Analysis How to become a real Premiership side?

[WCE_phil]

Very few players scream out as fulfilled talents on first views. Shuey, Duggan, McGovern are probably the only three at West Coast i've instantly fallen in love with and instantly knew would be guns.

I 100% agree with you however im still a firm believer there are things that can be taught and things that can't. I worry about lamb's decision making in particular never being up to scratch and see it as what could stop him from having a successful AFL career and providing a lot to the team.

 

[Karim Abdul Yeo]

I'm personally not a fan when Eagles supporters just categorically rule us out for a flag this year. they shouldn't! Obviously im not saying we should be talking ourselves up and calling Eagles a favourite. of course we have time to built and need time to get more mature. But who said we cant do it this year?? so far we have been so good this year, but no chance for the flag period??, because we are supposedly in development phase and we are not allowed to win a flag during that phase??. Bullocks!!! I would expect Eagles supporters to say its been an interesting season, lets see how far we can go.

Now to me these kinda season are the best for teams to go for a flag and snatch it, no pressure, no expectations and teams play better with no pressure. Fast forward two years and every one, i mean everyone would expect us to make prelim the least ( just like where Freo are at). Now if you dont win a flag then, its all a major failure.

This is what happened to Hawks in 08, why cant it happen to us. Im def not writing our chances off this year. I will also not go out there and say we are a favourite.Im just excited to see what we can do in next 4 games and ride the wave. I wouldnt be shocked if we win the flag, cuz we have been consistent so far.I would also not be shocked if we lose first round of finals. lets all enjoy this season and stop selling our boys short when it comes to the flag chances.

 

[Apex Predators]

I 100% agree with you however im still a firm believer there are things that can be taught and things that can't. I worry about lamb's decision making in particular never being up to scratch and see it as what could stop him from having a successful AFL career and providing a lot to the team.

I think it is interesting that you say there are some things that can and can't be taught and then use decision making as the key concern with Lamb. I would say that decision making is a concern with most rookies, including with Sheed last year.

Given Lamb has played one game, it is hardly sufficient to make a judgement I would think. Most players, particularly young draftees, take some time to find the pace of the game and panic a little bit and rush disposals rather than making the right decisions. At this stage, I am encouraged to think a first year player has his work ethic to have been considered worthy of playing the first game of the year.

EDIT: just did some research on his one game, he had 10 disposals (at 80 per cent efficiency), 4 marks, 2 tackles and 1 goal. Seen much worse first games.

 

[WCE_phil]

I think it is interesting that you say there are some things that can and can't be taught and then use decision making as the key concern with Lamb. I would say that decision making is a concern with most rookies, including with Sheed last year.

Given Lamb has played one game, it is hardly sufficient to make a judgement I would think. Most players, particularly young draftees, take some time to find the pace of the game and panic a little bit and rush disposals rather than making the right decisions. At this stage, I am encouraged to think a first year player has his work ethic to have been considered worthy of playing the first game of the year.

EDIT: just did some research on his one game, he had 10 disposals (at 80 per cent efficiency), 4 marks, 2 tackles and 1 goal. Seen much worse first games.

I'm not just looking at stats here but it's been an issue of his long before his first AFL game this year. His first game was quite good and as far as first games for talls go it was better than that however i've also watched him 8-9 times over the 3 years previous and found it to be a part of his game. It's not that he regularly makes the wrong decisions ie like masten when he was younger (you can teach them to make the right one instead of the wrong one with experience) it's that he fails to make a decision and then after the ump blows play on or just before hand he will just bomb it long. This is much harder to teach as they aren't reading the play ahead of them very well at all so just revert to the most basic choice of all. This would be fine if he was a full forward playing out of the goal square and leading up from there with 50+ % of his kicks being shots on goal. However the role i see for him at afl level is as a tall rotation from CHF with him and darling playing a dual role or as a half forward leading up to the wing and running back. In either of those cases he will be up the ground a lot more and decision making will be much more important.

 

[Obeanie1]

Remember when no one had any faith in our list?
Seems everyone has changed their attitude in the past few months...

