The media ho-hum about us while going overboard about the Hawks

[one-eyed]

Lance Franklin: Best Young AFL Talent
October 17th 2006 12:57
aflinsider.net

http://www.aflinsider.net/lance-franklin-best-young-afl-talent/

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While having a laugh at the above article claiming Buddy Franklin to be the best U21 player in the AFL (apparently this little piece of propaganda was written by a Hawks fans surprise surprise  ), it reminded me about how much the proper media in general salivates over  Hawthorn and their youngsters while our youngsters (apart from Rainesy and the RS award this year) fly underneath the radar.

Sure the Hawkers have a promising group of talented kids coming through but as yet they haven't done anything as a team to deserve this level of adulation and expectation for next year  . A couple of wins on the trot at the start and end of this season against struggling bottom sides has gotten the media into a frenzy. Yet they ignore the fact the Hawks won only one game from 13 in between (that solitary win coming against us down in Tassie  ) which included some absolute hidings from the Pies and others.

Compare that to us where the media always brings up our 4 massive spankings (fair enough as we are still miles behind) but forget we used 39 players this year because we were injury ravaged and lost mostly our more experienced players (Browny, Cogs, Newman and Richo for lengthy spells for example). We were forced to play a very young side for most of the year yet we still won one more game than in 2005 and had more wins than Hawthorn. 

As for Buddy Franklin, he may turn out to be a gun as he matures (lol that development to happen under Spud). However, 2 great games against 2 ordinary opponents doesn't make anyone the best U21 player in the comp  . 

[julzqld]

At least they acknowledge that Lids is a star.  And comparing him with Richo - "If you compare Franklin to other forwards he is either quicker or much bigger. Maybe Richardson comes closest, but Franklin is a decade younger than him" - yeah whatever, time will tell.

[letsgetiton!]

i can tell u now, this list at hawthorn wont get them anywhere
yeah they may have had many early draft picks to build a team, well so did the saints yrs ago
they may have players like buddy who twice a yr may bag a few goals, so what!
but where the hawks really suffer is that they have a lack of direction.
the beuty about our young list is that we have fine young men representing our club, we have a group of kids who are all made of leadership material. imo, the hawks dont have these players.
also we have a coaching panel that imo is far ahead of the hawks.  so what if the media love them, 2 yrs ago , only slight percentage separated these 2 clubs, 2 yrs on, imo WE ARE A FAR BETTER UNIT THAN THEY ARE, even though we stuffed up in tassie.
how dare that tosser in that article even compare that loose cannon to richo!!! that is a damn disgrace

[Jackstar]

Am predicting that Franklin will be off the rails within 2 years, ala. D.Cupido,etc

[WilliamPowell]

   

Hmmm let's go back shall we

ANZAC Day 2006 - Coburg -v- Box Hill

The so called best under 21 player in the AFL copped an absolute hiding agaisnt a kid who hadn't played an AFL game

Kid who thrashed him made his debut a few weeks later at the Dreamtime at the G game and gave one of the best first up displays every - so called experts said that.

Kid never looked back - and looked like he'd been playing for years

Kid may not have the flair of Buddy "sook sook" Franklin but the kid has one thing Bumbling Sook Sook Buddy - BLOODY CONSISTENCY

The kid's name.........

DEAN POLO  

Give me Polo any day

 

[letsgetiton!]

as i said, we have a group of kids with standout leadership qualities
and "marco" is one of them!!!!
Polos efforts this yr were a definate highlight! 

[mightytiges]

 

Hmmm let's go back shall we

ANZAC Day 2006 - Coburg -v- Box Hill

The so called best under 21 player in the AFL copped an absolute hiding agaisnt a kid who hadn't played an AFL game

Kid who thrashed him made his debut a few weeks later at the Dreamtime at the G game and gave one of the best first up displays every - so called experts said that.

Kid never looked back - and looked like he'd been playing for years

Kid may not have the flair of Buddy "sook sook" Franklin but the kid has one thing Bumbling Sook Sook Buddy - BLOODY CONSISTENCY

The kid's name.........

DEAN POLO 

Give me Polo any day

 

Tezza doesn't make too many mistakes but he must be still regreting playing Razor on Franklin down in Tassie. What was he thinking that day when the Polo match-up was staring him in the face  ???.