Buchanan escaping criticism..

[dunlop]

It's not so much his form, or his willingness to put his head into oncoming traffic.
Basically it is this - When near goal, he does not do the team thing. Over the last 2-3 months, I have observed the following:

- Shots from ridiculous angles, when he could square it up to a better player.
- Shots that are obviously outside of his range falling well short. (This occured late in the game against the Dees when he took a mark and ignored a few fairly decent leads and had a set shot from outside the arc, barely reaching the square).
- Always standing with his arms in the air screaming for it inside 50 instead of leading or creating space for other forwards to lead into.
- Demanding the footy when in a worse position.
- When he does lead, leading to the pockets.

You may disagree, but I have been watchly closely over the last few months and it is not a one off.
He was a great on ball player in our grand final years. But he is not a good small forward.

[Bear]

It's not so much his form, or his willingness to put his head into oncoming traffic.
Basically it is this - When near goal, he does not do the team thing. Over the last 2-3 months, I have observed the following:

- Shots from ridiculous angles, when he could square it up to a better player.
- Shots that are obviously outside of his range falling well short. (This occured late in the game against the Dees when he took a mark and ignored a few fairly decent leads and had a set shot from outside the arc, barely reaching the square).
- Always standing with his arms in the air screaming for it inside 50 instead of leading or creating space for other forwards to lead into.
- Demanding the footy when in a worse position.
- When he does lead, leading to the pockets.

You may disagree, but I have been watchly closely over the last few months and it is not a one off.
He was a great on ball player in our grand final years. But he is not a good small forward.

Agreed he is one of the players under pressure.
Was dropped a couple of years ago for reasons like those above,
and was up for trade last year.
Definitely a question mark over him.

[Wardy]

Perhaps he's a bit worried that fatherhood is pending - his girlfriend is due to have a littlin any day now - so he should be praised at the very least that the birth isnt during the finals month so as its not a distraction unlike another player and his spouse in 2006 (not naming names )! the baby bonus goes up to $5000 today too - so he should be happy as.

[Triple B]

Perhaps he's a bit worried that fatherhood is pending - his girlfriend is due to have a littlin any day now - so he should be praised at the very least that the birth isnt during the finals month so as its not a distraction unlike another player and his spouse in 2006 (not naming names )! the baby bonus goes up to $5000 today too - so he should be happy as.

Jolly good.

[ScottH]

Jolly good.

That deserves a Guffaw!!

[Wardy]

That deserves a Guffaw!!

and an "oh my sides"

[Lucky Knickers]

Are we missing him?

[BSA5]

Are we missing him?

We've been missing him, at his best, all year. But answering your question as it was intended, meh, maybe a little. Probably could have done with him against the Dogs, but it's hard to tell. As far as I'm concerned, Veszpremi should be getting a game ahead of him at least.

[DST]

It's not so much his form, or his willingness to put his head into oncoming traffic.
Basically it is this - When near goal, he does not do the team thing. Over the last 2-3 months, I have observed the following:

- Shots from ridiculous angles, when he could square it up to a better player.
- Shots that are obviously outside of his range falling well short. (This occured late in the game against the Dees when he took a mark and ignored a few fairly decent leads and had a set shot from outside the arc, barely reaching the square).
- Always standing with his arms in the air screaming for it inside 50 instead of leading or creating space for other forwards to lead into.
- Demanding the footy when in a worse position.
- When he does lead, leading to the pockets.

You may disagree, but I have been watchly closely over the last few months and it is not a one off.
He was a great on ball player in our grand final years. But he is not a good small forward.

Maybe without Scheinder and Davis in the team that was his instructions, to be more selfish, take more shots in order to kick more goals.

While his form was not outstanding, he didn't seem to be under any extreme pressure to retain his spot which points to the match committee being relatively happy with how he was going about playing his football.

Having lived with a couple of recent ex-players (100 and 250 games respectively) I would suggest many on this site would be shocked as to how much of actually what happens on the field is pre determined in terms of instructions on how to play your own game and what is needed on your opponent.

DST

[Primmy]

I am a little ashamed to admit that I haven't actually noticed his absence. Ooowhaa! Umm, oh dear.

However, he is a goodun when he is a goodun. And can turn on a shocker as well. Like most of them, except Kirky.

[Danzar]

Every time he marks inside 50, he always (and I mean always, unless he's right in front) he tries to improve his angle. Gets caught by the ump every time. Nothing wrong with doing what you can to maximise your scoring chances, but it does give an insight into where his head is at - selfish is not far off the mark.

[Donners]

Perhaps with the demise of Schneider and Davis, he's trying to be one of the VERY few players in Sydney's team to offer any spark and freakishness with his style.

[dimelb]

He was a great on ball player in our grand final years. But he is not a good small forward.

That's how I see Buchanan too - not a particularly good kick, but good at the in-and-under. I'd be happier seeing him do more of it.

[ShockOfHair]

Having lived with a couple of recent ex-players (100 and 250 games respectively) I would suggest many on this site would be shocked as to how much of actually what happens on the field is pre determined in terms of instructions on how to play your own game and what is needed on your opponent.

DST

I hope that "predetermined" bit doesn't include kicking for goal.

[connolly]

Perhaps with the demise of Schneider and Davis, he's trying to be one of the VERY few players in Sydney's team to offer any spark and freakishness with his style.

One self indulgent player gone, another selfish player going out the door and just what we need - a selfish player emerges. Buchanon will go the same way as the other two.