Mars wrote:
I'm sick of all the Russell bashing seriously, he has been by no means our worst player this year, he has had two ordinary games imo. He makes way this week because of that and fair enough.
Last weeks game he received an absolute shocking handball from a teammate in the back fifty, 9 out of 10 players would've fumbled the ball, JR didnt receive it cleanly yet somehow every blues supporter in the area blamed JR for the mistake, missing the fact the handball to him was a shocker!! This happened a number of times to him in the Hawthorn game also where delivery was poor yet somehow he is meant to gather possession cleanly! I dont know if people have seen Judds last two games, many mistakes in both, particularly Adelaide but because its the skipper and his name is Judd its let go. A bit of perspective, I think Russ has been one of our most improved players this year and i'll have him in my best 22 any day. How Armfield is in ahead of JR has buffled me, just because the bloke runs fast doesnt mean shit imo, he has worse disposal and decision making than JR by a long way and we'll be an ordinary side while blokes like him are in the side!
Good to see Grigg and Scotty back, I'm of the opinion Carraz may have needed a week at the Bullants but we''ll see how that pans out!
Who's fault was it when he kicked into the man on the mark when shooting for goal against freo???
What about in the hawks game back pocket once again into the man on the mark??
What about the adelaide game when he took ages to move the ball on only to kick it out on the full????
What about last week when he tried a fancy round the corner kick and yep you guessed it once again into the man on the mark...........
I can understand a fumble or 2 because you have PREASURE bearing down on you BUT there is NO EXCUSE for kicking into the man on your mark. Schoolboy errors and isn't up to AFL level.
I don't think anyone here gets personal it's all about the TEAM because the TEAM will always be bigger than any individual.........
IMO he had to go, remember he has had 30 odd games straight on the back of a good quarter here and there. Hardly warrents automatic selection which he has had.
For a player picked at 9 and the rapts where that he has pace and good disopsal along with good decision making skills he is failing on all area's bar tackling.
When was the last time he ran and bounced and carried the ball???????????
He always gives it off to someone near him as soon as he get's it.
Last week in the last quarter he recieved it out of the middle only to half stop and think about giving it to Stevo who was behing him until Stevo told him just bang it long and low and behold Fisher took a contested mark. He just does not have footy smarts.
A KID like Browne has shown way more in 2 years than JR in 5.
All this talk about him improving is correct BUT he is still nowhere near the level of AFL imo and he has been in the system for 5 years.
Armfield is way ahead of him. He runs, carries takes risks, chases hard and is a great tackler.I read before that somone wrote that this is the best team on paper we have availabillty wise and i totally agree.
And don't take it personally because i support JR and want him to succeed like many many others BUT the simple fact is that he aint up to the level of AFL.
Let's hope he tears it up for the ants and get's back into the team on merit not on a free ticket.
I can point out a mistake that players make every week also, they all make mistakes, Judd makes mistakes, he kicked the ball out on the full under no pressure with his first kick of the game last week, he also missed his first few handballs under no pressure. Where is the Judd bashing?? What about Gibbs? he's made plenty of unforced errors over the past month i dont see anyone calling for him to be sent packing! They all make mistakes, JR for some reason cops it alot more than others and i feel it is unwarranted considering his first two months of the season were a huge improvement for him. Confidence is a big thing with him and you can tell as soon as the supporters get on his back during a game with the moans and groans he goes into his shell, if people would get off his back and let him learn and improve instead of singleing him out for every mistake he makes every week, many of them which aren't directly his fault, he and the team would be the better for it.
As for the comment that Armfield is in front of JR thats hilarious!! Did anybody see Armfield miss an open target from 20 metres under no pressure last week?? Not even a local footballer would miss that pass! he misses targets, fumbles and makes the wrong decision more than anyone in the side! Big deal that he takes the game on, i can take the game on also doesnt mean i should playing. Armfield should not be in the side in front of JR anybody that suggests otherwise has got the blinkers on with regards to Russell. Granted he's last few havent been as good as the first part of his season but those that cant see he's improving and that he offers a great deal to the side aren't watching the same game as me!