Player Watch #7: Ben Lennon

[Nursie]

Whilst I think working on your defensive game is important, it is not the role Lennon should be playing, particularly now we have Rioli. Lennon should be playing as an attacking forward, not a defensive one. I'm sick of the club killing players attacking flair and natural instincts. Stop trying to turn them into something they aren't and start developing them for what they are.

Dogs won a flag with their forward defensive pressure. I don't think you can have players who go one way anymore.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Can mark and kick is perfect for HFF, has talent does he have the drive?

Apparently, going by his article. Hopefully with the sense of semi rejuvenation down at the club (new look mids and Lids done the skids) Lennon might be able to thrive off the new energy.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Dogs won a flag with their forward defensive pressure. I don't think you can have players who go one way anymore.

Stringer averages 2.1 tackles per game and Lennon 2.7........

 

[Grockadoc]

Dogs won a flag with their forward defensive pressure. I don't think you can have players who go one way anymore.

I did say working on defensive aspects is important, it shouldn't be the be all and end all, especially for a forward.

 

[RobsJourney]

Calling it now.

Barring injury Lennon will play all 22 games and kick over 40 goals.

 

[THE_GUN]

Calling it now.

Barring injury Lennon will play all 22 games and kick over 40 goals.

I would be happy if he played 15 and kicked 30

 

[Livonski]

Whilst I think working on your defensive game is important, it is not the role Lennon should be playing, particularly now we have Rioli. Lennon should be playing as an attacking forward, not a defensive one. I'm sick of the club killing players attacking flair and natural instincts. Stop trying to turn them into something they aren't and start developing them for what they are.

I think this is taken out of context too often. His role is not as a defensive forward it's more to play the correct role when the team is in defence mode. With team defence as it is we can't afford anyone to not be set up correctly. Lennon needs to work hard so that ball watching doesn't mean he's the weak link. When we have it, yep, run and gun to make position. When we don't, work just as hard because a Johannisen will rip us apart if Ben is caught napping/bludging/out of gas.

 

[TigermanM2]

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but, unfortunately, if you want a glimpse of the future you often only need to look back at the past.

 

[Nursie]

Stringer averages 2.1 tackles per game and Lennon 2.7........

Stringer was dumped because of his inability to meet his coaches standards, and I'd say that his lack of defensive pressure was one of them.

 

[Nursie]

I did say working on defensive aspects is important, it shouldn't be the be all and end all, especially for a forward.

I read your quote as you wanted him to focus primarily on being a forward, and I don't disagree with forwards kicking goals - who would - but I disagree on teams having forward flankers and pockets that don't apply relentless defensive pressure. Those days are long gone.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Stringer was dumped because of his inability to meet his coaches standards, and I'd say that his lack of defensive pressure was one of them.

That is a career average. He has played 73 games. He was dropped for what 2?

 

[Ancient Tiger]

I read your quote as you wanted him to focus primarily on being a forward, and I don't disagree with forwards kicking goals - who would - but I disagree on teams having forward flankers and pockets that don't apply relentless defensive pressure. Those days are long gone.

Good luck to Hawthorn with Vickery then!

 

[Sir_Loin]

He's a great mark, we are desperate for that connection between centre line and and the forward line and he has all the talent in the world. Lids told him he needs to work harder so just ****ing do it Ben.

 

[Nursie]

That is a career average. He has played 73 games. He was dropped for what 2?

So what? The coach dropped him because he didn't meet his requirements and you quote stats?

Ones a key forward the other a forward flank. If I have time I'll look up KPF tackles per game and see where he stands. But its a moot point.

 

[Nursie]

Good luck to Hawthorn with Vickery then!

Indeed. I don't know why they took him, but Clarkson has forgotten more about footy than I know.

 

[JackNah_8]

Let's see if Lennon can turn it around and has a good pre season by actually working hard and making an effort. He might end up being a good player for us

 

[Grockadoc]

I think this is taken out of context too often. His role is not as a defensive forward it's more to play the correct role when the team is in defence mode. With team defence as it is we can't afford anyone to not be set up correctly. Lennon needs to work hard so that ball watching doesn't mean he's the weak link. When we have it, yep, run and gun to make position. When we don't, work just as hard because a Johannisen will rip us apart if Ben is caught napping/bludging/out of gas.

Whole team directive. Lennon has a low defensive workrate, but so do more than half our team.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

But we're a low tackle sort of side I thought....

 

[Ancient Tiger]

i think many of you do not appreciate the effects of glandular fever. He caught it during preseason. This derailed his entire fitness base. He then got several concussions, a shoulder op and finally an ankle injury. He has hardly had a good run especially from an aerobic point of view.

This is obviously a huge year for him. I hope he makes every post a winner.

 

[Bojangles17]

Not unhappy to see him remain rather than be given away for pick 100. His dont lose r1 draft talent overnight. Hopefully he sees this as a junction in his career that he can take off

 

[Livonski]

Agr

i think many of you do not appreciate the effects of glandular fever. He caught it during preseason. The derailed his entire fitness base. He then got several concussions, a shoulder op and finally an ankle injury. He has hardly had a good run especially from an aerobic point of view.

This is obviously a huge year for him. I hope he makes every post a winner.

Agreed. He's got elite skills. Real X factor for us if he gets fit

 

[Grockadoc]

i think many of you do not appreciate the effects of glandular fever. He caught it during preseason. This derailed his entire fitness base. He then got several concussions, a shoulder op and finally an ankle injury. He has hardly had a good run especially from an aerobic point of view.

This is obviously a huge year for him. I hope he makes every post a winner.

I've had glandular fever twice in my life. I'll tell you, it knocks you around for a while. I had effects lasting almost 12 months later from my second bout of it. Nasty. I reckon Lennon suffered from some lasting effects of it. You get tired so much quicker in your recovery from it than you otherwise would. For someone who was never the strongest endurance athlete either, it would ave had a profound effect.

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Stringer averages 2.1 tackles per game and Lennon 2.7........

Stringer was the weak link over the finals for the Dogs. GF looked a shocker, I haven't re watched it but from what I saw he was a passenger ( bloody lucky Tori Dixon of all people killed Shaw).

 

[THE_GUN]

Lets hope that this has been a wakeup call and he gets his head out of his ass and listens to what the coaches are saying and becomes a player, There is alot i dont like about him but if he does turn it around i would be as happy as anubosy to see him make it

 

[NZ_Tiger]

I've had glandular fever twice in my life. I'll tell you, it knocks you around for a while. I had effects lasting almost 12 months later from my second bout of it. Nasty. I reckon Lennon suffered from some lasting effects of it. You get tired so much quicker in your recovery from it than you otherwise would. For someone who was never the strongest endurance athlete either, it would ave had a profound effect.

There's that but he also goes about the game with no intensity, pure skill gets people to the AFL but guys like Lennon that think they will just finesse the ball get found out. Time and space has to be earned.