What Have We Learnt From AFL This Week?
June 23rd 2008 03:01
Lesson: Trust your teammates
Teacher: Matthew Pavlich
Late in Friday's game, the Pav led and took a mark on the wing. On inspecting what was ahead, he didn't see anyone free. He didn't give anyone credit enough to give them a chance to mark - rather he handballed over the mark and ran to receieve the ball back himself. The recipient of the handball had a Saint right behind him, and naturally coughed the ball up almost immediately. That Pavlich opted to go it alone said a lot about what he thinks of his teammates.
Contrast this with a successful team, like Geelong. Not once last year, despite their implausible dominance, did any single Geelong player kick more than five goals in a game. How's that for teamwork and sharing the load?
Lesson: There are right and wrong ways to use your young players
Teacher: St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
The fact that the Saints won this week belies the stupidity of having named three debutants in one match. Remember, they played Fremantle in Melbourne. But they are in no safe place right about now. One more loss, and St Kilda start losing touch with the eight.
It is in these sort of matches that a team needs cool heads like Dal Santo or game-breakers and team-lifters like Milne. But St Kilda dropped them and trusted three inexperienced blokes to perform in their season-defining clash. Yes, they played well enough, but Ross Lyon was probably eight points from shooting to favourite for next coach to be sacked.
In contrast, the Western Bulldogs can be drawn upon as going about using their newest recruits the right way. Callan Ward, or instance, earned the last three games in the side after consistently starring in the VFL. However, his time may be up this week. Three games is sufficient to introduce him to the pace of the top flight, but he is not yet ready for regular appearances. That he is still completing VCE is beside the point!
Andrejs Everitt followed a similar path last year: a few introductory games, a break, admittedly then came an injury setback, but he is now ready to start appearing more consistenly in the Dogs' defence. Similar stories for Dylan Addison, Josh Hill and Jarrod Harbrow. Don't be surprised it the Dogs are up the top for a few years to come as their youngsters grow into solid contributors.
Lesson: No one needs a Franklin or Fevola
Teacher: Geelong, Western Bulldogs
13 rounds in, and neither the Cats nor the Dogs have a player in the league's top 10 goalkickers. Enough said.
Lesson: Port Adelaide can give up on the 2008 finals
Teacher: Port Adelaide
On the back of some woeful results, with a 1-6 record at AAMI this season, and facing the Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Crows in the next three weeks, it's not looking good for the Power. Pretty soon they'll start blooding their first-year players and putting Chad Cornes in for surgery on just about every part of his body. And be accused of tanking.
Teacher: Matthew Pavlich
Late in Friday's game, the Pav led and took a mark on the wing. On inspecting what was ahead, he didn't see anyone free. He didn't give anyone credit enough to give them a chance to mark - rather he handballed over the mark and ran to receieve the ball back himself. The recipient of the handball had a Saint right behind him, and naturally coughed the ball up almost immediately. That Pavlich opted to go it alone said a lot about what he thinks of his teammates.
Contrast this with a successful team, like Geelong. Not once last year, despite their implausible dominance, did any single Geelong player kick more than five goals in a game. How's that for teamwork and sharing the load?
Lesson: There are right and wrong ways to use your young players
Teacher: St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
The fact that the Saints won this week belies the stupidity of having named three debutants in one match. Remember, they played Fremantle in Melbourne. But they are in no safe place right about now. One more loss, and St Kilda start losing touch with the eight.
It is in these sort of matches that a team needs cool heads like Dal Santo or game-breakers and team-lifters like Milne. But St Kilda dropped them and trusted three inexperienced blokes to perform in their season-defining clash. Yes, they played well enough, but Ross Lyon was probably eight points from shooting to favourite for next coach to be sacked.
In contrast, the Western Bulldogs can be drawn upon as going about using their newest recruits the right way. Callan Ward, or instance, earned the last three games in the side after consistently starring in the VFL. However, his time may be up this week. Three games is sufficient to introduce him to the pace of the top flight, but he is not yet ready for regular appearances. That he is still completing VCE is beside the point!
Andrejs Everitt followed a similar path last year: a few introductory games, a break, admittedly then came an injury setback, but he is now ready to start appearing more consistenly in the Dogs' defence. Similar stories for Dylan Addison, Josh Hill and Jarrod Harbrow. Don't be surprised it the Dogs are up the top for a few years to come as their youngsters grow into solid contributors.
Lesson: No one needs a Franklin or Fevola
Teacher: Geelong, Western Bulldogs
13 rounds in, and neither the Cats nor the Dogs have a player in the league's top 10 goalkickers. Enough said.
Lesson: Port Adelaide can give up on the 2008 finals
Teacher: Port Adelaide
On the back of some woeful results, with a 1-6 record at AAMI this season, and facing the Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Crows in the next three weeks, it's not looking good for the Power. Pretty soon they'll start blooding their first-year players and putting Chad Cornes in for surgery on just about every part of his body. And be accused of tanking.
| 90 |
| Vote |
