Roast Get off Walker's back.

[Slippery Pete]

Although having just the nine disposals last night, his counterpart Hall down the other end had just six. Anyone judging Taylor Walker on last night's performance needs their head read.

Dropping Taylor for such a long period of time has created a false perception about his workrate. He's not the greatest defensive player in the world, but many natural gifted fowards aren't. The more you try and tell him to improve his defensive game, the less he'll use his instincts to produce some of the mercurial football we know he can.

Just get off his back everyone, and that includes the Adelaide coaching staff. Let him be the talented and instinctve player we know he can be.

 

[relapse]

I agree, he has become a better player by actually getting game time this year rather than left to rot in the SANFL.

From the experience gained this year he will be an even better player in 2011. People just have to be patient Tipp will continue to improve and we have now uncovered a very handy third tall (Hendo). We have a young forward structure and just needs to be given some time and patience and we will reap the rewards in a couple years from the experience that we are giving them now.

 

[King Elvis]

He was lazy last night, barely competitive.

I love the kid, I really do, he's already one of my favourites - and I love him as much for his arrogance, strut and brain-fades as I do for the magic things he can do. But when he's bad, I'm not going to ignore it completely.

But sometimes, he can't be bothered - it's like he rocked up last night knowing the conditions wouldn't suit him, so he didn't bust his arse to be effective.

Saying that, I'd be filthy if he was dropped to the SANFL; he needs to work on these things, but one bad game shouldn't result in demotion.

 

[Slippery Pete]

He was lazy last night, barely competitive.

I love the kid, I really do, he's already one of my favourites - and I love him as much for his arrogance, strut and brain-fades as I do for the magic things he can do. But when he's bad, I'm not going to ignore it completely.

David Brent: "Sometimes if you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain.

Dolly Parton said that. And people said she was just a big pair of ****. "

 

[beartoo]

Dropping Taylor for such a long period of time has created a false perception about his workrate. He's not the greatest defensive player in the world, but many natural gifted fowards aren't. The more you try and tell him to improve his defensive game, the less he'll use his instincts to produce some of the mercurial football we know he can.
[/QUOTE

Can you explain what you mean by the highlighted bits? You seem to be contradicting yourself. Isn't the perception that TW created that he isn't a good defensive player and that was the main reason he got dropped?

A lot of posters have blinkers on about our players. Tippett, Walker, Dangerfield can do no wrong no matter how poorly they play. Stevens, Symes, Doughty can do nothing right no matter how well they play.

None of the three first named has yet fulfilled the promise they show. Maybe they will and maybe they won't.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Dropping Taylor for such a long period of time has created a false perception about his workrate. He's not the greatest defensive player in the world, but many natural gifted fowards aren't. The more you try and tell him to improve his defensive game, the less he'll use his instincts to produce some of the mercurial football we know he can.
[/QUOTE

Can you explain what you mean by the highlighted bits? quote]



Two words : Darren Jarman.

 

[craig crowing]

Dropping Taylor for such a long period of time has created a false perception about his workrate. He's not the greatest defensive player in the world, but many natural gifted fowards aren't. The more you try and tell him to improve his defensive game, the less he'll use his instincts to produce some of the mercurial football we know he can.
[/QUOTE

Can you explain what you mean by the highlighted bits? You seem to be contradicting yourself. Isn't the perception that TW created that he isn't a good defensive player and that was the main reason he got dropped?

A lot of posters have blinkers on about our players. Tippett, Walker, Dangerfield can do no wrong no matter how poorly they play. Stevens, Symes, Doughty can do nothing right no matter how well they play.

None of the three first named has yet fulfilled the promise they show. Maybe they will and maybe they won't.

Spot on post.
But we must keep on believing .

 

[Slippery Pete]

Players with immense natural ability are often mistaken for being lazy, laconic or arrogant.

I heard a lot of punters saying yesterday "Get in front, Walker."

Well, actually, on a day like yesterday, when players were dropping marks and the ball was clean bowling everyone, dogging it out the back every now and then is actually a smart ploy.

But, we wouldnt want smart players at Adelaide, would we?

 

[Mackay train12]

Does anyone remember when he had the ball in the middle and he looked certain to be tackled but he shrugged on and sold some candy to the other, although he might be slow, his footy brain is second to none and I cannot wait till the day he rips a game apart and boots 8 or 9

 

[King Elvis]

Players with immense natural ability are often mistaken for being lazy, laconic or arrogant.

