Rd 2: Carlton vs. Sydney: Post Game Passion

[madbluboy]

Gibbs has bucketloads of talent but is soft as butter.. Murphy just doesn't have the strength or physicality to be a force in a struggling line up. Both give it up way too easily for senior blokes that the whole team revolves around. They are the problem, make no mistake.

I agree on Gibbs but Murphy gets this free pass with this physical strength excuse. He's our captain, he has to be strong, he has to be able to tackle. There are smaller guys than him in the comp who have no problems sticking a tackle, Hannebery embarrassed him yesterday. Last week against the tigers he was our best player but there were a couple of time when he cost us goals from feeble attempts to tackle.

[PaulP]

Part of Murph's issue may be technique, but you can't win with a losing hand. No matter how you cut it, he's not that strong, and not that big. Which, around the stoppages, is a big problem.

Although, it has to be said, our tackling in general is pitiful.

[Spanner_smf2_import2]

On Gibbs : his softness has been discussed / debated ad nauseam on here and elsewhere. References abound to him looking for easy receives, following the pack, picking and choosing when to go etc.

My possibly stupid question is this :

he's had Pagan, Ratts, Malthouse and Bolton as senior coaches. Included in these coaching changes are also a couple of changes in the senior admin, board etc. of the club. If his various issues are reported accurately here and elsewhere, how is it that he is still on our list ? And not only still there, but one of our highest paid players ? How is it possible that he has managed to flim flam one coach and admin after another ?

Are there mitigating circumstances, or is it possible that our analyses are either inaccurate or one sided ?

And that is a huge indictment on our club. Paying a soft c*ck like Gibbs top dollar is bordering on criminal. The guy should have been traded years ago. I honestly can't see what he brings to our club. He's a shyte player, not media savvy and costing us a sh*tload. What's to like?

I don't know how many times I've almost destroyed my television because of him. 2 remotes so far have gone to the place where remotes go to die...

[PaulP]

I agree on Gibbs but Murphy gets this free pass with this physical strength excuse. He's our captain, he has to be strong, he has to be able to tackle. There are smaller guys than him in the comp who have no problems sticking a tackle, Hannebery embarrassed him yesterday. Last week against the tigers he was our best player but there were a couple of time when he cost us goals from feeble attempts to tackle.

Season 2015, Murph 19 games, 65 tackles. Hannebery 24 games, 123 tackles.

Hmmm............

[ItsOurTime]

Gibbs  had a great year when his contract was winding up and we got him at a good rate IMO. There's somethink like 100 players earning 500k and at his best he is easily in the top 50. I didnt see him yesterday though but reverting back to old ways was always a risk. Hopefully he's just warming into the season.

In other news, apparently Murphy was a million dollar player last year (thanks to front loading)

[PaulP]

With Murph's tackling, is it fear ?, is it based on medical advice ? is it tackle phobia ?............

Hard to figure out from outside the club.

[cimm1979]

HE's had three shoulder reco's.

Might have something to do with it.

[Thryleon]

It could just be crap shoulder issues.

He had an operation that restricted him from any real action till 2 weeks ago and its a problem he has had on and off during his entire career beginning against the Brisbane Lions in his first season.

We are reaping the fruits of not having nursed him into his career until he was ready to compete physically.

Mind you we have been fairly unlucky in that regard with our first rounders.  Most of them have been able to play but all of them have suffered a significant setback.

[PaulP]

Yes, it seems as though he's either spooked or has had medical advice re tackling.

[PassIt2Carrots]

He can tackle okay, seen him do it before plenty of times. It's all about intent.