Ryan Griffen?

[LostDoggy]

Ryan has had a serviceable season, but he constantly promises more and fails to deliver. Is he ever going to be a true star of the competition or will he alway tease supporters? This season I have been surprised by the poor quality of his disposal and the lack of second and third efforts, does he let himself down in concentration, application or am I just expecting too much from him? I wonder if he is a football in his comfort zone or just a victim of high expectations.

[The Coon Dog]

Probably covered here:

Griffen's last month of footy

[bulldog]

I think we put too much pressure on him i think his season has been ok he will be cherry ripe to explode on finals this year.Also to the supporters on Level 2 who bagged Griff yesterday you are pathetic

[Go_Dogs]

Let's just leave Griff alone for a while. He's had a career best year. He's improving and his last 6 weeks had been very consistent. I know he needs to have 40 touches and kick 10 each week - but realistically we should be happy (some are) with his output.

[LostDoggy]

It's the Tambling syndrome.

When your taken before Franklin, you get compared to him.

[GVGjr]

It's the Tambling syndrome.

When your taken before Franklin, you get compared to him.

I'm comparing him more to Griffen of 2 seasons to go and he isn't measuring up at the moment.
Does it coincide with his move into the middle? As a half back flanker he was providing us with far more drive.

[Go_Dogs]

I'm comparing him more to Griffen of 2 seasons to go and he isn't measuring up at the moment.
Does it coincide with his move into the middle? As a half back flanker he was providing us with far more drive.

I guess it depends what role we want him playing. His drive might be down a bit, but his clearance work and inside work have improved a lot, as has his defensive work.

You are thinking he'd be of more value down back, as far as what we are lacking?

[GVGjr]

I guess it depends what role we want him playing. His drive might be down a bit, but his clearance work and inside work have improved a lot, as has his defensive work.

You are thinking he'd be of more value down back, as far as what we are lacking?

It's a learning curve for him but I always felt his best value to us was more likely to be as a
half back flanker or winger rather than right in the guts.

[mjp]

I have questioned the 'move to the midfield' for a couple of years.

- His starting points are 'sloppy'. When he plays hb, he seems to do a much better job of positioning himself to impact the contest than he does as a midfielder....Why? Because he starts on his opponent rather than guessing and sitting in space.

- He HAS to take on the tackler every time he wins the ball. He is almost pathological about it. From half-back, this means he has to win ONE contest (often one-on-one which he is very good at - strong through the core and hard to knock-off the ball) before taking off. In the midfield he seems to want to run over three players and often ends up disposing of the ball in desperation rather than in an attempt to attack.

- For such a good kick, he does try to 'force' things too often. He also has that wider ball drop and big hip swing that makes it difficult to be precise. From half-back, there is simply more room for error - it suits him.

For me we have turned a dominant (remember the Geelong game vs G. Ablett) half-back, preliminary final vs Collingwood) half-back into 'just another' midfielder. Boydy is a better inside mid than Griffen. Crossy probably is as well. Cooney is. Hell - Ward has had more of an impact at times this year...Put him where he is best equipped to succeed - behind the ball.

[DOG GOD]

MJP, as u are a coach here, why are coaches so intent on turning players into something they are not when they have proven they are so good in a position?

Griffen was a really good hbf i thought, and would run the lines from there (geel and coll games as an example), yet eade and the likes seem intent to "make" him a mid. Hill has been another example this year. Played out of his skin in 08 on a wing/hf, but we have seen this year that eade has used him more of a prominant fwd, and have seen mixed results.

Harbrow has been the success story no doubt, but he wasnt really setting the world on fire as a fwd pocket specialist, and has really found his niche in the last line of defense.

[mjp]

LOL. I don't know.

But I must say there are at least 30 parents of 17 year olds living south of Perth who question my ability to walk and talk at the same time each week...some of them probably question my ability to to either one independently!

