Player Watch Ash Johnson (Delisted 2024)

[jmac70]

What role is there for him to play?

Ruck - minimal involvement
Midfield - can’t run well enough
Wing - see above
Defence - new position, expect the same results. He doesn’t have those traits as a forward let alone a defender.

It’s the VFL. Might as well try something different

 

[Looney]

How do we know footballers actually read these threads, and why should they even take us seriously? We're just a bunch of armchair experts who've never played at the highest level. We are no different to those rabid supporters who hurl abuse at players from the sidelines, but we do it from the comfort of our mothers' basements. Maybe the players should be taught to either ignore negative comments or use it to motivate them.

 

[memoryofmchale]

It’s the VFL. Might as well try something different

The VFL is still serious and they try to replicate the AFL.

What would you try?

 

[jmac70]

The VFL is still serious and they try to replicate the AFL.

What would you try?

Why not?

The point of the VFL is to prepare players for the AFL.

Changing Ash’s role might help him gain confidence and improve his capability to contribute to the team.

 

[NMBB]

Might as well stay off BigFooty for awhile then

No - just stop calling AJ "useless" - I'd be pretty sure the coaches wouldn't use that term - why should you?

 

[manicpie]

Be patient grasshoppers, who would have predicted WC's turn around in just 4 weeks. AJ is still able to turn things around, too much talent not to

 

[memoryofmchale]

Why not?

The point of the VFL is to prepare players for the AFL.

Changing Ash’s role might help him gain confidence and improve his capability to contribute to the team.

Why not is because he doesn’t have the traits to play anywhere else but as a key forward.

What position would you play him in?

 

[jmac70]

Why not is because he doesn’t have the traits to play anywhere else but as a key forward.

What position would you play him in?

The point is to see if he can.

 

[No SPIN]

On the ball yes. In the ruck no. Why is it silly? The reality is it’s a frank assessment of a guy who was best 23 only 4 matches back. His confidence would be a bigger disadvantage than the structural gains we might get over a small like HH or Richards. He has the talent to work through it and we employ Louder to guide people through times like this. I hope he bounces back, but to pull punches on assessing where he’s at serves no productive purpose, IMO (I draw the line at the personal stuff I hear is getting flung his way).


I think he can make stints work. He doesn’t necessarily need to be a full length of ground runner and it’s VFL level so what’s the harm?

Per bolded - it’s exactly because Louder is involved “at times like this” that we need to be circumspect. And in fact I have no doubt Louder would be guiding Coaches on the tone of feedback for AJ.
So by definition this feedback would be pulling punches.
There’s a time for brutal honesty but it’s not right now for AJ, in my view.

We need his talent and confidence to return but it will take patience.

 

[memoryofmchale]

The point is to see if he can.

How many games do we give him in this mysterious new position? Is it three for the midfield? Does he train there during the week (I would assume so)?

You’re not going to see him train in the middle. That would be ridiculous.

Defence unlikely.

Perhaps ruck, but the best ruck out there from limited time was Purcell who’s VFL.

 

[jmac70]

How many games do we give him in this mysterious new position? Is it three for the midfield? Does he train there during the week (I would assume so)?

You’re not going to see him train in the middle. That would be ridiculous.

Defence unlikely.

Perhaps ruck, but the best ruck out there from limited time was Purcell who’s VFL.

I like him in the ruck, but apparently that makes me Robert Walls

 

[Scodog10]

Playing AJ in the middle won’t happen. Or on the wing. Can’t run well enough and would be easily outplayed. Our mids should play mid.

He runs at least as well as Bianco and considering you’re rating of him plus his ability at that level I’m sure AJ would be fine in a role rotating with Allan or off a wing. Unlike Bianco he’s also actually proven to be capable of quality football at the top level.

 

[memoryofmchale]

He runs at least as well as Bianco and considering you’re rating of him plus his ability at that level I’m sure AJ would be fine in a role rotating with Allan or off a wing. Unlike Bianco he’s also actually proven to be capable of quality football at the top level.

