The Good, the Bad and Ricky Nixon
Has it really been almost a month since I’ve posted? Terrible job by me. Let’s take a look at what we’ve seen so far and play a round of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
The Good
Mitch Duncan: Out of all the fringe players he easily looked the best and should be in the Round 1 team. He could definitely work on the defensive and contested parts of his game, but he’s confident and purposeful with the ball and kicks goals. And he’s dead ringer for former Geelong flanker David Cameron, in looks and playing style. (Does anyone else remember these obscure GFC past players? These are the things that are lodged in my brain that prevent me from remembering any new information, like “you don’t like iced-coffee, stop ordering it”.)
The draftees: Really impressed with Cam Guthrie and George Horlin-Smith, both looked like natural footballers that could step up the AFL level reasonably quickly. And we’re yet to see no. 1 pick Billie Smedts, supposedly the best of the lot. Plus, it sounds like Stephen Wells drafted them from a Hemmingway novel. Good times.
The old guard: Over the summer I must have forgotten how good Selwood and Bartel are. Just absolute guns. Interestingly, Bartel played forward for a large part of the Round1 game(s), something he hasn’t done much of, but something he seems perfectly suited to. And Darren Milburn, who a lot of people were calling for to retire, looked as reliable, and just plain good, as ever.
The return of the Kent: Well, his jumper anyway, now being worn by Josh Cowan. I’m probably in the minority here, but I miss seeing the big fella strutting around the goal square, barking at team-mates and half-heartedly chasing and then inexplicably kicking 8 goals the following week. Long live the Kent of Kingsley!
Mitch Brown: Not that he played, just that he actually exists and made it through the banner without spontaneously bursting into flames. 2012 is more likely his time, so here’s hoping he stays fit and clunks a few in the VFL this year.
The Bad
Has it really been almost a month since I’ve posted? Terrible job by me. Let’s take a look at what we’ve seen so far and play a round of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.The Good
Mitch Duncan: Out of all the fringe players he easily looked the best and should be in the Round 1 team. He could definitely work on the defensive and contested parts of his game, but he’s confident and purposeful with the ball and kicks goals. And he’s dead ringer for former Geelong flanker David Cameron, in looks and playing style. (Does anyone else remember these obscure GFC past players? These are the things that are lodged in my brain that prevent me from remembering any new information, like “you don’t like iced-coffee, stop ordering it”.)
The draftees: Really impressed with Cam Guthrie and George Horlin-Smith, both looked like natural footballers that could step up the AFL level reasonably quickly. And we’re yet to see no. 1 pick Billie Smedts, supposedly the best of the lot. Plus, it sounds like Stephen Wells drafted them from a Hemmingway novel. Good times.
The old guard: Over the summer I must have forgotten how good Selwood and Bartel are. Just absolute guns. Interestingly, Bartel played forward for a large part of the Round1 game(s), something he hasn’t done much of, but something he seems perfectly suited to. And Darren Milburn, who a lot of people were calling for to retire, looked as reliable, and just plain good, as ever.
The return of the Kent: Well, his jumper anyway, now being worn by Josh Cowan. I’m probably in the minority here, but I miss seeing the big fella strutting around the goal square, barking at team-mates and half-heartedly chasing and then inexplicably kicking 8 goals the following week. Long live the Kent of Kingsley!
Mitch Brown: Not that he played, just that he actually exists and made it through the banner without spontaneously bursting into flames. 2012 is more likely his time, so here’s hoping he stays fit and clunks a few in the VFL this year.
The Bad
The NAB Cup in general: It’s football, but it’s not really football. The three, 40-minute games thing didn’t really work, nor did the last-touched out of bounds rule. Play a couple of practise matches and then get into the real stuff. I don’t want to see Josh Hunt laughing it up with Stephen Milne after the game, I want to see Scarlett telling Robert Harvey he wasted 20 years of his life.
Expectations: Everyone was waiting for Steven Motlop to bust out, for Tom Gillies to challenge for a key defensive post, for Allen Christiansen to show some signs and Simon Hogan to do anything. None of the above look quite ready yet, which is fine, considering Geelong essentially fielded a VFL team against the Saints. Menzel, who I’ve always liked (and who reminds me, the way he looks and moves, of Tristan Lynch. Not a reflection on his abilities, but I just can’t shake it) wasn’t as sharp as I expected. But their time will come and they’ve all shown some signs. Gotta remember it’s only March and players have spent more time on their tans than their ball skills.
The Ugly
Expectations: Everyone was waiting for Steven Motlop to bust out, for Tom Gillies to challenge for a key defensive post, for Allen Christiansen to show some signs and Simon Hogan to do anything. None of the above look quite ready yet, which is fine, considering Geelong essentially fielded a VFL team against the Saints. Menzel, who I’ve always liked (and who reminds me, the way he looks and moves, of Tristan Lynch. Not a reflection on his abilities, but I just can’t shake it) wasn’t as sharp as I expected. But their time will come and they’ve all shown some signs. Gotta remember it’s only March and players have spent more time on their tans than their ball skills.
Maxless: Not having Max Rooke this year hurts more than not having Ablett. Just like Charlie Sheen, Max knew only one speed, did things that would kill a normal human and had fire-breathing fists and tiger blood dripping fangs... Well, maybe not that last one.
