Barlow?s best to come up forward

[Robbo]

Too much risk. He is likely to spend at least half of they year in the magoos.

[The Big Cat]

IAs the old timers used to say about Graeme John; "he looks over his shoulder far too much".

Graeme John could perhaps be the best CHF we've had since Smokey Clegg. Haven't had a real one in our time in Sydney unless you count Dermie!

[The Big Cat]

He's tall ... that's something I suppose.

As an old coach once said to me "You can't teach height."

[connolly]

Graeme John could perhaps be the best CHF we've had since Smokey Clegg. Haven't had a real one in our time in Sydney unless you count Dermie!

True but we had two great ones that we let go - Daniher and Carey.

[jono2707]

CHF is a position made pretty much redundant by the small confines of the SCG. One not necessarily long kick from the centre square can get the ball to the full forward quite easily (in theory anyway).

[goswannie14]

CHF is a position made pretty much redundant by the small confines of the SCG. One not necessarily long kick from the centre square can get the ball to the full forward quite easily (in theory anyway).

Or in our case the forward pocket!

[jono2707]

Or in our case the forward pocket!

Thats what I meant by the "in theory" bit...

[dread and might]

Fess up if you were one of the "he's the next Goodes" brigade....

[connolly]

Fess up if you were one of the "he's the next Goodes" brigade....

Early guilty plea Your Honour. But still haven't given up on the kid. I expect a Bevantor type blossoming and blooming this season from the Cheese.

[Plugger46]

Fess up if you were one of the "he's the next Goodes" brigade....

Not guilty.

[BSA5]

Fess up if you were one of the "he's the next Goodes" brigade....

Not me. While I was still excited about his potential, I thought it was all a bit ridiculous and very likely a kiss of death. Unfortunately, I think I may be right, but I haven't given up hope. I've always been a fan of him in the forward line.

[dread and might]

Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting he won't grow into a very useful player, just that people jumped up and down after he played 1 good game.


(Vogels also was one of these)

[Primmy]

Cheese elevated himself from soft camembert to something more like edam. Not fantastic but obviously a work in progress and played a much more team oriented game after only a couple of weeks of practice in this season. Was very disappointed in him previously and i am pleased to be made to eat crackers. looking forward to a good quality parmesan in the future.

[liz]

The Goodes comparisons were started by Andrew Ireland in comments he made before Barlow's debut up in Brisbane. The comparison was that he was as naturally athletic for a similarly tall player.

Barlow does have a fair way to go but the basic football skills are there to suggest he could still become a pretty good player. Of course, it may never all come together, but we should remember that Goodes took several seasons of senior football before he crafted himself into the player he is now. Sure, he had a great debut year, but seasons 2000-2001, and even into 2002, he was an inconsistent forward who didn't always get into the right spot and who tried to do the clever too often, rather than concentrate on the basics. And while my memory isn't good enough for me to remember if he was as soft as Barlow sometimes is, he certainly wasn't the hard running, physically imposing player that he has transformed himself into.

Many of our most important players now took a fair few seasons to emerge as the very good footballers they currently are - Goodes, Hall, O'Keefe, Kirk, McVeigh, Jolly are a handful who spring to mind.

[Primmy]

Always the voice of reason Liz.....