Now BEVAN is the real liability

[smasher]

Contested pressuring footy may have won us a flag but there are many other teams capable of adapting to play that same brand of footy.Unfortunately we do not seem to have a plan B and that has caught up with us a bit this year.

[sharp9]

Contested pressuring football actually won us a premiership so we should probably now revert to a game plan that is obsolete by about 15 years.

9 Goals in a quarter .... 38 possessions by an unmatch fit player....we ARE NOT playing, even remotely, some form of pressure football. We are playing second to the ball reactionary, catch up no good football.

[NMWBloods]

At least use the comment in context. Said he was very courageous but sometimes "reckless" in his attack on the ball. The comment while critical was also complementary.

Yes, they were comments about his recklessness and decision making. No one questions Bevan's courage.

[NMWBloods]

Contested pressuring football actually won us a premiership so we should probably now revert to a game plan that is obsolete by about 15 years.

The new game plan amongst some successful clubs has now switched to longer play - kick it long or run with it more.

[barry]

You play the game plan that suits your teams physical attributes.

This kick it long and run is ok when you've got a team of 23 year olds, and Buddy Franklin jumping around like a jack rabbit up forward.

Our game plan is not out of date, we just have lost our skill level compared to last year. Need some players back, and to let loose the shackles a bit.

[mcs]

our game plan might be out of date, but we still have the team to make it work. BUT you have to have discipline, especially in midfield and that has been sadly lacking this year. Too many players have been unsure of their roles and don't seem to have a clear enough idea of what they are suppose to be trying to achieve.

I don't think Bevan has been as bad as many think, but the last few weeks he has been pretty average as well and Im not sure he fits into a full strength sydney team at the moment.

[connolly]

our game plan might be out of date, but we still have the team to make it work. BUT you have to have discipline, especially in midfield and that has been sadly lacking this year. Too many players have been unsure of their roles and don't seem to have a clear enough idea of what they are suppose to be trying to achieve.

I don't think Bevan has been as bad as many think, but the last few weeks he has been pretty average as well and Im not sure he fits into a full strength sydney team at the moment.

Thought he played very well against Freo. Including a memorable run, sidestep and fifty metre kick to a leading forward in the second half(?).

AFLPA Best First Year Player Award 2004
Top Five

Aaron Davey 303
Paul Bevan 66
Brett Ebert 47
Adam Cooney 34
Matthew Ball 26

Must have and does have real ability. To suggest that he wouldn't get a game at Carlton as some have done here is absurd and insulting to the kid.

[connolly]

I have been bagging this bloke for years but have been howled down many a time by the more knowledgeable people on this site as being too harsh, and those that said he had the goods and it would eventually show up. He has never had the skills or knowhow to be an AFL player.

I live in hope that someone one day might say "you were right Nico".

I rest my case your honours.

You are wrong. Against the Eagles his stats were impressive - 8 kicks, 9 handballs, (17 disposals for a defender for FFS) 6 marks, 4 tackles. On the debit side he had two clangers ( poor option to Dempster and attempted mark with the bonce). Had 2 free kicks against, one which was and one which wasn't. Yo say you have been bagging him for years - did that include 2004 when his peers rated him the second best first year player in the comp. Or did you climb off the bandwagon after he got injured?

[NMWBloods]

Why is 6 marks impressive?

17 disposals for a defender is nothing much these days - many of those are picked up from chipping the ball around (same with the marks).

[timthefish]

Against the Eagles his stats were impressive - 8 kicks, 9 handballs, (17 disposals for a defender for FFS) 6 marks, 4 tackles.

yet, strangely, he was crap...

[connolly]

Why is 6 marks impressive?

17 disposals for a defender is nothing much these days - many of those are picked up from chipping the ball around (same with the marks).

Most of his possessions were under pressure. He played a strong game. His stats were more impressive than Grundy, Richards and the same as Craig Bolts. Just who was he chipping it around with?

[connolly]

yet, strangely, he was crap...

Lets not let facts get in the way of a false preconception and perception. Bevo has replaced LRT as the whipping boy, scapegoat and sacrifiicial lamb (multi skilled) on RWO

[Robbo]

Most of his possessions were under pressure. He played a strong game. His stats were more impressive than Grundy, Richards and the same as Craig Bolts. Just who was he chipping it around with?

Which game were you watching?

[connolly]

Which game were you watching?

He had the third highest number of marks - good for a small defender
He had 17 possessions in a defense that was under pressure all night
He had amongst the highest number of tackles
He ran hard and straight at the ball, put his head over the ball - fearless as usual
He played in a defense that lost its co-captain and fullback before half time and was severely undermanned
Just what part of the statement "strong game" isn't justified. Or do you believe he is a soft fringe player who racks up easy posessions by chipping the ball around at the back? He's gone from kamikaze hack to a fringe dweller in one seamless slide. You do know he wears number 42?

[timthefish]

Lets not let facts get in the way of a false preconception and perception.

such as the fact that stats can be misleading. if those marks, possessions and disposals had been of any real worth, they would not have gone unnoticed and the overall impression of his performance would be much more positive.

they weren't, it wasn't and he was crap. particularly under pressure.