Star power

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Star power

While recognising that we need quality on the list, two points stand out

1. Once a side wins a flag the media discover champions they previously didn't recognise

2. A champion team will beat a team of champions

Heard on the radio on the weekend that Cam Mooney should be recognised as one of the modern greats because he is a three time premiership player.


(For those that don't remember he won a premiership with North in 99 but didn't actually get on the ground at all)

[Sedat]

Re: Star power

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/can-collingwood-win-a-flag-without-a-superstar-20100401-ri3p.html

Interesting article in The Age today comparing Collingwood's 2010 squad, without any bonefide superstars, to the 2002 team that had one superstar and quite a few donkeys. The article suggests that recent history would point to the need for premiership teams to have 1-2 superstars in their group, although I'm not sure I totally agree with this argument.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Star power

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...0401-ri3p.html

Interesting article in The Age today comparing Collingwood's 2010 squad, without any bonefide superstars, to the 2002 team that had one superstar and quite a few donkeys. The article suggests that recent history would point to the need for premiership teams to have 1-2 superstars in their group, although I'm not sure I totally agree with this argument.

Some players do tend to become superstars after the event, after all, they are a "premiership player" now, they must be better.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Star power

Removing my red, white & blue hat for a second. I'd take our model any day of the week. Teams with a strong player in every position will get you over the line more often than not.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Star power

I think Lake and Cooney are both in the top dozen or so players in the league, and that gives us more than our fair share. Plus Griffen and Higgins could move to that bracket this season, who knows.

[Sedat]

Re: Star power

BUMP

When things get really tight, none of our leaders seem capable of commanding the ball and willing the team over the line. Hayes has now done it twice in a row. Are any of our emerging players going to take that step into the elite? Will they directly influence matches against quality opposition that are on a knife-edge?

[boydogs]

Re: Star power

BUMP

When things get really tight, none of our leaders seem capable of commanding the ball and willing the team over the line. Hayes has now done it twice in a row. Are any of our emerging players going to take that step into the elite? Will they directly influence matches against quality opposition that are on a knife-edge?

Reid has done it at VFL level. Looking forward to him coming in and helping us climb the ladder

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Star power

BUMP

When things get really tight, none of our leaders seem capable of commanding the ball and willing the team over the line. Hayes has now done it twice in a row. Are any of our emerging players going to take that step into the elite? Will they directly influence matches against quality opposition that are on a knife-edge?

I think it's a serious worry. Our senior players (Cross, Hahn, Murphy, Gia, Johnson, Aker, Eagleton) struggle to have an influence when it counts. Higgins goes missing far too often whilst Cooney can be pretty wasteful with his disposal. Griffen has proven to stand up in pressure cookers - although I can't remember how he went late in last night's game.

Either way I agree with you Sedat. How often do you see Hayes/Montagna/Riewoldt push them over the line, Ablett/Bartel/Selwood for Geelong, Mitchell/Sewell for Hawthorn etc.

We have a lot of players who do well when the team is playing pretty football. However, when the tide turns and the pressure is placed onto us - not many of them stand up.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Star power

I think it's a serious worry. Our senior players (Cross, Hahn, Murphy, Gia, Johnson, Aker, Eagleton) struggle to have an influence when it counts. Higgins goes missing far too often whilst Cooney can be pretty wasteful with his disposal. Griffen has proven to stand up in pressure cookers - although I can't remember how he went late in last night's game.

Either way I agree with you Sedat. How often do you see Hayes/Montagna/Riewoldt push them over the line, Ablett/Bartel/Selwood for Geelong, Mitchell/Sewell for Hawthorn etc.

We have a lot of players who do well when the team is playing pretty football. However, when the tide turns and the pressure is placed onto us - not many of them stand up.

Have to agree, unfortunately... our leadership group needs to step into the roomful of mirrors, I think.