Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

E wrote:

Beast wrote:

RudeBoy wrote:Adams is a great player already.

Means a lot coming from a bloke who said Ball is finished.

Ball is very close to finished. He will not be in our grand final team ((as the only way for us to make the grand final are if others pass him). He is the shane o'bree and Tarkyn lockyer of this team!

Make him the specialist sub next year ala Giansiracusa at the Dogs. He's still capable of impacting games, but seems to be struggling to run out a full 4 quarters.

He did really well as the sub the other week from memory.

Stupied wrote:

E wrote:

Beast wrote: Means a lot coming from a bloke who said Ball is finished.

Ball is very close to finished. He will not be in our grand final team ((as the only way for us to make the grand final are if others pass him). He is the shane o'bree and Tarkyn lockyer of this team!

Make him the specialist sub next year ala Giansiracusa at the Dogs. He's still capable of impacting games, but seems to be struggling to run out a full 4 quarters.

He did really well as the sub the other week from memory.

Different skill set to Gia, particularly in terms of pace and kicking, not quite as attractive an option as a Sub.

jackcass wrote:

Stupied wrote:

E wrote: Ball is very close to finished. He will not be in our grand final team ((as the only way for us to make the grand final are if others pass him). He is the shane o'bree and Tarkyn lockyer of this team!

Make him the specialist sub next year ala Giansiracusa at the Dogs. He's still capable of impacting games, but seems to be struggling to run out a full 4 quarters.

He did really well as the sub the other week from memory.

Different skill set to Gia, particularly in terms of pace and kicking, not quite as attractive an option as a Sub.

Agreed.

I expect Bally to bow out gracefully.

He's a classy guy and won't hang around like a bad smell till someone pushes him I don't reckon.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him 'rested' this week actually. There was an element of 'leaving nothing in the tank' to his last game. Just a theory.

His watch is almost over methinks. Unfortunately for him the only part of our list that hasn't been decimated by injury is the group of blokes breathing down the back of his neck

jackcass wrote:

Stupied wrote:

E wrote: Ball is very close to finished. He will not be in our grand final team ((as the only way for us to make the grand final are if others pass him). He is the shane o'bree and Tarkyn lockyer of this team!

Make him the specialist sub next year ala Giansiracusa at the Dogs. He's still capable of impacting games, but seems to be struggling to run out a full 4 quarters.

He did really well as the sub the other week from memory.

Different skill set to Gia, particularly in terms of pace and kicking, not quite as attractive an option as a Sub.

Disagree. I thought he had a huge impact around the stoppages as a fresh inside mid when all the others were tiring.

Piesnchess wrote:^ that's a bit harsh on Ball, he has rarely put a foot wrong with us since we got him of the aints. Hes played a couple of ordinary games, big deal, so has swannie, and a few others. Luke is ok by me, Id like him in the trenches next to me, he does get the hard pill, time and again.

Agree - He has been are real asset for us and should be shown some respect.

Piesnchess wrote:anyway, adams is going to be a bloody gun, and you heard it here first. !

From what I have seen he should be a great asset and a tough and brutal in an under player. A great replacement for Luke Ball.

Stupied wrote:

jackcass wrote:

Stupied wrote: Make him the specialist sub next year ala Giansiracusa at the Dogs. He's still capable of impacting games, but seems to be struggling to run out a full 4 quarters.

He did really well as the sub the other week from memory.

Different skill set to Gia, particularly in terms of pace and kicking, not quite as attractive an option as a Sub.

Disagree. I thought he had a huge impact around the stoppages as a fresh inside mid when all the others were tiring.

He was good coming on as a Sub against WCEs. Just wonder how many games offer those opportunities for an inside mid to influence late in the game when it typically becomes more about outside run and creativity. Or were suggesting his pace and kicking are as good as Gia's?

Beast wrote:

RudeBoy wrote:Adams is a great player already.

Means a lot coming from a bloke who said Ball is finished.

Don't get me wrong Beast, Ball has been a real warrior for us and a great leader. I'm a huge fan. However, all good things come to an end and I honestly think his career is fast drawing to a close. If we were in a Grand Final and it was raining, he'd still be one of the first players I'd pick. But on a dry fast track, his lack of leg speed, coupled with his inability to kick long, are serious deficiencies.

Having said that, I reckon he showed a couple of weeks back that when used as the sub, he came on in the last quarter when the speed had gone out of the game and had great impact. That, imo, is his only hope to be part of September action this year. He may well prove to be the AFL's most valuable specialist sub.

Depends how you view football - a sport, or a business

if a sport, then Luke Ball, as he is still a good player, can continue until he decides to retire

if a business, the question is whether you can do better than Luke Ball, or indeed, any player

AN_Inkling wrote:

Lazza wrote:

roar wrote: Easy there, big fella. Has a little while to go before he can be called "great".

Agree with RB. Adams is a great player in the making and will only get better with experience. As usual the Adams (and Collingwood) haters here have no bloody idea.....

In the making? So you disagree with RB then .

By my recollection Adams has only played 3 full games in the midfield for us, plus as a sub a few times. Of those 3 games, he was listed as in our top 3 players by the press in 2 of those games. That is the sign of a great player. A couple of weeks ago he collected an amazing 21 contested possessions - something I can't recall any Collingwood player doing in the last 10 years or more. sure, he's got some limitations to his game. Mostly, I think he simply has to learn not to rush disposing of the ball. There is amazing upside to this kid, but from what i've already seen I rate him as a great player. Right now, with his ferocious attack on the ball and opponents, I think he would thrive in finals football and is capable of winning the Norm Smith....this year!

gurugeoff wrote:Depends how you view football - a sport, or a business

if a sport, then Luke Ball, as he is still a good player, can continue until he decides to retire

if a business, the question is whether you can do better than Luke Ball, or indeed, any player

Footy is going more the Business way

Personally I'm a little disappointed that none of the folk who branded Tay a 'horrible' or 'awful' footballer have come back to put their hands up and eat their words...

If I have to choose one, I pick[quoteBreadcrawl]Personally I'm disappointed that none of the folk who branded Tay a 'horrible'.

jackcass wrote:

Stupied wrote:

jackcass wrote: Different skill set to Gia, particularly in terms of pace and kicking, not quite as attractive an option as a Sub.

Disagree. I thought he had a huge impact around the stoppages as a fresh inside mid when all the others were tiring.

He was good coming on as a Sub against WCEs. Just wonder how many games offer those opportunities for an inside mid to influence late in the game when it typically becomes more about outside run and creativity. Or were suggesting his pace and kicking are as good as Gia's?

Not suggesting he is anything like Gia, nor does he have to be. I'm saying that having a fresh inside mid to win the pill over others who are tiring could be just as valuable as a fresh outside player. After all, someone needs to get it to the outsiders before they can do their thing right? Dominating clearances late in the game could be the difference.