Keeping the Doyle faith

[sharp9]

I've been amazed at the posts here actually suggesting that we trade Doyle. He's 22 and a genuinely big boy. Primus, Clarke, Hille are just three name who jump out as being either traded or suggested for trade at an early age because (cliche I know) ruckmen take a long time to develop. We saw almost nothing of him this year...but he was rated around here as the next excitement machine for 2003. So trading him seems 95% based on the assumptioin that we can get someone useful for him and that he will then being an injury riddled hack for some other club. What a ridiculously negative reason for making a trade. If he were on any other team's list we would all be trying to get him here...a really big man with talent. They don't grow on trees, you know. The other 5% of the trade thought being that he was crap in the last three games of the season but you don't lose talent at 22 (Unlike at 27, Matthew Nicks). Either he could play before the Carlton game or he couldn't. I don't think anyone wanted to trade him pre season. In my opinion nothing has changed.

[Ryan Bomford]

Hear, Hear, sharpie. We don't want to be trading away a future champion.

[Ruda Wakening]

Re: Keeping the Doyle faith

Originally posted by sharp9
I've been amazed at the posts here actually suggesting that we trade Doyle. He's 22 and a genuinely big boy. Primus, Clarke, Hille are just three name who jump out as being either traded or suggested for trade at an early age because (cliche I know) ruckmen take a long time to develop. We saw almost nothing of him this year...but he was rated around here as the next excitement machine for 2003. So trading him seems 95% based on the assumptioin that we can get someone useful for him and that he will then being an injury riddled hack for some other club. What a ridiculously negative reason for making a trade. If he were on any other team's list we would all be trying to get him here...a really big man with talent. They don't grow on trees, you know. The other 5% of the trade thought being that he was crap in the last three games of the season but you don't lose talent at 22 (Unlike at 27, Matthew Nicks). Either he could play before the Carlton game or he couldn't. I don't think anyone wanted to trade him pre season. In my opinion nothing has changed.

I think he's copped a bit of unfair criticism . Seeing he missed as much football as he did, and considering where he was playing when he did make it back, the only problem I could see was his timing, hardly surprising when you think about it ....

[Barry Schneider]

I like Doyle but I do get frustrated when he gets injured.I know not his fault.
I would like to see him spend some time in the forward line.He takes a good mark and can kick straight.He can take the pressure of Barry who is constantly tag teamed and allow him to compete one on one.
If Ball is fit for next year then Doyle can be eased into the ruck.With our ruck problems late season he was rushed into it probably a bit too quickly for all concerned.A few games up forward will give him some fitness and match practise without the hard physical clashes of the ruck.
Even with him upforward I would like to see Barry Hall take the ball ups and throw ins.He is almost unbeatable.

[desredandwhite]

Doyley has a lot of talent and I think it'd definitely be a bit premature to let him go now. If we can snare another experienced ruckman to serve as backup - perhaps Mieklejohn - then I'm sure he will come good in the long run.

[timbo]

have any of you actually seen this retard play?!?!

he has no skill or talent at all except for taking up space on our list

[undy]

Not sure who you are talking about there Timbo, but I've seen both Doyle and MJ play. I wouldn't delist either of them - Doyle has very impressive ground skills for a big man, kicks & marks well. Don't be deceived by his recent hair style or his lighthouse impersonation in the finals.

MJ has been great this season in the ACTAFL, probably going to take him a bit more exposure to AFL for him to get up to speed. He has room and time for improvement & will be a great back-up option next year should any of Ball/Goodes/Doyle break (perish the thought). He did get a broken face towards the end of the season and was rushed back into the team (the Gabba game) fairly under-done. Remember that the Swans haven't had a specialist ruck coach for a while, so his development would have been slowed.

Andy

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by timbo
have any of you actually seen this retard play?!?!

How many games have you seen him play?

[sharpie]

Hey Timbo, should we get rid of Benny Fixter too? What a mug for getting injured!

[liz]

The counter-argument is Ryan Fitzgerald. The decision to trade him when we did was, with hindsight, inspired (unfortunately for Ryan). I think this trade effectively netted us Powell.

Having said that, I'm firmly in the 'keep the faith in Doyle' camp. His two bad injuries this year and last seem to be just bad luck - ie a Burgoyne recklessly jumping into him and then a seeming freakish knee injury this year - rather than the major joint injuries Fitzy kept getting.

As for his talent, Templeton was quoted as saying once that Doyle was the most naturally talented player on the list. And he has put on bulk now, which should mean that when he can get himself on the paddock he should be able to be a very effective ruckman/forward.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by lizz
The counter-argument is Ryan Fitzgerald. The decision to trade him when we did was, with hindsight, inspired (unfortunately for Ryan). I think this trade effectively netted us Powell.

I don't even really think "inspired" is the word. Obviously the medical staff have a much better idea of a player's physical condition than we do. Look at other guys we've traded coz they were injury-prone. Jason Mooney is a prime example of someone that we probably all thought was good enough to stay. The doctors had other ideas and recommended that the swans trade him coz he was likely to be very injury-prone. This was proven to be correct when we went to Geelong and only lasted a very short time due to ongoing knee (?) problems.

[midaro]

At the start of 2004, Doyle will be our third ruckman - behind Goodes and Ball.

Assuming they're both fit, Doyle will be fighting for the third "beanpole" position with LRT (its unlikely that we could play all four from a team balance POV).

Given LRT is a more likely KPP prospect (esp. outside FF), Doyle will most likely start outside our best 22 in 2004.

Doyle's played 20 games in 4/5 seasons, he will get another go next year on potential, but it will be his last chance.

[Reggi]

Keep the faith - hopefully for the first time he has a chance to do a pre-season

[sharpie]

I don't think it will necessarily be his last chance. Ball only has a few years left in him, so Doyle will definitely be a needed player. And having 4 ruckmen is a great luxury to have. A bit of competition for places and back up for any injuries. Although, as you've said, I really doubt LRT is being groomed as a ruckman anyway.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by timbo
have any of you actually seen this retard play?!?!

he has no skill or talent at all except for taking up space on our list

Timbo,

Find some bloody brains mate.

Go back and view the game against Richmond in 2002, and then you'll see how much ability this bloke has got. He was always going to take a while to get back into form late in the year, because he had missed about 21 matches of footy. And being a big bloke, match practice is so important.

He was playing very well before he got injured against Carlton.

Barring injury, this bloke will be a star! Someone quote me on that.