I've stated before that seeing the way Joel is playing lately, and after hearing the way Greg Miller discussed Joel publicly on 3LO a few weeks ago, that Joel has been told his career is skating on thin ice at Tigerland.
I guess I am a bit of a devils advocate where Joel is concerned. A few years ago everyone posted about Joel as some kind of superstar and our future captain. I never saw that way of thinking.
Now it's fashionable to use Joel as a whipping boy and I can't agree to that kind of thinking either.
I'll forgive him the last few weeks. He is playing like someone who's heart isn't in it. Time might tell the reasons, then again maybe not. Our club has a record of not treating unwanted players with respect.
Joel would be in our top 10 players. People comment on him leading the clangers. They fail to comment he is also right up there in the possessions too. If Joel gets the ball 25 times and turns it over 5, is that worse than a player getting it 10-15 times and turning it over a couple? Some players don't do near as much as Joel but seem exempt from critisism and I think it's a bit unfair.
I don't think Joel and Spud are a good combination, in fact I don't think our coaching panel helps Joel at all. If he's being too lazy or casual in his disposal then drag him, drop him or at least get the runner to give him a bomb. None of those options seem to happen, we've taken notice at times expecting a runner to go to Joel and it doesn't happen.
Joel may never live up to the lofty expectations held for him, but were they realistic anyway? Maybe he was destined to be an even contributer rather than a superstar.
I'd love to see Joel under a decent coach. I wish it would be at Tigerland next year but that won't be happening.
If Joel is traded to Collingwood and runs through his 150th banner against us in round 1 I'll be the first to hope he plays a blinder.
