Josh Fraser pictured after he played against Bendigo
Josh Fraser is set to play game 200 at some point, but the question that must be raised is when? Mick Malthouse has said that Josh will be playing lucky number 200 in 2010, but since Darren Jolly arrived this season, Fraser has only played the 8 games.
His stint in the VFL to date has not been specular. On the weekend in the Magpies' loss to Casey Scorpions, Fraser's stats were 8 kicks, 8 handballs and the 1 tackle. Cameron Wood, Collingwood's other ruckman who has only played the 4 games this season, managed 6 kicks, 4 handballs and 5 marks along with 1 goal and 1 tackle.
It seems as everyone is talking about how a player who is destined to play a milestone game should be granted it - but why? Fraser has not set the world on fire this season and Jolly is doing fine. Leigh Brown has also been a more than adequate pinch hitter for the Magpies.
Brisbane's Clark Keating challenges Collingwood's Josh Fraser in the 2003 AFL Grand Final.
Let's remove all the sentimental rubbish here. I am a Collingwood supporter, and I have been critical of Josh Fraser, as many AFL pundits around the country. If a player is not deserving a position then said player should not be selected regardless of the impending milestone.
We can just go back to when Quinten Lynch was dropped by the Eagles this year. He was on target to break the most consecutive games record held by former dual premiership player Glen Jakovich. Some West Coast supporters were of the belief that Lynch should have played, even though he was playing badly. Well Worsfold decided he was not going to allow this, and dropped him back to the WAFL. A decision was made by the coach to not allow a player who was not in form to play the remaining games to reach the record.
Josh Fraser now faces that problem. He is not able to find his place in the side, even though he may play his 200th game either this year, or next, but he should do so playing well. Collingwood are a good chance of winning the premiership this season, not to say they will take it out.
But they have not yet sewn up a place in the top four. After the draw against Melbourne, they are only 2 points ahead of Geelong and St. Kilda and are heading into a tough final stretch where they play Hawthorn and Geelong. Geelong have beaten the Pies already this season and Hawthorn are up and about after their horrible start to 2010.
The Pies have not had the best times against either (even though they have captured a win against both) and this week Mick Malthouse's men face traditional rivals the Blues, who are fighting hard to keep their finals aspirations alive.
I have no doubts that the Blues are going to fire up against the Pies, and I have no doubts that the Crows and Bombers will want to take the points against Collingwood and make the finals too. So I ask you, why should Josh play his 200th if he has not done enough to earn back his spot?
Medhurst managed 28 disposals in the loss to Casey, but may also miss selection as Collingwood has to find a spot for a returning Travis Cloke back from suspension, even though today Mick has said that Cloke is not a certainty to play. The Pies also have to find a spot for Shaw when he is ready to return from injury.
The reality is, 2010 may see Fraser stuck on 199 games, unless there is a huge change in his form