There are two reasons for moving a player:

1/.As part of a development plan.
2/.In a desperate search for 'something' - basically when you have either a team need (due to form or injury) or a talented player who you cannot quite decide what to do with.

I have no doubt that Griffen was targeted for an on-ball role from the day he walked into the place. He played half-back for a while as part of the 'plan', but the club figures that we whilst we have others who can fill the role at half-back, there aren't any others who can play the on-ball role as well as Griffen currently does.

With a decision like Harbrow, clearly he was recognised as a 'talent' with 'AFL Skills' - he played all over the place last year. I would suggest that when Callan and Addison were both hurt (plan a, plan b as a back pocket), he was looked upon as someone with good kicking skills and leg-speed who might be a suitable 'fill-in'...of course he then made it his own.

Similarly, Johnno was a midfielder/wingman once upon a time who was thrust forward in search of a goal (team need), Merrett at Brisbane was a Full-Forward (skilled player, behind Brown and Bradshaw)...on and on it goes.

I think it is important to know what sort of players you want filling each role in the side...that way when you are searching for a solution (like when Harbrow went to the back-pocket), you dont try putting Sam Reid there as 'excellent kicking skills' is one of the pre-reqs for the role. In that way, at least you dont set the player up for failure where what YOU want from the role requires physical characteristics that they simply dont have...

[BulldogBelle]

MJP - I think that you hit the nail on the head and then put it in a nutshell.

Its unfortunate and a trifle disappointing that Griff hasn't quite risen to our high expectations of him but I think that perseverance and patience will pay off eventually.

Conversely, look at his rival Delidio. For such a great first year he isn't exactly setting the world on fire. So, maybe our expectations were set a tad too high.

[AndrewP6]

MJP - I think that you hit the nail on the head and then put it in a nutshell.

Its unfortunate and a trifle disappointing that Griff hasn't quite risen to our high expectations of him but I think that perseverance and patience will pay off eventually.

Conversely, look at his rival Delidio. For such a great first year he isn't exactly setting the world on fire. So, maybe our expectations were set a tad too high.

No he hasn't...but he's been better in the last 3 weeks...Griff is doing OK...

[GVGjr]

Conversely, look at his rival Delidio. For such a great first year he isn't exactly setting the world on fire. So, maybe our expectations were set a tad too high.

I agree with AP6, Deledio's been very good for the last month and has proven he can win his own football. The trick for his coach is to make sure he doesn't slip back for the balance of the season. Jade threatened Deledio with a spell at Coburg and he answered the challenge.

[BulldogBelle]

I have questioned the 'move to the midfield' for a couple of years.

- His starting points are 'sloppy'. When he plays hb, he seems to do a much better job of positioning himself to impact the contest than he does as a midfielder....Why? Because he starts on his opponent rather than guessing and sitting in space.

- He HAS to take on the tackler every time he wins the ball. He is almost pathological about it. From half-back, this means he has to win ONE contest (often one-on-one which he is very good at - strong through the core and hard to knock-off the ball) before taking off. In the midfield he seems to want to run over three players and often ends up disposing of the ball in desperation rather than in an attempt to attack.

- For such a good kick, he does try to 'force' things too often. He also has that wider ball drop and big hip swing that makes it difficult to be precise. From half-back, there is simply more room for error - it suits him.

For me we have turned a dominant (remember the Geelong game vs G. Ablett) half-back, preliminary final vs Collingwood) half-back into 'just another' midfielder. Boydy is a better inside mid than Griffen. Crossy probably is as well. Cooney is. Hell - Ward has had more of an impact at times this year...Put him where he is best equipped to succeed - behind the ball.

Agree with everything you have said

Do the dogs only think they will get value out of the number 3 draft selection in Griffin if they play him on the ball

Would our clearances be better if we had Cross, Cooney and Boyd at centre clearances, plus Ward in and out to relieve them...with Griff playing cameo roles on the ball, and spending the rest of his time at half back