What's wrong with the Bendigo Pioneers?

[justwatchin]

My son plays in Central Murray and has already had a letter from Clarendon College asking if he would like to apply for a scholarship and he is only 14, so they obviously have people up in our region giving them names of potential applicants.

 

[Mkcaptain]

Bump.

I'm currently playing under 15s in Bendigo and there are some really promising players coming up. The future looks a bit brighter,

 

[beowulf]

Bump.

I'm currently playing under 15s in Bendigo and there are some really promising players coming up. The future looks a bit brighter,

Thank God for that. The Pios need a bit of talent this year too, as injuries have effected some of the blokes I thought were going to be the team's best.

 

[beowulf]

My son plays in Central Murray and has already had a letter from Clarendon College asking if he would like to apply for a scholarship and he is only 14, so they obviously have people up in our region giving them names of potential applicants.

Exactly. These schools take their footy seriously and will look for an edge. It is a smart move, as they focus not just on academics.

 

[tony wines]

They won the under 16s car last year so should be better next. currently have a lot of bottom age kids.

 

[Mkcaptain]

I don't think it's just the schools in fault. We (the pioneers) need to take more initiative and could possibly talk the schools into taking footy more seriously.

Girton's only sport is volleyball and it is Bendigo's only fully private school. The other problem with Girton is that there aren't enough students to make a very competitive team. I guess the Pioneers could start a program where they house the kid and pay for his education.

But out of the 3 schools that leaves CCB and Senior. This is where the pioneers need to place their development efforts.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't there younger development squads this year.

(Sorry, this post makes no sense)

 

[Vanderhum]

I don't think it's just the schools in fault. We (the pioneers) need to take more initiative and could possibly talk the schools into taking footy more seriously.

Girton's only sport is volleyball and it is Bendigo's only fully private school. The other problem with Girton is that there aren't enough students to make a very competitive team. I guess the Pioneers could start a program where they house the kid and pay for his education.

But out of the 3 schools that leaves CCB and Senior. This is where the pioneers need to place their development efforts.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't there younger development squads this year.

(Sorry, this post makes no sense)

Just watched the Pioneers play Ballarat in Mildura. Never seen a side butcher the ball more than what the Pioneers did today. The inside 50's would have been the same as Ballarat but the delivery into the forward line was appalling. It was the same last year so I am thinking the problem is with their training & their structure. The turnovers were what you would expect to see in junior footy. They also seem to be certain player focussed. Rather than deliver to the best option they would kick/handball to their mate who would be under pressure. The club seems to wallowing along with no improvement.

 

[GRANDSTAND]

Just watched the Pioneers play Ballarat in Mildura. Never seen a side butcher the ball more than what the Pioneers did today. The inside 50's would have been the same as Ballarat but the delivery into the forward line was appalling. It was the same last year so I am thinking the problem is with their training & their structure. The turnovers were what you would expect to see in junior footy. They also seem to be certain player focussed. Rather than deliver to the best option they would kick/handball to their mate who would be under pressure. The club seems to wallowing along with no improvement.

Hi Vanderhum,
its a bit off topic but as I could not travel to Mildura from Ballarat because of work committments, are you able to tell me much about todays game, from a Rebels perspective. Cheers

 

[Vanderhum]

Hi Vanderhum,
its a bit off topic but as I could not travel to Mildura from Ballarat because of work committments, are you able to tell me much about todays game, from a Rebels perspective. Cheers

Sure, they were much cleaner with foot skills and that was the difference between the two sides. They won the ball out of the centre with the big ruckman winning most the centre bounces. The full forward Darcy Watchorn was a clear winner and even though he missed a couple of set shots would have kicked at least 4 or 5 goals. The delivery to Watchorn was first rate and given he is provided with plenty of space in front, great lead and good hands ~ was the dominant player on the ground. Rory Taggert won a lot of the footy in the mid field. Pioneers had plenty of the footy but the turnovers killed them and the rebels made them pay big time. Whilst I did not keep stats, the goals rebels kicked from turnovers would be significant. Two kick out short passes by the Pioneers went directly to a rebel player who drilled the goals. That said, the pressure put on by the rebels when not in possession was a contributing factor. Sorry I don't know the players names but from a rebels perspective they were the better team and deserved to come away with the victory.

