Pretty sure in the last interview I heard from Dawson. He said words to the effect that it wasn’t planned, he didn’t train there preseason and he thought the midfield needed a different balance.
I've been reading the discussion re: youth development in the midfield vs. the notion that Nicks et al prefer the senior players (Dawson/ Laird/ Sloane/ Keays) to developing youth, with great interest.
There are those who use (I should say "resort to") sarcasm and ridicule, thinking that strengthens their argument. It doesn't, and often weakens the several other good points that they make:
Laird/Dawson/Sloane/Keays do not have a "complete monopoly" of midfield time. It's Nicks who decides where they play and he has clearly rotated youth through there depending on their fitness, capabilities and actual effect.
Others remain calm (NSolis especially) on the basis that opinions are just an expression of a point-of-view, based on subjective beliefs about what works for the team:
but this next post shows why expressing an opinion and backing it up with info/facts/data will never sway its author:
I'm not sure that he means "it's important for Nicks to get it right" --- I suspect he's saying that it's important that he is "right".
That might sound like I am having a go Southerntakeover. I'm not, because a lot of his posting is very interesting and can be insightful. It's just that a balanced and objective approach will never sway someone who just wants to be right.
I'll try to explain further:
There's a lot of heated differences of opinion recently about Ben Keays, Sloane and also Sholl (Tex was a hot topic as well, with many saying he was too old, too slow and hindering the development of the other tall forwards, but they've gone quiet lately --- 28 + 10 goals will do that).
The poll above is interesting. Exactly 50% think Smith played well (I wasn't one of them) and many votes are close to that 50-50 split.
Re: Sholl, many think he has a job to do and does it well. I think Sholl is slow, physically weak, gets rag-dolled easily, and is contact averse: ineffective when the heat is on. Many disagree, which is fine, because Nicks & Co, have the final say anyway and our opinions carry no weight in the matter.
It's just discussion/banter/points-of-view ie Opinions.
Fwiw, I used to think that Nicks was under-using our talented youth and hindering the midfield-development of Rachele/Soligo/Pedlar and to a certain extent Rankine by resorting to the favoured Laird/Dawson/Sloane/Keays combo.
I'm now of the opinion that he's being very patient with their development, as many other Clubs have been with theirs ie I've been swayed by the very good, clear, objective and well-explained posting of NSolis , Danger in Texas , and WaynesWorld19 and others. The collective weight of their posts has changed my mind.
Very few 19-22 year old players hit the ground running, as mids. Some posters have said (heatedly) that Nicks should have given Rachele/Soligo/Pedlar more CBAs in the second half of last week's annihilation of WCE. I think it's clear that he was actually going for the jugular to wring every drop of % that he could get out of the win. Our opinions aside, what Nicks did, worked.
According to the two Coaches (whose own opinions matter more than ours, because of their jobs and experience) our best 4 players after the standout Walker were --- guess whom?
Dawson/Laird/Sloane/Keays.
Yet two of the latter are consistently criticised, unfairly in my opinion, because their critics think they are rubbish with virtually no redeeming features, while ignoring their actual contributions.
Opinions are neither right nor wrong.
I'm pretty sure I'm right about that
I've heard the opposite more than once.
Seem to recall Dawson and Nicks both commenting that Jordan 'demanded to go into the midfield' was an a massive exaggeration
Droll. Just GOTTA have your little digs, doncha?
Can't help yourself."Characters"? What?
I agree re Thilthorpe.
Here you go, he did less work this year with the mids than last.
Good, cos we need quality depth.
Tex is residing cranially without financial liability within Kornes
Nicks would still be playing Dawson in the backline and Crouch would most likely be in the midfield with Sloane and Keays. It's good we have a captain that knew what needed to be done even if the coach didn't. You could also say that Worrell would still be in the sanfl if Doedee wasn't injured. Worrell has been one of our best defenders his last two games.
Rachele looks absolutely cooked at moment , that one is a burgess call
Even our structure is designed not to introduce new players.
I can't see Sloane being dropped while Nicks is chasing finals. I don't want to see Sloane in centre square bounces but around the ball elsewhere he is beneficial if his body holds up. That would allow us to try Schoenberg who is in career best form. Give him one last crack to see if he is up to it. Berry will most likely be traded next year if he doesn't improve over preseason.
Pedlar was never playing large mid minutes this year , it’s all about a full afl season for him
The first it was mentioned was in a press conference the week after he spent the first gme this year in the midfield (i think it was after the port game)
Careful.. the clubs relentless congaline of suckholes will call you a “negative poster” and block you for pointing this out..
That's a 50% differential.
This is my take as well .....from a long way away
