Jolly

[goswannie14]

Mea culpa - I amongst others here bagged Jolly for his first up effort. I think he's bounced back tremendously.

There was a stat on Saturday's telecast that suggested he's #2 for hit-outs in the competition and he had another excellent night last week. There is no question he's our #1 ruckman atm & he deserves some credit for bouncing back.

Yes, I didn't bag him on here, but I did at the Richmond game. All of us have egg on our faces.

[swantastic]

Yes, I didn't bag him on here, but I did at the Richmond game. All of us have egg on our faces.

Speak for your self.

[Zlatorog]

Speak for your self.

True, to some of us an omelet has landed on our faces.

[NMWBloods]

I think near the top in hitouts when you are the Sydney ruckman isn't really that meaningful.

Having a proper second ruckmen who is playing reasonably well, or at least giving Jolly a decent break, is a major factor in how well Jolly performs.

[originalswan]

I have a feeling that Jolly is just plain not very good. I know he had a great first game two years ago and has kicked a couple of big goals from fifty (even then they were awkward kicks)...but there are a whole lot of things WRONG with his game.

(1) Probably the worst player in the league below his knees...simply cannot pick up the ball, turns like the queen mary, fumbles nearly all the time.

(2) Over and over and over again the opposition ruckman gets a possession when the tap is indecisive and the ball bobbles back toward the ruckmen. he is ALWAYS beaten in this instance....it looks like luck a lot of the time but it can't be because it never "luckily" bounces back into Jolly's arms.

(3) His kicking for goal is poor, even for a Ruckman

(4) he gives away an enormous amount of free kicks in the ruck and also in marling contests.

(5) He simply doesn't get enough possessions, which means that he is not presenting appropriately, either from lack of fitness, lack of guts (to run hard) lack of footy nouse (to get to the right spots) lack of guts (to run to position instead of traling the other ruckman araound

(6) his defensive work is very poor, notwithstanding that he has taken some very good pack marks on the goal line. his opponent gets away from him or outpositions him in one on ones way too often

(7) Tap work is barely average at best. Doesn't win a great deal of hit.-outs and when he does they are very rarely to advantage. he makes poor choices regarding his taps...ie a poor bounce goes toward our goal and down the line...because of the poor bounce there are no clear options for a tap down but momentum of the ruckmen is towards our goal. Jolly reaches the ball first but instead of smacshing it forward he tries to finesse it to no one and the ball (inevitably) goes out near where the other throw in was. This really infuriates me!

(8) Arrogance. Big call here, but I think Darren rates himself waaaaay above his output. Evidence? Well - taking the above into account he seems to be very comfortable with himself...and then he does things like getting a free reversed...12 point turnaround. worse when he is losing a ruck contest he takes it so badly that he infringes and in consequence gives them free use of the ball when all we would have lost was a (probably) inconsequential tap out. when will thes stupid ruckmen understand that a lost hit-out doesn't cost much, but a lost free kick is ENORMOUS.

I would bring Doyle back IMMEDIATELY and drop Jolly until he starts to actually receive, not fumble, kick straight, be accountable.

* Actually he is 2nd in the League for Hit Outs.

* Did you watch the Adelaide game? Actually kicked quite straight for two goals.

I'd expect him to have a much better game against Cox (than last years Grand Final) next time around, then we can cast judgement.

He's more than held his own this year, except for perhaps the first game against the Eagles (once again).

[goswannie14]

* Actually he is 2nd in the League for Hit Outs.

* Did you watch the Adelaide game? Actually kicked quite straight for two goals.

I'd expect him to have a much better game against Cox (than last years Grand Final) next time around, then we can cast judgement.

He's more than held his own this year, except for perhaps the first game against the Eagles (once again).

Which is when this thread was started. So it would have been hard for the original poster to have watched the Adelaide game which was yet to be played.

[NMWBloods]

* Did you watch the Adelaide game?

Did you see the date of the post you're quoting...?

[sharp9]

Yes great to see he has lifted...I think Roosey said the same - something about finally showing some leadership. The hitout stat is not completely misleading in that at least getting the ball moving forward is good.

Last year he was rated around the 25th ruckman in the comp so it is good to see.

[ScottH]

Seems to be improving by the week, with his work around the ground.
5 goals after 6 rounds. (2 in 2006 and 10 in 2005).
Taking some great marks in attack and in defence.

[goswannie14]

Seems to be improving by the week, with his work around the ground.
5 goals after 6 rounds. (2 in 2006 and 10 in 2005).
Taking some great marks in attack and in defence.

His mark and goal last night were good...especially the mark!