Daily Australian News Thread

[Jeterpool]

His leadership and organisation at the back that has led to many goals being shipped over the last few years? sure

People forget that before Boogaard came, the year we had under Stubbins there was zero leadership in the team. Nobody was vocal and we shipped 2.04 goals on average per game.

In the last 4 seasons with NTS and Boogaard there we have shipped 1.34 (GF Season), 1.48 (Merrick), 1.54 (Merrick/Deans/Robbo) and 1.46 (Deans) goals per game.

By comparison, our goals scored in the same period are 2.03, 1.33, 1.23 and 0.92.

Teams are always going to score goals against you. My thinking is that had we had a more functioning attack (i.e. attackers and midfielders) in that time that a) we would be defending less and b) we would have won more and been more successful.

Had we been more successful, we probably wouldn't be questioning this and looking at him AND Nikolai for the partnership they are - one of the best in our history.

HE's a smart footballer and when he does leave us, his absence will be missed and not easily replaced - much like we missed Dimi this year.

Agree that his best is behind on the field and I reckon had it not been for COVID and Donachie going overseas he may not have gone around again this year, but you cannot understate the positive impact that he's had on our club.