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groupie1 wrote: ↑Mon 24 Apr 2023 5:18am
I was actually thinking Stocker replaces Paton when/if Coffield returns.
Agree. Paton along with Byrnes are liabilities with the ball.
Even since the start of the year Byrnes seems to have significantly improves his disposal. He's hitting a lot of targets lace out while kicking at pace. 20 disposals and only one clanger on the weekend, which was a free against. I'd pretty much written him off before the season began but he's winning me over. He's playing like an outside version of Jack Steven at the moment. Still only 21 year old so has plenty of scope for improvement. Take out all the games as an unused medical sub and he's only playing his 30th game this week against Port.
As for Stocker, I think he's been very good this year but looked a little shaky against the Blues. Nerves and emotions might have got to him a little bit against his old side but he's a lock in the 22 for now.
Paton is the most vulnerable member of the backline right now. He's done a lot of good but has been prone to making some bad clangers so far this season too. Will have to lift if he's going to stay in once Webster is available.
Hunter Clark has been building and playing very well as a mid. I was harsh on his lack of physique and perceived fitness but have come to the realisation that he is never going to be an Adonis or super quick, but some of his clearance work is elite.
Ryan Byrnes has been an absolute revelation this year - he would be leading our most improved player vote by a long way. His kicking has been a work in progress, but like others at club he has improved out of sight this year and is now a reliable kick.
Liam Stocker has also been a revelation, he is so composed and staunch in our defence he brings something that all teams need.
The entire 23 players have all offered something and that's completely different to previous years. Let's just enjoy the wins why we can!
meher baba wrote: ↑Mon 24 Apr 2023 9:18am
If we had a fully-fit team, there would be quite a struggle for three backline places among five players: Webster, Paton, Coffield, Stocker and NWM (Howard, Wilkie, Battle and Sinclair are of course all sacrosanct).
To my way of thinking, Webster and NWM are ahead of the rest by a fair margin. So that leaves one spot available for one of Coffield, Paton and Stocker.
For me, Coffield has yet to prove that he's a first team player. He might very well be one, but - largely through circumstances beyond his control - he has never had the opportunity to demonstrate this, and I find it strange that so many posters seem to believe he will walk straight into the team when he is fit. I predict a prolonged spell at the Zebras to give him the opportunity to show what he can do.
Paton is a good player, but I'd rate Stocker ahead of him at the moment, and would suspect that the coaching staff would do the same. So that means that Stocker will probably be guaranteed a spot in the team unless and until we have all our backline players available and Coffield has shown himself to be the genius that so many posters seem to believe him to be. And I'm happy about that: Stocker is a solid performer. The Blues were crazy to let him go.
The player for whom I feel sorry is Highmore. Like Bytel, he is an AFL-quality player, but there is no room for him in the first 23. But that's a good sign for us: top teams usually have a number of AFL-quality players in reserve.
I agree with this about Bytel and Highmore. (And Sharman)
He has been a great addition. He has great skills on both sides and rarely makes an error. Our backline is now just one player away from being a premiership backline.
perfectionist wrote: ↑Tue 25 Apr 2023 9:55am
He has been a great addition. He has great skills on both sides and rarely makes an error. Our backline is now just one player away from being a premiership backline.
Who is more influential at Princes Park: Cripps or Voss. Rhetorical, I think clearly Cripps, he would have had to have canned young Stocker otherwise booting him hardly makes sense. Liam would have enjoyed seeing the faux medal winner go down.
Supplementary, who is/was the better footballer. Voss, clearly?
I sense personal frictions at Bluesville and not just involving SOS.
If I were Voss I'd ask Cripps to play CHB for a few games, try to improve his leg speed, let Walsh take charge at bounces/clearances. See how he reacts. But I like to tease Carlton.
To be honest… If there’s one player I’m most looking forward to seeing get a bit of the RTB pixie dust it’s Coffield.
Kid was a jet in 2020 and they completely stuffed him the following season trying to turn him into a key position player when he was always a runner.
He looked prime to bounce back in 2022 with the reports that he had burned up the track pre-injury.
Really disappointed he’s been laid up like he has but still… really want to see him get a go.
I don’t know if he’d be in consideration for a defence post now… so much competition. May have to try it as a mid
skeptic wrote: ↑Wed 26 Apr 2023 10:24am
To be honest… If there’s one player I’m most looking forward to seeing get a bit of the RTB pixie dust it’s Coffield.
Kid was a jet in 2020 and they completely stuffed him the following season trying to turn him into a key position player when he was always a runner.
He looked prime to bounce back in 2022 with the reports that he had burned up the track pre-injury.
Really disappointed he’s been lates up like he has but still… really want to see him get a go.
I don’t know if he’d be in consideration for a defence post now… so much competition. May have to try it as a mid
Agree with that. Potential gun half back or mid. Very strong overhead and decision-making is first rate when he is on.
Injury list says 2-4 weeks. Would like to see him pressing for finals if we are still thereabouts
