Round 9 pre-game thread, vs Bombers at SCG, 7:25 PM

[waswan]

Clarke had a patch in 2s getting it consistently 40+ times, has never been given the freedom to chase the ball in the top side.

Coaching staff are obviously marking these players in the positions they want to, as is their job.

Lewy the same, never seen him in the mids in top side

Their are reasons for it

[Roadrunner]

Thats exactly what im saying . How can you say hes not potentially better when he hasnt been given anywhere near the amount of chances RB has had ? Fact is when Bell is in the mids in the 2s he is a star . Maybe hes only made for that level , im not saying he is or isnt . Im saying he deserves the chance and we owe it to him and to ourselves to find out . If he has a few games and shows no ability then fine , at least we will know . But he deserves the chance

Fair enough TB.
Can you name a player, in any AFL team, who was next to useless as a HF and was then moved to the middle and succeeded? If so, then Bell deserves a go as you suggest. If not, then you are being very generous re Bell, who we all like, but consider his best is VFL level.

[Roadrunner]

Ins: Hickey, COR. If Ladhams not fit, Sammy/ Amartey.

Out: McLean, Joey (med sub)

If TB is selecting the team- As above, plus In: Bell to midfield, Out: RB

[TheBloods]

Fair enough TB.
Can you name a player, in any AFL team, who was next to useless as a HF and was then moved to the middle and succeeded? If so, then Bell deserves a go as you suggest. If not, then you are being very generous re Bell, who we all like, but consider his best is VFL level.

Dont have to think back far - CHAD

[stevoswan]

Thats exactly what im saying . How can you say hes not potentially better when he hasnt been given anywhere near the amount of chances RB has had ? Fact is when Bell is in the mids in the 2s he is a star . Maybe hes only made for that level , im not saying he is or isnt . Im saying he deserves the chance and we owe it to him and to ourselves to find out . If he has a few games and shows no ability then fine , at least we will know . But he deserves the chance

I understand what you are getting at but all I'm saying is that he has never shown enough ability in the firsts to be tried in the middle at the highest level. RB has proven he has that ability....at least to those who matter, the coaches and selectors.

It's an experiment they have seemingly already decided that's not even worth trying.....considering Bell has already been given plenty of chances at the highest level in easier to play positions. Your logic seems to be a little off on this one TB.

It's one thing to want someone to succeed but to fight for their case for a certain position at the expense of an incumbent, simply because you have utter disdain for the incumbent in that position is disappointing....and continues to be a little vindictive.

[TheBloods]

I understand what you are getting at but all I'm saying is that he has never shown enough ability in the firsts to be tried in the middle at the highest level. RB has proven he has that ability....at least to those who matter, the coaches and selectors.

It's an experiment they have seemingly already decided that's not even worth trying.....considering Bell has already been given plenty of chances at the highest level in easier to play positions. Your logic seems to be a little off on this one TB.

It's one thing to want someone to succeed but to fight for their case for a certain position at the expense of an incumbent, simply because you have utter disdain for the incumbent in that position is disappointing....and continues to be a little vindictive.

Get over RB . Yes im talking about him but not just him . Hayward at half fwd , Mclean at FF, Melican in defence , Ronke as smalk fwd . These are not very good players we have given chance after chance to in their preferred spots , they seem to take no steps forward to suggest they will be better than what they are , but its fine for them to keep getting chances to improve in those positions while Bell doesn 't get to play in the position he has form in , instead is stuck in the position he has struggled in . How is that fair ?

[Ludwig]

Get over RB . Yes im talking about him but not just him . Hayward at half fwd , Mclean at FF, Melican in defence , Ronke as smalk fwd . These are not very good players we have given chance after chance to in their preferred spots , they seem to take no steps forward to suggest they will be better than what they are , but its fine for them to keep getting chances to improve in those positions while Bell doesn 't get to play in the position he has form in , instead is stuck in the position he has struggled in . How is that fair ?

When Bell got to play with the ressies before he was drafted, he played as a small forward. He is listed by the club as a forward and has generally played forward or on the wing except when we are short of midfielders in the reserves. We usually prefer playing listed players in the midfield in preference to forward so they can get more of the ball. It's not necessarily intended to prepare them to play midfield in the AFL side. Dawson and Lloyd both played mostly on ball in the reserves, and at a very high level too, but rarely got to play on ball in the AFL.

Players are not playing at their own positional preferences, but rather at the behest of the coaches. I doubt if Bell would feel comfortable playing at AFL level in the midfield. He knows that he's not quite up to the task. Roberts, Clarke, Stephens, Taylor and Sheldrick are all getting more time on ball than Bell in the reserves. I think that is more reflective of his ranking as a reserves midfielder. I would love to see Bell play well enough to hold any spot in the senior side. But let's not set the bar higher when he hasn't yet gotten over the low bar.

