Hardingham is a good tryer and seems a reasonable bloke but he is a bad kick and as such won't ever make it into our best 22. Don't make excuses for it and say kick xyz is his "bad kick". Don't think we are not trying to groom his replacement ASAP. I actually would sign him on a 5 year contract as a terrific depth backman (I say that as an expression, you know what I mean), but for me he needs to be replaced quickly.
I think Bomba likes his versatility. Having the ability to turn the ball over both in defense and attack is a unique skill.
In all seriousness though, I actually thought he was good on Friday. He just worries me sometimes.
Hardingham is a good tryer and seems a reasonable bloke but he is a bad kick and as such won't ever make it into our best 22. Don't make excuses for it and say kick xyz is his "bad kick". Don't think we are not trying to groom his replacement ASAP. I actually would sign him on a 5 year contract as a terrific depth backman (I say that as an expression, you know what I mean), but for me he needs to be replaced quickly.
I think Bomba likes his versatility. Having the ability to turn the ball over both in defense and attack is a unique skill.
In all seriousness though, I actually thought he was good on Friday. He just worries me sometimes.
He reminds me of Michael Symons. Athletic with the ability to be really exciting, but you have your heart in your mouth when he's kicking sometimes.
I think certainly we can win vs the hawks, just need to keep it close enough to give ourselves a chance in the last qtr. I think keeping Rioli quiet is important as well, need to keep has face firmly planted in the dirt. He carved us last year.
I have been wondering if our game intelligence has gone up over summer. Just think if we played the short game against north, not because we trained that way, but because our on field leaders were smart enough to adjust with the opportunities north gave us, that being we want short because north were coving medium and long options. If this is the case, and I have a inkling it might be, then we should see a slightly adjusted game with the hawks as they cover the short options. I hope.
Hardingham has some great attributes, and if we can control his negative impact with disposal then we have a very dynamic player that adds another option to our forward line. Add to that he can go back when somebody is starting to take hold as a lock down player. He played well against north and deserves another week.
Our forward line will be a nightmare to match up on, and without Lake, Stratton etc they are going to struggle. Just think, with a forward line of
Winders danhier Hardingham
Chappy Carlisle Ambrose
You have tall and small pace, tall and small high flyers, hard running talls, smalls who are great over head and some outside 50 range. There is allot to cover.
If what I saw against north is anything to go by, hawks are going to have to roll their mids back harder to help out, leaving there already depleted forward line to go one out against our guys.
Think we are a real chance this week to take a scalp, I hope we bring it!
Can't wait for Winderlich & Dempsey to be fit. Hopefully we'll get one of them back this week but I doubt it. Looking forward to them two + Melksham being back for the Blues game.
I reckon Hardy’s versatility could be of even more value this week if one of Cyril, Hill, Bruest, Puopolo, etc play forward and start to get on top of things.
Hardy presented something up forward then shut down beautifully down back. Bomber seems to value guys that will have a genuine go and play a role over all else.
Hardy presented something up forward then shut down beautifully down back. Bomber seems to value guys that will have a genuine go and play a role over all else.
Agreed. I don't get the Hardingham bashing going on here atm. Is he the new Dyson? The guy kicks 2 goals from a brilliant mark and great crumbing and then goes back and blankets their most effective forward and you guys want him dropped? What farking drugs are you lot on?
On Hardingham, he directly coughed up 3 goals. That is fact. As aforementioned this kept North in touch. He is a super competitor and versatile. Could kill us in a final or big game though...
This is bull****, I watched the replay today and 2 of his 3 errors we recovered the ball straight back. So your fact is wrong.
Rubbish.
I just finished watching the replay too, and while I didn't pay special attention to Hardingham I believe Mr Funkhouser is correct.
So kicked 2 and was lively up forward, gave up 1, and then smashed Thomas when shifted back. That is quite a bit more in the plus column than the negative column by my reckoning.
Yep, Hardy stays at least until Dempsey returns which I'll worry about then. He's never really had a long run of games to get consistency, who knows he could easily improve by 5% and eliminate the majority of errors from his game. He's probably up there with Carlisle/Ryder/Daniher when it comes to contested marking which given his size in comparison is saying something.
Unless someone is screaming that they are fit and ready then I'm not sure I see the need for changes. Maybe Pears or Colyer were unlucky to miss last time but neither were in the best for the VFL side. Wouldn't mind seeing Zerret get a full game but I don't think Gleeson suits the sub role.
Ambrose played well and deserves another game. I'm not sure he's as good as all the hype yet but he held his own and dropping him after 1 game would probably mess with his head, though Im sure he'd bust a gut in the VFL and will be getting another chance sooner or later, he could go alright as the sub too.
Someone else touched on Zerret needing to play a full game so maybe back to the reserves for him and bring in Fantasia as the sub, or Fantasia for a full game and Ambrose as sub, otherwise no changes.
Hell, Hardy might make an alright sub too given his versatility.
Hardy presented something up forward then shut down beautifully down back. Bomber seems to value guys that will have a genuine go and play a role over all else.
Agreed. I don't get the Hardingham bashing going on here atm. Is he the new Dyson? The guy kicks 2 goals from a brilliant mark and great crumbing and then goes back and blankets their most effective forward and you guys want him dropped? What farking drugs are you lot on?
Calm down, people don't want him dropped. They want him to get better. We all know he has lots of upside, but it's about time he did something about the horrible big hole in his game.
i think hardy's kicking problem comes about when he has time to think. when he takes a mark and goes back for his kick he sees the option and hesitates, you can almost see him going, ' i dunno, if i don't get this right it will get chopped off and burn us umm umm, F it'. he doesn't back himself in and by the time he actually pulls the trigger the option that was an option is now closed down and it gets turned over.
when he is on the move and doesn't think things through he is far more reliable.
i think he either has to start backing himself pulling the trigger quick or just playing the % all the time, if he doubts he can hit the option he should go back and put it long down the line (he actually is a lovely long penetrating kick). i tihnk confidence and job security could be the best medicine for his kicking, just like it was for hooker's.
he is massive aerial threat up front, has genuine pace, he is strong bodied and can hurt people, and he is flexible, hell i have seen him out body travis cloke in a marking contest. He also deserves some credit for how clean he is below his knees, rarely fumbles.
he isn't best 22 right now but he is certainly among the next handful of players and given that we are probably going to want to nurse chapman and licha through a bit he is a great option for the small/medium fwd/back. Also at 25 he still has room and time to improve. It isn't beyond him to be come a permanent fwd who kicks 30 a year over the next 3 years.
little know fact (thanks footywire) he ranked top 10 in the comp in 2010&11 for 1%s (spoils in his case)
On a positive note. How farking good is Howlett? The guy doesn't look like a footballer but is tough in and under, a clearance specialist and I just love the way goes about it without any fuss. Definitely sneaks under the radar of the opposition when looking at who to cover.