Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

[always right]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

A way with words I see.

Nobody cares whether he would, but it does illustrate a point.



You do realise there are footballers nation wide who are big bodied, quick and willing, right?

A club like ours shouldn't be wasting two years to find out if they can turn a kid with a good attitude into a good footballer. I know I've harped on about this for weeks now, but it's driving me nuts.

I shall attempt to remain tight lipped about this from here on in.

My apologies for not listing more attributes

Why remain tight lipped? Isn't this a board for opinions and counter opinions....sometimes expressed with a bit of attitude?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Bit sombre but a reality is that with an average life expectancy of 81 years over 27,000 members. On average around 7 Bulldog members will pass away this week, I knew one who passed away last week and the final game she saw was what we threw up against Carlton. Did those 7 people miss going out on a winning note because Jake Stringer needs development?

I understand the blood the kids mantra, but they can learn the ropes in the VFL, isn't that the reason we invested so heavily creating Footscray? You don't see promising military recruits placed straight into the SAS unproven so they can develop. IMHO the waters get very murky.....simple solution, play the team most likely to win you the game. Nature will eventually take it's course and the old will be replaced by the new on their merits.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Who gives a flying **** whether he would get a game with another side?

No-one is saying he doesn't have deficiencies in his game. The fact is we are a team who is at the stage where playing finals footy is not a realistic outcome in 2014 so the focus should be on developing a team that can challenge in coming years. That means giving some blokes games when perhaps they are not in our best 22 right now if it means we fast track their development.

I guess the same approach is being taken with Stringer. Not playing well enough to be in our best 22 but being given the opportunity to devlop, even if it means making him play in an unfamiliar position against a bigger, more experienced opponent. Guarantee he learned more on Sunday than he did in previous games.

Back to Jong....he has taken huge steps since joining the club. He is big bodied, quick and willing...not bad attributes as a starting point. Now we need to find out if he can develop game awareness, poise and decision making. If he can't then you'll have your wish and he'll be gone in two years. I'm quite happy to experiment whilst we go through this transition.

I agree, and if he doesn't improve on his weaknesses he'll be gone.
But final judgement on his body of work is frightening

[always right]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Bit sombre but a reality is that with an average life expectancy of 81 years over 27,000 members. On average around 7 Bulldog members will pass away this week, I knew one who passed away last week and the final game she saw was what we threw up against Carlton. Did those 7 people miss going out on a winning note because Jake Stringer needs development?

I understand the blood the kids mantra, but they can learn the ropes in the VFL, isn't that the reason we invested so heavily creating Footscray? You don't see promising military recruits placed straight into the SAS unproven so they can develop. IMHO the waters get very murky.....simple solution, play the team most likely to win you the game. Nature will eventually take it's course and the old will be replaced by the new on their merits.

Deliberate Anzac round connection? Well played m'lord.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Bit sombre but a reality is that with an average life expectancy of 81 years over 27,000 members. On average around 7 Bulldog members will pass away this week, I knew one who passed away last week and the final game she saw was what we threw up against Carlton. Did those 7 people miss going out on a winning note because Jake Stringer needs development?

I understand the blood the kids mantra, but they can learn the ropes in the VFL, isn't that the reason we invested so heavily creating Footscray? You don't see promising military recruits placed straight into the SAS unproven so they can develop. IMHO the waters get very murky.....simple solution, play the team most likely to win you the game. Nature will eventually take it's course and the old will be replaced by the new on their merits.

I don't know how to respond to this.if I could find some eyes to roll

[LostDoggy]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Seriously?

Seriously! You are talking about forfeiting a year for the development of our side, I don't see how this differs much from tanking? I'm not saying for a minute we are doing that and Stringer and Jong may well be in our best 22 but what I disagree with is your sentiment.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

A club "like ours" is still in development mode.
For crying out loud the kid's 19 and played a dozen games.
For mine he has deficiencies ( what young player hasn't?)We have many players similar, banging down the door .
No doubt Smith Hrovat Wallis will be back in .

It's just not as simple as that.

Just because you're young, it doesn't mean you're good.

My apologies for not listing more attributes

Why remain tight lipped? Isn't this a board for opinions and counter opinions....sometimes expressed with a bit of attitude?

True, but to be fair I have aired my opinion on this subject enough haha.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Seriously! You are talking about forfeiting a year for the development of our side, I don't see how this differs much from tanking? I'm not saying for a minute we are doing that and Stringer and Jong may well be in our best 22 but what I disagree with is your sentiment.

