Training Pre season training

[ScrappyDo]

Okay? None of that excuses some of the weirdly personal comments about him as a person and exaggerated criticism of his career that gets thrown his way because of his draft number.

Nar that's just misdirection. He cops it because was an almighty waste of talent, nothing to do with Bont or anything else.
I don't blame him. He landed at a dysfunctional club with a terrible coach and looks like he probably suffers with anxiety and just isn’t cut out for it. Shit happens.
Most punters simply don't look deeper than on-field performance. That's just the swill of an internet forum, and this place is tame by any measure.

 

[The Cobra]

Very harsh.
Had a couple of very average coaches who did nobody any favours.
Jack played 171 games for the club. Highly doubt only 2 were good.
His misfortune was being compared to Bontempelli for his entire career.
“Pure shite” - really?

Spot on - was never a world beater but he could have been a nice player - never reached his potential due to the ordinary coaching and country football club training standards he experienced.

 

[Sully111]

Billings lacked swagger. It held him back immensely.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Billings lacked swagger. It held him back immensely.

If only we'd drafted Jack Sparrow.

 

[Desperate saint]

Nar that's just misdirection. He cops it because was an almighty waste of talent, nothing to do with Bont or anything else.
I don't blame him. He landed at a dysfunctional club with a terrible coach and looks like he probably suffers with anxiety and just isn’t cut out for it. Shit happens.
Most punters simply don't look deeper than on-field performance. That's just the swill of an internet forum, and this place is tame by any measure.

Nailed it -had all the skills but never looked confident -never took the game on always took the safe option
and his kick for goal was devoid of confidience

 

[Diehard Saint]

Nailed it -had all the skills but never looked confident -never took the game on always took the safe option
and his kick for goal was devoid of confidience

Again, more than likely a coaching issue.
He clearly had the talent, but where was the development?
A good coach will help increase confidence.
And maybe he wasn’t encouraged to trust himself and take the game on.

They are kids when selected, they need the direction - our development has been notably shocking in the past as we have all agreed. Timing is everything, in sport as in life and sadly a lot of his issues have been due to the timing of having been at St.K at the same time as two pretty ineffectual coaches and coaching departments. Something that appears to be changing finally.

Think about what Ross did for the careers of average players like Zac Dawson, Mini and others.

 

[billings2paddy]

Yes but there are more skills than just kicking.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Gave an almighty whack to Ratten and the saints on the way out the door.
Then, didn't play many games for the dees lol

 

[akaifu]

Yes but there are more skills than just kicking.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

I am aware of that. I never said he had no skill at all

 

[akaifu]

I'd like to think that if Billings had Damian Carroll as a development coach then his career would've panned out a lot differently

 

[SteeleSaints]

Again, more than likely a coaching issue.
He clearly had the talent, but where was the development?
A good coach will help increase confidence.
And maybe he wasn’t encouraged to trust himself and take the game on.

They are kids when selected, they need the direction - our development has been notably shocking in the past as we have all agreed. Timing is everything, in sport as in life and sadly a lot of his issues have been due to the timing of having been at St.K at the same time as two pretty ineffectual coaches and coaching departments. Something that appears to be changing finally.

Think about what Ross did for the careers of average players like Zac Dawson, Mini and others.

Agree Richardson was a complete confidence killer right across the club, why they kept him on for 6 years defies any sound judgement. It was nearly as bad as the list manager decisions over that period.

 

[Imtellingya]

When are the boys back?

 

[SaintWrld]

When are the boys back?

Thursday 9th

 

[Neil Elvis Winmar]

Okay? None of that excuses some of the weirdly personal comments about him as a person and exaggerated criticism of his career that gets thrown his way because of his draft number.

I agree I think there is football criticism and then just ridiculous stuff that gets said about players after they leave us. Just not required!

JB was a good person and clubman for a long time. It didn’t work out for him the way he, the club or us would have wanted but he still put in the work, copped the injuries and was a model citizen during his time.

If we picked him at the pick we got Van Ess or Allison we would be saying he made a solid contribution’s. He didn’t decide the pick.

Most clubs had him around that pick, but in hindsight his natural build and body didn’t allow him to run at the level for long enough that the good high HF’s or wingman do. I thought he did for one half of one season and then broke down again which made it tough for him.

Hard to predict that it’s a pretty fine line!


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Veer Right]

Well he was a pretty average player and he’s gone. It wasn’t all his fault but pro sports is about winners and losers and he was a face of the club while we were shit and wore a lot of hopes and blame. Tough gig but I don’t really care that he’s gone. A broom has gone through the place and taken away a lot of GOPs. It’s a good thing so far.

Dunstan was the one player i thought the club did wrong by. He had a good season and we turfed him because the coach and him didn't like each other.

Then a few of our supporters on here threw the boot in too. I still shake my head when i think of it.

I agree with you btw.

 

[Veer Right]

Billings lacked swagger. It held him back immensely.

