Akermanis at it again...

[_Mike_]

I just look at Sydney, they pick Jetta and Dennis Lane

Didnt Jetta kick 19 behinds before he kicked a goal? If thats not persistance from the Coach, I dont know what is.

 

[The Boy From Brasil]

Stack and Moles are a different story. I don't think Eade dropping them is a sign of him "jumping off" them. Coaches tinker with the make up of teams throughout the season all the time and fringe players are either the beneficiaries or victims of the process. Both have been given pretty good exposure this year.

Stack had maybe 5-6 games in a row, only because Johnno was injured and Aker was sacked and besides BBB, we didn't have anyone who looked like kicking a goal.Stack was only ever a fill in selection until Johnno returned from injury.

I can't help but feel that Stack hasn't been given the confidence he should. His body language looks like he doesn't belong in the team or feel part of the team. When he is on the field, he looks confused as to where he should position himself. IMO he is a talented goal kicker, but struggles with the modern day tactics of structures, zones etc.

I look at the indiginous players in other sides and they look completely different to Stack. They are confident in their own ability, they play to their strengths and they look happy to be out there. I don't see any of those in Stack and it really dissappoints me because I think he could become a great goalkicker for us. I would bet anything though that he won't be with us next year and that really saddens me.

 

[The Boy From Brasil]

Didnt Jetta kick 19 behinds before he kicked a goal? If thats not persistance from the Coach, I dont know what is.

Yep, that was my point.

And have a look how many Sydney players go and hug or congratulate Jetta and Dennis Lane when they kick a goal. Then compare it to what happens when Stack or Hill kick a goal.

 

[WWWombat]

That is the dissappointing thing for me. That Everitt, Hill and Stack have all talent, and yet have gone backwards in the last year and we havn't even seen them at their best. For a side that lacks run and outside players, that really dissappoints me. They all appear without confidence and none have cemented a spot in the side.
I am not blaming anyone in particular because I don't know what the reasons are, but there is a flaw in the system somewhere and we need to really fix this problem as we have so many talented youngsters coming through, and for us to win a premiership in the next couple of years we need to get the best out of our talent.

I just look at Sydney, they pick Jetta and Dennis Lane(both first year players) and both have more confidence in how they play and influence games, then Hill and Stack that have been on our list for a number of years. IMO, something just doesn't add up.

Maybe, just maybe, Everitt, Hill and Stack aren't quite good enough, and may never be good enough to forge a long-term AFL career. Talent is only part of the equation. A couple of blokes I know, Steven Oliver and Stephen Allender, as well as a fella named Loveless all had heaps of talent.

Do you know the difference between 'potential' and 'a cup of coffee'?

A cup of coffee is worth about $4.00

 

[The Boy From Brasil]

Maybe, just maybe, Everitt, Hill and Stack aren't quite good enough, and may never be good enough to forge a long-term AFL career. Talent is only part of the equation. A couple of blokes I know, Steven Oliver and Stephen Allender, as well as a fella named Loveless all had heaps of talent.

Do you know the difference between 'potential' and 'a cup of coffee'?

A cup of coffee is worth about $4.00

You could add Damian Cupido to that list too.

I know the point you are making the agree with the generalities of it. I just think that those three in particular havn't been managed well and we havn't got the best out of them. But who knows, maybe you are right and I am wrong. I think the three of them won't be at the Whitten Oval next year, so I will be extremely dissappointed but most on this forum will be celebrating.

 

[jeemak]

Stack had maybe 5-6 games in a row, only because Johnno was injured and Aker was sacked and besides BBB, we didn't have anyone who looked like kicking a goal.Stack was only ever a fill in selection until Johnno returned from injury.

I can't help but feel that Stack hasn't been given the confidence he should. His body language looks like he doesn't belong in the team or feel part of the team. When he is on the field, he looks confused as to where he should position himself. IMO he is a talented goal kicker, but struggles with the modern day tactics of structures, zones etc.

I look at the indiginous players in other sides and they look completely different to Stack. They are confident in their own ability, they play to their strengths and they look happy to be out there. I don't see any of those in Stack and it really dissappoints me because I think he could become a great goalkicker for us. I would bet anything though that he won't be with us next year and that really saddens me.

Have you considered the possibility that Hill and Stack don't play with confidence, or play the way they do because they know they haven't earned their spot in the side? Can be a side effect of giving players games based on potential, and both of these players have been given opportunities after mediocre form at Willy. Young footballers are often given opportunities at the senior level and then get put back into the twos to work on their weaknesses. If these weaknesses aren't being addressed at the lower level, why should they be trusted at senior level?

So I put the question to those who watch Willy regularly, have these guys shown improved form and determination after they've had stints in the AFL and been sent back to Willy?

The difference I see between Stack, Hill and some of the competitions other indigenous players is the consistency of hunger for the contest. Whether that's a confidence issue I'm not sure.

 

[The Boy From Brasil]

The difference I see between Stack, Hill and some of the competitions other indigenous players is the consistency of hunger for the contest. Whether that's a confidence issue I'm not sure.

That has always been my theory, that they have been down on confidence this year. Their body language in all aspects look down on confidence.

I just wonder if we have the resources or the people in place to get the best out of our indiginous players compared to other clubs?

