Rate a Season # 14 Craig Bird

[AnnieH]

Rate away ...

[ScottH]

Good and fairly consistent considering it was his first year.

Well done.

5 from me.

[573v30]

7/10

Looks like a promising midfielder in the future. Played almost every game in his debut year (except for Round 11 and the finals). When you look at the stats, it's obvious that Bird hasn't had the same impact as other 1st year players like Palmer and Rioli but that can attributed to the fact he's started on the bench in most games and had limited time on the ground.

His stats and performances are bound to improve next year compared to 2008: averaging 13.7 disposals, 3 marks, 2.2 tackles and 2 inside 50s. I'd expect him to start on the ground on a full-time basis next year and might become a handy on-baller in the future.

[Pace To Burn]

9/10. For a first year player i think he had an outstanding year. To play all but 1 regular season game, when to just get 1 game under his belt would have been seen by most as a good achievement, i think he had a great season. A shame he got injured just before the finals because getting a taste of it would have capped it off. Well done Birdy

[Bleed Red Blood]

He was fantastic.
Great hands and vision are awesome as a foundation, as he gets used to the pace of the game and his fitness improves he will be a very very good player.

[2005]

Rating : 8

Didnt know much about The Finger till I saw him at Launceston and I was convinced then and there that the kid would make it.

Played many more games than I suspected though generally did enough to warrant his spot though which was pleasing to see.
Many supporters gripes can be that some simply dont get enough time on the park though Birdy would of been pretty well satisfied with what he got.

Big pre season though , needs to drop a few kgs I rekon and try and get a bit more leg speed. He belongs , once he believes it as well he can become a real good AFL player and a long term Sydney Swan.

[ugg]

6/10

Saw flashes of what he can do, and to play that many games in his first year will only speed up his development.

[swantastic]

Was pretty good but lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

[CJK]

7 from me - like Jack, as see them as quite the duo going forward.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid style.

/Misses Paul Newman

[mcs]

8 from me. A great 1st season in the top grade and he has all the qualities needed to make it big in the league. Best moment was his freak snap against Collingwood at Telstra in the split round. No hope in hell of kicking it and snuck it through- I was seated right in front of a heap of his family, they were going well and truly nuts.

I really think he will be a special player... cant wait to see how he fares next year!

[reigning premier]

6

Good first season without being outstanding. Probably just a yard or so behind the pace of the game at this stage. Will improve dramatically. This time next year, I'm hoping to give him a 9 or better.

[ShockOfHair]

7.

Lacks a little in pace but seemed to do what he was asked to do every week.

I'm sure he missed out on Rising Star because he doesn't act like a rookie. Plays like he's been there for years, rarely takes a wrong option.

[Nico]

Not many players come into a side in their first season and play as many games as he did and as well as he did. Just on that basis I gave him 8.

I saw a fair bit of Bryce Gibbs in his first season (no.1) and Bird was way above him.

If he improves as you would expect he will be an elite midfielder.

[dread and might]

did more than I expected him to do in his debut year. Will be a gun

[Legs Akimbo]

8. Craig Bird is the real deal. A 'natural footballer' with vision and plenty of time, which is what I really like about him. Great season with a heap of improvement to come.