Taylor walker

[craig crowing]

From reports I have heard I agree with Vader that a major reason Walker has not played a lot of games comes down to mental application and general attitude with not anything he has done bad but general demenour etc. As last thing Craig or any of us needs is a Fev. when Taylor gets game time and adds extra attacking skills and becomes the player we expect him to be .
Either Birdman or Hentschell will need to be de listed for Taylor to get opportunities he needs. We still need a leading Forward and Taylor can do that for us

 

[The Crow Show]

Walker is a teenage country boy with considerable talent and huge potential. There have been a number of these on the lists of many afl clubs. Some have fulfilled their potential while others haven't. Craig has taken a long term view with Walker as he generally does with all of our young talent. It's a matter of developing him into the 22 year old kpp super star that he could be rather than just the ever promising player that he is now. It's not that long ago that people were asking why Tippet was still being used as a forward when he was clearly a better ruckmen.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I dont think Burton will be asked to retire because:

a. its a shocking draft

b. we'll be a genuine premiership threat

Agree here but also it wouldn't make sense for the AFC to stick by a 30 year old with a knee reconstruction just so that he can play 5-6 games for us when the 12 month rehab period is up. The plan was obviously that he would be on the list, at least for 2010.

I think he will be given a new contract, however will take on a role as a replacement forward if someone goes down. Full strength there is no room for him i agree, but how many times a year are teams at full strength!!

This I don't agree with though. I can't see Hentschel, Burton or Stevens all of a sudden becoming depth players, falling behind Davis/Walker and only being in the 22 when there are injuries. You don't have 27+ year olds wallowing around in the SANFL unless something has gone askew.

Hentschel, Burton and Stevens will be picked if they are performing well.

If you're going to have an experienced player getting decent money as a number 23-28 on your list then you have wasted a spot. You may as well have a kid fill that role who might end up a gun and is on a smaller wage.

 

[amer]

I know a lot of people here love Stevens but he will not be in our next premiership side.

Whatever happens we cannot afford to carry all of the oldies into 2010. We have definitely seen the last of one of them at bare minimum.

 

[KUNG FU]

I know a lot of people here love Stevens but he will not be in our next premiership side.

Whatever happens we cannot afford to carry all of the oldies into 2010. We have definitely seen the last of one of them at bare minimum.

Stevens will only be 28 in January. Still at least another good 3 seasons left before he hits 30. Plus there is a distinct lack of talent on our list around his age group. His experience and leadership could be crucial in the development of our youngsters.

 

[amer]

Stevens will only be 28 in January. Still at least another good 3 seasons left before he hits 30. Plus there is a distinct lack of talent on our list around his age group. His experience and leadership could be crucial in the development of our youngsters.

Disagree strongly. We already have Bock, Rutten and Johncock in defense which is plenty of senior experience.

 

[hugecannon]

Stevens is definitely tradeable if the right deal comes along IMHO, but there is absolutely no-way that he will be delisted in the next 2-3 seasons.

 

[KUNG FU]

Disagree strongly. We already have Bock, Rutten and Johncock in defense which is plenty of senior experience.

Bock and Johncock aren't exactly reliable role models within the club.

Of course, if the right trade came up, then fine, but we are all presuming the youngsters will come up and moving Stevens along now would be at the very least premature.

 

[WhySoSerious]

He will not leave this club. FWIW I have been real critical about Tex not playing this year. But, if he was to leave due to not getting games I think it would say a lot more about Taylor than that of our (supposedly)mismanagement of him. I am 100% sure this is not the case though as he seems the type of bloke who will take the criticism and only improve himself. He is going to be a huge asset for us, his leading is unquestionable and all the talk about his flaws are extremely hyped.

 

[subaru]

I'm going to get my head bitten off here...but ...Burton should retire and Walker should be played next year on a more regular basis. He shines in the SANFL and has nothing left to prove at that level. He needs to be given a spot, and let him learn how to play at the next level.

Hentschel is still young enough to perservere with, Goodwin played a cracker, Edwards has had a good season overall and Macca ...well...he can go when he's ready .

 

[Alex99]

I'm going to get my head bitten off here...but ...Burton should retire and Walker should be played next year on a more regular basis. He shines in the SANFL and has nothing left to prove at that level. He needs to be given a spot, and let him learn how to play at the next level.

