Craig Bird

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  • BSA5
    Senior Player
    • Feb 2008
    • 2522

    #76
    Does anybody else think Bird has spent a great deal of the preseason in the gym slimming down and getting fitter? At the Port game, I was struck by how lean he looked, and it seemed to me that he was moving with a lot more speed, agility and freedom in general play (compared to last year, when he had a tendency to plod along a bit on occasion). I was very excited to see this, as I thought it might take him a couple of preseasons to get to that point.

    Thoughts? What are we all expecting of Birdy this season?
    Officially on the Reid and Sumner bandwagon!

    Comment

    • dimelb
      pr. dim-melb; m not f
      • Jun 2003
      • 6889

      #77
      Originally posted by BSA5
      Does anybody else think Bird has spent a great deal of the preseason in the gym slimming down and getting fitter? At the Port game, I was struck by how lean he looked, and it seemed to me that he was moving with a lot more speed, agility and freedom in general play (compared to last year, when he had a tendency to plod along a bit on occasion). I was very excited to see this, as I thought it might take him a couple of preseasons to get to that point.

      Thoughts? What are we all expecting of Birdy this season?
      If he keeps doing what he did last weekend for all his game time, I will be delighted. If he improves on that he will raise the level of superstition about the number he wears. Good hands and I suspect great eyes, can also take a knock.
      He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

      Comment

      • jono2707
        Goes up to 11
        • Oct 2007
        • 3326

        #78
        Originally posted by BSA5
        Does anybody else think Bird has spent a great deal of the preseason in the gym slimming down and getting fitter? At the Port game, I was struck by how lean he looked, and it seemed to me that he was moving with a lot more speed, agility and freedom in general play (compared to last year, when he had a tendency to plod along a bit on occasion). I was very excited to see this, as I thought it might take him a couple of preseasons to get to that point.

        Thoughts? What are we all expecting of Birdy this season?
        I thought he looked great on Sunday (one of the few highlights). Great hands and seemed to have plenty of time. He'll never be the quickest going around but geez he looked good with the ball in hand on Sunday - hopefully 2009 will be a big year for him, and will show that it was worthwhile developing him in 2008.

        Comment

        • ShockOfHair
          One Man Out
          • Dec 2007
          • 3668

          #79
          Originally posted by jono2707
          I thought he looked great on Sunday (one of the few highlights). Great hands and seemed to have plenty of time. He'll never be the quickest going around but geez he looked good with the ball in hand on Sunday - hopefully 2009 will be a big year for him, and will show that it was worthwhile developing him in 2008.
          He always has plenty of time. I reckon that's why he missed out on a Rising Star nomination last year -- he just didn't look like a guy in his first year. He's a gun.
          The man who laughs has not yet heard the terrible news

          Comment

          • Plugger46
            Senior Player
            • Apr 2003
            • 3674

            #80
            Gun. Not flashy but is going to get the job done consistently.
            Bloods

            "Lockett is the best of all time" - Robert Harvey, Darrel Baldock, Nathan Burke, Kevin Bartlett, Bob Skilton

            Comment

            • Mr Magoo
              Senior Player
              • May 2008
              • 1255

              #81
              If by flashy you mean lighting quick , I agree but otherwise if you mean skilful then I disagree.

              Not flashy is how I would describe Ben matthews not craig bird. They guy oozes class. Jarred McVeigh looked similar in his first season but nowhere near as level headed as this guy. Hopefully he doesnt suffer from the same second/third year syndrome that seemed to drag mcveigh down.

              Comment

              • dread and might
                Back, strapped and intact
                • Apr 2004
                • 949

                #82
                Originally posted by Mr Magoo
                If. Hopefully he doesnt suffer from the same second/third year syndrome that seemed to drag mcveigh down.
                Also known as the "getting turned into a tagger" syndrome.
                I wish my weed was EMO so it would cut itself

                Comment

                • Mr Magoo
                  Senior Player
                  • May 2008
                  • 1255

                  #83
                  Originally posted by dread and might
                  Also known as the "getting turned into a tagger" syndrome.
                  Totally agree. You know not everyone needs to learn by tagging. Dont think judd or kerr ever filled that role.

                  Comment

                  • Plugger46
                    Senior Player
                    • Apr 2003
                    • 3674

                    #84
                    Originally posted by Mr Magoo
                    If by flashy you mean lighting quick , I agree but otherwise if you mean skilful then I disagree.

                    Not flashy is how I would describe Ben matthews not craig bird. They guy oozes class. Jarred McVeigh looked similar in his first season but nowhere near as level headed as this guy. Hopefully he doesnt suffer from the same second/third year syndrome that seemed to drag mcveigh down.
                    Yeah, pretty much what I meant.

                    By not being flashy - I meant that I'm not expecting him to kick mercurial goals and that sort of thing.
                    Bloods

                    "Lockett is the best of all time" - Robert Harvey, Darrel Baldock, Nathan Burke, Kevin Bartlett, Bob Skilton

                    Comment

                    • Pace To Burn
                      On the Rookie List
                      • Jul 2007
                      • 748

                      #85
                      Originally posted by Mr Magoo
                      If by flashy you mean lighting quick , I agree but otherwise if you mean skilful then I disagree.

                      Not flashy is how I would describe Ben matthews not craig bird. They guy oozes class. Jarred McVeigh looked similar in his first season but nowhere near as level headed as this guy. Hopefully he doesnt suffer from the same second/third year syndrome that seemed to drag mcveigh down.
                      Is very level headed and down to earth. Dont think hell have a problem at all, if you talk too him you would think hes just a neville no-one. Hes a great kid and is very hard on himself if he doesnt play well. Nearly as hard to please as his old man
                      The edge is not the limit, It's just the starting point...

                      Comment

                      • Nico
                        Veterans List
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 11329

                        #86
                        Originally posted by Plugger46
                        Yeah, pretty much what I meant.

                        By not being flashy - I meant that I'm not expecting him to kick mercurial goals and that sort of thing.

                        Mercuri used to kick mercurial goals.
                        http://www.nostalgiamusic.co.uk/secu...res/srh806.jpg

                        Comment

                        • stellation
                          scott names the planets
                          • Sep 2003
                          • 9718

                          #87
                          I honestly believe that any a massive chunk of the chance for immediate future success of the Sydney Swans sits with Craig Bird. His ability in close is relatively uncommon, he has 1.2 times the time of the other young elite midfielders.
                          I knew him as a gentle young man, I cannot say for sure the reasons for his decline
                          We watched him fade before our very eyes, and years before his time

                          Comment

                          • Legs Akimbo
                            Grand Poobah
                            • Apr 2005
                            • 2809

                            #88
                            Originally posted by stellation
                            I honestly believe that any a massive chunk of the chance for immediate future success of the Sydney Swans sits with Craig Bird. His ability in close is relatively uncommon, he has 1.2 times the time of the other young elite midfielders.
                            Back off, he's my love child. I was here first.

                            He had observed that people who did lie were, on the whole, more resourceful and ambitious and successful than people who did not lie.

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