Top 5's

[Harry]

I thought JB played quite well tonight, however, it totally baffles me that he can stand head and shoulders above everyone else in the 'rankings', while his direct opponent won the game for the opposition in the last 5-7 minutes by clearly outpointing him on several occasions. The rest of the night he spent a lot of time playing on nobody or nobody special. Thursty - who was downright magnificent - shut Reiwoldt down all night and probably 'ranked' about 70 or so...it's a very silly guide to a players game IMO...no offence intended Rosy, as I know to some extent you take these rankings with a grain of salt.

As for Johnson, I fail to see how him making only the uncontested pos list disproves anything negative that was said about him last week...it reinforces it if anything. Having said that, I really couldn't fault his effort level most of tonight...which was my major issue with him last week.

FWIW, Newman was really suffering and in pain but still led the contested pos list - was very impressed with his courage under duress tonight.

Bowden stats big deal played on his own all night and anyone can rack up possies doing that.

He may have got the best ranking but he also led the uncontested possessions count!!!!!

I still believe Bowden is the most overated player at RFC especially by the fans, who last week called for his head and laud him this week, never fails to make me laugh.

You have no idea !!

You think it's easy being the general, the quarter back in the backline, creating most of the forward thrusts from defence?

It looks easy because Joel Bowden makes it look easy.

Put some other player there then you'll see how hard it is.

 

[Rayzorwire]

Was an entirely appropriate analogy actually Rosy. 90% of the horses that enter the stables of the topline trainers don't even cover their purchase price and do end up at the knackery or the racing equivalent. Maybe 1-2% actually win big dollars, the other 8-9% cover their purchase price and pay their way - just.

Big difference.

Racehorses are individuals and whether they stay in Bart's stable or not is judged on their own performance, not on their stablemates. They can be chopped at any time without affecting team balance.

Football is a team sport where the majority aren't elite players but they all have an impact on team depth and results. They are protected by required list numbers and contracts. There are 22 needed to put in on every given game day and as such have very different roles to perform.

Fair enough Rosy, I agree. But your original assertion was that only 'elite' horses get a stable with the likes of Cummings...and therefore only Deledio would be in line for consideration...which was what I was challenging. It is an appropriate analogy the way GPB put it.

They don't all need 30+ possessions and 10 goals each week to be of benefit to a team.

Hehe, steady on...no need to exaggerate mate! As you may have noticed from my posts, I often lean towards defending players whose worth is a lot less evident than the usual possession winning players who get trumpeted in the media. I'm all for the hard working underdog players...it's the cruisers who think they're champions who irritate me. Doesn't mean I don't give these faux champions a wrap when they play well and put in a respectable effort...I've just seen them go MIA when it counts for too many years to not rip into them when they don't even bother trying.

 

[Rayzorwire]

The only way to do that is 'name names' and back up your opinion with relevant facts - which is apparently frowned upon by certain people.

OK. The thing I like about the top 5's is that Greg Tivendale features in them and he had a very good game. Made a bit of a mockery of those saying he should never play for us again. He actually had a handy game in round 1 too although not many were willign to give him credit.

Tango posed the question of whether we'd be better off if players like Johnno, Tivva, the Bowdo boys and Cogs were traded or delisted and they all had more than handy games.

I think the talk is very premature. There's a full season ahead for the players to seal their own fate.

I think Tivendale had a reasonable game last Friday (and said as much), thought he was very ordinary like most the week before. If he plays to what he's capable through the season I'll be the first to say he's done well to turn things around and that he deserves to be kept.

My biggest problem with him is the fact that he's one of the best built midfielders going around in terms of size and strength, but he hasn't got the mongrel and heart to ever use it to our advantage. The bloke has legs like tree trunks, good upper body strength and he's nearly impossible to wrestle to the ground in a tackle - he should be a midfield weapon. Week after week a player like Krakouer - whose body size pales in comparison with Tivendale - throws himself into the game and makes a physical impact against all odds. I just lament the fact Tivendale hasn't got the same attitude.

Some might say he's just a receiver, but he doesn't have the excuse of light build that the vast majority of pure receivers do...he just lacks the will...which often annoys and frustrates me.

The thing I liked about his game last week was that it was one of the first times (certainly in recent seasons) I'd seen him make some physical impact with a few good tackles. I hope he continues to do so and makes the necessary improvements in this aspect of his game. Doing so would get a lot of people off his back I'd imagine - I'll be the first to defend him if this happens.

 

[Rosy]

But your original assertion was that only 'elite' horses get a stable with the likes of Cummings...and therefore only Deledio would be in line for consideration...

I did not say that at all, Lids was just an example.  And you tell me not to exaggerate. :

 

[Rayzorwire]

Lighten up Rosy, you made the statement "Bart Cummings has elite thoroughbreds, maybe Lids would get a stable"...that reads to me like you think he'd be the only one.

I'm not a mind reader...

As for you apparently feeling personally slighted by my lighthearted comment regarding your obvious exaggeration where you state that people expect 30+ possessions and 10 goals a game from players...well, let's just say I'm astounded that you'd take it the way you apparently have.

 

[Rosy]

Lighten up Rosy, you made the statement "Bart Cummings has elite thoroughbreds, maybe Lids would get a stable"...that reads to me like you think he'd be the only one.

I'm not a mind reader...

As for you apparently feeling personally slighted by my lighthearted comment regarding your obvious exaggeration where you state that people expect 30+ possessions and 10 goals a game from players...well, let's just say I'm astounded that you'd take it the way you apparently have.

I'd prefer to talk about the footy than have my comments analysed when they're not that relevant to the thread...moving right along.

 

[GoodOne]

My biggest problem with him is the fact that he's one of the best built midfielders going around in terms of size and strength, but he hasn't got the mongrel and heart to ever use it to our advantage. The bloke has legs like tree trunks, good upper body strength and he's nearly impossible to wrestle to the ground in a tackle - he should be a midfield weapon. Week after week a player like Krakouer - whose body size pales in comparison with Tivendale - throws himself into the game and makes a physical impact against all odds. I just lament the fact Tivendale hasn't got the same attitude.

Its a pity Tivendale's father didnt meet Krakouer's mother and have kids

Cheers

 

[BISKET*12*]

I know posessions can tell any story you want them to but looking at these there are a few names mentioned whose heads were called for last week.  Makes me glad we have some of these workhorses while the young kids are coming through.  The result mightn't have been so close if our selection panel took notice of the go with youth brigade on here.
Their turn will come when they can perform better than the older players and I look forward to them gradually taking over the spots but until they earn it I'm glad to have some of the older blokes leading the way.

Ranking Points

Joel Bowden	164
Hayes	144
Dal Santo	134
Harvey	133
Shane Tuck	118

Contested pos

Harvey	13
Chris Newman	10
Thompson	10
Joel Bowden	9
Hayes	9

Uncontested pos

Joel Bowden	24
Kane Johnson	20
Hayes	19
Shane Tuck	17
Greg Tivendale	16

Effective kicks

Joel Bowden	20
Kayne Pettifer	15
Hayes	19
Shane Tuck	17
Greg Tivendale	16

Inside 50

Kayne Pettifer	8
Greg Tivendale	7
Hayes	6
Hamill	6
Fiora	6

Rebound50

Joel Bowden	11
Shane Tuck	8
Chris Newman	5
Baker	4
Andrew Kellaway	4

Weres Cogs in the top fives?

 

[Rosy]

Weres Cogs in the top fives?

No he weresn't.