mjp
15-03-2024, 03:34 PM
Once upon a time Liam Jones was drafted to the Dogs to be a forward.
The senior coach LOVED him - LOVED his talent anyway - and anointed him as 'The Chosen One'...the one who would lead us out of the key forward doldrums and to victory. But young Liam couldn't translate the occasional strong training performances (a SAFE environment) into much of anything on match day (an UN-SAFE environment).
Eventually, club and player grew tired of one another and off Liam chuffed to Carlton. Where he also was going to be a key forward...but that didn't work. So he was assigned to the VFL. Where, one day, he was moved back...and he took a couple of catches ('cos the pressure was off) and a new career was born...Liam the tall defender.
The story to this point has some good parts to it - redemption and all - but the Carlton Liam and the post-COVID Dogs Liam are very different players. In 2023, Liam was a tough, mean SOB who really took no prisoners. He would leave his man to impact on the contest, he would risk a goal to his opponent to help a team-mate...he was TRANSFORMED. The Carlton half-back version wasn't like that...he was a nice interceptor but that other stuff? Well, yeah, sorta maybe sometimes.
What's the point of all this rambling. You cannot put an old head on young shoulders. Some learn faster and others, but turning into a tough, reliable consistent player doesn't just happen. Life and playing experience brings it. Understanding that it must be team > self doesn't just happen...and sometimes players who have early success never do truly learn that lesson and find their careers over well before their time (insert examples here!!). In short, if Liam was to play forward now - he would be an absolute handful - he would cause chaos and make life miserable for defenders. He NOW KNOWS what it takes to play and compete from week to week.
How many of his team-mates understand this? I think Bont does. I hope post 21 GF that Liber does. Duryea certainly does...I suspect Harmes does (but that remains to be seen). Coffield's injury history means he probably does...Is there anyone else?
Who do you trust right now to deliver the level of contest that you have to just KNOW Jones will deliver time after time? Who has spent time in that 'un-safe environment' under pressure - real pressure - enough times to know what it takes to come through it.
The senior coach LOVED him - LOVED his talent anyway - and anointed him as 'The Chosen One'...the one who would lead us out of the key forward doldrums and to victory. But young Liam couldn't translate the occasional strong training performances (a SAFE environment) into much of anything on match day (an UN-SAFE environment).
Eventually, club and player grew tired of one another and off Liam chuffed to Carlton. Where he also was going to be a key forward...but that didn't work. So he was assigned to the VFL. Where, one day, he was moved back...and he took a couple of catches ('cos the pressure was off) and a new career was born...Liam the tall defender.
The story to this point has some good parts to it - redemption and all - but the Carlton Liam and the post-COVID Dogs Liam are very different players. In 2023, Liam was a tough, mean SOB who really took no prisoners. He would leave his man to impact on the contest, he would risk a goal to his opponent to help a team-mate...he was TRANSFORMED. The Carlton half-back version wasn't like that...he was a nice interceptor but that other stuff? Well, yeah, sorta maybe sometimes.
What's the point of all this rambling. You cannot put an old head on young shoulders. Some learn faster and others, but turning into a tough, reliable consistent player doesn't just happen. Life and playing experience brings it. Understanding that it must be team > self doesn't just happen...and sometimes players who have early success never do truly learn that lesson and find their careers over well before their time (insert examples here!!). In short, if Liam was to play forward now - he would be an absolute handful - he would cause chaos and make life miserable for defenders. He NOW KNOWS what it takes to play and compete from week to week.
How many of his team-mates understand this? I think Bont does. I hope post 21 GF that Liber does. Duryea certainly does...I suspect Harmes does (but that remains to be seen). Coffield's injury history means he probably does...Is there anyone else?
Who do you trust right now to deliver the level of contest that you have to just KNOW Jones will deliver time after time? Who has spent time in that 'un-safe environment' under pressure - real pressure - enough times to know what it takes to come through it.