Maybe they are not good enough or consistent enough, and I am looking at them(as well as Everitt) with rose coloured glasses. But my memory is of Hill destoying Dal Santo one Friday night and of Stack kicking three or four goals in only his second game. They havn't improved since then and this dissappoints me because I had such high hopes for the flair and x factor that they could bring to our side. And that is what we are missing as a side now. We have quality blue collar workers, but not enough white collar ones or players with flair and match winning ability.

 

[Werewolf]

I would be sad if Hill left, he's got loads of talent, an uncanny ability to pluck unlikely marks and a good kick for goal. In his second game (Johnno's 300th) we were 20 points down in the 3rd quarter and he helped turn the game around and put us in front before 3qtr time.

I know he needs to make tackles stick and lift in big games but he's 21, give him time.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

I would be sad if Hill left, he's got loads of talent, an uncanny ability to pluck unlikely marks and a good kick for goal. In his second game (Johnno's 300th) we were 20 points down in the 3rd quarter and he helped turn the game around and put us in front before 3qtr time.

I know he needs to make tackles stick and lift in big games but he's 21, give him time.

I'm a big fan of Hill and am as disappointed as anyone that he isn't a gun yet. I also remember his second game against Adelaide where he was popping up everywhere pulling down defensive marks and goalsquare screamers. Picking up loose balls on a wings and delivering with precision; his shimmy, then a lookaway handball to Johnno running into an open goal. He showed more in this first 5 games than any Bulldog running around right now did in their first 5.

What I've noticed is that he appears a different player. As if he is burdened by following Eade's instructions. His tackle count is up but his effectiveness is down. WTF is Hill doing concentrating on his tackling stat? He isn't flying for marks and he is second guessing his actions. He appears to have lost his instinct for the game.

He may be so burdened by what the match committee want from him that he no longer knows how to play the game - his game. Different players need to be treated differently and I think Hill is one of those that shouldn't be measured by contested possessions, tackles and one percenters. He should be measured by Forward 50 entries, goals, marks, assists, disposal efficiency, metres gained. Eade has a liking for the High intensity, Gut-running, contest winning kamikazes. Unfortuneately, you can't win a premiership with a team of Daniel Cross's.

 

[Mutt]

I'm a big fan of Hill and am as disappointed as anyone that he isn't a gun yet. I also remember his second game against Adelaide where he was popping up everywhere pulling down defensive marks and goalsquare screamers. Picking up loose balls on a wings and delivering with precision; his shimmy, then a lookaway handball to Johnno running into an open goal. He showed more in this first 5 games than any Bulldog running around right now did in their first 5.

What I've noticed is that he appears a different player. As if he is burdened by following Eade's instructions. His tackle count is up but his effectiveness is down. WTF is Hill doing concentrating on his tackling stat? He isn't flying for marks and he is second guessing his actions. He appears to have lost his instinct for the game.

He may be so burdened by what the match committee want from him that he no longer knows how to play the game - his game. Different players need to be treated differently and I think Hill is one of those that shouldn't be measured by contested possessions, tackles and one percenters. He should be measured by Forward 50 entries, goals, marks, assists, disposal efficiency, metres gained. Eade has a liking for the High intensity, Gut-running, contest winning kamikazes. Unfortuneately, you can't win a premiership with a team of Daniel Cross's.

This is a very insightful post imho. Let's not try to turn Hill, Stack and Everitt into DFA.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

I thought the comment was pretty clear. Hill looks like he wont put his body on the line for whatever personal reasons... that says enough. If he wont put his body on the line, he should ask to be traded. He's wasted space on the list.

I would be sad if Hill left, he's got loads of talent, an uncanny ability to pluck unlikely marks and a good kick for goal. In his second game (Johnno's 300th) we were 20 points down in the 3rd quarter and he helped turn the game around and put us in front before 3qtr time.

I know he needs to make tackles stick and lift in big games but he's 21, give him time.

I'm a big fan of Hill and am as disappointed as anyone that he isn't a gun yet. I also remember his second game against Adelaide where he was popping up everywhere pulling down defensive marks and goalsquare screamers. Picking up loose balls on a wings and delivering with precision; his shimmy, then a lookaway handball to Johnno running into an open goal. He showed more in this first 5 games than any Bulldog running around right now did in their first 5.

What I've noticed is that he appears a different player. As if he is burdened by following Eade's instructions. His tackle count is up but his effectiveness is down. WTF is Hill doing concentrating on his tackling stat? He isn't flying for marks and he is second guessing his actions. He appears to have lost his instinct for the game.

He may be so burdened by what the match committee want from him that he no longer knows how to play the game - his game. Different players need to be treated differently and I think Hill is one of those that shouldn't be measured by contested possessions, tackles and one percenters. He should be measured by Forward 50 entries, goals, marks, assists, disposal efficiency, metres gained. Eade has a liking for the High intensity, Gut-running, contest winning kamikazes. Unfortuneately, you can't win a premiership with a team of Daniel Cross's.

I was thinking about Hill along those lines as well. He does seem to be second-guessing himself, unsure of the best option and asking What am I supposed to do in this situation? It's causing him to hesitate and then of course he makes the wrong decision, or looks as if he's shirking a contest. Rocket, stop giving him instructions and let him play his natural game. I would hate for him to leave and become a star for some other club.