GVGjr
20-02-2007, 05:22 AM
Centre of attention
(http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/02/19/1171733686025.html)
Rohan Connolly
February 20, 2007
Ryan Griffen is a young Dog learning new tricks, thanks to veteran Scott West and coach Rodney Eade.
THE Western Bulldogs' first practice match of the new year last Friday was hardly a showcase of great footballing skills, with the conditions hot, the wind blustery and players still shaking off the cobwebs.
With a few notable exceptions. The polished performances of out-and-out champions Scott West and Brad Johnson were a given. But the game of Ryan Griffen, a champion in the making, would have sent home the considerable crowd of Bulldog fans who turned out even happier.
If there is considerable expectation hovering over Rodney Eade's side in 2007, then it's matched on an individual level by the hopes riding on the solidly built 20-year-old.
The Bulldogs have built steadily, a flying finish to 2005 followed by last year's finals appearance, the target this season at least a top-four berth. And if that is achieved, it more than likely will have happened with Griffen playing, literally, a pivotal role.
Griffen's daring run and superb disposal from the half-back line have given the Bulldogs plenty of drive in the past two seasons. Now comes the challenge to do so as a full-time midfielder. And neither player nor the Bulldog elders can wait. Eade says Griffen's pre-season has been exceptional. Griffen's pretty happy with it, too.
"Training's been a little bit different, more running, just getting my fitness to where I want it. I've worked pretty hard on that," he says. "It takes a fair bit to get where you need to be if you're going to play midfield, and I haven't missed too many sessions."
As good as Griffen has been in 41 of a possible 46 senior games, even last season, a full-time midfield role was beyond him.
"I probably played about four games there, and now I know you have to be ultra-fit to play in there, and to keep up with the likes of the Nathan Buckleys. You've got to run both ways, and I could run for a little while, then I'd blow up, and they'd have to get me off or put me at half-back."
But last Friday provided just a glimpse of what's now possible, Griffen's power and ball-winning ability dominating the early going out of the middle, and a couple of late running goals an appropriate exclamation mark.
Eade wasn't the only senior Bulldog impressed. Seven-time best-and-fairest winner West, Griffen's official mentor, was only too happy to sing his praises.
"He's done all the hard work," West said. "Probably last year he was a burst player. His speed's phenomenal, and you put that in the mix with the endurance he's got over the summer … he's going to be a very, very good player.
"The next step is obviously that the other teams are going to realise, and pay him more attention, so there's always hurdles for him to come, but I really think he's got the work under his belt to be able to put up with that."
Griffen knows what he's in for, too. And his response, essentially, is bring it on. "I want to play good footy, and if you do that, that's when you get the attention, so that's all good," he says. "If that comes with it, I'll just learn how to deal with it."
So will the Bulldogs as a whole. "I think the whole group is pretty good with that (the expectation)," he says. "I think that makes you tend to perform better. That's where we want to be. We want people to expect that we're going to win, so I reckon it's good. It means that we're heading in the right direction."
Like most of his young teammates, Griffen can't speak highly enough of his coach, either. "He's always telling you what you can do better, and he's very smart tactically, so with the younger guys, he's always teaching us where we should be at the stoppages and things like that, and always talking to the young guys," he says.
"I just think he knows how to get the best out of you. He's given me a few sprays, but it's a positive. You at least go out knowing what you've done wrong and trying to do it better."
And that applies off the field as well. Griffen is still routinely asked about those comments that followed the Bulldogs' thrashing of Richmond in the first round last year, when he observed, perhaps a little too honestly, that the Tigers had basically "given up" after half-time.
He knows the drill now. "I just say that I want to get over it, and that I've learnt from it," he says. "I think I weigh things up a bit more now when people ask me something, so hopefully I don't make that mistake again."
(http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/02/19/1171733686025.html)
Rohan Connolly
February 20, 2007
Ryan Griffen is a young Dog learning new tricks, thanks to veteran Scott West and coach Rodney Eade.
THE Western Bulldogs' first practice match of the new year last Friday was hardly a showcase of great footballing skills, with the conditions hot, the wind blustery and players still shaking off the cobwebs.
With a few notable exceptions. The polished performances of out-and-out champions Scott West and Brad Johnson were a given. But the game of Ryan Griffen, a champion in the making, would have sent home the considerable crowd of Bulldog fans who turned out even happier.
If there is considerable expectation hovering over Rodney Eade's side in 2007, then it's matched on an individual level by the hopes riding on the solidly built 20-year-old.
The Bulldogs have built steadily, a flying finish to 2005 followed by last year's finals appearance, the target this season at least a top-four berth. And if that is achieved, it more than likely will have happened with Griffen playing, literally, a pivotal role.
Griffen's daring run and superb disposal from the half-back line have given the Bulldogs plenty of drive in the past two seasons. Now comes the challenge to do so as a full-time midfielder. And neither player nor the Bulldog elders can wait. Eade says Griffen's pre-season has been exceptional. Griffen's pretty happy with it, too.
"Training's been a little bit different, more running, just getting my fitness to where I want it. I've worked pretty hard on that," he says. "It takes a fair bit to get where you need to be if you're going to play midfield, and I haven't missed too many sessions."
As good as Griffen has been in 41 of a possible 46 senior games, even last season, a full-time midfield role was beyond him.
"I probably played about four games there, and now I know you have to be ultra-fit to play in there, and to keep up with the likes of the Nathan Buckleys. You've got to run both ways, and I could run for a little while, then I'd blow up, and they'd have to get me off or put me at half-back."
But last Friday provided just a glimpse of what's now possible, Griffen's power and ball-winning ability dominating the early going out of the middle, and a couple of late running goals an appropriate exclamation mark.
Eade wasn't the only senior Bulldog impressed. Seven-time best-and-fairest winner West, Griffen's official mentor, was only too happy to sing his praises.
"He's done all the hard work," West said. "Probably last year he was a burst player. His speed's phenomenal, and you put that in the mix with the endurance he's got over the summer … he's going to be a very, very good player.
"The next step is obviously that the other teams are going to realise, and pay him more attention, so there's always hurdles for him to come, but I really think he's got the work under his belt to be able to put up with that."
Griffen knows what he's in for, too. And his response, essentially, is bring it on. "I want to play good footy, and if you do that, that's when you get the attention, so that's all good," he says. "If that comes with it, I'll just learn how to deal with it."
So will the Bulldogs as a whole. "I think the whole group is pretty good with that (the expectation)," he says. "I think that makes you tend to perform better. That's where we want to be. We want people to expect that we're going to win, so I reckon it's good. It means that we're heading in the right direction."
Like most of his young teammates, Griffen can't speak highly enough of his coach, either. "He's always telling you what you can do better, and he's very smart tactically, so with the younger guys, he's always teaching us where we should be at the stoppages and things like that, and always talking to the young guys," he says.
"I just think he knows how to get the best out of you. He's given me a few sprays, but it's a positive. You at least go out knowing what you've done wrong and trying to do it better."
And that applies off the field as well. Griffen is still routinely asked about those comments that followed the Bulldogs' thrashing of Richmond in the first round last year, when he observed, perhaps a little too honestly, that the Tigers had basically "given up" after half-time.
He knows the drill now. "I just say that I want to get over it, and that I've learnt from it," he says. "I think I weigh things up a bit more now when people ask me something, so hopefully I don't make that mistake again."