Taylor Walker

[King Elvis]

Just on Walker, sadly he just couldn't be played this week after that stinker last week. He was an absolute passenger last week and he looked absolutely lost.

His confidence is down at this level IMO. He couldn't take simple marks in front of his eyes and he definitely did not have his normal swagger about him. To me he seemed to worry about his 2nd efforts with virtually no concentration on the first effort.

Because he is a first year player Walker doesn't have a bank of credits to cover stinkers like last week.

The selectors did their job

Did they do their job, or did the Coaching/Selection Staff create a self-fulfilling prophecy?

You're bang on about the swagger being gone; which is a shame; but why would he have lost it?

 

[razorsedge]

Perhaps when your only getting negatives about your footy you start ti think how hard is a simple game of footy to enjoy !!!!!!

 

[cmndstab]

Which two games are you talking about? I hope you don't mean the 2 prior to him being dropped a month back because as has been pointed out on here several times Tex's game against the Kangaroos was pretty good.

Round 12 2005 vs Geelong at Kardinia Park - Scott Welsh had 3 touches and kicked 1 point while his opponent Scarlett had 30 touches from full back. The next week Welshy kicked 8.2 against Richmond at Telstra Dome.

I meant games this year And I mean the game prior to him being dropped a month ago and the game last week. His Kangaroos game was good.


This is the only real nasty taste I have in my mouth about this issue - the being dropped after only one poor game in a row. Admittedly last time he was dropped it was after two poor games out of three, but still.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

The most talented player to walk through the doors since Jarman... and he can't get a game. Every other club in the competition would be falling over themselves to get games into Walker, even if they were sitting on top of the ladder.

An 18/19 year old who can kick 20 odd goals in his first half season... including 5 goals in a half against Hawthorn... is there another player in the league who compares?

But Adelaide though, we put the handbrake on. Don't want him to be an 'overnight wonder' so let's knock him down a peg or two, put him on the bench, put him out of the team, hold him back and return him to planet earth. The brightest flames burn out the fastest, right?

Walker's poor performance last week highlights that SANFL footy is a waste of time for him. He was better before he spent those 4 weeks there.

What cautious, careful, safe selection we practice. From a club that when faced with a final produces cautious, careful, safe football.

 

[Stiffy_18]

So you endorse that promotion and demotion theory being implemented with him?

You think this will be a good thing for him. I don’t, i think he should stay at Norwood before embarking on his 3rd preseason.

If Taylor Walker is as mentally weak as you are painting him to be in this thread then he doesn't deserve to be on the list, let alone get a game!

FFS, seriously, get a ****ing grip! Games are earned, they are not given. Walker earned his recall last week. He hasn't earned a game this week. Simple as that. He should be handled no differently than any other youngster and as far as I can see, the club has handled youngsters very well.

Taylor has the talent but he still has to learn a hell of a lot. So you are suggesting that he get another game after his showing last week?! You CANNOT be serious!

 

[subaru]

The most talented player to walk through the doors since Jarman... and he can't get a game. Every other club in the competition would be falling over themselves to get games into Walker, even if they were sitting on top of the ladder.

An 18/19 year old who can kick 20 odd goals in his first half season... including 5 goals in a half against Hawthorn... is there another player in the league who compares?

But Adelaide though, we put the handbrake on. Don't want him to be an 'overnight wonder' so let's knock him down a peg or two, put him on the bench, put him out of the team, hold him back and return him to planet earth. The brightest flames burn out the fastest, right?

Walker's poor performance last week highlights that SANFL footy is a waste of time for him. He was better before he spent those 4 weeks there.

What cautious, careful, safe selection we practice. From a club that when faced with a final produces cautious, careful, safe football.

Spot on.

The kid needs to be playing with better players to play better.

Stick him in there, leave him there, tell him that regardless of form he will be in the team for the rest of the year. Even if he plays limited time on the ground, playing SANFL will do nothing fo his form and give him the shits. We are not real contenders this year, and at the start of the year we were happy to play the kids and give them a crack. So we've won a few more games than we thought and all that goes out the window?


All his job is is to take a mark and kick a goal. All this defensive second effort crap ... how often did Mods chase ? Can't recall D Jarman in the forward lines busting a gut after is defenders ran off him. I know the game has changed, but Walker is a massive talent and we are running the risk of Craigifying him.

