View Full Version : Once again the Lions show lack of Trust in Youth
Maverick
20 Sep 2002, 22:28
Last year it was D Headland who had to step aside to allow more experienced, but less able, players participate in September glory.
Now J Charman.
What a disgrace. Charman deserves his spot well ahead of Crackers.
Matthews is weak. He has done it over and over again.
Unless we start giving the likes of Charman, Hadley and McGrath a fair go, our fall from grace will be in a similar fashion to that of Carlton....who adopted similar Non youth policies a couple of years ago.
:mad:
pedrothelioness
20 Sep 2002, 22:30
I agree! Heh, if i hadnt said um soo many times, I could have put a bit more conviction and swear words into my league teams speel.
saying that barnes did agree with me!
They said my name an alarming amount of times, I think they may have believed it was fake.
Maverick
20 Sep 2002, 22:57
From the club website from Matthews:
“We’ve got three guys that are all pretty capable,” Matthews said. “Crackers (Keating) has proven it and Beau (McDonald) has. Jamie is more the young guy on the way through".
Exactly what I have been saying for years. The club is in disarray. What is Matthews thinking. The man is not mentally fit for the job with that line of thinking.
No wonder Bubba is nearly having a nervous breakdown trying to deal with Matthews' narrow-mindedness.
CarterS
21 Sep 2002, 00:27
Charman hasn't been given the opportunity to prove it in finals, give the bloke the opportunity. He has proven he has the goods throughout the season, I can't see the finals being any different. All that will happen is that his confidence will be shot and it will spark Cupido and Daniel Bradshaw style falls from grace (with the coach that is).
Having said that, I think Keating was BOG the first quarter the other night against Adelaide. He had a great game.
If we have any luck at all, we'll be playing another game this season.
It's next week this becomes an interesting question.
If we don't play another game, this may be seen as a very dubious decision.
I don't think there is a problem with Matthews' "youth policy" at all. In fact, we are playing guys like J.Brown ('The Guvna'), D.Headland and A.Shattock this week, who are still relatively kids. Also, guys like Charman, Copeland, Bolton and McGrath have all had decent game time this season. Just because they haven't been selected this particular week, does not mean that there is a fault in Matthews' "youth policy". There is no such stipulation in a youth policy, you must play young players in 'every' game - but rather, merely just that you are developing your young talent in a conscientious manner (which I believe Matthews is doing).
Similarly, it wasn't that long ago, that Matthews was playing guys like S.Black, L.Power, S.O'Bree and others when they were just kids. Likewise, he developed the younger talents of the club such as Leppitsch, Johnson and Akermanis into the stars they are today. Claiming that Matthews doesn't have a "youth policy" isn't really backed up by facts at all.
What's the point in playing someone in such an important game, just for the sake of promoting a supposed "youth policy", when you have a better more capable option that you could be playing instead?
Anyone would agree that Charman is unlucky. He has been very good this season, but due to circumstance, he has been replaced with a more favoured, and in-form option.
The Lions aren't going out tonight just for a "kick and giggle" affair. They need to chose the players that they think will get the job done best, in a knock-out encounter, against an excellent opponent. There is a GF berth up for grabs, and ultimately a Premiership.
Likewise, I'm sure that Matthews didn't make this decision purely off his own bat. We have a team of selectors and a match committee who would have surely had some influence in the matter.
Considering Matthews took us to a Premiership last season, I am prepared to trust his judgement on such matters.
Roylion
21 Sep 2002, 09:25
Originally posted by Maverick
Exactly what I have been saying for years. The club is in disarray. What is Matthews thinking. The man is not mentally fit for the job with that line of thinking.
Yep, you're right!
The club is in disarray. Reigning premiers, 6 All-Australians, Goal of the Year, Mark of the Year, a berth in this year's Preliminary Final, almost a full list to choose from.
Personally I think its great that the players out of the senior 22 are pushing the incumbents so hard for senior selection. It's quite obvious that Keating's excellent performance in the Crows match, as well as his finals experience has been a huge factor in swaying the selectors thinking on how they might best combat Matthew Primus' strength and agility.
Keating and Charman strike me has having similar playing styles and obviosuly Matthews wants to complement Beau McDonald's tap work with some bullocking strength. Either Keating or Charman fit the bill.
Keating will be extra keen to play well, because IF the Lions win through to the GF and he's had a poor game then Charman will very likely find himself playing.
Actually the real interest is who will replace Chris Scott.
Originally posted by Maverick
Last year it was D Headland who had to step aside to allow more experienced, but less able, players participate in September glory.
"Less able"?? Who was less able than D.Headland by last year's standards, who was playing in the GF side? In fact, it was M.Pike who came back into the side for Headland. I'd hardly say the he is/was "less able", and certainly not at that particular time.
I'll remind you, that Headland had dropped out of form towards the end of last season, and likewise, all of the players in the side were doing enough to hold their spots. You cannot go into finals with out-of-form players, if you have better options available.
I also remember you saying that you thought S.Hart should have been dropped on the verge of last year's finals! I suppose you would have preferred Headland instead? That would have done us well! :p
Originally posted by Maverick
Now J Charman. What a disgrace. Charman deserves his spot well ahead of Crackers.
Keating had a fairly reasonable game against the Crows. Likewise, McDonald is always a starter, when fit. Charman is just unlucky, in that he has had a couple of quiet games to finish off the season, and likewise, the fact that we are coming up against a very physical ruck division in Port (necessitating the need for a bigger, and in-form C.Keating).
Charman has played some good football over the season, and is certainly a significant part of the future of the team. However, in knock-out finals, you HAVE to go in with your form players - the players who will get you across the line.
"Youth development" at the sacrifice of your best form side (at the particular time), is not an option in circumstances such as these.
Originally posted by Maverick
Matthews is weak. He has done it over and over again.
What, you mean, picking young guys when they are ready, fit, and capable of playing at the level required?
Yes, I'd agree. I'd say he's done a fairly good job of it too. More often than not his decisions have been spot on the money.
Originally posted by Maverick
Unless we start giving the likes of Charman, Hadley and McGrath a fair go, our fall from grace will be in a similar fashion to that of Carlton....who adopted similar Non youth policies a couple of years ago.
:mad:
Turn it up! Matthews has been able to develop the young talent of this club into what it is today.
In fact, he is even making moves to snare me as a forward pocket for next season. Just trust the man. :cool:
Check your PM's Roylion and Skilts!