Preseason training 2014/15

[bombard]

Chas 'vanilla' Brownlow?

As with Cripps and lycett every player has their pros and cons, like you've pointed out, good posts btw although im not sold on Cripps at all as of yet.
But sheed is a proven ball winner (at juniors), and shown composure at afl level already. Pace actually can be taught, football smarts can't, look at a.smith.. (And with that, whether that pace is used in a game) Can play, will play, could be anything (like priddis or even 'nearlydropped' Watson, oh hey chas) wait a couple of seasons till serious judgement is made.

One small correction - Lycett is all pro. No cons.

Glad we cleared that up.

 

[Obeanie1]

Classic reason why not to post drunk ( although i'm guilty of it ) Sheed is just another Masten, Ebert, Rosa, Scooter, Wellingham, Koby or Gaff....good but not great. We need freaking great !!!!!!!!! enough of the milky flavoured drinks please.

So quick to write off a young player who won the B&F in the U18 Championships the year he was drafted.

Is Lenny Hayes, Simon Black or Jobe Watson 'freaking great' because that's the body type, athletic type and role Sheed it is planned to develop into. How great were these guys in their first season?

Why do people so easily write off under developed kids after one season?

 

[Obeanie1]

No quite the contrary, I don't mind these down periods because I know it will make the next flag even sweeter. I just have fun in-between and wind everyone up who thinks this is the team to do it....its obvious its not though.

If the current squad has a Brad Hill (or a Brandon Matera) on one wing and a Issac Smith (or a Harley Bennell) on the other would you think this squad is capable of winning a flag?

Our KP stocks and rucks are the envy of 90% of the teams in the comp.

All that is needed is to unearth / develop / trade in a couple of outside speedsters, improve our efficiency in applying the Simpson (Hawthorn) game plan, have a bit of luck on the injury front and we are contenders.

Its not as if we need to clean out 20 players to get there.

 

[Doughboy]

So quick to write off a young player who won the B&F in the U18 Championships the year he was drafted.

Is Lenny Hayes, Simon Black or Jobe Watson 'freaking great' because that's the body type, athletic type and role Sheed it is planned to develop into. How great were these guys in their first season?

Why do people so easily write off under developed kids after one season?

POTY Obeanie1 and it's only early on day 1!

I think we need a bit more positivity around this place THB...

 

[Obeanie1]

POTY Obeanie1 and it's only early on day 1!

I think we need a bit more positivity around this place THB...

Cheers.

As people can see I tend to look at the positives and improving our deficiencies rather than complaining and giving up on young players.

I'm a big believer in that 90% of footy is won or lost "above the shoulders" meaning that attitude and mental toughness is what wins you flags. Sure you need talent but if you are talented but lazy you will fail and that applies to players and teams.

Just look at what the Swans had back in 2005 / 2006. They were described as a 'blue collar' side with a couple of stars but mentally they were tough, switched on and importantly committed to each other and the goal. Roos had drilled them to play a defense first style and the players committed to it and they beat many sides with more talented lists.

Here's hoping Simpson can get this squad committed and switched on mentally because we certainly have enough talent especially in the KP and ruck areas.

P.S, Happy New Year to all.

 

[Doughboy]

On the mental toughness, there are a few players in our squad that can drop their heads if the opposition get a run on. It is something that we definitely need to address, but on saying that this will come when the team have confidence in one another and the game plan.

Looking forward to the season proper

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

I'm a big believer in reality, you can be as positive as you like but it won't detract from our current position of being average and not good and even further from being great than some in here are thinking/hoping.

 

[nameless]

I'm a big believer in reality, you can be as positive as you like but it won't detract from our current position of being average and not good and even further from being great than some in here are thinking/hoping.

You thought we'd finish bottom 4 last year.

You're a pessimist not a realist.

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

You thought we'd finish bottom 4 last year.

You're a pessimist not a realist.

There is a distinct advantage in being a pessimist, if we go real well its a pleasant surprise..if we go bad you were already prepared for the let down. Being an optimist only leaves you with disappointment when we fail and mild self congratulation if we meet the optimistic expectation.

 

[ArdentEagle]

We should do a poll of half glass full/half empty people.
Not a lot of guess work with a distinct few members on this forum...It would still be interesting however.

 

[WCErevival]

Whats the point in following a team if you think they are going to be shit every year

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

Whats the point in following a team if you think they are going to be shit every year

Wow! every year? you should of seen how buoyant I was back in 2012 with this team. Embley, Glass, Cox and Kerr left a big gap and our draft picks have also let us down. I'd say everyone has a right to feel let down since the 06 Premiership mate but I follow this team and will continue to be internally hopeful but externally pessimistic.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Cheers.

As people can see I tend to look at the positives and improving our deficiencies rather than complaining and giving up on young players.

I'm a big believer in that 90% of footy is won or lost "above the shoulders" meaning that attitude and mental toughness is what wins you flags. Sure you need talent but if you are talented but lazy you will fail and that applies to players and teams.

Just look at what the Swans had back in 2005 / 2006. They were described as a 'blue collar' side with a couple of stars but mentally they were tough, switched on and importantly committed to each other and the goal. Roos had drilled them to play a defense first style and the players committed to it and they beat many sides with more talented lists.

Here's hoping Simpson can get this squad committed and switched on mentally because we certainly have enough talent especially in the KP and ruck areas.

P.S, Happy New Year to all.

We aren't anything like that. We are a mentally fragile bunch of hipsters who play with no heart. Our players rarely dig in and know when to switch on and grind out a tough performance for the win, which was as obvious as ever this year losing so many close games and not beating a top 8 team. The flat track bully tag didn't just invent itself you know. We have worn that label for quite some time now, since 2011. I wonder how many of those swans players acted like Chris Masten in 2005 / 2006? I daresay they acted professionally, like men, and knew when they needed to improve and step up, rather then a little kid with tattoos and a manscaped beard his missus cut for him, joking around and not taking things seriously.

