Goodbye Mabior Chol | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Goodbye Mabior Chol

craig

Tiger Legend
Aug 19, 2004
45,649
29,195
Melbourne
We are basically playing Chol and Soldo off the bench now, with a cameo up forward for Chol when Jack or Lynch go off. They were all on the field more last week with Cotch off, but i dont think we will go tall too often, and Chols mins will prob drop as Jack gains fitness.

Correct
 

tigerlove

Tiger Legend
Aug 9, 2014
16,607
7,009
Calling a spade a spade, he was woeful. Did he want to even be out there? Too cold, too wet? Was pushed off like a ragdoll in ruck contests and then no followup at ground level. This is the Chol I have seen before spitting the dummy. His lack of killer instinct, lack of determination to fight back when being beaten will be why he doesn't ultimately succeed. Extremely disappointed as he had shown some improving signs. Last 2 games just not there at all.
 
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tigerlove

Tiger Legend
Aug 9, 2014
16,607
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I’m going to upset a few Cholly fans here ( I really admire his rapid improvement) but there is no way I’d play him as a 2nd ruckman playing 3rd forward in a final. ATM he’s getting between 45-55% game time and very low numbers. Apart from structure, is this going to cut it in a final? If you thought he was going to get at least 13 quality possessions and a goal, no problem. But he needs to take overhead marks around the ground and play as a tall. Unfortunately I have no alternatives other than playing Caddy and concede some centre bounces! We won a Premiership with one tall forward in Jack with support from Towner and Caddy.
Can we restructure to go 2 talls in the forward line and our rucks rotating off the bench? That’s a large shift in game plan ( carrying 4 talls in the team )and a loss of a running type player in the line up.
Interesting times.

*Soldo won’t play if Nanks is available

You are right. No way Chol is anywhere ready to play finals footy. Problem is who then backs up Nanks in the ruck? I can't see any other option than Soldo. Didn't think I'd be saying it a few weeks ago but Soldo has performed well enough to get the nod. Personally I'd consider CCJ as he definitely can play forward but I suspect the hierarchy has deemed him not yet ready and pencilled in for a full VFL finals campaign.
 
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Bullarto Tiger

Tiger Legend
Mar 17, 2012
10,015
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Was disappointed in many of his lacklustre efforts against Melbourne.
Has got some skills and talent but I am starting to wonder about his willingness to present for contests where he has to absorb some physical punishment. Seems to shy away from doing the really competitive things, which can't be tolerated in finals matches.
Another ordinary performance and I would send him back to the VFL side.
Bring back Nank when he is ready and settle in he and Soldo as the preferred ruck combination for the finals.
 

TrialByVideo

HailBGale!
Mar 1, 2015
4,422
8,532
I'm worried that he's getting a little bit too happy with himself and may have started thinking he's in for good!
Possibly time for a wake up call?
Ivan may not be as flamboyant, but at the moment he's showing heaps more intensity.
 
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The_General

It's been a very hard working from home
Staff member
May 4, 2004
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I don't think it was a night for big men, and Chol was not putting in enough effort to try make that perception false. I think he's been OK for a few weeks, and offers something Soldo doesn't when he's not rucking.

I wouldn't drop him this week, I'd be telling him he's dropped to the unacceptable level and has to redeem himself in the strongest possible way. Then see if he responds to the pressure increase.
 
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year of the tiger

Tiger Legend
Mar 26, 2008
9,445
6,513
Tasmania
Yeah Gawn had a blinder, particularly in general play although to be fair, I was surprised we got on top with the centre clearance - that was a good sign.

Gawn is the AA ruckman at the moment with Grundy form dropping away, not surprised he smashed us around the ground.

Chol still offers something as a forward target but can he fill the whole late in the game down the line and in defence - which is where ruckman earn their dollars in finals.
 

CarnTheTiges

This is a REAL tiger
Mar 8, 2004
25,352
11,182
Victoria
Bad time to put in a less than stellar game. I’m thinking he may make way for Nank next week. Soldo by contrast was pretty good.
 

TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
25,573
11,452
Passive game
Yep. Worked a bit more physical in the second half, but overall not a performance you'd want to be having with Nank ready to reclaim his seniors spot.
Guessing Soldo n Nank will share the ruck for next week n if the pair can work together it might be Cholly n Cujo rucking magoos for the rest of the year, reckon Soldo's grown enough to keep his place in the seniors.
Cholly's just gotta learn to stay more involved in the game for longer periods, he's got some quality talent just gotta use it more.
 
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TigerFlag2017

Tiger Legend
May 16, 2007
6,907
4,284
Yep. Worked a bit more physical in the second half, but overall not a performance you'd want to be having with Nank ready to reclaim his seniors spot.
Guessing Soldo n Nank will share the ruck for next week n if the pair can work together it might be Cholly n Cujo rucking magoos for the rest of the year, reckon Soldo's grown enough to keep his place in the seniors.
Cholly's just gotta learn to stay more involved in the game for longer periods, he's got some quality talent just gotta use it more.
Really disappointing game given what was on the line.

I reckon there is still a case for matching the rucks against each opponent. Soldo first ruck against the giants/guns, with nank second ruck. And for the rest, nank first ruck with soldo the more agile second ruck.

Hopefully Cholly has now learnt what it will take and apply himself over the summer. He has all the tools with great development support.
 

TigerForce

Tiger Legend
Apr 26, 2004
70,750
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I don't think it was a night for big men, and Chol was not putting in enough effort to try make that perception false. I think he's been OK for a few weeks, and offers something Soldo doesn't when he's not rucking.

I wouldn't drop him this week, I'd be telling him he's dropped to the unacceptable level and has to redeem himself in the strongest possible way. Then see if he responds to the pressure increase.
Agree. Quiet night with Soldo showing more. I'd rather go for all 3 ruck this week against Cartoon just to give Nank a half-game to feel the 1sts again, and let Choldo do the rest of the work. Just get Nank primed for WC the week after. Then again, as it's becoming difficult to drop players, looks like it might just be Nank for Chol.
 

123cups

Tiger Champion
May 1, 2016
3,099
4,076
Plays like a small forward in a ruckman’s body. After 10 years of playing/watching the game, his reading of the game is unlikely to ever improve enough to become a consistent contributor as a quality small forward who also happens to be tall.

This means it’s do-or-die for Chol to play as a big man.

Big men hit hard, bust packs, and get physical.
 
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Don’t Argue

Tiger Superstar
Jun 22, 2019
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The whole backline semed to take great joy in kicking it long up the line to where GAWN was.

Gawn dutifully took the mark. If Gawn knew where it was going, why were all his marks uncontested? Chol and Ivan were no where near their opponent.

What both Chol, and Ivan to less of an extent, lack are football awareness smarts that good footballers naturally have. Watch Baker’s overhead mark in the last where he instinctively bodies his opponent before taking the mark. And he’s the shortest guy on the ground! Just an example of a player with natural talent that you can’t teach but can develop if you start young enough.
Soldo and Chol simply struggle with the combination of reading ball flight in the air, reacting to it quick enough and understanding their opponents body positioning. It’s called applied Sherin quantum movement physics ( or football smarts for short ) JackR has the most of it and Chol probably the least. He’s only capable at leading at the ball in space. Once he’s in congestion, he’s lost in space.
Has many fine attributes and could be a valuable player but don’t expect him to play as a big man against talls that can mark.

If you’re keen to invest.All the way with CCJ!!
 
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