Crouch

[scurrilous]

I think it was the reaction he was looking for, to be frank.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by Roscoe
Not a great deal of support for your criticism of Crouch eh Plugger?

Whe Fixter returns to the side it may be an idea to have Ben take over Crouch's role as a tagger, easing him back into the game in that sort of role. This would allow Crouch more freedom and he could be an attacking weapon. I remember Kennely's first game against Carlton when Jarred went forward and kicked a rew goals.

I rate him as a good goalkicker from a set shot.

By the way, Crouch won the sprint race on Grand Final day last year.

Back to you Plugger46

Roscoe, Fixter is an attacking footballer, Crouch is not. They are totally different footballers, you cannot compare them. Fixter is hard at the football and tough in the backline. Crouch is only a tagger and from what I've seen of him in past years, he isn't and will not become a play maker.

Crouch has kicked 20 goals in 7 seasons with the club so to rate him as a goal kicker is ludicrous. I was aware of the fact that he won the sprint at last year's grand final, however being quick on a footy ground is entirely to different to winning a 100m sprint.
I don't know if you have played the game but if you have, you would know that. It is all about being quick in the head as well, i don't believe Crouch has that ability.

Your turn Roscoe....

[Roscoe]

Well we will always disagree

Crouch was not a tagger when he was named as All Australian Captain at Junior level

Eade has only used him as a tagger since his debut in 1998, with
limited chances to kick a goal, but I didn't say he was a major goalkicker, I said that I rate him as a good kick from a set shot (obviously when given his limited opportunities).

Note I also rate Matthews as a good kick from a set shot. - but he too hasn't had many opportunites from where he plays on the ground.

You are twisting things around by acknowldging that Crouch won a sprint race but claiming he is not a quick thinker.

What a about Greg Williams - quick in running NO, quick thinker YES

[Newbie]

Crouchy as small forward? We already have enough those. Anyway, Crouch is not very quick over 5-10m lead so I would not put him there.

Playing him as an attacking midfielder? His kicking is plenty one-dimensional. Cannot recall one occasion when he is creative with the ball. I doubt if he has the quality to be an attacking midfielder.

Playing him in the engine room? He is a bit smallish and does not seem to possess the body strength required to play here. I have seen many times when his tackles were easily brushed aside.

Tagging is probably his best position. The other is the back pocket. That is about where he could play really.

I doubt if he has the ability to step up any further. Would love him to prove me wrong though.

[Plugger46]

I don't believe his junior days are relevant to the role he plays at the swans now, however you are entitled to your opinion.

Your opinion on Williams enhances my argument, he won two Brownlow's, when he was one of the slowest blokes (pace wise) in the competition.

Newbie has summed him up well, and i agree that i would love to see him prove me wrong.

I think will agree to disagree on this one Roscoe.

[Nico]

Plugger,

You are right on the irrelevence of junior footy on where a player might end up playing. What junior footy does is show which players have the capacity or perceived capacity to cut the mustard at AFL Level.

Crouch proved that at junior level so got his chance at the big time. For the majority of players that make it, they will fall into the middle range bracket, and as such will always be more likely to cop criticism, as against the true stars who are forever forgiven if they put in a shocker or two. There is always an excuse for the stars.

Also opinions of the middle range players will vary widely as we see on this site.

The ultimate test is in the Grand Final if and when a player makes it. Many times over the years we have seen players lauded as "stars" only to se them fail at the ultimate test. Such players are Gary Hocking of Geelong and the famous Richardson brothers at Collingwood, and there is probably many more.

Equally there have been many "just players" who shine on that one day in September. Collingwood was famous for blooding players in the GF with excellent results.