View Full Version : The Selection Table
Milenko
16 Nov 2003, 23:46
We really need to adopt a sink-or-swin approach with some of these youngsters who have been on list list for 2 or 3 years. I'd hate to see them drop off the list next year without being given a crack to see what they are made of in the big time.
Too many times this year (03) we had stop-gap players like Siera, Wooden, Wilson, Read, Collica etc getting a game with the likes of Lynch, Hansen and Seaby plodding on in WAFL. I really want to see Woosha try some kids this year, running with the same old tryers is going to see us just scrape into the 8 or worse.
Very true.
The thing that frustrated me a lot of the time was that it didn't seem as though someone like Sierakowski was much (if at all) ahead of someone like Seaby or Lynch on ability, so there seems absolutely no rationale for holding them back.
But anyway, what happened happened, and hopefully the youngbloods will get to make a splash this time round. Remove Sierakowksi, Wilson, McIntosh, Read and Haynes- thats 5 spots up for grabs, including at least two key positions in our starting 18.
I could deal with someone like Staker having predominately a development year in the WAFL, since our need for him in his current role (as a flanker) isn't that great and a season of hard work and confidence building could see him turned into a world beater in 2005, but there are other people who had that year of development this year, and are set to go now.
The guy I definitely want to see on the park from round one is Seaby. High pedigree draft pick, dominated the WAFL this year, and I'm confident he could shape as a full time forward right away. Very very classy player, and, along with McDougall and Gaspar, probably the third inexperienced tall on our list who has real star potential.
Streaker
17 Nov 2003, 01:20
Players who are injured should be rested and not selected.
I would rather give an opportunity to a developing player than see an injured player doing short stints off of the bench or being propped up in a forward pocket. Put the youngsters in and let them show they can play.
Hansen, Lynch, Seaby and Johnson should all be given the opportunity to play before Jakovich (flack jacket ready). Hansen was almost ready to walk out of the club through lack of opportunity and Lynch would have been bewildered by the selection antics during the last 3 weeks of 2003.
If we are to win a Premiership within the next 5 years we need to have players with more than 50 games experience down the spine. Jakovich may have the experience but his legs are too old.
Originally posted by West Coast Stre
Hansen, Lynch, Seaby and Johnson should all be given the opportunity to play before Jakovich (flack jacket ready). Hansen was almost ready to walk out of the club through lack of opportunity and Lynch would have been bewildered by the selection antics during the last 3 weeks of 2003.
If we are to win a Premiership within the next 5 years we need to have players with more than 50 games experience down the spine. Jakovich may have the experience but his legs are too old.
Exactly. This is almost certainly Jako's swansong year. After he is gone, its almost scary how young our spine is- With the exception of Gardie, Cox, Embley,(none of which are full time spine players) here are all the blokes over 190 in our team (excepting those who are yet to play a game)
Glass- 53 Games
Hunter- 47 Games
Gaspar- 21 games.
McDougall - 12 games
Lynch- 11 Games
Staker- 7 Games
Johnson 1 Game
Trent Carroll 70 Games
So unless you think Trent Carroll is cut out to be an elder statesman along the spine, these guys need to get sustained experience playing together asap.
The irony is that someone like Hunter came of age last year, Glass this year, but by the end of season 2004, they'll be the closest thing we have to veteran defenders. McDougall and Gaspar had better grow up fast, because they'll be expected to be the old hands showing people like Seaby and Hansen the ropes in the next few years.
One of the few things where I reallly think the coaching stuff ****ed up this year was playing Jakovich and McIntosh (not too mention Willow and Siera etc) several games too many, at the expense of the above young talent. Its worth asking what development we got out of our young talls at AFL level this year. McDougall moved forward considerably in the half the year he got (which only makes me wonder how much better he would have been with a full season under his belt), Glass came on a bit (albeit only when McIntosh got injured), and thats about it. We at least partially wasted this year when it came to youth development.
What that means, is that this year we must see something close to 22 games from all the young kpps who are first in line, even if its at the expense of Jakovich. Like it or not, they're the future of our club, and they need to be getting the experience now.
