Got to Keep Polak

[ImperialPurple]

You must mean slow thinking, I think he ran sub-3secs for 20metres the other week.

I just read that he averaged 21 possies and 8 marks per game for East Freo in the WAFL at the end of last year... Was there a problem between CC and Polak or am I missing something? Just curious.

Polly could burn it up in the WAFL, where his wooden spoon Sharks (East Freo) were pretty much filled with pretty average footballers... and anyone with a bit of talent could look like a star. Woewodin won their B&F and averaged about 40 possies a game for the year.... Polly's problem was that he started to find the step-up to AFL level a hard one. Which I find surprising, as his first full year (2003) he looked like the real-deal, and someone who would play 250 games for Freo and win a few B&Fs on the way.

Then he started to lose his way a bit (extra-curricular activities perhaps??? - or falling confidence from his lack of performance when he went forward) and by 2005 was getting games because he was a tall, but doing anything except setting the world on fire. Or even playing consistent footy. 2005 also saw David Mundy debut, Michael Johnson debut, Ryan Murphy debut, Ryan Crowley debut, and Antoni Grover re-establish himself down back. 2006 Marcus Drum was added to that group. Suddenly it wasn't all falling easily for Polly, and he wasn't getting games just because there was no-one else.

Polly is capable of very good things IMO. But when we went on that 9 game winning streak - who would they have dropped for Polak? I guess Polly saw the writing on the wall, and figured his chances of solid game time were better at Richmond, and took that option, rather than lining up behind Mundy, Murphy, Johnson, Drum etc to get back into the side at Freo.

 

[inferno66]

Was there a problem between CC and Polak or am I missing something? Just curious.

Problem I think was his consitetency. Polak was a hot and cold player. Unfortunately he was more cold then hot for us. Polak also lacked discipline at the club and that must have attributed to CC not playing Polak

 

[wehavethepassion]

Great mark but ground skills very average for someone getting 300K a season.

His marking got him thru junior ranks - big fiah in a small pond.

Once he had to play at ground level found wanting.

 

[Reveler]

I still rate Polak, I think he will become one of the leagues best backman.. rnds 12-22, with more experience and less media spot light I think we will see him shine.

I hope he does anyway.. (just not against us!)

 

[dominguez]

He was lazy while at Fremantle.
He demanded a trade to richmond or he would enter the PSD.
He fired a couple of parting shots.
Hope he fails.

 

[Reveler]

He was lazy while at Fremantle.
He demanded a trade to richmond or he would enter the PSD.
He fired a couple of parting shots.
Hope he fails.

did he?? I remember it differently..

 

[dominguez]

Also used a trip to Melbourne paid by Fremantle Football Club to speak to rival clubs.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21176652%5E19765,00.html

 

[Reveler]

Also used a trip to Melbourne paid by Fremantle Football Club to speak to rival clubs.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21176652%5E19765,00.html

that trip was paid by the AFL education fund IIRC.

he was probally told be the staff that there would be limited opportunites

 

[Ripper]

that trip was paid by the AFL education fund IIRC.

he was probally told by the staff that there would be limited opportunites

Snake had already moved to Richmond by then.

 

[dominguez]

Can you recall what Polak had to say when he left Ripper? I had a look through some old threads but copuldn't find anything, I recall his comments weren't flattering though.

 

[Ripper]

Can you recall what Polak had to say when he left Ripper? I had a look through some old threads but copuldn't find anything, I recall his comments weren't flattering though.

I cannot recall any bad mouthing.
Reckoned Freo was a great club and knew opportunities would be limited.

He was disappointed about not playing any finals.

He was approached at the GF by Snake & Wallet.


Certainly hasn't burnt his bridges in Public at least.

 

[ImperialPurple]

He did say that he loved the club and was sad to go, but was frustrated because he wasn't being given any opportunities. It sounded a bit "sour-grapes" at the time the way he was putting his lack of game time onto the club, especially when Medders came out at the same time and basically said he was responsible for his lack of game time because he didn't take the opportunities when presented to him.

Polak blamed the club, Medders blamed himself.

