Team for Lions game (unchanged team named)

[NMWBloods]

Johnson has no peer in the AFL. He is the best at what he does.

[goswannie14]

Considering Johnson plays as the Bulldogs' full forward and main target inside 50, there really is no comparison. The Swans set up totally differently.

If Davis replaced Johnson at the Dogs he would be their leading goal kicker also.

So Johnson should be compared to Hall, not Davis?

[hammo]

Apologies for the spelling. Brad Johnston is about the same size as Kid Terrific. He's actually a bit shorter. He would kill Davis for pace and he's over 30. Think about the two players and how they play and I rest my case.

Considering Johnson plays as the Bulldogs' full forward and main target inside 50, there really is no comparison. The Swans set up totally differently.

If Davis replaced Johnson at the Dogs he would be their leading goal kicker also.

[stellation]

I agree with that. Davis is much more dangerous with a good tap ruckman in the forward line.

So is every player in the competition.

[NMWBloods]

Davis's stats aren't bad against most comparables. As I've said before he's down a little on disposals and tackles, but certainly not so far as to suggest he's finished (and as far as disposals go, most individual Swans are down on disposals relative to most teams. All Davis needs to do really is increase his number of tackles by about 1 per game).

Davis taking the shot from handball from MOL made perfect sense. Most other teams do it. The Swans are not set up to do it and hence it was far less fluid.

As for his other shots. He took a long time to take the shot waiting for a lead. The forward line was clogged.

[connolly]

For all the Davis apologists, there is no questioning the natural brilliance of Nick Davis. He has the ability to do some of the most freakish things with a football, but what he has trouble with is threading this ability into the team concept. All this discussion about Davo's leg speed or statistical comparisons or our best 22/25 has nothing to do with it. In the 4th quarter of Rd 1, you could see it in his eyes that he wanted to be the hero(just look at his face after he kicked that set shot from outside 50. Look familiar), and passing to a teammate in better position was just not on. That shot he took outside 50 after taking a handball sealed his fate. Even Darcy on commentary was commenting on what a horrible decision that was. He was immediately dragged. I just don't think he has it in him to play within the team concept.

FWIW, he's long since spent his credits from that Geelong game. Keep in mind while he kicked those goals there were teammates who delivered him the ball on each occassion. The two taps from Ball, the 60 meter torpy from O'Keefe and the handball from Kennelly.

I agree with that. Davis is much more dangerous with a good tap ruckman in the forward line. When Ball retired so did a lot of Davis "brilliance." Maybe when Spida comes back Davis will be back as well. Your point is well taken. Davis is not at his strongest in one on ones with the ball in the air. He needs it in front of him, preferably silver service. He is a brilliant instinctive snap for goal.

[connolly]

With the exception of Didak, these modern players that you speak of have produced a lot less than Davis has.

Johnston (Bulldogs), Davey and Williams have all fulfilled their potemtial. Kid Terrific hasn't and he's nearly 28. Times about up isn't?

[stellation]

For all the Davis apologists

Why do people who like watching him play and think he can contribute to the team have to be labeled as apologists?

In the 4th quarter of Rd 1, you could see it in his eyes that he wanted to be the hero(just look at his face after he kicked that set shot from outside 50. Look familiar), and passing to a teammate in better position was just not on. That shot he took outside 50 after taking a handball sealed his fate. Even Darcy on commentary was commenting on what a horrible decision that was. He was immediately dragged. I just don't think he has it in him to play within the team concept.

Go back and watch the goal that he kicked from outside 50, he looks for a target inside 50 and takes a long time to opt for the shot on goal.

I don't recall Darcy commenting on his shot off the handball from MOL being a horribe decision? Davis wasn't dragged after taking that shot.

How can you suggest that his 4 goal performance against Geelong was due to a whole team effort whilst also stating that Davis can't play as part of a team ?

[FootyontheBrain]

For all the Davis apologists, there is no questioning the natural brilliance of Nick Davis. He has the ability to do some of the most freakish things with a football, but what he has trouble with is threading this ability into the team concept. All this discussion about Davo's leg speed or statistical comparisons or our best 22/25 has nothing to do with it. In the 4th quarter of Rd 1, you could see it in his eyes that he wanted to be the hero(just look at his face after he kicked that set shot from outside 50. Look familiar), and passing to a teammate in better position was just not on. That shot he took outside 50 after taking a handball sealed his fate. Even Darcy on commentary was commenting on what a horrible decision that was. He was immediately dragged. I just don't think he has it in him to play within the team concept.

FWIW, he's long since spent his credits from that Geelong game. Keep in mind while he kicked those goals there were teammates who delivered him the ball on each occassion. The two taps from Ball, the 60 meter torpy from O'Keefe and the handball from Kennelly.

[dimelb]

Scott Welsh plays as a key position forward. Nathan Brown probably is the player closest to Davis in lack of speed and interestingly attitude. Both are obsolete. The modern players of Delidio, Davey, Rusling, Didak etc. would leave Davis metres behind. One reason among others that Davis cannot play the role of a small key position forward that Brad Johnston does is that he is too slow,(not his fault) and doesn't have the aerobic capacity to make long leads and cover defenders on the rebound (his fault). To make things even worse Davis cannot be played anywhere on the ground except in forward pocket or flank.

True, Davis isn't the fastest small forward - though he isn't slow - but he is a very strong player for his size, especially in a one-on-one contest. He has repeatedly outmuscled his competition, and we all know he's a good kick. I want him back on the park.

[Plugger46]

The modern players of Delidio, Davey, Rusling, Didak etc. would leave Davis metres behind.

With the exception of Didak, these modern players that you speak of have produced a lot less than Davis has.

[connolly]

Slower or about equal: Ebert, Welsh, Fisher, McVeigh (Mark when he plays forward), S.Johnson, N.Brown off the top.

I don't think Davis is slow.

Scott Welsh plays as a key position forward. Nathan Brown probably is the player closest to Davis in lack of speed and interestingly attitude. Both are obsolete. The modern players of Delidio, Davey, Rusling, Didak etc. would leave Davis metres behind. One reason among others that Davis cannot play the role of a small key position forward that Brad Johnston does is that he is too slow,(not his fault) and doesn't have the aerobic capacity to make long leads and cover defenders on the rebound (his fault). To make things even worse Davis cannot be played anywhere on the ground except in forward pocket or flank.

[Plugger46]

Slower or about equal: Ebert, Welsh, Fisher, McVeigh (Mark when he plays forward), S.Johnson, N.Brown off the top.

I don't think Davis is slow.

[connolly]

He's one of the best players in the comp. What's your point?

Just because he isn't as good as him doesn't mean he can't slot somewhere into our best 22.

My point was that Davis is the slowest small forward in the comp. Weve had one suggestion of Ebert which I can't accept. But which small forward is slower? Don't get me wrong as a Port supporter I would love to see him playing in the red and blue stripes. He type of game is really most suitable to the VFL. In the AFL the game style and pace has passed him by. Still we will always have the memories of 05.

[Plugger46]

Apologies for the spelling. Brad Johnston is about the same size as Kid Terrific. He's actually a bit shorter. He would kill Davis for pace and he's over 30. Think about the two players and how they play and I rest my case.

He's one of the best players in the comp. What's your point?

Just because he isn't as good as him doesn't mean he can't slot somewhere into our best 22.