Strategy Can Walker be a key position defender ?

[Bobby_]

Did you honestly think we would be indestructible forever?

Yes I did actually.
If you mean indestructible to the point in which we could compete for flags every year or finish top 4 every year, certainly not! But indestructible to the point in which we would never make as pitiful drop as what St Kilda & Bulldogs did after 2010, no I did not expect that. I felt we could stay amongst the eight without ever having to drop off to those kind of lows. I felt with Selwood, Hawkins, Taylor and then a core of good players like Motlop, Duncan, Caddy and alike, we would still be just as good as the likes of Collingwood, Adelaide, Richmond . . . teams who are merely making up the numbers.

 

[catempire]

He's kicking bags in the VFL as a key forward. He played pretty well in the finals last year as a key forward. Why try to make him something else?

Would he want to play somewhere else? With the form he's recently shown, I'm sure a lot of other clubs would be more than happy to take him from us for nothing and play him in that role. Perhaps some reevaluation of team and future list composition by the coaching staff is required.

Why try? Well if he has 3-4 players in front of him for a spot in the side it might make sense. Also, Lonergan isn't going to be here forever so we need to be planning now for what happens when he's gone.

Why would Walker want to? Believe it or not, despite what the press and BF would have you believe, players are still human beings with emotions. Walker has strong family links to the club and the region and I'd be willing to bet he'd love to have a crack at CHB at the club he loves before he looks to another club to *maybe* throw him a lifeline.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

If we tried to convert him into a defender now, after consistently kicking bags in the VFL, he would walk to another club at years to play where he would likely prefer - as a forward. Why would he have any interest in becoming a defender when he'll likely have better options, and money, elsewhere?

I was a supporter of this move last year and think he could be great at it but I think it's too late now. He can just sit in the VFL all year, kick bags and walk at years end, it's not like the GFC has shown much faith or reward in his performances since he actually has started performing. As soon as he started playing well, he can't get a game!

 

[Whit3y]

I think I said in another thread, if we get to two thirds through the season and he's not getting afl games as a forward, we ought to try him as Lonergan's understudy.

i rkn the mc are thinking blivacs is the next lonergan.

im not sure how much forward rebound blicavs and walker in defense would generate. as is the case now with blicavs and lonners

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

i rkn the mc are thinking blivacs is the next lonergan.

im not sure how much forward rebound blicavs and walker in defense would generate

Thurlow and the improvement of Bews should help. If Thurlow can take another step this year. A bit more Guthrie down back wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Daniel McL]

First Walker being a tagger...
Now a Defender...
I give up.

Actually yeah lets make Taylor & Lonergan CHF & FF.
Clark & Hawkins back to CHB & FB.
-_- -_- -_-

 

[steady2]

Fowards becoming defenders and vice versa happens all the time. I remember Paul Roos being a champion CHF at Fitzroy then switching to CHB and becoming one of the greatest. I remember Geelong had an excellent midfielder Boris something who was suddenly switched to the back pocket early in the 2007 WTF? I thought. Sometimes certain players are not going to make the transition and are established in a natural position I think Hawkins is definitely a forward, Walker I am still unsure about, but I would like to see him at CHF next week against the Suns and have Stanley Clarke in the ruck and on bass.

 

[Mahlepi]

Fowards becoming defenders and vice versa happens all the time. I remember Paul Roos being a champion CHF at Fitzroy then switching to CHB and becoming one of the greatest. I remember Geelong had an excellent midfielder Boris something who was suddenly switched to the back pocket early in the 2007 WTF? I thought. Sometimes certain players are not going to make the transition and are established in a natural position I think Hawkins is definitely a forward, Walker I am still unsure about, but I would like to see him at CHF next week against the Suns and have Stanley Clarke in the ruck and on bass.

Walker needs 5 games as a forward
Let him show his wares

 

[Vdubs]

Thurlow and the improvement of Bews should help. If Thurlow can take another step this year. A bit more Guthrie down back wouldn't hurt either.

Can Thurlow ever be anything like a Fyfe?
Was Fyfe a gun from day 1?
I can't recall his early days, but I always remember him as a gun. Still only 23!!
Now he is so far ahead of the pack...only Heppel, Priddis- yes, Priddis, & Dangerfield come close.
Ablett- on hold until we see if his shoulder is as good as it gets.

I watched the WCE game, and Priddis was just unstoppable, like a raging bull; never thought I'd say that about him.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

First Walker being a tagger...
Now a Defender...
I give up.

