Craig Bird

[i'm-uninformed2]

I think that might be fair, but I'd actually add to it he is the one I am most excited about- given note just his youth and experience but also the role he is playing. His work in close is phenomenal, Kirk is a clearance machine but his skills let him down at times and a lot of his clearances are simply "getting it out of the congestion",Jude can get to the bottom of the pack alright but does that just by, well, getting to the bottom of the pack and rarely gets it out neatly (maybe a quick slam on the boot), Ablett just throws it on his boot without looking up (he seems to do that frequently when he has lots of time anyway so that might just be a crazy quirk?)... Bird CONSISTENTLY keeps his feet, finds room in packs and gets out quality disposals to a guy THAT ISN'T JUST THE GUY STANDING NEXT TO HIM WHO WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TACKLED.

He didn't play well yesterday, he played well the week before. At some point he'll probably have a run in the magoos.

I find myself in agreement with he/she-man

Think about it this way - when did we last debate the merits of an 18yo playing regular seniors, one who has played well on occasions, showed he will get considerably better, and the only question on him at this stage is whether he's advanced enough to play constantly in the middle?

It's all there with this bloke and for mine, he ain't going to learn anything playing 2s so short of a sharp drop in form and confidence, leave him in the seniors to get accustomed to the pace of it all.

[swansrule100]

he wasnt bad yesterday only played about 43% of the game, so cant expect much from that, i imagine he will be one who drops back soon enough, but looking the way some players have kicked on like mcveigh, moore and even jack, you have to be excited about the future of bird

[Robbo]

He played 57 minutes, give him a break.

[Nico]

I will not again question the recruiting and development of the current Swans football department.

They seem to have the right formula that both develops and retains young footballers.

Did I see Peter Faulks as one of the best in the 2's today. I think he was as good as written off by most observers agaes ago. Are we seeing an heir apparent to full back emerging here.

White has a taste, Grundy is back, Brennan continues to be best in the 2's, Smith is waiting in the wings and Currie is starting to show his wares.

[BSA5]

Just on Bird, does anybody else think he might be carrying a bit of a niggle? Given he spent so little time on the ground, and seemed very tentative, probably the most tentative he's been since the first couple of rounds, I thought maybe he might be a bit restricted. He did come off a couple of times with injury concerns against the Bombers, so it would sort of make sense.

[smasher]

Bird has the knack of finding space away from the packs and can deliver well when he does get it.
The guy is young and still learning the game.He has alot of work to do but I believe that if he perservers,as Moore did,he will become a valuable player.
I felt sorry for the kid before he even played in the one's.The hype surrounding him was unjustified and people on these boards were expecting great things.Maybe giving him the famous number 14 hasn't helped him.
All the boy needs is time.IMO.

[Triple B]

I will not again question the recruiting and development of the current Swans football department.

Good on you Nico.

For too long posters here have been giving the football dept a going over for not developing the youngsters and giving them a go. Regular reserves watchers have, in the main, all been behind the Swans policy because it has been obvious that the youngsters were not ready and risked being crucified if thrown in too early.

Now those same posters who have bagged the way the youngsters have been treated are jumping on bandwagons left, right and centre, but I haven't seen any 'I was wrong, the Swans knew better than me about the development of the young players'.

Until now. Well done.

Just on Bird, does anybody else think he might be carrying a bit of a niggle? Given he spent so little time on the ground, and seemed very tentative, probably the most tentative he's been since the first couple of rounds, I thought maybe he might be a bit restricted. He did come off a couple of times with injury concerns against the Bombers, so it would sort of make sense.

I doubt it very much.

I'd be amazed if Bird has been allowed to play with an injury. He is progressing along nicely, but he is not so vital to our team that we should gamble him with an injury. I'm happy to see him stay in the seniors until somebody just demands to be brought up to the 1's, but if he is injured, he should definately be given a rest.

[pigatfullfoward]

Given that Bird is 19 & Moore is 22 i think that he is doing a great job, another 3 years playing & i'm sure he will be as good as Moore!
i think its good to compare them while keeping the age gap in mind

[Ludwig]

I thought that Bird was tagging Rodan for most of the game, and Rodan had the his worst game or the year. If so, then you would think that Bird did a pretty good job by negating a more experienced and damaging player.

Perhaps Bird's time on ground was dictated by this match-up.

I didn't go the game, so would be interested to know if this was the case from someone who did.

[BSA5]

Good on you Nico.
I doubt it very much.

I'd be amazed if Bird has been allowed to play with an injury. He is progressing along nicely, but he is not so vital to our team that we should gamble him with an injury. I'm happy to see him stay in the seniors until somebody just demands to be brought up to the 1's, but if he is injured, he should definately be given a rest.

Sorry, I probably didn't phrase that very well; what I meat was that perhaps the niggle started bothering him again during the game. In other words, he was fine going into the game, but maybe got a bump in the first quarter or something. I don't know, I was thinking out loud really. It just seems odd that he played so little time, even for a youngster.

[BSA5]

I thought that Bird was tagging Rodan for most of the game, and Rodan had the his worst game or the year. If so, then you would think that Bird did a pretty good job by negating a more experienced and damaging player.

Perhaps Bird's time on ground was dictated by this match-up.

I didn't go the game, so would be interested to know if this was the case from someone who did.

That's what I thought as well, though even watching the replay I couldn't be sure. Rodan definitely had other opponents at certain times of the game, but whenever I saw Bird he looked to be trailing Rodan, so yeah.

[sfan]

Bird is still learning the game and at 18 needs 2-3 pre seasons to get the hard body and leg speed to become a top line player. I think he looks a little heavy in the legs and will fine down a little has he gets older and harder.

He will be a good player and is probably not in our best 22 if all players were available. He struggles on the very quick hard running players and is better on the slower in and under players. It depends on the role the coach wants him to play.

He will come in and out of the side as most young players are up and down and 22 games is a long season for first year 18 year olds.

[connolly]

Bird has the knack of finding space away from the packs and can deliver well when he does get it.
The guy is young and still learning the game.He has alot of work to do but I believe that if he perservers,as Moore did,he will become a valuable player.
I felt sorry for the kid before he even played in the one's.The hype surrounding him was unjustified and people on these boards were expecting great things.Maybe giving him the famous number 14 hasn't helped him.
All the boy needs is time.IMO.

He seems to have great periperhal vision. Some players don't - e.g Kosi, Benny Mathews

[Donners]

He played 57 minutes, give him a break.

That's precisely the point. If a player isn't getting much game time and aren't just coming back from injury, they clearly are not seen as particularly important to the side at this point. Why not give him a decent run in Canberra?

[ScottH]

I think he is getting far more valuable experience where he is, rather than in the 2's

He's averaging more than 1/2 a game per game.