e.g. Sam Mitchell)....with one or two lightning quick Mids surrounding him....all the go. But if you're referring to a tough-as-nails inside ball hunter that racks up a kazillion possession, but is all crash and bash, and as clumsy with his ball use as newly born giraffe, and is surrounded by Mid-speed plodders....then no, I do not want to go there. I am more interested in quality of possessions than quantity.



Could not agree more strongly. Years ago, when Thommo was in his 20's, he did his job superbly. But now? He's become worse than a liability, and not just in 2016. I would've traded or delisted him at least 2 years ago. Some people agree, some don't. Just my opinion.

The one thing about quick outside runners - while they often don't get their hands dirty in the contests themselves, they do an awfully good job of running down and tackling opposition players....if/when they get the ball and are trying to run with it. Tough, slow, inside-Mids can't. At least not out in open field play.

Yes agree strongly with your 2years ago action on Thompson. I was also 'agitating' for this. Blame the AFC inertia on the 'boss a nova' times of recent coach changes I guess. Hawthorn are hyperactive compared to AFC.
'

 

[1970crow]

Of course but you remove Thompson and Dangerfield from our midfield and the issue is no longer the run and spread, the issue is actually getting the ball in the first place.

Thompson has his faults but I'd happily have him in our side if he was at 28 years old as he was playing great footy for us then. Thompson has only really become a liability when he's no longer been able to rack up the ball consistently like he has been able to do in the past.

Exactly. Thommo's immense ability to win the ball covered for his lack of defensive run, total spread and average disposal. Bicks flat out stated that the coaches knew and accepted that Thommo didn't work defensively. When Thommo sustained a run of games averaging 21 touches, as he did from round 7 to the end, he became a straight up liability. There's no other way to describe his value to the team.