Changes vs Melbourne

[Scham]

Also IIRC Rhys was our #1 mid in 2008 and was playing mainly inside that whole year.

No you don't remember correctly. He was mainly outside playing a role similar to Hilly plays i.e. recieving outside and running to break the lines. Check the highlights from that year to jog your memory.

I'm not saying he's totally outside ala Hill but he's not an inside mid as some on here try and make out. He requires the ball to be fed to him to some extent, that's why he's struggling at HF, there he has to win contested ball from stopages that usually include 20 or more players.

 

[silverscope]

Highlights don't really show you the full story though.

I don't know them but It'd be interesting to compare Palmer 2008 vs Hill 2010. If anyone has a sub to http://www.pro-stats.com.au/ and would like to tell us that would be great.

Anyway my position on the matter of Rhys is well if he is going just tell us already. If he isn't then tell us why he is playing 2s and what he needs to work on.

 

[esquilax]

Has Harvey said any of this?
Media backgrounders? Do you mean BF posters? That's where I have heard this stuff.

He has actually. Last year after the away Richmond game, in the press conference Harvey was asked about Palmer and said something like "He's got some things we want him to work on, and he needs to realise that he has to do them".

Also, early this year mid-week I think maybe during the NAB Cup or just before Round 1, he said something about both Walters and Palmer having to work hard, stick with the process etc.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Highlights don't really show you the full story though.

I don't know them but It'd be interesting to compare Palmer 2008 vs Hill 2010. If anyone has a sub to http://www.pro-stats.com.au/ and would like to tell us that would be great.

Anyway my position on the matter of Rhys is well if he is going just tell us already. If he isn't then tell us why he is playing 2s and what he needs to work on.

They both have similar CP numbers this year, similar disposal counts too. Except one can use the ball and the other does not use it as well.

Don't get me wrong, Palmer is decent.. but people wanted Schammer out of the side for the same thing.. but want Palmer in there.

 

[Clay Davis]

It is a stunning and tragic thing isn't it. For me it brings big question marks to our player development. You can't afford to have a young player slide so rapidly from saviour to outcast.

Agreed. Also suggests the club lacks the mental fortitude to deal with the new era of free agency.

 

[Clay Davis]

Or are you just a troll looking for attention and West Coast applause??

The number of suckhole threads he starts about West Coast players suggest this is a distinct possibility.

 

[Bradesmaen]

It is a stunning and tragic thing isn't it. For me it brings big question marks to our player development. You can't afford to have a young player slide so rapidly from saviour to outcast.

The same player development that has seen Mundy turn into an A-grade midfielder? Hill turn into the most tagged player in the team? Ballantyne turn into one of the best defensive forwards in the league?

Yeah you are right, BIG question marks there..

People just love another chance to bring shit on the club.

 

[Outshined]

The same player development that has seen Mundy turn into an A-grade midfielder? Hill turn into the most tagged player in the team? Ballantyne turn into one of the best defensive forwards in the league?

Yeah you are right, BIG question marks there..

People just love another chance to bring shit on the club.

Good post. You don't have to look further than Matt de Boer to see how far the club has the capacity to bring someone.

 

[theGav56]

The same player development that has seen Mundy turn into an A-grade midfielder? Hill turn into the most tagged player in the team? Ballantyne turn into one of the best defensive forwards in the league?

Yeah you are right, BIG question marks there..

People just love another chance to bring shit on the club.

Developing players who have great attitude is different from developing players who have issues. We are failing Palmer.

 

[Lach72]

Agreed. Also suggests the club lacks the mental fortitude to deal with the new era of free agency.

Does it? Seems more of an acknowledgement of where we're at. We are not a shot at at the premiership this year. If Rhys is gone I'd rather Crichton etc be getting games personally.

It may also bean acknowledgement of where Rhys is. In the era of free agency, I'd be expecting a Barlow to play, or a Sandilands type. Rhys not so much.

 

[Lach72]

Developing players who have great attitude is different from developing players who have issues. We are failing Palmer.

How long do they have to get with the program?

 

[theGav56]

How long do they have to get with the program?

You mean Palmer? He has a very short time because his contract is up at years end. How long has he been struggling? Not his first year. Not during his injury. I am all for making a decision on his career at Fremantle if he does not offer what we want, but he actually seems to be pretty close to exactly what we are after.

 

[Clay Davis]

Does it? Seems more of an acknowledgement of where we're at. We are not a shot at at the premiership this year. If Rhys is gone I'd rather Crichton etc be getting games personally.

We aren't a shot at a premiership next year or the year after with that attitude. What ingredients are we missing to achieve one? In the medium term our chances are diminishing. Or are you hopeful a hack like Sibosado can replace McPharlin? Or Faulks, with no tank.

How many clubs have a Rising Star and first round draft pick on the outer three years after that achievement?

We're supposed to feel good about our development because it took seven years to make Mundy into a midfielder. But Palmer looks certain to become another failure to add to the litany.

 

[Lach72]

What attitude is that? A practical one? If Rhys is leaving and we are not going to win a premiership this year why would we develop him instead of Chrichton or Lower? Or do you actually believe we're a shot, especially given our injury list?
Todd Curley was on 720 this morning stating that Rhys know what he needs to do to get back in the side but is not doing it.

 

[Nickos66]

What attitude is that? A practical one? If Rhys is leaving and we are not going to win a premiership this year why would we develop him instead of Chrichton or Lower? Or do you actually believe we're a shot, especially given our injury list?
Todd Curley was on 720 this morning stating that Rhys know what he needs to do to get back in the side but is not doing it.

