Nick Davis & Collingwood

[Ruda Wakening]

Originally posted by omnipotent
Ruda Awakening perhaps you can help him set some goals. If he has something to aim for he might become more determined.

He achieved the goals that were set for this year . He played every game, and played in finals . They mightn't sound like big goals to you, but as Paul Roos says, " one day at a time " . Omni, has it ever dawned on you that for a number of years, Nick was coached by a man who went about the game in a totally different manner to that of his current coach ? So therefore Sydney is a whole new learning experience for him ...

As far as your remarks about Brownlow votes, I didn't think you thought they meant anything either . Nic Fosdike did well in the Brownlow count, but you wanted to get rid of him too .

[sharp9]

Ruda you are right on the money.

Omni, I think you are missing a giant point here. What does every player ant more than anything from a football career? A premiership. Imagine the guts it took walk away from Collingwood, from the biggest bully of a coach in the AFL, from the biggest personality on the AFL, from being publicly humiliated/ blackmailed on the Footy Show...more, to walk away from a golden chance to win a premiership in 2003-2006. That took steel to do that. That took determination. That took character.

So, in answer to someone's question about whether Nick will regret leaving if Collingwood win the flag, the answer is "not a chance in hell." He knew what he was trading and he REALLY wanted to trade a probable flag in exchange for playing for Sydney and Paul Roos (and still a chance for a flag). No chance he is regretting it.

[omnipotent]

When I am talking Brownlow votes I do not mean in the selfish sense but by aiming to get best on the grounds the Brownlow votes will take care of themselves. He should be be setting goals that match his talent. I agree that best and fairests are very important and more reflective of team goals but still think he hasn't performed up to expectations in best and fairests. I have checked some records and he did finish 6th in 2001, which means if he finishes 12th + this year, he has gone backwards to an extent. In my mind he is capable of finishing in the top five if he played to the best of his ability. He seems to have something in reserve and that is annoying me a bit. Ruda I just want the best for your man which will deliver the best for the team which I agree supersedes individual considerations. Next year a good showing in the b & f and Brownlow would demonstrate progress. Playing all matches was great but playing most of them at a high level is another thing. Still believe he can set the bar higher next year barring no injury setback. It was courageous in some way to walk away from guaranteed success at another club, though some people are saying it was also stupid and may set back his career, as most people seem to think that Malthouse is the coach who gets the most of players. I believe that Roos has done wonders with the team this year though and has improved some individuals.

[Snowy]

Having assessed his season realising that he has come third in our goalkicking while not having a pre-season and having some rotations in the midfield, I think that on balance it is not too bad. And 95 games for 117 goals as posted above is an indicatiion that he has talent and good goal sense. The average player doesn't average more than one goal per game.

[liz]

Originally posted by omnipotent
When I am talking Brownlow votes I do not mean in the selfish sense but by aiming to get best on the grounds the Brownlow votes will take care of themselves. He should be be setting goals that match his talent. I agree that best and fairests are very important and more reflective of team goals but still think he hasn't performed up to expectations in best and fairests. I have checked some records and he did finish 6th in 2001, which means if he finishes 12th + this year, he has gone backwards to an extent. In my mind he is capable of finishing in the top five if he played to the best of his ability.

Aiming to be BOG is pretty much the same as aiming to get Brownlow votes - ie not something players should be trying to do, per se. Several times after we lost games this year players commented in the press that Roos had pointed out to them that they'd been playing for themselves and forgetting to do the "team things".

What every player should be trying to do each week is perform the role they are given as well as they possibly can. Sometimes this will result in them being listed in the best, other times it won't because their contribution of shutting down an opponent sometimes goes unnoticed.

As far as ND's B&F record goes, 2001 was his best year to date, by a long way. And though he came 6th it was in a crappy Collingwood team that didn't really challenge for the finals and relied heavily on a few top players. It's hard to compare that directly with a (predicted) 10-12th finish in a team that has made a preliminary final and has garnered consistent performances from a large number of players.

I agree that I expect more from Davis in future years. If we look back in 5 years time and all he has done is performed at the level of this year, I'll be disappointed. He is certainly capable of more. However, what is unfair is writing him off, suggesting he will never make any important contribution to a Swans premiership team, not to mention casting groundless aspertions on his "character" based on one solid but not spectacular season after he's had no pre-season, been restricted in much of the previous one with injury and is adjusting to a new club, coach and game plan.