Ryan Griffen

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Don't want to be too harsh on Griff. We tend to judge him on his high draft selection and the obvious talents and physical attributes he has. He was a valuable contributor last year and he had to deal with a tough start to 2009 with the loss of his Dad.

There are a few players already in the seniors who we KNOW have some improvement in them. Some have been very satisfying to watch already. Others like Griff have been maybe a touch disappointing but only because we can see they have so much potential. We only need this bunch to show the 10%-15% improvement they are capable of and we will have a premiership. (Along with the arrival of Hall and the likely emergence of two or three of the newer ones like Roughead, Jones and Moles)

This group is:

  • Griffen
  • Williams
  • Ward (just has to continue the trajectory of the last couple of years)
  • Everitt
  • Hill
  • Picken
I would add Minson to this list but the Bonsoy Kid might struggle a bit this year. Might have to wait until 2011 before he's back to his best. (Hope I'm wrong).
 

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has provided quality performances consistently in finals. Easily our best player in the last two finals series.

He is progressing beautifully. And is already elite.

Yes we can all see that he could just tear games apart if he reproduced his peak efforts with any consistency. Equally, I am sure, he is doing everything in his power to be the very best that he can be.

If the bulldogs can continue to consistently contest finals, then Griff's match breaking games are inevitable
 
yebiga said:
has provided quality performances consistently in finals. Easily our best player in the last two finals series.

He is progressing beautifully. And is already elite.

Yes we can all see that he could just tear games apart if he reproduced his peak efforts with any consistency. Equally, I am sure, he is doing everything in his power to be the very best that he can be.

If the bulldogs can continue to consistently contest finals, then Griff's match breaking games are inevitable
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He posesses elite qualities but is not yet an elite player. He probably wouldn't even rate in our top five players at the moment. Until he can impact on games consistently his potential remains unfulfilled.

His finals peformances reveal what he is capable of. Let's hope he can do it consistently throughout this year because if he can, we will go a long way this season.
 
always right said:
He posesses elite qualities but is not yet an elite player. He probably wouldn't even rate in our top five players at the moment. Until he can impact on games consistently his potential remains unfulfilled.
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The fact he's only finished in the top 10 of our best and fairest once in his five seasons backs your statment up. Griffen's not even elite within our own club let alone the competition.

Interesting reading his profile this year on the club's website.

"A player who carries enormous external expectations, it was a mixed season for Griffen in 2009. Was below par from rounds 7-11 when he averaged just 17 disposals, but improved from that point, averaging 23 possessions in his other 17 games and increasing his defensive output. At his best, he can be a damaging player and Bulldog fans are looking for him to become an A-grade midfielder."

Seems to me the club thinks he is unjustly overated by supporters and the media, and that they are happy for him to just play a role with occasional glimpses of brilliance.
 
He cops the heaviest tag every single. Gilbee and Coons are also tagged heavily, however, teams put a lot of work into nullifying Griff's influence on a game and know that if you put him off and choke his supply he will do the rest, he dig his own hole and lie in it.

He doesn't work hard enough mentally to overcome the negating tactics of taggers and looks really burdened by his own expectations on the field. Here is a kid that found it almost too easy at junior level and needs to figure out a way of becoming more mentally agressive when things are not going his way.

He has all the skill in the world but no killer instinct, he beats himself up before his opponent has a chance to.

I've always said that we should use Griff at every opportunity, a bit like Geelong does with Ablett, have him run around the back, cheap kicks, get him running with ball as much as possible. Sometimes the best way to build someones confidence is to give it a kickstart. Id be all for using Griff as a prime mover through half back and the midfield, give him the ball at every goddam opportunity.
 
dogupya said:
I've always said that we should use Griff at every opportunity, a bit like Geelong does with Ablett, have him run around the back, cheap kicks, get him running with ball as much as possible. Sometimes the best way to build someones confidence is to give it a kickstart. Id be all for using Griff as a prime mover through half back and the midfield, give him the ball at every goddam opportunity.
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Griff significantly improved his number of handball receives in 2009, and will be looking to do so again this year with another pre-season under his belt.

As far as killer instinct? The fact that he has been probably our best finals player over the 2008 and 2009 finals series indicates to me that he certainly has a killer instinct and is capable of finding new levels in huge matches.
 
Griff needs consistancy as many have said already. I guess the frustrating thing is that we never know what we're going to get each time he steps on the field. Yes he gets tagged but so do a lot of others. Hopefully with Coons, Boyd, Gia, Gilbee, Aker and Higgins all up and running he may get free'd up a little in 2010

To be honest I don't think Griffen will ever be ranked among the elite players of the league for the following reason. I don't believe he is a natural footballer, not in terms of his skills (which are ok) but rather his instinct for the game. He seems to be forever doing the hard things well, but when it comes to the basics he simply doesn't have the knack for the game that much less gifted players like Boyd possess.

This does not mean that he can't/won't be a very successful and damaging player for the club, in fact I believe he will be.

In 2008 when we were heading towards what would ultimately be a disappointing finals series a Hawthorn supporter and long-time friend said the one Bulldogs player he feared was Ryan Griffen, because he had the ability to break the lines with his running and kicking.

Last year watching Griff from behind the interchange against essendon I witnessed him come off, vomit repeatedly, and then go back on 10 minutes later.

Therefore I dont' doubt this guy's committment, work ethic, or ability to compete with the best players in the league. I'm just not sure he has the smarts and the pure football skills to consistantly reach the level of a Judd or a Buckley, even though from a casual viewpoint he looks to have all the goods. Then again only time will tell.
 

