If Luamon Lual gets games ahead of Tsatas this thread should reach saga-level engagement.
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Why is it a big call to drop senior players, particularly those who are under performing? We will be nowhere near the 8 this year so losing games is irrelevant. Blood the youngsters, give them some experience at the top level and finish off the season wherever we finish up. Re set again next year with some top quality recruits.
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If Lual was to be anything but emergency, thereād have been an announcement. Heās likely as already noted by someone cover so (probably) Tsatas, Day-Wicks and either Setterfield or more likely McMahon get to play a full VFL game. Iād play McMahon as tall coverage - otherwise itās Redman on Curnow I think?? But youād think that would also have been announced. Maybe only if itās surprisingly dry McMahon comes in and if itās wet the coaches are less worried about the marking threat. Uncertainty might mean no announce, even if McMahon ends up playing.
Because itās much easier from the cheap seats to say ātank awayā, even if it is only mathematically possible. You go tell Caddy that, yeah, at best if things turn around we might scrape 8th, but WHO CARES if we arenāt winning a flag. Heād be gutted not to try get to September - at least I hope he would be - wouldnāt you? Tell the board who are sweating on wins to keep sponsors happy and members going to games (you might like to see kids playing in big losses, but generally crowds will be bigger when we win). Tell targets we might aim for in free agency, etc, etc, etc.
As it is we are playing more kids than just about anyone.
Short term pain for long term gain.
Which addresses - let me see - oh yes, not a single thing I said.
Lual will not be selected. Heās just an emergency.
We simply donāt have much else to choose from.
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It addresses everything you said.
Could be explained by the interest in keeping his value up as much as possibleā¦
You suggested BS was a boys club appointment to the AFL in his role as GM of Football.
I simply posed the question has there been a more qualified GM of Football at the AFL than BS.
I then followed up to say BS was the obvious choice to replace Rutten after Barham ā ā ā ā ā ā up his pitch to Clarkson so again to suggest he only got the job because of his connections is flawed. IMO
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Thatās fair enough.
In the end Brad possibly doesnāt rate him and consequently wonāt play him. Or, this is tough love and heās being made to either earn it or change something to be selected that we arenāt aware of.
Brad will ultimately be judged on his management if Tsatas. If heās a star and plays elsewhere Brad will rightly be judged harshly. If heās just another decent B grader, Brad should will be vindicated in having a good handle on his ceiling / ability and finding at least an equivalent replacement the next 2-3 years.
Time will tell.
Thatās where I differ. I see the 40 possessions but I argue heās not dominant in the VFL. I see an accumulator who gets in allot but doesnāt impact greatly. I see a slightly better version of Dylan Clarke at this stage.
I think Tsatas will improve but Iām not convinced heās an A grader. If thatās the case, I have no issue trading him now for an early 2nd round selection and strengthening our hand in future to secure a Harley Reid type or similar (if thatās their plan).
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Look at Collingwood - they have a Brownlow medallist who plays a similar style to Tsatas in the VFL - onball only, accumulator, poor kick.
Add to that Tsatas has a small tank and gets knocked off the ball.
Tsatas needs to become one of fittest at the club and strongest and improve his kicking their will be a spot for him. Or learn to play another position, so he is flexible in the 22.
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The difference is Collingwood are the best team in the comp at the moment we are not
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The one thing I agree with most about is that his trade value is dropping week by week because heās not playing. In a year where finals are no chance, this should all be about trade week.
Play him 100% of game time in the AFL, let other club see the amaing stats he gets and hope they are all idiots and canāt see that those stats do little. Might end up with a late first if he can rack up a couple of 40 possession games in there.
Projecting, even if he works on some of his deficiencies is he a best 22 player or just a VFL depth player.
If he was at the Pies, they likely cut him loose.
I just want the kid to get a chance so we can all find out if heās up to the grade. Itās unequivocal that heās being held to a higher account and personally I think he has more upside than Hobbs.
Josh ward, who I wasnāt a massive fan of has evidenced what can happen when a coach shows belief.
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Josh ward kicks the footy far better than Tsatas does to be fair
That injury in the crows game was a sliding doors moment for him, if not for the injury he could have retained his place in the side.
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Valid but Elijahās hands and clearence work are superior to ward.
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