Toast Maturity From Tex

[Valentino Dmitri]

I am one of the fans hoping to see Tex make it big.
Being a long way from Adelaide, it is hard to judge what Craig is doing with the lad.

However, I was watching the footy show tonight and some comments were made about Tommy Hawkins and how he hasn't really come on for Geelong. I watched him last week -did not chase, looked lost when ball hit ground. Maybe Craig really wants to make sure Tex has all these skills in his bag as well...

Yeah, it's frustrating seeing him played out of position I'm sure we'll all agree. I think a lot of that frustration comes from hearing all these things about him as a kid - many of us here have been following his career since he was 15 or so. Hearing how he dominated games against full grown men, I think a lot of us expected him to tear up the afl from day one, and have built him up in our heads to ridiculous proportions

He still seems to be a quality full forward right now, but Craig wouldn't be playing him out of position (or not playing him at all, as the case may be), and prioritising other skills ahead of his goalkicking if he didn't think there were areas he could seriously improve in.

If he ends up as the hardest working, high scoring, hard chasing, pack crashing foward that he has the potential to be, it will be all worth it

 

[rooboy]

Yeah, it's frustrating seeing him played out of position I'm sure we'll all agree. I think a lot of that frustration comes from hearing all these things about him as a kid - many of us here have been following his career since he was 15 or so. Hearing how he dominated games against full grown men, I think a lot of us expected him to tear up the afl from day one, and have built him up in our heads to ridiculous proportions

He still seems to be a quality full forward right now, but Craig wouldn't be playing him out of position (or not playing him at all, as the case may be), and prioritising other skills ahead of his goalkicking if he didn't think there were areas he could seriously improve in.

If he ends up as the hardest working, high scoring, hard chasing, pack crashing foward that he has the potential to be, it will be all worth it

Except he may be doing it at Essendon.

 

[SydCrow]

Except he may be doing it at Essendon.

LOL - he's out of the team for TWO WEEKS and suddenly he's looking for a trade? If that's the case, we wouldn't want him.

 

[arrowman]

FFS Walker played the first 4, and apart from round 1 he produced very little. And he hasn't exactly beaten the match committee doors down with his performances for Norwood.

I can't wait to see him out there. But not until he demands selection.

And if he's half a player, and NC is half a coach, Tex will know and understand exactly where he stands.

 

[relapse]

LOL - he's out of the team for TWO WEEKS and suddenly he's looking for a trade? If that's the case, we wouldn't want him.

Speak for yourself, if Walker left the club it would be through Neil Craig's issues more than Walker. He loves the crows and used to barrack for us long before he was even a scholarship player

 

[SydCrow]

Speak for yourself, if Walker left the club it would be through Neil Craig's issues more than Walker. He loves the crows and used to barrack for us long before he was even a scholarship player

yes, Neil Craig wants him to fail and leave the club

ps Craig also hates Norwood

 

[Crow-mo]

yes, Neil Craig wants him to fail and leave the club

ps Craig also hates Norwood

because we have such a great record with developing players.

do you want to count the failures?

 

[Elite Crow]

FFS Walker played the first 4, and apart from round 1 he produced very little. And he hasn't exactly beaten the match committee doors down with his performances for Norwood.

I can't wait to see him out there. But not until he demands selection.

And if he's half a player, and NC is half a coach, Tex will know and understand exactly where he stands.

The 1 he produced in was the one he was played in position. His last game for the Crows was also better than the one Burton produced against Port.

Burton apart from the Melbourne game produced very little and hasnt beaten the match committee doors down with his performances with the Crows.

Do you see the inconsitency in selection?

 

[SydCrow]

because we have such a great record with developing players.

do you want to count the failures?

is our record any worse than any other team with comparable draft picks?

 

[Crow-mo]

is our record any worse than any other team with comparable draft picks?

go look it up, and tell me what you think

Hint, Burton is our best ever 1st round pick.

 

[SydCrow]

go look it up, and tell me what you think

Hint, Burton is our best ever 1st round pick.

aren't we talking about Neil Craig's record?

Danger, Tippett etc could turn out to be better than Burton

 

[cmndstab]

go look it up, and tell me what you think

Hint, Burton is our best ever 1st round pick.

Are we talking about Craig, or the Crows in general? Because if we're just discussing Craig, then any criteria that takes into account longevity and games played and B&F results and the like are pointless.

Dangerfield is a first round draft pick under Craig. He may end up a better player than Burton, but we can't know it yet.

Either way, our record with developing first round picks is not great yet. After inheriting Watts, we then took Meesen, then Pfeiffer and Douglas, then Sellar. None of them have really set the world on fire, and none have justified their draft position yet. Whether Dangerfield, Davis and Talia will see the trend reversed remains to be seen, but hell, you'd like to see a better result with the picks we gave up for those first five names than we've had.


In any event, the point about not wanting Walker if he leaves after being dropped for two (now three) games is a fair one. It's nothing to do with his barracking loyalties. Any player who believes that his spot should be simply handed to him and gets the hump and leaves when it is not is a weak character.

Obviously there is a point at which this switches around. Three weeks is not that point.

If he can't get a game for the rest of the season other than through injury to Burton or Tippett, then he would have legitimate reason for looking elsewhere. For now, he needs to go and work on the areas the coaching staff have asked him to work on, and from what I hear, he is doing precisely that, because he is a strong character.

