Some deluded folks in this thread. Take the dark blinkers off and enjoy the good stuff. There's plenty.
Speaking of deluded, please expand on what makes Shane such a fine player, I'd love to hear your thoughts
Posted this in another thread.
You want to know why Titch gets a game?
He does do what the coach asks of him every week, follows the game plan and works his frikin behind off for his team mates.
His work off the ball is what a lot here don't see. The unglamorous stuff that any coach loves in footballers.
Covering for players, standing in gaps, pressurising the opposition, working the corridor up and down..
He has an excellent tank and busts his behind defensively all game when guys like Martin, Maric & Riewoldt are sucking for air at the end of a match.
Another of Shane's strengths is that he takes risks. This can look bad if it goes wrong which many focus on but equally it can look fantastic when it comes off.
His hands are elite. Unlike someone like Jackson, Edwards has a VERY good footy nous and regularly sets up play which results in attacking passages of footy for the Tiges. When Cotchin kicks that goal, the guy who gave it off is often Shane.
Sure he has weaknesses. His footskills do let him down too often and he's not winning enough of the pill but he is nowhere near as bad a player as he's portrayed as by some on here otherwise he'd have been delisted as one of the 30 odd players who've departed in the last couple of years.
He may be upgraded in time but for now he is in our best 22 and still may improve yet.
Dimma's a fan and he's popular with his team mates.
Hope he has a great season culminating in playing finals.
Some of us actually do appreciate him.
Hes average, by 70/80 games in a career, you should be showing something.
Weaknesses have outweighed his strengths as a player to date.... unreliable kick, unreliable decision maker, doesn't get it enough for the tank he possesses, and is not strong enough physically to exploit his biggest strength - his awareness and vision in close. I was a fan when we first drafted him as I'm a fan of gut runners, unfortunately sometimes players don't come on ala tambling, I gave up on Edwards finally last year early in the season against the pies when in the space of 5 mins he had 3 shots on goal for a grand return of 1 behind..
gg