Melbourne just did what many football clubs have done over the years.
Unfortunately for them they got pinged.Personally reckon trying players in different spots should be reserved for Foorscray, but what other options do you have when missing key backs? Young was ordinary, and jones couldn't get into the game.
Tanking is when players deliberately don't try, but a pretty grey area trying to determine if a coach is tanking

[always right]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Seriously! You are talking about forfeiting a year for the development of our side, I don't see how this differs much from tanking? I'm not saying for a minute we are doing that and Stringer and Jong may well be in our best 22 but what I disagree with is your sentiment.

Yeah, that's what I said

You're right.....we are the only side in history to have played a young bloke in the belief his development will have benefits for the side. Clearly tanking.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Pretty simplistic argument BB.
If you don't realise it takes time for young footballers to develop and become a good footballer you're living in an unrealistic world!

[Scorlibo]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Yeah, that's what I said

You're right.....we are the only side in history to have played a young bloke in the belief his development will have benefits for the side. Clearly tanking.

Of course a lot of clubs do it to one degree or another. Melbourne were just unlucky to get caught up in an AFL investigation.

I'm with Murphy Contradicts Law, we need to win games first and foremost. A winning culture always beats getting experience into kids.

[Greystache]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Pretty simplistic argument BB.
If you don't realise it takes time for young footballers to develop and become a good footballer you're living in an unrealistic world!

We do have a reserves side that we have full control over.

I can't understand the position many people are taking that "X player has to play so they can develop", it's almost as if that if they don't play seniors they'll be working at the hardware store on Saturday afternoon and it will be a week in their footballing lives lost. Let them learn in the reserves until they're up to AFL, if ever.

What was the point of paying for our own VFL if every kid we rate has to play seniors or they won't learn? We may add well divide them amongst the 4 stand alone VFL clubs and spend the money on GPS units etc.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Pretty simplistic argument BB.
If you don't realise it takes time for young footballers to develop and become a good footballer you're living in an unrealistic world!

It's not simplistic at all. Saying they are young and need to play seniors to develop is simplistic. If that was the case, every young player would end up becoming a good player. It just doesn't work that way.

We do have a reserves side that we have full control over.

I can't understand the position many people are taking that "X player has to play so they can develop", it's almost as if that if they don't play seniors they'll be working at the hardware store on Saturday afternoon and it will be a week in their footballing lives lost. Let them learn in the reserves until they're up to AFL, if ever.

What was the point of paying for our own VFL if every kid we rate has to play seniors or they won't learn? We may add well divide them amongst the 4 stand alone VFL clubs and spend the money on GPS units etc.

Grey summed it up well, I agree wholeheartedly.

[always right]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

Of course a lot of clubs do it to one degree or another. Melbourne were just unlucky to get caught up in an AFL investigation.

I'm with Murphy Contradicts Law, we need to win games first and foremost. A winning culture always beats getting experience into kids.

We can't do both? It's not as if we are only playing kids. We're talking about one player who must be doing enough things right in the coach's eyes for him to have been persevered with for several games.

Perhaps we wouldn't even be discussing this if Wallis had been better against Murphy as I suspect he would have picked up Dangerfield as he did last year. With Picken clearly earmarked for Betts perhaps Macca simply saw Jong as our best/only option. Perhaps he thought playing on Dangerfield would be more beneficial for Jong than him playing against the Bendigo witches hats.

[Bornadog]

Re: Three Things I've Learned - Round 6 Edition

It's just not as simple as that.

Just because you're young, it doesn't mean you're good.

True, but to be fair I have aired my opinion on this subject enough haha.

You are right about Jong at this stage of his career, but I think Macca has a very different philosophy than we do.

We want wins and wonder why players are in. How many posters have called for Stringer to be dropped, yet Macca keeps him in the team. I actually saw an improvement in Stringer this week, and probably played his best footy for us. Yes, Pods beat him in the air, but what else can we expect when someone is bigger and stronger. However, there were other aspects of his game the MC would have liked. eg, the chase in the forward pocket and pressure he applied followed up with Dhal applying pressure and then Adelaide turning the ball over in front of goal.

Similarly, Macca has a plan for Jong and hopefully he is doing the things he is expected to do. Time will tell whether he makes it.

On the other hand, players with more than 50 games, should be contributing,a nd deserve to be dropped if they don't.