2018 Rd 8: Post Game Passion: Carlton vs Essendon

[LP]

Don’t disagree on DK, Kruezer isn’t yet 30 and the way he is rucking he could go for another 3-4. I don’t see Phillips or lobbe as anything else than insurance.

Surely you haven't forgotten Phillips effect on Nic Nat already, I realise he didn't do it for 4 Qtrs but that is a taste of what Phillips can do?

[PaulP]

Phillips is too good to be playing extended periods in the magoos, and if that happens, he'll be seeking opportunities elsewhere, and rightly so.

[flyboy77]

I was of the thinking that SPS needs a run in the 2s but I switched tack - the guy just needs a good mentor within or without the Club....

Still very young and I'm sure the big city can be overwhelming for any kid from the bush....

Three obvious changes will stiffen us un immeasureably.

1. Marchbank for O'Shea
2. Byrne/Willo for Mullet (Willo my strong preference)
3. Murphy for Graham (though I reckon Graham might still get there)
4. Kennedy for ? (Ed this week)
5. (in 2019) Doc back in....

Then the fight for spots really heats up...

And yes, I have to agree, as soon as Weiters come in, the back 6 is way too tall/slow (and Rowe is greater than Weiters presently). At least Jacob has time on his side....

[Thryleon]

Phillips is too good to be playing extended periods in the magoos, and if that happens, he'll be seeking opportunities elsewhere, and rightly so.

IMHO, I think they all know where they are, that they could all happily play first ruck, and that between Lobbe, Phillips and Kreuzer, they are all an even chance to play in the absence of the others.

They are all AFL standard ruckmen, and Kreuzer is the pick of the bunch, but he breaks down too frequently.

[cookie2]

I love Kreuz - he is very important to us atm but we definitely need a good back up for him. We have 2 good ones in Phillips and Lobbe and we must do everything possible to hang on to them imo. Phillips is probably the one who is more likely to want to go elsewhere so we need to find a way to keep him happy. A good salary plus a few senior games a year may do that for a year or two but others will surely come knocking?

[laj]

I love Kreuz - he is very important to us atm but we definitely need a good back up for him. We have 2 good ones in Phillips and Lobbe and we must do everything possible to hang on to them imo. Phillips is probably the one who is more likely to want to go elsewhere so we need to find a way to keep him happy. A good salary plus a few senior games a year may do that for a year or two but others will surely come knocking?

We only need one back up as we develop De Konning, who looks a likely type. In the case of a run of injury to our rucks we just use Levi, Jones etc for a week or two.

[Thryleon]

Phillips needs to repay the faith a bit IMHO.  We have supported him through 2 seasons where he was relatively injured, and unable to play football, and is now coming good.  Its a bit rich to move on for more opportunity simply because hes good enough too.


In the past we were guilty of failing our players, which is why we found player retention difficult, and player attraction.  It means that money talks, and thats the only way to get players.

What I hope we are doing (led by Bolton) is investing in people as individuals and really giving them all the tools to reach their best version of themselves.  This means working with them to maximise their football learning, as well as teaching them life skills and perhaps helping them through opportunites for the future (setting up learning opportunities, business opportunites, investment opportunities, coaching opportunities etc).  This is a bit more conducive to building an environment that players won't just jump out of, and why its imperative that even if we arent travelling well on field, that we are doing all we can to get the most out of people both on and off it.

Obviously, we cant hang onto everyone all the time, and that will mean that we eventually have to cut our ties with people, but the manner in which players have parted ways with us in the past, and the manner in which we have parted ways with players in the past, have both indicated that we are over simplifying our management of people and looking at them as commodities.  to a degree this will always be true, but I think its this sort of thing that we can control and get right, that will lead to better performance at all levels of the football club.

[NudeNut]

Just want to mention SPS...there was a moment early in the game where he didn't go hard enough and actually backed away from the contact. I thought at the time it was a poor effort. Lyon got stuck in to him and rightly so I thought, but I watched him after that and he went head down into the contests I saw.
As long as he learns from that, and I'm sure the coaches will highlight it, it's going to be fine.

Have seen a few comments about this and heard Lyon get stuck in as well. I went back to the replay and watched it a few times and want to give him the benefit of the doubt here. I don't reckon he was worried about the contact, I think he was trying to tap the ball to the side and spin out of trouble. I think he was trying to avoid the contact, but only so he could gather the ball and run. The Indigenous guys think a bit different sometimes, think about doing things that most other players don't even consider, that's what makes them so great to watch.
Anyway not worried about SPS at all, reckon he has got the right stuff to make it.

[madbluboy]

Phillips is too good to be playing extended periods in the magoos, and if that happens, he'll be seeking opportunities elsewhere, and rightly so.

Agreed, I would be looking to move Kreuzer to a club that can challenge for the flag and get a win/win for both parties.

[LP]

Agreed, I would be looking to move Kreuzer to a club that can challenge for the flag and get a win/win for both parties.

It's a tough call, but with every injury he gets it is closer to happening.

It probably depends on whether Kreuzer is prepared to accept a pay-cut to chase a flag, because given his history no team would take him on as their solo 1st ruck option! I would think GWS is the team that needs a Kreuzer type to free up their talls who are mostly better suited as KPFs, so it could well be a Kreuzer / Patton type deal.

Could you imagine what having Kreuzer fit and firing would do for the GWS midfield, the blocks and chop-outs he would provide for the likes of Green, Shiels, Ward, Tarranto or Whitfield! Kreuzer when fit is the physicality of Mumford with the mobility of Cameron.