I disagree. Sorry WP, its not that easy. Are we still trying to develop team confidence and regain belief or are we rebuilding? If we are trying to establish a winning culture again then making whole sale changes in not the way to go. I, like you, would like to see Helbig get a series of games to see if he will make it but the one thing Morris does (even injured) which I haven't seen from Helbig, is shown consistent desperation to win a contest. Morris' injury can not get any worse by playing (I'm giving some blind credit here though ) so Dimma obviously feels he will get more out of Morris than what Helbig is showing. I do agree with you here though - I would like to see Morris be rested for Helbig.
TBBH I'm not sure what the club is trying to develop anymore. And based on this seasons selection I'm not sure the club does either.
This constant playing of favourites despite their "poor" form is not going to build confidence, it's not going to restore belief and it certainly isn't doing anything about creating a winning culture. On the contrary I think the selection mentality has done the opposite especially in the belief stakes.
Obviously we are not seeing the same thing regarding Helbig. I see a kid in the VFL attacking every contest as if it's his last, so I cannot agree on you assertion Helbig doens't show enough desperation. Ditto Arnott.
They are doing what is asked of them. Tim Clarke said it pre-match on Friday night, so I will say it again what more do they need to do?
I get frustrated when people use the term - 'red herring' . The biggest problem we have is not with players like Grigg, Ellis and Houli but rather the roles they have been given. They have been coached to play an outside game but now they are being forced to play in a foreign role. Grigg is the biggest problem here. He only knows one way to play and hasn't the skills or ability to adapt to a more contested style. Houli has changed his game to be more contested but it still does not come naturally to him but credit where credit is due.
Ellis can be a courageous player. Last year I saw him back into marking contests frequently and desperately throw himself over at the ball. For whatever reason this season I haven't seen that in his game and he seems lost and timid out there. I don't know why. Perhaps his running game has been taken away from him by the opposition? Regardless he has lost all confidence and space at present.
Facts are Stripes that when Dimma was appointed coach he said that onehis "non negotiables" was that at any contest when it was a players "turn to go" (eg attack the contest, make they contest), they would go and if they didn't they wouldn't be playing. I posted a few weeks back wjhen did this 'non negotiable" become a "negotiable" especially with regard to certain players. It is either a team rule/ethos or it isn't. It can't be selective but over the last 24 months it certainly has been
One bad week you say? Currently we sit 14th on the VFL ladder or 3rd bottom. This is not one bad week. The three winds we had was largely set up by a rampaging Miles. Helbig has been good at times don't get me wrong but he has been made to look better because of the poor performances of those around him.
And our AFL side has won 3 games and have been consistently bad ALL season so the argument that because our VFL side sit 3rd bottom we shouldn't give players opportunties is a contridiction.
If players are performing the roles that they have been asked to do at VFL level and are playing well then the VFL results are no matter how bad become irrelevant.
Miles played games at VFL level where the side was terrible and he was excellent. You seem to be implying that he is the exception to the rule. In that his performance mattered in sub-standard team performances and warranted AFL selection but no ones else does. Not sure it can work like that. Actually no; I don't believe it should work like that
The message this is sending to the kids is that there are places available in the team if you earn it so step up and take the spot of players like Ellis, Morris, Newman etc but don't expect to be just given a gig because you are nearing the end of a contract.
I wish we had more players like Miles busting the door down but sadly we just don't
Clearly that is where we disagree, because that clearly isn't the message. What places are available when players aren't getting dropped for their poor performances. Miles was knocking down the door for months and it made no difference; he couldn't get a look in. Then when they finally promoted him it took a further 3 weeks for him to get selected. So I again argue that your arguement here is flawed
I believe we have kids who have done enough at VFL level to be given an opportunity but they haven't been and it appears they wont be.