We've probably got 2-3 years where Cousins and Gardiner will still be at their absolute peaks. That means that if we want to win flags with this team we have 2 years maximum to build a hardened, experienced spine to go with them. There's near universal agreement that Gaspar, McDougall, Glass, Lynch (or maybe insert a different name or two..) are our best bet to fill those positions, but the clock is ticking. If the above all chalked up 20+ games of experience this year, more importantly, they'd have also played one full season together and gained a measure of the trust, reliance and knowledge of each other that all the best back and forward lines have.
Alternatively, if, for arguments sake, Jakovich played 22 games at CHF this year then retired, we'll finish the year with a gaping hole at CHF, and have wasted another season when we could have been getting our spine right.
no1bankteller
17 Nov 2003, 07:48
Originally posted by Milenko
Too many times this year (03) we had stop-gap players like Siera, Wooden, Wilson, Read, Collica etc getting a game with the likes of Lynch, Hansen and Seaby plodding on in WAFL. I really want to see Woosha try some kids this year, running with the same old tryers is going to see us just scrape into the 8 or worse.
Personally I do rate Collica and his desperation and courage are needed in the backline.
But I do agree with you poing that we need to say to Lynch and co "no more excuses here is your shot and show me what you got".
I am actually not that disappointed that some of our younger talls have been held back aspecially when you consider the Gasper experiance, ie a young tall that was probably asked to do too much early in his career before his body developed. The only quesition mark is why was Lynch held back, after all he is built like a tank?
Now is the time to let our youngsters run amok along our spine!
daddy_4_eyes
17 Nov 2003, 09:46
Originally posted by Mead
I could deal with someone like Staker having predominately a development year in the WAFL, since our need for him in his current role (as a flanker) isn't that great and a season of hard work and confidence building could see him turned into a world beater in 2005, but there are other people who had that year of development this year, and are set to go now.
I can't agree with you on that point. Staker is AFL ready, dropping him back to the WAFL would do nothing for his development.
WAFL development is good for guys like Seaby, who's body wouldn't cope with AFL footy, or for Johnson, who was still really raw. But for Staker, who's shown he can play at AFL level, having to spend a season in the WAFL would be a step backwards.
I think the young talls have to be given a game over Jakovich in 2004. As someone said already this year, If Jako plays 22 games at CHF next year then in 2005 were going to struggle in that department because we dont have anyone ready to fill the position. We need to start going places as far as Im concerned. Cousins and Gardiner are at their peak now, we need to win now!
I'll leave it to Woosha to select them when he feels they are right to play AFL footy.
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
I can't agree with you on that point. Staker is AFL ready, dropping him back to the WAFL would do nothing for his development.
WAFL development is good for guys like Seaby, who's body wouldn't cope with AFL footy, or for Johnson, who was still really raw. But for Staker, who's shown he can play at AFL level, having to spend a season in the WAFL would be a step backwards.
Depends on what you mean by AFL ready.
At this stage he can get away with playing a flanker role mainly on the basis of his pace, brain and clean skills, but its a bit of a waste to play a 194cm player on the flank.
He's still pretty skinny, and if the limited gametime he got this year is any indication, probably not up to playing 4 quarters of running football. If asked to suit up now where he'd be most promising (FB), he'd get eaten alive in the marking contests and you'd think his body would break down.
I guess sometimes I get the impression that playing a young tall on the flank can do more harm than good down the track, because mentally they get accustomed to the 'also-ran' role, and have to make a big adjustment when the time comes for them to take on a bigger role. Some do it very well (tarrant) some don't (croad).
Originally posted by carlyp
I think the young talls have to be given a game over Jakovich in 2004. As someone said already this year, If Jako plays 22 games at CHF next year then in 2005 were going to struggle in that department because we dont have anyone ready to fill the position. We need to start going places as far as Im concerned. Cousins and Gardiner are at their peak now, we need to win now!
don't mean to get picky, but if you believe that Gardy and Cousins are at their peak now, then lets play Jako at CHF.
he is still the best marking player we can have at CHF this year, when we have a shot at being legit, to legit to quit :) .... There is plenty of room for youngsters all over the ground. We can afford to have ONE experienced player in the side.
agree with bankteller about Collica, he will be an asset to the side next year after a full pre-season. I know we try to forget that the Judge years happened, but Collica was one player who stood up and will continue to do so once he gets fit.
rant over
thegur