Let the tanking begin

[GVGjr]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Not sure what you mean by that comment?

We have 7 games to play, not saying bring in 4 or 5 in one week. I would like to see some guys given a go between now and then season end.

I would have thought that Jones would be the first player I'd try to get back into the side more so than Roberts being gifted a game. If it's more important to give the untried a run then Jones is probably too experienced.

Do you really think one or two games will help the youngsters over the longer term? I don't.

[Maddog37]

Re: Let the tanking begin

One or two games to see how much quicker it is can only help them surely?

[Bornadog]

Re: Let the tanking begin

I would have thought that Jones would be the first player I'd try to get back into the side more so than Roberts being gifted a game. If it's more important to give the untried a run then Jones is probably too experienced.

Do you really think one or two games will help the youngsters over the longer term? I don't.

My OP had Jones in

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Let the tanking begin

I think I would prefer they keep any players with form at Williamstown, where they can be competitive in games and saved from demoralising defeat that they will cop in Bulldog games.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Let the tanking begin

I would have thought that Jones would be the first player I'd try to get back into the side more so than Roberts being gifted a game. If it's more important to give the untried a run the Jones is probably too experienced.

Do you really think one or two games will help the youngsters over the longer term? I don't.

Why do you say gifted? Hasn't he been good? I think he's been an emergency a few times including last week.

[westdog54]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Over the last few weeks of the season, ie whats left, I would play Roberts, Pearce, Jones, Skinner, Hill, Campbell, upgrade JJ and lets see what they are made of. It won't hurt to give them a game.

Agree with the sentiment, but like GVG I'm gobsmacked that you've even put the word tanking in there. It may have just been a poor choice of words, but as poor choices of words go, bloody hell...

[GVGjr]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Why do you say gifted? Hasn't he been good? I think he's been an emergency a few times including last week.

I'm not against any player earning their spot but I don't believe some of the players being mentioned have. FWIW, I'd have Jones and Grant well ahead of Roberts and they would be my selection priority. If there is a still a spot or two then Roberts would be in the mix.

[Topdog]

Re: Let the tanking begin

TBH we are that bad, do we really need to tank?

We are going to finish bottom 3 the way we are going anyway.

We are that bad that we should. The league is that disgraceful that we won't even be bottom 4

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Agree with most of what has been said. Bornadog's sentiment is mostly right.

I think we need to trial a couple of players to see if it's worth keeping them or not. Panos is first on that list -- he's been solid down back and up forward for Williamstown at various times, so it's time to figure out if he has a future with us. I'll be really disappointed if we don't play him and then delist him. When I look at Cordy, I don't see how he would be further ahead of Panos (let alone Roughy, Grant and Jones).

Veszpremi and to a lesser extent Skinner are in the same situation.

[Bornadog]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Agree with most of what has been said. Bornadog's sentiment is mostly right.

I think we need to trial a couple of players to see if it's worth keeping them or not. Panos is first on that list -- he's been solid down back and up forward for Williamstown at various times, so it's time to figure out if he has a future with us. I'll be really disappointed if we don't play him and then delist him. When I look at Cordy, I don't see how he would be further ahead of Panos (let alone Roughy, Grant and Jones).

Veszpremi and to a lesser extent Skinner are in the same situation.

Thanks for reminding me about Panos, I added him in the OP.

[jeemak]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Agree with most of what has been said. Bornadog's sentiment is mostly right.

I think we need to trial a couple of players to see if it's worth keeping them or not. Panos is first on that list -- he's been solid down back and up forward for Williamstown at various times, so it's time to figure out if he has a future with us. I'll be really disappointed if we don't play him and then delist him. When I look at Cordy, I don't see how he would be further ahead of Panos (let alone Roughy, Grant and Jones).

Veszpremi and to a lesser extent Skinner are in the same situation.

You're right. I don't like the idea of ditching a player prior to him being tested, especially when they've put in solid performances at reserve level.

The word tanking is a bit redundant these days. When you're as bad as we are and need to look to the future it isn't taking if you play development players to test them out. I think however, that we need to understand that clubs are not going to show any sign of compromising the draft through tanking. The AFL hasn't admitted to the public that tankking exists, but you can bet your bottom dollar it has had "off the record" discussions with each club stating that any club engaged in the practice will be treated poorly moving forwards. The commercial relationship the AFL has with betting agencies are far more important to it than the process of clubs bottoming out and rejuvinating to have another tilt, and they'll be extremely peeved if any one club compromises that.

Anyway, I hope the club isn't holding on to the hope supporters will stick out the current situation with the same players getting opportunities week in, week out, and I hope it is dilligent enough to understand that the only thing we have going for us right now is hope in some untried younger players showing something at senior level.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Let the tanking begin

What's the point of playing kids in a team with no structure and a mentality of 'laying over'.

Agreed. Its not a great assessment of a player if they are put in a team playing for very little, with minimal support. Sure you may see flashes of brilliance, but does that really tell you just how good a player is, or does it serve to illuminate a player against unreal expectations. Personally we should play guys who buy into the coaches message and are doing the things that the coach is asking.

I wonder whether guys like Panos and Hill haven't cracked a game yet because they haven't taken on what Macca and his team want?

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Let the tanking begin

I'm still of the belief that a position in the senior side needs to be earned not handed out like a free sample in a supermarket.

Agreed. The moment you play guys just for the experience and not based on performance it sends a horrible message to guys genuinely trying/working for the team.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Let the tanking begin

If you look across our team there are a load of guys with only a handful of games. How many kids can we realisticly play at once?

I think we need to swap kid for kid as much as removing old blokes with little future. We need to develop, not just play, the younger guys.

Having said that, who of the pups has made improvement this year? Wallis, Ayce (at least he's not breaking!), Libba...?

[Bornadog]

Re: Let the tanking begin

Over the last few weeks of the season, ie whats left, I would play Roberts, Pearce, Jones, Skinner, Hill, Campbell, Panos, upgrade JJ and lets see what they are made of. It won't hurt to give them a game.

Are we doing what Dean Bailey was accused of? I don't believe we care about winning, I think the coach is on the path of teaching, experimenting, just like Bailey did at Melbourne.

The seasons gone, lets play some more kids. Panos, Hill, Roberts, surely should get a game before the end of season.