Hentschel is still young enough to perservere with, Goodwin played a cracker, Edwards has had a good season overall and Macca ...well...he can go when he's ready .

You haven’t read many threads over the last few days have you? That’s the general feel about how it should go now.

 

[King Elvis]

I'm going to get my head bitten off here...but ...Burton should retire and Walker should be played next year on a more regular basis. He shines in the SANFL and has nothing left to prove at that level. He needs to be given a spot, and let him learn how to play at the next level.

Hentschel is still young enough to perservere with, Goodwin played a cracker, Edwards has had a good season overall and Macca ...well...he can go when he's ready .

Quite a few of us have already said it.

Stevens will only be 28 in January. Still at least another good 3 seasons left before he hits 30. Plus there is a distinct lack of talent on our list around his age group. His experience and leadership could be crucial in the development of our youngsters.

It is seriously time that the destiny of our Club was handed to the young players.

Leadership Group;

Rutten
Bock
Knights
Van Berlo
Dangerfield
Thompson
Tippett


Basically, I want us to hand the keys to these guys, and let them drive us forward.

 

[relapse]

Agree here but also it wouldn't make sense for the AFC to stick by a 30 year old with a knee reconstruction just so that he can play 5-6 games for us when the 12 month rehab period is up. The plan was obviously that he would be on the list, at least for 2010.


This I don't agree with though. I can't see Hentschel, Burton or Stevens all of a sudden becoming depth players, falling behind Davis/Walker and only being in the 22 when there are injuries. You don't have 27+ year olds wallowing around in the SANFL unless something has gone askew.

Hentschel, Burton and Stevens will be picked if they are performing well.

If you're going to have an experienced player getting decent money as a number 23-28 on your list then you have wasted a spot. You may as well have a kid fill that role who might end up a gun and is on a smaller wage.

Oh god here we go again, lets keep Walker in the SANFL so we can play burton all year. Burton is done, 32 next year did nothing on Saturday night. Going to the well every year in September with the same players that dont stand up in September is a mistake.

Burton was kept on the list because he did his knee and the club owed him because of it. You dont dump a guy who has just done his knee, they did the same with Biglands.

If the club persists with keeping Burton in all year and guys like Walker in the SANFL, then once we fail again in September with the usual suspects in the team Neil Craig may as well resign.

2011 is our chance at a flag, Burton, Shirley and co will not figure in that flag. Time to put the past away and build towards the future. Our older six (Shirley, Doughty, Macca, Burton, Edwards and Goody) cannot all play next year or we are making a massive mistake we must move 2-3 of them on this year (Shirley and Burton are definites to go IMO).

Next year it is all about Walker, Sloane and co and entrusting our side to the guys that stood up against Collingwood (our younger players) rather than clinging to the past with false hopes that somehow Burton etc can somehow deliver a flag.

Weeks ago I was bagged about warning about the dangers of relying too much on the old guard in September by bringing in Burton and Shirley, I was shot down about how these were the right people to go with into September yadda yadda yadda IMO both did nothing to warrant their selection on Saturday night and how long are we going to persist with guys that constantly dont stand up to be counted in September. Burton obviously wasnt fit enough for the game and in retrospect at least Walker would have learnt something out there while a 31 year old burton was blown up at half time and spent most of the game trying to take hangers.

 

[crowlouder]

You do know he is not their recruiting guy, he's their head of football operations?

Yes but didn't he recently say he would look at taking Barry Hall? And lets face it he is yet another old fella? I just think this is just a joke. We have talent to burn Tip, Porps, Danger, Otten, knights, Walker Not to mention we have ruck stocks that need to develop and they will. We also have a good old mix in Edwards, Macca, Goody. The Crows will need to offload Gill and use duggy as trade bait. We could use Otten as a center 1/2 forward once he has upper body strength and use Davis down back for structure. So I think the call to cull Walker is not a sensible one.
Who allowed that article in the Advertisers footy section any way...Rooch ...and his argument would be but the football public deserve to know...Common pls we just lost a final and he is looking for an angle to kick the boot in.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Depends on how you measure performance. I'd have thought that an 18 year old who kicks 23 goals in just over half a season including a bag of 4 against the 3rd placed Bulldogs and 5 against the reigning premiers would have over and above earned his position in the team. Plus tax. The sort of performance that any other coach in the competition would salivate over.

