Lol.It’s not linear, but it is sequential. Once acquired, a set of skills or understandings enable students to then apply their knowledge in ways that lead to deeper or more complex understandings or performance. It is why schools spend so much time working on Developmental Rubrics.
The issue with Cam Rayner, is that he appears to be able to perform at a certain standard, which would indicate a certain level of development, but he struggles to consolidate at that level. He certainly struggles when it comes to applying the skills he has acquired in ways that indicate further development and capacity. This is why his average disposal numbers have stagnated at around 11.5 - 12.5 disposals a game. It is clear that Rayner knows how to get the ball, but he can’t take that to the next level by getting more of it consistently. This is connected with his level of fitness, running capacity and ability to operate at a heightened level for more than short bursts. These are areas that could be addressed through training, especially pre-season training, but it appears they haven’t been.
To make matters more frustrating, not only does Cam Rayner, after six seasons appear to have plateaued in terms of sequential improvement, often he goes backwards. This is what happened in the Grand Final and it has happened in other big games. For example, in our Round 18 loss to Melbourne at the MCG this year, Rayner had 8 disposals for the game:
3 in the First Quarter
0 in the Second Quarter
3 in the Third Quarter
2 in the Fourth Quarter
In this game, in many others, and in the Grand Final, Rayner demonstrates a distinct lack of capacity, because the idea that he is sequentially building his skills is completely unsupported by the evidence.
If it were just the odd game you wouldn’t worry, because people have bad days, but this is an established pattern.
So after six years the Cam Rayner ‘Excuse Loop’ keeps spinning and we find new ways to excuse erratic form and costly failures to perform. Sadly, we also do so in a ‘consequence free zone’ for Cam. As I said in another post, we will be having the same conversation for the next however many years, unless someone in the football department actually tries a new approach. David Parkin was one of the great coaches of the modern era and he would have sorted this issue out long ago. After Rayner’s complete non performance in the Grand Final, Parkin would have subjected Rayner to the MOTHER OF ALL PRESEASONS, which is exactly what Fagan needs to do.
I don't want to knock Cam again because he's a great guy and just learning about life.
But that was a fantastic post 3KZ. We've mollycoddled him too much . That I know. Throwing him in the back half at the end of quarters ,well we didn't think they'd do it again after the first quarter schemozzle but we're stubborn aren't we.
I'm half with Nunez in that he will learn and get better but some tough love is required. He has the intestinal aptitude which he showed in his dedication to recovery from the ACL.