Williams

[pevfan]

Has almost become the forgotten man at Windy Hill. I know he's done SFA this season with Bendigo. But he does have impeccable credentials.... Theoretically at least, he'd be the best performed full forward on our list given his record at Hawthorn. What do you blokes reckon...Would it be a bridge too far for the coaching panel to come to him and say..."Look, we're going to give you X (lets say 4 for the sake of the argument) number of games to show us what you've got in the position in which you made your name.

As stated, while he's done nothing to warrant promotion, I get the very distinct that he's the sort of bloke that just cannot perform anywhere but on the biggest stage...there's been plenty of very good footballers as well as other top sportsmen who had very ordinary records at the sub-elite level e.g. Dennis Lillee had a rather unflattering Shield record with WA and yet we all know how good he was in the test arena...Warnie, much the same.

Thoughts???

[robrulz5]

I would much prefer Hurley or Ryder playing at FF as they are long term prospects. Willo couldn't do much worse than Monfries at the moment.

[Gyoza]

Absolutely not. We've played well this year and he's not required unless he forces his way into the team via VFL performances.

I don't think he will do that, and given the emerging talent on our list if we get to the end of the year and are finding it difficult to make space for the next group of draftees, he should be paid out.

[BenDoolan]

They've been playing him everywhere but full forward for Bendigo this year.

[robbie67]

Whoever pushed Lloyd out the door, and then gave this Gnome a 3 year deal should never be allowed anywhere near the club again.

[Jazz_84]

Whoever pushed Lloyd out the door, and then gave this Gnome a 3 year deal should never be allowed anywhere near the club again.

most ridiculous "list management" move ive ever seen...... just thinking about it makes me sad, can you imagine Hurley and Lloyd down there at the moment? i know Lloyd would be what 32/33 now but dead set, he'd have a ball down there not getting double teamed simply due to the fact they can't leave all our other talls on their own.... ah the joy we could be watching at the moment

[hop]

Whoever pushed Lloyd out the door, and then gave this Gnome a 3 year deal should never be allowed anywhere near the club again.

Let's not let speculation and innuendo become reality.

No doubting - Lloyd was pushed - however by his own admission he was finished at the end of 2009. He would not have played on beyond this point.

It was the way he went - not the timing that was most disappointing.

As for the Gnome - one of the worse drafting decisions the club has ever made. 3 years - a million $ plus - a spot on a developing list - and for what?????

[BenDoolan]

No doubting - Lloyd was pushed

Was he? He was offered another contract and turned it down. That's a fact.

But the circumstances surrounding his decision to retire was most likely due to the fact he and Knights were at loggerheads in regards to the role he would play if he continued. Lloyd wanted to play at full forward - Knights wanted him to take a more roaming role (to allow the likes of Gumbleton and Neagle to develop as key forwards lol)

Lloyd didn't think he got the respect from Knights that he deserved - being captain and all - and I wonder if the captaincy issue was raised during their discussions prior to his decision. If it was, I reckon Lloyd wouldn't play on if he wasn't the captain of the club.

IMO, I think blame should be equally shared when it comes to discussing Lloyd's decision to retire. Both (he & Knights) were stubborn mules with regard to what they wanted from each other. But I was more in Knights' corner in regard to moving on and developing the team (at the time). I felt Lloyd was being a bit selfish and not looking after the interests of the team as a whole. And I didn't regard Lloyd as a good captain of the club - there were a number of instances were I felt he let himself and the team down during his tenure.

But anyway, that's history now. The decision to get Williams was not based around the replacement for Lloyd. It was a complex deal to get Andrew Lovett to another club and we did that by getting #16 for Lovett which we traded along with Jay Nash to Port Adelaide + #42 to Geelong to get Mark Williams + #24 (Jake Carlisle) from Port and #33 (Anthony Long) from Geelong.

[Windy_Hill]

Williams is the "Forgotten Man" for a reason.

[pevfan]

I still reckon we gotta try and get SOME sort of value from him FFS, particularly if Ryder and Hurley continue to struggle as they have over the past couple of weeks. With arguably some relatively easier games coming up I will be looking for Paddy and Hurley to start to turn their games around. If that doesn't happen Williams has got to be worth a try... surely

[hop]

No doubting - Lloyd was pushed

Was he? He was offered another contract and turned it down. That's a fact.

But the circumstances surrounding his decision to retire was most likely due to the fact he and Knights were at loggerheads in regards to the role he would play if he continued. Lloyd wanted to play at full forward - Knights wanted him to take a more roaming role (to allow the likes of Gumbleton and Neagle to develop as key forwards lol)

Lloyd didn't think he got the respect from Knights that he deserved - being captain and all - and I wonder if the captaincy issue was raised during their discussions prior to his decision. If it was, I reckon Lloyd wouldn't play on if he wasn't the captain of the club.

IMO, I think blame should be equally shared when it comes to discussing Lloyd's decision to retire. Both (he & Knights) were stubborn mules with regard to what they wanted from each other. But I was more in Knights' corner in regard to moving on and developing the team (at the time). I felt Lloyd was being a bit selfish and not looking after the interests of the team as a whole. And I didn't regard Lloyd as a good captain of the club - there were a number of instances were I felt he let himself and the team down during his tenure.

But anyway, that's history now. The decision to get Williams was not based around the replacement for Lloyd. It was a complex deal to get Andrew Lovett to another club and we did that by getting #16 for Lovett which we traded along with Jay Nash to Port Adelaide + #42 to Geelong to get Mark Williams + #24 (Jake Carlisle) from Port and #33 (Anthony Long) from Geelong.

Agree.

[swoodley]

I still reckon we gotta try and get SOME sort of value from him FFS, particularly if Ryder and Hurley continue to struggle as they have over the past couple of weeks. With arguably some relatively easier games coming up I will be looking for Paddy and Hurley to start to turn their games around. If that doesn't happen Williams has got to be worth a try... surely

Like any other player on the list, he should be selected IF his form warrants it and there is an available spot.

Until then, he should play his guts out every week with the view to being ready if/when he gets his chance.

[s'dreams]

After a year and (nearly) a half not making a pressing case for inclusion in the seniors ... he is

Trade bait for GWS

That is all

[Mrs Mercuri]

After a year and (nearly) a half not making a pressing case for inclusion in the seniors ... he is

Trade bait for GWS

That is all

Don't even think Sheeds will have a nibble at that bait, more chance of Neagle in a GWS guernsey.

Might have to be happy being a permanent VFL player soon im afraid.

[robrulz5]

I still reckon we gotta try and get SOME sort of value from him FFS, particularly if Ryder and Hurley continue to struggle as they have over the past couple of weeks. With arguably some relatively easier games coming up I will be looking for Paddy and Hurley to start to turn their games around. If that doesn't happen Williams has got to be worth a try... surely

If Fletch had played today Hurley would have played forward for the whole game and WOULD have kicked a bag.

[Rossoneri]

But even before this week, Hurley has been horrible and Ryder worse. The structure has been thrown out for some reason. I would leave Ryder either permanent FF or permanent CHB.

[paddyl90]

Rosso your avatar is hypnotising me haha!

No place in the team for him at the moment... not even doing much in VFL. Only dire forward line injuries would be a reason for him to come in for mine.

[robrulz5]

Only dire forward line injuries would be a reason for him to come in for mine.

Even then it could be a better idea to put a midfielder forward.