2009's Surprise: L Picken?

[Bulldog Revolution]

For me Liam Picken has been a terrific surprise packet in 2009

Not only has he demonstrated an ability to shut down good opposition players but he is good at winning the hard ball, is a far better runner than I expected, and seems to have pretty good sense for where the goals are.

It's early days but he looks to have a bright future with us - thoughts?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Totally, been absolutely brilliant for us in a role that has been missing for a while (a genuine shut down tagger).

Kind of picked this in the 'surprise predictions' thread, as Rocket had flagged quite early on that he was next in line to come in if anyone got injured, and reports that he was outrunning Crossy and Boydy in pre-season training was as impressive as anything you'd want to hear.

(Put him in my Supercoach team as one of the reserves at the beginning of the year, and has been a great cash cow).

[AndrewP6]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Yep, I like his work. Blue collar, tough as nails... a bit of maturity in him too. He's a good one. Nice snap for a goal on Friday too.

Remember when Rocket said late in 07 that they had learnt Sam Power could be a tagger...then traded him?

[Rocket Science]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Picken's work ethic and defensive abilities aside, I've been pleasantly surprised by his sharpness and timing with the footy more recently, particularly by hand.

He was a real contributor in tight versus Geelong, often involving himself two and three times in extended, rapid-fire passages of play, and didn't look at all out of place in the cauldron against quality opposition. His confidence seems to have grown with each game, and he can clearly contribute both with the footy and without.

Another pretty handy find for us off the rookie list.

[Mantis]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Another pretty handy find for us off the rookie list.

For a club that has had problems resourcing the cash for rookie listed players meaning we have rarely had the full quota we have picked up some gems. Boyd & Morris are now in our best 6 or 8 players and look to be 200+ game players. Over the past couple of years we have seen the emergence of Harbrow & now Picken who are developing extremely well.

Picken has been a great find, I saw a bit of him last year and he was the un-assuming 'Willi listed' player I didn't play particular attention to as I guess I was more interested in watching the Bulldogs players. He seemed to do his job each week which saw him share the B&F. For him to make a seemless transition to AFL football shows just how hard he must have worked over the pre-season where he won kudos from training 'junkies' like Cross & Boyd.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Nice snap for a goal on Friday too.

He kicked a beauty 55 metre goal in the practice game against St Kilda at Optus in the preseason (in a very bleak game) that gave me the impression that it was only a matter of time before he loaded one up.

I've been pleasantly surprised by his sharpness and timing with the footy more recently, particularly by hand.

His decision making seems to have really developed - he was perhaps a little tentative early but now seems more sure of himself.

Picken has been a great find, I saw a bit of him last year and he was the un-assuming 'Willi listed' player I didn't play particular attention to as I guess I was more interested in watching the Bulldogs players. He seemed to do his job each week which saw him share the B&F. For him to make a seemless transition to AFL football shows just how hard he must have worked over the pre-season where he won kudos from training 'junkies' like Cross & Boyd.

As a new Willi watcher last year he seemed to be one of a host of hard at it accountable types they had but didn't neccessarily stand out unless you probably understood what his instructions were. It's a credit to Willi for backing him the way they have and absolute credit to Picken for working his backside off.

[Dry Rot]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Presume his next assignment is McVeigh?

[Mantis]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Presume his next assignment is McVeigh?

McVeigh has gone to Cooney the last few times we have played Sydney. The midfield match-ups will be interesting and I guess we can discuss them in the match preview thread once it is posted.

[Mofra]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Picken does have quite a bit of Boyd about him.

The training & fitness is one thing, but Clayton said Boyd's quick hands in close were a feature that put him on the radar at Frankston, and Picken has very quick hands as well.

Every year there is a player that surprises, Picken is clearly the surprise this year.

[Sedat]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Like him on the thick of the action in the middle - he got caught down in the back pocket for a short period on Friday night and had no real idea how to play there. He has been a valuable contributor to our midfield rotations and has definitely allowed someone like Boyd to break the shackles and become a real attacking option for us in the middle.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

He's been great and has had an immediate impact. Why do you guys think this is? Could it be because he is 22 and played a lot of VFL?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

He's been great and has had an immediate impact. Why do you guys think this is? Could it be because he is 22 and played a lot of VFL?

No doubt his age and experience in the VFL gives him a better fitness and skills base than a raw 17-or 18 year old.
I think much like other mature recruits like Boydy and Morris, his own personal work ethic is a big factor.

Also like those two the fact he's done it the hard way, probably sees him with a more realistic attitude & focus. That is to say he probably recognises much better than a kid straight out of Under 18's how precarious an AFL career is and therefore is perhaps more committed in his preparation and commitment.

The thing I like about Liam is the quiet way he goes about it, yet this is not meekness, as he is absolutely willing to commit his body to the hard stuff and is obviously not overawed by the occasion and not easily intimidated.

I really hope he continues his development.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

He's been great and has had an immediate impact. Why do you guys think this is? Could it be because he is 22 and played a lot of VFL?

Certainly, and I agree with Yankee Foxtrot here. You see it in other sports all the time, where a late maturing player gets a second chance at the top level -- in English soccer, for example, plenty of former Championship players are now playing in the Premiership etc., Real Madrid and Barcelona have players that used to play for lower division sides...

I've always thought it's a shame in our game that there generally is the one dominant way of making it into the system (the draft) with the rookie draft very much a backdoor, and even more so for mature players -- plenty of VFL talent out there would make a decent contribution over some of these young 'uns drafted that will never make it, but while talented youngsters that are drafted are given every chance (even the ones that turn out crap), while gun late bloomers seldom get back into the system. AFL clubs are certainly youth prejudiced in this regard (similar to other draft sports like the NBA I suppose). If a club was willing to top up with top class state level talent every year it would never have to bottom out -- but I suppose you want access to the top couple of kids...

[Mantis]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

Certainly, and I agree with Yankee Foxtrot here. You see it in other sports all the time, where a late maturing player gets a second chance at the top level -- in English soccer, for example, plenty of former Championship players are now playing in the Premiership etc., Real Madrid and Barcelona have players that used to play for lower division sides...

I've always thought it's a shame in our game that there generally is the one dominant way of making it into the system (the draft) with the rookie draft very much a backdoor, and even more so for mature players -- plenty of VFL talent out there would make a decent contribution over some of these young 'uns drafted that will never make it, but while talented youngsters that are drafted are given every chance (even the ones that turn out crap), while gun late bloomers seldom get back into the system. AFL clubs are certainly youth prejudiced in this regard (similar to other draft sports like the NBA I suppose). If a club was willing to top up with top class state level talent every year it would never have to bottom out -- but I suppose you want access to the top couple of kids...

So what was your arguement again?

I guess the way around this is to take your state level players with your later picks such that you can access the best kids with your early one's.

[Mofra]

Re: 2009's Surprise: L Picken?

I've always thought it's a shame in our game that there generally is the one dominant way of making it into the system (the draft) with the rookie draft very much a backdoor, and even more so for mature players

Whilst true, the Rookie list is becoming a major factor in the AFL system. We had 4 of 22 players last night find their way onto our list via this method which is a fair portion for a team that is 3rd on the ladder. Considering these kids are usually passed over by each club 4-5 times each year after nominating for the draft it's a surprisingly good result.