Developing our tall players: discuss...

[Mr Eagle]

Woosha's strategy of a smaller and more interchangable forward line, whilst successful in winning games, is denying youngsters like McDougall, Lynch, Johnson, et al the chance to experience AFL football during their formative years, possibly setting back their development in years to come. In light of the age of our current 'top tier' talls (Jakovich, McIntosh, Wilson), and the relative inexperience of the intermediate level (Glass, Carroll, Gaspar), are we harming our long-term position by not finding ways to expose this youngest group to the AFL game until their most reliable mentors and backup are almost out the door?

Thoughts please.

 

[The Passenger]

interesting poser, and I have been abit worried by the lack of pressure coming from McDougall, Lynch, Johnson, Hansen and co, while the only young talls who has shown signs of strong developement is Cox (where we already the best player in the league in that position) and Gaspar (who is contantly injured) but maybe Woosha will be seen as a man who has transformed the game in years to come.

Glass and Carroll are solid, but are nothing magnificent.

Perhaps maybe he would've has transformed forward line away from the stereotypical tall full forward and half forward with 4 small crumbing forwards.

Perhaps the mobile forward line, with an average height FF such as Haynes, with crumbing forward such as Matera and Sampi are able to cause immense damage through their speed and mobility for their taller counterparts.

Even Embley isn't ovrely tall.

 

[Sera]

Well, I think you have to go through them one at a time. Hansen isn't big enough to handle AFL yet I don't think. Johnson and Staker are just Rookies. Gaspar is good enough and is getting games when he is fit. McDougal is on the comeback trail and will play games later in the year. Seaby is getting in the best players each week but there is no room for another ruckman in the 22. The only one that surprises me is Lynch but his WAFL form has been spasmodic. Who else is there? Beeck is playing well but he is rookie listed. Wouldnt be surprised to see him elevated actually.

 

[ozzult]

Originally posted by Mr Eagle
Woosha's strategy of a smaller and more interchangable forward line, whilst successful in winning games, is denying youngsters like McDougall, Lynch, Johnson, et al the chance to experience AFL football during their formative years, possibly setting back their development in years to come. In light of the age of our current 'top tier' talls (Jakovich, McIntosh, Wilson), and the relative inexperience of the intermediate level (Glass, Carroll, Gaspar), are we harming our long-term position by not finding ways to expose this youngest group to the AFL game until their most reliable mentors and backup are almost out the door?

Thoughts please.

I think we have to realise that we aren't in a developing stage anymore. We could really be a serious crack at the finals this year, and just putting in youngsters that aren't ready for AFL, just to get them used to it may be detrimental to our cause. I think playing them in the WAFL until they excel, and get the hunger for AFL is the way to go.

 

[jod23]

Well you could look at it another way. Bring in Johnson at FF and Staker at CHF and drop Sampi and Haynes.

Now what are we doing? We are stunting the growth of the small youngsters.

If small brings us wins then the tall timber will have to wait.