Particularly given that we weren't exactly the most free-flowing, attacking and most fluent team in the early part of the season. Walker wasn't even there to cash in on our new-found attacking mindset later on.

Graham Cornes was (for once) on the money when he said that Walker's "poor form" was almost engineered by Craig. His star was burning too brightly. He was doing too well at AFL level. He was finding it too easy. And he had to be reigned in. Starting on the bench, less time on the field, spending time further up the ground... and all of a sudden he isn't playing so well. Dropped for form. Yeah right.

Neil has often said that he doesn't like the 'star system' and I think Walker's emergence this season scared him off. The defensive pressure and second effort criticisms were just diversions. The problem was that he had a superstar on his hands who was gaining confidence (and perhaps ego) and he didn't like it one little bit.

What a load of rubbish!

If Craig got scared by star power then players like Tippett, Mackay, Dangerfield and Vince would have their circumstances engineered to lose their form

Sometimes I wonder if you really believe what you type or simply taking the piss out of anyone that will bite!

Tippett is a superstar in the making. He has the star power already. Is Craig scared of that?! I don't think so!

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Burton has now signalled his intention to play on and says he has the support of Craig to do so (as per their one-on-one meeting in the past month). Not sure if his performances over the past fortnight will change Craig's mind?

I'll be concerned if at least 2 of the 6 oldies don't move on...we need to complete the transition and while he won't be at his peak, Walker will be a very useful forward next year (40+ goals) and will epitomise a brash, new confident Crows who will step up when the pressure is on (led by our twin superheroes Tippett and Dangerfield).

 

[relapse]

Burton has now signalled his intention to play on and says he has the support of Craig to do so (as per their one-on-one meeting in the past month). Not sure if his performances over the past fortnight will change Craig's mind?

I'll be concerned if at least 2 of the 6 oldies don't move on...we need to complete the transition and while he won't be at his peak, Walker will be a very useful forward next year (40+ goals) and will epitomise a brash, new confident Crows who will step up when the pressure is on (led by our twin superheroes Tippett and Dangerfield).

If the club once again base themselves too much around the old six and continue to hold our youngsters back for them I will be gutted.

2-3 of them must be moved on this year. The club needs to pull the pin on Burton, time is up. He is selfish and would try and continue playing as long as they cant.

 

[King Elvis]

Edwards, Stevens, McLeod & Doughty all made some massive blues in the game, or did some lazy things - but Burton for mine, was close to our worst on ground.

He kept going for speccies, and he constantly put himself in the same position as Tippett instead of leading away to create space.

He was out on his feet late in the game, so you know he tried, but I honestly think he was almost more of a hindrance than a help.

That being said, the reason he should probably go hass got very little to do with him, and everything to do with Taylor Walker.

Hentschel can stay because he's younger and more versatile, but somebody has to leave to fit Tex in, and it's gotta be Burton.

Burton making that statement is odd; it's not on the AFC website, and Craig can speak for himself.

 

[spexau]

Craigy pushed the youth theme in his presser after the game on Saturday. Hopefully that's an indication of how he'll proceed with the 30 plus'ers. We'll find out soon enough, you would think as this is the last compromised draft the AFC would do the smart thing and release 50% of the older brigade and blood more youth. Ruthless?!

 

[rooboy]

Watching Goody on " on the couch " last night, was a bit worrying. When asked about the oldies, he said they should all go again next year.

Now I realise he isn't going to tell Sheehan and co. much inside info, but if he truly thinks that, then I will be getting quite concerned.

We must allow players like McKernan, Sloane, Walker and perhaps Petrenko and Armstrong more game time. I am hoping that a couple of our 30 plus age group take a view that they have had great careers, but that for the good of the team it's time to step aside.

We need to keep a couple of our older players, to help our young players, but it is now definitely the time for a couple at least to step aside.

I think Shirley, Burton and perhaps Macca should think about hanging up the boots.

 

[King Elvis]

Shirley and Burton definitely - Macca needs to have a long hard think (I'd still like to see him go on in a forward role next year).

We need to get Walker into the side; Otten/Danger probably both need to push into the midfield, plus Sloane/Cooke and even Petrenko will hopefully be challenging - as well as Davis presumably coming in for Hentschel or Stevens. Sellar out for Moran.

Otten into the middle, Davis takes his spot, Stevens out of the side, Petrenko/Armstrong into the backlines?

