Williamstown changes - 2010

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

I agree in part. It's healthy to make the player earn his spot but I think we've struggled to develop a few players because of the AFL/VFL alignment. Grant being played out of position can't be great. He might find more fitness playing as that roaming CHF but he's probably losing confidence too. I'm happy for players to be dropped based on form and obviously he wasn't performing, but in an ideal world we would likely play him out of the square. He hasn't been able to learn about this position at senior footy yet.

Didn't Boumann also get dropped halfway through the year despite his good form? Fairly sure Wight took his spot. It might have only been for a week or two, but again - it's not great development if he can't keep moving forward.

I suppose it can be argued keeping Wight for as long as we did caused this, too.

I think the alignment works at about 85%. It's pretty good, but there's a few things we'd like to change if we could.

Wight gets the blame all the time for Boumann being dropped. There was some doubts about if Wight would be played for the Bulldogs during the season anyway and if he was highly unlikely to play then the Bulldogs should be wearing some of the blame for maintaining him on the list.
Very rarely does anyone acknowledge that the competition for spots is a good thing because it's easy to find one or two examples where it isn't working at 100% and then question the so called "development" of the players. I really do believe that Boumann made a quantum leap this year because he was used very well in the reserves and when he knocked the door down for a spot in the seniors he made the most of it. He could have been pushed up before he was ready and then dropped back in a couple of weeks.

There is positives and negatives with being in an alignment but we can't afford to go it alone and shouldn't be searching for excuses.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Wight gets the blame all the time for Boumann being dropped. There was some doubts about if Wight would be played for the Bulldogs during the season anyway and if he was highly unlikely to play then the Bulldogs should be wearing some of the blame for maintaining him on the list.

We know that Wight was only kept because he was under contract. We also know Eade and Gotch had a nice old barney because Gotch was under instructions that Boumann was not to be dropped before Wight but Gotch dropped him while the seniors were playing interstate.

[mighty_west]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

At the end of the day [parden the pun], if you're good enough or work hard enough, you will get opportunities to play, Easton Wood would have been seen as a bit of a smokie when first drafted, yet found himself in the ones this year, having players like Johnson, Stretton, Davies, Jolley etc didn't stop O'Keefe or Reid get regular games, Henry White was promoted a few times, yet didn't do enough at that level when given a few opportunties.

With Grant, yes he can lead well, has great hands, can tackle very week, can take a great pack mark, yet seems to choose when he wants to work hard, why would he edge out Matt Little who is clearly a better player [at this stage], at the same time, Little would be doing all he can for the team, but for another shot in the AFL, and he works his ass off all game.

Then we have a player like Pat Rose, he could easily be taking Mal Lynch's spot as that smaller forward, even Stacky's position, but unlike Grant, Stack has taken his opportunities to date playing alot in the backline, and looks like Rose could very well be on the Dogs rookie list next month, if players like himself & Picken were edged out by under developed Bulldogs listed players, then they'd probably never get onto an AFL list, Morris was also playing Werribee ones, probably taking up a spot for a Bulldogs listed player, it can work both ways in our favour!

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

We know that Wight was only kept because he was under contract. We also know Eade and Gotch had a nice old barney because Gotch was under instructions that Boumann was not to be dropped before Wight but Gotch dropped him while the seniors were playing interstate.

Boumann getting dropped shouldn't be blamed on Wight regardless if Eade saw it that way.
The out of form Grant could have just as easily made way and a bit later in the season he was dropped back for continued uninspiring form.

Do we know if Eade was calling for O'Keefe to be dropped to the 2nds once his card was apparently stamped?

Playing some games in the reserves regardless if you are in form or struggling a bit isn't hindering the development of our younger players. It's just a convenient excuse to explain why some players aren't displaying the sort of form that we hope for.
Mulligan for example has had two years of average or below average performances in the reserves, very rarely even being named as one of the better players, and yet has earned a promotion to the senior list. He's been promoted because he's 199cm and very athletic not because of his own field performances. Actually he sounds a lot like a young Cameron Wight.