Laconic and Arrogant are different to lazy.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

People forget the fact that he is 20 sometimes. Playing FF/CHF is a very hard thing to do, particularly at that age he will take a couple of seasons to learn the pace of AFL, learn his body etc. The key is just to keep playing him now and watch the results in 2-3 years time.

He has still kicked 30 goals this year. A handy return for a 20 year old. I'm happy to take that. He won't kick the big figures until he is older.

He will have some shockers I've never seen a FF who hasn't? The key is to keep playing him and keep letting him learn.

 

[relapse]

People forget the fact that he is 20 sometimes. Playing FF/CHF is a very hard thing to do, particularly at that age he will take a couple of seasons to learn the pace of AFL, learn his body etc. The key is just to keep playing him now and watch the results in 2-3 years time.

He has still kicked 30 goals this year. A handy return for a 20 year old. I'm happy to take that. He won't kick the big figures until he is older.

He will have some shockers I've never seen a FF who hasn't? The key is to keep playing him and keep letting him learn.

 

[srv23]

Yep - the guy is still only 20. I can't think of any other 20 year old kep forwards going around who are performing much better than Walker. He's kicked 30 goals despite missing a reasonable number of games with still 3 more games to go. If he'd played every game AND been accurate he'd be pushing for around 50 goals for the season.

 

[taylor_walker_13]

Yeah leave the great man alone, NC you drop him this week and Im offically on plane to Adelaide to burn whatever hair you have remaining on your head.

 

[Stinger...]

Can you explain what you mean by the highlighted bits? You seem to be contradicting yourself. Isn't the perception that TW created that he isn't a good defensive player and that was the main reason he got dropped?

A lot of posters have blinkers on about our players. Tippett, Walker, Dangerfield can do no wrong no matter how poorly they play. Stevens, Symes, Doughty can do nothing right no matter how well they play.

None of the three first named has yet fulfilled the promise they show. Maybe they will and maybe they won't.

I agree with this 100%

The love affair some people have with our players is vomit worthy. Yet on the other side, the sh!t canning some players get is disgusting. That goes for the coach as well.

FWIW, Walker did have a stinker and he did look lazy at times. Just because he has awesome ability (of that there is no disputing), it doesnt excuse him from pulling his weight when its required!

I still love him!

 

[Slippery Pete]

I agree with this 100%
The love affair some people have with our players is vomit worthy. Yet on the other side, the sh!t canning some players get is disgusting. That goes for the coach as well.

I think the fans need to be given a little more credit than this. Walker. Dangerfield and Tippett are all potentially elite players, hence they're afforded a little more leniency in the same way McLeod, Roo, Goody and Edwards were.

Doughty, Symes and Stevens are battlers, and people have less patience with the battlers.

 

[sbenno]

Does anyone remember when he had the ball in the middle and he looked certain to be tackled but he shrugged on and sold some candy to the other, although he might be slow, his footy brain is second to none and I cannot wait till the day he rips a game apart and boots 8 or 9

I see that all the time with Walker. He seems to have this amazing knack of not doing what the opposition around him expect him to do.

 

[feenix67]

Dropping Taylor for such a long period of time has created a false perception about his workrate. He's not the greatest defensive player in the world, but many natural gifted fowards aren't. The more you try and tell him to improve his defensive game, the less he'll use his instincts to produce some of the mercurial football we know he can.
[/QUOTE

Can you explain what you mean by the highlighted bits? quote]



Two words : Darren Jarman.

Wow, bite your tongue. Not even in the same stratosphere in terms of natural talent. Plus Darren was "able" to be lazy because he read the play tremendously well. Plus - and this is a sad indictment on Taylor's fitness and agility - Darren was quicker and more agile than Taylor.

Noone is saying he hasnt got the tricks. The query on Taylor is his lack of pace and his lack of concentration which leads to poor second efforts. Not just defensive efforts, but offensive as well. If you want to see the value of offensive second efforts in a forward, go watch some Modra highlights on YouTube. Modra's ability to recover and make something out of nothing was fantastic.

My thoughts on him arent based on last night's game, they're based on his efforts this season. He needs more intensity, and needs to remain focussed to stay in the contest for longer. Add those attributes to his vast natural ability and he will be a gun. Otherwise he'll just be another talented kid playing in the SANFL who just couldnt take it to the next level.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Wow, bite your tongue. Not even in the same stratosphere in terms of natural talent. Plus Darren was "able" to be lazy because he read the play tremendously well. Plus - and this is a sad indictment on Taylor's fitness and agility - Darren was quicker and more agile than Taylor.