Actually yeah lets make Taylor & Lonergan CHF & FF.
Clark & Hawkins back to CHB & FB.
-_- -_- -_-

Was just about to say exactly this. How about we leave him as a forward. He bangs the door down, we play him as forward.

or...

he bangs the door down, we don't play him and he's playing as a forward elsewhere next season. He's a forward who is bloody close to being in the afl team in that position. Leave him where he is.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Don't know if he can but don't really care. We need Clarke and Stanley in the ruck and Walker (and Kersten for that matter) forward. Sooner we work that out the better. Won't solve all our problems but will at least have players in positions they should be in rather than this shit with Simpson and Blicavs where neither should be anywhere near AFL ruck duties.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Can Thurlow ever be anything like a Fyfe?
Was Fyfe a gun from day 1?
I can't recall his early days, but I always remember him as a gun. Still only 23!!
Now he is so far ahead of the pack...only Heppel, Priddis- yes, Priddis, & Dangerfield come close.
Ablett- on hold until we see if his shoulder is as good as it gets.

I watched the WCE game, and Priddis was just unstoppable, like a raging bull; never thought I'd say that about him.

I alway remember Fyfe being rated very highly from the start. Just had a look and averaged 16 touches in his first season and 25 in his second. We just don't seem have our young guys able to become ball winners early on. None of Caddy Hyphen Guthrie average over 20 touches really, they need to win more ball. Duncan is the only one averaging 22 last year but we don't seem to have any more young guys showing signs of really racking it up, bar Motlop on the outside. Hopefully Gore or someone can in the coming years.

Caddy started to at the end of last year, he needs to become our Priddis, similar size. We desperately need him impacting games more. Hopefully finds some form firing up against his old team.

 

[dazbroncos]

If we tried to convert him into a defender now, after consistently kicking bags in the VFL, he would walk to another club at years to play where he would likely prefer - as a forward. Why would he have any interest in becoming a defender when he'll likely have better options, and money, elsewhere?

I was a supporter of this move last year and think he could be great at it but I think it's too late now. He can just sit in the VFL all year, kick bags and walk at years end, it's not like the GFC has shown much faith or reward in his performances since he actually has started performing. As soon as he started playing well, he can't get a game!

Carlton, North, hell even Pies would be salivating at the chance. Even Essendon / Dogs for a 196cm 96 kg bloke that kick a 3 .5 goal VFL average.

Throwing $$ at him. And we can't give him games…

GO Catters

 

[Whit3y]

I watched the WCE game, and Priddis was just unstoppable, like a raging bull; never thought I'd say that about him.

can ghs become a unstoppable raging bull?

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

can ghs become a unstoppable raging bull?

Unstoppable raging slug (ps. I'm in the pro GHS camp...for now.)

 

[Grimoz]

I don't care where he plays this week but he just has to play. He seems to be the only player at the entire club in any sort of decent form, so for gods sake just play the kid in the firsts.

Agree, if he isn't picked this week then there has to be something else behind the scenes that we dont see.

 

[Grimoz]

Throwing $$ at him. And we can't give him games…

And whats most alarming about that is that we cant win a game so why cant we give him games ? What has the MC got against him, I thought he was pretty good in the finals last year, and his form so far this year has been great, i wouldn't blame him if he left at years end, can see him becoming a star somewhere else and coming back to haunt us.

 

[dazbroncos]

And whats most alarming about that is that we cant win a game so why cant we give him games ? What has the MC got against him, I thought he was pretty good in the finals last year, and his form so far this year has been great, i wouldn't blame him if he left at years end, can see him becoming a star somewhere else and coming back to haunt us.

I get the team balance and horses for courses thing. The bigger issue for me is what it does for the younger players as a whole. The mantra is come in work hard, play well and the team way, and you get your chances. Here, Walker has come in as a big unit but a massively raw rookie. Busted his arse for 3 years to get a chance. Got the upgrade. Then gets a chance and gets belted ( Freo QF at KP). Spends 2014 working back up to speed again and shows good form late . Plays in losing finals - not his worst efforts - and gets shoved all over the place - forward, ruck and defence.

Now he has had a clean preseason ( was sick with virus but no injuries per se) and has ripped the VFL ( perhaps a bit strong but 4 goal av aint crap) and can't get a look into the side on the bottom of the ladder. Does not set a good tone for the club IMO, that hard work and good results won't yield a chance.
And, he's done all this in the face of having 2 outside 200cm forwards brought into the club, effectively relegating him to 6th on the list.

GO Catters

 

[Teriyakicat]

Unstoppable raging slug (ps. I'm in the pro GHS camp...for now.)

Oh? So he HAS come out of his shell, then... ?

 

[Grimoz]

I get the team balance and horses for courses thing. The bigger issue for me is what it does for the younger players as a whole. The mantra is come in work hard, play well and the team way, and you get your chances. Here, Walker has come in as a big unit but a massively raw rookie. Busted his arse for 3 years to get a chance. Got the upgrade. Then gets a chance and gets belted ( Freo QF at KP). Spends 2014 working back up to speed again and shows good form late . Plays in losing finals - not his worst efforts - and gets shoved all over the place - forward, ruck and defence.