 

[Stiffy_18]

In what way is this a wasted season?

6 debutants (maybe 7 if Davis gets a go in the next week or two).

3 rising star nominees.

Tippett blossoming. He's 9 shy of being only our second 50-goalkicker in 10 years, in only his second season.

Mackay, Dangerfield and Otten becoming undisputed first 22 selections.
A style of play at times that's been as good as we've seen since 2006.

2009 might not yield a premiership. But it's not a wasted year.

Finally some perspective!

2009 is anything but a wasted year. It has been a VERY good year for the club. Mackay and Tippett taking their games it a very high level. Bernie Vince improving on last year. 6 debutants, 3 rising star nomination with one actually being a decent chance of winning the whole thing.

Even forget the debutants, we had some players that debuted last year come in and improve and show signs of what they are capable off.

We have been fielding one of the youngest sides for majority of the year, we are practically guaranteed a spot in the 8 (Can't see Essendon winning all 3) while playing some great football.

We have been recognised country wide about having a great developing list and being a side best placed to survive the raid of the draft pools by expansion teams.

And after all that someone can keep a straight face while saying its a wasted year! Well **** me!

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

FFS, seriously, get a ****ing grip! Games are earned, they are not given. Walker earned his recall last week. He hasn't earned a game this week. Simple as that. He should be handled no differently than any other youngster and as far as I can see, the club has handled youngsters very well.

Walker's first half of the season earned him the rest of the season. What did he have? 20 goals halfway through the season? That is the most impressive return from a teenage forward in our club's history. We have never seen better. Ever.

He earnt his spot. Showed that he could actually kick goals when it counted. Still wasn't the finished product of course but well on the way.

And now he's kicking around for Norwood at a level he has already proven that he's above.

How to F___ Up A Talented Player 101

 

[Stiffy_18]

Walker's first half of the season earned him the rest of the season. What did he have? 20 goals halfway through the season? That is the most impressive return from a teenage forward in our club's history. We have never seen better. Ever.

He earnt his spot. Showed that he could actually kick goals when it counted. Still wasn't the finished product of course but well on the way.

And now he's kicking around for Norwood at a level he has already proven that he's above.

How to F___ Up A Talented Player 101

What ****ed up way of looking at things. Tell me a youngster in his first year of AFL football as a key forward, that has lasted the entire season?!

Fact is it just about never happens. Great players like Pavlich, Riewoldt, Brown etc... have not played whole year at a level that they started at.

Last year Tippett strated great and hit the wall half way through the season. Mackay pretty much the same thing.

Walker's first half of the year was outstanding for a 19 year old playing his first AFL season but just like the rest of the youngsters, he hits a wall. Nothing unusual there. It happens all the time. Great kids bounce back from it, others fall by the wayside. Walker will bounce back from this. His first half of the year earned him games in the first half of the year it give you no guarantees for the second part of the year. Tell me do you earn your yearly salary in the first half of financial year and then just spend the second hald of the FY piss farting around?!

I don't understand this notion that Walker should be played because he is talented. WTF?! Every player on AFL list is talented, some more than others but there is one constant, if they want to be winners, if they want to be the best that they can be, then they have to work their backsides off for every accolade they get along the way. Walker is no different. The kid has great talent and has good work ethic. He is not a softie and will not be damaged by this as some are claiming. FFS, it takes enormous amount of mental toughness to be an elite player and you don't get that by being treated differently because you are talented.

The difference between Chris Ladhams and Tyson Edwards is worth ethic. Both special talents, one played 50 games the other going strong well past 300. That my friend is the differences. Walker is not a floppy ****. He is a great kid who doesn't need to be handled with care and should not be given any special treatment because he can kick a goal.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

What ****ed up way of looking at things. Tell me a youngster in his first year of AFL football as a key forward, that has lasted the entire season?!

Fact is it just about never happens. Great players like Pavlich, Riewoldt, Brown etc... have not played whole year at a level that they started at.

Last year Tippett strated great and hit the wall half way through the season. Mackay pretty much the same thing.

Walker's first half of the year was outstanding for a 19 year old playing his first AFL season but just like the rest of the youngsters, he hits a wall. Nothing unusual there. It happens all the time. Great kids bounce back from it, others fall by the wayside. Walker will bounce back from this. His first half of the year earned him games in the first half of the year it give you no guarantees for the second part of the year. Tell me do you earn your yearly salary in the first half of financial year and then just spend the second hald of the FY piss farting around?!

