What has happened is that we have managed without Tom in his absence.
But that is because the team has been jigged around with Waterman going to fullback and returnees have got back into the side and also Walshaw has proved a success.

Now, let's just stick to wingers shall we because that is what this is all about.
Much as I like Sando and China, they are wingers who get tries now and again, but they are good tacklers.
But Hodson is a try scoring machine who also kicks goals better than anyone in the entire Dons squad, and barring his injury could well have been the leading try scorer and points scorer himself over the very gifted Lee Waterman.
And yet he is left out?

Now he must be fit, he is as far through as chip, as fit as a butcher's dog.
It's a no-brainer for me, there is no room for sentiment here.
Although I do admire loyalty, it can be misplaced.
Still we will see, the proof of the pudding and all that, but we risk losing a rare talent in Tom.

He's got his heart in it apparently!
Irrespective of what happens next season.

I've not commented on this thread as yet as to me its all rumour and supposition but I just have to say I would definitely have tom play and think the negativeness from Olddon with regards his defence is rubbish - if we are allowing ourselves to be honest here then Lee was often at fault defensively - infact tbh I consider it the only weakness in Lee's game - personally I don't see how you can blame all the leakage down that side to Tom - also didn't help that Robbo was injured for a while as he gets through a lot of work down that flank in defence. Now I hasten to add I'm also not trying to say everything is Lee's fault either, I just think its naive to put all our improvement in that department down to Tom's injury.

If from what we've heard before all this, that Tom is keen to play with us and waterman, TM and Fran Welsh are all interested in signing then I say lets get them all signed up and end this rumour mill.

EDIT: ps just remembered if we are talking about the kids defence have we all suddenly forgot that length of the field try saving tackle against South Wales at home?

I was going to post the same.
There is nobody, repeat nobody, else in the Dons team who could have done that!

this forum is all about opinions and in mine toms only weakness is his defence when he has a big burly rampaging towards him as he undoubtably will next season in champ 1 they will go right through him as was proved early season when he filled in at full back he did not last long in that position , as for his cross field tackle the hard part was catching the lad and tom was outstanding in catching the lad but he did tackle him from behind and into touch, having said all that i would dearly love to see tom in a dons shirt next season tom has no size about him if he was bigger he would not be as quick he knows the game and feeds very well of cooke as i said previous i would love him to play for the dons next seaon cos he is a very exciting player, i aint watched the dons for 58 years and learnt nowt , rubbish indeed

Well said oh ancient and wise one.spoken like a true sage.

Except for a centre to be charging at him something must have gone wrong on his inside either waterman or further infield. Also neither China or Sanderson would be able to cope with the scenario you describe

As for if Tom was bigger he would be slower, there is not much logic in that.
All the fastest men in the world at sprints are muscular power-houses.
So Tom could get more muscular, be a more competent tackler and still be like lightning.

well just swap to winger outcome the same

if deano was smaller and lighter he would not be a prop thats the logic so top nit picking ok

Is that what I was doing?
Crikey!
I thought that I was pointing out the difference between muscular bulk and tub of lard bulk.

so essentially he's a lightening fast winger who scores tries for fun and kicks goals from anywhere but may need some work on his defence. Bustin .....if that's the case I really hope he's a fev lad next year.