Buddy and the Adulation

[Off The Couch]

I read with interest an online article "Say no to footballers" in the Herald today with the following capturing my attention


"They just happen to be a by-product of a culture that has developed during the past decade where young men blessed with unique ball-handling skills have been pampered and cosseted and given what they want, a culture where no one says no.

It starts early -- a young kid in his early teens becomes invaluable to his side's fortunes. He's soon given the run of the club, told how good he is by players' agents and a never ending queue of supporters and fans."

My question is how do we as a club and as supporters help Buddy to deal with this. Being interstate and sheltered from anything remotely to do with another AFL team, it has been with interest since joining Big Footy that I note the number of criticisms re: Buddy and his attitude when out in public.

I also feel that whenever Buddy plays a blinder that the media hype him up (they should have included themselves in the above statement) and to be perfectly blunt he always follows up with an average game.

Thoughts!

 

[Mojo]

I read with interest an online article "Say no to footballers" in the Herald today with the following capturing my attention


"They just happen to be a by-product of a culture that has developed during the past decade where young men blessed with unique ball-handling skills have been pampered and cosseted and given what they want, a culture where no one says no.

It starts early -- a young kid in his early teens becomes invaluable to his side's fortunes. He's soon given the run of the club, told how good he is by players' agents and a never ending queue of supporters and fans."

My question is how do we as a club and as supporters help Buddy to deal with this. Being interstate and sheltered from anything remotely to do with another AFL team, it has been with interest since joining Big Footy that I note the number of criticisms re: Buddy and his attitude when out in public.

I also feel that whenever Buddy plays a blinder that the media hype him up (they should have included themselves in the above statement) and to be perfectly blunt he always follows up with an average game.

Thoughts!

We could abuse him, so his head doesn't get to big.. lol?

On a more serious note, I too also noted whenever Buddy had a big game, the headlines or news were always pumping him up more so than the team, as if saying he was the reason we won! I don't think that's the case! Buddy is just the end result of all the hard work achieved by the defenders and midfielders! They are the players that do the hard yards!

 

[Off The Couch]

I say we go with abuse then - works for me if it works for him

 

[Jonathan]

I read with interest an online article "Say no to footballers" in the Herald today with the following capturing my attention


"They just happen to be a by-product of a culture that has developed during the past decade where young men blessed with unique ball-handling skills have been pampered and cosseted and given what they want, a culture where no one says no.

It starts early -- a young kid in his early teens becomes invaluable to his side's fortunes. He's soon given the run of the club, told how good he is by players' agents and a never ending queue of supporters and fans."

My question is how do we as a club and as supporters help Buddy to deal with this. Being interstate and sheltered from anything remotely to do with another AFL team, it has been with interest since joining Big Footy that I note the number of criticisms re: Buddy and his attitude when out in public.

I also feel that whenever Buddy plays a blinder that the media hype him up (they should have included themselves in the above statement) and to be perfectly blunt he always follows up with an average game.

Thoughts!

Anyone else find that funny?
Seriously though, I think Buddy will be alright. That article sounds like rubbish to me. It's good that he's confident but it would be nice if the media stopped hyping him up so much every time he kicks a few.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Anyone else find that funny?
Seriously though, I think Buddy will be alright. That article sounds like rubbish to me. It's good that he's confident but it would be nice if the media stopped hyping him up so much every time he kicks a few.

I think the article needs to be considered. I've been concerned for some time the media may turn Buddy's head and have him believing he's better than he is. Buddy is an inceredibly gifted young player but he is in his embryonic stages of what will hopefully be a great career. In terms of REAL achievement, Buddy has done little to this point in his career.

I saw the same thing happen to Judd. Played a handful of games, showed promise, suddenly people were talking him up as the best ever, even though he had done relatively nothing. We have seen lately how much this phony adulation has gone to Judd's head. I don't want Buddy to turn out like that.

 

[mulhollanddrive]

I think he can work on his defensive side of his game, a consistant goal kicking, and not giving away lazy free kicks from high tackles or silly pushes.

That should bring him back to earth.

 

[crawf_legend]

I dont think buddy gives a stuff about this...

 

[hawkstar]

I dont think buddy gives a stuff about this...

I agree.

When ever he had a blinder, and they interviewed him he nearly always said i couldn't have done it with out Mitchell or Changer or Crawf, they made it possible by direct passing and great kicking.

AC has him trained well in that area, i don't think there is much to worry about in this regard.

He is a young 20 YR old though i have seen a more mature 20 yr old than Buddy, but to me thats what is just so appealing about him.

If he can learn to manage that then we'll all be safe.

 

[JezzHawk]

I don't think Buddy would want to go to West at this point in time.

 

[noosa hawk mad]

I agree.

When ever he had a blinder, and they interviewed him he nearly always said i couldn't have done it with out Mitchell or Changer or Crawf, they made it possible by direct passing and great kicking.

AC has him trained well in that area, i don't think there is much to worry about in this regard.

He is a young 20 YR old though i have seen a more mature 20 yr old than Buddy, but to me thats what is just so appealing about him.

If he can learn to manage that then we'll all be safe.[/quote Does,nt do interviews he,s a kid like most kids his age he will do the odd silly thing but has been guided well by Clarko and Co the most exciting player in the AFL is Buddy

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Buddy is a tall-lean kid.

