Eels Blogs

Replies

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  Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 September 21, 2014 at 3:05pm

  Agreed Sixteyboy.
  Kelly wouldn't be even be considered as a backup at most clubs. Even Tom Humble outplayed Kelly today.
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    sixtiesboy > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 September 21, 2014 at 3:12pm

    My point exactly. If he is considered important enough to keep as a backup, we are in trouble. We need to use Wenty as not only a source for back up players but also the place to groom up and comers. Kelly would take the place of a developing player. I'm sure it wasn't my imagination that a crucial spine player like him was in slow motion today. If anyone else watched it can you comment. Was I imagining how disinterested he looked today. Totally devoid of energy and he was the captain and probably the most experienced player!
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  sixtiesboy September 21, 2014 at 3:08pm

  If you are in a position as crucial as a half, the players around you are going to look bad if you are continually stifling or slowing the attack (nb Paulo).
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  Forty20 September 21, 2014 at 3:09pm

  Kelly is what he is, a second string half. He is on a full time contract until the end of this season whereby, if he is interested in staying at the club he will take a second tier deal - which will not hurt our cap nor our development of juniors. If they club is interested in prioritising the development of Zach Dockar-Clay and/or Ryan Matterson in the halves they can simply drop him to the Ron Massey Cup or if by some reason we are desperate for a stop-gap solution in first grade with experience we can promote him as required.
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    sixtiesboy > Forty20 September 21, 2014 at 3:20pm

    Forty, his effort today was not the attitude we require at the club. If that is indicative of his contribution in the future I wouldn't want second tier money spent on him. As for an experienced first grade replacement, no thanks. I would wish him well to try Super league.
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    sixtiesboy > Forty20 September 21, 2014 at 3:30pm

    Forty, you saw today's game. Am I exaggerating how poor he was today? Especially with regard to his energy levels in a grand final qualifier!
• aveel September 21, 2014 at 3:24pm

  What about Sterlo claiming he will be the new long term halfback to take parra forward. Said similar things about the great Mortz and Humble too
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    sixtiesboy > aveel September 21, 2014 at 3:34pm

    I used to have some regard for Morts cause he always gave his all. His defence was better than most halves. His issue was that he was never a creative or organising half. He was simply good at support play which suited our 2009 form. So a top choice half he would never have been.
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  Forty20 September 21, 2014 at 3:28pm

  But second tier money is irrelevant. It only counts if the player plays first grade. I think Kelly does have some value to the club (NRL experience and can cover hooker/half) although it is patently obvious that he is never going to be a long term first grader.

  If keeping Kelly meant that we were actively inhibiting the development of players like Matterson and Dockar-Clay I would be concerned about having him on the books in any capacity but as it is the club literally would lose nothing by throwing him a second tier deal. Assuming that the club believes that Matterson's future is in the halves and they want to partner him with ZDC, Kelly simply makes way via the RM Cup. Alternatively, if Matterson is preferred at lock or in the backrow we now have a senior partner to ZDC.

  Wenty used 54 players this year. That is a staggering number. Although Kelly has his flaws that number is also indicative of what he has been working with in 2014 and as such I have no grievances with Brad Arthur if Kelly is part of however many players we use at Wenty in 2015.
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    sixtiesboy > Forty20 September 21, 2014 at 3:37pm

    I know it doesn't count but I still see it as a waste. Seriously today was bad mate.