Really?? That's very interesting.. I wonder what that might be? Just spitballing here but possibly switching from offense to defence & pushing back harder/quicker - springs to mind..

 

[Lach72]

There was a comment in there that was something like "in today's game half forwards need to be able to run throughout the midfield and vice versa."
Seems he's not doing what he's instructed in that regard.

 

[Sman-21]

Really hope Rhys doesnt go can guarantee he will be known as 1 of the players that were no good at freo then became a star elsewhere.

Playing in midfield he will easily avg 25+ disposals per game an as he plays both inside an outside he will get noticed by the umps.
In 2008 Rhys was doing all the inside stuff an outside stuff.
He started inside an worked his ass off to get on the outside.

His career disposal efficincy would be around 65-70%, thats very good for any midfielder in those roles an much better than any midfielder we have had this season.

As for developing other players if he is definatly gone, normally thats what should be done but in this situation where AFL decides compensation we need to be playing rhys as much as possible an letting him boost his stats.
Not only will it help us with compensation it would actually help our midfield performance.

 

[Clay Davis]

What attitude is that? A practical one? If Rhys is leaving and we are not going to win a premiership this year why would we develop him instead of Chrichton or Lower? Or do you actually believe we're a shot, especially given our injury list?

We're currently in the eight. We keep winning and we can make top four. So long as you're in the race for the finals, you're in the hunt.

It staggers me that fans are willing to concede the season at the half way point.

Todd Curley was on 720 this morning stating that Rhys know what he needs to do to get back in the side but is not doing it.

Great. The converse of that is that the coaching group are clueless. I mean, we've heard excuses from Harves about Johnson's lack of form being his fault.

 

[Lach72]

The coaching group is clueless.
Right.
That must be it. We're currently 7th with crippling injuries...and the coaching group is clueless.
You've been saying all year that we're the old Freo, that we won't win a premiership any time soon, we've got half a team out with injury, but now we're a realistic chance of a premiership...with a cluess coaching group.
I see.

 

[Clay Davis]

The coaching group is clueless.
Right.
That must be it. We're currently 7th with crippling injuries...and the coaching group is clueless.
You've been saying all year that we're the old Freo, that we won't win a premiership any time soon, we've got half a team out with injury, but now we're a realistic chance of a premiership...with a cluess coaching group.
I see.

I'm not the only one saying we won't win a premiership anytime soon - so are you, in this thread. When will we win one, Lach? Who do we have to replace McPharlin? To replace Pav? Or even Grover.

This year is our best chance for a few years more. Maybe in 2016 things will be turned around with a more complete list, but given the type they drafted last year, I'll be surprised.

I'm sick of hearing the crippling injuries excuse. It's bullshit. Last week we dominated Essendon with all those players out. We were beating Hawthorn for three quarters with all those players out. We didn't lose that game because of injuries.

 

[Deep_Purple]

We are still in a development stage. When you listen to interviews from any of the coaching staff it is easy to realise that we are not yet in a premiership window.
The goals and strategies of the coaching staff is primarily to develop players and the team.
Regarding injuries, of course we cannot blame them for losses, but no team can sustain success at a high level in any sport with a lot of injuries, that is just a fact of sport

 

[Lach72]

I'm not saying that all.
I said this year.
All of a sudden you're on the premiership train when it suits.
You might think it's bullshit, but its well known that most premiers have a good run of injuries. Because it levels out performances. You don't get the lows that we've been having.
Or the coaches could be clueless.

As to when? I have absolutely no idea.
I've said quite often that we will probably have 2 or 3 shots at it, as this group matures together. We still need some KP players, granted. I'm not willing to give up on Faulks yet. I would expect us to draft tall this year.
The core of Geelongs group were together for 6-8 years before they got there.
Hodge Mitchell, 2001 etc

 

[Bradesmaen]

Lach, don't bother arguing with him. Clay is a white ant, he will take any chance he gets to take a stab at the club.

 

[Clay Davis]

I'm not saying that all.
I said this year.
All of a sudden you're on the premiership train when it suits.
You might think it's bullshit, but its well known that most premiers have a good run of injuries. Because it levels out performances. You don't get the lows that we've been having.
Or the coaches could be clueless.

As to when? I have absolutely no idea.
I've said quite often that we will probably have 2 or 3 shots at it, as this group matures together. We still need some KP players, granted. I'm not willing to give up on Faulks yet. I would expect us to draft tall this year.
The core of Geelongs group were together for 6-8 years before they got there.
Hodge Mitchell, 2001 etc

Not when it suits. Obviously you have difficulty comprehending.

I think we have the squad to finish top four. Injuries hurt, but they aren't the reason we lost to Geelong. They're not the reason we lost to Richmond (and kicked 2 goals 8 in the first quarter - what injury caused that). They're not the reason we played so insipid against the Saints or the Eagles. And certainly not why we disappeared against Hawthorn in the last.

This 'developing' year argument is a load of shit. If it is such a year, why are we still seeing Pavlich play fulltime midfield?

 

[Rob]

Developing players who have great attitude is different from developing players who have issues. We are failing Palmer.

i doubt any of us would know. Short of having a couple of security guards stationed outside his bedroom door every night, what do you do about a player that insists on acting like a ********?

You can't force players to do the team thing, either on field or off.