VelvetSledge
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- May 24, 2007
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And he played well last week.Have some faith in the kid guys. He's only in his third year and learning a position which doesn't come naturally to him. Usually we love it when he absorbs contact, fends off and dishes to a player. Or how he wins free kicks. Or his mongrel. We were saying this just a week ago.
Today, the game was maybe a bit too hot for him. Maybe he absorbed a bit too much contact, or fended off one too many. Fair enough, considering it's our biggest ever attendance for a H/A game, and we were playing against the reigning premiers. But haven't we been crying out for mids that want to tackle, and stand up when being tackled since Watson? He's not gonna nail it every time, and he'll learn from this. He's 21, and will be a gun in the future.
Have some faith in the kid guys. He's only in his third year and learning a position which doesn't come naturally to him. Usually we love it when he absorbs contact, fends off and dishes to a player. Or how he wins free kicks. Or his mongrel. We were saying this just a week ago.
Today, the game was maybe a bit too hot for him. Maybe he absorbed a bit too much contact, or fended off one too many. Fair enough, considering it's our biggest ever attendance for a H/A game, and we were playing against the reigning premiers. But haven't we been crying out for mids that want to tackle, and stand up when being tackled since Watson? He's not gonna nail it every time, and he'll learn from this. He's 21, and will be a gun in the future.
Yes but how about we knock every negative part of Setterfield or Perkins game when they were in their 3rd year? He's a kid, he's not the finished product. Don't look at all the negatives, Bruno. There are a lot more positives with his game. How many mids have we had that crack in the day he does in the last 10 years, or tackles (and sticks them), takes the game on, runs two ways, and can take a mark, and shows leadership qualities. Yes, he didn't have his best game, but let's reiterate. He is 20 years of age. If these question marks are there when he is 23-24, maybe yes, we can start to question wether he will make it but for now he is far too good for the VFL and has shown that since age 18. Hell be okay, he's just learning. Relax and let our kids be kidsIts not a question of faith or patience for me.
I like that his instinct is physical but I've seen no clear sign that he has the strength / power / speed to be effective.
I can't say I've been impressed with anything I've seen (endeavour aside). For example, he's never looked a level above as a VFL player.
He should be back in the VFL as soon as Perkins / Setterfield is fit. Perkins is a good way to illustrate what I am talking about. Even when he was in first year he has always had a big turn of speed and the hip shrug that you can see he will build on as he physically matures.
Hobbs is trying to bully guys who have 10kgs on him and who are more naturally powerful. He plays like he's that kid who is fully grown at 11. Problem is that he's now playing against other fully grown men.
It's all part of the lesson I learned watching Kavanagh. Try to honestly put the reputation at the draft aside. What are you left with then? If he was a rookie pick would you have faith?
It would be good to compare what he looks like as a third year player to Taylor Adams and Lachie Neale at the same age but I have virtually no recollection of them as players. The physically similar player I can remember is Luke Parker and he adapted almost immediately. We can't just assume Hobbs will adapt - he has a very mature body. If Hobbs doesn't have a significant adaptation in him he's not an AFL standard player.
Yes but how about we knock every negative part of Setterfield or Perkins game when they were in their 3rd year? He's a kid, he's not the finished product. Don't look at all the negatives, Bruno. There are a lot more positives with his game. How many mids have we had that crack in the day he does in the last 10 years, or tackles (and sticks them), takes the game on, runs two ways, and can take a mark, and shows leadership qualities. Yes, he didn't have his best game, but let's reiterate. He is 20 years of age. If these question marks are there when he is 23-24, maybe yes, we can start to question wether he will make it but for now he is far too good for the VFL and has shown that since age 18. Hell be okay, he's just learning. Relax and let our kids be kids
Its not a question of faith or patience for me.
I like that his instinct is physical but I've seen no clear sign that he has the strength / power / speed to be effective.
I can't say I've been impressed with anything I've seen (endeavour aside). For example, he's never looked a level above as a VFL player.
He should be back in the VFL as soon as Perkins / Setterfield is fit. Perkins is a good way to illustrate what I am talking about. Even when he was in first year he has always had a big turn of speed and the hip shrug that you can see he will build on as he physically matures.
Hobbs is trying to bully guys who have 10kgs on him and who are more naturally powerful. He plays like he's that kid who is fully grown at 11. Problem is that he's now playing against other fully grown men.