 

[GRANDSTAND]

Sure, they were much cleaner with foot skills and that was the difference between the two sides. They won the ball out of the centre with the big ruckman winning most the centre bounces. The full forward Darcy Watchorn was a clear winner and even though he missed a couple of set shots would have kicked at least 4 or 5 goals. The delivery to Watchorn was first rate and given he is provided with plenty of space in front, great lead and good hands ~ was the dominant player on the ground. Rory Taggert won a lot of the footy in the mid field. Pioneers had plenty of the footy but the turnovers killed them and the rebels made them pay big time. Whilst I did not keep stats, the goals rebels kicked from turnovers would be significant. Two kick out short passes by the Pioneers went directly to a rebel player who drilled the goals. That said, the pressure put on by the rebels when not in possession was a contributing factor. Sorry I don't know the players names but from a rebels perspective they were the better team and deserved to come away with the victory.

Thanks, I appreciate your report. You commented about the pressure the Rebels placed on the Pioneers when not in possession, this applied pressure has been a hallmark of their gamestyle this year, and I hope they can keep it going.

As for the Pioneers last time they played the Rebels was when Jake Stringer broke his leg in ballarat, do you know how he is going? It was a pretty ugly incident and he is a boy that shows a huge amount of potential, and is a great loss to the Pioneers.

 

[Vanderhum]

Thanks, I appreciate your report. You commented about the pressure the Rebels placed on the Pioneers when not in possession, this applied pressure has been a hallmark of their gamestyle this year, and I hope they can keep it going.

As for the Pioneers last time they played the Rebels was when Jake Stringer broke his leg in ballarat, do you know how he is going? It was a pretty ugly incident and he is a boy that shows a huge amount of potential, and is a great loss to the Pioneers.

Not sure, I am not involved with the Club but someone did mention he will not play again this year

 

[Schnail73]

Not sure, I am not involved with the Club but someone did mention he will not play again this year.

Unfortunately this appears to be the case. Broke both bones in his lower left leg, surgery and rehabilitation will take about 12 months. He's young though, so hopefully he'll come back. He's certainly good and tough enough.....

As for the poor directionless souls still on the park, with their game plan they will struggle for the rest of the year. What needs to be developed is a TEAM strategy, not a 2 or three man show with the remainder a support side show. It's almost embarressing watching from the sidelines some of the decision making that goes unmentioned. There is no way this group is being directed for the improvement of ALL the players on the ground.

Until this approach changes, players will continue to go backwards. Sure, the U16 side were undefeated last year in the carnival, but what happens to them once they start in the U18 structure?

 

[Vanderhum]

Not sure, I am not involved with the Club but someone did mention he will not play again this year.

Unfortunately this appears to be the case. Broke both bones in his lower left leg, surgery and rehabilitation will take about 12 months. He's young though, so hopefully he'll come back. He's certainly good and tough enough.....

As for the poor directionless souls still on the park, with their game plan they will struggle for the rest of the year. What needs to be developed is a TEAM strategy, not a 2 or three man show with the remainder a support side show. It's almost embarressing watching from the sidelines some of the decision making that goes unmentioned. There is no way this group is being directed for the improvement of ALL the players on the ground.

Until this approach changes, players will continue to go backwards. Sure, the U16 side were undefeated last year in the carnival, but what happens to them once they start in the U18 structure?

It certainly does appear there is a protected species at the Pioneers. Time and again yesterday they delivered to a certain player who was under the pump (on the outside) when there were far better options with players in the clear. Just seemed a bit too obvious. There was plenty of concerned mumbling amongst the crowd and whilst there are some good players at the Pioneers, Flood Mee and Valintine there just didn't seem to be any structure or game plan. They need a big forward who will give them some direction going inside 50 and some intense training on delivery under pressure. I seen a few TAC cup games and my view for what its worth, The top APS sides would give the Pioneers an absolute bath.