Now he has had a clean preseason ( was sick with virus but no injuries per se) and has ripped the VFL ( perhaps a bit strong but 4 goal av aint crap) and can't get a look into the side on the bottom of the ladder. Does not set a good tone for the club IMO, that hard work and good results won't yield a chance.
And, he's done all this in the face of having 2 outside 200cm forwards brought into the club, effectively relegating him to 6th on the list.

GO Catters

Couldn't have said it better, you come to club with promises that if you work hard and perform then you will get a shot which ultimately doesn't happen, I don't classify playing a game here and a game there a shot, young stars will up and leave due to lack of opportunity or are disgruntled and then the footy club asks why when really its right in front of them the whole time. Walker simply has to play, in fact i think he needs to play at least 15 games this season, just because we have some new talls that does not mean they have the form to warrant selection, pick players by form not by reputation, if we picked sides like that half our team would be in trouble at the moment.

 

[dazbroncos]

Couldn't have said it better, you come to club with promises that if you work hard and perform then you will get a shot which ultimately doesn't happen, I don't classify playing a game here and a game there a shot, young stars will up and leave due to lack of opportunity or are disgruntled and then the footy club asks why when really its right in front of them the whole time. Walker simply has to play, in fact i think he needs to play at least 15 games this season, just because we have some new talls that does not mean they have the form to warrant selection, pick players by form not by reputation, if we picked sides like that half our team would be in trouble at the moment.

I understand that he's not as good at ruck as Stanley, or Clark for that matter, but that just means keep him out of it. Hawkins was shit ruck too. Let him play his best position.

I will go very sideways if he and Kersten leave at years end starved of chances…. If they are crap thats one thing…. but lack of chances not an excuse..

Go Catters

 

[Vdubs]

I understand that he's not as good at ruck as Stanley, or Clark for that matter, but that just means keep him out of it. Hawkins was shit ruck too. Let him play his best position.

I will go very sideways if he and Kersten leave at years end starved of chances…. If they are crap thats one thing…. but lack of chances not an excuse..


Go Catters

Agree with all you say, BUT there is precedence here.
Brown. No matter what people say about him, he was great in VFL , and starved of AFL chances.
Now, we have Walker demoted by the recruitment of Stanley, Clark, and the ongoing improvement of Blic.
What IF, IF, Vardy one day becomes available?
Still waiting to see if Hamling makes it at Footscray.

 

[hbk_aus]

Yes I did actually.
If you mean indestructible to the point in which we could compete for flags every year or finish top 4 every year, certainly not! But indestructible to the point in which we would never make as pitiful drop as what St Kilda & Bulldogs did after 2010, no I did not expect that. I felt we could stay amongst the eight without ever having to drop off to those kind of lows. I felt with Selwood, Hawkins, Taylor and then a core of good players like Motlop, Duncan, Caddy and alike, we would still be just as good as the likes of Collingwood, Adelaide, Richmond . . . teams who are merely making up the numbers.

SO after losses to Hawthorn and Frematle, 2 of the best sides going around, we will now bottom out?

 

[Bobby_]

SO after losses to Hawthorn and Frematle, 2 of the best sides going around, we will now bottom out?

I'm kind of looking at what has transpired in relation to our list and the direction we are currently taking.
We have just lost Allen Christensen who gathered 22 disposals and kicked 2 goals on the weekend for Brisbane. We replaced him with a tall, a tall in which we really don't need as we have a couple of blokes currently running in the magoo's who could have filled in. What we need is more Bundy Christensen's.
I look at what happened last year in the second half of the year, barely scraping past Carlton on both occasions (a team that finished 13th and currently look worse), and then even more worrying, brittle victory's against teams like GWS and the Bulldogs before a straight sets exit in September.

History is a fairly good tutor and the last team to have gone out in straight sets was West Coast in 2007. They bottomed out for a few years afterwards.
Given Fremantle also went out in straight sets last year, it would truly be one for the history books if both Fremantle and Geelong defied history and remained competitive forces. Something has to give and thus far this year, it appears that something is Geelong.

But this is the Josh Walker thread and we're discussing something unrelated to the topic at hand

 

[FredLeDeux]

History is a fairly good tutor and the last team to have gone out in straight sets was West Coast in 2007. They bottomed out for a few years afterwards.
Given Fremantle also went out in straight sets last year, it would truly be one for the history books if both Fremantle and Geelong defied history and remained competitive forces. Something has to give and thus far this year, it appears that something is Geelong.

Can't put my finger on it, but I'm pretty sure there's something dodgy about that logic, Bobby.