Some players are retaining spots....

[SainterK]

And I don't get why?

It isn't a criticism against them, certainly not calling them spuds, but why have some guys been undroppable at times this year?

I love the guy, but #27 is horribly out of form, no escaping it.

[BigMart]

At least he's had reasonable numbers this year...

albeit it, yeah, he's lucky

There are two others who are gifted games

[Zed]

Yes #27 has been struggling for a while. There probably isn't much benefit to playing him at Sandy this time of year though is there ? I would prefer they try and get the structure right for next year thouugh and bring Paddy back in next week at FF, put Josh to CHF and work out whether Members is a high half forward or more of a forward pocket mostly inside 50 type.

[fugazi]

I reckon Bruce cops too much criticism. He tried his guts out tonight. Got screwed by the umps costing him 2 goals at least, he kicked two others and competed well otherwise.
Would have been a good night if the umps weren't such pr#cks

[SemperFidelis]

I reckon Bruce cops too much criticism. He tried his guts out tonight. Got screwed by the umps costing him 2 goals at least, he kicked two others and competed well otherwise.
Would have been a good night if the umps weren't such pr#cks

+1. Just home now. Brucey worked his guts out. Very happy he clunked that mark in the last and kicked a couple. That would have been confidence building particularly since he can't buy a free or a 50.

[skeptic]

I reckon Bruce cops too much criticism. He tried his guts out tonight. Got screwed by the umps costing him 2 goals at least, he kicked two others and competed well otherwise.
Would have been a good night if the umps weren't such pr#cks

+1. Just home now. Brucey worked his guts out. Very happy he clunked that mark in the last and kicked a couple. That would have been confidence building particularly since he can't buy a free or a 50.

I also think playing in the ruck doesn't do him any favours


What did ppl think of Gilbert's game? Only sawcthe first half, thought it was terrible.

[BigMart]

Why does playing time in the ruck effect his ability to mark the footy... Didn't effect Rhys Stanley...

Most power forwards in the league are relieving their prime ruckman for 5 mins a quarter

[Myron Gaines]

Consistently screwed by the umpires. But still kicked 30 odd goals & gives a chop out in the ruck...one of the first picked & some want him dropped. Please....

[Johnny Member]

I thought the coach made it clear that guys who contest hard, get games.

It's pretty simple.

[St Chris]

If Bruce goes to Sandy and kicks a bag, does it really benefit the cause?? Probably better off building character by working thru the tough times, rather than kicking a few easy ones in the lower level.

The bloke had 4 shots at goal and 2 absolute howlers from the umps, on another night he is BOG.

[shrodes]

What did ppl think of Gilbert's game? Only sawcthe first half, thought it was terrible.

Wasn't worst on ground but didn't really do much from what I saw. Ineffective at best.

[skeptic]

Why does playing time in the ruck effect his ability to mark the footy... Didn't effect Rhys Stanley...

Most power forwards in the league are relieving their prime ruckman for 5 mins a quarter

I think he gets exhausted and makes mistakes when he's tired. I think he gets smashed in the ruck contests and it effects his confidence. It certainly hasn't helped him.

Don't think it's doing Tom any favours either.

Rhys is not a like for like comparison... He's an actually ruck forward and he has a better midfield delivering him better supply

[To the top]

Could easily have had 5 tonight. Was comprehensively screwed.

And we have to look for a ruck solution which does NOT see Bruce rucking.

Gilbert had a big, big task and spoiled and defended well.

Wait until we can spread he and Roberton to flanks, which is where they should play.

[saint-stu]

Agree that Bruce is out of form (compared to his own benchmark) but I still think we're better with him in. Even when he's dropping marks, he still gives a strong contest and can tackle. Lots of those dropped marks get picked up by other saints in our f50.

[saintsRrising]

Who would you play instead? Who would play his role better?

Also Bruce is not playing badly, he is just not playing really well, or more accurately is not marking well.

However he is still doing all the TEAM things. Works bloody hard, runs all over the ground, pressures, still landed 4 tackles, while not marking is rarely outmarked and so brings the ball to ground.

CHF has long been held up as the hardest position to play on the ground.

Umpire robbed him a couple of times too. Why that mark was not paid just prior to half time was unbelievable.


In addition without Bruce in the team Membrey's great run may not have been as rosey without Bruce taking a lot of the heat.

