NATHAN THOMPSON’S season is over

[sydney-dog]

As reported on AFL.com

NATHAN THOMPSON’S season is over before it has effectively begun following confirmation the Kangaroos key forward has severed a medial ligament and almost certainly ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Lenny Hayes was also reported in his come back match

[Sojourner]

If a club can come through the pre-seson with no reports or injuries, playing someone in round one that has not been so fortunate must give the first team a real advantage towards picking up premiership points.

The question then needs to be asked of the relevance of the pre season competition, sure clubs will always have trial games, yet maybe increasing the season by two rounds could be a better way to go.

[Adelaide Hawk]

If a club can come through the pre-seson with no reports or injuries, playing someone in round one that has not been so fortunate must give the first team a real advantage towards picking up premiership points.

The question then needs to be asked of the relevance of the pre season competition, sure clubs will always have trial games, yet maybe increasing the season by two rounds could be a better way to go.

If they increased the season by 2 rounds, clubs will start training 2 weeks earlier, and still have the same numbers of trial games. Every AFL club is looking for some advantage over their opposition.

As for Thompson, bad luck for the guy, but his replacement Aaron Edwards is IMHO a more dangerous forward, so it could be a blessing in disguise.

[Dutchy]

F%^&***%$$E$$$^%Y&^&U*(((*&&&())_#####KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

only positive is that it will definately be Laidleys last year....get Horse and Duck back

[McAlmanac]

As for Thompson, bad luck for the guy, but his replacement Aaron Edwards is IMHO a more dangerous forward, so it could be a blessing in disguise.

Gotta disagree there. Thompson is a gun in a VERY ordinary side. He was the only bloke the Kangaroos had last year who ever looked like hurting the opposition.

I saw Edwards play his first game for West Coast against Richmond a couple of years ago. He looked impressive but quickly disappeared from view and I think the good backmen will quell him.

The Kangaroos will be bottom two. Laidley's style was defensive and unimaginative, but let's see how any other coach goes with the smallest football department in the league. And have a look at the Kangaroos list outside the top 25. There's probably one one bloke with a double digit games tally.

[Dutchy]

this VERY ordinary side finished 5th 18 months ago....explain that....things will be tough this year without losing Thompson...just have a look at our draw...havent seen enough of Edwards but anyone who can win the Liston and kick 100 goals at 6 foot must have something

[sydney-dog]

McAlmanac

I disagree with your thompson comment, it's definitely a lot more difficult for a forward to play in a struggling side, you need to think about the quality of the ball movement and delivery, the amount of opportunities created by the midfield

it's a lot easier for a forward playing in a top side, if Thompson was playing in front of a west coast midfield he would be a 80 goal forward, how more often do the Eagles get the ball inside the forward 50 compared to other sides, plus the delivery is silver service.

Dutchy

On your Horse comment, I am not saying he is not the right man for the job, I just think the club need a strong process to ensure they get the best man for the job at that time.

How do we rate these assistant coaches, how do we measure there value and actual benefit to a club, is it purely judged on where that club has finished.

In regards to the Saints job, at the end of the day it was not a close call between Horse and Lyon for the Saints job, the reason, Horses presentation to the Saints was well below the standard expected from such a process.

I am not saying Horse wont be a good senior coach but what I am saying clubs can fall in to a trap at selecting the wrong candidate, for the wrong reasons based on a criteria that is not measurable.

[am Bays]

Dutchy one of the reasons you finished fifth in 2005 and you won the games you did last year was because of the structure Thompson offered to your side.

He straightened your players up and gave you a target to kick to, a 60 goal forward is hard to replace in todays footy

In 2005 you had Sav Rocca kicking goals too.

Without those forward targets in 2007 I can see the Ross struggling with those two. I know you will disagree but bottom four awaits.

In many way you are like the Crows, your best players are your older players, Grant, Harvey, Archer, Simpson so they can not be reasonably expect to perform at the same level they did in previous seasons. Hence why I think North will finish no better than last year and the Crows will slide to finish 8-5 at best.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Dutchy one of the reasons you finished fifth in 2005 and you won the games you did last year was because of the structure Thompson offered to your side.

