Tigers sign Sam Naismith [Official]

[one-eyed]

Sam Naismith can play(smith)

With captain Toby Nankervis battling a foot injury that has him in grave doubt for Round 1, and long-term backup Ivan Soldo traded to Port Adelaide, the Tigers can be immensely relieved to have had the foresight to sign Sam Naismith as a delisted free agent in the off-season.

Having been cut by the Swans after six years of nearly uninterrupted injury concerns, including three separate knee reconstructions, Naismith, who has played a mere two AFL games since the end of 2017, impressed as much for his competitiveness and athleticism around the ground as for his ruckwork, which will come in handy for him when Nankervis returns.

Involved regularly in the Tigers’ transition from stoppages, he was more than a match aerobically for Pies duo Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox, while an impressive shark and baulk around an opponent in the forward pocket, albeit missing with his snap, belied a man wo has had as many knee issues as anyone in recent AFL memory.

With Samson Ryan a capable back-up, the Tigers will no doubt be hoping captain Nankervis returns as soon as possible – but until then, and perhaps even afterwards if he can show enough around the grounds to encourage Adem Yze to persist with him up forward, Naismith will be a vital asset.

Source: theRoar.com.au

[one-eyed]

SAM NAISMITH

Naismith now has two very solid performances under his belt, holding his own against Max Gawn in the match sim and the Darcy Cameron/Mason Cox combination in the AAMI Community Series match. The injury-hit former Swan moved well across the ground against the Pies, showing good agility for his size at ground level and taking a few eye-catching marks. There's a question mark still hovering over the fitness of Toby Nankervis, and whether Adem Yze will play two rucks, but Naismith has done all he can to put his name into the frame.

– Sarah Black

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1079602/liked-the-look-of-who-shone-for-your-club-in-practice-matches

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https://www.instagram.com/footyonnine

[Francois Jackson]

Nice story. but....

Laughable selection. Should only be played in emergencies.

Dud

[eliminator]

I hope I am completely wrong but it appears that at best he is going to be a very good VFL ruckman.

[Andyy]

He's not a dud IMO, just wasn't the right game to be playing him.

Don't think he can play with Nank period. Should have gone with Ryan.

[mat073]

He does some nice things and plays above VFL standard . He has limited forward craft- so it’s a horse’s for courses with regards to him .
I could see the logic behind playing him against Gawn .

[Diocletian]

Should only play when Nank is injured/suspended and even then I'd rather just get games into Ryan instead....

[Tiger_In_Sicily]

NANK is now over rated and poorhouse. Just like Grimes. We will never truly move forward if we keep playing these has BEENS

[Francois Jackson]

put it this way. If  Samson Ryan was playing instead of Naismith what difference would it made for the game and for our future? 9 touches for plenty of game time is rubbish. FWIW Nank played a poor match too, but has runs on the board for this year anyway until we find someone else.

Naismith should never have played in this game ,and IMO for most games. He is a very average football player, and we aren't a retirement fund.

[Andyy]

put it this way. If  Samson Ryan was playing instead of Naismith what difference would it made for the game and for our future? 9 touches for plenty of game time is rubbish. FWIW Nank played a poor match too, but has runs on the board for this year anyway until we find someone else.

Naismith should never have played in this game ,and IMO for most games. He is a very average football player, and we aren't a retirement fund.

Gee that's a bit over the top IMO.

He's probably on virtually minimum wage and is clearly a solid ruck who was played when not required.

Held his own vs Witts who is a good ruck in R0.

There's just no spot for two dedicated rucks. We need a ruck/forward option badly and both Ryan + Kosi are more suitable to that role.

[georgies31]

put it this way. If  Samson Ryan was playing instead of Naismith what difference would it made for the game and for our future? 9 touches for plenty of game time is rubbish. FWIW Nank played a poor match too, but has runs on the board for this year anyway until we find someone else.

Naismith should never have played in this game ,and IMO for most games. He is a very average football player, and we aren't a retirement fund.

His a backup ruck to Nank and that's  it and the perfect bloke for it. Ryan has form has done well lastb3 games deserves a block of games his got weaknesses like all players , but still baby as forward  ruck.

[the claw]

put it this way. If  Samson Ryan was playing instead of Naismith what difference would it made for the game and for our future? 9 touches for plenty of game time is rubbish. FWIW Nank played a poor match too, but has runs on the board for this year anyway until we find someone else.

Naismith should never have played in this game ,and IMO for most games. He is a very average football player, and we aren't a retirement fund.

His a backup ruck to Nank and that's  it and the perfect bloke for it. Ryan has form has done well lastb3 games deserves a block of games his got weaknesses like all players , but still baby as forward  ruck.

I agree to a degree.  Toby and Sam both lowered their colours though i dont think he got a hell of a lot of time onball.
Gawn is the best ruckman in the game it was never going to be easy for either. That was mostly down to Toby imo.

All of our forwards failed imo not just Sam. People having a go at his game but i think he gave just as much as Mykelti if not more.
Very little offensively from the smalls again and we wonder why we only kicked 5 goals.

The real problem was May and Lever got so much of the ball. Along with McDonald they took  30 marks thru the game. Surprising though between the three they took just 2 contested marks. They got most of those because they had an out number.
Hard enough for inexperinced players like Lefau and non forward Naismith to impact  with out having to cope with an out number.

I agree he  played mainly as a forward and did not do a lot. but and its just a different way to look at it. His game playing as a forward was better than the majority of games Ryan has dished up so far. In saying that i still think we should have played both.Lefau and  Ryan who yes has kicked goals in recent weeks in the magoos as  permanent forwards. Then rotated Toby and Sam thru there. evening up the numbers

[eliminator]

The kicking into the forwardline was atrocious and did not help the forwards at all. A classic example was Nick kicking the ball high and long in the second quarter where it was Mansell against two Demons. No chance, it was easily rebounded and wasted a good build up. But having said that Naismith is not a forward and should not be played as one. He is a ruckman solely.

[Francois Jackson]

put it this way. If  Samson Ryan was playing instead of Naismith what difference would it made for the game and for our future? 9 touches for plenty of game time is rubbish. FWIW Nank played a poor match too, but has runs on the board for this year anyway until we find someone else.

Naismith should never have played in this game ,and IMO for most games. He is a very average football player, and we aren't a retirement fund.

His a backup ruck to Nank and that's  it and the perfect bloke for it. Ryan has form has done well lastb3 games deserves a block of games his got weaknesses like all players , but still baby as forward  ruck.

Is not the future so why the stuff play him and as a forward. That was embarrassing. If you really believe Yze  is rewarding form then he should never have been selected. End of story

We got smashed by 7 goals. Proved nothing by playing an old has been like Naismith