Only disappointment

[esaint66]

birss's run down on mcleod and the ball spilling to schnieder then his hand pass to harves then his 20 metere pass to riewoldt for a goal was the highlight of the match.

i really like birss always puts his body on the line but sometimes comes off second best.

[ace]

Raph gets heavily criticised because he is a first round draft pick No 8 in 2003.
Similarly Richmond supporters absolutely hated Fiora because they felt he turned out to be a waste at pick No 3 in 1999.
First round draft picks carry high expectations and when they don't meet them they get criticised.
On the other hand, a fourth round draft pick who does not make it, is forgiven as just another draft "stab in the dark".
To make things worse for Raph our second round pick No 23 was used to trade for Gram and fourth round pick No 55 "stab in the dark" produced a genuine first round pick in Sam Fisher.
The reality is that the misuse of a first round pick can never be undone but it can be learnt from.
Once a player is drafted they all need to be judged by the same criteria, as if they were all equal in the draft.
Only then can decisions be made on players futures that do not exacerbate previous draft errors.

[noddy]

Obviously from most of you Raph wasnt up to scratch, but from where I sat at the ground he did a sh it load of stuff off the ball. The blocking and run to help out his team mates was tremendous

[joffaboy]

Obviously from most of you Raph wasnt up to scratch, but from where I sat at the ground he did a sh it load of stuff off the ball. The blocking and run to help out his team mates was tremendous

Many of the TV/armchair critics have no appreciation what happens outside of the viewing screen

Mabye if some of these critics actually got to a game occasionally they would have a bit of perspective.

[Solar]

Obviously from most of you Raph wasnt up to scratch, but from where I sat at the ground he did a sh it load of stuff off the ball. The blocking and run to help out his team mates was tremendous

Many of the TV/armchair critics have no appreciation what happens outside of the viewing screen

Mabye if some of these critics actually got to a game occasionally they would have a bit of perspective.

similar thing happens when there are no leading forwards so a player either bombs it forward or chips it around and fans bitch and moan about the kicker!

[sunsaint]

Raph gets heavily criticised because he is a first round draft pick No 8 in 2003.
<snip>

Yeah I agree ACE, I think it is better to rate 1st round draft picks with those drafted around the player. Personally I think that 2003 was a poor draft year. A couple of early picks made the grade (Cooney) and Ess would be happy with their early picks. But the best of the players were from pick 30 onwards.
I think what gets up peoples goat tho, is when we waste traded players and swap picks for what turn out to be duds, thats a double whammy.

[ausfatcat]

Raph gets heavily criticised because he is a first round draft pick No 8 in 2003.
<snip>

Yeah I agree ACE, I think it is better to rate 1st round draft picks with those drafted around the player. Personally I think that 2003 was a poor draft year. A couple of early picks made the grade (Cooney) and Ess would be happy with their early picks. But the best of the players were from pick 30 onwards.
I think what gets up peoples goat tho, is when we waste traded players and swap picks for what turn out to be duds, thats a double whammy.

Essendon were happy with Bradley?

[noddy]

My mistake it was GEARY that BIG BRAVE GOODWIN was trying to intimidate but Jarryn gave it right back to him

[esaint66]

only dissapointment for me tonight was that i originally picked kurt tippet in my dream team after seeing him oplay against the pies in dubai now his price will be through the roof

Price doesnt change at all.

oh phew thanks for that plugger

[saint64]

If Raph had been awarded that mark we might all be viewing his night a bit differently.

[Huzzad]

If Raph had been awarded that mark we might all be viewing his night a bit differently.

Not me. One mark here or there does not make up for an over all average game in my eyes and the risk we take next time we put him down back. Look at Fiora's mark againts Geelong. An amazing mark. Doesn' mean his game was good though. Even if Raph took the mark, it would not even come close to Riewoldt's effort down back against Sydney in 06 and would nto have really affected the outcome of the game....we won, remember?

[riccardo]

Obviously from most of you Raph wasnt up to scratch, but from where I sat at the ground he did a sh it load of stuff off the ball. The blocking and run to help out his team mates was tremendous

Many of the TV/armchair critics have no appreciation what happens outside of the viewing screen

Mabye if some of these critics actually got to a game occasionally they would have a bit of perspective.

Blame Ch 10s poor camera work for that.

BTW, i still find criticisms for Raph, and I have averaged (gone to) more games than he has played over the last 4 years.

[sunsaint]

Raph gets heavily criticised because he is a first round draft pick No 8 in 2003.
<snip>

Yeah I agree ACE, I think it is better to rate 1st round draft picks with those drafted around the player. Personally I think that 2003 was a poor draft year. A couple of early picks made the grade (Cooney) and Ess would be happy with their early picks. But the best of the players were from pick 30 onwards.
I think what gets up peoples goat tho, is when we waste traded players and swap picks for what turn out to be duds, thats a double whammy.

Essendon were happy with Bradley?

No but Freo obviously are!
They picked up Stanton, Nash, Dyson, and yes Kepler and all have turned out to be 50 game players. but thats not the point, We were just talking about 1st rnd draft picks and the pressures they are under. Which Kepler and Raph probably highlight the point.