Lake omission disgraceful

[The Pie Man]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Norm Smith(the greatest coach ever) said one of his best weapons to get the best out of his players was to make an example of the better players. He frequently targeted Barassi which caused other players to think that if Barassi was having a bad run I must be terrible.

I believe the dropping of Lake is just to send a message to the rest of the playing group that if you dont adhere to instructions your out.

And I believe Barass was big on this himself, often berating Malcolm Blight (who would go on to say he'd perform almost to spite him)

Maxwell spoke recently of how hard Malthouse has been on him (and that it took him a while to understand why)

Can you imagine how this would've gone down? Brian says to the club 'look I'm pretty sore, I don't think I can play ATM' and the club responds with 'tough, you're going to Manuka'?

You can't un-do things (like playing him too early - which is debatable, but anyway) but in recovery I feel we're doing the right thing

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

As has been mentioned earlier in this thread there may well have been a more collobarative discussion which lead to a mutual agreement with Brian being demoted this week. If that was the case I would've preferred Brian to back himself in to come good - to set himself a goal against the Swans.

I'm not convinced that after two weeks that 'simply' based on Brian's form that his demotion is warranted otherwise it does make a number of other MC decisions in 2010 look inconsistent such as with our perseverance throughout 2010 to select Shaun, Mitch and Brad that they might eventually come good. Possibly the action the MC has taken this week is an outcome from learnings taken from some ordinary calls last season.

Will be interesting to see whether Hawthorn take a similar line on Luke Hodge who like Brian is also struggling with form - being put down to an interrupted preseason and persistent achilles complaint. I suggest the call to demote Hodge will not be considered by their MC.

The issue I see the Club has with Brian this week may have more to do with the combination of form AND, in particular, in not adhering to Team structure / expected discipline where the two have morphed into one.

The MC, Coaching Staff and Brian himself knew what had to happen when the last quarter unfolded against Collingwood , after being moved forward with Murphy and then rushed back when Brown moved forward , Brian looked spent , he knows that his match fitness must be up to a four quarter standard. Markovic and Williams will have to shoulder the load until Brian is completely ready, it has already been stated that they probably brought him in one or two weeks too early , and that if we want to be competitive come September then we need to manage Brian now or it will cost us later

.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

I just think it's an admission the club got it wrong.
Brian should have had a few more game at Willy, a fact they've conceded.

[westbulldog]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Brian Lake might lack some fitness but one would think that if he plays at Willy he isn't injured. I therefore would have selected him at full forward against the Swans.

[Desipura]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Irrelevant.

We were never going to win it, and to suggest he would've been a liabilty compared to the likes of Johnson or Hahn would also be rediculous. The difference is Jones is also playing this year, while Hahn is coaching and Johnson commentating. Experiencing the pressure of a prelim (or any final for that matter) would've been hugely beneficial for a young player that might be the backbone of our team in the future, rather than going with the tried, tested, and failed veterans and getting the usual result.

Agree 100 per cent. If we are lucky enough to make the top 4, I hope we do not make the same mistake.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

He's clearly not physically right, so he doesn't play. Simple.

[always right]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Brian Lake might lack some fitness but one would think that if he plays at Willy he isn't injured. I therefore would have selected him at full forward against the Swans.

Yeah....because a fully fit Lake has previously wreaked havoc up forward This fanciful notion that Lake is a viable option up forward never goes away.

[Bornadog]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Agree 100 per cent. If we are lucky enough to make the top 4, I hope we do not make the same mistake.

There was no one else putting up their hands to play, so I can't see it was a mistake.

[Flamethrower]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Finally the club gets it right. After all these years of not making a huge statement by actually omitting an underperforming senior player, Rocket and the MC bite the bullet and do the right thing. This could very well be a turning point in our underperforming history.

It had been clear since he came back that the current Brian Lake is a shadow of the All Australian full back that has served us so well the last few seasons. He is clearly not fit, is lacking confidence because of it, and is therefore woefully out of form. Hindsight is always 20/20 and it is obvious now he came back too early, but what's done is done, and all the team can do now is move forward. The best way to do that is give Brian a few weeks away from the pressure that is AFL football, and let him regain fitness, confidence and form on the training track and at Williamstown, with the aim of having our AA full back raring to go come the pointy end of the season.

[Topdog]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

There was no one else putting up their hands to play, so I can't see it was a mistake.

Well Hahn, Johnno and Eagleton certainly didn't put their hands up.

[kruder]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

He's clearly not physically right, so he doesn't play. Simple.

AND Cooney is??????????? Double standars?????

Brian is lenghts better than any player at the westernbulldogs. Id rather give him the benefit of the doubt rather than a player who has under performed for the past 2 years.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

According to Damien Barret on FS, Brian wanted to have a 4 week mini-preseason on his own and not play any matches at the VFL. Was talked about with the coaches and Brian, but he will be playing with Willy this week and for the next few by the looks of it

[Desipura]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

There was no one else putting up their hands to play, so I can't see it was a mistake.

Is Skinner putting his hand up?
How about Roughy?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

He's clearly not physically right, so he doesn't play. Simple.

Is he mentally right?

Heard on SEN this morning that Eagleton had pending legal action towards Lake as a result of a business venture.

They were involved in that child care centre, also with Cooney IIRC, wern't they?

Could be two-fold - mental and physical

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lake omission disgraceful

Well Hahn, Johnno and Eagleton certainly didn't put their hands up.

I would have thought years of being able to do it is as much as putting up your hand.