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Yes, an unusually positive contribution from Barry. I would like to see that too.
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All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)
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I think the Swans are trying everything they can to do that, including defending him in public despite his poor performances.
I don't know why Tippo hasn't recaptured his form of last year, but think he has massive confidence issues. The commentary out there including this forum wouldn't help.
Look at Alex Fasolo; his poor form is wrapped up in depression. It wouldn't shock me if Tippett was similar.
It's in everyone's best interest for him to play better in the second half of the year, even if the Swans trade him.
We don't yet have an obvious replacement as a ruck / fwd or possible solo ruck although Cameron might have potential if his ruck work improves. Not sure about Naismith's long-term potential as a forward.Comment
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Thats placing a lot of eggs in the Cameron basket. However, even if it does come off, a 2 year horizon fits in nicely with Tippetts contract and age. As Tippett transitions off being the forward/ruck, Cameron comes on.
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My opinion of Tippett is he doesnt play well if carrying an injury. Therefore I would manage him better. I always go back to the Clark Keating model who was Brisbanes ruck during the 3-peat, but seemed like he only ever played in finals, not home and away.
We have a lot of ruck options, cant we manage Tippet to play say 12 or 13 games through the H&A, with an aim to be firing come finals.Comment
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I see unwanted irony in this statement...
In the 2 grandfinals Tippett has played in, he hasn't fired a shot.
Last year particularly was really poor, given who he was up against, both in the ruck and up forward.
He just needed to give us a good game, not a great game, and the result may well have been different.
He's got to go.Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect... MTComment
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I'm not necessarily advocating that he goes, but I strongly disagree with this comment. The competition is currently moving away from traditional ruckman and big lumbering forwards (he's both!).
I think we'd need to adapt to his absence but it would give us a faster more mobile forward unitComment
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I dont agree with that. GWS have the biggest lumbering traditional ruckman in the game, and they are 1st. The usually also play Lobb as the lumbering forward/second ruck.
Richmond's move up the ladder is partly because they have a big lumbering ruckman who we deemed too slow and lumbering for our needs.
Freo are half the side they usually are when Sandilands is out.Comment
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Daily Telegraph Mid-season Report on the Swans (Neil Cordy and Mark Robinson) among other things remarked that when Tippo is playing well we are a much better team. They referred to his form at the beginning of last season being important to our successes then and suggested that his ability to impact games, or not, is going to affect how well we finish out this season. The big question is, can he fire up? He is only 30 (I think). Has he reached his peak and is beginning the downward slide, the accumulative effect of injuries taking its toll, or has he got more to give? Hopefully the latter.
They did comment on the current apparent lack of intensity in his game, along the same lines as the unflattering comment by some on here that he looks like Tarzan and is playing like Jane. So nothing new there.
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And Bulldogs won last year without a ruckman so I'm not sure how that sits with your argument
In any case Mumford is a superior ruckman than Tippet by some margin and Lobb is a better forward (contested mark, more mobile) than him.
As for Richmond, Nankervis has been good (he's also better than Tippet) but he's hardly the major reason they are sitting in the eight (i.e. Martin has stepped up to superstar level, unearthed some small forwards, 2nd tier players finally giving their guns the support they need)
I'm not saying a good ruckman has no value, as I think they do, but the game has evolved and they are no longer essential to successComment
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Disagree that Nank is better than Tippett. In any way. Whatsoever.
Disagree that Tippett is a lumbering anything. For a 200+cm 100+kg man he's quick off the mark on a lead and agile in the air.
For a 100+kg man, he is - IMO - manhandled a little too easily.
A good ruckman is handy to a white collar midfield as it can give more predictability to gain centre clearances.
But for me Tipp's value is that - as a forward - his presence frees up Buddy (Tipp demands a strong tall defender - one less for Bud to contend with) and his aerial contests creates crumbling opportunities for our small forwards. Barring (the potentially inevitable) injuries Tipp should be able to fulfil these roles beyond next year (or until either Naismith or Cameron develop into genuine (ie not premature) contenders for Tipp's position.Comment
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Lack of a ruckman wasnt the bulldogs secret to success. It was a good run, bit of luck, and home finals. If Callam Ward had played out the game they wouldnt have got past the prelim.
Tippett is greater than Lobb at the moment. Lobb has potential, but so did Tippett early in his career.Comment
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The man has been with us for 5yrs.....please stop talking about the good half of season he has had, been in the top 2 pay bracket every year on the list and plays half his time next to the forward who demands more attention than anyone, he has a dream job.
Also highlights why Reid isn't worth north of $600K............If he cant dominated as a 3rd option behind those 2 when can he ?......Im 5ft 9 80kg and id play well as a 3rd option in that fwd lineComment
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I think RWO's problem is more to do with Tippets pay packet than his ability. If he was on the same as Reid, we'd be more happy with him.
Its hardly Tippets fault we're paying him a fortune. Who wouldnt accept a lazy mill per year. Blame the club for paying it.Comment
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