View Full Version : Roast Unnecessary expectations on younger players - too much, too soon?
Macca18
16 Apr 2010, 23:52
Time to get serious.
A bit of cosmetic surgery to the scoreboard in the final quarter doesn't hide a pretty comprehensive defeat tonight....
But really, is anybody apart from the delusionals surprised? We have struggled interstate for a few years now and with a younger side tonight than those in the past against an opponent that has had the acid put on them by all during the week... it was probably going to be an inevitable result.
I've gotta ask though, why do some of our supporters choose to place unnecessary expectations on our younger players as if they are meant to be all world beaters so early in their development? We had 5 players out there tonight who are 26 and over (1 of those over 30) & 11 players who are 23 and under... how many sides in the past have been so successful so soon?
A good example this evening were the expectations on Hurley and Gumbleton coming into the game. Gumbleton is 21 and has just missed two full seasons of football & Hurley is 19 in his second season of AFL football - how on earth can anybody expect these two to dominate the forward line tonight and kick a winning score? Especially on the likes of Darren Glass and especially on a ground like Subiaco. It can take months and years for players of this age to gel together and form a cohesive unit... not just in the forward line but all parts of the ground.
I think we've all just got to be patient and bite our tongues to a degree during this time. We've lost a lot of experience in the form of Lloyd, Lucas, Lovett & McPhee and you can't just buy that experience overnight. We know the players we've recruited have the talent and the capabilities to eventually be a very good unit, but I just think some are expecting way too much way too soon...
The problem is we have been a young team for 3 years now. Where is the up side?
But I agree, though it's no excuse tonight. WC are also young.
As for unnecessary expectations, I don't think that it isn't unnecessary to expect a younger player to be able to kick the ball at a efficiency rate over, 65%?
Coyler had an efficiency rate through juniors at something like 53%. Sure he has everything else in his game, so what is the harm in leaving him in Bendigo to learn how to dispose of the ball? Then, once it's all together, bring him in to the seniors and show it at an AFL standard.
I cringed almost as much tonight when Dempsey got the ball tonight. Haha.
AndyLesPaul
17 Apr 2010, 00:19
I don't think that it isn't unnecessary
You've lost me
I reckon our team is reasonably young, and since we've got like 4 players with under 10 games on their belt, it's fair to say they're still adjusting to the game.
Young in age is completely different to young in age ;)
People expect these guys to come in and dominate from ball one.. It aint gonna happen.. We just expect to see it.
ningnangnong
17 Apr 2010, 00:36
Coulda been a good opportunity to beat the Eagles over there. But they fought harder for the win.
We are expecting too much too soon. Lloyd retiring has hurt us a bit I think. Eventhough he wouldnt have as great an output as in the past, least he would take a good defender like Glass for example and free up Gumbleton and Hurley a bit more.
He aren't going to make the eight this year I've conceded that much. Might not have as many interstate this season but you have to look no further than the next 4 games to see our games in Victoria aren't exactly easy.
LOL, i reckon some of you blokes will be posting in another 5 years time that we are still young etc etc.
West Coast had a younger AND more inexperienced side tonight and still dominated us. Scoreboard aside, they absolutely SMASHED us.
Plus this game is for younger blokes now. Every team is running younger guys cause the rules can now protect them. This game is getting more about athleticism and less "body on body" than ever. THAT IS NOT SOFTER but different skill set required.
We are woeful, our list is deficient in several areas and we have a nuff nuff game day coach.. its not age that is the problem.
Macca18
17 Apr 2010, 10:23
I'm not excusing the performances of more senior players like Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Williams & Winderlich who I thought were all ordinary to downright insipid at times last night and showed absolutely 0 leadership...
However some people just expect players to come into this side and dominate from the start. I mean if you were Hurley or Gumbleton, what on earth would you of thought of the delivery they had last night? We know the pair have potential but how on earth are they ever going to show it in the forward line with such abysmal F50 entries?