I don't understand this notion that Walker should be played because he is talented. WTF?! Every player on AFL list is talented, some more than others but there is one constant, if they want to be winners, if they want to be the best that they can be, then they have to work their backsides off for every accolade they get along the way. Walker is no different. The kid has great talent and has good work ethic. He is not a softie and will not be damaged by this as some are claiming. FFS, it takes enormous amount of mental toughness to be an elite player and you don't get that by being treated differently because you are talented.

The difference between Chris Ladhams and Tyson Edwards is worth ethic. Both special talents, one played 50 games the other going strong well past 300. That my friend is the differences. Walker is not a floppy ****. He is a great kid who doesn't need to be handled with care and should not be given any special treatment because he can kick a goal.

great post

 

[King Elvis]

Macca, I agree with you - sort of.

But I also believe that Walker has learnt everything he can from the SANFL, and the next stage in his development must be AFL; with the expected peaks/troughs that'll come with it.

We played Tippett last year and accepted he'd have some shockers, but the dividends are evident now - Walker should be the same.

 

[jc67]

Nothin's changed on here

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Walker's first half of the year was outstanding for a 19 year old playing his first AFL season but just like the rest of the youngsters, he hits a wall. Nothing unusual there. It happens all the time. Great kids bounce back from it, others fall by the wayside. Walker will bounce back from this. His first half of the year earned him games in the first half of the year it give you no guarantees for the second part of the year. Tell me do you earn your yearly salary in the first half of financial year and then just spend the second hald of the FY piss farting around?!

When did he hit the wall? How many games has he missed due to the physical toll that the season was taking on him? None. That's how many.

We invented the wall. We made it up.

Perhaps we expected him to go worse than he did and weren't prepared when, far from looking tired and in need of a rest like 99% of young players, Walker actually grabbed a game by the balls and won it for us. That's when we started to bench him and then dropped him.

I don't understand this notion that Walker should be played because he is talented. WTF?! Every player on AFL list is talented, some more than others but there is one constant, if they want to be winners, if they want to be the best that they can be, then they have to work their backsides off for every accolade they get along the way. Walker is no different. The kid has great talent and has good work ethic. He is not a softie and will not be damaged by this as some are claiming. FFS, it takes enormous amount of mental toughness to be an elite player and you don't get that by being treated differently because you are talented.

Please. If you can't tell the difference between a regular, talented AFL player and a player who could be a genuine match winner then I don't know what to tell you.

Franklin and Roughead played just about every game in their first season, let alone their second. Sure they were up and down. Sure Franklin's work ethic could have been questioned at times. And sure they've kicked a truckload of goals and won a premiership since.

The difference between Chris Ladhams and Tyson Edwards is worth ethic. Both special talents, one played 50 games the other going strong well past 300. That my friend is the differences. Walker is not a floppy ****. He is a great kid who doesn't need to be handled with care and should not be given any special treatment because he can kick a goal.

Why does everyone say this about Ladhams just out of interest? He had limited talent, didn't make it at Essendon or us. If he got it in acres of space and was on his left foot then he was fine. Any other time he was soft and crap. A poor man's Shannon Byrnes.

If Walker's work ethic was such an issue he wouldn't have been able to kick so many goals in the first half of this season. He was playing fine. So well in fact that we didn't know what to do with him given that we're scared of 'star power.' So now we're trying to engineer a solid, reliable, consistent performer (the same as the bulk of our other players) without the rough edges... and without the dizzying highs.

 

[Alex99]

Nothin's changed on here

Yeah sorry for have an inch of passion for this club and wanting what we perceive as the best thing possiable.

I know it's difficult to understand but the club is not 100% correct 100% of the time.

 

[relapse]

In what way is this a wasted season?

6 debutants (maybe 7 if Davis gets a go in the next week or two).

3 rising star nominees.

Tippett blossoming. He's 9 shy of being only our second 50-goalkicker in 10 years, in only his second season.

Mackay, Dangerfield and Otten becoming undisputed first 22 selections.
A style of play at times that's been as good as we've seen since 2006.

2009 might not yield a premiership. But it's not a wasted year.

