Kirk an All Australian?????

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  • SWANSBEST
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 868

    Kirk an All Australian?????

    Kirk's done enough for shot at All-Australian selection
    30 July 2003 Herald Sun
    By MICHAEL HORAN

    BRETT Kirk is very much in contention for All-Australian selection, according to selector Gerard Healy.

    Kirk, who last weekend cut another superstar down to size when he effectively blanketed Fremantle captain Peter Bell and amassed 18 possessions himself, to earn best afield status, is not out of the mix just because he is regarded primarily as a tagger.

    Kirk, 27, held Bell to three possessions in the first half and 15 for the game to help the Swans to a 14-point win over the Dockers.

    "We consider everybody, particularly blokes who have had outstanding seasons like him," Healy said yesterday.

    "There's is no issue as such. There is really just one question: Who has had the best season for each and every position?

    "As far as midfielders are concerned -- and he would come into the midfield group -- he obviously plays a different, distinctive role to a Voss or a Buckley and only fate will determine whether he continues to play as well on good players as he did last week.

    "You can argue that Josh Carr did the same on Michael Voss (on Saturday night).

    "All of those guys are worthy contenders and have had great seasons."

    Traditionally, the star who shakes the tag and does his thing, rather than the stopper, has been the candidate for selection, but Healy insisted there was nothing to stop a tagger who has had a great year winning All-Australian honours.

    Using Kirk as a prime example, Healy pointed out why.

    "In some respects you can assess how well he plays far better than some other midfielders have gone," he said.

    "If someone has had 30 possessions and kicked three goals and was up against someone who's had 30 and kicked two goals, a lot of people give both players votes, but with Kirk it's pretty easy to see how he's gone.

    "That's why he is a player who already has been discussed highly at selection. If he continues this form, he will no doubt press for selection.

    "Having said that, there is the issue of where does Brett Kirk play? Is he going to get the centre position? The answer to that is 'no'. That will be Nathan Buckley or Michael Voss or someone like that.

    "But there are about four or five or six midfield positions, including a couple on the bench and there is no reason why he won't be considered for one of those positions."



    WMP
  • jixygirl
    On the Rookie List
    • Jun 2003
    • 432

    #2
    It will be interesting to see the All-Australian team at the end of the season and Sydney's influence in it. It's good that the selectors are considering at least one of our players. I also realised that over the past few weeks there has been a lot more about the Sydney Swans in the Herald Sun!
    Sydney Swans Premiers 2005 - The Mighty Bloods

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    • sharp9
      Senior Player
      • Jan 2003
      • 2508

      #3
      There were three articles about Kirk and one about our Ruck on one day!!!! (according to the website...I mean I'm not gonna pay for that)

      Agree (unbelievably) with ****e Meehan that the All Australian team is not picked as a team who would play anyone, but chooses the 8 most talented midfielders in the comp and spreads them around the field.

      However when it comes to the Ireland games it is a different matter. Kirk must be a real contender for that.
      "I'll acknowledge there are more talented teams in the competition but I won't acknowledge that there is a better team in the competition" Paul Roos March 2005

      Comment

      • Red Cygnus Olor
        On the Rookie List
        • Jul 2003
        • 5

        #4
        Why wouldn"t he be considered he has been one of Sydneys most consistent players this year and if we finish top four we deserve a few spots in the All Australian team. I could see him playing on a wing in that team, especially now he is showing that he can run with the best of them and get most dangerous when his side has the ball and kick a few goals as that is what is required of a good wingmen.
        There are three kinds of people in this world the first type make things happen, the second watch things happen and the third wander what the happened

        Comment

        • jixygirl
          On the Rookie List
          • Jun 2003
          • 432

          #5
          Shehan was saying that taggers like Kirk don't deserve a spot because the team is for the best midfielders. I see taggers as an important part of the team because they restrict the best players of the oppostition. Kirk is a perfect example of this.
          Sydney Swans Premiers 2005 - The Mighty Bloods

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          • Jon
            On the Rookie List
            • Mar 2003
            • 162

            #6
            anyone know how he's going in the Best and Faiest here at Sydney? You'd have to say he'd be in the mix.

            I just get this feeling that selectors might overlook his attacking efforts, and unfairly label him as only being a "tagger".

