Past Sam Sheldon (2007-2012)

[dlanod]

Sam Sheldon's Statistics V Collingwood:

6 Disposals - 3 Kicks 3 Handballs.

I hope he can improve on this in the coming weeks.

After Polkinghorne's injury at half time it looked like Sheldon was given Heath Shaw to drag away from the contest, which he did well. I think it may have been one of those games where he can't be judged on disposal counts.

 

[chopperduck]

Yeah, Sheldon was clearly given the job to keep him quiet, and he did it to perfection. Didn't play a hard tag on him, he just dragged him away from the contest all the time. As a result it means he wasn't near it either.

I would still hope that he would be able to play a defensive role and still contribute coming the other way, but he shouldn't be dropped for doing his role in the team.

 

[POBT]

I don't like to see anyone play seniors for one week, only to cop the axe the next. The only time it makes sense is when there's a clearly better player waiting to come in or if the player broke team rules. If there was a Brennan, Adcock type returning to the seniors, then I'd have Sheldon out as they are clearly superior players. But, if we are talking about whether, as the likely 22nd man selected, we should replace him with the 23rd man, then my view is that you probably are not losing a lot by giving the incumbent a couple of games. This is particularly true for a young guy where continuity of games can make a significant difference to their development.

The only issue that I would have is if Sheldon didn't follow team instructions. But, based on the sacrificial game in the 2nd half, it seems likely that he did exactly as asked. In which case, I'd give him another game. Put the hook away for another week, I reckon.

 

[chopperduck]

Yup. I think he has played a lot of his senior games as a tagger or in a defensive type role, and i think its only natural that without our usual run with players in Selwood and Stiller not playing, Sheldon keeps his spot. We just aren't getting anything extra out of Stiller at the moment, and Sheldon was playing well as a tagger in the 2nd's, so he was probably given a chance.

There isn't many other players to bring back in, and he did his role last week, reward him with another game. He is good defensively, hopefully he can continue to build his game and contribute with ball in hand as well.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Has the reverse Midas touch.

Should have played his last senior game.

 

[Old Den]

Re: Travis Johnstone

Credit where credit's due is my motto and there is no doubt that he has played two good games on the trot. What would Aristotle say? Do two swallows make a summer?

If number 4 starts playing lazy unaccountable football again, then I'll call him on it and that's fair enough. But as I have said, I'd much rather be giving the bloke a rap than a bake.

As for number 3, he was ordinary last year, no good this year and I doubt he ever will be more than a solid reserve grade footballer at best. How he is getting a game is completely beyond me and I know I'm not alone on that score.

I like the old sayings too and one that is indisputable is Great oaks from little acorns grow and as Sheldon has only had 21 senior games in total perhaps Rome wasn't built in a day might be somewhat pertinent too.

OK,Sheldon has not shown much in his 2 games this year after an injury delayed start to his season but I think he showed promise last year - I think he has shown good disposal skills in the past,is cool under pressure,has got footy brains,like McGrath does his 1 percenters,will put his body on the line and was one of the young heroes(if unsung)in the last quarter finals win over Carlton - form,good or bad,is what sport is all about.

I know Voss as a coach is definitely not flavour of the week but he and the other selectors obviously see something in Sheldon or he would not have played senior football this year yet.

I have seen so much figurative egg on lots of faces in this forum over players being written off for a future in the Club(and even in the game as in this case) that I am surprised that people still like to indulge in it.

However,we are all entitled to our opinion and I won't be commenting further on SOKS in this Travis Johnstone thread.

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Travis Johnstone

One thing that has to be given to Sheldon, is that he was drafted a year younger (iirc). He could have played TAC for another year and gone in the next draft, but he wanted to enter a year early, and wanted to come to Brisbane, and we picked him up later in the draft.

His first few years he was out of action due to some pretty big injury and illness concerns. Because of these factors, i only consider him as a 2nd year player. He has played a fair few senior games so far, hasn't set the world on fire but he was ok last year. He has played mainly defensive roles, and in that job, i think he has looked good. I think this is a role he is being groomed to play, and really, playing this role in seniors is the best way for him to learn. He wont learn nearly as much playing on Joe Blow in the 2nds, instead of Brent Harvey or someone in the seniors.

Sheldon is a player that needs a bit more time, and i think will get it. Does this mean he gets a free pass to seniors, no. But where they can i think they will try give him games. His defensive work is ok, but the fact that he adds very little going the other way is hurting us at this point in time. With injuries starting to toll up again, i think he might get a bit of a run.

Sheldon might become a really good tagger, and that is something that we really lack. Selwood and Stiller can do run with roles, but either are hardly great taggers. Amazes me how harsh some people are on our youngsters. Not everyone is a Daniel Rich.

 

[Jubair]

Re: Travis Johnstone

I thought he started to move the ball around a bit more than usual Sat night. He linked up with others in a series of handballs and he looked more like he was out of second gear. He needs more time.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Re: Travis Johnstone

Sam Sheldon's Statistics against Western Bulldogs:

6 kicks and 6 handballs.

Not good enough.

Once again, we are effectively a man down because we have to carry Sheldon.

 

[weevil]

Re: Travis Johnstone

Sam Sheldon's Statistics against Western Bulldogs:

6 kicks and 6 handballs.

Not good enough.

Once again, we are effectively a man down because we have to carry Sheldon.

Yep teams should never play young players. Only want ready made players from now on.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Re: Travis Johnstone

Yep teams should never play young players. Only want ready made players from now on.

How did Buchanan go yesterday?

I would argue that Sheldon has had ample opportunity to show what he is capable of and he has not impressed.

When do we give another young player a go? Surely there is another young player who would benefit from 22 or so senior games where you seem to be selected regardless of form.

