Mid Year Report Card

[PAFC2004]

ha ha ...thanks for that ...misguided as usual...

I was actually genuinely interested how some of you might rate Mark's performance in what has been a difficult year so far. How has he responded to unPortman like performances ???....I think he has been remarkably balanced and hasn't lost it - particularly in the media. I actually think he has handled a relatively poor year better than he handled himself during successful years .....

Given he is an important part of the "team".....I'd be interested in a rating ?

If you come on our board, refer to him properly. "Choke-o" is not his name or a nickname of his.

 

[Portia]

I'll just expound on my complaints about Kane Cornes game, because reading back it looks unfair.

I think that Kane has worked incredibly hard to remove errors from his game. He will always take the option that has the highest percentage chance of some gain, which is great. He understands the flaws in his game, and works to eliminate them, and thats really good. But the downside is that what I don't reckon you'll ever see him do is deliberately make a low percentage play when a more obvious one is there.

He'll continue to stick to the high percentage stuff, like kicking to a guy in marginally more space than him, handballing off to the clearest appearing target rather than backing a less obvious option in. He'll only ping at goals when he believes he really is the best option to do so.

Its good that he works so hard to remove errors, but I think it also makes him pretty predictable. That in itself isn't an enormous problem, as he then has a second set of probabilities in mind for those situations, but I don't think he'll ever really scare an opposition (with unpredictability) the way the real gun midfielders do.

Removing him from a game will always require intense discipline & fitness, but if you have a tagger with those traits, then he'll be limited to high-percentage, non-damaging disposals basically every time.

This won't stop him from being a very effective, consistent player though, as few AFL players have intense discipline & fitness to match Kane, but I bet he knows it and that thats why he trains so hard.

 

[ClintEastwood]

Well, the facts are the Mark Williams has only met the team's expectations/potential in probably 2 of his 6 and a bit seasons.

Look at Collingwood's list of 2002/03. Nowhere near ours. They made it to two to Grand Finals. We've certainly missed our fair share of opportunities in our AFL existence.

The light is far from shining out of his arse.

Fine to say all that, Bresh, we would all like more success. But at the end of the day premierships are still very elusive, even with great squads. The premiership coach club is a pretty small one.

 

[Magpiespower]

i agree he is a poor, unimaginative coach, easily flustered coach. With the players at his disposal, supposedly the best CHF in the comp and the AA CHB he has no excuse. I love it how shaun burgoyne is apparently vital to the sides success. He is a human excuse machine. Bottom four coaches in the league imo.

You forgot premiership coach.

Rare as hen's teeth.

Just like a sensible oj post on here.

Crap show, too.

 

[MrMeaner]

I'll just expound on my complaints about Kane Cornes game, because reading back it looks unfair.

I think that Kane has worked incredibly hard to remove errors from his game. He will always take the option that has the highest percentage chance of some gain, which is great. He understands the flaws in his game, and works to eliminate them, and thats really good. But the downside is that what I don't reckon you'll ever see him do is deliberately make a low percentage play when a more obvious one is there.

He'll continue to stick to the high percentage stuff, like kicking to a guy in marginally more space than him, handballing off to the clearest appearing target rather than backing a less obvious option in. He'll only ping at goals when he believes he really is the best option to do so.

Its good that he works so hard to remove errors, but I think it also makes him pretty predictable. That in itself isn't an enormous problem, as he then has a second set of probabilities in mind for those situations, but I don't think he'll ever really scare an opposition (with unpredictability) the way the real gun midfielders do.

Removing him from a game will always require intense discipline & fitness, but if you have a tagger with those traits, then he'll be limited to high-percentage, non-damaging disposals basically every time.

This won't stop him from being a very effective, consistent player though, as few AFL players have intense discipline & fitness to match Kane, but I bet he knows it and that thats why he trains so hard.

All true but one Peter Burgoyne is enough for any side.

 

[Magpiespower]

Originally Posted by Bresh
Well, the facts are the Mark Williams has only met the team's expectations/potential in probably 2 of his 6 and a bit seasons.

Let's see...

1999 - Took us to first AFL finals series.
2000 - Horrific year all-round. Little anyone could do with the combination/injuries.
2001 - Bounced back. Young and still developing - wasn't our time.
2002 - Finals flame out 1. As above.
2003 - Finals flame out 2. This one hurt. A lot.
2004 - Premiers.

The only year I consider to be one of unfulfilled expectations was 2003.

 

[Mad Dog]

Well, it's what you wanted to hear wasn't it?

not necessarily.....more interested to gauge the mood now that you've had 2 wins in a row without a significant change to personnel - as was called for on your boards....(some talked about dropping as many as 7 a few weeks ago).

2 weeks ago I was reading stuff like...."Choco doesn't have the guts to drop players........."....."Choco doesn't have a plan B.........".........."Choco wont give the youngsters a go......"

Now 2 weeks later the club has notched up 2 wins without the sweeping changes called for here.........just wondering if that is all credit to Mark Williams for not panicking........or if the things said a few weeks ago still apply.

 

[Mad Dog]

If you come on our board, refer to him properly. "Choke-o" is not his name or a nickname of his.

......you lot have problems omitting R's - I put in an extra E where it wasn't needed.........lets not get too upset over it.......

