SA Footy

Who is the lucky player ?????

Massie - because he doesn't have to play for the Crows any more.

Now that i've got the obvious joke out of the way (and i'm a Crows supporter), Shirley provides something different that Massie can't. Massie is a utility and too small to play on a kpp whereas Shirley is a genuine stopper, although inconsistent from memory he has a good record against some of the best. Arguably Doughty, VB etc can play a similar role to Shirley but that wld take away further from the limited ball winning ability the Crows have.

If choosing one to de-list the right call has been made imho.

I'm amazed at the flack Rob Shirley is still getting.. He is not one of my favourite players, but this year he had his most consistant and IMO best year for the club.

Rob Shirley is a tagger and has become a good one. AFL experience taggers are hard to come by.
Kris Massie is a utility (predominately backman) and they can be replaced with younger kids like Dangerfield / Petrenko / Moran far more easily.

I would expect the Crows to use Moran in that utility role next year, he has more flexibility in being able to play forward or back and in time will hold his own in the ruck. He also has more height and speed about him.

I don't think Blue Boy watches many games

Or, if he does, it's through the "Blue Boy filter" where he sees what he wants to see

Ask any of the AFL coaches who'd they would rather have in their side and it would be unanimous for Shirley

Shirley had his best season yet, he does well on big name players. Kris Massie is gettin on in footy years and with the draft the way it is every club needs to fill up on youngsters and hope they uncover the next James Hird.

hondo71 wrote:I don't think Blue Boy watches many games

Or, if he does, it's through the "Blue Boy filter" where he sees what he wants to see

Ask any of the AFL coaches who'd they would rather have in their side and it would be unanimous for Shirley

Sorry Hondo

Do watch every game and if I am guilty of any thing its not being a Mummbles fan !!!

Blue Boy wrote:Sorry Hondo

Do watch every game and if I am guilty of any thing its not being a Mummbles fan !!!

I know!!!

So what's your issue, I presume you think Shirley's presence in the side is because he's a favourite of "mumbles"? Outside of Adelaide, the expert judges rate him as one of the better taggers in the game. Ask Judd or Shaun Burgoyne.

I agree that Massie was unfortunate. I think he would have been kept on if not for the rush for youth in this draft in anticipation of the effect of the new teams soon.
Despite the carping at him Shirley has been worth his place, and has perhaps sacrificed his personal game and reputation in the tagging role for the team.
If one of the younger boys takes over the tagging role in 2009 Shirley may surprise a few of his critics, as may Doughty who is not a bad mark and may be a potential small forward option to release Porps for the odd turn on the ball.

hondo71 wrote:

Blue Boy wrote:Sorry Hondo

Do watch every game and if I am guilty of any thing its not being a Mummbles fan !!!

I know!!!

So what's your issue, I presume you think Shirley's presence in the side is because he's a favourite of "mumbles"? Outside of Adelaide, the expert judges rate him as one of the better taggers in the game. Ask Judd or Shaun Burgoyne.

Yeah you are on the money !!!

I was thinking that Massie could do what Shirley does - and do a similar job in the midfield - I know its outside of the square but I have seen him play in the midfield and he was able to win the ball which the better taggers do !!!

Massie height 188 and 88 kilos
Shirley height 185 and 85 kilos

But its to late now

all in all, Shirley is not a bad player for pick 56 in the draft
especially when you consider games played and career length compared to others a lot higher up on the on the list.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_d ... 02&t=N&s=P

There were always going to be high expectations on Massie as a Top 10 pick

GCC wrote:all in all, Shirley is not a bad player for pick 56 in the draft
especially when you consider games played and career length compared to others a lot higher up on the on the list.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_d ... 02&t=N&s=P
There were always going to be high expectations on Massie as a Top 10 pick

actually Shirls was pick 67 in the 99 draft, he was delisted at the end of the 02 season the redrafted in the 02 draft a month after being delisted

makes him an even bigger bargain

Shirley is one of the worst players going around in the AFL. Cant kick, cant make decisions, always puts team mates under pressure etc. Very lucky to have a gid when VB or Doughty can do a job. I wouldve had Massie anyday, couldve taken over Bassetts position.

1Eyed wrote:Shirley is one of the worst players going around in the AFL. Cant kick, cant make decisions, always puts team mates under pressure etc. Very lucky to have a gid when VB or Doughty can do a job. I wouldve had Massie anyday, couldve taken over Bassetts position.

The Crows have a few who make more of those mistakes than Shirley, but I agree Massie may have been a good replacement for Bassett.
However, the pressure is on the grab some good kids before the new teams get to dominate the draft.

Shirley's skills in the Elim. final were shocking.
Generally plays Ok when the crows have a big win, very suspect in big games.. Should have been delisted to.

Massie was shocking in the Elim final but then again so were heaps of others, but he seemed to be the unlucky scrapgoat in the end.