'big ben' griffiths.

[SteveoTheTiger]

He must spend some time on the VFL in my opinion. Like others have said he is coming back from major surgery and has not done a pre season. Even Foley is planing to play at least 3 reserve games before coming back.

 

[diligaf]

Just because you are not on the injury list doesn’t mean you are ready to play.

OK, the kid has successfully played U18 competition (as an AIS-AFL Academy Graduate) against elite opposition (including Gold Coast) and from all accounts performed relatively well. All injuries aside, I would assume that the RFC have placed him on some kind of fitness regime since late last year. If this is right, and everything goes to plan, the decision to slot him into the 22 will be very tempting! Finally, let us learn from our previous mistakes buy grooming these youngsters to play AFL level asap, unlike the many years it took to realise that ex potential KPF's like Hughes and Schulz were duds!

 

[_RT_]

Like Hardwick said a couple of months ago, all decisions made will be in the best interest of the long term future of our club and there will be no quick fixes or shortcuts taken so rushing Griffiths into the side 2 weeks after he comes off a long period in rehab isn't going to happen. So until Griffiths has actually played some footy and shown some form you won't be seeing him in the seniors.

If he is actually right to go then I expect to see him lining up for Coburg reserves on the weekend if not this week then next week at the latest. He then needs at least 2-3 weeks to get his fitness up and show some form, from there I would like to see another month of solid form for Coburg seniors before he gets a run at AFL level. That takes us through to somewhere near mid year and that would be the perfect time to introduce him to the side and gives him half a season to get his feet wet and gain a little bit of experience.

 

[Bazzar]

This was Shifter Sheehans run down on him at draft time,


Benjamin Griffiths
From: Eastern Ranges/Blackburn FC
Key numbers: 198cm, 99kg, 17/09/91
Benjamin is a very promising key position prospect who can take a strong contested mark. He moves quickly for player his size and is adept when the ball is at ground level. Shapes ideally as key forward as he possesses a thumping long kick and is very accurate in front of goal. His development has been cruelled by injuries but he shows great ability when his body is right. Benjamin represented Vic Metro at the 2009 AFL Under 18 Championships and showed glimpses of his best form when booting five goals against NSW/ACT. He played 10 matches with the Eastern Ranges in 2009, playing his best football in the second half of the season. He followed up a bag of six goals against the Calder Cannons in round 17 with an impressive performance in the first qualifying final against Geelong where he claimed 10 marks and booted four goals.

 

[TO HOT TO HANDLE]

Griffo won't be availiable until round 5 and then he will be playing at Coburg, Foley could be playing at Coburg this week. Go Richmond Go.

 

[Bazzar]

I wonder if he shares the same nickname as a former number one ticket holder

 

[partycorolla]

Why don't we all just continue to burden him with the weight of our expectation.... chuck him straight into the seniors with no pre season, no experience in senior football and just hope he stands up and carries the club for 15 years..... Seriously could we have some calm. Let DH play him when he thinks Ben is ready, not when a bunch of supporters think.... No wonder we have been a rabble for so long

 

[Goldust]

According to the latest injury list (leading up to R3), he is only one week away. There is no logical reason why the selection panel will not consider him for a hit out against the Demons. After all, he is a masive unit who will not be pounded from pillar to post. It needs to happen!

GIVEN the fact he had injury concerns all throughout his TAC Cup years, missed part of the pre-season, barely played a practice match and will be absent through injury from at least rounds one through three, there is certainly evidence that this kid has already been ‘pounded from pillar to post’ to quote your good self.
Injury history suggests we need to tread carefully with Griffiths and not throw him to the wolves immediately, especially while underdone.
Will be a case of managing the kid carefully with Griffiths.

 

[shububu]

Wont make it...delist at years end.

 

[partycorolla]

Wont make it...delist at years end.

Draftees are on 2 year contracts so at the risk of saying that you are wrong.... well you are wrong.

 

[captain blood 17]

You want someone to present and smash a pack in the forward line, then it has to be Rance. Ready made unit awaiting orders of destruction.

 

[TheProwler]

Hmmmmf........like this will happen.

The club was very cautious with Cotchin in the pre season so why would they throw this young kid into the ones after a severe injury.

