Dont know
maybe post a humerous attachement
Some cartoon or picture to depict what a tool I am and that I know jack shit.

No need to post an attachment...you summed it up ok for me right there.

Houlihan has been at the club since 2000 and by my reckoning hasn't once finished in the top 3 in the club's best and fairest.

Has he even finished top 5?

I think he is a plodder. He has been in the system long enough for us to demand more than what we have got.

Andrew Walker is another one - he should aim (Barring injuries) for a top 6 spot in the best and fairest this year. Anything less than that and he should be disappointed.

I have a theory (a generalisation I know) that really big guys and those that are early physical developers often look better playing junior football than they really are. Their physical size allows them to dominate junior football and undeveloped fellow juniors even when their ability is not that great. When they have to play against men and no longer have the advantage of disparate physical strength they no longer stand out.

Of course the very best always will (eg Kreuzer), but the proportionate hit rate for big guys I reckon is less. Tom Hawkins is a good example. He was such a lump that he absolutely dominated junior football and was said to have been the number 1 pick ahead of Mark Murphy if he had not gone to Geelong father son. Who would you rather have now?

I think the idea that big guys just take longer to develop is a croc. Most of them just aren't that good. Or maybe because their game relies on physical strength it takes many years to develop the muscular maturity to compete against the best men so they dont stand out again until significantly later.

The most talented small/mid sized players who dominate at junior level obviously are already attuned to competing against larger and stronger individuals and are not reliant on physical strength to play.

I think recruiting managers see talented small to mid sized midfielders as a better draft option, particularly those with exceptional kicking skills. Exceptional kicking is coming back as a highly rated draft influencer. I suspect this is what got Kerr up.

Thanks
was starting to think there was something wrong with me and that I might have to go over to socialclubend

I call it as I see it
If you read what I have written over the years on this website it hasnt been all negative
Some of our recruiting has been excellent particularly with the rookie draft
Betts Jammo Thornton

We have also had some shockers

We really lack a big mother down back that can handle the big power forwards
We have lost Fev
Henderson is unproven
And we pick 4 mids in the draft
You dont kick 41 goals in the TAC whilst not playing as a permanent foward unless you are talented

Recruiters from all clubs have become too obsessed with midfielders
Guys on the radio days before last years draft were saying this kid would be picked up somewhere yet he wasnt

If Kerr, Lucas and Davies become top players then well done to our recruiting staff

But not recruiting Casboult to our list until the rookie draft was dumb because we lack big guys in the key posts and that we turfed out the best power forward in the comp


As for Houlihan I stand by what I think of him
he would have been delisted by many clubs by now

We have an unproven forward line yet we didn't draft a KP tall in the main draft, especially after turfing the Coleman Medalist. I thought that was totally dumb.

Guys on the radio days before last years draft were saying this kid would be picked up somewhere yet he wasnt

But not recruiting Casboult to our list until the rookie draft was dumb because we lack big guys in the key posts and that we turfed out the best power forward in the comp

Houlihan has been at the club since 2000 and by my reckoning hasn't once finished in the top 3 in the club's best and fairest.

Has he even finished top 5?

I think he is a plodder. He has been in the system long enough for us to demand more than what we have got.

Andrew Walker is another one - he should aim (Barring injuries) for a top 6 spot in the best and fairest this year. Anything less than that and he should be disappointed.

Couldn't agree with you more. We have an unproven forward line yet we didn't draft a KP tall in the main draft, especially after turfing the Coleman Medalist. I thought that was totally dumb. And Kreuzer seems to be way better rucking than playing forward so that's one option less already. Best available is great most times but at some point you have to fill the needs or you eventually get left with big holes in your side when it matters most. Ask the Bulldogs.

There's always a theory in life "pay cheap, get cheap" and waiting until the rookie draft to get a good tall KP playing give one low odds of probability of getting a decent one. Fortunately for us Casboult was still there, that was more luck than anything, and has so far looked good but we won't know that for a while either.

So you seem to have forgotten about Lachie Henderson. Last time I checked he was a 'KP tall'...what's dumb is how little thought some on here put into list management with all the variables thrown in. What's more amazing is that Levi Casboult has played one intra-club game where his opponent for much of that gave away about 15kg and 15cms...he also wasn't touched by any other club - in fact every club overlooked him about 5 times before Carlton called his name...You'd think the consensus you might take from that is that he needs more development...he now has his chance - his teammates treat him like any other member on the list...his developments course is already set - he'll train with Carlton and he'll play footy in a red jumper with a little Bullant on the front for season 2010. I'm sure he couldn't be happier!

I call it as I see it
If you read what I have written over the years on this website it hasnt been all negative
Some of our recruiting has been excellent particularly with the rookie draft
Betts Jammo Thornton

We have also had some shockers

We really lack a big mother down back that can handle the big power forwards
We have lost Fev
Henderson is unproven
And we pick 4 mids in the draft
You dont kick 41 goals in the TAC whilst not playing as a permanent foward unless you are talented

Recruiters from all clubs have become too obsessed with midfielders
Guys on the radio days before last years draft were saying this kid would be picked up somewhere yet he wasnt

If Kerr, Lucas and Davies become top players then well done to our recruiting staff

But not recruiting Casboult to our list until the rookie draft was dumb because we lack big guys in the key posts and that we turfed out the best power forward in the comp


As for Houlihan I stand by what I think of him
he would have been delisted by many clubs by now

Houlihan was pick 50 in the draft.
Was in our 22 in 2000 when we had a very good list with SOS, Kerna, Braddles, Kouta etc etc
Has regularly been in the top 10 in the B&F over the last 5 years. Pipped by a point last year by Joseph.
Recognised by footy critics as one of the most skilled players by hand and foot. Refer top Leigh Matthews.
He was our best player in the last game we played...the Elimination final.
What more do you want?

Andrew Walker was pick to and you expect a top 6 finish, yet you expect a top 3 finish from pick 50.


Go figure that logic....you sound like a Carlton basher.

Re: Houlihan - for a "senior" player one would have expected more.
His best placing from what I gather is a fourth placing in 2007. It wasn't as if there was a plethora of multi-talented players 2003-2007..


A "senior" player is one that has a bigger impact on matches. The bar has to be set higher for him, as I agree his skill base is good. Near enough in terms of quality of output is not good enough anymore.
We need leaders. He should be a leader, but instead is 11th best at the club.


What do I expect from Houlihan in 2010 barring injury? top 6 as well, but I don't think he has it in him. (would be pleased to be corrected though). He is happier plodding along as a mid range player.

Houlihan was pick 50 in the draft.
Was in our 22 in 2000 when we had a very good list with SOS, Kerna, Braddles, Kouta etc etc
Has regularly been in the top 10 in the B&F over the last 5 years. Pipped by a point last year by Joseph.
Recognised by footy critics as one of the most skilled players by hand and foot. Refer top Leigh Matthews.
He was our best player in the last game we played...the Elimination final.
What more do you want?

Andrew Walker was pick to and you expect a top 6 finish, yet you expect a top 3 finish from pick 50.


Go figure that logic....you sound like a Carlton basher.