Hardwick's aftermatch media conference / Hardwick finds silver lining

[Stripes]

Mate, Gus is useless

He's the best we have at the moment and his stats compare well with the other ruckmen in 2011. I don't think he will ever be a 'great ruckman' but he is an honest toiler who gives his all and fufills his role in the team. I can see Vickery, Derickx and/or a future ruck trade taking over from him over the next couple of years but physically and experience-wise he will remain our first ruckmen for some time yet.

[Stripes]

as for the flaws in the set ups, i blame both players and assistant coaches as its there role

This will be addressed I'm sure. If by seasons end this remains a glaring problem then something will give - players not adhering to coaches directions or coaches not giving the correct education/directions. I'm happy to wait and see then make up my mind before making any definitive statements.

[Francois Jackson]

Jack I don't buy the whole 'Gus doesn't support his team by not taking a mark in the D50'. I think Gus', and the rest of the leagues 1st ruck now, brief is moving around the ground where stoppages occur. We have moved a long way from when ruckmen's brief was contesting the centre square and floating back into defense to act as a floating extra man. Today ruckmen are expected to be another midfielder whether they are capable or not - Gus is acting in this role and, at the very least, ensuring the opposition ruckmen are not roaming free. This is why he is not taking marks in the D50 as his opponent is keeping well away from the area to ensure the space is not clogged up. You can't blame him for this.

The flaws in setups are something that needs to be addressed - definitely, but these are not termanal problems or indicators that the coaches and/or players are lost causes. They just need to ensure this is corrected for the future. I have faith that with all the scrutiny that these sort of blaring problems have caused this week, it will be high on everyone at the clubs priority lists. Lids being dragged out of the play will fit under a similar lesson to be learned.

I completely understand your and many others on here's passion for the club Jack, I just differ from you in how I attempt to voice my methods of change and express frustrations. Different methods but both wanting the same outcome - Tiger flags 

Stripes seriously Gus is garbage. Honestly mate im sick to death of him falling to the ground at almost every opportunity. Do you go to games?

Vickery is streets ahead of him. He has shown something this year that bloke and he throws his weight around, Gus simply does not.

How can we go possibly wrong by throwing Browne in there. Gus should be helping out the smaller boys and throwing his weight around, instead i see others throwing him around.

[Tigeritis™©®]

Jack I don't buy the whole 'Gus doesn't support his team by not taking a mark in the D50'. I think Gus', and the rest of the leagues 1st ruck now, brief is moving around the ground where stoppages occur. We have moved a long way from when ruckmen's brief was contesting the centre square and floating back into defense to act as a floating extra man. Today ruckmen are expected to be another midfielder whether they are capable or not - Gus is acting in this role and, at the very least, ensuring the opposition ruckmen are not roaming free. This is why he is not taking marks in the D50 as his opponent is keeping well away from the area to ensure the space is not clogged up. You can't blame him for this.

The flaws in setups are something that needs to be addressed - definitely, but these are not termanal problems or indicators that the coaches and/or players are lost causes. They just need to ensure this is corrected for the future. I have faith that with all the scrutiny that these sort of blaring problems have caused this week, it will be high on everyone at the clubs priority lists. Lids being dragged out of the play will fit under a similar lesson to be learned.

I completely understand your and many others on here's passion for the club Jack, I just differ from you in how I attempt to voice my methods of change and express frustrations. Different methods but both wanting the same outcome - Tiger flags 

Stripes seriously Gus is garbage. Honestly mate im sick to death of him falling to the ground at almost every opportunity. Do you go to games?

Vickery is streets ahead of him. He has shown something this year that bloke and he throws his weight around, Gus simply does not.

How can we go possibly wrong by throwing Browne in there. Gus should be helping out the smaller boys and throwing his weight around, instead i see others throwing him around.

for all the angst with Gus, multiply it  by 50 and you have Browne. Too skinny, too slow, too awkward. He looks years away to me. 

[WilliamPowell]

for all the angst with Gus, multiply it  by 50 and you have Browne. Too skinny, too slow, too awkward. He looks years away to me. 

Er.. he weighs more than Gus and is taller too

Gus: Ht: 201cm
       Wt: 105 Kg

Browne: Ht: 203cm
            Wt: 105 Kg

As for "years" away considering it's Browne's 3rd season compared to Gus' 5th (possible 6th) that's not all that suprising 

[Mr Magic]

Out: Graham

In: Browne

Let's see what the big Jaffa has got. If he fails we have lost nothing.

[Tigermonk]

for all the angst with Gus, multiply it  by 50 and you have Browne. Too skinny, too slow, too awkward. He looks years away to me. 