 

[Portia]

The things said two weeks ago still apply. That we have had lazy and out-of-form players that Choco wasn't holding accountable. That we have given little game time to players that we need to be ready as soon as next year. That we still aren't playing for a whole game, because the same players are still in, little has changed, and they only want to do enough to win....leaving us exposed in the final quarter.

I reckon we have just about the shortest injury list now that we've had for four years. If we don't annihilate Hawthorn this week, then the stuff we said two weeks ago has even more merit.

 

[MrMeaner]

not necessarily.....more interested to gauge the mood now that you've had 2 wins in a row without a significant change to personnel - as was called for on your boards....(some talked about dropping as many as 7 a few weeks ago).

2 weeks ago I was reading stuff like...."Choco doesn't have the guts to drop players........."....."Choco doesn't have a plan B.........".........."Choco wont give the youngsters a go......"

Now 2 weeks later the club has notched up 2 wins without the sweeping changes called for here.........just wondering if that is all credit to Mark Williams for not panicking........or if the things said a few weeks ago still apply.

MD, I, for one, am still critical as we may well scrape into the finals this year by making minimal changes but that just sets us up for a massive collapse and rebuilding stage in coming years.

Short-termism is not in the club's best interests.

 

[Andre]

Grades for the PAFC

Recruitment off-field : D-
A poor choice of forward and ruck coach and selection of a failed coach as footy department front man. A step back from last 'term'.

Recruits on-field : B - picked up the best 'bang for buck' recruit in Peter Walsh, young Shattock has continued to be injury-prone and indifferent in form at best.

Draft picks : Early assessment - B - picked up a promising young ruckmen and tall forward and a couple of good midfield prospects. Young Eckermann and Thomson have already impressed in their (too) brief showing.

The team.
Defense : B- - A stand out season by the veteran Wakelin. Before the season started I wasn't alone in thinking 2005 last year for Wakelin, 2006 the last for Bishop. Now I'm inclined to swap that. When fit S. Burgoyne has been at his high standard he showed in defense last year. Chad Cornes was atrocious early, but since returning from injury, back to his best.

Forward : C+ - higher then some might except, as a lot of their problems are inflicted from a) woeful forward setups from the coaches box and b) third rate delivery from the midfield. Tredrea has had the yips kicking more this year - 2.5 twice, but also several bags of 5. Not quite as dominant as last year, but the forward structure hasn't been there or the delivery.

The most telling problem with the forward line - lack of crumbers - both in number (coaches fault) and application - the players. Looking better with Mahoney and Pickett starting to return to form. If Wilson gets back, allowing Wanganeen to go forward for the bulk of games, with only one of Lade or Primus up forward at a time then the structure looks much more conventional - and dangerous.

Midfield : D- - the class 'dunce'. On-field 90% of the reason for our current woeful position. Everything that can go wrong has - injuries to key players, players brought back from long term injuries put in the starting midfield before they are back to fitness and form, selection of fringe players over youngsters, refusal to rotate youngsters through midfield even when getting destroyed in the centre - you name it we've done it.

Coaching :
Selection : D - Selection of youngsters over fringe players - not done. Long term injured players made to earn spots back in side, instead of gold passes - not done. Youngsters who perform dropped - done. Senior players who don't perform dropped - not done. Overly defensive mindset - selecting to counter the opposition instead of making them worry about us - done.
Match Day : C- - lucky not to be a D. Poor match-ups, overly top heavy forward setup kept for weeks despite it clear to all it wasn't working, Primus played in ruck instead of forward, our younger players not given game time - especially in the midfield - even when our senior players are obviously exhausted or struggling on the field. An overly defensive mindset - trying to stop the opposition getting possession rather then attacking. The few times we've gone to attack rather then defend are the rare passages of play this year where we've dominated - yet we keep going back to sideways, backwards, all around play.

Overall - C- A poor season, even with the injuries and suspensions had. Most of the blame of which rests with the coaches.

 

[Sandola]

All true but one Peter Burgoyne is enough for any side.

And one Peter Burgoyne is probably a necessity for a side that's going anywhere.

Hey, does that mean that we've got some team balance in the midfield?

 

[MrMeaner]

And one Peter Burgoyne is probably a necessity for a side that's going anywhere.

Hey, does that mean that we've got some team balance in the midfield?

Yep, I reckon. We have the reliable bloke who plays high-percentage footy and the lair. Now we just have to get another couple of their types to rotate through.

I think that I have just contradicted myself

 

[Mad Dog]

MD, I, for one, am still critical as we may well scrape into the finals this year by making minimal changes but that just sets us up for a massive collapse and rebuilding stage in coming years.

Short-termism is not in the club's best interests.

I agree........there are some similarities here to the AFC late 2003......not in terms of ladder position, but in terms of the belief that we could squeeze another premiership assault out of the same group. It will be interesting to see if MW has the intestinal fortitude to put the clubs interests first instead of his own ego.

 

[MrMeaner]

I agree........there are some similarities here to the AFC late 2003......not in terms of ladder position, but in terms of the belief that we could squeeze another premiership assault out of the same group. It will be interesting to see if MW has the intestinal fortitude to put the clubs interests first instead of his own ego.

At the moment, the evidence points to the answer being 'no'.