Fasolo Goldsack and Blair, this MUST be their year.

[stui magpie]

Goldsack is a vital cog in the team. The people who actually know something rate him highly.

Fasolo has it in front of him. He's no longer the talented kid, he has talented kids pushing for his spot. Competition for spots can't hurt, he has the potential to be a serious weapon.

Blair cops stick for what he doesn't do rather than what he does do. The match committee keep selecting him so he must be doing something they like, but like fasolo he will have to lift to keep the growing group of young blokes after his spot from pushing him out.

[droversdog65]

Stui everyone has their own take on things, I'm merely responding to the head coach's comments regarding a need for increased scoring and one dimensional players.

Gameplans evolve as do lists and what is immutable today can become insupportable tomorrow.

Time will tell.

[stui magpie]

A team can carry one dimensional players if they're very good at that one dimension. Fasolo isn't, Goldy may be but he's really good at what he does, Blair is the target for the younguns. He won't give away his spot, some kid will have to earn it by proving they can be more value than him.

And that's the way it should work.

[droversdog65]

Indeed they need to be exceptional in that dimension, Goldy is good but not exceptional, Fas is an unknown quantity who has the tools but appears to lack true focus and Blair appears to be roadkill at this stage.

As I said in the OP I have no problem with any of them - especially Blair and Goldy who have paid their dues, but when a club is looking to gain more attacking flair accross the board then non key positional players are looked at first as their removal doesn't harm key structures.

All three a single dimensional which the coach specifically spoke out about, plus both Blair and Goldy are basically defensive beasts which the coach has again spoken out about.

Of the three Fas is the most attacking but gives me the impression of being less than fully committed (purely from an outsiders viewpoint).

Who knows the specifics down the road?

Certainly not me.

But we have a whole flock of talented youngsters that were recruited for just exactly the type of structural and philosophical changes Buckley is talking about.

If they prove out to be worth their trades then places WILL be made for them and some of our current favourites WILL pay that price.

[Member 7167]

I certainly would not include Goldy in this group. He has shown a great deal of versatility for a player that some label as on dimensional. He has been the go to guy who has played in both defence and attack. Recently the team showed their confidence in him by including him in the leadership group.

[John Wren]

[Neil Appleby]

I wouldn't challenge the call on Fasolo but I reckon Goldy does provide flexibility. He is able to play both ends of the ground and provide much needed experience.

Fasolo has been pretty disappointing and I thought he may have been trade bait last November, but given the club didn't think this way, it has to be this year or never.

Blair's performances last year were below his best, no doubt about it and the stats reinforce this. Just about every measure was down, but one remained high and that was his score assists.

I agree that Gault, Thomas, Seedsman and Kennedy need to step up now also.

Sometimes it's perceived as disloyal to discuss the failings of fringe players like Sinclair, Kyle Martin and Seedsman; it shouldn't be. Footy is big business and sophisticated calls need to be made. So long as players are treated with respect by supporters and by the Club, then I don't have an issue with honest appraisal.

[Pies2016]

Ok, try this simple exercise. Would goldy, blair or fasalo get a game in one of the top six teams. Hawks, port, swans, dockers, cats, roos ??
Im not convinced Blair or fasalo would be regulars in any of those six teams.
Port were keen on goldy, so at least they had a role for him. I doubt if he would be a walk up in all of those teams.
If we are planning to climb the ladder quickly over the next couple years, then I see that climb occuring with new kids coming through rather than any of the three under discussion. Bit unfair though, we could have added six more players to this thread.

[Tannin]

Goldsack: yes. Can play tall or small, good kick, good pace, fantastic tackler, can play forward or back. Never going to be a star, always going to be in the selection mix wherever he plays.

Blair: no. Not at a top-8 club. Would be valuable in a leadership role at a no-hoper club though, bringing kids through and teaching them about effort and one percenters. Would be an asset to St Vomit, Melbourne, Footscray, Carlton, West Coast.

Fasolo: worth a rookie list spot, would either turn it on and be a big hit at the right club (Sydney?) or (more likely) be quietly delisted after a patchy season much the way that we delisted Jordan Russell.

[HAL]

Oh really.

[Stinger]

[E]

[Bolsheviki]

[Skids]

Don't worry about Fasolo, the rising star nominee from 2011 has had 2 injury destroying seasons. Get ready for the Faz attack, I'm tipping him to kick 25+ goals and be a real headache for opposition defences to match up on.

[simon tonna]