I'm not sure about that - some of his decision making leaves alot to be desired. With his kicking he takes too long to drop the ball from hand to foot

cant understande people having a dig at mcgrath, he has been a fantastic pick up. his field kicking is one of the best at the club IMO, he is a great team player and does his bit to help out team mates. puts his body on the line when need sand provides good drive from the back half.
his decision making seems okay to me although i dont get too see that many games live in the flesh.

i love Mcgrath. he's part of our big picture IMO

I actually thought 13 kicks, 14 handballs, 6 marks and 5 tackles was pretty good. If that means the game's gone past you...well I guess he should be getting 35 touches every game.

There wasn't much better back around the turn of the millenium than watching Kouta in full flight and knowing that every time he got the ball he'd hurt the opposition. Around that time it was beautiful knowing that whatever the Hirds or the Buckleys turned out Kouta would be able to take it up another gear.

I think the problem for Kouta and the reason people are questioning his input is two-fold:

1. He's regularly unaccountable as has been overdiscussed (and yes Nick Stevens has a similar problem)

and

2. He just doesn't hurt sides anymore.

I haven't looked at the stats (you there Jarusa?) but it would be interesting to look at the goal assists and other indicators that show the real effect of Koutoufides disposals compared to his earlier years and compared to other players around him and in other sides.

Murphy's debut in Round 1 and the form of Kade Simpson and Eddie Betts in that game was a bit of an eye-opener. Every time they got the football I had a sense that a goal wasn't far away. No point in comparing Kouta in that game as he had a shocker and everyone's entitled to the occasional one of those but I'd be interested to see how his effective disposals/assists etc compares in games where he has racked up better stats.

He's been a great player over a long period of time but for the last 1-2 years when he's in the midfield I don't feel particularly confident.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Kouta was an athlete first, then a footballer. Those who think he is too slow to play in the forwardline or backline for the sake of preservation need to understand that he does have and will continue to have AFL standard pace for quite sometime (beyond 2006) if he remains injury free.

His game against Melbourne did not deserve to be labelled as 'poor', as his opponent did zilch, whilst he racked up 15 possessions (1 clanger) in a winning team. He just seems to do his thing with ease, and this may be misunderstood as lazy or slow. You try and tackle him. You couldn't and that's why he leads the comp in clearances, he is the master of evasion from a tackle. Too strong for most, and 15 possessions is poor by his standard, and not 'poor' for AFL standard, given he had others to take his position in the middle against Melbourne.

McGrath is important to us. Can kick, can negate, can use his body and has pace. Back or middle.

Prenders is also important. When we're faced with questions of who lines up against White (Melb) or Goodes (Swans) his name pops up everytime because he is tall athletic, has a good engine, and can nullify. He can also kick goals from 50 too. Until Aisake develops Prenders is important. He is ahead of Chambers, Longmuir, Wiggins, Teague, Sporn, DeLuca and Livingston in my books.

Ryan hang in there, to at least stick up for your own opinion.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I'm not having a dig at McGrath by leaving him out of that side. He has been very good no doubt in defense keeping small forwards quiet while providing plenty of rebound. You can't fairly complain about McGrath.

I just finished watching the weekends game on Fox again.

The last goal to Betts came from Kouta. Kouta picked up the clearance at HFF and just burned away from Pavlich with ease. Now that's saying something to the knockers about his pace, unless you don't rate Pavlich.

For your information Pavlich is 10 years younger, a superstar in the comp as a midfield/forward blessed with pace and strength. He's the one who kicked 9 goals against us last year.

The boys did really well in the second half, despite some errant kick passes. Of the fringe players discussed in this thread, DeLuca presented well but couldn't hold onto the pill, Chambers did pretty well and found space and run, McGrath kicked and positioned himself really well, Sporn did well in the backline (needs to be more assertive with his marking attempts), Scotland was average (and not helped by the umpires). And Kouta is not a fringe player. Get real Carlton supporters who question him.

It's a young team out there, and they are taking giant steps forward. Disposal needs to improve, and jimmae makes a good point regarding shepherding and negating tactics needing some attention.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Exactly my point.....

Those stats seem alright to me.....

They are expecting 2000 form....

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Corinthians 9:6- 8

Kouta is too slow, Lance is too fat, Houla is too soft, French is too short, Fevola is too dumb, Lappin is too skinny, Stevens is too unaccountable and Carrazzo and Walker can't kick.
Miss anyone?

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

I'm with the Ponkstar..reckon Corey has gone ok and his kicking isnt a problem.....Nick Stevens hasnt exactly been hitting every target and we pay a lot more for Nicks kicks than we do for Corey's...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Just for clarification re Kouta

I have been a Kouta fan ever since I saw him so that one-handed pick-up on the wing at Waverley in his first. And I will always support him for however long he is playing in the navy blue

I am not advocating that Kouta be dropped 'coz at the moment there isn't anyone who deserves to replace him but I do think he should spend a lot less time in the midfield.

The point I was trying to make (and hey everybody it's just an opinion) is that by the time we have become a top 4 side I doubt whether Kouta will be part of the picture

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

What's with knocking Batson? 20 year old ruckman can't cut it? What did you expect?

If it wasn't for the 12:10 rule, we'd probably see a lot more of him in the seniors this year, along with Aisake. Here's hoping he can put some numbers up in the reserves.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Gezman,

I reckon Mcgrath has been pretty good so far this year including the praccy games.
I just think on occasions his decision making and vision isn't great. As you saw on Saturday night teams get easy goals from us when we cough the ball up or make silly mistakes.

Id be interested to know what BlueVain thinks of McGrath.

fair enough, like i said i dont get to see too many games live so cant coment with too much confidence as to what options are available during a game

I'd be interested to know specific examples of McGrath being to blame in this situations.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

One example was against Port Adelaide in that drawn game last year.
McGrath tried to pin point a pass to Andrew Walker at about the 25 minute mark of the last quarter. The pass only needed to go about 10 metres but it missed the mark, ball was turned over and they got a goal.
Ask DOA about that incident??

One kick, last year with 5 minutes to go in a game which drained both teams - tell me you have something more recent and less excusable.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I think you've summed him up pretty well Rhys.
A fantastic clubman who is improving all the time.
His application and example to the kids is priceless.

His skills are very good when he has time and space but tends to panic and lacks composure when under pressure.
Can kick blindly instead of thinking his way through a situation.
Total opposite to Carrots.

Full credit to him, he has gone from being an inconsistent confidence player to a fixture in the 18.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Yep

In that respect he's gone the opposite way of most of the fellas recruited at the end of 2003. Whilst theyve gone out the door or backwards McGrath has improved and cemented himself in the team.

Improved:
McGrath

Downhill:
Teague Deluca Scotland

Out:
Kenna Harford Morrell Johnson Mott Clarke

etc etc

He played 10 or so in his first year and was pretty shocking but will play 23 in 2006

(including the first final)

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

I very much doubt Batson will be promoted to the senior list at the end of the year based on current output.