I don't know the answer but we're not handling Busslinger well

[Pedro Sanchez]

I think its purely down to conditions and match-ups. Last round and this one are both very unconventional - i think he'll come back in sooner than later and get a good run at it.

[Angak]

If I were playing devil’s advocate, I’d say the current setup with Lobb and O'Donnell playing the key roles, and Bailey Williams and Cleary as the third and fourth talls strikes the right balance. Key position defenders usually take longer to adjust to the demands of AFL footy, where every mistake can cost you a goal. I don’t think Beveridge has ever been afraid to play youngsters unless of course he feels they’re not quite ready or there’s someone else better suited to the role right now.

[NAUGHTY100]

It baffles me that we waited all this time to finally see Buss debut , and do a reasonable job in his 1st game only to see him sub next week and then dropped the next week , i mean the MC gave Dolan and Hynes games , in particular Hynes played 3 games straight with very little out put , the only reason i can come up with is conditions in Darwin , if Buss is not back for the Essendon game then something is rotting in the state of Denmark , it would be a clear message from the Match Committee , that son your not good enough and we dont trust you to do the job , im hoping it wont come to that , but boy unless someone has pulled him aside and explained to him exactly whats happening , the kid would be having serious doubts about his own ability.

[Rusty12]

Great Topic.
I don't have much to add, but to say I agree, from the outside, it comes across as less than ideal support and handling of a developing young player.
I would love to know what the messaging has been.

[1eyedog]

He's certainly not the first player to play a par game and get dropped a week or two later. Not sure how or why this should be seen as punctuating his development. I dont get the angst.

Should he be playing this week based purely on the GWS game? Why and who misses out then?

[1eyedog]

It baffles me that we waited all this time to finally see Buss debut , and do a reasonable job in his 1st game only to see him sub next week and then dropped the next week , i mean the MC gave Dolan and Hynes games , in particular Hynes played 3 games straight with very little out put , the only reason i can come up with is conditions in Darwin , if Buss is not back for the Essendon game then something is rotting in the state of Denmark , it would be a clear message from the Match Committee , that son your not good enough and we dont trust you to do the job , im hoping it wont come to that , but boy unless someone has pulled him aside and explained to him exactly whats happening , the kid would be having serious doubts about his own ability.

I can name quite a few players who made a contribution early and had to wait their turn. West and Garcia come to mind. Buku also. Buku has waited far longer should he be dropped now for Buss because there's not a lot of other like for like players on the field at the moment?

[Uninformed]

It is pretty simple. You pick the best side to win each week. You manage a young player by making him earn it until you can't not select him in your winningest team.

[Mofra]

Reports he's the travelling emergency so he's still a chance of playing

[whythelongface]

He's certainly not the first player to play a par game and get dropped a week or two later. Not sure how or why this should be seen as punctuating his development. I dont get the angst.

Should he be playing this week based purely on the GWS game? Why and who misses out then?

Agree. Don’t see any issue myself. Player development is important but more importantly is picking the right team for both the opponent and the conditions. Last week the selectors got the balance right - should Buss have played VFL instead? Perhaps. But as sub he still got to be around the mechanics of game day for the top side as well as playing a quarter. He will get his chances. Right now winning games is more important.

[DOG GOD]

Surely it’s about conditions. GWS had a tall fwd line. He had to play. Last weeks as sub was a very strange move, unless one of the talls was carrying an injury of some sort and may have been doubtful to get through the game. Darwin is no place for a slowish player. They obviously see the run and attack of Williams and Cleary as 3rd and 4th tallish defenders as the strategy they want to go with.

essendon and then Geelong, also might only see Lobb/O’donnell as the key backs, as neither have a massive amounts of talls up fwd.

interesting times

[doggies ftw]

Reports he's the travelling emergency so he's still a chance of playing

This would be the worst decision IMO, he was just sub we shouldn’t waste another week of him, if he’s not in the side play him in the 2s he needs footy.

[doggies ftw]

I’ve actually changed my opinion on this, earlier I’ve said we’re not managing Buss right but actually now for probably the first time in Bevos reign we’re taking a horses for courses approach to selection and picking a team (and in game plans, match ups etc) based on the opposition not on us just trying to play our perfect game and not worry about the opposition like we have in the past.

and I’m all for it.

We obviously like the smaller look in defence and we’ve played two teams that in Ports case ran us off our feet the last few match ups, and everyone knows that’s gold coasts strength too, in very tricky conditions for talls. Last week the only talls to match up on were Georgiadis and a young Lord. This week King & a young Walter. Also the best inside info dude on BF was told Buss was playing this week in the 22, I suspect once we heard GC were dropping Reid and going short we had to pivot - which I agree with.

Lobb is obviously first choice and JOD is second choice, and just quietly looking like a potentially elite key defender (not the 3rd tall he’s been pigeon holed as) - I suspect next week or when the match ups make sense Buss will be straight back in as 3rd best key defender, which is where he is on the list realistically.

