Bradshaw

[Infamy]

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

Would rather take the best kid left over after training with us. Fair chance we'll have the first live pick after Melbourne commit to someone.

[Smokey]

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

Would rather take the best kid left over after training with us. Fair chance we'll have the first live pick after Melbourne commit to someone.

Agree Infamy.

[bushranger]

I totally see what you have put down here and have to agree with you.

[tiga]

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

Would rather take the best kid left over after training with us. Fair chance we'll have the first live pick after Melbourne commit to someone.

So the aim is for a team of apprentices and no tradesman?? For mine there is a flaw in that theory. Would it be any different if Bradshaw had been at the Tigers for a few years and we get rid of him before his time because he is taking a place away from a youngster? If we were guaranteed that 100% of the youngsters we recruit were going to be decent players then I would agree, but unfortunately that is not the reality. If a young player is good enough, then he will make the team! Bradshaw or no Bradshaw, the cream will always rise to the top. Many have proven it.
Bradshaw is a very smart and talented footballer and I can only see having him in the team as a bonus especially for our young forwards. He would also take a heap of pressure off the youngsters and allow their minds and bodies to mature over time.

There are 6 positions in our forward line, and if you can think of six forwards on our list that will be better than Bradshaw within the next two years then I will stand corrected.

[Penelope]

I'm with you on this tiga. Its all well and good to have a youth/rebuild policy, a bit of experience to help, teach and lead by example from a quality player is invaluable. To have some one of bradshaw's calibre, someone who knows how to play in tandem with other key forwards, could be a godsend for the young forwards still learning their trade.

My only concern is that he reportedly wants a three year contract and there must be doubts about his body holding out that long.

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

If  Bradshaw was drafted and in a couple of years time our young forwards were ready to take us to the next level and he was ready to step aside, I'd say that he has served his purpose.

Bradshaw on a two year contract would be worth the risk.

[WA Tiger]

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

Would rather take the best kid left over after training with us. Fair chance we'll have the first live pick after Melbourne commit to someone.

So the aim is for a team of apprentices and no tradesman?? For mine there is a flaw in that theory. Would it be any different if Bradshaw had been at the Tigers for a few years and we get rid of him before his time because he is taking a place away from a youngster? If we were guaranteed that 100% of the youngsters we recruit were going to be decent players then I would agree, but unfortunately that is not the reality. If a young player is good enough, then he will make the team! Bradshaw or no Bradshaw, the cream will always rise to the top. Many have proven it.
Bradshaw is a very smart and talented footballer and I can only see having him in the team as a bonus especially for our young forwards. He would also take a heap of pressure off the youngsters and allow their minds and bodies to mature over time.

There are 6 positions in our forward line, and if you can think of six forwards on our list that will be better than Bradshaw within the next two years then I will stand corrected.

Finally someone else that see's it logically..... . The side needs some experience at some stage for the re-development to actually be transitional!!

[Judge Roughneck]

As much as I rate Bradshaw, I don't see the point in selecting him for a rebuilding side. He'll be gone by the time we are genuine contenders. He'd just be taking the spot of a kid which would hold them back from getting AFL experience.

Would rather take the best kid left over after training with us. Fair chance we'll have the first live pick after Melbourne commit to someone.

We have already had kids in the forward line spots.

Hughes, Schultz, Polak etc. All have not had anyone 'holding them back' and yet still failed.

Gourdis & Putt have not even done enough in the 2's & 3's to get one senior game.

[mightytiges]

The next 2 years doesn't matter to us in terms of wins/losses. It's more about playing and developing the cubs we have and will now draft and for them to show who is up to it moving forward. That's why we will overlook Bradshaw. He'll only give us a couple of years service at best. I know we picked up Cuz but there's plenty of positions available in a midfield rotation compared to just the couple of key forward positions in a side.

[Hellenic Tiger]

Yep that's right MT. That is why Bradshaw will be overlooked. Bradshaw will be handy and is a dangerous player but will end up at a team topping up that has their premiership window open in the next few years.