We might actually need to trade a bit this year, because I don't know if we have enough players outside of the obvious worthy of delisting; and only a couple of the delistings at most will free up spots in the 22.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Edwards, Stevens, McLeod & Doughty all made some massive blues in the game, or did some lazy things - but Burton for mine, was close to our worst on ground.

That being said, the reason he should probably go hass got very little to do with him, and everything to do with Taylor Walker.

Bolded bit = Spot on!

I do rate Burton's leadership down forward but as a player he is becomming surplus to requirements despite the fact that, much like Russell Robertson, he could still contribute at the level (when fit).

Unfortunately your first comment is correct also. All this talk about 'developing team' and 'mental toughness' makes me sick when i realise it was primarily senior players that screwed us up most of the time. Paper today showed how Doughty's trio of turnovers early in the 3rd all resulted in goals

Let's say all the old blokes stay and get selected (i wont include Shirley as he hasn't been automatic selection this year)

B: Johncock, Rutten, Stevens
HB: Goodwin, Bock, van Berlo
C: Mackay, Vince, Otten
HF: Knights, Hentschel, Porplyzia
F: Burton, Tippett, Dangerfield
1R: Moran, Thompson, Doughty
Int: Maric, Symes, Edwards, McLeod

Where are Reilly, Sellar, Davis, McKernan, Sloane, Walker, Armstrong, Petrenko, Cook? (Guys in bold should play 15+ next year).

I know injuries play their part but I'd like to see a space created by Burton and one of the benched vets.

 

[craig crowing]

Stiffy 18 the difference why Craigy not concerned about Tippett etc becoming a star is that they already almost are and Walker has yet to cement a spot albeit coaches decision but his last game for Crows was very poor .
Yes he will be the forward we require but word is he can get ahead of himself .
But like all hope Burton isnt re signed as agree strongly with other posters he is the most selfish glory seeker player we ever had and we desperately needed him to lead up the field on sat to not only take a pass but give Tippett a one on one opportunity rather than standing behind his player letting him mark and run off him easily when he wasnt jumping all other tippett and Rowdy leaving no crumbers. This will give Walker the chance to become the player we pray for.
Either Mcleod must retire or Edwardes not given a new contract as well not only so we dont have them all retiring same year that GC get all their picks but to realease some salary to ensure we sign Tippett espec. and Dangers, Knights ,Vince Mackay etc on long time contracts to get that premiership that is waiting for us

 

[KUNG FU]

It is seriously time that the destiny of our Club was handed to the young players.

Leadership Group;

Rutten
Bock
Knights
Van Berlo
Dangerfield
Thompson
Tippett

Basically, I want us to hand the keys to these guys, and let them drive us forward.

I agree in principle, but do you think that's the way the players will vote it? Stevens & Doughty are obviously highly respected and we as outsiders can't really understand what kind of role they have played.

 

[StickerMan]

Shirley and Burton definitely - Macca needs to have a long hard think (I'd still like to see him go on in a forward role next year).

We need to get Walker into the side; Otten/Danger probably both need to push into the midfield, plus Sloane/Cooke and even Petrenko will hopefully be challenging - as well as Davis presumably coming in for Hentschel or Stevens. Sellar out for Moran.

Otten into the middle, Davis takes his spot, Stevens out of the side, Petrenko/Armstrong into the backlines?

We might actually need to trade a bit this year, because I don't know if we have enough players outside of the obvious worthy of delisting; and only a couple of the delistings at most will free up spots in the 22.

This it the thing I would like to see. Guys like Reilly, Douglas, Stevens etc be offered as trade bait to get earlier draft picks in a shallow draft and allows us to push Sloane, Petrenko, Walker etc into the team as they are the next generation.

This way we have some more quality youngsters coming through and sees us setup to be successful through the GC17 debacle.

In saying that, I think it is time for Burton, Shirley and Edwards to retire/be pushed and leave Macca and Goody to go on for one more year. Some tough, and potentially harsh calls are to be made in the next couple of weeks for the good of the CLUB.

It happened with Hart, Torney, Massie and each of those decisions were correct, even if the rose coloured glasses of some supporters got a little foggy and couldn't see it at the time.

If we trade 3 players (Reilly, Douglas, Stevens for example) and have two retirees, that potentially frees up five positions in the starting 22.

Also, I would like to see Goody hand over the captaincy for next year ala Mark Bickley.