 

[dominguez]

That's my recollection, he felt that he didn't get the opportunities he felt that he deserved at Fremantle, implying that he was treated unfairly.

 

[Geoff]

Hope Polly has a bolter of a year. But, hasn't he been injured yet? Surely he must be carring something, it's not like Polly to be fully fit leading into a season.

 

[Bentleigh]

Hope Polly has a bolter of a year. But, hasn't he been injured yet? Surely he must be carring something, it's not like Polly to be fully fit leading into a season.

Intersting to see what he is capable of.

 

[lids2004roar]

Polly is fully fit and raring to go. Has featured prominantly in our Nab 15 getting edged out in the last week. He was our number 1 big man at training in terms of work ethic until Richo overcame his back spasms and made a last minute jump up the Nab 15 ladder.

I like that he isn't being lazy, it is evident he has been working very hard all pre season. If I was a Freo supporter I would be a little annoyed at the timing of the trade, he could really start mading big steps this year.

Knowing what I do know (training dedication and good behaviour) I would have paid a lot more for Polak in hindsight if Freo asked for it. Of course, he has done absolutely nothing on the field for us yet so it will take 22 consistent performances before I even think about who won the most out of the deal.

 

[theGav56]

Polak also lacked discipline at the club and that must have attributed to CC not playing Polak

Are you saying CC is responsable for Polak's lack of discipline? Polak's lack of discipline is not CC's fault, although trying to deal with it and have him behave in a professioanl manner is. And dropping him back to WAFL is part of CC doing that, so that he understands that he is not an automatic replacement, but needs to work hard to earn a spot on the ground. Polak is quoted as saying that at Richmond they train much harder than at Freo, which often gets said by new recruits. But last year we were one of the fittest teams, and it would not surprise me if Polak trains harder at Richmond now that he has been traded. He had plenty of opportunities.

The real thing with Polak is to try and find a spot for him in our best 22, and even if you do, look at who misses out, and ask if we actually lose anything. He is competing with Mundy, Johnson, Grover for CHB. Unfortunately he rarely played 1 on 1 and beat an opponent.

 

[lids2004roar]

Polak is quoted as saying that at Richmond they train much harder than at Freo, ...

Actually that is not true.

I think he said "I am training harder than I did last year" and then in the same article Kent Kingsley said "Richmond train harder than the Cats".

The real thing with Polak is to try and find a spot for him in our best 22, and even if you do, look at who misses out, and ask if we actually lose anything. He is competing with Mundy, Johnson, Grover for CHB. Unfortunately he rarely played 1 on 1 and beat an opponent.

It would be nice to have Sydney's blessed run with injuries, but if you don't then don't under-estimate depth

I am a little surprised that people continually bring up that he can't beat someone 1 on 1.... he has beaten Richo plenty of times and has held him for an entire match, it doesn't add up.

Is it possible it was just coach's instructions to be 3rd man up?

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Polly could burn it up in the WAFL, where his wooden spoon Sharks (East Freo) were pretty much filled with pretty average footballers... and anyone with a bit of talent could look like a star. Woewodin won their B&F and averaged about 40 possies a game for the year.... Polly's problem was that he started to find the step-up to AFL level a hard one. Which I find surprising, as his first full year (2003) he looked like the real-deal, and someone who would play 250 games for Freo and win a few B&Fs on the way.

Then he started to lose his way a bit (extra-curricular activities perhaps??? - or falling confidence from his lack of performance when he went forward) and by 2005 was getting games because he was a tall, but doing anything except setting the world on fire. Or even playing consistent footy. 2005 also saw David Mundy debut, Michael Johnson debut, Ryan Murphy debut, Ryan Crowley debut, and Antoni Grover re-establish himself down back. 2006 Marcus Drum was added to that group. Suddenly it wasn't all falling easily for Polly, and he wasn't getting games just because there was no-one else.

Polly is capable of very good things IMO. But when we went on that 9 game winning streak - who would they have dropped for Polak? I guess Polly saw the writing on the wall, and figured his chances of solid game time were better at Richmond, and took that option, rather than lining up behind Mundy, Murphy, Johnson, Drum etc to get back into the side at Freo.