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I actually thought he went backwards last year. I, like many others tipped him for the Brownlow at the start of last season, or at very least hoped he'd become our best/most important player. There is probably a number of reasons as to why he didn't make the step up, however that doesn't mean it won't happen this year. My biggest concern at the moment is his kicking, long goals on the run used to be his bread and butter, yet in the finals he missed many of these chances. He seemed to rush his kicks and lose his composure. Fingers crossed he improves, as he could be the difference, especially in the big games.
 
The Special One said:
I actually thought he went backwards last year. I, like many others tipped him for the Brownlow at the start of last season, or at very least hoped he'd become our best/most important player. There is probably a number of reasons as to why he didn't make the step up, however that doesn't mean it won't happen this year. My biggest concern at the moment is his kicking, long goals on the run used to be his bread and butter, yet in the finals he missed many of these chances. He seemed to rush his kicks and lose his composure. Fingers crossed he improves, as he could be the difference, especially in the big games.
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Can't agree with the backwards comment.

He played a different game this year to what he has in the past, more of an inside midfielder rather than an outside runner. He'll be a more rounded player for the experience, but I'd agree at times he struggled to consistently have an impact.

With another pre-season under his belt he'll be able to apply himself for longer periods, and when his body is more resilient his mind will be. I think he will join the AFL's elite over the next two years and maximise his talent if he stays injury free.
 
An injury free run and a more time to deal with the loss of his dad will be all he needs to improve his game.

He may never be the next AFL MVP but he will be an important part of the Doggies success for the next 5-7 years you would imagine.
 
As an unabashed Griffen fan, I think you guys have mostly hit the nail on the head. He's not elite, and at this stage seems unlikely to be. He just doesn't show us his stuff consistently enough, or quite get to the right spots to be involved more. He's not quite right in the middle of the packs like Boyd or Cooney, and he's not in space out wide like Eagleton.

I do agree, though, that the Dogs should play through him. I saw the Dogs in several finals last year, and particularly in the St Kilda loss I told my (St Kilda fan) dad that the danger man for the Dogs was Griffen. He can tear a game apart in a quarter. He just moves the ball so far, so quickly, where others seem to be screwing around with it.

I really hope he develops his game and consistency and improves further. Certainly he's not a "bust" or anything; he's a very good AFL footballer who can have match-winning bursts. But he does show those flashes of being so much more...
 
Faz 2000 said:
As an unabashed Griffen fan, I think you guys have mostly hit the nail on the head. He's not elite, and at this stage seems unlikely to be. He just doesn't show us his stuff consistently enough, or quite get to the right spots to be involved more. He's not quite right in the middle of the packs like Boyd or Cooney, and he's not in space out wide like Eagleton.

I do agree, though, that the Dogs should play through him. I saw the Dogs in several finals last year, and particularly in the St Kilda loss I told my (St Kilda fan) dad that the danger man for the Dogs was Griffen. He can tear a game apart in a quarter. He just moves the ball so far, so quickly, where others seem to be screwing around with it.

I really hope he develops his game and consistency and improves further. Certainly he's not a "bust" or anything; he's a very good AFL footballer who can have match-winning bursts. But he does show those flashes of being so much more...
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^^^^^^^^
Fair comment....was workmanlike last night. Good but not game breaking...although he put together four fairly consistent quarters.
 
Faz 2000 said:
As an unabashed Griffen fan, I think you guys have mostly hit the nail on the head. He's not elite, and at this stage seems unlikely to be. He just doesn't show us his stuff consistently enough, or quite get to the right spots to be involved more. He's not quite right in the middle of the packs like Boyd or Cooney, and he's not in space out wide like Eagleton.

I do agree, though, that the Dogs should play through him. I saw the Dogs in several finals last year, and particularly in the St Kilda loss I told my (St Kilda fan) dad that the danger man for the Dogs was Griffen. He can tear a game apart in a quarter. He just moves the ball so far, so quickly, where others seem to be screwing around with it.

I really hope he develops his game and consistency and improves further. Certainly he's not a "bust" or anything; he's a very good AFL footballer who can have match-winning bursts. But he does show those flashes of being so much more...
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Very good summary Faz. Grif's easily my favourite player at the club. From the moment he sidestepped Ablett, making him look second rate, I've been on Griff.

It must be hard on the boy with everyone seeing the talent that he shows, but has been unable to consistently put it together. If this is how his career unfolds then so be it, I'll remain happy with the glimpses of brilliance, but if he improves his output and consistency, then look out.

His finals showings have proved he can...
 
Our opinions will drastically change if he starts putting goals through from 50m instead of helicoptering them like he does so often. I agree though in the past 2 finals series I'd have Griffen and Gilbee as our 2 best. If he continues to be inconsistent in H&A matches but lights up the finals series then I couldn't care less, we have the cattle already to get to the finals and he can work his magic from there.
 
Played really well last night. Used the ball better than most and set up several scoring opportunities :thumbsu:
 
^^

that explosive run he did in the last quarter off 1/2 back was just awesome ! there was a port player right in front of him and he burnt him like he wasnt even there !

cheers
 
do not underestimate his run throught the half back line.

look at the guys we have doing it- byrnes, wojinski, varcoe.

not the most reliable kicks in the game, but they play positive, attacking, forward moving football. exactly what every team needs when they have a solid structure to support it.

this is exactly the type of player the saints were after, therefore they recruited lovett.

that move did not work out.

my point is that, as in the 2010 grand final, when the game was there to be won and everyones was buggered at the 20 min mark, players like griffin pop up ans have the fitness and speed to break the physical deadlock.
i guess some would use the term 'x factor', but that's a bit sad.
 

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