 

[Schnail73]

Saw the game yesterday between the pioneers and the chargers, two pretty ordinary sides (chargers had about 6 out on Vic country duties) going at it...................

What can I say, if there ever was a time where Bendigo could have stolen a game, this was it....alas, they still cannot function as a team, are completely 3 - 4 player focussed, the rest are a sideshow......Must admit Koe Ngawati was fantastic, ran himself into the ground and used as many of his options offered, but at times it looked as if the Chargers could do as they pleased.....and they did.

 

[roysieboy]

Saw the game yesterday between the pioneers and the chargers, two pretty ordinary sides (chargers had about 6 out on Vic country duties) going at it...................

What can I say, if there ever was a time where Bendigo could have stolen a game, this was it....alas, they still cannot function as a team, are completely 3 - 4 player focussed, the rest are a sideshow......Must admit Koe Ngawati was fantastic, ran himself into the ground and used as many of his options offered, but at times it looked as if the Chargers could do as they pleased.....and they did.

Its about time they get a new coach and someone with a game plan,,and someone with at least half a footy brain and they will start to win a few games

 

[Schnail73]

Good to see Sam Kerridge, Ollie Wines & Cam Valentine playing for Vic Country today, they'll be better for the experience of having a strong side around them.....Kerridge should stand out a Wines will get leather poisoning.....

 

[roysieboy]

Good to see Sam Kerridge, Ollie Wines & Cam Valentine playing for Vic Country today, they'll be better for the experience of having a strong side around them.....Kerridge should stand out a Wines will get leather poisoning.....

Pios boys didnt do much because vic country had a game plan and they had no idea what a game plan was coming from bendigo pios

 

[Schnail73]

Pios boys didnt do much because vic country had a game plan and they had no idea what a game plan was coming from bendigo pios

Fair enuff, Kerridge still a chance to get drafted this year, Valentine is one of Vic Country's best backs, and wines is still bottom age, they would all be better for the experience, hope they bring back some game plan info....and explain it to the coaching staff

 

[71" GF]

"Some of the other country regions" would only be Ballarat, with BAC College and St Pats, with a truckload of both their Under 18 and 16's enrolled.

Unsure of Geelong, but I'm fairly sure Gippsland and Murray kids don"t get a scholarship freekick.

In fact a friend of mine is thinking of boarding and enrolling his son in school in Shepparton because of the travel involved to training etc.

Gippsland grammar in Sale takes in boarders and catholic college sale now has an AFL scholarship on offer and play div 1 herald shield but apart from that there's nothing in Gippsland.The standard of the Gippsland fl is a lot stronger than their country footy c'ships results show however, and would've won a lot more games against other regions had all their players been available.As well the standard of the gippsland league U/18's and U/16's would be as strong as any in country or even metro Victoria which is where a lot of the Power listed players play when not getting a game.Interesting, having been involved a lot with junior basketball ,Jake Stringer aside ,the mens (or boys) basketball in Bendigo is traditionally weak as well despite having such a huge population and the best facilities in the state.

 

[Schnail73]

Gippsland grammar in Sale takes in boarders and catholic college sale now has an AFL scholarship on offer and play div 1 herald shield but apart from that there's nothing in Gippsland.The standard of the Gippsland fl is a lot stronger than their country footy c'ships results show however, and would've won a lot more games against other regions had all their players been available.As well the standard of the gippsland league U/18's and U/16's would be as strong as any in country or even metro Victoria which is where a lot of the Power listed players play when not getting a game.Interesting, having been involved a lot with junior basketball ,Jake Stringer aside ,the mens (or boys) basketball in Bendigo is traditionally weak as well despite having such a huge population and the best facilities in the state.

