Yes "skeptic", many conveniently forget the 'young Geary', was extremely attacking, that was his problem, limited defensive side to his game - like many young players. Also his kicking wasn't poor. Then he had that horrific broken leg. When he came back from that, he was like Nathan Wright, kept inventing new ways to get injured. After his leg problems his kicking was not reliable, . and his attacking style of game changed, because he was made to take on a more defensive role, purely to get a game.skeptic wrote:I was thinking about him on the way to work.
It was a really complete game vs Melbourne wasn't it. He not only beat his opponent but completely punished him for being lazy/unaccountable going the other way.
It reminded that back in the 09 era when he first started that was Jarryn actually quite an attacking player... I remember a game vs Adelaide in rd2 in 09 (in Adelaide) where he turned the tide late with a long bomb goal and started a bit of a roll.
It's a part of his game that disappeared as he became more of a lock down player but geeez I hope he continues like this a little more. His confidence is up and though we know he isn't exactly a dead eye Dick by foot, he certainly appears to have worked on that quite a bit in recent times coz that area of his game is not standing out like it once did.
Is really a pleasure to watch atm
However people need to identify what they mean as attacking. Sometimes excellent defending can be attacking football, IMHO.
When I have the luxury of seeing Geary play live I closely watch his work on the field. Sure he lock's down on his immediate opponent. However he has the footy nous to identify when to run off his opponent to help out in another contest, then get back to cover his opponent. Now that is rather courageous & attacking as he is usually guarding a player who can instantly turn a game if they get loose.
Also many a time you will see him work up the wing, leaving his opponent, to a spot wher he closes down the avenue of 'out' for the opposition. He has the endurance to cover massive areas on the ground over a match. I'd love to know his GPS readings. Often when he goes on these 'sorties' up and across the ground, if his opponent goes with him, the opponent looks exhausted at a contest. In the same way (not as spectacularly I must admit) as Roo does, Gears works his opponent over with his aerobic capacity.
Just watch his body blocks when there are ball ups in his area, watch the little tap ons from under a pack, watch the crashing of packs, watch the skilful undetected holding of his player, all these things contribute to helping free up his teammates to clear the ball...... all can contribute to the start of an attacking move. Sure he can do all the negative things, and there have been many woeful kicks and hand passes we have all seen and cringed at. However, most of those happen when he is under extreme pressure. Plenty of other players commit similar boo, boos under pressure.
I'm glad you 'skeptic' can remember the young attacking Geary as I sure can. Actually Nate Wright seems similar to Gears. Wright caused everyone excitement when he first started, then his attacking style and kamacarzi style of play made him reinvent ways to injure himself........ many weeks out due to injuries, seasons in the magoos, then when he gets his games at senior level, his skills seem to have dropped off in the pace of the game at senior level.. So many on here have had Wright on the delist, trade table for the past two seasons. Now after a couple of games in a new position & role, Wright is a 'required' player, so many so quick to judge, then so quick to turn!
Love Gears and what he brings to our team. Even Richo in an interview a few weeks ago on the saints.com site said, 'I sometimes close my eyes when Geary kicks the ball'!!!!!!! Good one Richo - don't we all? But then we all close our eyes when our great champion, Reiwoldt, kicks for goal, don't we?
( God help me)