In saying all of that, I wouldn't have dropped him after round 4. But I don't for one second think it's a legitimate reason to expect him to request a trade. Honestly, I think people are trade-crazy at the moment, there are people on this forum who legitimately think that Dangerfield is more likely than not to request a trade this year because we're playing poorly. It seems like people are expecting a mass exodus with GC17 and GWS, but I doubt it will happen.

 

[cmndstab]

aren't we talking about Neil Craig's record?

Danger, Tippett etc could turn out to be better than Burton

Tippett wasn't a first round pick though

 

[SydCrow]

Tippett wasn't a first round pick though

sorry, I must have meant Sellar

 

[PainKiller]

In any event, the point about not wanting Walker if he leaves after being dropped for two (now three) games is a fair one. It's nothing to do with his barracking loyalties. Any player who believes that his spot should be simply handed to him and gets the hump and leaves when it is not is a weak character.

Out of curiosity, do you believe Marty Mattner is a "weak character"? Much like Walker, he seemed to enjoy being at the Crows, but like Walker was played out of position and his form suffered markedly to the point where he was in and out of the team. When the Swans offered him a better contract and the opportunity of a regular first team spot, who could blame him for jumping at the opportunity? I dont think people are suggesting Tex is going to walk out on the club, but if another club gets in his ear "Hey Taylor, we think you're an incredible talent, we want to sign you up to an increased contract, play you in your natural position and give you the chance to make the full-forward spot your own", I dont think he would be "weak" to accept that opportunity.

Personally, if I felt I wasn't getting the opportunities I deserved in my job, and I was getting overlooked for others who weren't performing any better than me, I'd be listening very carefully to other offers that came my way. I'm not suggesting Tex would think the same way, but I certainly wouldn't hold it against him if he did.

 

[relapse]

yes, Neil Craig wants him to fail and leave the club

ps Craig also hates Norwood

No, it's more Neil's fettish for old men that is the cause of the problem.

 

[subaru]

No, it's more Neil's fettish for old men that is the cause of the problem.

Boom tish!
However, and I am massively counting chickens and I don't normally do that ..BUT ..if we win today and Burton kicks a bag against a non-existent defence ...where does that leave Tex?
Walker would have had a good chance at having a good game today also , maybe , ...confidence booster and all that and he's not there.

I'm not getting it sorry...

 

[Hodgy]

No, it's more Neil's fettish for old men that is the cause of the problem.

Not sure it's Neil Craig that has an obsession with age. Oh and just a hint, I wouldn't tell you're mum today that you think anyone over thirty is old.

 

[crows dude]

Just looking at the budget for the sanfl. After friday nights game Walker has now played 29 games and 93 goals for Norwood. Seven to go for 100. Pitty its in the sanfl though

 

[Epic J]

I watched the legs vs glenelg on friday nite and i may have even posted for walker to be included at some stage this year
He is gonna be an absolute gun for us, he didnt have the best game ever friday but you can tell he has got all the talent in the world

Having said that he needs to really work on his 2nd and 3rd efforts...we need a maniacal attack on the footy at "every" contest (its the only way to win premierships)

I think this is why he was played out of position by craig...teach him the hard way about accountability at afl level and drop him in the deep end a bit. Posters keep saying look to the future (may have agreed myself) but i think craig is looking forward by holding walker back a bit and make him truly earn his spot and he'll be more mature for it too. He's only young and has time on his side but you cant fill ur potential on talent alone

But i dont think he's ready just yet...altho i also think burton is passed it but you only can work with what you've got

Hopefully soon tho we'll see Tex at FF and Tipps at CHF gelling and when that happens the other 15 teams better be on notice!

 

[arrowman]

The 1 he produced in was the one he was played in position. His last game for the Crows was also better than the one Burton produced against Port.

Burton apart from the Melbourne game produced very little and hasnt beaten the match committee doors down with his performances with the Crows.

Do you see the inconsitency in selection?

Walker and Burton have very similar stats for the season (across all games including SANFL).

If Burton should be dropped for his performances, then Walker shouldn't be picked for his.

 

[Archie87]

Walker and Burton have very similar stats for the season (across all games including SANFL).

If Burton should be dropped for his performances, then Walker shouldn't be picked for his.

That may well be true if we had a replacement for them but in terms of our structure, at least one needs to play as I can't think of who would replace the. So if they do have similar stats for this season and we have to play one, then surely we should be playing the younger one who needs experience at the highest level?? We achieve absolutely nothing for the future (especially now our year is shot) by playing an under-performing veteran. Walker just needs time, give me his inconsistency over Burton's any day. Walker has an excuse because he is young, Burton is just past his prime. Craigy has said Walker doesn't chase and do the defensive stuff, well neither does Burton, not to mention Burton isn't any faster either.

 

[beartoo]

Craigy has said Walker doesn't chase and do the defensive stuff, well neither does Burton, not to mention Burton isn't any faster either.

Burton defends well. Stop inventing things to enhance your case.

 

[relapse]

Not sure it's Neil Craig that has an obsession with age. Oh and just a hint, I wouldn't tell you're mum today that you think anyone over thirty is old.

I'm actually over thirty myself

 

[relapse]

Walker and Burton have very similar stats for the season (across all games including SANFL).

If Burton should be dropped for his performances, then Walker shouldn't be picked for his.

Using your theory though if Walker is dropped and not playing well enough to be in the side then Burton shouldnt be either, you aren't really saying anything to substantiate why Burton should be in the side.