I think it’s easy to say oh if Jones was playing well he would be in, we wouldn’t drop him for match ups. But we don’t know what this MC would do because it’s different right now. If Jones was in form I’d suggest Buku would probably be dropped and one of Lobb or JOD would be forward and the structure would be exactly the same - this is what they want right now.

I hope Buss plays VFL this week though he needs game time especially after sub last week, and I don’t think Sub was a good move either but I can see that they didn’t want to drop him but also didn’t see him right for match ups, this week is a harder challenge and we can’t afford to carry a sub.

i dunno I think it’s completely fair enough, and I’m probably one of Buss’ biggest fans on this board - I’m sure he’s being communicated to as to what’s going on, but in saying that I’ll change my tone again pretty quickly if we don’t go back to him in more traditional set ups (like Marvel next week against Wright, Caddy & Langford - perfect match ups for him) and realistically I want the flexibility of him in the side because I don’t have much faith in Buku forward experiment and want the ability to throw Lobb around going forward. But realistically won’t matter this week as game won’t be won in the air.

[GVGjr]

I agree with the opening post, we haven't done the right thing by Busslinger.
He should have been selected in the 23 for this round but I get we are probably saying the conditions and match-ups mighty not quite suit him.

[soupman]

Wow an MJP thread that doesn't immediately win me over in the firstpost, it is possible.

I think what we are doing with Buss is fine, and looks even better if we did what we should have done and not picked him last week.

His debut was good, but the Port and GC games are two banana peels in which we have to pick a side to win.

We decided Ballarat wasn't suited to 3 tall defenders, and our error there was making him sub. We should be picking our best 22 for the conditions then the best sub player, not picking our best 23 then putting the least necessary as sub. We have been so careful and ruthless the past 18 months to pick sides that are pacy and play to our strengths, t the extent of dropping guys like Macrae and Daniel. We absolutely shouldn't be compromising that to accelerate the development of someone who will get 5+ more games this year anyway in much more suitable conditions.

If Jones was in form he would be in the side, because h is better than our other options. JOD would probably swing forward, and Khamis out. Buss isn't as good as an in form Jones, so shouldn't be treated as such.

As for him not playing VFL this week, thats probably also good. Means if he gets a late call up cause a tall goes down thats good, if he doesn't he'll probably get more out of travelling and preparing with the side on a proper interstate trip in weird conditions than racking up 30 touches in the VFL for the 20th time on a Saturday morning.

[Rusty12]

I’ve actually changed my opinion on this, earlier I’ve said we’re not managing Buss right but actually now for probably the first time in Bevos reign we’re taking a horses for courses approach to selection and picking a team (and in game plans, match ups etc) based on the opposition not on us just trying to play our perfect game and not worry about the opposition like we have in the past.

and I’m all for it.

We obviously like the smaller look in defence and we’ve played two teams that in Ports case ran us off our feet the last few match ups, and everyone knows that’s gold coasts strength too, in very tricky conditions for talls. Last week the only talls to match up on were Georgiadis and a young Lord. This week King & a young Walter. Also the best inside info dude on BF was told Buss was playing this week in the 22, I suspect once we heard GC were dropping Reid and going short we had to pivot - which I agree with.

Lobb is obviously first choice and JOD is second choice, and just quietly looking like a potentially elite key defender (not the 3rd tall he’s been pigeon holed as) - I suspect next week or when the match ups make sense Buss will be straight back in as 3rd best key defender, which is where he is on the list realistically.

I think it’s easy to say oh if Jones was playing well he would be in, we wouldn’t drop him for match ups. But we don’t know what this MC would do because it’s different right now. If Jones was in form I’d suggest Buku would probably be dropped and one of Lobb or JOD would be forward and the structure would be exactly the same - this is what they want right now.

I hope Buss plays VFL this week though he needs game time especially after sub last week, and I don’t think Sub was a good move either but I can see that they didn’t want to drop him but also didn’t see him right for match ups, this week is a harder challenge and we can’t afford to carry a sub.

i dunno I think it’s completely fair enough, and I’m probably one of Buss’ biggest fans on this board - I’m sure he’s being communicated to as to what’s going on, but in saying that I’ll change my tone again pretty quickly if we don’t go back to him in more traditional set ups (like Marvel next week against Wright, Caddy & Langford - perfect match ups for him) and realistically I want the flexibility of him in the side because I don’t have much faith in Buku forward experiment and want the ability to throw Lobb around going forward. But realistically won’t matter this week as game won’t be won in the air.

I don't disagree with what you say about the team structure etc, and maybe, his treatment is the price to be paid for a better 22 on game day for the last 3 weeks.
However, the thread is about Buss development, do you think the last few weeks, and not playing VFL on Saturday and the week before, has been the best thing for him since his debut?
I think the answer to that, is 100%, No