The Ugly
Ricky Nixon: As Mrs Watson remarked, “I just assumed that he’d already done plenty of dodgier stuff”. What a hideous looking creature. And what’s with the hair? Is it a perm? Does he go to the hairdresser and say, “make me look like Gadaffi’s retarded younger brother?” These are the questions the AFL Commission should be asking.
Steve Johnson playing anywhere other than forward: I don’t think we want him thinking too much, otherwise you end up with the turnover-riddled, “playing like millionaires” display he put on against StKilda. If he keeps that shit up, Mrs Watson is going to end up pulling an Elvis on his TV by round 6. But I do think he needs to play seniors every week, regardless. He’s like Mitchell Johnson; he will be erratic from time to time, but he’ll also pull a 20-minute spell out of his ass that will absolutely win you the game.
Twitter: My account has been pretty much stagnant for 6 months but this season I’m vowing to bring that useless bastard back to life, kinda like what Channel Gem did with “The Nanny”. Anyway, join twitter and follow me @Bigleaguelittle and I’ll bring the 140 character gold on the reg.
Steve Johnson playing anywhere other than forward: I don’t think we want him thinking too much, otherwise you end up with the turnover-riddled, “playing like millionaires” display he put on against StKilda. If he keeps that shit up, Mrs Watson is going to end up pulling an Elvis on his TV by round 6. But I do think he needs to play seniors every week, regardless. He’s like Mitchell Johnson; he will be erratic from time to time, but he’ll also pull a 20-minute spell out of his ass that will absolutely win you the game.
Twitter: My account has been pretty much stagnant for 6 months but this season I’m vowing to bring that useless bastard back to life, kinda like what Channel Gem did with “The Nanny”. Anyway, join twitter and follow me @Bigleaguelittle and I’ll bring the 140 character gold on the reg.
posted by the captain at 5:11 pm
12 Comments:
Bahahaha at Ricky Nixon. I too always assumed he had done far dodgier things. He looks like the uncle who saves his best for the ladies at the family BBQ after a few wobbly-pops.
-Tee from Vancouver
"I want to see Scarlett telling Robert Harvey he wasted 20 years of his life"
Spilt my beer laughing my arse off! Gold!
- Warnie.
Mitch "The Dunk" Duncan gets a tick for his performance yesterday against the Blues, as does Varcoe, Selwood and Steve "The Millionaire" Johnson. Mitch Brown even kicked a couple of snags. When we get our carrot-topped captain back and he slots straight into a half forward in a defensive role against a cheap kicks running backman, lookout bitches, the fucking Cats are back. Which is just as well 'cause Essendon are gonna win the next 7 flags, just fucking ask them.
12 days 'till the Saints and the 2011 circus is away.
Go Cats.
...fustercluck...
If Geelong can only win flags the year that channel 10 has the Grand Final, who gets the Brownlow?
Chris Judd might actually be in the top 10 players in the AFL this year and win back to back Brownlows. It's not like they aren't just giving them away these days.
Someone needs to email a few Pies supporters and tell them that Swan wasn't runner up in 2010.
Oh and Captain, I think comparing Steve Johnson to Mitchell Johnson is pretty ordinary. Stevie J is reasonably consistent and on his day he is a match winner that is virtually impossible to stop. Mitchell Johnson is an erratic southpaw pie chucker that gets repeatedly selected by the most underperforming cricket administration in living memory.
...fustercluck...
The Scarlett line was pure gold - kudos Kaptain.
The start to the year could be a bit ugly IMO. Pre-season means fuck all because of the b list line up we were fielding, but we still have quite a few blokes that either aren't ready to come back or will come back stone cold. Saints are up and running, then Freo at home, flog Port at skilled, Sydney at the SCG could be tricky, then the Hawks at the G. Hmmm.
Therefore, my prediction - after a loss to North Melbourne in Round 7, we will be 5 - 1 and people already writing our obituary. We then endure a week of "Remember the prelim?" articles leading up to the Pies, whom we then flog on the way to a run of wins up and including the GF. That's right boys, its 2007 all over again!
Maybe.
Ahh my darling Saints.....how do I love thee?
Eat Shit Nick. I really enjoyed watching the Channel 7 highlights reel of your numerous dropped contested marks. Kudos to the Saints midfield for kicking the ball down your throat all night, allowing you to not mark it with such precision and regularity. On reflection, your spilling of the pill was very September 2009.
Go Cats.
...fustercluck...
p.s. Can you extend a coach's contract based on his body language in the box during his 1st game? Yes, that deliberate out-of -bounds was bullshit. Thanks for a great show Chris Scott. Mark who?
Oh yeah, nice game Mitch Duncan, Wojo and Tickets.
...f...
Nick asked Peter Berbakov if he had noticed any obvious reason for his poor conversion rate, to which he replies:
"There's a piece of sh*t on the end of your boot."
Nick takes off his boot and cleans it, at which point, Berbakov says: "No, the other end."
Gold!!
Gold!!!
-Tee from Vancouver
By the way Captain, can you email, fax, telegram or whatever Mrs Watson is available on these days and ask him about the kids, it seems a number of them are without nicknames at this late stage in their careers (Menzel, Guthrie, Hunt, Duncan etc.)
-Tee from Vancouver
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