Dont give up on Tommy Walsh !

[ShockOfHair]

I'm just hoping he gets tried out in defence where our long-term KPP ranks are thin.
In the forward half he's got Reid, Tippett, LRT and Goodes ahead of him.
For a big guy he shows great agility. A lot of young players were rubbish yesterday so I wouldn't mark Walsh too hard.

[Doctor J.]

I imagine a GAA forum somewhere has had someone post the same thread title after watching the weekend's games.

[magic.merkin]

Just don't see him making it as a permanent forward. Backmen perhaps with the odd swing forward.

[R-1]

Patton and Cameron played on the premiership defensive spine. A little more credit is deserved for there effort I think.

Patton is a number 1 draft pick and Cameron would have been top 10 if he wasn't listed as a 17 year old. It's fair enough that Walsh isn't in that bracket.

[BillyRayCypress]

Here's Tommy asking you not to give up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Ax63xZq68

[Melbourne_Blood]

Dont give up on Tommy Walsh !

Patton is a number 1 draft pick and Cameron would have been top 10 if he wasn't listed as a 17 year old. It's fair enough that Walsh isn't in that bracket.

I think your twisting my words around. My point was that Auntie G, IMO, was underselling the efforts of these two 19-20 year olds on the best tall defensive duo in the comp.

[The Big Cat]

I can't work him out. In the hybrid game he just dominates on the lead and overhead. The only difference in these passages of play to aussie rules is the shape of the ball! Maybe the gaelic game has slightly different leading patterns and his Irish team mates know where he's going, or he knows where they are going to kick it. It may be just like Pykie, he needs to learn the running patterns which are virtually instinctive to a kid who has grown up with the game.

[Nico]

I am not sure how anyone can pass judgement on our forward line from Sunday's games. The number of times they received the ball in a manner conduicive to marking could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Most of the passes in Walsh's direction were fell short, to the side or were right on top of his head with a fast marking Jamison on his tail (and Jamison is a very competent close checking defender). Add in the wet conditions and the amount of time our mids and defenders spent fumbling the ball in our backline, and it wasn't a night to be a forward.

I am not overly bullish on Walsh but I am prepared to wait for more than one crap team performance to write him off. He did show steady improvement throughout last season and I think it is clear he really wants to give the AFL his best shot. I am not convinced he is a 'close to the goal square' kind of forward. He's not really quick enough. But he does have excellent endurance, meaning he really needs to be used in a roaming role where he can work his opponent over through sheer hard work, not unlike O'Keefe did before he decided he wanted to be a (Norm Smith medal winning) onballer.

And he took his best opportunity pretty well -that was quite a skiiful snap he converted, given the conditions. He sized up the opportunity very quickly and executed perfectly.

Liz, I can't work out how for his whole career ROK was supposed to be a lead up forward, who made good in the midfield. He was recruited as a midfielder and was captain of Calder Cannons and played centre. It was the club that decided to make him a half forward. When he did play in the midfield at times he played well. I can't for life of me understand why it took them so long to put him permanently in the midfield. Can't compare Walsh remotely with ROK in any form.

[RogueSwan]

...I can't for life of me understand why it took them so long to put him permanently in the midfield. ...

Because he was such a good CHF? His endurance killed off his defender by the 4th quarter and he is a strong mark overhead.

[Wazza]

I am not sure how anyone can pass judgement on our forward line from Sunday's games.
I am not overly bullish on Walsh but I am prepared to wait for more than one crap team performance to write him off.
And he took his best opportunity pretty well -that was quite a skiiful snap he converted, given the conditions. He sized up the opportunity very quickly and executed perfectly.

I dont think too many based their opinions on a NAB game rather on what we have seen of Walsh to date. Sure if you want to mention one nice goal that any half decent forward would kick a dozen times before breaky fine.Tommy has not ripped the NEAFL apart in any game or even looked like he had the potential (any game I saw happy for you to correct me if there was one) nor shown anything todate to suggest he is going to make it IMHO.
I too would like to see him tried in defence he may have a role as third tall defender and may find it easier with the ball coming to him. Given what we have paid him we have to try him in all positions( i know sounds like a bad wedding joke). I just struggle to see where he would fit into this team now and probably the next 2 years - I thought the idea was he would nearly walk into the team within the first 6 - 12 months?

Cheers

waz