14. Lynden Dunn

[Marns]

• Number: 14
• Height: 192cm
• Weight: 98kg
• DOB: 14-05-1987
• Debut: Rd 6 - 2006

Club Profile

Demonwiki

 

[whelan=legend]

Thanks to cannons:

Lynden Dunn

Current Ability: C
Dunn had an up and down season. He played 16 matches in 2008, averaging close to 12 possessions. This is a pretty mediocre return; however he was used primarily as a run-with player. He produced some solid performances in that role, negating players of high stature within the AFL. He also averaged 2.5 clangers a match, including 6 against Geelong, which is unacceptable given the amount of ball he wins.

Strengths:
- Stamina
- Work ethic
- Defensive skills
- Aggression
- Accountability

Weaknesses:
- Size
- Pace
- Disposal
- Doesn’t get much of the ball
- Marking

Potential Ability: B
I think Lynden has a lot to improve upon, and he should be able to do this over the preseason. However, I don’t think he’s the type of player who will ever explode; he will probably be making incremental improvements to his game. I think B is about right in terms of his potential; he could be a solid role player for the club, but nothing extraordinary.

I have listed his size as a weakness because he is somewhere in between a key forward and midfielder in this area. It seems as if Bailey has recognised he won’t make it as a KPF, and has looked to reinvent him as a tagger due to his running ability. To improve in this role, he needs to get more of the ball himself, and give his opponent something to worry about. We know he has some goal kicking ability, he just needs to utilise it more often. At the moment, it seems as if he is overly concerned with his direct opponent, and getting the ball is an afterthought. In saying that, he has performed his defensive duties well.

Skills are a major concern for Dunn too. He seems to struggle with his disposal at times, and he doesn’t mark particularly well for his size. He needs to work on this over preseason, as well as trying to use his size to advantage in the midfield.

Trade Value: Late 3rd rounder

Overall, Dunn has got to lift his game to cement a spot in the team for 2009. He has some qualities of a good run-with player who could hurt his opponent going the other way. If he can strike a better balance between his defensive and offensive duties, it will increase his value to the team greatly. 2009 shapes as an important year for his development.

 

[Headless]

Had a pretty solid season playing as a tagger.

What does everybody think? Forward or mid?

 

[Clean Heels]

At the moment, I think its important that Dunn keeps pushing ahead with his tagging role, there are more benefits this way..

If he is a midfielder, then he will learn from the very best - Ablett, Judd, Goodes and co. This will show him what is needed to become an elite player, whether or not he breaks free of a tagging role and becomes an attacking midfielder will depend on how much he takes out of this yr - and improves over the pre season.

Also, I think his size is an advantage with tagging, as Ablett, Bartel, Goodes and even Cooney are all strong above their head, with Dunns extra height, it can be seen as a plus - compared to having Bartram doing the tagging.

 

[Fairtex09]

In my opinion i think we should get rid of him, he doesnt really ad any benefit to the team we dont need him as a tagger we have a daniel bell who would be far much better as a tagger he also shows more of a spark for the future . IMO.

 

[Headless]

Dunn >> Bell.

 

[Fairtex09]

why? what qualities have Dunn shown?? at least IMO Bell has shown a little bit

 

[RandB]

In my opinion i think we should get rid of him, he doesnt really ad any benefit to the team we dont need him as a tagger we have a daniel bell who would be far much better as a tagger he also shows more of a spark for the future . IMO.

Dunn needs to improve but I don't think that now is the time to get too happy with the axe - given our poor year it is in many ways speculation on how good a player he could be for us. Once the team is playing better and we have players genuinely competing for spots then we can trim the fat IMO. I thought Dunn wasn't too bad as a tagger and if he can improve on that then he serves a purpose even if it wasn't the primary one in mind at the time of getting him. I must admit that I am dissapointed that he didn't come on as a handy forward target as I had hoped a while back but the club realised this fairly early on and improvised with him.

 

[Fairtex09]

ok fair point i dont mean push him out the door this instant, but comon? surely he has to be on Dean Baileys rader of suspect players??

 

[RandB]

ok fair point i dont mean push him out the door this instant, but comon? surely he has to be on Dean Baileys rader of suspect players??

If there were any players on the radar as you put it then yeah Dunn would probably be one of them but Bailey is in the phase of still seeing what Dunn has to offer the team. The mere fact that they gave him a tagging role meant that they wanted to see what his other strengths are and Dunn was ok at it. Also Bailey impresses me with his philosophy and a good coach first and foremost develops his players when they are not at the level required and gives them a reasonable chance to prove themselves so hopefully Dunn and other players can step up.

 

[Beats]

why? what qualities have Dunn shown?? at least IMO Bell has shown a little bit

Bell showed a bit then went backwards.
Dunn has shown a bit and gone forwards.
Dunn is also a fair bit younger and has a lot more of a tank than Bell, in short Dunn has promise and potential, Bell is a known quantity.

 

[Headless]

Exactly. Bell's gone backwards since he was cleaned up by Ben Johnson.

 

[RandB]

Article: Stronger Dunn ready to rumble

Going by this there is a lot of method going into his position within the team. A bit stronger and looking to not only consolidate his tagging role but add some attacking elements to his game. Give him some time and he could be a great asset for us going forward.

 

[Dez!]

Anyone else think that Scott West will have a huge influence on Dunn? He'll learn so much from him as will the rest of the midfield.

Also loved the comments about Harvey, I look forward to hopefully seeing him clean up "Boomer".

 

[JuveRule]

Will have to double-up here, apologies. Anyhow...