As for giving up on young players.... i'd love to know exactly WHEN you do think we are allowed to criticize players for underperforming? Just a general amount of time which Qbeanie, fanboy of the year believes they need before you're allowed to say something bad about them? Would be great.

No doubt you've been one of the people pumping up Sheppards tyres and saying the same "he's only young... still improving... you guys make me sick... writing off a young player" drivel since 2009. Is he fair game now? (yes i know he just played his best season, which still falls extremely short of the mark of what we all expected) What about Masten, does 7 years on our list without finishing higher then 7th in our best and fairest mean we're allowed to criticize him yet? Or is he still off limits? And what about Newman the felon, i'd love to know if you think he's up for criticism now. Imagine if your son/brother/friend was the bloke he king hit, would your soccer mum protection of your players still apply?

In fact, who on our list HAS underperformed in your eyes? Or are you just that blind you only see us with the 2015 premiership and nothing else?

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

We aren't anything like that. We are a mentally fragile bunch of hipsters who play with no heart. Our players rarely dig in and know when to switch on and grind out a tough performance for the win, which was as obvious as ever this year losing so many close games and not beating a top 8 team. The flat track bully tag didn't just invent itself you know. We have worn that label for quite some time now, since 2011. I wonder how many of those swans players acted like Chris Masten in 2005 / 2006? I daresay they acted professionally, like men, and knew when they needed to improve and step up, rather then a little kid with tattoos and a manscaped beard his missus cut for him, joking around and not taking things seriously.

As for giving up on young players.... i'd love to know exactly WHEN you do think we are allowed to criticize players for underperforming? Just a general amount of time which Qbeanie, fanboy of the year believes they need before you're allowed to say something bad about them? Would be great.

No doubt you've been one of the people pumping up Sheppards tyres and saying the same "he's only young... still improving... you guys make me sick... writing off a young player" drivel since 2009. Is he fair game now? (yes i know he just played his best season, which still falls extremely short of the mark of what we all expected) What about Masten, does 7 years on our list without finishing higher then 7th in our best and fairest mean we're allowed to criticize him yet? Or is he still off limits? And what about Newman the felon, i'd love to know if you think he's up for criticism now. Imagine if your son/brother/friend was the bloke he king hit, would your soccer mum protection of your players still apply?

In fact, who on our list HAS underperformed in your eyes? Or are you just that blind you only see us with the 2015 premiership and nothing else?

POTY /end thread

 

[WCErevival]

I'd say after a couple of years playing at AFL level you could start to judge them. So someone like Sheed its too early but Masten and Sheppard its definitely fair game.

The flat track bully thing has been since 2013 not 2011. We beat top 4 teams back in 2011/2012

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

I'd say after a couple of years playing at AFL level you could start to judge them. So someone like Sheed its too early but Masten and Sheppard its definitely fair game.

The flat track bully thing has been since 2013 not 2011. We beat top 4 teams back in 2011/2012

I'm pretty sure you can get a fair idea of players potential in one year, rarely do you get situations where average players turn out to be total jets after 7 years of being in a squad. I'm not saying its not possible but hey Masten has had more than enough chances to prove he's better than he clearly is. Sheppard has definitely had enough exposure to us fans and its clear he is very average, Rosa, Scooter and Shuey have also had more than enough time and I think one more season out of Sheed and we will know for sure that he is also very average.

 

[Dark Sharks]

I'm not judging the 18 year old first year player Sheed. I've said this before, it's too easy to take pot shots at a rookie like that, it's not what i'm doing. There are several times in 2014 where i was happy the eagles were playing him, and talked him up a fair bit particularly after the bombers game.

No, it's the limited B grade player i think Sheed will become in a few seasons, which i was unhappy about when we drafted him. His first season on our list has panned out pretty much like i thought it would, not spectacular, not disappointing, and not a surprise. We'll have a 'solid' player.

 

[Keys]

I think one more season out of Sheed and we will know for sure that he is also very average.

Why wait another season, seems you've made your mind up

 

[Jack_the_Ninja]

Why wait another season, seems you've made your mind up

Well the signs were not good this year KS, how many times have we seen ( and picked up ) really good U18 and exceptional WAFL players for us get shown to be average ? now I hope to high hell I am so wrong on this and will eat my words but I have a gut feeling. Cavka is the man but .

 

[TOA.]

Well the signs were not good this year KS, how many times have we seen ( and picked up ) really good U18 and exceptional WAFL players for us get shown to be average ? now I hope to high hell I am so wrong on this and will eat my words but I have a gut feeling. Cavka is the man but .

Lets pick up crap u18 players then.

Sheed will be fine, he wont be a 'special' game breaker but he will be a long term midfielder for us IMO. You would be silly to judge him off one year when he actually looked OK.

 

[SwiftNShuey]

Well the signs were not good this year KS, how many times have we seen ( and picked up ) really good U18 and exceptional WAFL players for us get shown to be average ? now I hope to high hell I am so wrong on this and will eat my words but I have a gut feeling. Cavka is the man but .

Yea, he's shown so much more than Sheed so far.

 

[WCErevival]

If we drafted Cousins now would he be considered "vanilla"?

 

[Dark Sharks]

Stood up in big moments, had an immediate positive impact, hit the scoreboard from the get go, prolific... i'd answer that with a resounding 'No'

 

[Forget the Stats]

If we drafted Cousins now would he be considered "vanilla"?

He'd be Vanilla Ice!

 

[Eaglemaniac]

You would choose your hot GF rather than hang with Nic Nat?

I'd be afraid Nic Nat would out hang me..