Bridging the gap

[tony_montana]

I can understand the enthusiasm to pick these guys after a solid pre season and pre season games, but to select them before even a shot has been fired seems just a little odd for mine

Generally G, these days an early draft pick that has a reasonably mature body, is talented and grounded enough to get straight into the best 22 of most sides. Looking at past history of our early selections they have almost walked straight in and become solid contributors. Yes we are a better side now but we still have holes that are easily filled. lennon is of a good siize, has elite kicking skills which have stoodout this preseason, and would fill one of those holes so odds are you would assume he will be in early barring any fitness issues

[the claw]

so we are looking to bridge the gap. most have said they would like to see changes especially lennon hampson and a few of the mature recruits. so waht did we actually do to bridge the gap.
looking at like for like  delisted and recruited players.


1/ hampson v derickx.   win.  we replaced a 26yo ruck   who could not get a game with an underperforming 26yo ruck who at least got games. how much of an upgrade he is who knows.
2/ lennon v  verrier.  win or it had damn well better be. you would hope with a top 12 pick you get a very good player. im not sure about lennons midfield credentials.
3/ gordon v mcguane . not really a like for like. we didnt replace mcguane for type that is tall forward.. gordon atm is a medium forward will he give as much as mcguane in the forward half.
4/ lloyd v nahas. again whos to say but again based on attributes its a win.
5/ petterd v petterd. a promoted rookie a decision that imo was wrong. we should be looking to upgrade the likes of petterd not promoting them.
6/ banfield v white. atm its fairly even i think banfield has more footy smarts. both have been ordinary.
7/ miles v lonergan . win imo the difference in skillset is large.lonergan has a better performance record at state level though. this kid is my smokie the more i look up on him the more i like.
8/ thomas v tuck.  loss. tucky knew how to find the ball at afl level. cant say the same for thomas.

to bridge the gap we need to improve on, grigg, petterd,a edwards, s edwards, king, newman and houli,

we also need improvement from vickery morris, grimes, helbig arnot, and for  knights to stay fit.

this coming season really is the make or break season. there are no excuses.

[Judge Roughneck]

Very balanced post baron con claws I 

Carrier was the worst kick I've seen. Lennon is apparently the best kick in his draft pool - should well be a win

[Willy]

so we are looking to bridge the gap. most have said they would like to see changes especially lennon hampson and a few of the mature recruits. so waht did we actually do to bridge the gap.
looking at like for like  delisted and recruited players.


1/ hampson v derickx.   win.  we replaced a 26yo ruck   who could not get a game with an underperforming 26yo ruck who at least got games. how much of an upgrade he is who knows.
2/ lennon v  verrier.  win or it had damn well better be. you would hope with a top 12 pick you get a very good player. im not sure about lennons midfield credentials.
3/ gordon v mcguane . not really a like for like. we didnt replace mcguane for type that is tall forward.. gordon atm is a medium forward will he give as much as mcguane in the forward half.
4/ lloyd v nahas. again whos to say but again based on attributes its a win.
5/ petterd v petterd. a promoted rookie a decision that imo was wrong. we should be looking to upgrade the likes of petterd not promoting them.
6/ banfield v white. atm its fairly even i think banfield has more footy smarts. both have been ordinary.
7/ miles v lonergan . win imo the difference in skillset is large.lonergan has a better performance record at state level though. this kid is my smokie the more i look up on him the more i like.
8/ thomas v tuck.  loss. tucky knew how to find the ball at afl level. cant say the same for thomas.

to bridge the gap we need to improve on, grigg, petterd,a edwards, s edwards, king, newman and houli,

we also need improvement from vickery morris, grimes, helbig arnot, and for  knights to stay fit.

this coming season really is the make or break season. there are no excuses.

fair assessment, in my eyes.

[tigerfan1961]

so we are looking to bridge the gap. most have said they would like to see changes especially lennon hampson and a few of the mature recruits. so waht did we actually do to bridge the gap.
looking at like for like  delisted and recruited players.


1/ hampson v derickx.   win.  we replaced a 26yo ruck   who could not get a game with an underperforming 26yo ruck who at least got games. how much of an upgrade he is who knows.
2/ lennon v  verrier.  win or it had damn well better be. you would hope with a top 12 pick you get a very good player. im not sure about lennons midfield credentials.
3/ gordon v mcguane . not really a like for like. we didnt replace mcguane for type that is tall forward.. gordon atm is a medium forward will he give as much as mcguane in the forward half.
4/ lloyd v nahas. again whos to say but again based on attributes its a win.
5/ petterd v petterd. a promoted rookie a decision that imo was wrong. we should be looking to upgrade the likes of petterd not promoting them.
6/ banfield v white. atm its fairly even i think banfield has more footy smarts. both have been ordinary.
7/ miles v lonergan . win imo the difference in skillset is large.lonergan has a better performance record at state level though. this kid is my smokie the more i look up on him the more i like.
8/ thomas v tuck.  loss. tucky knew how to find the ball at afl level. cant say the same for thomas.

to bridge the gap we need to improve on, grigg, petterd,a edwards, s edwards, king, newman and houli,

we also need improvement from vickery morris, grimes, helbig arnot, and for  knights to stay fit.

this coming season really is the make or break season. there are no excuses.

fair assessment, in my eyes.

Agreed, apart from the usual unwarranted Houli bashing.
Give it up Claw, he has improved his defensive side out of sight since he arrived. And yes, it was beyond poor at the beginning. Has developed into a very reliable defender who kicks very well, and runs all day. We are lucky he also has durability as a strength- have a good close look at our loss to North last year when he did not play and Ellis got hurt early on. Run from defence became non existant, we missed him greatly. His one on one defending is now at a decent level, your bias against him shows you did not watch him all that closely this year. He is a must in our starting 18 IMO. Only major fault is his lack of kicking ability on his right leg.
The rest of your post, pretty well agree

[Penelope]

It's called Conformation Bias

Our natural urge is to look for information that backs up what we already think, and ignore anything that goes against that view.

