Ben Long, the only positive so far?

[ROLS-LEE]

Has he been the only shining light this year.
So far I believe he is the only one that has exceeded expectations with everyone else either maintaining or going backwards..

[degruch]

Has he been the only shining light this year.
So far I believe he is the only one that has exceeded expectations with everyone else either maintaining or going backwards..

Coffield and Clark getting games and being useful is positive. Acres has really delivered on promise this year, and arguably Paddy has steadily improved on last year, now that players are honouring his leads.

Other than that, good to see White getting a regular gig, Steven and Weller returning from injury spoiled seasons, and Carlisle regularly in our best.

[samoht]

Marshall is another positive - and then there's Phillips in the VFL, who looks to be developing nicely; and also Armo is slowly getting the rust out of his joints.

Individually, there are positives - but we're not gelling and playing as a team - and our handballing and kicking skills are not up to scratch.

Part of our problem might be that White, Webster, Long etc.. they might have skills, but they don't have big bodies and are easily pushed aside - or their tackles don't stick - so we're constantly under pressure or on the back foot, as a result. Rice could help in that regard ..he has big, chunky legs? We need some skillful enforcers - players who can impose themselves.

[thejiggingsaint]

Still loads of potential on this list (IMHO) Ben Long though, stands out this season thus far.

[SydneySainter]

What concerns me is how so much of the club’s youth looks encouraging when they first arrive, but then their development just stalls.

Membrey, Billings, Gresham, Lonie, Hickey, even Bruce. Their raw talent shines, then it just fades away. Is it being coached out of them?

[DJ Higgins]

Long is coming along nicely but only positive is a bit harsh.
What don't you like about Coffield, he should be our Captain
Hickey has found some form and Marshal has played well fighting for the same spot.
Our backs have been good although they do get broken after 3 qtrs of constant bombardment

I struggle from here

[Winmar7]

Long has been a big positive, he's looks to have a good footy brain and uses his, at the moment, slight, body well. But there are more positives too.

Paddy is getting better each week and I loved when he bumped Roughead out of the way to take a mark on Saturday night! With better delivery and consistent game time he'll only improve

Clark and Coffield both look good too, it's good to see Hickey back, and Marshall looks a talent.

Just need out other more senior players and promising youngsters do find their mojo again, they're not hacks, just collectively down on form/confidence/whatever it is

[saintspremiers]

For me the positives are Long (thought he was rubbish last year), Holler For (how the f*** didn’t he get a game vs Hawks? f*** me dead we have some dumb c***s on our selection committee!), Paddy (he for the first time looks an AFL footballer), and The Coff (love his kicking skills and composure).

Hunter isn’t there yet - but should be OK next year and a very good player in 2020

[SydneySainter]

Acres is also a positive. One of the few is actually showing a sliver of improvement.

[stonecold]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

[To the top]

Whilst we play and laud the likes of Geary and the likes of Longer are said to be our future and are of AFL standard we will continue to struggle including because of the additional pressure placed on other players to cover the shortfalls of sub standard players

[stonecold]

Whilst we play and laud the likes of Geary and the likes of Longer are said to be our future and are of AFL standard we will continue to struggle including because of the additional pressure placed on other players to cover the shortfalls of sub standard players

Geary is not our Future, he is our Captain!!!!!

As for Tom, well he has no shortage of shortfalls, as does Billy, just different ones!!!!!

[dragit]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

You should be hiding under a rock about this topic rather than claiming any form of vindication.

After all that crapping on about the 3rd man up rule and the game going past Hickey, he has been comfortably better than your mate in every measure except the imaginary "protecting the mids" category… your embarrassment knows no bounds.

[bigcarl]

I’d hoped guys would step up quicker to fill the leadership void left by the departure of Riewoldt. That’s aimed at no one player in particular, certainly not the captain, who I think is doing an admirable job on field under the circumstances.

I still think it will happen, but it’s taken longer than expected. Perhaps in the second half of the season we will see some growth. Let’s hope so for the club’s sake.

[stonecold]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

You should be hiding under a rock about this topic rather than claiming any form of vindication.