It's all part of the lesson I learned watching Kavanagh. Try to honestly put the reputation at the draft aside. What are you left with then? If he was a rookie pick would you have faith?
It would be good to compare what he looks like as a third year player to Taylor Adams and Lachie Neale at the same age but I have virtually no recollection of them as players. The physically similar player I can remember is Luke Parker and he adapted almost immediately. We can't just assume Hobbs will adapt - he has a very mature body. If Hobbs doesn't have a significant adaptation in him he's not an AFL standard player.
This is what makes it hard to judge. I think if he cleaned up the VFL paced awareness most wouldn't have the biggest issue with his year so far.Hobbs has been pretty much played out of position for most of the games he has played
Yup, play him and Tsatas together in the VFL to gain experience, learn the game plan together. And when one of the harder mids goes down then they will be ready to replace. Both will be firing chock full of confidence and might grab and hold onto a spot. Find a proper small forward from somewhere...throw the war chest at someone that fits the bill.At this stage I would have no issues with him going back to the VFL and playing inside midfielder. The issue is the role he is playing at half forward suites his aggression at the footy but he does not have the outside creativity . He is an inside grunt player. His weakness is he does not have the outside creative ability which is why he gets caught like a deer in the headlights tying to create options. It is not his go. It is like trying to use a Toyota Hilux to race against a BMW M3.
Yeah that's a good observationNot having a crack at him but if Merrett has one of the quickest 'hand-to-foot' kicking motions in the league, this guy would have to have one of the slowest. Winds up his kick for 20 seconds.
He's in the same situation as Caldwell was 12 months ago. Caldwell had one freak game vs St Kilda where he kicked goals out of his arse but then couldn't hit the scoreboard. Doesn't have that much forward craft either but he gave us the fwd pressure we needed. Same with Hobbs. Our small forward pressure has been poor, and so we compensate with a defensively minded midfielder.At this stage I would have no issues with him going back to the VFL and playing inside midfielder. The issue is the role he is playing at half forward suites his aggression at the footy but he does not have the outside creativity . He is an inside grunt player. His weakness is he does not have the outside creative ability which is why he gets caught like a deer in the headlights tying to create options. It is not his go. It is like trying to use a Toyota Hilux to race against a BMW M3.
He's clearly an inside mid, half forward will always provide very inconsistent results, Perkins, Setterfield, Shiel and Tsatas weren't in the team yesterday and he still couldn't crack the midfield.
It's not his fault, I think he's a good player in his natural role.
Is the long term goal that he makes it as a half forward?Because who's spot does he take inside?
I'm sure there is a good way to do it and have most guys contributing, just need to figure out how it looks. If our Injury list shrinks we'll have crazy competition for spots, can only be a good thing.Move Merrett to a flank, protects his body and still uses his kicking.
Let guys like Caldwell, Durham and Hobbs do the inside stuff.
He is but Caldwell always had a better outside game and neater skills.He's in the same situation as Caldwell was 12 months ago. Caldwell had one freak game vs St Kilda where he kicked goals out of his arse but then couldn't hit the scoreboard. Doesn't have that much forward craft either but he gave us the fwd pressure we needed. Same with Hobbs. Our small forward pressure has been poor, and so we compensate with a defensively minded midfielder.
Jobe had that from day 1, it's not an easy thing to teach... you've normally got it or you haven't.Get some lessons from Jobe on developing awareness where guys are before getting the ball then dishing off immediately when getting it.
Jobe had that from day 1, it's not an easy thing to teach... you've normally got it or you haven't.
Caldwell also covers the ground betterHe is but Caldwell always had a better outside game and neater skills.
The issue is they think he is good enough to play and he is physical so he gets a game. Issue is he is an inside midfielder being asked to play either half forward or today wing. He has not progressed this year because he has been playing other spots that require a different skill set. It is like throwing Parish to the forward pocket and asking him to take on the pressure small forward role. I suspect if they threw him in the middle from the start it would look different. The main issue has been his skills and decision making are not suited to being the guy who has to create on the outside. He was top 10 for pressure acts and top 5 for defensive half pressure acts playing from a wing which is not really his go. That was well in front of Tsatas on the other wing.I'm a bit concerned with how Goblin seems to have really stagnanted this year.
I think he does have a future at the club, but I think he needs VFL time.