Not everyone.

Just the impatient doubters who demanded instant improvement and success and didn't understand that it takes time for good young players to develop.

They know who they are.

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

To win it we have to finish top 2 .WIN BOTH FINALS

Then win MCG

Yep. That's the plan.
How many games have we lost at home this year? (Besides the one where we don't have an advantage)

http://www.afl.com.au/ladder/ladder-predictor

 

[kranky al]

Not everyone.

Just the impatient doubters who demanded instant improvement and success and didn't understand that it takes time for good young players to develop.

They know who they are.

Sensational

Just sit there for 40 years till your team wins a premiership and then tell everyone "i told you so"

*may not work if you support saint kilda

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

In my experience they both run hand in hand

Sometimes it runs down my hand.

 

[Hardhat11]

Yep. That's the plan.
How many games have we lost at home this year? (Besides the one where we don't have an advantage)

http://www.afl.com.au/ladder/ladder-predictor

Yes none

I think we are on the right track. As everyone has said the next six weeks defines our year

At least our destiny is in our hands.

 

[Hardhat11]

The other thing that happens when you get to a position where you could possibly win it

You suddenly find another gear because you have a chance to cross the line first

Adelaide crows did this in 97-98 ....

If you have a chance you suddenly think geez we could do this .....players commit and buy in.....

Belief that you can win it is just as important as playing list, injuries and so on.

 

[Apex Predators]

I'm not just looking at stats here but it's been an issue of his long before his first AFL game this year. His first game was quite good and as far as first games for talls go it was better than that however i've also watched him 8-9 times over the 3 years previous and found it to be a part of his game. It's not that he regularly makes the wrong decisions ie like masten when he was younger (you can teach them to make the right one instead of the wrong one with experience) it's that he fails to make a decision and then after the ump blows play on or just before hand he will just bomb it long. This is much harder to teach as they aren't reading the play ahead of them very well at all so just revert to the most basic choice of all. This would be fine if he was a full forward playing out of the goal square and leading up from there with 50+ % of his kicks being shots on goal. However the role i see for him at afl level is as a tall rotation from CHF with him and darling playing a dual role or as a half forward leading up to the wing and running back. In either of those cases he will be up the ground a lot more and decision making will be much more important.

I agree with your view of what Lambs role should be in future.

With regard to your view of his decision making, if I am reading your post correctly, your view is:

• You can teach someone to make the right decision; but
• lamb fails to make a decision, then takes the easy option and bombs long, which is much more concerning because he is not reading the play well enough.

I would say that teaching someone to make the right decision is about teaching them to read the play better. Therefore, there seems to be a paradox in your assessments. You describe it as 'failing to make a decision', but I would say that a decision was made, and that decision may have been to not give it to someone else, which resulted in having to bomb long. Whether that decision was right or wrong takes us back to your first statement, that you can teach someone to make the right (or at least better) decision.

I haven't seen Lamb as much as you, but I saw each of the pre-season games and his first game against the bulldogs. I saw plenty to get excited about, and there seemed to be plenty of buzz about him on these boards at those early stages. He goes hard, was kicking goals in each of the games, is fit. My only concern was he seemed to regularly paddle the ball below the knees rather than pick it up. Only time will tell how he develops, but I am backing Simpson to make him a much smarter footballer.

 

[lewigie]

Im still not sold on lamb. Athletically he definitely has the ability to make it. Right size, very good (if inconsistant) kicking skills, good mark, great runner, good leap and good mark. Works hard and goes hard at the ball.

Yes but is he a good mark ?

 

[Obeanie1]

Sensational

Just sit there for 40 years till your team wins a premiership and then tell everyone "i told you so"

*may not work if you support saint kilda

1 year does not = 40 years does it.

 

[nameless]

Sensational

Just sit there for 40 years till your team wins a premiership and then tell everyone "i told you so"

*may not work if you support saint kilda

What are you on about? 40 years?
We made the prelim a couple of years ago, had 1-2 bad years and now we're back.
Turned over our whole list to be back within premiership contention within 10 years of our last premiership.