it’s the conversation no one wants to have now that we are probably likely to be playing for a finals spot come round 22. I reckon it’s most likely been the same conversation as Melbourne have had with Nathan Jones
bar a injury to 2MP or we ■■■■ the bed against gold coast and won’t make it, that’s curtains for hooker. not the way he wanted to go out no doubt, but that’s footy
Francis’ performances over the next 2 weeks will determine whether we see Hooksey again this year.
It would be tempting to play him in a Final, but only if the coaches truly believe it’s a net gain situation.
At years end, Truck will have to make a very tough call, and tell Hooksey that we won’t be offering him another contract.
I know this club very well. They will give him another year if he wants it, regardless of what happens.
Yep. Most if not all of us will miss him.
The thing that sucks is the nature of sport, there’ll always be a few deserving guys but miss out.
it really wouldn’t. our forward line functions much better without him.
If franga plays good footy, hooker doesn’t replace him. That simple IMO.
My general feel is that the forwardline the past two weeks has benefitted from not being so top heavy with 2MP, Hooker and Jones in there.
Id be very cautious about bringing hooker back this year. Especially in finals.
Which is precisely what I said in my post !
I’m not sure have seen the end of him just yet
We’ve moved the ball significantly better last few weeks & been giving our fwds far better service. He’d have seen far more looks
If we do make finals, in finals so often it’s the ability/inability for teams to take marks inside 50 that can make all the difference.
If it is Sydney we come against, McCartin had trouble with Hooker earlier in year but pushed Francis around with ease. And 2MP if stays in form will have a big mismatch on other Swans defenders.
Maybe Hooksy was just out of gas physically and needs this little refresher, and will come in energized and hungry again.
Francis whilst had a solid first half appears was cooked at half time as dropped right off. How many times have we seen Hooker still pushing deep in last quarter to have an impact and kick a clutch goal.
But as for next few weeks not sure going to see any changes unless they do switch back to that taller defensive structure again for Francis to go back which seems unlikely at this point.
Yeah I’m agreeing with you, just reemphasizing the point I guess
Why did you call him a ■■■■■ then?
What?
Come on. Don’t lie. We all saw it.
I seriously have NFI what you are on about
Perhaps, but we don’t know that for sure based on 2 games whereby our midfield has been a big reason for our higher scoring, in addition to some very accurate set shot conversion.
Don’t underestimate the emotional response of playing Hooker in a Final.
Having said that, it needs to happen on form.
If Francis continues to contribute, he stays in.
Yes it is really sad he’s a year too old. If we do make the finals, his early season form contributed to us getting there. I do wonder if he would have gone alright yesterday with the better delivery from the mids. It’s like watching Jobe in the last half of that season, you will him to play well, but it’s gone past him.
Tim Watson last week said he he’d heard he might still get a contract for next year. I wonder if Franga’s form might put a line through that. I wouldn’t mind if they kept him on for low $s, as long as there is a sound list reason to do so
Just busting your balls. Relax.
That was such a quick edit!!!
Sneaky, is Alex.
I’d happily give him a list spot because we need someone to help with the development of Eyre/Brand/Baldwin/Reid et al, but it would be caveated that he may be playing a lot of VFL.
Having 12-months of both he and Hurley solely focussed on helping fast track the development of the youth as on-field coaches would be great given where the list is at.
That would be hard to take if we made finals, Hooker wasn’t selected and we won our first final in 17 years and he missed out. Ouch. On the other hand, if we made it and got beaten and he didn’t peform, that would also be a bad ending.
The best ending for a guy like Hooksy would be like Mark Harvey’s in 1997.
here’s an idea out of left field:
give him a 9 month contract. He mentors the guys through pre-season, plays the first half of the year as a chest-beating on-field coach, then steps aside gracefully while the kids make a run for the finals.
we then fill his spot with a hard nut from the mid-season draft.