Er.. he weighs more than Gus and is taller too

Gus: Ht: 201cm
       Wt: 105 Kg

Browne: Ht: 203cm
            Wt: 105 Kg

As for "years" away considering it's Browne's 3rd season compared to Gus' 5th (possible 6th) that's not all that suprising 

WP your post just summed up what l have known for some years.
That some of the posters on here are wankers & have no idea

[tony_montana]

as for the flaws in the set ups, i blame both players and assistant coaches as its there role

This will be addressed I'm sure. If by seasons end this remains a glaring problem then something will give - players not adhering to coaches directions or coaches not giving the correct education/directions. I'm happy to wait and see then make up my mind before making any definitive statements.

Im not happy giving them time, we cannot afford to waste another year of develoipment due to poor resources ie coaches having NFI - its a very simple philosophy that doesnt need hours and months of fine tuning - u simply plonk urself goalside of your bloody opponent, suburban hacks have been doing it for yrs without specialist coaches drumming it into them. 

 These basic skills should be a given from  AFL players and there should be an IMMEDIATE improvement in these basic 1 percenters FFS

[Stripes]

daniel, I go to every Melbourne game.

Browne is still behind Gus in terms of ability, speed and skills which is as more of an indicement on him than any compliment to Gus. Vickery will be a far superior ruckman to Gus but he is still too small to compete with the oppositions 1st ruckmen for a full game let alone a full season.

This argument about the ruckmen needing to be constantly dropping back into defence is rediculous. Ruckmen are now expected to be additional tall midfielders now days, resting in the forwardline. The days of the ruckman taking the center bounce and then dropping back into the D50 are long gone. If Gus was stupid enough to do this he would leave his direct opponent without an opponent across the rest of the ground in boundaries throw-ins and in marking contests particularly as we try during kickouts.

When it all comes down to it we have to wait and see. We don't have a choice. We can rant and rave, make as many conclusions based on single acts or games or even seasons but ultimately we are spectactor, supporters and members. We have to trust in the people who are payed to make the decisions. Up until now I have had no reason to think that Dimma and co. are doing anything other than a terrific job. One game is not going to change my mind on this - a season might - but I'm obviously a little more patient than some 

[Mr Magic]

Browne is still behind Gus in terms of ability, speed and skills which is as more of an indicement on him than any compliment to Gus.

I find it hard to believe Browne offers less than a manikin.

I certainly want to find out. Give Big Red another go.

[Penelope]

from the coburg practice match i saw a couple a of weeks ago Browne offers more around the ground the ground but nothing in terms of tap work

[Stripes]

from the coburg practice match i saw a couple a of weeks ago Browne offers more around the ground the ground but nothing in terms of tap work

I saw the game he played that was televised on ABC and wasn'y overly impressed but I would still be happy for him to be given another try. We could certainly do with his height but I just fear that his movement and overhead ability may not be up to scratch. I'm happy to be proven wrong though. 

[WilliamPowell]

This argument about the ruckmen needing to be constantly dropping back into defence is rediculous. Ruckmen are now expected to be additional tall midfielders now days, resting in the forwardline. The days of the ruckman taking the center bounce and then dropping back into the D50 are long gone. If Gus was stupid enough to do this he would leave his direct opponent without an opponent across the rest of the ground in boundaries throw-ins and in marking contests particularly as we try during kickouts.

Stripes, I think you are missing a very important point, and that is sometimes Gus' role is to drop back in the the D50 and help his team mates. No one is suggesting he should be dropping back in the defensive 50 for entire games but there times he needs to go down there and bloody well defend

If for example Gus' direct opponent is floating forward to give his team another forward option surely Gus has a responsibility to follow his man to at least create a contest  ???

I have lost count of the number of times Gus has failed to do this. He didn't do it against Carlton and he failed again to do it agaisnt the Hawks.

I gave a very detailed description in another thread about what it cost us on Saturday when he was standing hands on hips at the 50 mtr line rather than going down and defending the goal line - fact is it gave Hawthorn a goal that quite really shouldn't have been

[bojangles17]

Browne is still behind Gus in terms of ability, speed and skills which is as more of an indicement on him than any compliment to Gus.

I find it hard to believe Browne offers less than a manikin.

I certainly want to find out. Give Big Red another go.

hear hear, Gus has been so bad we need to throw caution to the wind and try

[Judge Roughneck]

from the coburg practice match i saw a couple a of weeks ago Browne offers more around the ground the ground but nothing in terms of tap work

browne is still v young for a ruckman.

IMO he was one or coburgs better players vs sandy.