Melksham & Colyer in the middle played with a lot of guts last night... but again, they were in their second games. Pears & Hooker are in their third years on an AFL list and are doing a commendable job down back but they still have a long way to go...
A young side on the road with an horrific away record at a ground they notoriously play dreadfully at... disappointing performance, especially in the second quarter, but did we really expect anything else?
Monfries, McVeigh & Stanton will hopefully return next week to add a bit of much needed grunt that was missing last night. As for Prismall, his performance in the VFL this weekend will be telling but I doubt he would of assisted much in stopping the bleeding last night.
kelvin_sheedy
17 Apr 2010, 10:27
Yep, most people think Hurley is going to come in and play like Jono Brown.
Skeeta Olly
17 Apr 2010, 11:04
West Coast had a younger AND more inexperienced side tonight and still dominated us. Scoreboard aside, they absolutely SMASHED us.
Wrong.
They were older and more experienced.
Valve Bounce
17 Apr 2010, 11:29
Yep, most people think Hurley is going to come in and play like Jono Brown.
Yeah! some bugger posted on another thread that Hurley had "Presence". Well, he was hardly present all night from what I didn't see of him. :(
Wrong.
They were older and more experienced.
You are right. But only just :p
On average, 2 more games experience.
Skeeta Olly
17 Apr 2010, 12:51
You are right. But only just :p
On average, 2 more games experience.
Exactly and they were about half a year older. Next time people, do research before making a bold point.
The reality is, people expect so much from our younger players because some in the older brigade - that should be leading the way - simply aren't taking our side forward.
Watson is by far and away our best player, and Fletcher in the top few, likewise Stanton (who is still, what, 24); but the likes of Welsh, McVeigh and to a leser extent Winderlich, are all playing average football.
These are the senior players at our club, and if anything they (mostly Welsh, but McVeigh and Winderlich certainly aren't far off) are detrimental most weeks.
Hille is an exception due to the injury (and he was our best & fairest in his last completed season).
Apart from Watson, all of our improvement has come from younger players such as Pears, Zaharakis, Dempsey, Ryder, Hooker.
Sadly, unless the likes of Monfries, Slattery, Dyson and Prismall take their games to a far greater level (I believe Monfries isn't far off), we're going to have to rely on these younger players to provide the improvement in our side.
We are expecting too much too soon. Lloyd retiring has hurt us a bit I think. Eventhough he wouldnt have as great an output as in the past, least he would take a good defender like Glass for example and free up Gumbleton and Hurley a bit more.
Well, technically Lloyd would have still been sitting on the sidelines suspended... :)
With Stanton, Prismall, McVeigh and Monfries to all come in, I think there is definitely room there to improve our midfield/forward line...
The reality is, people expect so much from our younger players because some in the older brigade - that should be leading the way - simply aren't taking our side forward.
Watson is by far and away our best player, and Fletcher in the top few, likewise Stanton (who is still, what, 24); but the likes of Welsh, McVeigh and to a leser extent Winderlich, are all playing average football.
These are the senior players at our club, and if anything they (mostly Welsh, but McVeigh and Winderlich certainly aren't far off) are detrimental most weeks.
Hille is an exception due to the injury (and he was our best & fairest in his last completed season).
Apart from Watson, all of our improvement has come from younger players such as Pears, Zaharakis, Dempsey, Ryder, Hooker.
Sadly, unless the likes of Monfries, Slattery, Dyson and Prismall take their games to a far greater level (I believe Monfries isn't far off), we're going to have to rely on these younger players to provide the improvement in our side.
One of the problems so far in 2010 is that Watson - despite winning lots of the ball - has had little impact.
The opposition know that Watson has excellent vision and handballing skills - and zone off Watson when he has possession - meaning that Watson has less handball targets.
The flip side is that Watson has more time with the ball but is kicking too often.
In summary - Lots of possessions for Watson but nil impact.