I can see Crows98's point though. I do think that Neil does have a tendency to go safe leading up to the finals. The problem is Neil goes safe and we get exposed every year for not being good enough and the guys that we should be using in September to gain experience are sitting in the SANFL at the expense of others.

I think what Crows98 is saying that how does playing Burton in the finals and leaving Walker in the SANFL help up three years down the track when we are hopefully going to be in a legitimate position to challenge for a flag. We should be focussed on our goal of getting this squad to a flag rather than stalling and chasing impossible success with a squad that is just middle of the road.

 

[relapse]

Macca, I agree with you - sort of.

But I also believe that Walker has learnt everything he can from the SANFL, and the next stage in his development must be AFL; with the expected peaks/troughs that'll come with it.

We played Tippett last year and accepted he'd have some shockers, but the dividends are evident now - Walker should be the same.

TIppett played some stinkers last year, but look as the rewards that we are now reaping from letting him find his feet.

Walker needs to find his feet by playing regular footy, anyone remember Bryce Gibbs' first year. You have to learn to walk before you can run.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Of course they do, but does that mean we shouldn’t voice any opinion?

There is a opinion & there are broken records.

Sure the club isn't right all the time with selections, but who does get it right all the time? They are taking us the right direction - we are heading into an exciting era having blooded & listed some great talent. This is our best list -ever! Have some patience.

... yet some want to come on here & cary on about a great young talent being dorpped after a bloody ordinary game (whilst some are complaining that a player with x4 possessions & set up goals has a gold pass - go figure). Too many go on potential star status than reality! It helps to watch & analyse the game ... like the coaches do closely.

Don't get me wrong, Taylor Walker is likely to be a gun ... but he is only 19 years old, played a shocker & needs to earn his place in the side like anyone else. We are not in a position to carry players on potential because AFC is aiming for a top-4 position & outside crack at a flag.

Seriously get a grip & some realistic understanding where this club is at.

 

[relapse]

What ****ed up way of looking at things. Tell me a youngster in his first year of AFL football as a key forward, that has lasted the entire season?!

Fact is it just about never happens. Great players like Pavlich, Riewoldt, Brown etc... have not played whole year at a level that they started at.

Last year Tippett strated great and hit the wall half way through the season. Mackay pretty much the same thing.

Walker's first half of the year was outstanding for a 19 year old playing his first AFL season but just like the rest of the youngsters, he hits a wall. Nothing unusual there. It happens all the time. Great kids bounce back from it, others fall by the wayside. Walker will bounce back from this. His first half of the year earned him games in the first half of the year it give you no guarantees for the second part of the year. Tell me do you earn your yearly salary in the first half of financial year and then just spend the second hald of the FY piss farting around?!

I don't understand this notion that Walker should be played because he is talented. WTF?! Every player on AFL list is talented, some more than others but there is one constant, if they want to be winners, if they want to be the best that they can be, then they have to work their backsides off for every accolade they get along the way. Walker is no different. The kid has great talent and has good work ethic. He is not a softie and will not be damaged by this as some are claiming. FFS, it takes enormous amount of mental toughness to be an elite player and you don't get that by being treated differently because you are talented.

The difference between Chris Ladhams and Tyson Edwards is worth ethic. Both special talents, one played 50 games the other going strong well past 300. That my friend is the differences. Walker is not a floppy ****. He is a great kid who doesn't need to be handled with care and should not be given any special treatment because he can kick a goal.

What an insult to one of our best ever players to play for our club, Chris Ladhams was a spud with a phenomenal kick, he wasnt even Tyson's boot lace. I saw nothing in him except for his leg in the whole time that he was at the Crows. I am sick players supposedly being "super talented" that never show anything, IMO if they were good enough they would have showed something.

 

[relapse]

There is a opinion & there are broken records.

Sure the club isn't right all the time with selections, but who does get it right all the time? They are taking us the right direction - we are heading into an exciting era having blooded & listed some great talent. This is our best list -ever! Have some patience.

... yet some want to come on here & cary on about a great young talent being dorpped after a bloody ordinary game (whilst some are complaining that a player with x4 possessions & set up goals has a gold pass - go figure). Too many go on potential star status than reality! It helps to watch & analyse the game ... like the coaches do closely.

