I don't think that's a correct reading of the situation at all. Goodes may not feel that he can get his touch and match fitness playing a quarter of footy a week. Unlike some commentators, I don't think he is a good choice for sub at all and would much prefer a pacier option coming off the bench to maintain our defensive pressure and run at the tail end of games.
Goodes is a cameo player that needs at least 3 quarters of game time to impact the contest and scoreboard. If he can't contribute in that form I'd rather he were not selected.
He could have played sub, come on early as the sub, and played good game time. He could have played well and got of "dropped row".
Now he has been dropped and it could be hard to get back in.
I would rather gamble on the subs bench than in the NEAFL. He should have asked Tom Mitchell for some advice.
I think the decision just makes a lot of sense. I had Goodesy as sub in my unchanged team to play GWS despite the fact that I agree he is not a good choice for sub. We have known for ages that the team was a bit unbalanced playing KT, Buddy, Reid and Goodes. His role in the forward line seems redundant if we rotate Rohan and Heeney etc through there.
He obviously thinks he can live with the indignity of playing in the reserves, as ROK had to do before him. His influence there will be enormous and it will, as has already been said, give him opportunity to run into match fitness and form, ready to transition into the main team if and when needed. I know it is not quite the same but Chris Judd came back from injury through the 2's so Adam is not exactly a pioneer in the realm of champs running around in the 2's.
Impossible. It would be at least an hour driving ( not counting the hour to get out if the car park) and probably 1 hour 15 on public transport as its no where near a train station.
Im calling BS on this.
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even if 35k which i doubt, poor crowd for two sydney teams.
Giants fans probably avoid the place for the same reasons i do.
The stats seem to suggest that teams that play the sub early in the game lose so maybe that's not a great idea.
After the Bombers game I asked Adam how he'd know when it was time to retire. He said that being subbed out before the last quarter was a fair hint. And laughed as he said it. He also said that he loved playing footy too much to want to walk away - suggesting he'd have to be told.
When he's on the field he can have major impact offensively. I don't think he's been allowed to do much in defence since he was stopped from rucking. But this season his timing has been off with some poorly executed passes, etc. Either the team isn't used to playing with him so they don't pre-empt his moves. Or he needs to come up to speed and playing reserves, not as sub, is the only way to do it.
It shows a characteristic team-first attitude to volunteer to play in the 2s and he should be commended. He would have known it's be front page news on both News and Fairfax websites but he's still doing it to get back in the team - rather than just sulking and waiting for the seniors call.
Incidentally, he also said in the conversation last week that he'd never move to another team to get an extra year or two of games - "I'll be at the Swans or not involved in footy at all. And that's as a player or in admin."
I don't see his motive as selfish at all. In a way it is, wanting to get some form, but in another it isn't. He is doing the team thing as he couldn't give enough he feels he should be getting his form back. He may never come up to the standard again but he will try. I am one who thought he should have retired and still think so.
I think Mitchell should be rewarded for his efforts but they probably won't. Even though Harry didn't even get in the best last week he will probably get the recall. Sad really as we could do with Mitchell as a sub.
On a side note. I think Parks wasn't right last week. He is normally a very good kick for goal and twice he kicked out on full. He looked groggy too. I think we should have followed the concussion rule to the letter and rested him for a game. If he can get that many still concussed imagine what he is going to be like this week if he plays a full game. There were signs there against Essendon with 35 until injured.
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