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It's not earth shattering to say that our senior players are a very ordinary lot, especially compared to other teams.
Hawthorn has Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis to name a few. All very much at the core of what they're doing at the moment.
Geelong has Enright, Bartel, Mackie, Longergan who are central to how the backline plays.
Sydney has a ton of them all over the ground.
Easy to name good senior players at successful clubs but have a look at St. Kilda. There's the old stagers like Nick and Montana. But there are others like Gilbert and Geary who still doing a good job. Have a look at Western Bulldogs. Bob Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris. All have played a central part in the formation of their backline.
I reckon if I could be bothered, I could probably point out similar groups of senior players in other teams - especially the successful ones. I think one of the major problems with Melbourne and Brisbane has been the lack of 10 year veterans who get the job done week in week out.
With the Pies, we have Pendles. We could probably throw in Sidebottom into the mix but I wouldnt call him a senior player in most teams.
We have Toovey, who was a rookie listed player who didnt get picked up initially because he couldnt kick. That's become more of a problem with each season, even though he has shown great heart.
We have Nathan Brown, who by his own admission was playing selfish, content to stick to his own man and just do that negating job. His kicking has also been a problem. Contrast these Brown and Toov's kicking skills with the senior players that I have mentioned from other teams. When you're looking for someone to protect the ball down back, who you gonna call? I'd prefer ghostbusters to these two.
We also have Brent Caf....who was also a past rookie listed player. That's not the issue but it does highlight that he had recognised limitations when he was drafted. It's hard for him to be quick now because he wasn't fast at the start. You might say neither is Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis but they got picked early in the draft (even Mitchell was relatively high) because of their vision etc. Those qualities have only improved with time. Caf shows great leadership in the VFL games, but he cant do it at AFL level.
We have Cloke. Although he has taken being dropped to the VFL pretty well, so he should, at least I think so. He's been paid pretty well over the years. I dont think he has the right to act like Lewis Hamilton, when he's dropped for poor form. He's been acting like the youngest child since he started with the club and its hard to think of him as a senior player.... so I dont really have to say anything about him. His CV demonstrates his lack of "senior" qualities.
We have Tyson Goldsack who was the runt of the litter before he got drafted, and he has played that way ever since. I always thought that the boys should have taken him out in the early days and take him to a few strip joints and let him sow some wild oats and generally grow up. He has grown up a little over the years, and he now looks like a cardboard cut-out senior player. The big problem is that he cant get a game, so his leadership qualities cant even be factored in.
We have Jaryd Blair. Whatever you say about the hobbit, a large reason why he is in the side is the lamentable lack of leadership in the team. Another rookie. I saw a recent comment by Mick that he was one of his poster boys. I can see why.
The rest are the imports. Varcoe, Howe, Greenwood, White. All of them are senior players in the current squad but they were just ordinary players where they came from. I wouldnt bank of any of them making the same impact as the Hawthorn boys, although Varcoe has grown noticeably since his arrival.
When I go through all those names, it doesnt breed any confidence in me in the short term. Some of the players need to have a good look at themselves while others have been bit players for years and its hard for them to have an impact like senior players at other clubs.
Whatever your thoughts are about the coaching situation, I dont see premierships until the next generation take over the reins. ok its monday morning and i need to show some leadership and do some work....
Hawthorn has Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis to name a few. All very much at the core of what they're doing at the moment.
Geelong has Enright, Bartel, Mackie, Longergan who are central to how the backline plays.
Sydney has a ton of them all over the ground.
Easy to name good senior players at successful clubs but have a look at St. Kilda. There's the old stagers like Nick and Montana. But there are others like Gilbert and Geary who still doing a good job. Have a look at Western Bulldogs. Bob Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris. All have played a central part in the formation of their backline.
I reckon if I could be bothered, I could probably point out similar groups of senior players in other teams - especially the successful ones. I think one of the major problems with Melbourne and Brisbane has been the lack of 10 year veterans who get the job done week in week out.
With the Pies, we have Pendles. We could probably throw in Sidebottom into the mix but I wouldnt call him a senior player in most teams.
We have Toovey, who was a rookie listed player who didnt get picked up initially because he couldnt kick. That's become more of a problem with each season, even though he has shown great heart.
We have Nathan Brown, who by his own admission was playing selfish, content to stick to his own man and just do that negating job. His kicking has also been a problem. Contrast these Brown and Toov's kicking skills with the senior players that I have mentioned from other teams. When you're looking for someone to protect the ball down back, who you gonna call? I'd prefer ghostbusters to these two.
We also have Brent Caf....who was also a past rookie listed player. That's not the issue but it does highlight that he had recognised limitations when he was drafted. It's hard for him to be quick now because he wasn't fast at the start. You might say neither is Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis but they got picked early in the draft (even Mitchell was relatively high) because of their vision etc. Those qualities have only improved with time. Caf shows great leadership in the VFL games, but he cant do it at AFL level.
We have Cloke. Although he has taken being dropped to the VFL pretty well, so he should, at least I think so. He's been paid pretty well over the years. I dont think he has the right to act like Lewis Hamilton, when he's dropped for poor form. He's been acting like the youngest child since he started with the club and its hard to think of him as a senior player.... so I dont really have to say anything about him. His CV demonstrates his lack of "senior" qualities.
We have Tyson Goldsack who was the runt of the litter before he got drafted, and he has played that way ever since. I always thought that the boys should have taken him out in the early days and take him to a few strip joints and let him sow some wild oats and generally grow up. He has grown up a little over the years, and he now looks like a cardboard cut-out senior player. The big problem is that he cant get a game, so his leadership qualities cant even be factored in.
We have Jaryd Blair. Whatever you say about the hobbit, a large reason why he is in the side is the lamentable lack of leadership in the team. Another rookie. I saw a recent comment by Mick that he was one of his poster boys. I can see why.
The rest are the imports. Varcoe, Howe, Greenwood, White. All of them are senior players in the current squad but they were just ordinary players where they came from. I wouldnt bank of any of them making the same impact as the Hawthorn boys, although Varcoe has grown noticeably since his arrival.
When I go through all those names, it doesnt breed any confidence in me in the short term. Some of the players need to have a good look at themselves while others have been bit players for years and its hard for them to have an impact like senior players at other clubs.
Whatever your thoughts are about the coaching situation, I dont see premierships until the next generation take over the reins. ok its monday morning and i need to show some leadership and do some work....