            If he took out the best and fairest, or even went close in a side that made it well into the finals, they'd have to at least consider the fact, I'd say.
            Time to march for the Red and White

            Comment

            • Sid
              On the Rookie List
              • Jun 2003
              • 385

              #7
              Definitely good to see Kirky getting some attention. He is such a good player and doesnt seem to get much attention. Who else do u think could make it in the all australian team from the swans?
              Using hypothesis testing via confidence intervals:
              Nick Davis mark inside 50 = goal

              Comment

              • Ganjaman
                On the Rookie List
                • Jan 2003
                • 130

                #8
                Originally posted by Sid
                Who else do u think could make it in the all australian team from the swans?
                Goodes
                Magic
                Williams
                Go the BLOODS!

                Comment

                • dawson
                  Senior Player
                  • Mar 2003
                  • 1007

                  #9
                  Jon,

                  B&F happens after the naming of the All-Australian side

                  Comment

                  • Jon
                    On the Rookie List
                    • Mar 2003
                    • 162

                    #10
                    Originally posted by dawson
                    Jon,

                    B&F happens after the naming of the All-Australian side
                    Yeah...but the results are usually telegraphed a few weeks out. I was just wondering how he was going so far.
                    Time to march for the Red and White

                    Comment

                    • lizz
                      Veteran
                      Site Admin
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 16778

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Ganjaman
                      Goodes
                      Magic
                      Williams
                      Williams doesn't stand a chance this year. He's not having quite as good a year as last - though he's still been excellent for us - and he didn't make it then. Plus spots in the midfield are always extremely hard to come by.

                      Goodes is a probable unless he suffers a major form down turn. He may well end up on the interchange bench though, not because he's not in the best 18 but more because he doesn't obviously fit into a postion on the ground. He's not the no 1 ruck in the comp so won't get that position but where else do you slot him? He's really the ultimate utility player.

                      Magic will be a little behind the 8-ball because he missed so many games at the start of the season. But if he carries on as he is at the moment he'll be in with a very good chance.

                      Barry is maybe a smokey as well.

                      Doubt Kirk will make it, again partly because its so hard to get a midfield spot. If a team were actually being picked to play a proper game of AFL against a quality team he'd be in with a better chance, I reckon. But he's not really the type of player I can see blitzing it in IR where tagging and tackling are much less of a feature.

                      Comment

                      • chammond
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 1368

                        #12
                        He's really the ultimate utility player.
                        I reckon that probably makes Goodes a certainty for AA, because they could legitimately slot him in anywhere, except, funnily enough, the ruck.

                        I think Leo Barry would be next in line, possibly depending on where Wanganeen is picked to play.

                        If O'Loughlin can maintain his form to season end, then he would also be a good chance, mainly because the opposition at half-forward or forward pocket isn't that outstanding. Plus . . . Healy loves him passionately!

                        Kirk probably deserves selection, but he's not flashy enough for the Melbourne media to see him as anything but a novelty.

                        Comment

                        • Cheer Cheer
                          On the Rookie List
                          • Jan 2003
                          • 934

                          #13
                          I dont think kirk will get in because of the big uproar about taggers this year. If he is rewarded I think it will send the wrong message to the kids - encourage tagging.
                          We know kirk is a fair tagger and doesnt niggle, but I dont think the rest of the football world in general know that he is very fair and honest.
                          No.1 ticket holder of Nick Davis Fan Club...

                          Comment

                          • NMWBloods
                            Taking Refuge!!
                            • Jan 2003
                            • 15819

                            #14
                            Doesn't Kirk like to be called a "run-with" player rather than a "tagger"?
                            Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat.

                            "[T]here are things that matter more and he's reading and thinking about them: heaven, reincarnation. Life and death are the only things that are truly a matter of life and death. Not football."

                            Comment

                            • lizz
                              Veteran
                              Site Admin
                              • Jan 2003
                              • 16778

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Cheer Cheer
                              We know kirk is a fair tagger and doesnt niggle, but I dont think the rest of the football world in general know that he is very fair and honest.
                              I actually think most do recognise this. He's rarely mentioned in the same breath as players like Franchina.

                              Agree he is more of a "run-with" player. He has the nous to get the ball himself and use it well when he does (most of the time!). Not many players would be able to keep one of the highest ball-winners to about half their normal possessions while getting 18 themselves and kicking 3 goals.

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