#47,#11 Jarryd Blair

[neil]

While I'm not his biggest supporter I don't know where this mentality comes from that we shouldn't be retaining any players that aren't in our best 22. It's the height of folly for obvious reasons.

Very true but you are mixing up perfect logic with the usual garbage from some Nick's posters....
The strength in any team is in its capacity to cover injury losses and suspensions during the season through their great depth. This is a vital component of any team, especially a team like Collingwood bound for the finals.

Agree with both of you
It is the best 32 that gets you into the GF
Blair should only be dropped when some other player forces his way into the side and by performance stays there.

[AN_Inkling]

Jarryd Blair is 25 years old. He has played 20 games every season except his first when he played 12, showing he has been a good and consistent performer (outside of loony conspiracy theories spanning the administration of two coaches, there is no other way to read this).

He will be very difficult to dislodge from the team. It's difficult to see him playing any less than 10 games in 2016 and it's most likely he'll play over 15 barring injury.

[RudeBoy]

Blair is a Premiership player and is courageous with good skills, especially good goal kicking, an asset in short supply within our team. Having said that, given the expected improvement from a host of our youngsters such as Broomhead, De Goey, Crisp, Adams as well as the impact of Greenwood, Treloar and Aish, it is clear that a player like Blair is likely to struggle to hold his place in our best 22. That's as it should be, if we are to become a genuine Premiership threat again. Ditto for White, Goldsack, Frost and Sinclair imo.

[Domesticated_Ape]

Jarryd Blair is 25 years old. He has played 20 games every season except his first when he played 12, showing he has been a good and consistent performer (outside of loony conspiracy theories spanning the administration of two coaches, there is no other way to read this).

He will be very difficult to dislodge from the team. It's difficult to see him playing any less than 10 games in 2016 and it's most likely he'll play over 15 barring injury.

I agree apart from your last sentence. I think it'll be difficult for him to get 10 games next year with the influx of new talent and the natural development of the other young guys we've got.

I'm not knocking Blair. I've enjoyed his career at Collingwood and I think he's a wonderful clubman and we all know that he's forever a 2010 champion. His time is coming though and it doesn't matter that he's only 25. It matters that he can only play one position and he's not all that great at it. Others will go past him.

I'd never trade him unless he asked for it directly. He's the sort of bloke you want to keep at your club, but not necessarily in your best 22.

[duggieboy]

What about the theory that certain player types are improved by the versatility around them?

I reckon Blairy is a chance to be one of these, thus prolonging his playing days.

Gotta say I agree with comments, and have admired, his gutsy courage that surely has been a standout to the coaches.

[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]

What about the theory that certain player types are improved by the versatility around them?

I reckon Blairy is a chance to be one of these, thus prolonging his playing days.

Gotta say I agree with comments, and have admired, his gutsy courage that surely has been a standout to the coaches.

Looking at our new list... I honestly think he will seriously struggle to get a game at all (maybe bucks luv factor but otherwise doubtful). I'd also put Williams in this boat too although he actually has some chance compared to Blair (imho).

[think positive]

Blair is a Premiership player and is courageous with good skills, especially good goal kicking, an asset in short supply within our team. Having said that, given the expected improvement from a host of our youngsters such as Broomhead, De Goey, Crisp, Adams as well as the impact of Greenwood, Treloar and Aish, it is clear that a player like Blair is likely to struggle to hold his place in our best 22. That's as it should be, if we are to become a genuine Premiership threat again. Ditto for White, Goldsack, Frost and Sinclair imo.

This

Oh and I like Blair, I think he will stay!

[Deja Vu]

I think Aish plays the Blair role in the forward line, provided he can bring the work ethic. He is a more skilful player than Blair, but that doesn't guarantee success

[AN_Inkling]

Blair is a Premiership player and is courageous with good skills, especially good goal kicking, an asset in short supply within our team. Having said that, given the expected improvement from a host of our youngsters such as Broomhead, De Goey, Crisp, Adams as well as the impact of Greenwood, Treloar and Aish, it is clear that a player like Blair is likely to struggle to hold his place in our best 22. That's as it should be, if we are to become a genuine Premiership threat again. Ditto for White, Goldsack, Frost and Sinclair imo.

I'm probably repeating myself here... but I've never understood the thinking that "player x isn't good enough to be part of our next Premiership". It's even more difficult to understand when two of the players you list have played in a Premiership (Blair, Goldsack).

Premierships are won by teams, not individuals. Every premiership team has players who'd be considered "duds" on lesser teams but are able to carry out their specific role within a greater team. The thinking around excluding these players seems to be that they are "triers" but lack the skill or class to be Premiership players. I can't get my head around it . This is a complete inversion of what it takes to win a flag. The Blair, and for me particularly Sinclair, types are exactly those which can help you win flags. Players that never give in and never take a backward step. They may not be the best players but with their endless energy and effort, they help to drive the rest of the team. The classier types who otherwise don't put in the work are exactly those you don't want on the field in a Grand Final.

Many posters have already played this game and lost: Ben Johnson, Rhyce Shaw, Alan Toovey, Leigh Brown... were all seen as players who could "never win a flag". It's time to lay down our gloves and give in on this one. No problem with arguing over whether "player x" is good enough to get a game next week, but don't tell me he can never win a Premiership.