He straightened your players up and gave you a target to kick to, a 60 goal forward is hard to replace in todays footy

In 2005 you had Sav Rocca kicking goals too.

Without those forward targets in 2007 I can see the Ross struggling with those two. I know you will disagree but bottom four awaits.

Thompson kicked 52 goals in 2005 and they finished 7th. He kicked 54 goals in 2006 and they finished 14th. At this point of time I can see no reason why Aaron Edwards cannot kick more goals than 54 in 2007. How come Thompson's 52 goals "straightened them up" in 2005, but his 54 goals failed to do so in 2006?

I think a lot of people in the media have forgotten that the Kangaroos actually finished 14th last season. Listening to SEN last night, when the news came through that Thompson may miss the season, David Schwartz said without his 60 plus goals, they would finish at least 5 to 6 spots lower. Mind you, the Ox was on fire yesterday, he tipped Carlton to make the top 8 in 2007

I e-mailed Ox telling him first of all that Thompson is a 50 goal forward, not a 60 plus goals forward, and that he kicked 54 last season in a team that finished 14th. I asked if that meant had he been injured and missed all of 2006 they would have finished 19th 0r 20th? (5 or 6 spots lower than 14th). Thompson has become a member of the media, and like all other media favourites his ability is elevated far beyond reality.

[Dutchy]

Dutchy one of the reasons you finished fifth in 2005 and you won the games you did last year was because of the structure Thompson offered to your side.

He straightened your players up and gave you a target to kick to, a 60 goal forward is hard to replace in todays footy

In 2005 you had Sav Rocca kicking goals too.

Without those forward targets in 2007 I can see the Ross struggling with those two. I know you will disagree but bottom four awaits.

In many way you are like the Crows, your best players are your older players, Grant, Harvey, Archer, Simpson so they can not be reasonably expect to perform at the same level they did in previous seasons. Hence why I think North will finish no better than last year and the Crows will slide to finish 8-5 at best.

Dont disagree with anything you have said...apart from Grant and Harvey who havent hit 30 yet.....I knew we were in trouble as soon as I saw the draw...I have argued on here that they wont finish bottom as many are predicting....

Rucks - Above Average
Midfield - Good
Defence - Rebuilding/Average
Forwards - Without Thompson questionable
Depth - Young and inexperienced


AH - after the minor round they finished 5th in 2005...I was really looking forward to seeing thompson with the new attacking game plan as he would actually have apce to work with...

And I agree Im not sure Horse is the man for the job...but if Duck recommends him and it gets him back to the club as well Im happy with that

[McAlmanac]

McAlmanac

I disagree with your thompson comment, it's definitely a lot more difficult for a forward to play in a struggling side, you need to think about the quality of the ball movement and delivery, the amount of opportunities created by the midfield

it's a lot easier for a forward playing in a top side, if Thompson was playing in front of a west coast midfield he would be a 80 goal forward, how more often do the Eagles get the ball inside the forward 50 compared to other sides, plus the delivery is silver service.

I said Thompson was a gun in an ordinary side. Do I need to heap any more praise on him?

The difference between the Roos that finished 5th in 05 and now would be Rocca, Colbert (an important piece of glue at the back), Thompson going down and Glenn Archer being 18 months older (sounds like I'm writing him off, but surely he is now a cameo player). A lot of talent and experience there that any team would miss.

[McAlmanac]

Dutchy one of the reasons you finished fifth in 2005 and you won the games you did last year was because of the structure Thompson offered to your side.

He straightened your players up and gave you a target to kick to, a 60 goal forward is hard to replace in todays footy.

Eerily, I can hear Graham Cornes saying that in my head.

[Dogwatcher]

Is this the end of Thompson?

[Dutchy]

Is this the end of Thompson?

WHy would you say that?

[MW]

Is this the end of Thompson?

That's a bit premature I would of thought...

[Rik E Boy]

As for Thompson, bad luck for the guy, but his replacement Aaron Edwards is IMHO a more dangerous forward, so it could be a blessing in disguise.

