Tim Lafai

[JDHD]

I was listening to the Fox Sports Fantasy podcast today. Nathan Ryan said that he has good mail that Lafai is going to have first crack at left centre position over Taane Milne. Apparently Lafai's shed a bunch of kilos, got his leg injury fixed up and got voted players player after that boot camp they went on a couple of weeks ago.

Opinions? As far as I'm concerned, Milne should get first crack based on last year's form but if Lafai can get back to where he was in 2014, I'd happily have him inside MacDonald.

 

[ALSGI]

He was unwanted by bulldogs for a reason and given plenty of opportunities....should only be a back up for Aitken, Milne, Duges

 

[Old Timer]

I was listening to the Fox Sports Fantasy podcast today. Nathan Ryan said that he has good mail that Lafai is going to have first crack at left centre position over Taane Milne. Apparently Lafai's shed a bunch of kilos, got his leg injury fixed up and got voted players player after that boot camp they went on a couple of weeks ago.

Opinions? As far as I'm concerned, Milne should get first crack based on last year's form but if Lafai can get back to where he was in 2014, I'd happily have him inside MacDonald.

Aitken was moved to LC to accommodate Milne at RC.
Lafai is a dud and should be in the Cutters at best out the door preferably.
Anyone with brains would have Mann at LC long before Lafai.
If this is Lafai thing is true then it will be a long hard season and there will be many pissed of players in the squad and it will soon put paid to the "we've learnt from last years mistakes" theory.

 

[BennyV]

Lol, I was a fan of signing Lafai based on his 2014 form, but yeah, nah. Milne should be the first centre picked, and Mann should be brought closer to the ball than what he was allowed last year. I think Aitken has earned the spot more than Lafai. Would be very strange.

Although wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

 

[Belta]

I guess as supporters we r not seeing the effort that is being put in at training in the offseason, so it sounds reasonable to reward a player who is training really well, and has improved in his strength, speed, endurance etc....but based purely on performances last year my vote would be for Milne and Duges to be the starting centres....though I must add if the attack continues to be as stagnant as we've previously endured then more than anything else what I would like to witness in 2017 more player rotations, instead of trying to build 'combinations' experiment a little, mix it up, both Milne and lafia, have can step and offload, they could work well together with, beat a player with a step, draw a winger in and flick out to Mann, MacDonald...I don't know ffs try something...I can't think of a club that has as many outside backs...no excuses for such a poor attack imo

 

[saints4me]

I don't see a problem. It's called competition for spots in the team. Lafai on his day was a menacing centre who I remember giving us headaches whenever we played the Dogs.

 

[Old Timer]

If Lafai excelled in "boot camp" then he should buy a gym or a shoe store.
The only boot I would give him is up the arse out the door.
He did SFA last year and for him to get the nod over any other player would be a tragedy.
As I said when he came to the club, he should have been in the Cutters and earned his spot from there, but oh no straight to 1st grade and when the season was gone he was finally dropped.
Mark my words the same can potentially happen with Nene Mc Donald.
Cutters first and earn your spot buddy.
If you're truly good enough it will only take 2 - 3 games to force a change unless of course all in firsts are killing it and why would you make a change then anyway?

 

[Old Timer]

I don't see a problem. It's called competition for spots in the team. Lafai on his day was a menacing centre who I remember giving us headaches whenever we played the Dogs.

Almost everyone looks menacing against us after the big "D" gets tired and falls apart .

 

[hewi]

It will all come down to form in the trial games. IMO you would have to see a huge improvement from Lafai and a reversal in form from Milne for there to be a change. Milne is the future.

 

[BennyV]

If Lafai excelled in "boot camp" then he should buy a gym or a shoe store.
The only boot I would give him is up the arse out the door.
He did SFA last year and for him to get the nod over any other player would be a tragedy.
As I said when he came to the club, he should have been in the Cutters and earned his spot from there, but oh no straight to 1st grade and when the season was gone he was finally dropped.
Mark my words the same can potentially happen with Nene Mc Donald.
Cutters first and earn your spot buddy.
If you're truly good enough it will only take 2 - 3 games to force a change unless of course all in firsts are killing it and why would you make a change then anyway?

Cutters should excel early 2018 while Hunt is there trialling.

 

[possm]

I don't know! Does anyone in our Club look at these things before they sign players?

We all know Dugan wants to play right centre and probably play there from round 1. So then we have Aitken, Milne and Lafai all fighting for one first grade centre spot. The two players who miss out will surely have their nose out of joint.

I have no doubt our two best centres are Dugan and Milne.

 

[cussy]

Saw the boys having a recovery session down at north beach and Milne looks like an absolute beast!! Massive guy!

 

[hewi]

Saw the boys having a recovery session down at north beach and Milne looks like an absolute beast!! Massive guy!

Not only that he monsters the opposition in defence, was it the doggies game where he hammered them?

 

[Old Timer]

Cutters should excel early 2018 while Hunt is there trialling.

Benny V
Nice try but not a fair representation of my point.

Lafai was not superior to what we already had and it proved to be so.

IMO neither is Mc Donald.

I know you believe Mann should play closer to the ball and I agree but if that is not the case then who would you have Mc Donald replace on the wing Mann or Nightingale?

With Hunt it is a vastly different matter altogether.
He is a recognised rep quality footballer and a cut above anything else we have in that position and is a walk up start.

So unless it was a friendly gee up try and be a little objective in your assessment of what I am implying

 

[Dragsters]

Gotta admit it was funny though...

 

[Old Timer]

Gotta admit it was funny though...

Yep I did have a wry smile.
No doubt Benny and I lock horns from time to time especially about Lafai.
It's bit like a western
"This town just ain't big enough for the three of us" so I did the honourable thing and shot Lafai.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Duges will play 1 centre and Aitken the other. McDonald and Nighty will be wingers.

Would rather take the punt on Dufty starting at FB and Duges at centre than Milne, Mann or Lafai as Dufty will have a bigger impact in the attack then the other 3. Milne, Mann and Lafai will get their chance as I am sure the backs won't have an injury free season.

Saints sure have great depth in the backs.

 

[possm]

Aitken has been great however, for me it's Milne over Aitken at left centre.

 

[Crush]

Lafai!? Noooooooo!!!!!! I thought that nightmare had ended! 16 rounds last year wasn't enough!!!???

 

[BrissyRedV]

Does anyone really believe Mary would not go this way? McCrone will be halfback as well.