To be perfectly honest, I was just arguing his points as I saw it on the weekend, and pointing out other players he could be bagging for the same things if not for the obvious Burt hatred. Personally (and as I've mentioned in another thread) I'd actually have Hayne playing fullback, with Burt either playing his role at 6 and dropping to the wing/fullback in defence or off the bench in Keating's role. But for the sake of the discussion here, let me address these points
Hayne is a terrible kick returner. At least Burt knows his strength in that regard is his agility and acceleration and attempts to play for that (or give it to a bigger man if he can't). Hayne, for all his talent, prances it back like a ballerina as though he's trying to sidestep so often that he confuses the defence (or himself, whichever happens first)
Wesser is a fair bit chunkier than Burt, for starters. He also has massive legs, if you look at him. So I fail to see the comparison between the two. Secondly, how have the rest of the side done over the first two rounds? It's the start of the year ffs, they're all looking for form. Fact is that Burt is never going to take an effective hitup, he's too small. His strength is dummy half running off quick play the balls and broken field running.
Hayne and Hindy had Best covered, and there were certainly Bunnies players coming through. They may not have been in an excellent position, but to hang in field and cover a Rabbitoh breaking from the pack and taking a pass or a desperation kick was good work. How many time have you seen a fullback/chaser drag a bloke into touch, and he gets a kick away that stays infield and they still score? Hell, we used to be practically specialists at doing it, especially when Hayne and Inu were on the wings.
Ok Basal - I think we're generally on the same page re: Burt - I also don't agree with the constant bashing, but I also am completely baffled by the people who make out he can do no wrong.
I apologise for reading your original post incorrectly - I thought you were saying 'Burt could do no wrong'!!
But I completely disagree with your take on those points still
Burt is 88kg - Wesser is 85. Then you look at guys like Slater(88) or Stewart (86) or even Lockyer (84) - there are great fullbacks who don't tip the scales at anything more than Burt. And these guys return the ball with gusto and take hitups to ease the pressure on their teammates.
Like I say, that is
clear weakness of Burt's game - so we shouldn't pretend that he actually does it (and
please don't compare him to Hayne - just go and watch the "prancer" - it might look silly, but at least he makes plenty of meters and runs it into the teeth of the defence - oh, and he
still makes breaks from the position).
And on the 'Best non-chase' - Burt did poorly there. Again I'd suggest that he would admit as much. Hindmarsh runs past him to make the play - Burt covers nobody inside - yes, there needs to be cover for the kick inside etc - but if you watch that play there aren't any Bunnies in the same postcode as Best (and Best hasn't kicked the ball in 12 seasons?) Best is a 'foot down for the corner' type player - the only option was to chase and stop him.
But again, cover defence isn't Burt's strength either.
I'm suggesting we stop making out as if he's an elite player - he's not. But he's good at what he does, and that kick from the sideline felt like it put the game beyond doubt on Friday night. He's probably been down on form in general play so far, but he still made a break.
But I can also sympathize with the sentiment of the original poster - 'pull your finger out' - if Burt returned the ball with some gusto and took the odd hitup, if he put in on cover defence, then suddenly we're talking about a really top level pleyer.
Difference is that I don't expect to ever see that stuff - I'll just take the support play, the odd break, the strong finishing, and I'll live with him letting bombs bounce (c'mon - the one on Friday was an excellent kick, but it's certainly not the first bomb Burt has let bounce in the in-goal...), flopping off tackles and passing to Reddy or Grothe whenever catching a kick from the opposition!
