We are really missed the four good games he played every year.
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Agreed
WE may need a top ten draft pick this year as it looks like we may need to replace the following mids come the end of the year.
Kelly
Stanton
Howlett
Hocking
Watson
Might be able to keep Watson 1 more year if his heart is in it.
EFA.
Out of interest I had a look at how we went in 2004 and reckon itād be more accurate to say āfallen off a cliff since the line in the sand gameā
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any BIG FISH Ruckmen coming out of contract at years end?
I reckon we were hanging over the edge from the Blumfield/Heffernan/Caracella trade.
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You know he is a Rookie, and was upgraded and available for a limited time right?
Actually think T Bell could have excelled with another run after getting one in the legs, ā¦ but maybe he pulled up a bit rooted and couldnāt be relied on to go again for a full game on such a big ground just yet.
Canāt put a line through any of them just yet.
Many here, me included, were of the thoughts that it was very likely the years break, would let injuries heal, bodies and mind rejuvenate, and actually extend their careers, ā¦but I never expected, many, if any, would be up to AFL match speed/fitness straight out of the gates, . nor within even a month or two.
Itās just as possible the majority of them are going like trains and looking like 25 year olds by years end. Hurley, & Hooker, are really only now starting to show glimpses of full fitness & form/touch, and Hepp, despite getting fitter and attacking it as ever now, and racking up touches, is still nowhere near his best when it comes to the accurate and/or judicsious use of them.
The older guys will take incrementally longer. We need to have patience.
(You Gen Y millennials might need to look that word up)
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If you were expecting 2016 model Leuney to be like Gawn/Cox/Goldsteinā¦
Hardwick evenā¦
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Baulderstone
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Thereās a ruckman at West Coast who may be forced out when NickNat returns.
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Lets just take one of the St Kilda rucks. Longer looks ok.
It is both. Our rucks and midfield
At the moment Leuey only offers one thing - a contest in the ruck. Heās not winning many taps and certainly not many to advantage. When the ball hits the ground he is useless. Canāt pick the ball up and canāt get it to his foot - the number of fresh air kicks or smothered kicks is astounding. He canāt go forward and take a mark and kick goals. He gives us nothing at kick ins, either as a target for our kick ins or as a interceptor/spoiler for when they kick in. He is OK at being that link man in the middle.
But our midfield are equally as useless. Seriously, at a ball up or centre bounce the umpire could throw the ball directly to one of our players and they would still drop it, run past it, watch as the opposition play reacts quicker and intercepts it.
There was a bit of play on Sunday that typifies our midfield. I canāt remember the exact players and the exact sequences of events but it went something like this:
Centre bounce falls from the ruck contest to Heppellās feet. He bends to pick it up but fumbles it and it bounces back on the ground and rolls about and bounces off a few other playersā feet. Parish gets his hands on the ball, stands up and turns and tries to step around. He is bumped/tackled and the ball falls out. Heppell has another go at picking it up but again fumbles under no immediate pressure. The ball then gets knocked around by various players from both teams. Goddard tries to pick it up but cant, the ball spills free. Fyfe picks up the ball cleanly, takes two steps and is out of the immediate danger area, three more steps at full pace and he is in the clear. Kicks inside their f50.
We certainly have the worst skills in the league when it comes to ball handling and handpassing. The number of times we fumble or double grab a ball, the week floaty handpass or the handpass to a teammates feet. Atrocious.
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Iām coming mate. 
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Buy low, Tap high?
Did he give away a free kick for shepherding / blocking in the ruck.