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I was surfing the radio waves Saturday night listening to the game. On K-Rock, they said one of the things Frawley doesn't do that coaches such as Sheedy and some other coaches do is develop young players (no surprises there).
They specifically mentioned Pettifer, saying he had come out of the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC as a champion but hadn't been developed to AFL standard. Pettifer had just spent a 5 minute burst on the field before being benched again, and the commentators said this was the problem.
Now I know plenty of people bag Pettifer and say he has had plenty of opportunites, but I am not convinced he has had many real opportunities. If he is good enough to be given a game, he should be given a proper opportunity on the field. If the coaching panel don't think he is good enough, don't pick him at all. At the moment, Pettifer isn't being given a fair go either way because he is caught in this "is he or isn't he good enough" limbo that the coaching staff and selection committee seem to be in.
From what people say Wallace said about Schulz not being up to it, it seems the same fate may be heading his way. Rarely gets enough gametime to feel his feet and adjust to the tempo of the game. It seems to me that the selectors should either keep him at Coburg till they think he is ready, or get him out on the ground and allow him to get used to the pace and get a few kicks.
There has been a lot of criticism this week of senior players trying to 'play it safe' on the field, but it just seems to be a reflection of how (junior and senior) player development is being handled. Playing it safe in the end has the opposite effect.
They specifically mentioned Pettifer, saying he had come out of the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC as a champion but hadn't been developed to AFL standard. Pettifer had just spent a 5 minute burst on the field before being benched again, and the commentators said this was the problem.
Now I know plenty of people bag Pettifer and say he has had plenty of opportunites, but I am not convinced he has had many real opportunities. If he is good enough to be given a game, he should be given a proper opportunity on the field. If the coaching panel don't think he is good enough, don't pick him at all. At the moment, Pettifer isn't being given a fair go either way because he is caught in this "is he or isn't he good enough" limbo that the coaching staff and selection committee seem to be in.
From what people say Wallace said about Schulz not being up to it, it seems the same fate may be heading his way. Rarely gets enough gametime to feel his feet and adjust to the tempo of the game. It seems to me that the selectors should either keep him at Coburg till they think he is ready, or get him out on the ground and allow him to get used to the pace and get a few kicks.
There has been a lot of criticism this week of senior players trying to 'play it safe' on the field, but it just seems to be a reflection of how (junior and senior) player development is being handled. Playing it safe in the end has the opposite effect.