Really, have we stooped to such a level where we now hope that an 18 year old first gamer will save us?

 

[juss]

Griffiths doesn't need to play in the seniors this year at all. A year in the VFL building fitness and confidence won't hurt his development.

I'm all for giving him a senior game if his form at Coburg warrents it, however to rush him in without any match practice or fitness would be a stupid move.

Hardwick and co may choose to play him early, but at the very least he needs to have some match fitness/practice first.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Really, have we stooped to such a level where we now hope that an 18 year old first gamer will save us?

Lol, you ask this as if it is a first.

See pre-season Dustin Martin threads

 

[Dustin Credible]

I don't think he'll play seniors before round 10. Out of all the new recruits still to debut, he's the one I am most excited about and with his injuries most concerned about. Keep him in cotton wool and take a cautious approach with getting him match fit (wrt injuries)

 

[Ralll]

Hopefully Post starts holding onto a few marks and this guy can slot into FF and allow mitch and jack to run riot on the 3rd/4th backs.

 

[SnakeMan86]

Considering he has had injury problems playing against kids at TAC cup level...
Rushing him in to play against grown men IN a KP in a much quicker standard of footy will just cripple him.
Let him do some serious work with our S&C coach, and ease him in in the latter part of the season. Let him run around in the two's when fit and trial him right at the end.

 

[darcytiger]

Wont make it...delist at years end.

Draftees are on 2 year contracts so at the risk of saying that you are wrong.... well you are wrong.

 

[deledio7]

Quite excited about this guy.

Is a huge determinate in our development.

 

[TheProwler]

Quite excited about this guy.

Is a huge determinate in our development.

If I recall rightly he considered himself as similar to Kosi in a post draft Q&A. Hardly setting great heights there

 

[Goldust]

Really, have we stooped to such a level where we now hope that an 18 year old first gamer will save us?

MY sentiments exactly, Prowler!

Just goes to show how little so many on here actually know about the caper.

To put into perspective, few 18/19 year olds dominate from the get-go, and even fewer are key position types.

FFS, Buddy Franklin didn't start looking like a star in the making until year three!!!!
Even Kosi, who someone on here mentioned, struggle initially for a few years!

Hate to break it to people, but Griffiths - and indeed Astbury - if they are given game time in the seniors, they'll be this year's versions of the 2009 Post and Vickery.
Post is ahead of Vickery right now but not even Post is going to be a gamebreaker or difference maker in 2010, yet Griffiths is being hailed as some sort of messiah?????

They'll play some games, show some promise, at times look threatening, but also have their quiet days.

I just find the hype and expectation surrounding, especially Griffiths, as unwarranted, unnecessary and potentially embarrassing if the kid doesn't deliver.

 

[deledio7]

If I recall rightly he considered himself as similar to Kosi in a post draft Q&A. Hardly setting great heights there

People forget how good Kosi was when he first come on the scene.

A mix of crippling injuries and a severe lack of confidence have seen his demise.

Griffiths is quite similar physically which is hardly a bad thing!

 

[diligaf]

We have no one on the injury list. It says Nil

My source is today's Herald Sun Footy Website. And yours??

 

[Almighty tigers]

AS much as i would like him to burst onto the seen Polo like it's not going to happen i would much prefer he spend 3/4 of the year at coburg and play 5-7 games of AFL at the end of the year, can't really see him doing alot of damage against teams in his first year, would like to see him force his way into the team by kicking a big bag of 6 in the VFL by about rnd 15 but what i really would want from his year would be lots a solid performences in the VFL and improving every game and hope by his 3rd year in the system he becomes a star

 

[deledio7]

AS much as i would like him to burst onto the seen Polo like it's not going to happen i would much prefer he spend 3/4 of the year at coburg and play 5-7 games of AFL at the end of the year, can't really see him doing alot of damage against teams in his first year, would like to see him force his way into the team by kicking a big bag of 6 in the VFL by about rnd 15 but what i really would want from his year would be lots a solid performences in the VFL and improving every game and hope by his 3rd year in the system he becomes a star

This.

As much as it is exciting to have a big young forward on the sidelines we really aren't in a hurry and Griff won't set the world on fire in his first year. Hopefully he can play some good footy at Coburg.