[Schillaci]

I reckon Bruce cops too much criticism. He tried his guts out tonight. Got screwed by the umps costing him 2 goals at least, he kicked two others and competed well otherwise.
Would have been a good night if the umps weren't such pr#cks

+1. Just home now. Brucey worked his guts out. Very happy he clunked that mark in the last and kicked a couple. That would have been confidence building particularly since he can't buy a free or a 50.

I also think playing in the ruck doesn't do him any favours


What did ppl think of Gilbert's game? Only sawcthe first half, thought it was terrible.

Bruce is providing a target and competing. With other talls forward he's taking yet another key defender and whilst not enjoying a solid patch of form at the moment he's performing a role and more than serviceable.
As for Gilbert I've seen enough this year to think he's done. Every time he goes near it I get nervous. He isn't clean enough and is awkward when the ball is on the deck. This is putting more pressure on him as he seems to have less time to dispose of it than just about every other player in the team when all things are equal. I'm not a Gilbert hater, he's been a great player and clubman since 2006 but he's not the player he was.

[magnifisaint]

Why does playing time in the ruck effect his ability to mark the footy... Didn't effect Rhys Stanley...

Most power forwards in the league are relieving their prime ruckman for 5 mins a quarter

Every time he goes into the ruck it's a free hit to the opposition and they get a clearance. If your not 200+ cm then you will struggle in the ruck. I haven't seen Brucey contribute to a centre clearance due to his ruck work. Better to play Pierce off the bench as a relief ruckman. He goes ok around the ground too. Leave Bruce at full forward. Like someone else posted the side looks very unbalanced when Bruce contests the ruck in the middle.

[BigMart]

so hickey plays 100% in the ruck

say it again
every team in the AFL has a #2 ruck that is primarily a forward

you cannot have a ruckman sitting on the bench hurting mid rotation
or
a ruckman in the forward line who cannot play as a forward effectively

[Wombat15]

My big thing ive been on all year is that the role changes and structure has hurt him down forward. Hes playing as a second ruck and copping the best defender, hes only 197cm and has to bang with the likes of other #1 rucks in the comp of which even the back ups are a inch or two taller. He seems to be coping with the best defender, still kicks 2 a game and is very mobile when the ball hits the deck and looks to give it off to someone when he can. i think tonight poor kicking and a couple of very poor decisions went against him. better kicking means he would've kicked 3-5. i reckon next year when paddy hopefully and finally gets his body right, another year of membrey that forward line will start clicking.
it also doesn't help when the delivery into the forward line at times is shocking to say the least.

[Bluthy]

The funny thing is if Bruce has played this year as his first year as a key forward we would probably be gushing that we found a guy who has put 31 goals on the board this year already. But he set such a high standard last year that is stuck in our mind.

He's playing as the "get out kick" big forward that he probably shouldn't be and I can't help wonder if he's carrying an injury But Paddy has been in and out as he develops and battles injury. IF Paddy comes back in I think Josh plays that more support role he is better suited to. That first year perhaps was just one out of the box and teams won't let him get clean runs at the ball like he did that year. If kicks 35 rolls a year that is pretty damn good.

[Saint_J]

Bruce try's his guts out and gets nothing from the Flogs in green. I am surprised he hasn't close lined one of em.

[older saint]

Bruce has taken the next step last year, which has meant he now gets the top defender , with Roo on the wing. The challenge is now to go the next level and beat the best defenders. His work rate is excellent and i am sure membery's form can be linked in part to the work Bruce has done. A lot of people focus on scoreboard but i think he is still ticking the boxes in KPI's which matter to the coaches.

In response to the initial title of this thread i think the lack of size in the back has seen Gilbert retain his spot . Ideally i know they want to play him as a mid which may see him keep his spot on the list next year.

[Saint_J]

Gilbo played a decent game last night. Joey pulled some nice plays out as well.
I

[skeptic]

Deleted

[To the top]

That mark taken off Bruce was a clean mark - it was right in front of us and there were no hands in the back.

Compare with Roo, in the same vicinity being shoved out of a contest with the ball some considerable distance away.

Our defence held up well relying on Dempster, Gilbert and Roberton as the "talls".

They only got found out on the few occasions a NM tall got an unimpeded run and jump at the contest.

When it was body on body our guys held their own (except when the AFL paid employees intervened)