When he goes out it is very possible only a minor amount of alcohol could get him "tipsy"

I think the article is mroe in reference to Cousins. Infact, lance very rarely at jr-level was regarded as the best. I remember reading an interview with his u/16's coach (may have even been colts) in which he said that they all new lance had the ability, but he never did anything special and was a team player.

 

[hawk3R_4lyfe]

It would be very difficult for all this adulation to not get into an already confident 20 yr. old kid's head. Hopefully our club and Lance's immediate family will do enough to keep him level-headed.

At the end of the day it's really up to Lance to keep himself in check. We all hope that he doesn't get ahead of himself. Needless to say, it would be such a disappointment if he cannot turn his true potential into reality for all footy fan's sake.

 

[B&GBlood]

I expect he wil be ok.

My reasoning is his family. I remember reading in Hawk Talk? about he being the youngest and his family comming to Melb with him.
As most will know older siblings always let the younger ones know when they are getting to big for their boots, goes with the territory.
His family by comming to Melb have demonstrated to the kid, how much he is loved and how important his wellbeing is to them.
All this will help to keep him balanced.

He need not turn out like Wank Hairy or Ned Cousins

 

[lickmerocks]

I cant understand why we are even talking about this.

3rd year player aged 20. Kicks 70 goals for the season including winning the club a final off his own boot.

I dont care if he is inconsistent and manages 70 goals a year. The Kid doesnt like talking to supporters when he is out because he wants to get away from football and not discuss it.

If we let him develop and make mistakes on the field he will become a better player and better person in the long run for our club.

If we conmtinue to ask why he was poor today etc and put more pressure on him he will want to return to W.A one day.

He is a match winner for the club. If he has days when he has a crap game and still manages 2 or 3 goals he has done his job.

My only concern is all the off field nonsense and rumours. Lets hope he has seen the light in that respect.

 

[RustyHawk]

I can assure you Couch Potato that Buddy does not go and seek the limelight.

He drives a very uncool car. It certainly doesnt say "Im Buddy, look at me!"

I've never seen him turn up with the model girlfriend dripping diamonds etc.

When he's on the park practising, yes there is that bit lairry sort of thing BUT that is strictly for his team mates like Roughie. Its like, did you see That, now better it! He does not do that for any crowd that maybe watching.

In fact once I started clapping and cheering when he drilled a 50m goal from the boundary off a quick turn.. and he has just snapped a look at me that made me crap a house brick and immediately stop all forms of noise.

Buddy is always obliging and polite when he comes off the track and especially at public sessions there is normally many autographs to be signed, photos to be taken. He does this without complaint but also doesnt stick around to hear from outsiders how good he actually is. Personally I think he prefers just being able to run off the track straight into the rooms without all the hype.

I do believe he's a bit of a party animal at night, but thats away from work. At work he seems 100% focussed professional.

A great asset to the club.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

Unfortunately, Buddy will always be judged by his own brilliance and so when he doesnt dominate a game and kick 7 goals he will be derided as inconsistant.

As for the public speaking crap - im happy he doesnt do any of that. Could you imagine how big his head would get if he went onto the Footy Show or Before The Game after a big game.

 

[jordanrobbo3]

In fact once I started clapping and cheering when he drilled a 50m goal from the boundary off a quick turn.. and he has just snapped a look at me that made me crap a house brick and immediately stop all forms of noise.

That's hilarious!

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Doesn't help with blokes like Goo talking him up to the media either.

 

[Off The Couch]

Let me assure you Rusty Hawk that I am not questioning Buddy's commitment or attitude to the game. You can see how much he enjoys being out there and as for lairising - enjoyment every moment I say.

I also don't expect any of our young players to perform consistently week in week out. I look forward to him becoming similar to Jonathon Brown who went through a period of ups and downs before coming into his own in the last few seasons.

Being a newbie I probably didn't express what my concern was very well and that is the constant media scrutiny. To be praised one week and then labelled inconsistent the next, to have his off-field behaviour and attitude questioned constantly must take its toll - it's this that concerns me. I cannot help but wonder if the wce had stepped in back in 2002 and put in place strategies to protect Ben would he be in the situation he is in now.

Who knows maybe the club has all these things in place and I worry over nothing. All I want is to see Buddy develop into the champion I have no doubt he will be and enjoy doing what he does without the crap from the media

 

[kimbopen]

I've never seen him turn up with the model girlfriend dripping diamonds etc.

Buddy is always obliging and polite when he comes off the track and especially at public sessions there is normally many autographs to be signed, photos to be taken. He does this without complaint but also doesnt stick around to hear from outsiders how good he actually is. Personally I think he prefers just being able to run off the track straight into the rooms without all the hype.

The last two B&F nights, as well as this year's Brownlow, Buddy has not even shown up with a girl, let alone a girlfriend.

At this year's B&F, HAWKS HEROES & I noticed young Buddy being chased from pillar to post by young floozies, desperate to hook up with him.

To his credit, he left with Jordan Lewis. Roughie was nowhere in sight, but we did see both Roughie & Taz a little later in one of the casino bars, both with attractive young women hanging around them. Maybe Buddy decided he'd have an early night?

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding young Buddy's demeanour when he is coming off the track. Seems to be very professional in the way he handles it.

And the medjah has a hell of a lot to answer for!

 

[cambo39]

and you will note that when the media do talk to Buddy he is clear in pointing out that the team played well