Longer

[CURLY]

Great to have our number one ruckman back in. Our clearance work was so much better with him in the ruck. Basically won us the game in the last quarter.

[Trev from the Bush]

Agree. His tap work was A1, no better example than the feed to Gresham in the last quarter. Big fella deserves some kudos.

[samuraisaint]

We were winning the centre clearances all night. Couldn't believe how much of the ball we were getting and ended up 39 points down at one stage.

[SemperFidelis]

A couple of Billy’s taps had to be seen to be believed. There was one he ran at and flew through the air, tapping it metres to either Steven or Armo (can’t recall) who then butchered the kick. But the tap down was spectacular

[rodgerfox]

Can we somehow genetically merge Longer and Hickey?

[portosaint]

Agree. His tap work was A1, no better example than the feed to Gresham in the last quarter. Big fella deserves some kudos.

That tap was actually to Steven, who was held, but don't let that get in the way of a good story.

I agree with the OP to an extent... Tap work was great. Still don't get much from the big fella around the ground, but then if Hick plays we don't get much tap wise. 6 one, half a dozen the other.

In saying this, Gold Coast clearance set ups were and have been horrendous.

[skeptic]

Longer is and has been for a while, the best tap ruck at our club and credit where credit is due his centre work was good again tonight.

My fear however is that a win masks the same concerns that have always been there.

2 kicks, 4 handballs, 1 Mark, 3 tackles, 1 turnover from 110min.
He got 33 hitouts.

He’s 25 and pretty much in his prime.

His direct opponent Witts...
6 kicks, 3 handballs, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 40 hitouts, a turn over of his own.

My VFL report of Longer was criticised for suggesting that Longer didn’t have enough influence outside of the middle with the suggestion that he was taking contested mark after contested mark, getting to contest after contest throwing his weight around... he didn’t bring any of that to the table tonight as he just doesn’t play that type of game... he’s simply not a physically imposing player

That being said, at least he seemingly excels in one area of the game which is more than can be said for Hickey at the moment

I don’t know what the answer with our rucks is... Hickey gets more ball, Longer is better in the middle.

My feeling is that neither is the answer. If I have to pick one... well Hickey had a good go and unfortunately hasn’t gotten any better. I think I’d rather see Longer play for now but I still reckon we have to find a way to fit Marshall into this team

[The_Dud]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

[perfectionist]

That tap was actually to Steven, who was held, ...

Certainly impeded. Just as well they didn't pay the free!

[CURLY]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

[Sainter_Dad]

Can we somehow genetically merge Longer and Hickey?

And get someone who does not tap well and is useless around the ground - no thanks

[spert]

Our midfield were second to the ball last week- tonight first to the ball. Longer brings nothing around the ground and can't judge the flight of the ball in contested marking duels at all. Hickey still better value.

[The_Dud]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

[skeptic]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I wish people would move away from this type of posting... Dud has offered an opinion and a reason why. If you’re going to insult the man at least say what it is you disagree with.

Say what you will about Stonecold who is by far the biggest Longer fan here, right or wrong he at least backs up what he says and you respect that

[Viscount Jeremiah]

I thought he was pretty poor, Hickey hasn't been great but he always offers more than that a paltry 6 disposals.

Pretty sure he lost the hit outs to advantage stat or though I have to give him credit for the one to Gresh

[CURLY]

Our midfield were second to the ball last week- tonight first to the ball. Longer brings nothing around the ground and can't judge the flight of the ball in contested marking duels at all. Hickey still better value.

Helps when you have full confidence in knowing where the ball will go. Longers ruck work was A Grade no if’s or buts.

[CURLY]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

We were dominate in the clearances and it was on the back of Longers tap work. That last quarter when he kept clearing to Steven in the middle was match winning. But if you want a couple of uncontested marks more good luck to you.

[skeptic]

Our midfield were second to the ball last week- tonight first to the ball. Longer brings nothing around the ground and can't judge the flight of the ball in contested marking duels at all. Hickey still better value.

Helps when you have full confidence in knowing where the ball will go. Longers ruck work was A Grade no if’s or buts.

No arguments there...

For me the thing is being good a tap work and being able to use your size around the ground should be essentials for a ruck and in Longer and Hickey we don’t have a player that can do both well.

[parkeysainter]

Good game Billy. Very strong around the contest and in the ruck.

[takeaway]

Longer has to stay in. Real presence in the hitouts and the mids are more confident with him there. As long as he at least negates the other ruckman around the ground he is well ahead of Hickey.

