BlueRob wrote:
Fair enough ... but if you have to play Bower ... then it would be on a half back flank ... and I just think we will probably have better options this year.
Possible Back Flankers: Yarran, Laidler, Duigan, Russell, Scotland, Davies, White, Thornton, Bower.
Initially I would pick Bower last in this lot. I admit ... Laidler and Duigan may not be what we hope ... but lets see.
I think other teams have worked out Bower. They know he will run no matter what ... and they keep catching him. I don't think his skills under pressure are good enough. Hopefully I am wrong.
Absolutely agree about Watson ... Carlton must persist ... if he makes a few mistakes so be it. In the long run it will pay off big time.
I really dig your posts BR but not this lot.
IMO you are attacking the man.
Laidler and Duigan are going to be fantastic. I'm a big Duigan fan.
These players you mention...."Yarran, Laidler, Duigan, Russell, Scotland, Davies, White, Thornton" ahead of Bower because Bower keeps on getting caught? Because other teams have worked him out? Mate, you're making things up.
We haven't worked out Bower, neither have you. So how the hell are the opposition going to work him out? He rarely gets caught...I know he looks like he is going to get caught....but he doesn't. That's the point!
I've sen 19yo Bower against Barry Hall and I've seen Thornton against Hall too. Bower was the winner TBird was ragdolled, and Bower was only 19yo.
I think you're over rating White. He is one lucky man to have inaccurate kicking against him create the image you are adopting. White can't do what Bower does; hasn't even shown glimpses of similar capability. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against White, but if you force us to compare...well I will...and so will many others.
Bower is a better mark and a more attacking marking, spoiling and running tall than all those you mention. Those you mention don't bring to the table what Bower vrings; yes those qualities you so easily have dismissed.
Give me examples of Bower getting caught. I mean dead set stopped in his tracks. Free against. Rare mate....surprisingly for all os us...it's rare! He is what you call uncanny or unconventional...spontaneous... Bower style...crazy horse Gary Cowton had some of Bower's traits, but in terms of a footballer from an early age Bower leaves Cowton for dead because Cowton only cane good after he hit 27yo.
Let go of your bias, and don't worry about looking for eg's of him getting caught...you may find 1 or 2...but in this game of AFL everybody gets caught...yes even JUDD...but those few times are negligible, it's normal...that's why you shouldn't be hanging Bower...just because he doesn't move like Motley or Bradley...if so, you're knocking style not results.
Just trying to help you out with the battle within BR.....I reckon it's a case of 'perception is reality' as is the case with all (but thnkfully not many) the Bower detractors ever since we got him on board.
Just remember Bower and Kennedy were interested targets for the WCE in the Judd trade, and we did not want to give up either....for good reason too. I'm spewing we lost JK, but on the flipside we at least held a very tall fast attacking HBF who we have thrown to the wolves in an attempt to patch up a role at CHB we have no one else to play there...that's not Bower's fault.
Oh yeah, have you see Russell and Bower compete against each other? I have...no competition: Bower eats him up. Perhaps that impresses you....I'm a huge Russell fan too.
bondiblue, you make some good points but you're getting a touch personal there.
FWIW, I think Bower has a much needed ability to take the opposition on and pressure them with his push forwards (something that Thornton has always lacked) but in saying that his inconsistency in finding a target and kicking to low percentage options can cause problems on the scoreboard for us following turnovers.
Bower is still young and has time on his side to improve his deficiencies and is easily still in my first 22.
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