Nathan Buckley's anticipated return

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  • top40
    Regular in the Side
    • May 2007
    • 933

    Nathan Buckley's anticipated return

    I've been thinking a lot lately about a Nathan Buckley return against us. Since he played for Williamstown last Saturday (19th August), it is now practically a certainty that he will take the field for the first time this season against us at the MCG in Round 21.

    Swan supporters will obviously draw pessimistic comparisons with the Ben Cousins Round 16 return against us. There is however four fundamental differences between Cousins' comeback against us and Buckley's anticipated comeback.

    First, Buckley is aged 35, Cousin only 29. That six years makes a very big difference

    Second, Cousins was only out for four months. His last game was a practice match in mid March against the Western Bulldogs, where he was best on ground. Until last weekend, (19th August), Buckley hadn't played any game of AFL football for over eleven months now.

    Third, Cousins never was out for any reasons related to physical injuries. All the time he was out, he would been physically fit, having fully utilised his body physically. Witness the incredible state of his body when he returned. He was probably actually physically fitter than any of the other 43 players that played that night. For Buckley, it has been a slow physical return to fitness. He probably only been fully fit for few weeks. If he plays in the midfield, he simply would not have the capacity to take a very large number of possessions even going close to the 39 Cousins took against us.

    Fourth, there are the comparable atmospheres. At Subi the night Cousins came back the ground was full house, with about 97% West Coast Eagles supporters. If Buckley comes back against us, the MCG will be about 2/3rds capacity, with only about 65% of the crowd supporting the Pies.
  • Claret
    Support Staff
    • Sep 2005
    • 1104

    #2
    It's not so much the direct impact he can have on the game that's a concern.

    It's the lift he will no doubt provide to his teamates by just being out there.
    And the man who started it all, the Schneiderman . . . . .

    Comment

    • barry
      Veterans List
      • Jan 2003
      • 8499

      #3
      Fifth, Teammates dont play for Buckley, like they do for cousins.

      Comment

      • reigning premier
        Suspended by the MRP
        • Sep 2006
        • 4335

        #4
        6th.... Benny Mathews will put the saddle on him and he won't get near the ball.....

        Comment

        • satchmopugdog
          Bandicoots ears
          • Apr 2004
          • 3691

          #5
          A delibarate corked thigh is needed so it should be someone tall to make it look accidental as they lift their leg for a contest. Barry needs a rest.
          "The Dog days are over, The Dog days are gone" Florence and the Machine

          Comment

          • top40
            Regular in the Side
            • May 2007
            • 933

            #6
            Perhaps the seventh: the Swans have already successfully resisted a Buckley comeback.

            Remember back in 2005 at Homebush when he ran on the field, and aggressively bumped into Luke Ablett, causing a Collingwood free kick. At the end of the night, Sydney ended up with the four points and Buckley had a fairly quiet game.

            Comment

            • goswannie14
              Leadership Group
              • Sep 2005
              • 11166

              #7
              Originally posted by top40
              Perhaps the seventh: the Swans have already successfully resisted a Buckley comeback.

              Remember back in 2005 at Homebush when he ran on the field, and aggressively bumped into Luke Ablett, causing a Collingwood free kick. At the end of the night, Sydney ended up with the four points and Buckley had a fairly quiet game.
              IIRC he had 30-35 possessions, not what I'd call quiet.
              Does God believe in Atheists?

              Comment

              • ernie koala
                Senior Player
                • May 2007
                • 3251

                #8
                Originally posted by reigning premier
                6th.... Benny Mathews will put the saddle on him and he won't get near the ball.....
                I hope you're not in the coaches box......Mathews..
                He'd get 30+ touches on Mathews with his eyes closed.
                Surely Goodsey is the man to make him accountable and run him off his feet...or Kirky to shut him down if he plays in close.
                Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MT

                Comment

                • Triple B
                  Formerly 'BBB'
                  • Feb 2003
                  • 6999

                  #9
                  Originally posted by ernie koala
                  I hope you're not in the coaches box......Mathews..
                  He'd get 30+ touches on Mathews with his eyes closed.
                  Surely Goodsey is the man to make him accountable and run him off his feet...or Kirky to shut him down if he plays in close.
                  I reckon Mathews is almost a monty to get him, but regardless, I doubt that Buckley will cause us too much damage at this stage of his career considering his time out and he'll be lucky to play more than 65-70% of the game anyway.

                  To put Goodes on Buckley is laughable. Why make Goodes accountable for anybody?

                  Let Collingwood worry about containing Goodes.
                  Driver of the Dan Hannebery bandwagon....all aboard. 4th April 09

                  Comment

                  • ernie koala
                    Senior Player
                    • May 2007
                    • 3251

                    #10
                    Originally posted by BBB
                    I reckon Mathews is almost a monty to get him, but regardless, I doubt that Buckley will cause us too much damage at this stage of his career considering his time out and he'll be lucky to play more than 65-70% of the game anyway.

                    To put Goodes on Buckley is laughable. Why make Goodes accountable for anybody?

                    Let Collingwood worry about containing Goodes.
                    Yeah, it was a terrible ploy against Port, when he played on Cornes..
                    Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MT

                    Comment

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