The Banfield Conundrum

[PattyKwasagun]

It's an issue that's faded from some memories recently, but with the view now shifting to list changes, I think it needs to be brought up.

What's happened to Todd Banfield?

His form this season hasn't been average. It's been woeful. I'd go as far as to say that no one on our list has played worse at senior level than Todd this year. It even got to the point where, as much as it is in bad taste, some on here were relieved when he was injured earlier in the year.

In a NEAFL final on Saturday night, he looked just as much at sea as he does in the seniors. Barely managed an effective touch, and made quite a few mistakes. I think his past few reserves games have been like that too.

I think it's time to ask - is Banfield a good player in average form, or an average player who's been lucky with a bit of good form?

He just seems in such a rut right now, and I'm not sure if he'll be able to come back from it. I've mentioned trading him in a few different threads, as I really think his current value will be much greater than what he's actually delivering.

So I guess this thread has a few parts. Is he actually a decent player? What's the problem with him at the moment? And should we persist or cut our losses?

 

[cotter101]

I pretty much agree with your post. I think it is time to cut our losses, Hopefully WC would be interested.

 

[blueiris]

even tho i would trade him i understand that we have Polkinghore bewick green and zorko and more games for karnezis next year if he stays in the side before him so trading him would be an option but i really want to see him play midfield before we trade him i think he's pace could really help us and would improve his game

 

[PattyKwasagun]

How does he fix his ball handling though? There's certain things in footy that I believe can be worked on - goal and field kicking, roving, shepherding etc - but I've always thought ball handling came down to natural footy skills. It just doesn't seem to be something he has.

The way I see it, we could trade him for a decent prospect this season, or probably cut him for nothing next. Yes, there's a chance he could turn it around, but I'm thinking that's diminishing with each game that he plays.

 

[BlairForceOne]

I reckon give him 2013 to see if he can get back on track, it could just be a form slump it could be something more, but I feel if we are premature in sending him away from the club, he may find his feet again and we would regret it.

 

[acuguy]

Season to forget. Raw pace, we don't have enough of this. I hope he is groomed for a few different roles next year.

 

[jjami15]

There's no conundrum, trade him. Go West young man and in return we will have either Silvagni, Swift or Stevens. Might need a bit more for Swift but it is a business and if it was the public service he would be surplus to our needs and gone.

 

[POBT]

Season to forget. Raw pace, we don't have enough of this. I hope he is groomed for a few different roles next year.

Agree entirely. As good as Green and Bewick have been up forward, Banfield is something else again with his pace and the defensive pressure he can apply when on song. "Season to forget" is the perfect description - he needs to sit down with the coaches and work out what has gone wrong and then rectify it. He's a goal a game small forward with 50 senior matches to his credit. Unless we get something valuable in return, I'd be keeping him on the books.

 

[chopperduck]

We are a team crying out for pace, and we are going to throw out one of our quickest and best defensive pressure players after 1 bad season? Yeah he is out of form, but he brings a lot to the table, and should be persisted with. He fumbles a lot and can't get the ball off the deck, the important thing is, for a small forward, he is getting his hands to those crumbs a lot in games, if he was a 1 touch player he would be one of the better small forwards in the comp. I think his game sense has improved a lot, along with his positing, he needs to clean up his hands those. He also isn't a bad target to hit up inside 50 on a lead either.

I doubt we could get any better looking talent from directly trading him, or getting a draft pick and drafting someone. The mantra is to strengthen the list, cutting Banfield in any form is not doing this.

 

[MSB ROYS]

He just needs to have a long break and come back next year with a new disposition. (However, another year like this one and ....)

 

[Back2Back2Back]

I reckon he needs a pre-season off and another year with us before deciding if we should cut him loose. Rich had a pretty average year last year, and has really come into his own this year - might need to go through the same process.

 

[Mavlions1961]

Trade Bait

 

[Haso]

Just throw him into the ruck for a few minutes.

 

[Old Den]

I believe ball handling...that is dropped passes or marks in football,taking catches and solid batting in cricket,accurate golf shots (eliminate air swings) etc all comes down predominately to one thing..keeping your eyes on the ball until the moment of contact...that is,concentration...don't spend it until you get it.

As a young cricketer who went on to be a Test all rounder once said to me: "You know,when batting, if you could keep perfect concentration you would hardly ever get out".

If we keep Banfield someone could do worse than to suggest to the appropriate person in the Footy Dept. to work hard on his ball concentration in the off season and when necessary in future...like most weaknesses,hard effort will improve matters...they surely know this anyhow but a bit of extra feedback never hurts...the guy is loaded with talent so it is all in the mind.

