Oppo Camp Non-Essendon Football Thread XVI

[silk]

It is a simple fact that sometimes you can not predict that a player can not mentally take the next step. It had nothing to do with media and any of that crap and if you really think reciting staff put in hours and hours of work and then simply turn on their computer and are influenced by what they read then you are fundamentally wrong and selling the work that is done well short.
JUH, Watts , Francis . All displayed outstanding ability. All did the hard work at junior level and had no big question marks on attitude . Three examples of not being able to predict how some players can not mentally take the next step.
The blunt truth about drafting is if you get 60% of your picks right then you are in the top of the group.
JUH was training with them. He worked within their system but he has not been able to take the step up to 6 days a week full training load and the pressure to just produce to a level the hype suggested he should. There where no questions on his professionalism / training going into the draft. They knew he had to get fitter which is the case with 90% of drafted players.
This is drafting everywhere. The NFL clubs put millions into reciting yet you still see major flops in first round draft picks.
Simple fact is you are dealing with young people people and not robots or cyborgs. Some get injured. Some can not get their head around how professional you have to be and some are just not physically inclined enough to translate their ability into AFL level.
It is not a simplistic black and white thing.

NBA is a great reference for this. These number 1 draft picks have all under-performed, and this is just from the last 10 years.

Anthony Bennet, Wiggins (Has since redeemed himself, but not for the team that picked him), Fultz. Could also count Simmons in this given his issues.

So even in a sport with that much resrouces, you could argue on 60% of number 1 picks are truly a success for the team that picks them up.

 

[Phone]

I feel like we should note that the same day we started this discussion on JUH, Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

kicked his 700th goal....

 

[Nifft]

That is diabolical gamesmanship. It would sting at the trade table as well though...

Isn't he a free agent?

 

[NAB777]

No work rate and maybe a bit soft. Pretty sure he does not have the engine and I have questions on his mental toughness.

I saw him finishing up what looked like an easy run along the bay during the pre-season... and he looked like he has no tank.

 

[andleanback]

It is a simple fact that sometimes you can not predict that a player can not mentally take the next step. It had nothing to do with media and any of that crap and if you really think reciting staff put in hours and hours of work and then simply turn on their computer and are influenced by what they read then you are fundamentally wrong and selling the work that is done well short.
JUH, Watts , Francis . All displayed outstanding ability. All did the hard work at junior level and had no big question marks on attitude . Three examples of not being able to predict how some players can not mentally take the next step.
The blunt truth about drafting is if you get 60% of your picks right then you are in the top of the group.
JUH was training with them. He worked within their system but he has not been able to take the step up to 6 days a week full training load and the pressure to just produce to a level the hype suggested he should. There where no questions on his professionalism / training going into the draft. They knew he had to get fitter which is the case with 90% of drafted players.
This is drafting everywhere. The NFL clubs put millions into reciting yet you still see major flops in first round draft picks.
Simple fact is you are dealing with young people people and not robots or cyborgs. Some get injured. Some can not get their head around how professional you have to be and some are just not physically inclined enough to translate their ability into AFL level.
It is not a simplistic black and white thing.

I’d also say if JUH played at GWV instead of oakleigh he would’ve been seen in a different light after his underage year. He never looked a stand out player in any rep games, but playing for oakleigh in a superior side allowed him to dominate games with great ball delivery. He never really had to fight and scrap to win ball like a lot of other forwards at underage level. Obviously he has a great athletic profile, but questions still remain on his work ethic and his desire to compete.

 

[NAB777]

I feel like we should note that the same day we started this discussion on JUH, Tom Hawkins kicked his 700th goal....

I met him at the Lorne pub (of all places) in the January after he'd just finished VCE, and there was all of the hype about him starting up at Geelong. All of his school mates were pumping him up like nothing else, and my brother in law (from a solid footy family) took him aside & said "FFS...don't listen to any of these idiots"...

 

[rumply]

 

[boncer34]

I feel like we should note that the same day we started this discussion on JUH, Tom Hawkins kicked his 700th goal....

I feel Hawkins showed more than the 6 touch a game JUH by his 2nd season.

 

[andleanback]

Geeze the Suns are injury cursed

 

[eth-dog]

That's a horrific injury. Feel for Powell

 

[citizen-erased]

Powell....get him a couple more whistles.
Shudders

 

[BomberFan355]

Powell....get him a couple more whistles.
Shudders

What happened?

 

[andleanback]

That's a horrific injury. Feel for Powell

Very underrated player

 

[eth-dog]

What happened?

Looks like either a broken leg or dislocated knee

Very underrated player

2nd in their BnF last year says it all. Can play

 

[citizen-erased]

What happened?

No replay but quick vision of the result was his foot facing the wrong way

Dermie thought dislocated knee

 

[GUMBLETRON]

A guy with questionable professionalism and no tank is an undisputed number 1.

It helps that neither club making that call have to truly believe he's #1, because one isn't getting him and the other isn't paying accordingly.

 

[eth-dog]

How's the Suns getting 3 goals in the last minute?

 

[rumply]

How's the Suns getting 3 goals in the last minute?

Form ladder would have them on top I'm guessing.

 

[Albertross]

What happened?

Spoiler

Hopefully a dislocation and not a break. Looks nasty either way, hope he makes a full recovery and returns at the same level.

Can't help but think of Trent Hentschel when I see stuff like this. Never returned to the same level and only played another handful of games before retiring.

 

[rumply]

might want to post that as a spoiler Albertross , not everyone wants to see stuff like that.

 

[Albertross]

might want to post that as a spoiler Albertross , not everyone wants to see stuff like that.

Noted, but I wouldn't know how to. If one of the mods would like to take care of it for me, it would be appreciated.

 

[boncer34]

Noted, but I wouldn't know how to. If one of the mods would like to take care of it for me, it would be appreciated.

Lore

 

[Phone]

I feel Hawkins showed more than the 6 touch a game JUH by his 2nd season.

Fair enough, but this is a guy who wasn't picked half the time in his first two seasons, finished with 25 goals from 19 games over those two seasons in a ridiculously dominant team where Tom Lonergan finished with 30 odd goals in one season. And Hawkins was still being dropped halfway through the fifth season, and I imagine if I spend 3 minutes looking, we'll find plenty of threads discussing the bust he had become. And now he has 700 goals. And the other guy who hit 700 goals this season, well Josh Kennedy after three seasons.........

I don't really have any strong opinions on JUH making it or not, but in my skimming of the discussion, there was no note that we're halfway through his second season when we know the records of some key forwards after two seasons are much the same as JUH (ie not good)

 

[Lore]

Lore

Beerfish

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Hi Bombers - didn't want to start a thread - but trying to get some help.

I am coming across to the Essendon v Sydney game in a couple of weeks. Trying to work out which sections are consiudered "General Admission" . My guess is it changes for each game based on demand - but nowhere can i find it online (ticket companies are useless).