Noone is saying he hasnt got the tricks. The query on Taylor is his lack of pace and his lack of concentration which leads to poor second efforts. Not just defensive efforts, but offensive as well. If you want to see the value of offensive second efforts in a forward, go watch some Modra highlights on YouTube. Modra's ability to recover and make something out of nothing was fantastic.

My thoughts on him arent based on last night's game, they're based on his efforts this season. He needs more intensity, and needs to remain focussed to stay in the contest for longer. Add those attributes to his vast natural ability and he will be a gun. Otherwise he'll just be another talented kid playing in the SANFL who just couldnt take it to the next level.

I was asked for an example of a player who's laconic nature was often misinterpreted as laziness, and my response was Darren Jarman. I wasn't at any stage comparing their ability, although I think Taylor has some of the qualities that made DJ so special.

You want another one? At various times throughout his career, and from some ill-informed commentators - Andrew McLeod.

 

[birdmanptr]

He was lazy last night, barely competitive.

I love the kid, I really do, he's already one of my favourites - and I love him as much for his arrogance, strut and brain-fades as I do for the magic things he can do. But when he's bad, I'm not going to ignore it completely.

But sometimes, he can't be bothered - it's like he rocked up last night knowing the conditions wouldn't suit him, so he didn't bust his arse to be effective.

Saying that, I'd be filthy if he was dropped to the SANFL; he needs to work on these things, but one bad game shouldn't result in demotion.

Spot on well said

His good is exciting and great and you are left wanting more but his bad is horrible but i feel he is one more pre season away from more consistant efforts

Its been a while since we had 2 key forwards exciting times

 

[dplggr47]

I think the fans need to be given a little more credit than this. Walker. Dangerfield and Tippett are all potentially elite players, hence they're afforded a little more leniency in the same way McLeod, Roo, Goody and Edwards were.

Doughty, Symes and Stevens are battlers, and people have less patience with the battlers.

Tippett especially can go completely missing in games sometimes and has his fair share of really bad games, but continues to get them - reason being he is a star of the future...and will continue to improve with games given to them. Walker, i'd put in this category. Walker has just as many bad games as Tippett.

i wouldn't consider Walker lazy at all though. he's just not as fast as Tippett, Hendo, Jaensch or Danger, in terms of chasing, but he can side step and break oncoming tackles, which are his strengths (and he plays to his strengths). i mean, Phil Davis is certainly not very fast either, and he'd try to chase a player (and not even get close), but no one would call him lazy. at times during the game, he didn't jump for the ball, because Tippett was already going for it (and it looked like he didn't want to get in the way, while other times he dropped back behind the play to crumb, considering we were seriously lacking crumbers). Griffin was just as bad if not worse.

overall, Walker had a bad day, but Tippett had a bad day against Geelong and Port Adelaide not long ago...so i'd be shocked and outraged if he was dropped. not sure who'd they'd bring in for him though if he was.

 

[RoosterLad]

Walker was pretty crap, it does happen from time to time though but it doesn't excuse his 100m penalty that he gave away. What was he thinking then? That was bloody stupid - and I'm being kind there.

Definitely should play the rest of the year with the Crows however.

 

[dplggr47]

Walker was pretty crap, it does happen from time to time though but it doesn't excuse his 100m penalty that he gave away. What was he thinking then? That was bloody stupid - and I'm being kind there.

Definitely should play the rest of the year with the Crows however.

surely you can excuse him for the first one...where he played on after the whistle was called - for all he knew, it could've been a crows free kick and he was doing what any natural forward would do. the second one was stupid, but as long as it doesn't become a recurring problem, i'd forgive him for pushing down a player. Mackay on the other hand, is the most non-threatening player i can think of, and when Boyd knocked him to the ground over the line and them gave him some lip afterwards, i wished Walker was there to give some back to Boyd.

 

[RoosterLad]

Can't excuse him for that first one, everyone knew it was not a Crow free kick and I think Walker may have even known. Heard the whistle and didn't even look over his shoulder to double check. It was terrible, but you are right.. the second one was even stupider. When you are having a shit game you should not be giving away 100m penalties.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Needs to work harder, I imagine he's always been one of those guys who doesn't really need to try that hard to dominate a game in his junior days. However at AFL level he gets found out and I think a lot of teams are catching on to his laziness/lack of athleticism/work rate. I think he needs to build a bigger tank, sure he's not playing midfield but he still needs a reasonably good aerobic capacity- I'd reckon Taylor would be one of our worst in this category.