As far as Banfield's kicking is concerned...practice.practice,practice. and keep the eye on the ball intently,don't practice faults.

 

[whatboutbob]

FWIW:

There was only one piece of bad news to come out of the Lions camp – confirmation from Clarke that small forward Todd Banfield will miss the grand final due to knee problems.
“He always takes a good match-up and he did enough tonight up but he’s been running on empty for a little while with knee problems and he’s done. He won’t play in the grand final,” the coach said of the red-headed small forward.

 

[bacteriophage]

give him another year. His forward pressure and pace will be an asset if he can make a few tackles stick. I think he just might need a bit more strength.

 

[Jas_epi421]

He hasn't a great season had a few injuries but I think a good pre season will work wonders for him and he still has a lot of room to improve. He is only 22, he will be a better player next year but his problem is the young players like josh green who have a great season and who have almost cemented there spot in the side. Going to be a better player next year but still could be some good trade bait.

 

[Slax]

Definitely need to throw him up in trade discussions, depends on what we are offered for him in terms of either player or draft pick. I can definitely see a number of clubs having a look at him, just depends on what they offer.

The problem for him is that he has fallen behind the likes of Green and Bewick so needs to find something to get himself back into to contention for selection.

 

[LionKing]

Hasn't had a great season but I would keep him - the bloke had a stress fracture in his lower leg earlier in the season so there maybe some lingering issues with it.

Some time off and a good pre-season might do the trick

 

[Hollow Knight]

Unless we get a really good trade offer, we should honour his contract and give him a chance to turn it around. His 2010 and early 2011 seasons were too good to be flukes.

POBT summed up my thoughts nicely.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Banfield has been carrying a knee injury. No way in hell is he trade bait. Banfield has 2013 to prove himself and his speed further strenghtens our list. If he has a poor 2013 then the club will consider him to a potential trade.

 

[Stocka]

How many years does Banfield have left to run on his contract?

My view, is that Banfield has always been someone who worked hard to get the most out of his level of ability (despite various lapses in form, which is probably less about effort, and more about being out of touch). With that said, his level of natural ability does not appear to have as great a capacity as others. Some aspects of his game might be able to be improved (marking, positioning for the spill of the ball and goal-kicking), but there are some deficiencies that are probably always going to be inherent in his game (eg: not being a "one-touch" player).

I don't think Banfield is in our best team or someone who is set to improve enough to take the team forward, however, he makes a suitable replacement for any of our small forwards if they become injured or lose form. Likewise, there is also the possibility that he could play himself into good enough form to break into the team, or at least keep the heat on other players in a competition for spots. As has already been mentioned, his pace is also an asset that we are short on, and given that he is physically seasoned, he could easily come into the team to add extra pace as needed. In fact, he could well be a very good selection as a sub, when needed in this capacity.

Additionally, perhaps there is the chance that he could play another role in the team, such as a small lock-down defender. With that said, there would be questions about his ball-use on the rebound in this role as well as his strength and core stability to work one-on-one on an opponent.

 

[POBT]

The problem for him is that he has fallen behind the likes of Green and Bewick so needs to find something to get himself back into to contention for selection.

Whilst it is almost a cliche to say that a young small forward will be moved into the midfield at some point, I reckon that is true for Green. He's too good at stoppages not to spend more time in the midfield, particularly given that his pace, contested style and explosiveness are exactly what we need in that area.

Bewick has had a very good season but is playing a different role to the Banfield role IMO. Closer in style to McGrath's role and, to be honest, not too far off where Cornelius/Karnezis have slotted into the structure over the past 2 years.

We've played guys like Polkinghorne, Crisp and Hawskley in defensive forward roles. Black and Rockliff have spent significant portions of the game up forward.

In short, I don't think it is a matter of Banfield v Green/Bewick.

 

[POBT]

but there are some deficiencies that are probably always going to be inherent in his game (eg: not being a "one-touch" player).

Why don't you think this could be improved?

 

[Stocka]

Why don't you think this could be improved?

I've always had the impression that not being a one-touch player might come down to having smaller hands or slower reaction time. I'm not sure if either of these apply to Banfield, but it would be my assumption.

It used to be said that someone's reaction time was extremely difficult to change (and perhaps one of the key factors or measures that distinguished athletes at higher levels from others). I read somewhere recently that talked about new training techniques for athletes to improve reaction time, so perhaps this has changed.