Senior Players

[Bestbird]

I know we are all pinning our hopes on youth to rise up the ladder in 2011 but last year the senior players delivered well below expectations (injuries didn't help).

The question is can some of these players have a big impact this year to really improve our performances or will we just be pumping games into the young players and thus more than likely be destined for another bottom 4 finish.

Reading some of the training reports it does look like the former

Glass Cox and Butler seem to be well and truly over their injury problems and are performing strongly, Priddis also appears to be over the tendonitis problems that made him such plodder last year. Unfortunatley we can't say the same about Kerr

Then there are the likes of Lynch, Nicoski and Bones who really struggled last year and are probably playing for their careers. They will have to perform above expectations as they have rightfully been surpassed by youth.

 

[swannies]

Bb, it's a good question that you ask. We really need to get improvement and more input from both groups, but from what I have seen at the 3-4 pre-season training sessions I've been to a lot of the senior players look more switched on and enthusiastic, I think is the right word.

Cox looks ready to rumble and is moving really well and very vocal at the sessions. Glass looks a lot better the past 2-3 weeks compared to pre-Christmas.
Priddis looks like he's found some of Judd's mojo - there appears something very different about Priddis to me this pre-season. On Wed he made a couple of really nice passes, not 40-50m laser passes, just to space for a leading forward, but to the right space, instead of any old space. A Selwood also did a couple of nice passes on Wed and I commented to someone with me about both Priddis and Selwood.
Butler just looked classy in the match simulation, closed down space fast and put a strong body on the unsuspecting forwards.
Lynch seems literally to be jumping out of his skin. Was doing some marking drills with Cox and timing his leaps and holding the grabs really well. Bell was doing the drill and was oohing and aahing at both of them.
LeCras is also looking in fine fettle, even though he's not in the veteran group yet but is a talisman of the club.

Then of course we can expect further improvement from Kennedy and the 3-4 year player group like Shuey, Masten, Swift, S Selwood, Naita, Ebert.

At least it's interesting at the moment, whether that lasts long....

 

[jdisc]

in my opinion all we want from senior players is to guide the younger ones through it and help all the young kids and the pieces of it all fall into place

 

[Wirra for PM]

Glass and Cox fit and firing will be positives, but the place we're crying out for quality and improvement is the midfield. I hope Priddis and Selwood can lift their games but even if they do it won't be enough, we need that quantum leap that young players hitting their straps can deliver.

 

[Obeanie1]

in my opinion all we want from senior players is to guide the younger ones through it and help all the young kids and the pieces of it all fall into place

Don't agree.

We don't need the older guys to just "guide" the younger players we need them to lead by example which means beating their opponents and having an impact on the game.

Cox starting round 1 fully fit would be a massive improvement on last year.

Having Glass fit and shuttling down the oppositions FF again is a huge plus.

Priddis fully fit will be interesting, sounds like he is quicker and more mobile.

If Butler can stay fit with Hurn on the other HBF we have two quality ball users counter attacking from defense.

Don't be surprised if Lynch comes good this season. It may take an injury for him to get picked but the guy is playing for his career and from all reports he seems very intense and focused this preseason. His first child arriving at the start of last season may have had some effect with his poor form.

Kerr. Well if Kerr can come back and play an AFL game without getting injured again that would be a bonus IMO. Do not expect him to become our 'messiaha' and lead us out of the bottom 4.

 

[Obeanie1]

Glass and Cox fit and firing will be positives, but the place we're crying out for quality and improvement is the midfield. I hope Priddis and Selwood can lift their games but even if they do it won't be enough, we need that quantum leap that young players hitting their straps can deliver.

The midfield improvement will come from the younger guys who are completing their 3rd and 4th preseasons.

Masten, Ebert, S Selwood, Smith, Naitanui and Swift. Sheppard and Stevens are into their 2nd preseason and will only get better and from reports Gaff is already nipping at their heals gunning for a game.

Strijk may have more of a midfield role after having a decent preseason and we will just have to wait and see if Le Cras spends more time down on the wing in 2011.

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Even though our senior players were below par last year, they were still the players constantly named in our best.

We should get serious improvement from Cox and Glass who are two of our best players but its time the 3rd/4th year players in Scooter, Ebert, Masten, Naita, Shuey etc start bobbing up with BOG displays if we are going to improve and get out of the bottom 4 which is certainly possible.

I really think we can put out a very solid back 6 so it is the improvement in the middle of the ground that is really going to propel us forward, and that requires a major improvement in ball movement.

We are also due for a relatively injury free year, given a horror run of late to key personnel.

 

[spEKTre]

The midfield improvement will come from the younger guys who are completing their 3rd and 4th preseasons.

Masten, Ebert, S Selwood, Smith, Naitanui and Swift. Sheppard and Stevens are into their 2nd preseason and will only get better and from reports Gaff is already nipping at their heals gunning for a game.

Strijk may have more of a midfield role after having a decent preseason and we will just have to wait and see if Le Cras spends more time down on the wing in 2011.

I would rather one Gun supported by plodders too many stars can be like a BBQ with Jim Carey, Adam Sandler, Robin Williams and Jimmy Carr not a single laugh to be had due to the microphone being mauled.

 

[fryzie]

I would rather one Gun supported by plodders too many stars can be like a BBQ with Jim Carey, Adam Sandler, Robin Williams and Jimmy Carr not a single laugh to be had due to the microphone being mauled.

Opposed to going to a party with Charlie Sheen and a bunch of nobodies?

 

[Winky]

From what I've seen of the training I agree. I must say I missed most of last season so can't be definite on the situation but it seemed to me that on field leadership was the big thing lacking and the main reason a lot of players went backwards. ( as well as adjusting kicking styles to accommodate the switch from the Slazenger ball to the Sherrin)

 

[Makka]

Opposed to going to a party with Charlie Sheen and a bunch of nobodies?

I'll party with Charlie over the others any time!

 

[WCE_phil]

I'll party with Charlie over the others any time!

I agree with this. Free drugs, alcohol and heaps of charlies scraps

 

[SwiftforPM]

I agree with this. Free drugs, alcohol and heaps of charlies scraps

An eagles supporter into free drugs - quick call the herald sun / 6PR, it's all Wooshas fault.

 

[Bestbird]

Bump

After 2 rounds it does appear thet the senior players are having a real impact

Embley, Cox, A Selwood, Priddis, Kerr and Nicoski looking great so far

 

[salo]

yep. need them to stay fit and keep firing this year. takes a lot of pressure off the youngsters.

 

[Eagle Ant]

Yeh....

I think today we saw the benifit of having a few experianced players shadowing the younger guys.
Ebert played alot better without a heavy Tag (like last year)
Darling is getting a chance against a 3rd choice defender.
Gaff is finding space due to the worry of Kerr, Embley and Priddis.
Rosa has improved because he's not such a focal point out of the midfield.
Shuey is loving the space and time in the midfield with bigger bodies to block for him.
Naitanui is coming along in leaps and bounds not only in his ruck work but also in his confidence in his own ability to run and carry and kick goals.
Sheppard has more of a chance to run free of his direct opponant and transfer the play forward with guys like Glass and Waters behind him.


Overall tho its where we will improve the most and as we saw today Kerr never really had a hard tag put on him and as the game went on he got better, I cant wait till next week, Hopefully we get the team selection right next time.