It’s a joke they play howlett and Myers ahead of him
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They have forgotten what he did against the Saints only a few weeks ago!
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Its difficult to fathom how he hasnt played more this year. In his only game i thought he was important in not allowing st kilda to premeditate running forward of the stoppages. I admire Benny Howlett but im not sure how he gets a game ahead of Bird in terms of team needs, tbh.
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Craig Bird was the first player Woosha dropped last year
Bird is bog average. BUT he should play ahead of Watson on the last fortnight’s performance. He simply cannot/will not chase or even attempt to keep up with the flow of play. Adelaide will absolutely slaughter us unless we apply pressure across the ground. Birdy can help us do that.
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Should be speaking to Fair Work comission if he isn’t picked this week
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The question has to be asked, is Bird not doing what the coaches ask him to do and that is causing this issue?
Is Jobe?
Is Myers?
Is howlett?
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Still can’t believe he has only been picked to play one game this season.
I don’t think he is a saviour or anything like that, but he definately adds something to our team that we have missed all season
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He’ll be 29 next year and the coaches clearly don’t rate him with a full list. He deserved more of a chance this year but what’s the point keeping him around when next year we should be using back up/last man on the bench spot for players like Begley,Langford and Mutch.
In terms of inside mid depth we’d be better looking at a young opposition fringe player or state league player we think has up side (and might actually get a game).
It’s obvious that the coaches don’t want pure inside contested players that don’t offer outside run. Of course Unless your name is Jobe Watson.
I believe Bird is easily in our best 22. He’s a premiership player. Contested and clearance winning machine. Plus offers a lot defensively.
There is a strong focus on outside pace and very little emphasis on winning contested football. That has been clear this whole season.
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I doubt we offered him a changed contract. Sydney traded him to us as part of a salary dump, we wouldn’t have extended that contract, and Bird wouldn’t have accepted a lower one.
I’m staggered that Bird hasn’t had more chances this year.
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this
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It definitely did as the Sydney one expired end of last year.
Do you have any evidence of this? I did a quick google search and can’t find any reference to a new contract.
Edit: but I did find footywire was saying he’s contracted to 2019. So maybe you’re correct. Although I struggle to believe we signed him up under Worsfold for 2018 AND 2019, yet refuse to play him. So I’m not sure if footywire is correct. Dunlop’s thread has his contract expiring this year.
Edit 2 I also found he was re-contracted by Sydney in 2014. So if he was on a 2 year deal, it would have expired last year.
Does that mean he’s a free [as a Bird] agent?
His Sydney contract finished last year and Dunlop is saying he signed with us for 2 years. The question is if the Essendon contract is on top of the year that remained from the Sydney contract or including it.
Bird should be going full Dangerfield or full Dustin Martin in the VFL if he wants a game. We don’t play 28 year old’s. That’s just a fact.