THE CROKER POLL .. THE RESULT UPDATED!

[Highflier]

Probably the fittest guy in the side + can tackle the big boys + first full off season without any injuries + lots of new talent around him = no pressure and not too many brain explosions. Go Lachlan....this will be your breakout year mate. You deserve it. Option 1 for me.

That makes 2of us

 

[joeboy]

My thoughts on croker and his league skills can be found in most game day threads from last year.

Whilst I wish him well as if he is having a good year it probably means manly are, I really don’t see the exponential improvement some are expecting. He just needs to do the little things well and not get out of his wheelhouse.

I don’t expect much from him but it would be nice if he can be more consistent, poised, steady, dependable and measured than he was last year.

It’s a make or break year for him both at manly and more than likely his career, let’s hope that doesn’t result in overplaying his hand but rather an underrated cog in a finely tuned machine.

He has got to do a lot right this year to expunge my memories of him last year. He was a well credentialed whipping boy last year and deservedly so

 

[johnperi01]

Look, every Manly supporter wants to see Croker succeed at 9, but nothing he did last year suggests he will be the right fit. I would have thought Cust at least showed he could make a break, and given the amount of times Croker couldn’t even do the simple things right, I fear that having Foran, DCE, Schuster and Turbo, will be wasted without a quality 9.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

As Ranga said above if he can even be solid and consistent that will be enough to keep most people quiet.

You are working on the flawed assumption that most posters are reasonable 🙂

The best halves in the world aren't going to do you much good if they don't get the ball when they need it. So whoever gets the gig this season, we're going to be asking a lot of him.

That is precisely the advantage of Foz, if he goes left he hits Foz, if he goes right he gets DCE.
It's a good decision either way so you'd need a pretty dumb hooker to get it wrong!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Regardless of our poll today . Croker has the final say

All Manly supporters wish you have the best year ever Lachlan

You think you are on a first name basis with this guy? After the cancer comment, for which you never apologised! Shame Bozo! In fact I think in future you should always have to refer to him as Mr Croker. I might ask Woodsie to run on a poll on that 🙂

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

We've almost exhausted this topic, but I'd like to add one more thing. There is, and always has been, a good reason that hooker/dummy half is a specialist position. All first-grade footy players should be able to pass and tackle, but that doesn't mean they all have the makings of a good dummy half. It's knowing which direction to pass and when; it's knowing when to run and when not to. All a team's attack - all of it, not some of it - comes from the ruck. So if the dummy half doesn't hit the right person or the right side, you're buggered. Everything starts from the dummy half and the decisions he makes. The best halves in the world aren't going to do you much good if they don't get the ball when they need it. So whoever gets the gig this season, we're going to be asking a lot of him.

Well I was going to say I hope Croker can count opposition numbers, but you’ve said it better @Ron E. Gibbs

 

[HoldenV8]

I voted 3, will hope for 2 and will die of shock if we get 1.

 

[StuBoot]

We've almost exhausted this topic, but I'd like to add one more thing. There is, and always has been, a good reason that hooker/dummy half is a specialist position. All first-grade footy players should be able to pass and tackle, but that doesn't mean they all have the makings of a good dummy half. It's knowing which direction to pass and when; it's knowing when to run and when not to. All a team's attack - all of it, not some of it - comes from the ruck. So if the dummy half doesn't hit the right person or the right side, you're buggered. Everything starts from the dummy half and the decisions he makes. The best halves in the world aren't going to do you much good if they don't get the ball when they need it. So whoever gets the gig this season, we're going to be asking a lot of him.

Exactly, it's why dummy halfs/hookers like Ballin, Walters, Smith etc lasted so long and their teams were pretty successful.
Get to dummy half, hit the player/s you need to hit, jog off towards where the next ruck is going to be, repeat.
And tackle, tackle, tackle.

 

[The better Robbo]

Exactly, it's why dummy halfs/hookers like Ballin, Walters, Smith etc lasted so long and their teams were pretty successful.
Get to dummy half, hit the player/s you need to hit, jog off towards where the next ruck is going to be, repeat.
And tackle, tackle, tackle.

Croker for P.M

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Croker for P.M

It’ll either be ME or YOU with egg on our face.

Interesting times.

 

[Eagles4Life]

I have to justify my stance , option 3 for me !!

Same

 

[Eagles4Life]

Id accept 2 but somewhat hoping for 1. I think he can more than just do his job and do it well! I don't think he is anywhere near as bad as people say and at #9 will be a quality player for us!

As Ranga said above if he can even be solid and consistent that will be enough to keep most people quiet.

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Just saying.

 

[Freagle]

The point at keeps coming up here is...”so long as he can tackle all day and deliver a crisp pass, he’ll go ok”. Which reminds us of...who? What’s that? Matt Ballin? Why yes, yes it does!

Not saying he’ll do it as well of course, but Ballin made simple, direct, fast and functional Ball-playing an art form in his time with the Eagles. If Croker can tap into it and give us say, 75% of that, we’ll go OK. Similarly fit guys, which will help with defence. Plus Ballin is a big part of the club coaching staff now.

I’m warming to this...(not a lot, but a little bit).

 

[mave]

Couldn't be ****ed reading the whole thread, but voted for breakout year....and I'm looking forward to being proven correct

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Couldn't be ****ed reading the whole thread, but voted for breakout year....and I'm looking forward to being proven correct

Oh goody , that’s another vote making it 5.

Trouble is there’s a 100 going the other way!!

 

[Shnorky]

Ask yourself this question, is the future immortal going to thrive under pressure or is he going to buckle under pressure. That should be considered when voting

 

[Go manly]

Oh goody , that’s another vote making it 5.

Trouble is there’s a 100 going the other way!!

6

 

[Kevinward777]

Oh goody , that’s another vote making it 5.

Trouble is there’s a 100 going the other way!!

7

 

[wombatgc]

Couldn't be ****ed reading the whole thread, but voted for breakout year....and I'm looking forward to being proven correct

@Woodsie will be pissed. He’s taken the whole pollster thing to another level. And in his words, anything to get through the off-season.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Matt Balin was a great Hooker in his day but the game has changed. Yes passing and tackling are important but are only half of the required formula for the modern 9.