Hi all, I thought you might appreciate some info on your new player from someone that's seen a lot of him. I'll try to keep it neutral and as comprehensive as I can.
HISTORY
When Cain first came to us he was reported to be injury prone, have a real bad work ethic/attitude and several port fans suggested that he may have even had some kind of mental illness.
Suffice to say that we viewed his recruitment as an opportunity for him to ressurect his career and with our ruck stocks being worse then what they are now (which is really saying something) the opportunity was there for him to claim the top ruck spot instead of playing 3-4th fiddle behind Primus, Lade, Brogan and French for much of his career (3-6ish games in about 3-4 years I think)
The early reports of him was that he was extremely enthusiatic and a lovely kick of the ball.
Into his first year, he started off very well. Though he clearly wasn't as good as the big boys (in the ruck) he wasn't ever really disgraced. Competed very well in the air. His around the ground work ethic and ocassional big mark and goal earned him the nickname "Lion Heart".
Somewhere in the middle of the season (the game escapes me) he injured his knee, missed a couple of weeks and came back as a shadow of himself. Beaten easily in the rucks, work ethic dropped, played more as a resting forward, kicked some goals.
Naturally we thought he limped out the season and would return bigger and better.
His pre-season this year while interrupted was bigger then what is being reported. He at least ran out the 2nd half of it full gusto.
His early seaon form was very ordinary and I mean ORDINARY. Slaughtered in the ruck (timing was AWFUL), not presenting for contests, unnaccountable, fumbling etc you name it.
I remember one particular contest I think V WCE where he absolutely flattened Baker from behind while Steve was going for just a regulation chest mark.
I remembered thinking at this point that when things don't go his way he seems to play more for himself then for the team.
The Ackalnd Blake combination (
) was working a shambles and b4 too long Cain was in the ressies. He stayed for about 2-3weeks and we were all really surprised he got the call back coz IMO and general observers too both Brooks and Rix showed a bit more.
He came back and continued to play very ordinary football until about the time Rix came into the team (R11'ish) and took the pressure off him as starting ruck. This worked really well and it was felt that Cain was much more suited to the rotation ruckman/forward role.
I don't recall why but I think Rix was dropped and then CA continued to play poorly until round 20ish where his form rose from awful to not too bad. It was noticeable that Barry Brooks presented himself as a much better forward that night V Bris in rd22.
He was dropped for the final that we played.
DEPARTURE
The rumours included a fall out with Ross Lyon, anger over GT's sacking and just plain selling out. Very harsh the latter. Me thinks that at the end of the day you guys just gave him an offer he couldn't say no to.
With Gardiner arriving, Kosi about to start his first full pre-season, Brooks emerging late and Rix continuing to develop (is a better ruckman not as good around the ground + he plays back and with Maguire's injury), it seems as though he dropped down the pecking order a bit.
The contract he got IMO is a fair bit bit better than he deserves but if he reaches his absolute best he may be able to justify it. All up, I'm sad to see him go but am not overly worried.
STRENGTHS
*At his best, is a competitive ruckman in the center
*Lovely kick
*Big grab
*Gets a chance of a full pre-season.
*Fresh starts seem to work well for him
*I don't think he likes competition for his spot.
WEAKNESSES
*Drops his bundle way too easily
*Seems very unfit
*Been a long time since I've seen him string a few good games together, over a seaon
*I don't think he's a smart player but that being said he's not a dummy.
*This year has been anything but Lion-hearted. Has been observed sit back and watch as players get felled, not chase his opponents, not shephard all in all very passionless.
*A few big hits a year but is otherwise quite soft
I guess next year we'll find out how injured he really was.