Round: 5 (Adel)
Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals
My thoughts: Started on the bench and then initially went straight into the forward line, but due to the nature of the game found himself around the stoppages. Wasn't really doing much there (not tagging nor getting much of it himself). After half time was sent forward and kept Goodwin to only 10 touches in the 2nd half after he'd amassed 25 in the first. Brilliant effort to run from high on the wing to latch onto the end of Bater's pass and thank christ he kicked straight otherwise we'd really have been struggling.

Didn't exactly present hard as a forward, more of a case of getting into the right (or just plain lucky - see 2nd goal) positions. Needs a defined role to focus on otherwise he can easily fall into a hole and end up being largely ineffective. Would love to see him stay up forward next week.

Rating: 6.5
Keep his spot: Has to. Kicked 50% of our goals.

 

[JuveRule]

Round: 6 (Geel)
Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 hitouts

My thoughts: Drifted again throughout the match, playing mainly on the wing before heading up forward later in the game. Wasn't given a stopping role, instead rotating through Bartel, Kelly and Wojcinski. I highlighted the hitouts because it was obviously a tactic from up top for us to have a regular third man up at the contests, with 6 blokes in total getting hitouts for us. Problem for Dunn in this area was that on two occasions he directly picked out an opposition player.

When in the forward line later in the game, he didn't have much of an impact apart from a couple of assists, most notably for Sylvia's goal.

Rating: 5
Keeps his spot: Yes. Will be interesting to see where he plays on the weekend, more than likely will be used around the ground as a runner. Needs to have an impact otherwise may be up for a week at Casey.

 

[JuveRule]

Round: 7 (WCE)
Stats: 12 disposals at 92%, 5 marks

My Thoughts: For the second week in a row was initially named at CHF up ended but starting on the bench and moving straight onto the wing. Didn't get too much of it there but when Rivers & Frawley went down he was sent back, rotating through McKinley, Hunter and Kennedy. Was alright in patches

Once again, though, it didn't appear (to the removed spectator) that he had a defined role for the day. If I had the luxury of being in the team meetings etc. then I'd be able to give you an answer but when he's going from CHF (ok, initial team lists don't mean much these days) to the bench, to the wing and then finally down back, it's all just a bit baffling. A utility in the true sense of the term.

Rating: 5.5
Keep his spot: Yes. With Frawley and Rivers out, he may just find himself playing down back this week. Or on the wing. Or up forward...

 

[saj_21]

Round: 7 (WCE)
Stats: 12 disposals at 92%, 5 marks

My Thoughts: For the second week in a row was initially named at CHF but ended but starting on the bench and moving straight onto the wing. Didn't get too much of it there but when Rivers & Frawley went down he was sent back, rotating through McKinley, Hunter and Kennedy. Was alright in patches

Once again, though, it didn't appear (to the removed spectator) that he had a defined role for the day. If I had the luxury of being in the team meetings etc. then I'd be able to give you an answer but when he's going from CHF (ok, initial team lists don't mean much these days) to the bench, to the wing and then finally down back, it's all just a bit baffling. A utility in the true sense of the term.

Rating: 5.5
Keep his spot: Yes. With Frawley and Rivers out, he may just find himself playing down back this week. Or on the wing. Or up forward...

as the saying goes..."A jack of all traits, a master of nothing"... He drifts around the ground with no real purpose or positon. When tagging is caught between winning the ball and shuttin down his opponent. He is reminding me a bit of Miller in the daniher years, moving him from down back to up forward. Personally i would like to see him in the FP leading o the round and at the ball and rotating through HFF with Sylvia and Bate.

 

[peterss]

Your thoughts on Dunn's hopes for the 2010 season?

How many games do you see him playing etc?

 

[Bartram_Class]

Your thoughts on Dunn's hopes for the 2010 season?

How many games do you see him playing etc?

Swimming against the tide at the moment.

I don't know where he squeezes into the side, he's been screwed around by both coaches no doubt but at the same time, I'm not sold the talent was there in the first place.

Definitely good depth to have, but not best 22.

Might play 5-10 games.

 

[On the bench]

I've adopted Lynden Dunn so i can make my report on his game against Hawthorn fairly short!

Apart from kicking a point in the first quarter did pretty much nothing else for the game!

Brad Green was quoted in the paper saying that 'our core' needs to stand up,i would place him in that group.

Garry Lyon said after the game on MMM that his career is fast approaching the crossroads,i would have to agree with him,Lyndens time is now he either wants to be an established player or not?

 

[On the bench]

Since my last post im happy to say that Lyndens output over the past two games has been much better!
He may not be dominating games but is being a bigger presence on the ground & slotted the odd goal!
In saying this he made an almost monumental blunder in the last quarter against the Crows when trying to pass the ball to Newton!
We need him to continue on from this & play good consistent football!

 

[00Stinger]

He has looked alot better in the last couple of matches

 

[Djcjdees]

I love dunny, but can someone please explain his runup when kicking for goal? Let's be honest, it's no wonder he can't kick straight when having a set shot. Against Adelaide it didn't hurt us but he missed two from in front. Must luck those against the better sides!

He takes marks 40m our directly in front kicking towards flinders St and starts his runup from punt road. Then halfway through it he props and kinda tries to kick his behind (excuse the pun) with his heels for a few steps. Then, presumably to gain more distance he arcs around at the end of his runup when he is about to kick the ball.

Sorry to harp on but it is quite extraordinary! It is the same every time though which is a good thing but I can't see him kicking a goal from a set shot with this approach.

 

[d33my]

Interesting stat, Dunn is our leading mark taker, according to MFC.com

Surprising? Meaningless?

I guess it doesn't mean much if you can't kick goals.