[The_Dud]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

We were dominate in the clearances and it was on the back of Longers tap work. That last quarter when he kept clearing to Steven in the middle was match winning. But if you want a couple of uncontested marks more good luck to you.

He had a couple of good taps during the game, just as Witts did, and just as every ruckman does in every game. Witts beat him in almost every stat, whether hitouts or disposals, including 5 inside 50s to 1.

We overran a team that hasn’t scored a 4th quarter goal in the last month.

Billy didn’t win one contest around the ground, he halved some and lost some, and was never even a threat of contributing in the forward line.

He can only contribute in one very narrow part of the game, and he’s not even overly impressive at that, which isn’t good enough in 2018.

Let’s see how he goes next game against a decent ruckman and midfield.

[CURLY]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

We were dominate in the clearances and it was on the back of Longers tap work. That last quarter when he kept clearing to Steven in the middle was match winning. But if you want a couple of uncontested marks more good luck to you.

He had a couple of good taps during the game, just as Witts did, and just as every ruckman does in every game. Witts beat him in almost every stat, whether hitouts or disposals, including 5 inside 50s to 1.

We overran a team that hasn’t scored a 4th quarter goal in the last month.

Billy didn’t win one contest around the ground, he halved some and lost some, and was never even a threat of contributing in the forward line.

He can only contribute in one very narrow part of the game, and he’s not even overly impressive at that, which isn’t good enough in 2018.

Let’s see how he goes next game against a decent ruckman and midfield.

What crap your clutching at straws. Billy was dominant in the ruck with his hit outs. The last to Gresh winning us the game. Witts is no mug and got his numbers up rucking against Austin and co. Longer was easily the winner in the ruck and in the end the difference.

[bigred]

Longer has to stay in. Real presence in the hitouts and the mids are more confident with him there. As long as he at least negates the other ruckman around the ground he is well ahead of Hickey.

We play Melbourne next.

How will Longer go against Gorn?

[The_Dud]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

We were dominate in the clearances and it was on the back of Longers tap work. That last quarter when he kept clearing to Steven in the middle was match winning. But if you want a couple of uncontested marks more good luck to you.

He had a couple of good taps during the game, just as Witts did, and just as every ruckman does in every game. Witts beat him in almost every stat, whether hitouts or disposals, including 5 inside 50s to 1.

We overran a team that hasn’t scored a 4th quarter goal in the last month.

Billy didn’t win one contest around the ground, he halved some and lost some, and was never even a threat of contributing in the forward line.

He can only contribute in one very narrow part of the game, and he’s not even overly impressive at that, which isn’t good enough in 2018.

Let’s see how he goes next game against a decent ruckman and midfield.

What crap your clutching at straws. Billy was dominant in the ruck with his hit outs. The last to Gresh winning us the game. Witts is no mug and got his numbers up rucking against Austin and co. Longer was easily the winner in the ruck and in the end the difference.

If you want to give him a pass mark off one good hit out then that’s fine, I just expect more from a ruckman, like the ability to take a mark or contribute around the ground.

[CURLY]

Didn’t appear better or worse than the ruckwork we’ve had for most of the year, and did nothing around the ground. We won the clearances against WCE, so I’m not too excited about beating what appears to be the worst clearance team in the comp.

Witts best him today, and he’s no world beater himself.

AFL footballers need to be able to get a kick around the ground.

This proves you have no idea at all.

I think it’s passed your bedtime old-timer

We were dominate in the clearances and it was on the back of Longers tap work. That last quarter when he kept clearing to Steven in the middle was match winning. But if you want a couple of uncontested marks more good luck to you.

He had a couple of good taps during the game, just as Witts did, and just as every ruckman does in every game. Witts beat him in almost every stat, whether hitouts or disposals, including 5 inside 50s to 1.

We overran a team that hasn’t scored a 4th quarter goal in the last month.

Billy didn’t win one contest around the ground, he halved some and lost some, and was never even a threat of contributing in the forward line.

He can only contribute in one very narrow part of the game, and he’s not even overly impressive at that, which isn’t good enough in 2018.

Let’s see how he goes next game against a decent ruckman and midfield.

What crap your clutching at straws. Billy was dominant in the ruck with his hit outs. The last to Gresh winning us the game. Witts is no mug and got his numbers up rucking against Austin and co. Longer was easily the winner in the ruck and in the end the difference.

If you want to give him a pass mark off one good hit out then that’s fine, I just expect more from a ruckman, like the ability to take a mark or contribute around the ground.

He crashed in and contested I don’t know what your issue is. The bloke has given our mids a armchair ride tonight. Couldn’t care less if wasn’t getting one twos across half back. Ask Geelong what they’ed prefer.