Lack of contested ball and playing it way to safe with his disposal. Don't miss him at all.

 

[tomjoad]

Very harsh.
Had a couple of very average coaches who did nobody any favours.
Jack played 171 games for the club. Highly doubt only 2 were good.
His misfortune was being compared to Bontempelli for his entire career.
“Pure shite” - really?

Yes. 171 games of being very well paid for being a constant underachiever...because the club was too shit scared of losing "perceived" talent. What I will say about Jack Billings is that he was a shrewd business man, that should have never got beyond low middle management but knew how to excise top dollar by reading the room of the club. I don't owe poor Jack feckin' Billings any kindness. He's open to scrutiny and open to opinion because he plays a professional game. He could've proved me wrong with actions, but never did. I'm open to scrutiny and opinion too ...and that's fine, because I'm prepared to stand by them against everyone if needs be. There's other clubs with shitty coaches too. Good players however, are good because they rise above mediocrity in any circumstances. That's just life in general really.
As for Bont comparisons... it's just another excuse for people to cry "poor Billings" and pardon his general shittiness.
Anyway, you should see what I have ready for Max King this year if he doesn't show up.

 

[Jay Beast]

Geez, I find it hard to judge an ex-player without actually knowing the full story.

Good luck to JB.

 

[Sully111]

Again, more than likely a coaching issue.
He clearly had the talent, but where was the development?
A good coach will help increase confidence.
And maybe he wasn’t encouraged to trust himself and take the game on.

They are kids when selected, they need the direction - our development has been notably shocking in the past as we have all agreed. Timing is everything, in sport as in life and sadly a lot of his issues have been due to the timing of having been at St.K at the same time as two pretty ineffectual coaches and coaching departments. Something that appears to be changing finally.

Think about what Ross did for the careers of average players like Zac Dawson, Mini and others.

I have no doubt a decent coaching staff could have helped him, but he really needs to shoulder some of the blame himself.

He really did seem to play it safe.

I was a defender of his for a long time. I was always waiting for the penny to drop and for him to really step up and try to take games by the scruff of the neck. I honestly don't think he had the disposition for it.

I see someone like Hugo Garcia and that passion and hunger is just dripping off him.

 

[jwikked]

Lack of contested ball and playing it way to safe with his disposal. Don't miss him at all.

Losing him and Gresham was on par with getting a top 3 draft pick

 

[StCicatriz]

Dunstan was the one player i thought the club did wrong by. He had a good season and we turfed him because the coach and him didn't like each other.

Then a few of our supporters on here threw the boot in too. I still shake my head when i think of it.

I agree with you btw.

Ya kidding

Dunstan was gifted games for years and years. Richo had a soft spot for him.

 

[Nutsngum]

Yes. 171 games of being very well paid for being a constant underachiever...because the club was too shit scared of losing "perceived" talent. What I will say about Jack Billings is that he was a shrewd business man, that should have never got beyond low middle management but knew how to excise top dollar by reading the room of the club. I don't owe poor Jack feckin' Billings any kindness. He's open to scrutiny and open to opinion because he plays a professional game. He could've proved me wrong with actions, but never did. I'm open to scrutiny and opinion too ...and that's fine, because I'm prepared to stand by them against everyone if needs be. There's other clubs with shitty coaches too. Good players however, are good because they rise above mediocrity in any circumstances. That's just life in general really.
As for Bont comparisons... it's just another excuse for people to cry "poor Billings" and pardon his general shittiness.
Anyway, you should see what I have ready for Max King this year if he doesn't show up.

Doesn’t show up to what? Your birthday party?

 

[jwikked]

Ya kidding

Dunstan was gifted games for years and years. Richo had a soft spot for him.

He played one half decent year (a few elite games, some good games) and then thinks he's too good for his next contract, goes to another club - and plays 33 VFL games in two years. He played 5 games for Melbourne at top level.

 

[tomjoad]

Doesn’t show up to what? Your birthday party?

No, yours. Xo

 

[akaifu]

Thursday 9th

Do you know what days they'll be training each week?

 

[beside the seaside]

Yes. 171 games of being very well paid for being a constant underachiever...because the club was too shit scared of losing "perceived" talent. What I will say about Jack Billings is that he was a shrewd business man, that should have never got beyond low middle management but knew how to excise top dollar by reading the room of the club. I don't owe poor Jack feckin' Billings any kindness. He's open to scrutiny and open to opinion because he plays a professional game. He could've proved me wrong with actions, but never did. I'm open to scrutiny and opinion too ...and that's fine, because I'm prepared to stand by them against everyone if needs be. There's other clubs with shitty coaches too. Good players however, are good because they rise above mediocrity in any circumstances. That's just life in general really.
As for Bont comparisons... it's just another excuse for people to cry "poor Billings" and pardon his general shittiness.
Anyway, you should see what I have ready for Max King this year if he doesn't show up.