Aaron Edwards more dangerous than Nathan Thompson? Fair dinkum.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

this VERY ordinary side finished 5th 18 months ago....explain that....things will be tough this year without losing Thompson...just have a look at our draw...havent seen enough of Edwards but anyone who can win the Liston and kick 100 goals at 6 foot must have something

Piss easy draw.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

this VERY ordinary side finished 5th 18 months ago....explain that....things will be tough this year without losing Thompson...just have a look at our draw...havent seen enough of Edwards but anyone who can win the Liston and kick 100 goals at 6 foot must have something

Piss easy draw.

regards,

REB

now you are taking the piss REB!!!

[Rik E Boy]

Full Time Scores # Rd Team Score Versus Score Gnd Result Marg Lad Pos
1 Kangaroos 16.9 (105) vs Carlton 12.13 (85) TD WON 20 7 Carlton Crap
2 Kangaroos 12.10 (82) vs Sydney 7.17 (59) Man WON 23 2 Good win but Swannies traditionally slow starters
3 Kangaroos 15.10 (100) vs St Kilda 14.9 (93) TD WON 7 2 Good win against a tradtional nemesis
4 Kangaroos 14.9 (93) vs Collingwood 13.12 (90) MCG WON 3 2 Collingwood were lame ducks in 2005
5 Kangaroos 16.12 (108) vs Hawthorn 13.11 (89) MCG WON 19 2 Hawthorn crap
6 Kangaroos 10.4 (64) vs Adelaide 10.14 (74) AAMI Lost -10 2 Gutsy loss
7 Kangaroos 10.12 (72) vs Port Adel 18.11 (119) AAMI Lost -47 5 Rare loss to Roos bitches
8 Kangaroos 13.14 (92) vs W Bulldogs 18.10 (118) TD Lost -26 5 Surprise loss to the Bullies
9 Kangaroos 8.13 (61) vs Geelong 22.14 (146) SS Lost -85 7 A shocker at Cat park
10 Kangaroos 17.10 (112) vs Bris Lions 13.15 (93) Gabba WON 19 6 Good win on the road but Bribane by this stage had lost it's lusture
11 Kangaroos 11.14 (80) vs Melbourne 17.14 (116) Man Lost -36 7 Outplayed
12 Kangaroos 17.7 (109) vs Richmond 10.20 (80) TD WON 29 7 Richmond crap
13 Kangaroos 8.18 (66) vs Fremantle 6.8 (44) Sub WON 22 6 Good win on the road
14 Kangaroos 19.14 (128) vs Essendon 13.8 (86) TD WON 42 5 Essendon crap
15 Kangaroos 14.13 (97) vs West Coast 15.11 (101) TD Lost -4 7 No shame here
16 Kangaroos 16.13 (109) vs Hawthorn 10.8 (68 ) TD WON 41 5 Hawthorn crap
17 Kangaroos 16.13 (109) vs Adelaide 19.8 (122) TD Lost -13 6 Another battling loss against the Cows
18 Kangaroos 15.10 (100) vs Port Adel 14.12 (96) Man WON 4 5 Return to form against the Power
19 Kangaroos 15.14 (104) vs Collingwood 14.14 (98 ) TD WON 6 5 Collingwood crap
20 Kangaroos 13.7 (85) vs St Kilda 16.12 (108) TD Lost -23 5 Return to form against the Saints
21 Kangaroos 9.10 (64) vs Sydney 15.11 (101) SCG Lost -37 5 Swannies on a roll by this stage
22 Kangaroos 17.11 (113) vs Carlton 12.11 (83) TD WON 30 5 Carlton crap
1EF Kangaroos 11.11 (77) vs Port Adel 26.8 (164) TD Lost -87 5th beaten by 8th


Taking the piss? I think not. The above shows that the 2005 Kangaroos were flattered by a ranking of 5th during the 2005 season. A classic case of flat track bullies with only 3 wins in 12 matches against fellow top eight combinations. Hawthorn, Carlton, Collingwood and your bitches Port twice in one year...what more do you want?

regards,

REB

[RoosterMarty]

The massive loss at home to Port in the final sums it up...