I'd agree with all of this except at the start of 2005, Polak was playing fantastic football, and around round 6 copped a knee injury. It was during this period he went and got pie-eyed with Dodd, as you would, and got into trouble. When he came back he wasn't the same.

He also played some really good games in 2006. I'm sure if JLo's knee wouldn't come up he would have got a few more games.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Knowing what I do know (training dedication and good behaviour) I would have paid a lot more for Polak in hindsight if Freo asked for it. Of course, he has done absolutely nothing on the field for us yet so it will take 22 consistent performances before I even think about who won the most out of the deal.

I think we did ok. Basically we replaced Polak with Solomon. So we have no complaints. Solomon is more flexible than Polak, plays a tougher game, and matches Polak's disposals skills.

He'll never match Polak's aerial supremacy and most Richmond's supporters will be shocked to discover how many grabs he takes. He'll be second to Richo.

And if you track back through all the Big Footy posts (not that you'd want to) you'll find that most Dockers supporters usggested he was quite valuable, and ridiculed what all the other w*nkers suggested he was worth.

 

[theGav56]

Actually that is not true.

I think he said "I am training harder than I did last year" and then in the same article Kent Kingsley said "Richmond train harder than the Cats".

Yes, I stand corrected. Actually more of an indictmant on him, as he was aware that his position as automatic selection was far from assured before the start of last year, as his 2005 season was also ordinary.

It would be nice to have Sydney's blessed run with injuries, but if you don't then don't under-estimate depth

I think we have plenty of depth in the backline. Parker, Haddril, Thornton, Solomon, Rumble, Dodd can all come up against big players.

I am a little surprised that people continually bring up that he can't beat someone 1 on 1.... he has beaten Richo plenty of times and has held him for an entire match, it doesn't add up.

Is it possible it was just coach's instructions to be 3rd man up?

If he is keeping up with Richo then I am stunned and would have him take a urine test. Actually have him take one anyway.

The reality is that he needs to step up to become a key backman capable of beating the oppositions best forward if he is going to justify the expectations that he has carried. That is a big ask.

Who do you see him lining up against in our forward line, and beating 1 on 1, Pavlich or Tarrant? Either way, I am happy with the match up. Even against Murphy it is a win for us because Polak would be your best marking backman, and he is lining up against our third best marking forward, and in a position where Murphy will only need a handful of posessions to be damaging.

 

[Booms]

21 possies and took some great marks today....looks a good pick up...needs help desperately.

 

[theGav56]

21 possies and took some great marks today....looks a good pick up...needs help desperately.

Did you actually watch the game or are you reading stats?

He, like all of the Richmond backmen, was absolutelt thrashed by the Geelong forward line. They were comprehensively outmarked, outplayed and outclassed. The reason Polak got that number of possessions is because the ball lived down there, but the reality is he had a tiny impact. He is not a rookie player. He is a senior player who needs to beat an opponent, and he failed to do it. Mooney got four goals from memory.

 

[lids2004roar]

He wasn't playing on Mooney all game. If you watched you'd see Polak played really well. 99% of Richmond supporters are very happy about him so far, the times he was beaten he really couldn't have done anything else, the supply was very good.

In any case, it was a step forward for him. I just want him to continue making progress and eventually he'll be a star if he does.

He was one of our only backmen who was calm, polished and balanced under pressure. Still needs to improve defensively though, not there yet.

 

[theGav56]

Still needs to improve defensively though, not there yet.

So what part of his game did you like? he is a key defender, and he was thrashed along with your entire backline. It would be difficult for him not to be when a side is getting belted like you were. Needs to improve defensively is an understatement.

Of course he wasn't playing on Mooney the whole game because you were leaking like a sieve. Geelong's 2 key forwards both kicked 4 for the game. Ottens was the other guy.... remember him? I also saw absolutely nothing of the speed that you guys were claiming for Polak either, with Mooney consistantly outpacing him. Mooney outpacing anyone is a bit of a worry.