We need to talk about Liam

[LostDoggy]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Ps. I have absolutely no doubt Liam will be a gun in the Stewie Leowe mould. No one at this age shows the tools that he has already shown at AFL level without becoming a far better player when his body and mind actually matures. I have doubts about many others but Jones isnt one of them... he may never be a prolific goalkicker but he'll be absolutely crucial to our half forward structure, if he isnt already.

Heck, the fact opposition coaches are putting their best defenders on him and double and triple teaming him says something, doesnt it?

[Rocco Jones]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

As an alternative to having a hard body, would we achieve the same thing by playing two young talls? The opponent's "best defender" can still only go to one of them so either Liam or, say, Cordy or Panos, would get the second defender. With our current structure our only real avenue to goal is Gia's undersized footy smarts. Two mobile marking forwards, if they know where to run.. and its a big if.. may give defenders more to worry about and have the same impact as a harder body.

This whole debate is largely due to the slower than expected development of Grant anyway, or his unsuitability to the role he was recruited for.

I think that is the way to go but there are a few issues with the trio of young tall options.

Panos- been injured and just not doing enough at the moment to warrant a game.
Hill- really don't think he is physically up for it and would only be tall when listed in the Record. Still perhaps worth a few games to get some experience.
Cordy- more of a 2nd ruckman than a pure forward and I worry he would go missing for massive chunks of the game.

Perhaps if we play Lake, Markovic and Austin down back, one of them can ocassionally swing forward when resting ruck isn't there just to throw their weight around/pinch hit. I don't really like that option tbh but I don't think we really have any good options when it comes to our forward line. It sucks!

[Rocco Jones]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Heck, the fact opposition coaches are putting their best defenders on him and double and triple teaming him says something, doesnt it?

Yep, as does his ability to take a contested mark. Top 5 I think last year in league, top 10 atm. Even though others in the top 10 get a lot more of it in general, Jones gets a massive % of contested marks. He does the hardest thing as a key forward awesomely well.

[LongWait]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Think you have nailed it with this line. We are expecting huge things from a 4th year KPP to take over the role that Hall had previously filled, that being our go to man and leading goal kicker. It is a huge expectation on a fellow who is still so raw and has so much development left in him.

We need to give him time to develop. It is pity we don't have another KPP that can take some of the pressure off him. I don't think sending him back to Willy will help his cause. I would rather he stay in the 1sts and see if he can gradually adapt to being the number one go to man.

Barry Hall at the same age and with the same number of games Jones has played would not be ready to take over from himself (if that makes sense.) Hall has left a massive gap for Jones to fill, but Jones is far better performed at 21 years of age or three seasons into his career than Barry was at the same stage.

[Hotdog60]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

I think we need to persevere with Jones, what he need is someone to take some of the heat.

If Hill can take a mark and is a reasonable shot at goal I would give him a go at FF. Chris Grant was a skinny runt when he started, sometimes you just need to put games into them.

[LostDoggy]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

I think we need to persevere with Jones, what he need is someone to take some of the heat.

If Hill can take a mark and is a reasonable shot at goal I would give him a go at FF. Chris Grant was a skinny runt when he started, sometimes you just need to put games into them.

interesting you brought that up. I was wondering about how Chris Grant started out In comparison to how Jones is going. I remember Grant didn't have a lot of weight, but was still ambidextrous and skillful. I know Jones' marking is a high point but he definitely doesn't have the skills C.G had at the same age.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

I'll copy and paste what I said in the game thread.

I've got complete faith in Liam Jones. Not many 21 year olds take the best defenders each week and are double or triple teamed. He doesn't have much help down there to relieve that pressure and he doesn't have a real crumbing forward at his feet. He'll get there when it's in place.

Agree. I can't see any benefit at all in playing Liam at Williamstown. He's playing confidently enough and I am sure the coaching staff would be in his ear every day pointing out exactly what we have all mentioned in this forum.

The key for Liam, as well stated, is to get the pressure off him. This will happen in time, but he'll just have to persist right now. I think bringing in Tom Hill or alike just adds to the inexperience up forward and might even add pressure to Jones. I think what will happen is when Tommy Williams and Dale Morris return later in the season, a tall that has been covering down back will be released to go forward. The obvious one for me is Marcovic.

[AndrewP6]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

He's a young lad who has had a lot of pressure (external, not from the club) put on him. I say give him some time. If the coaches think he's met the goals they set internally, all well and good.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

He's a young lad who has had a lot of pressure (external, not from the club) put on him. I say give him some time. If the coaches think he's met the goals they set internally, all well and good.

Well said. Good post.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

He's our man for the next 10 years with some luck.
It will take some time, just suck it up and hope he can take some big steps from time to time.
He will be a star in 4 years!

He just to do the basics right, work hard, present, contest and pressure players.

[whythelongface]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

interesting you brought that up. I was wondering about how Chris Grant started out In comparison to how Jones is going. I remember Grant didn't have a lot of weight, but was still ambidextrous and skillful. I know Jones' marking is a high point but he definitely doesn't have the skills C.G had at the same age.

Granty was an absolute freak. Didn't he kick over 50 goals in his first season at 17 years of age? If Liam ends up being half as good as Chris we will have a bloody good player on our hands.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Granty was an absolute freak. Didn't he kick over 50 goals in his first season at 17 years of age? If Liam ends up being half as good as Chris we will have a bloody good player on our hands.

Yep. Grant isn't the benchmark for good or very good, he is the benchmark for out and out elite.

[GVGjr]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Port Adelaide have some other guy called Chad this season. Are they all country and western fans down there or something??
Sedat, you are not alone. I though Barlow was worth holding on to.

Agree Barlow was worth another year on the rookie list played with heart and got the most out of his ability.

[Greystache]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Granty was an absolute freak. Didn't he kick over 50 goals in his first season at 17 years of age? If Liam ends up being half as good as Chris we will have a bloody good player on our hands.

Yes, and he's still the youngest player in history to kick 50 goals in a season. With the physical development required in the modern professional era it will never be broken.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: We need to talk about Liam

Yes, and he's still the youngest player in history to kick 50 goals in a season. With the physical development required in the modern professional era it will never be broken.

Forget about the physical development, the AFL would have to change it's draft rules for Grant's record to be broken. Under the current rules, Grant would have had to wait another year to even play.