jason the stockbroker - don't retire!

[lachlanc]

I think all RWO posters and Swans fans should march in delegation on the club and demand that Ball re-consider his decision to retire. His ruckwork in the last quarter against Geelong was almost as important as Davis' goals. After all, who palmed the ball down to him at that last fatal stoppage?

Not only is Ball an excellent ruckman but our back-up rucking stocks are not fabulous. Doyle I hear you say? Dodgy knees, and really hasn't delivered yet and I personally wouldn't be confident he could fill Ball's boots. We missed out on Kositke (spelling?) from St. Kilda, who would have been great but i can't see any ready made recruits coming up over the off season. Brogan from Port would be good but now that Primus seems to be finished I'm sure they'll hang on to him. We need someone like Hudson from Adelaide to emerge from somewhere.

Jolly has been a good pickup and its worked brilliantly this year with he and Ball in tandem, but i'm worried about him doing it by himself. Their double teaming was largely responsible, for example, for our win over the West Coast at the SCG.

and by the way, i've made a pact with the devil. I agreed that Australia could lose the Ashes as long as the Swans won a premiership. So far, the Prince of Darkness has delivered on one of his promises, and i'm waiting on the second.

[timbo]

It seemed that he wanted to annouce his retirement to spur on a victory.

Maybe Maxfield could retire today and spur on the boys.

[Sanecow]

Maybe Maxfield could retire today and spur on the boys.

Does anybody remember the Cresswell announcement?

demand that Ball re-consider his decision to retire

I would love for Ball to stay on but it's quite selfish.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Re: jason the stockbroker - don't retire!

Originally posted by lachlanc
We need someone like Hudson from Adelaide to emerge from somewhere.

His name is Earl Shaw, and he's from the blue mountains and as of this moment he is the second best tap ruckman on the Swans list, behind big Jason.
You really should catch a ressies/pre-season game every now and then.

[swanzotope]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Does anybody remember the Cresswell announcement?

yes "do it for cressa boys"

6 goals later the siren goes.


not the smartest thing to say from roosy =)

[Sid]

Jolly and Doyle can all ruck. Goodes can do some as well around the ground. Dont forget Eriksen, im sure we're not keeping him for no reason.

[Jeffers1984]

I really don't fancy Doyle in the ruck anymore. Too injury prone for me to trust his body there. Therefore i would like to see him planted at FF to allow Mickey O to the FP (he seems to get most of his goals there, but can't nail em in front..go figure) and have Schneider roaming around Doyle's feet. Plus Doyley is a pretty sound set shot at goal and has had good success when played there for a long period of time (e.g. kicking 4 against Richmond in 2002).

Shaw is the one to back up Big Joll next year

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
I really don't fancy Doyle in the ruck anymore. Too injury prone for me to trust his body there. Therefore i would like to see him planted at FF

An interesting idea. I hadn't really considered him anywhere but the ruck, but it would be a shame to break him totally (which seems to be inevitable) if there is an alternative role.

[lachlanc]

agree with these thoughts re. Doyle. When I doubted his ability to make up for the loss of Ball I was also thinking of him in a forward role, where he would obviously do some rucking too. his most recent best form, before he did his knee this time, showed that he has talent as a forward. also agree re. Mickey O in the forward pocket. With Barry at CHF the structure is looking good.

i've never heard of this shaw, but am reassured by comments from other posters. living in the bush, one only gets to see them on the teev which is frustrating but better than nothing.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
Therefore i would like to see him planted at FF

Yep - said this one before (makes someone "icky" IIRC) - but I think it would be a very effective option. This is essentially what Hawthorn plan to do with Everitt, 'Dogs with Darcy and WC with Gardiner.

[Schneiderman]

I have this feeling that Ball retiring has as much to do with his own desire to move on, as it has to do with the club needing to clear the list to make way for some Rookie promotions. If he has been feeling sore and ready to give it up, it is good to see him retire and give someone like Shaw an opportunity.

I will be very sad to see him go, and he has been a phenomenal pick-up for the club considering what we have achieved with him. I hope he stays on as a ruck coach.

Nevertheless, I think our ruck stocks are in good shape, and if the current youngsters come good then they will be in very good shape.

[hammo]

I am sure if Ball wanted to play on then the club would accomodate him.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by hammo
I am sure if Ball wanted to play on then the club would accomodate him.

Yes but they would double check with him that he was 100% certain he could last out the year, and the passion was as fierce as ever.

[Sanecow]

He seemed pretty pumped at the end of the game last week.

[TheHood]

The irony with Doyley is that most of his injuries haven't occured in the ruck, but prancing around the forward line!