Don't get me wrong, Taylor Walker is likely to be a gun ... but he is only 19 years old, played a shocker & needs to earn his place in the side like anyone else. We are not in a position to carry players on potential because AFC is aiming for a top-4 position & outside crack at a flag.

Seriously get a grip & some realistic understanding where this club is at.

Well if last Saturday night didnt give you a realistic understanding of where this club is at then I am not sure what will.

People are deluding themselves if they seriously think we are an outside chance for the flag, if we were, we would have beaten Geelong 2 weeks ago and would have beaten Collingwood last Saturday. I even think realistically we are no chance for the top four, though it is mathematically still possible we really dont deserve to be there by virtue of the fact that we have struggled against the top eight sides.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

What an insult to one of our best ever players to play for our club, Chris Ladhams was a spud with a phenomenal kick, he wasnt even Tyson's boot lace. I saw nothing in him except for his leg in the whole time that he was at the Crows. I am sick players supposedly being "super talented" that never show anything, IMO if they were good enough they would have showed something.

Woosh, over the top of the head!

Stiffy's point was Ladhams had just as much talent as Edwards, perhaps more in freakish sense ... but did not apply himself - so was a waste! Edwards also had a similar point early in his career, got dropped, knuckled down & became a legend of AFC.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Well if last Saturday night didnt give you a realistic understanding of where this club is at then I am not sure what will.

People are deluding themselves if they seriously think we are an outside chance for the flag, if we were, we would have beaten Geelong 2 weeks ago and would have beaten Collingwood last Saturday. I even think realistically we are no chance for the top four, though it is mathematically still possible we really dont deserve to be there by virtue of the fact that we have struggled against the top eight sides.

We are reasonable chance to make the top-4.

Yet "supporters" of AFC would rather we blood youngsters not deserving of selection & throw away the year.

Geez, I'm glad some of you have no official status at AFC, as when it the hunt even a a small chance, you NEVER give up!!

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Sure the club isn't right all the time with selections, but who does get it right all the time? They are taking us the right direction - we are heading into an exciting era having blooded & listed some great talent. This is our best list -ever! Have some patience.

Fair call.

Now that the initial disappointment is over and my 'emotional posts' are out of the way, it is still very easy to be excited about Friday night. Hentschel back + another debutant who I'm keen to see. Positives certainly do outweight the negatives.

 

[crowman86]

We are reasonable chance to make the top-4.

Yet "supporters" of AFC would rather we blood youngsters not deserving of selection & throw away the year.

Geez, I'm glad some of you have no official status at AFC, as when it the hunt even a a small chance, you NEVER give up!!

/thread

I am bitterly disappointed with Taylor being dropped, its not fair blah blah blah, but I cannot believe that some people on here are talking about this year being a write off, rather blooding new talent rather than trying our hardest for an outside shot at the flag.

Were we in any better position in 97/98? If there is ever a chance you take it with both hands and see how far you get.

 

[jackster83]

Walker has been playing poorly because he is afraid of getting dropped. This is a guy who grabbed the SANFL by the balls last year and who did not seem at all surprised that his first kick in AFL was a goal from a brutal angle. He appeared quite comfortable at this level earlier in the year. Craig keeps going on about Taylor's weaknesses (e.g. defensive pressure) but other young players on our list don't seem to get singled out as much as him. He was poor against Collingwood last weekend but we shouldn't put too many negative thoughts in his head by repeatedly saying certain parts of his game aren't up to scratch. He's 19, just let him play footy.

 

[subaru]

/thread

I am bitterly disappointed with Taylor being dropped, its not fair blah blah blah, but I cannot believe that some people on here are talking about this year being a write off, rather blooding new talent rather than trying our hardest for an outside shot at the flag.

Were we in any better position in 97/98? If there is ever a chance you take it with both hands and see how far you get.

Yes, you are right in one respect - you should take your chance - but the difference here is in 97/98 we had a coach that did that, today we don't.

Craig may have learnt his trade under Blight, but that is where the similarity ends.

We should have beaten Hawks two years ago in that final, we should have beaten Collingwood last year. Two chances to achieve a finals win - gone. Not to mention 05 & 06.

Don't get me wrong, I am not gunning for Craig's head - far fom it, but obviously the combination of the way he coaches and the way Taylor Walker has been playing is at odds. I just think Blight may have done it differently.