Sam Sheldon is just not up to it.

 

[weevil]

Re: Travis Johnstone

How did Buchanan go yesterday?

I would argue that Sheldon has had ample opportunity to show what he is capable of and he has not impressed.

When do we give another young player a go? Surely there is another young player who would benefit from 22 or so senior games where you seem to be selected regardless of form.

Sam Sheldon is just not up to it.

And every good AFL player has been a star very early in their careers?

Incredibly easy to sit back and make sweeping 'just not up to it' type statements about young players.

If he turns into a good player, should we post about how completely wrong you were every single time he plays a good game?

Aka was rubbish early on in his career, so was Shaun Hart, were they just not up to it too? Or were the coaches right to persist with them?

You know that Sam is 'not up to it' for a fact do you?

 

[Nuggo]

Pretty hard judging a boy playing a man's game. Put Sammy in Buchanan's body. Sammy will be a good contributor to the Lions once he bulks up in two seasons or so.

 

[Stocka]

To me, Sheldon looks like a "not quite" player in many areas. He's not necessarily far off the pace in some respects, but at the same time I tend to wonder if he's got it in him to make up the difference between the "not quite" and "right there" to make him a good player at AFL level. Considering that there appear to be many areas where he is "just behind", when they combine, they tend to compound upon each other.

Time will tell, I guess, and there doesn't appear to be anyone else bashing down the door to take his spot in the team.

The one area that concerns me the most is that Sheldon doesn't seem to have much power in his kicking, and therefore anything over a 30m kick ends up being a mongrel, hospital floater that lacks conviction. He just doesn't seem to be able to attack with that kick of his at all. Not sure if anything can be done about this, either.

 

[Gabbatoir]

We've been spoilt lately by the manner in which players can come straight in and have an impact.

I feel that there's something developing and when it gets here it will be worth the frustration.

 

[acuguy]

I take the Chopper approach to Sammy that we must see him as a player one year behind his drafted experience. We took Sammy early so as Carlton wouldn't get him the next year as F/S.

Essentially he wasn't a draftable player the year he was drafted. Injury and bad health have hurt Sammy big time. I doubt he has done a full pre season yet.

My concerns are his pace and his kicking penetration. I quite like him as a one on one player and someone who tries to bring other players into the game when he has the ball, he looks for good options.

3KZ i think we should give him more time but your opinion and the opinion of others who doubt Sheldon is extremely valid.

G

 

[acuguy]

Sammy deserves an extended run!

 

[chopperduck]

He seemed to be playing defensive type roles last year, and so far this season as well. Did this continue vs the Dogs ? It could be a case of just giving him a job so he can concentrate on that and improve that side of his game. Sometimes young players can get lost at AFL level, easing them in with specific simple tasks or roles can help, and they still contribute to the team as well.

Im sure the few years of injury and sickness he had halted his development, and he will need a few solid years to catch back up. He might have a young face, but he still looks young in the body as well.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Im sure the few years of injury and sickness he had halted his development, and he will need a few solid years to catch back up. He might have a young face, but he still looks young in the body as well.

I agree Chopperduck and I think the reserves is a great place for that development to take place.

 

[Quigley]

He has definately been playing negating roles but with that said he needs to focus on getting more of the ball himself. He tends to get most of his possessions towards the end of games when I guess frees him up a bit. He has nice pace and would be a nice addition to the midfield if he could find more of it whilst doing a run with role.

As for his body shape everyone still thinks of him as the skinny boy who came to us but he has definately changed. There was a shot of him at a boundary throw in on the weekend and I can't remember exactly which Dog it was (Gia maybe) but Sheldon was taller and more solid than the Dog he was matched up on. He has the body now to be playing AFL football and that can no longer be an excuse for him.

 

[Nuggo]

He has the body now to be playing AFL football and that can no longer be an excuse for him.

Sammy is getting a bit of attention.

On his body I tend to disagree. There is the size component and then there is the hardness component. Will he be a star....going by form unlikely but he will have something to offer the team I believe. For what we paid for him you can't complain.

 

[Grimreepah]

It's his kicking that frustrates me. He supposedly had good skills when he came to the club, but he has not delivered on that at the top level. Perhaps he lacks composure at critical moments?

 

[Old Den]

It's his kicking that frustrates me. He supposedly had good skills when he came to the club, but he has not delivered on that at the top level. Perhaps he lacks composure at critical moments?

I have always been impressed with his composure under pressure - what he needs is 30 more senior games as soon as possible which,of course,depends on improving his game all round as the battle for a spot in the team hots up - it's all up to Sam.

 

[Stocka]

Yeah I think Sheldon's composure is alright. Doesn't rush his disposals and he is particularly good by hand and seems to judge situations well in terms of knowing how long to hold on to the ball before giving off to the best option without being caught. However, he appears to be a little slow to get the ball to his foot once he's actually decided to go with the kick and overall his kicking is a considering worry, because he just doesn't seem to have any power to kick the ball more than 30m with any conviction.

 

[Jemima]

Yeah I think Sheldon's composure is alright. Doesn't rush his disposals and he is particularly good by hand and seems to judge situations well in terms of knowing how long to hold on to the ball before giving off to the best option without being caught. However, he appears to be a little slow to get the ball to his foot once he's actually decided to go with the kick and overall his kicking is a considering worry, because he just doesn't seem to have any power to kick the ball more than 30m with any conviction.

Of course, he had the dreaded OP which can have a very detrimental effect on kicking power, followed by glandular fever, so he's had some serious setbacks. He may still be building up his confidence with his kicking and his stamina will improve. I'd like to see us persevere with him for a few more games at least.