player development

[refresh]

For me the biggest disappointment of 2007 (apart from no finals) was the lack of improvement in developing players. I came into the year optomistic about further improvement from drum, murphy, crowley, mundy, jonno. The developers who rode the wave last year but they stagnated.

is player development weak, i think lee walker is in charge and maybe he is not up to it.

or is it just lack of opportunity like gilmore - shone when given the chance and responsibility

 

[Ripper]

For me the biggest disappointment of 2007 (apart from no finals) was the lack of improvement in developing players. I came into the year optomistic about further improvement from drum, murphy, crowley, mundy, jonno. The developers who rode the wave last year but they stagnated.

is player development weak, i think lee walker is in charge and maybe he is not up to it.

or is it just lack of opportunity like gilmore - shone when given the chance and responsibility

Not unusual , most players plateau after a big step.

Those players would have been analysed by the opposition a lot because they stepped up so much in 2006.

Crowley , Mundy and M.J. looked to be coming to grips with it more and more towards the end of the season.

 

[summerthebat]

Especially Mundy, showed a lot towards the end of the year.

Was a little disappointed in Magic this year, he really needs to work on his spoiling.

 

[Scham]

The club is not known for its development of players, but this year it was definately lack of opportunity - no doubt about it.

 

[Freo Shark]

The club is not known for its development of players, but this year it was definately lack of opportunity - no doubt about it.

Not entirely accurate. Its more often the case talented young players are traded chasing the current messiah who then show their development elsewhere.

Malaxos doesnt come across as a good developmental coach. Admittedly appearances are misleading.

Development entails opportunity to play and at times CC didnt back their form in with fair opportunities.

 

[chook2734]

Not unusual , most players plateau after a big step.

Those players would have been analysed by the opposition a lot because they stepped up so much in 2006.

Crowley , Mundy and M.J. looked to be coming to grips with it more and more towards the end of the season.

Those three in particular seemed to struggle after the Irish game. Crowley and MJ both had injuries and I think Mundy may have also done a hamstring or something?

As Ripper said, most players do go through it at some stage. If they can work through it they will be better players when they come out the other side.

One player I thought did improve and most particularly developed some good consistency was Dodd. I thought he took another step in his development this year.

 

[wehavethepassion]

Those three in particular seemed to struggle after the Irish game. Crowley and MJ both had injuries and I think Mundy may have also done a hamstring or something?

As Ripper said, most players do go through it at some stage. If they can work through it they will be better players when they come out the other side.

One player I thought did improve and most particularly developed some good consistency was Dodd. I thought he took another step in his development this year.

Crowley did a medial ligament in the IR series. Bomber was flat and was sent away during pre season to get his head right . Mundy had a slow start because of an interupted pre season due to IR.

With all these players having a prper rest then an proper pre season you'll see them step up in 2008.

Johnno missed the first 4 games which put him behind in fitness.

 

[chook2734]

Crowley did a medial ligament in the IR series. Bomber was flat and was sent away during pre season to get his head right . Mundy had a slow start because of an interupted pre season due to IR.

With all these players having a prper rest then an proper pre season you'll see them step up in 2008.

Johnno missed the first 4 games which put him behind in fitness.

You're right WHTP, it was Peakey not Johnno that played IR. I'm pretty sure Johnno did have a late clean-up on his knee though, and that along with his 4 weeks out didn't help him.

These are the guys that need to step up in '08 though. If we can get them back to their '06 form, (along with Schammer stepping up) it will go a long way towards a top 8 finish.

 

[sabre_ac]

For me the biggest disappointment of 2007 (apart from no finals) was the lack of improvement in developing players. I came into the year optomistic about further improvement from drum, murphy, crowley, mundy, jonno. The developers who rode the wave last year but they stagnated.

is player development weak, i think lee walker is in charge and maybe he is not up to it.

or is it just lack of opportunity like gilmore - shone when given the chance and responsibility

I agree.

I think it was one of Conolly's weak points, other than the incredible talents I don't think he was very good at developing the players.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Yep, thats why Harves interviewed Chris Bond - the guys meant to be a great developer of young talent. I think Harves himself will be good for the young players - He's already shown he'll give them opportunities, and in doing so, put the senior players on notice that if they dont play consistent hard-nosed footy, they'll be replaced by someone who will.

Senior players should be called senior not because their old but because we can rely on them!!!

Although there is a case for young players losing ground a little when the opposition starts planning for them, there were far too many that dropped off this year. CC also tended to pick the same old replacements then drop them again when the 'stars' were available. This doesn't breed any sort of intensity for places in the side.

Harves has already produced improvement in Drum, MJ, Mundy, Crowley, Gilmore and allowed O'Brien, Dunn, Browne and Haddrill to show they've got something to offer. With Bond by his side, we shouldn't have any more problems in that regard (hopefully!).

 

[chook2734]

Yep, thats why Harves interviewed Chris Bond - the guys meant to be a great developer of young talent. I think Harves himself will be good for the young players - He's already shown he'll give them opportunities, and in doing so, put the senior players on notice that if they dont play consistent hard-nosed footy, they'll be replaced by someone who will.

Senior players should be called senior not because their old but because we can rely on them!!!

Although there is a case for young players losing ground a little when the opposition starts planning for them, there were far too many that dropped off this year. CC also tended to pick the same old replacements then drop them again when the 'stars' were available. This doesn't breed any sort of intensity for places in the side.

Harves has already produced improvement in Drum, MJ, Mundy, Crowley, Gilmore and allowed O'Brien, Dunn, Browne and Haddrill to show they've got something to offer. With Bond by his side, we shouldn't have any more problems in that regard (hopefully!).

I think that's a bit of a stretch. Drum played one good game against the Crows and Gilmore was already in the team when Connolly was coaching. He possibly had an increase in game time under Harvey, but Warnock was starting to tire and someone had to play in the ruck. Dunn, Browne and Haddrill were rarely fit under Connolly, so it was a bit hard for him to select them. Mundy, MJ and Crowley have already been discussed, and your point about opposition sides working players out applies to these guys particularly.

Harves does seem to be keen to have a different attitude in the playing group, this is where a lot of the improvement will come. Getting the likes of Bond and Prescott on board will be beneficial too.