After all that crapping on about the 3rd man up rule and the game going past Hickey, he has been comfortably better than your mate in every measure except the imaginary "protecting the mids" category… your embarrassment knows no bounds.

Every measure?????

Yeah right, you think Tom had a good game last week do you?????

As stated Tom beat a nobody the week before 'Dawson Who', Big Boy gave Hawthorn Mids an armchair ride and smashed Tom around the ground, got important touches, apart from one mark and goal!!!!!

Tom is nowhere near what he was in 2016, so if you think he is, your cooked!!!!!

If he can beat Gawn ( as Longer did), then I'll look at starting to think about it!!!!!

Let's see if Tom can nullify Gawn defensively before we get too carried away!!!!!

Enough of the s*** stirring thanks, Drake doesn't live here anymore!!!!!

[dragit]

Every measure?????

Yes, now go back to your cave with your inane homophobic slurs.

[ace]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

Hickey may not be as good in ruck contests as Longer but he does get his hands on the ball around the ground.
Something Longer is incapable of.
A ruckman who can't get his hands on the ball belongs in the grandstand with me.
Yes big boy got over 20 possession to Hickey's 10 but that is better than zero.
I would rather see Hickey developed.

[takeaway]

IMO Hickey needs to improve substantially in ruck contests, and I have doubts whether he can. Billy has hardly pushed for selection since he got back on the field - is he fit?

However, I would prefer a fully fit Billy to Hick. Some sort of control and presence in the knockouts is vital, even winning in the ruck?

[stonecold]

Every measure?????

Yes, now go back to your cave with your inane homophobic slurs.

What, your so funny, too bad you know very little about the game!!!!!

Got to resort to homophobic slurs, very poor form in today's modern world!!!!!

Homophobic jokes are not allowed on this forum as far as I know, you might wish to apologise please!!!!!!

[MC Gusto]

Positives are few and far between...sadly they are far outweighed by negatives...obviously!


For mine, long is the standout. Coff a positive and to a lesser extent Clark but he’s shown enough

Dunstan and acres have both been good (without being great) but good all the same, taking steps in the right direction

Paddy has been ok and seems to be progressing which is great but needs more time to be certain


Biggest negative (aside from the complete lack of team synergy and form) is billings imo. Just so sad to see this bloke lost at sea

[The_Dud]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

Ffs...

[stonecold]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

Ffs...

You think Tom played a great game do you?????

[The_Dud]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

Ffs...

You think Tom played a great game do you?????

Everyone’s sick of you flogging a dead horse, that’s what I think.

We get it, you hate Hickey for some reason, you bizarrely think Longer is better, which absolutely no one agrees with. You don’t have to hijack every thread carrying on about it.

And I wouldn’t say anyone had a great game for us last week, but Hickey was good, FAR from our worst, basically broke even in hitouts and clearances, took some big marks, kicked a goal, got around the ground, clearly the best ruckman at our club right now.

[stonecold]

If Hickeys form is seen as a positive, that's sad!!!!!

Played well against a no-body, yes, struggled against BigBoy!!!!!

If he can do a job on Gawn (like Longer last year), then yes, it will be a positive!!!!!

Let's see, over to you Hickledik!!!!!

Ffs...

You think Tom played a great game do you?????

Everyone’s sick of you flogging a dead horse, that’s what I think.

We get it, you hate Hickey for some reason, you bizarrely think Longer is better, which absolutely no one agrees with. You don’t have to hijack every thread carrying on about it.

And I wouldn’t say anyone had a great game for us last week, but Hickey was good, FAR from our worst, basically broke even in hitouts and clearances, took some big marks, kicked a goal, got around the ground, clearly the best ruckman at our club right now.

OK spud, your opinion, let's see if Tom lasts the season out, shall we?????

By the way, I read somewhere that BigBoy is not injured and only went off on Saturday night after 'he had played a big part in securing the 4 pts for Hawks', source: 4 time premiership coach, Allistar Clarkson!!!!!

So, I'm pretty sure Tom didn't break even, otherwise he would have earned coaches votes, which BigBoy did (off both coaches), see ya!!!!!

[parkeysainter]

If only Stonka was still running around.