[The Weed]

What about the theory that certain player types are improved by the versatility around them?

I reckon Blairy is a chance to be one of these, thus prolonging his playing days.

Gotta say I agree with comments, and have admired, his gutsy courage that surely has been a standout to the coaches.

Looking at our new list... I honestly think he will seriously struggle to get a game at all (maybe bucks luv factor but otherwise doubtful). I'd also put Williams in this boat too although he actually has some chance compared to Blair (imho).

Williams struggle to get a game, you're joking right, he finished 7th in the Copeland.

[ronrat]

Given that Howe,Cloke,Grundy, Elliot and Moore will be flying for everything why would you not want a goalkicker on the ground and one whose tackle count is high. Swanny can play that role but I doubt he we will play more than 2 seasons on.

[Piesnchess]

seeing our first pick next seasons draft is now a rather late 27, if blair has another average season, why not trade him to someone like the doggies, for an earlier pick, say pick 15, or too Norf, i reckon hes worth pick fifteen surely.

[Mugwump]

seeing our first pick next seasons draft is now a rather late 27, if blair has another average season, why not trade him to someone like the doggies, for an earlier pick, say pick 15, or too Norf, i reckon hes worth pick fifteen surely.

If they need a whipping boy, we might get a top 10 pick for him.

[magpieazza]

Blair is a Premiership player and is courageous with good skills, especially good goal kicking, an asset in short supply within our team. Having said that, given the expected improvement from a host of our youngsters such as Broomhead, De Goey, Crisp, Adams as well as the impact of Greenwood, Treloar and Aish, it is clear that a player like Blair is likely to struggle to hold his place in our best 22. That's as it should be, if we are to become a genuine Premiership threat again. Ditto for White, Goldsack, Frost and Sinclair imo.

I'm probably repeating myself here... but I've never understood the thinking that "player x isn't good enough to be part of our next Premiership". It's even more difficult to understand when two of the players you list have played in a Premiership (Blair, Goldsack).

Premierships are won by teams, not individuals. Every premiership team has players who'd be considered "duds" on lesser teams but are able to carry out their specific role within a greater team. The thinking around excluding these players seems to be that they are "triers" but lack the skill or class to be Premiership players. I can't get my head around it . This is a complete inversion of what it takes to win a flag. The Blair, and for me particularly Sinclair, types are exactly those which can help you win flags. Players that never give in and never take a backward step. They may not be the best players but with their endless energy and effort, they help to drive the rest of the team. The classier types who otherwise don't put in the work are exactly those you don't want on the field in a Grand Final.

Many posters have already played this game and lost: Ben Johnson, Rhyce Shaw, Alan Toovey, Leigh Brown... were all seen as players who could "never win a flag". It's time to lay down our gloves and give in on this one. No problem with arguing over whether "player x" is good enough to get a game next week, but don't tell me he can never win a Premiership.

Top post Ink!

I am one who prefers class over grunt and have modelled my best 22's on that principle. I can see your point and it is valid, one example is when Aussie Craig Johnston played for Liverpool in the 80's. He was the workhorse of the team who made the classier players around him shine. They loved him! His place in the team was invaluable and it was a successful era, so yes there is a place in the team for "those" type of players.

[Domesticated_Ape]

Blair is a Premiership player and is courageous with good skills, especially good goal kicking, an asset in short supply within our team. Having said that, given the expected improvement from a host of our youngsters such as Broomhead, De Goey, Crisp, Adams as well as the impact of Greenwood, Treloar and Aish, it is clear that a player like Blair is likely to struggle to hold his place in our best 22. That's as it should be, if we are to become a genuine Premiership threat again. Ditto for White, Goldsack, Frost and Sinclair imo.

I'm probably repeating myself here... but I've never understood the thinking that "player x isn't good enough to be part of our next Premiership". It's even more difficult to understand when two of the players you list have played in a Premiership (Blair, Goldsack).

Premierships are won by teams, not individuals. Every premiership team has players who'd be considered "duds" on lesser teams but are able to carry out their specific role within a greater team. The thinking around excluding these players seems to be that they are "triers" but lack the skill or class to be Premiership players. I can't get my head around it . This is a complete inversion of what it takes to win a flag. The Blair, and for me particularly Sinclair, types are exactly those which can help you win flags. Players that never give in and never take a backward step. They may not be the best players but with their endless energy and effort, they help to drive the rest of the team. The classier types who otherwise don't put in the work are exactly those you don't want on the field in a Grand Final.

Many posters have already played this game and lost: Ben Johnson, Rhyce Shaw, Alan Toovey, Leigh Brown... were all seen as players who could "never win a flag". It's time to lay down our gloves and give in on this one. No problem with arguing over whether "player x" is good enough to get a game next week, but don't tell me he can never win a Premiership.

Not sure Rudeboy is saying that though is he?

My take on his post is that he expects Blair to be pushed out of the 22 by younger players and for that to increase out chances of winning a flag, not that we couldn't do it with him in the team, just that it's less likely to happen.

Of course you're always going to have role players in any premiership team and Blair and Goldsack were both that in 2010. How likely are they to do it again? I would think having guys like Aish, De Goey, Broomhead..etc in your bottom 6 is going to give a better opportunity.