Humans aren't passive receivers of information, we look for cues that support our beliefs.
People will look for information that supports their existing views, because it actually makes them feel good. They think, "oh, I was right. I know this."
That increases their self esteem and we all do it.

Although some do it more than others.

[Dice]

Agreed, apart from the usual unwarranted Houli bashing.
Give it up Claw, he has improved his defensive side out of sight since he arrived. And yes, it was beyond poor at the beginning. Has developed into a very reliable defender who kicks very well, and runs all day. We are lucky he also has durability as a strength- have a good close look at our loss to North last year when he did not play and Ellis got hurt early on. Run from defence became non existant, we missed him greatly. His one on one defending is now at a decent level, your bias against him shows you did not watch him all that closely this year. He is a must in our starting 18 IMO. Only major fault is his lack of kicking ability on his right leg.

Coudln't disagree more with this post. I watched Houli closely. He's awful , and he's very , very scared. Matty Knights knew what he was doing when he wouldn't give him a game at Essendon.
Until we upgrade blokes like him we won't be winning jack sh*t in September.
 Watch his pathetic effort in the final against Carlton when he had the chance to put them to sword. He panicked ( as usual ) coughed the ball up with a horrendous turnover , Carlton rebounded and goaled. The goaled again and again and again. Bachar started the rot.
 He should be playing permanently in the VFL

[Stripes]

One thing I like about you claw is you always have a strong opinion and always try and back it up with evidence and analysis. I don't always agree with you but I appreciate your efforts. 

I agree with almost all your previous analysis but, like tigerfan, I think you harshly rate Houli. He's a much more important player to our structure and game plan than you acknowledge.

I think your White v Banfield comparison should be seen as a loss at this stage. As the year progressed, White showed he improved our team through his run and carry. I haven't seen Banfield do that for the Lions once.

I agree with your Petterd summary. Must have been a list management decision.

Thomas will be a solid contributor. I feel a better comparison would have been between Lonegan and Thomas. They are both ball winners and both battlers. Neither are in Tucks league or have his longevity at the highest level. Miles should be compared to Verrier. I think it is unfair to place an unknown in Lennon up against anyone. I hope you are right about Miles and I share your lofty expectations here.

The Nahas v Lloyd comparison may also be a bit difficult considering one has had years of AFL experience and periods of success compared to a state league player. I'm hopeful, actually more than hopeful, that Lloyd will become a better player for us than Nahas but to be fair Nahas has runs on the board where Lloyd just has potential on his side (and size, defensive pressure and marking capabilities but again all at the lower level).

 

[tony_montana]

Agreed, apart from the usual unwarranted Houli bashing.
Give it up Claw, he has improved his defensive side out of sight since he arrived. And yes, it was beyond poor at the beginning. Has developed into a very reliable defender who kicks very well, and runs all day. We are lucky he also has durability as a strength- have a good close look at our loss to North last year when he did not play and Ellis got hurt early on. Run from defence became non existant, we missed him greatly. His one on one defending is now at a decent level, your bias against him shows you did not watch him all that closely this year. He is a must in our starting 18 IMO. Only major fault is his lack of kicking ability on his right leg.

Coudln't disagree more with this post. I watched Houli closely. He's awful , and he's very , very scared. Matty Knights knew what he was doing when he wouldn't give him a game at Essendon.
Until we upgrade blokes like him we won't be winning jack sh*t in September.
 Watch his pathetic effort in the final against Carlton when he had the chance to put them to sword. He panicked ( as usual ) coughed the ball up with a horrendous turnover , Carlton rebounded and goaled. The goaled again and again and again. Bachar started the rot.
 He should be playing permanently in the VFL

Couldn't disagree more.  Im with tigerfan1961 on this one. Think he's grossly maligned by tigerfans - poo sticks.

He was one of several that day that refused to have a ping at goal from outside 50, instead looking to hit a target inside 50. Had plenty of mates that day, the only reason his sticks out was he was on a longer run, but if you can bring yourself to watch a replay youll see 4 or 5 instances of this, was sending me round the twist - most of our "leaders" were MIA

[Diocletian]

We can't afford to have both Houli & Grigg in the side IMO -  out of the two I'd choose Houli every day of the week and twice on Friday.

[Diocletian]

5/ petterd v petterd. a promoted rookie a decision that imo was wrong. we should be looking to upgrade the likes of petterd not promoting them.

It will only be a wrong decision if we continue the folly of playing him in defence. Should've still upgraded him with the intention of using him forward and then drafted Darcy Byrne-Jones with the pick we used on Gordon.

[Dice]

We can't afford to have both Houli & Grigg in the side IMO -  out of the two I'd choose Houli every day of the week and twice on Friday.

Grigg by the length of the Flemington straight....and twice on Friday 

[Judge Roughneck]

Squibbymcsquibsquibmcsquib

While we are at it grigg is in no danger of winning the most courageous award

 

[Phil Mrakov]

We can't afford to have both Houli & Grigg in the side IMO -  out of the two I'd choose Houli every day of the week and twice on Friday.

Grigg by the length of the Flemington straight....and twice on Friday 

Grigg is absolute garbage. The day he's in the 2's is the day we will be a premiership threat. Luckily Cadeyn Macintosh is coming through for the wing role

[Dice]

Grigg is absolute garbage. The day he's in the 2's is the day we will be a premiership threat. Luckily Cadeyn Macintosh is coming through for the wing role

I'm not a huge fan of Grigg either tbh but I think he's the least scared of the two...and that's saying something