No, AJ does not run as well as Bianco. Not even close. Ridiculous suggestion. Bianco’s running is very good, AJ’s is yet to be seen at what is required for wing.

Bianco, that one who I’m rating highly, kicked 3 goals and had a lazy 26 touches for Footscray. He is in consideration for the MSD.

 

[memoryofmchale]

I like him in the ruck, but apparently that makes me Robert Walls

We wouldn’t see much of an improvement. Do we want him bodied each week?

 

[Fat Jesus]

No, AJ does not run as well as Bianco. Not even close. Ridiculous suggestion. Bianco’s running is very good, AJ’s is yet to be seen at what is required for wing.

Bianco, that one who I’m rating highly, kicked 3 goals and had a lazy 26 touches for Footscray. He is in consideration for the MSD.

In the VFL?

 

[jmac70]

We wouldn’t see much of an improvement. Do we want him bodied each week?

The VFL is about learning. I don’t care about the result, just the development of the AFL listed talent.

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

So I better just shut up then

Guess we have to be Nice to a Player that is in Terrible Form and his Intensity and Effort is not where it should be

You don’t have to shut up TD maybe just stick to Terrible Form and Intensity and Effort as you have above. We value your opinion.

 

[memoryofmchale]

In the VFL?

What do you mean?

If it’s Bianco, yes, it’s the VFL but at least he looks AFL standard.

If AJ wasn’t an AFL player, he’d be playing local next week for sure.

 

[Fat Jesus]

What do you mean?

If it’s Bianco, yes, it’s the VFL but at least he looks AFL standard.

If AJ wasn’t an AFL player, he’d be playing local next week for sure.

Bianco played plenty of good VFL games for us. Not AFL standard in my opinion.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Bianco played plenty of good VFL games for us. Not AFL standard in my opinion.

Bit like Poulter who can't now get a senior game at Doggies.

And then we have Stepho who can't even get a game with North.

Love Bianco, but agree, he's not AFL level.

 

[Scodog10]

No, AJ does not run as well as Bianco. Not even close. Ridiculous suggestion. AJ’s is yet to be seen at what is required for wing.

Bianco, that one who I’m rating highly, kicked 3 goals and had a lazy 26 touches for Footscray. He is in consideration for the MSD.

EFA. True it’s unfair on AJ to compare him to someone that couldn’t run out of sight on a foggy day.

 

[Scodog10]

I like him in the ruck, but apparently that makes me Robert Walls

Memory troubling you Jmac? As a commentator in the early 00’s Wallsy was obsessed with suggesting a struggling forward be thrown into the ruck. It would have been memeworthy if memes were a thing back then…

 

[nahnah]

What role is there for him to play?

Ruck - minimal involvement
Midfield - can’t run well enough
Wing - see above
Defence - new position, expect the same results. He doesn’t have those traits as a forward let alone a defender.

'new position, expect same results' is very small minded. Many forwards have gone back and done well. Our 3 tallest defenders in the team all started off as forwards. There is no evidence anywhere to say he cant make the switch. He is signed up until end of 2025 so he has time to at least trial and learn the position

 

[CheckerTrade666]

Is obviously going through a pretty bad patch of form on the field at the moment. Always been a big fan of him though and would love to see him back in the seniors some time this year and prove people wrong. Is pretty far away from it at the moment, but he’s shown that he’s capable at the top level in some his previous outings, just needs a good set of performances in the reserves and some luck with selection.

Not writing him off JUST YET.

 

[memoryofmchale]

'new position, expect same results' is very small minded. Many forwards have gone back and done well. Our 3 tallest defenders in the team all started off as forwards. There is no evidence anywhere to say he cant make the switch. He is signed up until end of 2025 so he has time to at least trial and learn the position

He doesn’t have defensive traits, though. You can’t just plonk any failing forward to defence and see improvements.