[Roadrunner]

Dont have to think back far - CHAD

Chad? How many games did he play forward, and showed very little? Please pick a player who basically failed as a forward an then was moved to mids and succeeded- that’s what you are expecting from Bell!

[Roadrunner]

Get over RB . Yes im talking about him but not just him . Hayward at half fwd , Mclean at FF, Melican in defence , Ronke as smalk fwd . These are not very good players we have given chance after chance to in their preferred spots , they seem to take no steps forward to suggest they will be better than what they are , but its fine for them to keep getting chances to improve in those positions while Bell doesn 't get to play in the position he has form in , instead is stuck in the position he has struggled in . How is that fair ?

Can’t agree with you there. Wilbur has played reasonably well this year, though of course he could do more. Don’t count last week as the whole team was down. McLean is a bit lucky if he holds his spot, which I’m sure you will agree is a very difficult one. The Pelican hasn’t played this year so you’re wrong there. As for Ronke, he had a terrible run with injuries and is now picking up a bit of form- he has talent and worth persevering with.

We won’t bother mentioning RB as you would be the only person on planet Earth who would drop him for Bell- it doesn’t make you wrong, only that you might wish to visit Specsavers.????

[COB]

What do you think hes done the whole time hes been on the list ? Was in the neafl team of the year a couple of times playing midfield then thrown in the fwd pocket at senior level !

Another false statement TB. Bell has never been in the NEAFL team of the year nor the VFL one.

[Ludwig]

What do you think hes done the whole time hes been on the list ? Was in the neafl team of the year a couple of times playing midfield then thrown in the fwd pocket at senior level ! Its not on . As soon as everyones favourites like Campbell , JPK aren 't played in their position , everyones sticking up for them but when its someone nobody has time for like Bell there is no acknowledgment or respect from anyone that hes not getting to play in the position he impressed in in the 2s !

You are undermining your credibility by making up your own facts. You are failing to represent things the way they actually are. You can only win an argument with yourself that way.

You're also overdoing this thing about playing a particular position. There's no such thing as a forward pocket anymore. You make it sound like Bell has been anchored someplace between the behind post and the lower level stands.

[joeykanga]

What are you on about . Melican plays FB in reserves then plays FB in seniors . Thats called giving him a chance . Bell plays mids in reserves , excels , then plays fwd pocket in seniors . Its not rewarding him for earning his spot and its setting him up to fail in a way . Others get their preferred spot every week despite being lousy and get a million chances . Bell would like just 1 !

It's true in a certain way...if you want to compare where did Wicks play in the reserves last week...I know Wicks has played midfield before in reserves but he's been kept in the forwards in reserves. I do think Bell tends to play a lot of midfield when he's not in firsts so maybe he should be up for a chance...
I am Bell's biggest advocate on here..I'd like to see your idea given a go

[stevoswan]

When Bell got to play with the ressies before he was drafted, he played as a small forward. He is listed by the club as a forward and has generally played forward or on the wing except when we are short of midfielders in the reserves. We usually prefer playing listed players in the midfield in preference to forward so they can get more of the ball. It's not necessarily intended to prepare them to play midfield in the AFL side. Dawson and Lloyd both played mostly on ball in the reserves, and at a very high level too, but rarely got to play on ball in the AFL.

Players are not playing at their own positional preferences, but rather at the behest of the coaches. I doubt if Bell would feel comfortable playing at AFL level in the midfield. He knows that he's not quite up to the task. Roberts, Clarke, Stephens, Taylor and Sheldrick are all getting more time on ball than Bell in the reserves. I think that is more reflective of his ranking as a reserves midfielder. I would love to see Bell play well enough to hold any spot in the senior side. But let's not set the bar higher when he hasn't yet gotten over the low bar.

+1

[AB Swannie]

So, to summarise - TheBloods thinks that James Bell should be picked in the midfield over James Rowbottom. No one else agrees. It’s a different episode of the same tv show.

[Roadrunner]

It's true in a certain way...if you want to compare where did Wicks play in the reserves last week...I know Wicks has played midfield before in reserves but he's been kept in the forwards in reserves. I do think Bell tends to play a lot of midfield when he's not in firsts so maybe he should be up for a chance...
I am Bell's biggest advocate on here..I'd like to see your idea given a go

Bell may play midfield in the ressies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is entitled to play in this position in the firsts. As you are one of his biggest advocates, please tell us how you could fit him in- who would you leave out to give him a chance? Also, as his advocate, please name the skills that he has shown in the games he’s had that justify such a move. TB’s claim is that he hasn’t been given a fair go as he’s been played out of his best position- this may be true, but if you can succeed as a midfielder, I suggest you can do reasonably well as a forward. Unfortunately for Bell, he hasn’t shown an indication that he could handle midfield