[WA Tiger]

The next 2 years doesn't matter to us in terms of wins/losses. It's more about playing and developing the cubs we have and will now draft and for them to show who is up to it moving forward. That's why we will overlook Bradshaw. He'll only give us a couple of years service at best. I know we picked up Cuz but there's plenty of positions available in a midfield rotation compared to just the couple of key forward positions in a side.

What other experienced forwards (I do not rate Morton as an experienced forward and Richo will not stay down there) do we have to educate our forwards over the next two years. Do we leave the youth to educate themselves with barly any guidence from experience and then bag the crap out of them when they don't know where and when to lead.

Even Hawthawn realised that experience counts when you are re-building..... Stuart Dew, Brent Guera (spelling), Shane Crawford (when everyone on the planet wanted him traded) and so on!!!!!!!!!

[WA Tiger]

Further to my last post, Hawthawn are bout to hand Trent Croad another contract at 29 years old with a pre-existing foot injury that kept him out all of last year, EXPERIENCE, need it!!!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-hand-croad-new-deal/story-e6frf9ix-1225789585336

[Hellenic Tiger]

Rumours I have heard from Hawthorn are that Croad's contract is merely token and out of respect as insiders at Hawthorn believe that he played his last game for the club in the 2008 grand final and that his broken foot will never mend fully. They believe it is extremely doubtful that he will get back to play for Box Hill let alone Hawthorn.Injury is much like in the same mould as the kid from Geelong who missed out in 2007. His name escapes me right now. Was it Hunt or Egan?

[WA Tiger]

Rumours I have heard from Hawthorn are that Croad's contract is merely token and out of respect as insiders at Hawthorn believe that he played his last game for the club in the 2008 grand final and that his broken foot will never mend fully. They believe it is extremely doubtful that he will get back to play for Box Hill let alone Hawthorn.Injury is much like in the same mould as the kid from Geelong who missed out in 2007. His name escapes me right now. Was it Hunt or Egan?

Egan I think.

[Infamy]

The next 2 years doesn't matter to us in terms of wins/losses. It's more about playing and developing the cubs we have and will now draft and for them to show who is up to it moving forward. That's why we will overlook Bradshaw. He'll only give us a couple of years service at best. I know we picked up Cuz but there's plenty of positions available in a midfield rotation compared to just the couple of key forward positions in a side.

What other experienced forwards (I do not rate Morton as an experienced forward and Richo will not stay down there) do we have to educate our forwards over the next two years. Do we leave the youth to educate themselves with barly any guidence from experience and then bag the crap out of them when they don't know where and when to lead.

Even Hawthawn realised that experience counts when you are re-building..... Stuart Dew, Brent Guera (spelling), Shane Crawford (when everyone on the planet wanted him traded) and so on!!!!!!!!!

Big difference between topping up for a flag and rebuilding
Guerra was only 23 when picked up by the Hawks, Crawford was already on the list and Dew was picked up after the Hawks had already made the finals

[Smokey]

What other experienced forwards (I do not rate Morton as an experienced forward and Richo will not stay down there) do we have to educate our forwards over the next two years. Do we leave the youth to educate themselves with barly any guidence from experience and then bag the crap out of them when they don't know where and when to lead.

Even Hawthawn realised that experience counts when you are re-building..... Stuart Dew, Brent Guera (spelling), Shane Crawford (when everyone on the planet wanted him traded) and so on!!!!!!!!!

Only thing with that WAT is that you need 'good' experience to make it successful, not 'bad' experience.  And when we only have 1 player with 'good' experience we are probably just as better off building our own 'good' experience than trying to import it.  We already have a core of good young players with 50-100 games of match experience - teach them the core values of a winning culture and they will lead the way for the younger ones.  That's the challenge for the new coaching group - teach and develop a winning culture to a group who is still young enough to learn it.