[Mantis]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Boumann getting dropped shouldn't be blamed on Wight regardless if Eade saw it that way.
The out of form Grant could have just as easily made way and a bit later in the season he was dropped back for continued uninspiring form.

Wight & Boumann both fill a key defensive role and as such are battling one another for a similar position within the senior team. Grant is a forward and as such shouldn't be included in this arguement.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

A few of the players like Meyers are moving to the bush leagues so it's going to be new look Williamstown side that rolls out in 2010.

Tom Langlands and Meyer both joining Wodonga.

http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/wodonga-raiders-sign-williamstown-pair/1640797.aspx

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Do we know if Eade was calling for O'Keefe to be dropped to the 2nds once his card was apparently stamped?

Definately not.

Sydney were quite interested in Guy until his abysmal finals series put them off. We were hoping he would be involved in the Hall trade.

Eade wouldn't play him in the seniors because he thought Guy would loose all trade value if he was exposed in the seniors. It was also thought it would kill any chance Guy had of finding another club. Dropping him to the reserves would have been worse.

Hawthorn also had a close look at Guy before deciding they weren't interested.

Perhaps we should have offered him to Voss?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Mulligan for example has had two years of average or below average performances in the reserves, very rarely even being named as one of the better players, and yet has earned a promotion to the senior list. He's been promoted because he's 199cm and very athletic not because of his own field performances. Actually he sounds a lot like a young Cameron Wight.

I had the same thought. The only difference I can see is at least Mulligan has put on a bit of size and might not be rag-dolled as easily as Wight was.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

I had the same thought. The only difference I can see is at least Mulligan has put on a bit of size and might not be rag-dolled as easily as Wight was.

Will Mulligan be next year's "Cam Wight backup option"?

He was a good chance of being dropped but has found himself on the senior list for next year. I guess being tall and backup option sometimes has it's rewards.

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Wight & Boumann both fill a key defensive role and as such are battling one another for a similar position within the senior team. Grant is a forward and as such shouldn't be included in this arguement.

Disagree. Boumann had spent various times when playing in the reserves as a forward and part of his development could have easily been the one to replace the out of form Grant.
Gazhi would often swing young Boumann forward for some impact. He might have settled in as a defender but he was used as a forward during the season.

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Definately not.

Sydney were quite interested in Guy until his abysmal finals series put them off. We were hoping he would be involved in the Hall trade.

Eade wouldn't play him in the seniors because he thought Guy would loose all trade value if he was exposed in the seniors. It was also thought it would kill any chance Guy had of finding another club. Dropping him to the reserves would have been worse.

Hawthorn also had a close look at Guy before deciding they weren't interested.

Perhaps we should have offered him to Voss?

Given that a trade never went through then Eade's as responsible as Gotch for filling the Williamstown seniors with players that weren't going to be around next year.

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

I feel sorry for any old Williamstown supporters who try and barrack for their "club".

Anyways, interesting thread guys keep going.

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

I feel sorry for any old Williamstown supporters who try and barrack for their "club".

Anyways, interesting thread guys keep going.

I've met a number of them in the last 2 years and it's been difficult adjustment for them. Still they are far happier with the alignment with the Dogs than they were with the Pies.

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

I've met a number of them in the last 2 years and it's been difficult adjustment for them. Still they are far happier with the alignment with the Dogs than they were with the Pies.

Still though, you'd seriously think of walking away from the game.

We have "issues" in the SANFL but no where near this degree.

[GVGjr]

Re: Williamstown changes - 2010

Still though, you'd seriously think of walking away from the game.

We have "issues" in the SANFL but no where near this degree.

It's been a huge compromise for their supporters but they haven't lost that many. The diehards have stuck with them but I don't think they enjoy it as much.