I like Rob Murphy, he makes a few mistakes at critical times, but a real good mover. I'm not sure Boots is exactly the same, but I can see your line of thinking.

But would Rob Murphy have played in a Collingwood flag side?

I'm not so sure he's MM's kind of player and I'm not sure Boots is either.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Do you really think Malthouse would have ditched a talent like Murphy?

He may have found him a different role but Murphy's an excellent footballer and the idea that you'd find a place for Nick Maxwell and not Rob Murphy beggars belief.

There seems to be some sort of fantasy that Malthouse only likes imbeciles who can't think for themselves but if you look back over his successful teams there have been plenty of independent thinkers.

Obviously Bootsma isn't Murphy at this stage but there are similarities in the way they move and all three of them (Boots, Murph and Maxwell) have weird neck/head arrangements so that at least won't work against him.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

TC should have written Malthouses biography.
Most people here know more about his likes and dislikes, preferences and expectations than Mick does.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Couldn't agree more, plus we could have erased 2010 from the record books.

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Bootsma will be a very very good player. He is a baby in football terms but has the tools.

Play him on a wing as an outside player and let him develop. As he bulks up (which will take 3-4 pre seasons) he can then match up if needed.

My opinion: Will be a Star!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

History is a great teacher: you either take note, or you don't.
Listen and one will learn: MM does speak, and makes many comments about his likes and dislikes and summations od situtations and players (moreso recently as a paid commentator).

Do you believe everything to be fact when you hear the opinions of those who have worked for him?
There must be something in what they say, so I take interest in that too.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That's because he doesn't have it. He's slowish by AFL standards. Might be an elite kick, but not much chance making it at AFL level as a defender due to his pace deficiencies. Slow players get exposed playing in the 50 metre arcs. Will need to play midfield if he's going to make it.

ROK isn't slow. He's average paced but has a nice burst nowadays. Cut through packs in the Saints game and plenty more times in the VFL.

The Bootsma talk is just confusing. Kid is a star.

Calling him "a star" is just as bad as writing him off after one season.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

I watched enough of his games in the AFL and VFL to see that he surpassed many of our defenders in his first year while showing that he has the fundamentals to become a real weapon when he adds some size and gets more years of coaching. Sorry for making an assertion based on evidence.

I'm not sure if MM would have ditched Bob Murphy, but he'd be playing a different type of footy to what he has been for a decade. Maxwell is an outright defender and a very good leader, Murphy is neither.

I just believe Boots will be given some very strict instructions on how he will play and, if he doesn't pick it up quickly, I still maintain he's at risk.

Hope he makes it.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Wouldnt all players be at risk if they dont play to instruction?

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Yep.

It's a matter of not if he will play to instruction but if he can play to instruction given his body shape.

Boot's has some wonderful qualities.
Booming right foot kick.
Better than average left foot kick.
Great height.
Excellent speed.
Good mark.
Good spoiler.

But his short coming is his body shape. If he finds himself down back again he's at real risk of being isolated and ragdolled by a player his same height (or bigger) or beaten on the ground by a player who's smaller.

In days gone by he could have run around the wings picking up kicks at his leisure, or even be an unaccountable HBF, but that footy doesn't exist (or if it does it doesn't work in finals) particularly in MM's world.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Boots looked right at home until the Hawthorn game when the ball was going in our defensive 50 with ease. Franklin/Hale/Gunston etc are no slouches. All he needs is time and we can give it to him, we're not short on back flankers.

He does go in hard though for a player of his size. Malthouse will like his competitive edge so I cannot see him going tbh.

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

Cripes. I'd take a young kid at 190cm with those skills any day.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I think you'll find Bootsma eventually in a position that another one of our skinny fellows does pretty good in. That being Simpson and on a wing with space to work in.

As Psych and Zee have already said, Boots has too many great qualities about him for us not to invest heavily into getting his body ready for a protracted career at AFL level.

Nothing is certain in life, but I'd happily accept a wager that Bootsma will become a quality player in our squad.

Jeffie Garlett as our Gavin Wanganeen..........small defender solved

Can't see it personally, wing yes.

As much as I admire Jeffy and as much as I hated Wanganeen . Wanganeen would do something that Jeffy would never do and that was put your body on the line. The number of times he would get crunched and you would think he is not getting up from thst only for him to bounce to his feet and keep playing .

Jeffy is no Wanganeen

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws