Patience is a virtue

[Meredith1965]

I have followed this board for a long time, and found myself half-nodding at chestnuts like “Noble’s a dud, not best 22” ; “we should trade Josh Daicos cos he’s not gonna make it” ; “Cox is not an AFL standard footballer”.

Now, Noble is not just best 22, his speed and run has been a key part of our rise this year. He is moving toward Jack Crisp levels.

Josh Daicos did take a while to mature, it is true. He’s now a solid B+ grader and he might go up a grade in the weeks ahead.

If Cox (with his rediscovered advantage of being able to see the football) was not on our list, we would not be in the top 4.

I’m now just hoping that Cal Brown can find his niche, and the last of the daisies will have risen from the dunghill !

[Pies4shaw]

^ The calls for delisting Josh were just idiocy. He always had the skill but midfield runners have to train up their tank over years.

[Meredith1965]

^ the only damning criticism I really understood was Mason. But I think his circumstances were not really understood, and he was being played out of position as a tall forward.

Noble was doing fine when was the whipping boy. He is actually important now.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

Totally agree. Not much more to add. Mason Cox at one point wasn't earning his keep. Same with John Noble. Now they are. Doesn't mean they didn't deserve criticism at the time, only that people on this board don't have a lot of patience to want to persevere with them. Callum Brown is a case in point. At 24 years years of age how long should we give him to start making a valuable contribution? Maybe the time has come to let him go. Another is Madgen. He's doing well as a forward in the VFL. Is there a place on the list for him? Maybe not with Daniel McStay coming to the club next year.