Long awaited News of Maxfield.

[monopoly19]

I think a fit Maxfield is more useful than McVeigh, Moore and Malceski.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by Nico
History is riddled with Finals and Grand Finals lost where sides played unfit, so called gun players.

History is also riddled with Finals and Grand Finals won where sides played unfit, so called gun players. Most recently Lappin

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Ruckman
History is also riddled with Finals and Grand Finals won where sides played unfit, so called gun players. Most recently Lappin

Voss the year before? (Every year?)

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Ruckman
History is also riddled with Finals and Grand Finals won where sides played unfit, so called gun players. Most recently Lappin

Essendon 2001.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by Nico
Why would you even consider playing Maxfield again this season?

How could he add value in the place of another player given we have won almost every game since he was out, and his fitness level to compete in finals would have to be very suspect at the very least.

History is riddled with Finals and Grand Finals lost where sides played unfit, so called gun players.

Absolutely. Who cares about his hardness if he's not getting the pill.

[pillowtalk]

Originally posted by Snowy
I think the line that he's the fittest in the club line, or has been is not relevant if he's had a long layoff therein his fitness has suffered, or if he hasn't had the chance to get himself in form. McVeigh has one of the best beep tests ever but that doesn't help him get the ball or use it properly. Selection should primarily be on form and if a youngster has as much chance of succeeding it's providing him with valuable finals experience.

His fitness is definately relevant. And he is one of the fittest in the club, regardless of injury time. He's the one putting in extra hours and in fact was once told that he was over doing it. He is the hardest player there and even goes on a fitness run before training so I don't doubt he's kept himself fit.

Selection could be on form but experience in the case of the former captain can certainly not be ignored. Yes, they could be looking to the future re a younger player but experience is invaluable.

[Snowy]

Fair point Pillowtalk and you could never doubt the work ethic of a bloke such as Stewie but there still is a big difference between aerobic fitness per se and match fitness. In any case there may be injuries which mean he slots in.

[Charlie]

Derek Kickett and Mark Bayes were carried into the '96 GF.

The right decision? Maybe... maybe not. I'm undecided. As I am with Maxfield. Certainly, experience counts for something - and none of the four rookies inspire me with a lot of confidence in finals footy as yet. At the same time, though... Maxfield hasn't played in 11 weeks and won't have played in 14 weeks by the time he is supposedly going to return. Given his terrible form before his injury... I can't see how an instant return - or even a return during the finals - is justified.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Charlie
Derek Kickett and Mark Bayes were carried into the '96 GF.

The right decision? Maybe... maybe not. I'm undecided. As I am with Maxfield. Certainly, experience counts for something - and none of the four rookies inspire me with a lot of confidence in finals footy as yet. At the same time, though... Maxfield hasn't played in 11 weeks and won't have played in 14 weeks by the time he is supposedly going to return. Given his terrible form before his injury... I can't see how an instant return - or even a return during the finals - is justified.

Hear hear

[stellation]

He is a top bloke with a recipe book on the way. Enough said. Selected.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by footyhead
Hear hear

[liz]

Originally posted by Charlie
Derek Kickett and Mark Bayes were carried into the '96 GF.

The right decision? Maybe... maybe not. I'm undecided.

If Kickett was carried into the 1996 GF, then it was absolutely the right decision and reading the article in the SMH today about Roos and his attitude towards players as people, I have no doubt he would have done the same.

That said, the circumstances were different, and Kickett had been in the team pretty much all season and was instrumental in getting us over the line in r22 against the Weagles.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by liz
If Kickett was carried into the 1996 GF, then it was absolutely the right decision and reading the article in the SMH today about Roos and his attitude towards players as people, I have no doubt he would have done the same.

That said, the circumstances were different, and Kickett had been in the team pretty much all season and was instrumental in getting us over the line in r22 against the Weagles.

There was considerable discussion, from memory, leading up to team selection whether he and Bayes would be included in the team. Eade was adamant they would play, and obviously they did.

Both had had ordinary finals series... both were probably a little better in the GF, but my memory is hazy as I've never been able to bring myself to watch the game a second time.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by liz
If Kickett was carried into the 1996 GF, then it was absolutely the right decision and reading the article in the SMH today about Roos and his attitude towards players as people, I have no doubt he would have done the same.

Remember that Kickett had been left out of the Bombers 93 GF team - so it would have been even more devastating for him to not play in 96.

[liz]

Originally posted by Mike_B
Remember that Kickett had been left out of the Bombers 93 GF team - so it would have been even more devastating for him to not play in 96.

That was my point. I suspect he was the first player picked in the 1996 GF.