Welcome to the Bulldogs: Laitham Vandermeer

[chef]

I agree, we will be watching him for a while. I was trying to see what you see in him and where he should play.

Im not an expert at this stuff(unlike yourself and im glad your back), i guess as outside runner/link up type.

[Prince Imperial]

He was serviceable as a defender but has continually played like a headless chook in the half forward role over several seasons.

He's 24 now and really should only be given games at AFL level if we're lacking anyone else to play a small defender role.

[soupman]

I actually haven't hated him the last few weeks.

We aren't looking for him to be a key player, so I'm not judging him as one. I think the intensity he brings, as well as the pace and willingness to work is an asset. In defence he was quieter than i expected but I also didn't think he stood out in a poor sense. He played forward today and I think had enough impactful moments to have contributed.

His execution can and often does suck, I can't deny that, and whether or not that is a deal breaker I don't know. But I do think he is consistently the best performed in that bullshit pressure small forward role we insist on playing guys in (vs McNeil, Garcia, Jones) and in a side that gets criticised for lacking mongrel or tenacity at times he delivers on both.

[SonofScray]

Fluffed two moment where the game felt like it was on his boot.

That he had the ball in his hands in those moments says something. That he fluffed them says something else. There’s a good footballer in there somewhere.

[Grantysghost]

Why does everyone hate Laith and love West?

I find the latter more annoying. Feel like he hasn't earned his strut.

He needs to just do the basics, play in front and not try and take mark of the year at crucial times.

LVDM was ok today I thought. Good pressure player. Made a couple of mistakes however so did many others.

[bulldogtragic]

Why does everyone hate Laith and love West?

I find the latter more annoying. Feel like he hasn't earned his strut.

He needs to just do the basics, play in front and not try and take mark of the year at crucial times.

LVDM was ok today I thought. Good pressure player. Made a couple of mistakes however so did many others.

Rhylee: 1.1, 1 GA, 5 Tackles
VDM: 0.2, 1 GA, 1 Tackle and horrible errors when the game was there to be won and a dumb, dumb free

West isn’t there yet, but id rather Rhylee today. Rhylee has 17.13 compared to VDM 20.24. So if it’s about who you pick to kick at goal, I’d much rather Rhylee.

[soupman]

West isn’t there yet, but id rather Rhylee today. Rhylee has 17.13 compared to VDM 20.24. So if it’s about who you pick to kick at goal, I’d much rather Rhylee.

But it's not. Sure Vandermeer made a couple of stuff ups but was his high tackle late any more damaging than the multiple times West started from behind and saw his opponent take an intercept mark and repel our attack?

I don't really want to argue this, the reason we lost isn't because of any specific failing of West or Laitham or any other fringe player. Laitham, like Rhylee, had some good moments and some bad. But we lost because of failings as a collective, not of the 20th and literally 23rd guy picked.

[Grantysghost]

Rhylee: 1.1, 1 GA, 5 Tackles
VDM: 0.2, 1 GA, 1 Tackle and horrible errors when the game was there to be won and a dumb, dumb free

West isn’t there yet, but id rather Rhylee today. Rhylee has 17.13 compared to VDM 20.24. So if it’s about who you pick to kick at goal, I’d much rather Rhylee.

I guess I'm thinking West seems to get the Sweet treatment and avoid any scrutiny on here, however Laith seems to be whipping boy numero uno.
Is very Billy Gowers.
The stats show they had almost identical games. West stuck more tackles, which makes sense being more inside.Laith had more metres gained.
To me it's another case of watching what they do without the ball as well as with it.

Fwiw I like both players.

[G-Mo77]

Watch West again yesterday. Provided a spark into the team, set up others, tackled hard etc. Then watch Laith. West has his limitations, sure, but judged harder by the MC than almost anyone on the list. Laith is one of these guys who get a free pass and we prematurely extended his contract like we always seem to do.

They're different players anyway that play different roles. Why on Earth are we comparing them?

[Hotdog60]

Give West LVM speed and we would have a very handy player.

[Grantysghost]

Watch West again yesterday. Provided a spark into the team, set up others, tackled hard etc. Then watch Laith. West has his limitations, sure, but judged harder by the MC than almost anyone on the list. Laith is one of these guys who get a free pass and we prematurely extended his contract like we always seem to do.

They're different players anyway that play different roles. Why on Earth are we comparing them?

Different roles? Both half forwards yesterday.

I'm not comparing a ruckman and Caleb here!

[Grantysghost]

Give West LVM speed and we would have a very handy player.

That would be nice. I like West, hope that's not lost here.
I just think we are too harsh on Laith.

[G-Mo77]

Different roles? Both half forwards yesterday.

I'm not comparing a ruckman and Caleb here!

Doesn't mean they do the exact same thing or play the exact same way. They are different players and played different roles.

[Grantysghost]

Doesn't mean they do the exact same thing or play the exact same way. They are different players and played different roles.

Fair enough.

[chef]

Has been pretty good tonight.