Last year the Pioneer U/16's were undefeated in the country trials in Bendigo. That team included Wines, Stringer, S Heavyside, Mee, Iudica, Donahue, Collins, Flood, Munari........and a couple of others whose names escape me. All these guys are on this years U18's list, and playing. The Pioneers staff recognise that that U16 list was very good, next year should be a lot better if they retain that core group. There are very good footballers in the Bendigo region, they just need some corrective, influential direction, and they'll succeed. A plan would be a good place to start. I would'nt say that the population is huge either, the area is though and the travel distances would be in the furthest 2 for TAC squads. Training as a steady group can be a nightmare.
It'll happen, just not this year.......

 

[Footyking123]

Stringer was the best player in the Pioneers list this year. He could play back and dominate proven in the under15 Vic Country side where he made all Aus. He can play midfield and key forward. It was a big loss for them.

They have talent coming through their list through their under 16 side that won the carnival and their 16 side this year lost to the rebels by only approx 20 points and then smashed the bushrangers. Their best players were J.Lanyon(mid), I. Miller(back) and N. Dyson(forward).
They had 10 players asked to tryout for Vic Country so hopefully with these two years of being competitive in the TAC under 16 carnival they will win next year more than they lose.

 

[Schnail73]

Any chance the Pioneers this weekend against the Bushies?
Fair to say Kerridge will play VC again this week against SA, so he'll be missing. May get Wines and Valentine back, have to wait and see. It's at the home dungheap (one of the coldest place i've been to without the snow), need 3 or 4 players to stand up. Ngawati, Flood, Foreman and Sam Heavyside are in good form, along with Flack and Christodoulou.
Need a forward to kick a bag, or at least provide a target for the mids and half backs to kick to. They have really missed Knox at full forward. To hell with the short game, it's killed 'em up to now. The draft pick aren't playing (Kerridge & Stringer), play some direct football........for Christ sake.....or at least for their own.

_________________________________________________________________
Pioneers
Hard to watch, harder to speak about

 

[71" GF]

Any chance the Pioneers this weekend against the Bushies?
Fair to say Kerridge will play VC again this week against SA, so he'll be missing. May get Wines and Valentine back, have to wait and see. It's at the home dungheap (one of the coldest place i've been to without the snow), need 3 or 4 players to stand up. Ngawati, Flood, Foreman and Sam Heavyside are in good form, along with Flack and Christodoulou.
Need a forward to kick a bag, or at least provide a target for the mids and half backs to kick to. They have really missed Knox at full forward. To hell with the short game, it's killed 'em up to now. The draft pick aren't playing (Kerridge & Stringer), play some direct football........for Christ sake.....or at least for their own.

_________________________________________________________________
Pioneers
Hard to watch, harder to speak about

What is the latest on young Jake's injury BTW hope all is OK and he comes back 100%.Saw him play Basketball a fair bit over the last few years against my son and he is certainly a talented athlete ,it was a shame to see him suffer such a horrific injury so early in his career.

 

[Schnail73]

What is the latest on young Jake's injury BTW hope all is OK and he comes back 100%.Saw him play Basketball a fair bit over the last few years against my son and he is certainly a talented athlete ,it was a shame to see him suffer such a horrific injury so early in his career.

Appears to be progressing well, surgery and a moonboot was the fix. He's moving about quite well under the circumstances, he's tough and has the AIS boffins behind him so the rehabilitation process wil be top class. He'll be back well and truly next year. It can't be rushed for obvious reasons, but the healing is going along well, no infections or the like....
Fingers crossed......

 

[Vanderhum]

What is the latest on young Jake's injury BTW hope all is OK and he comes back 100%.Saw him play Basketball a fair bit over the last few years against my son and he is certainly a talented athlete ,it was a shame to see him suffer such a horrific injury so early in his career.

Always rate your input schnail on what's going on at the Pio-knees, (is that a typo) but there comes a time when your pationette positive spin upon spin needs (and many times constructive) to be balanced against the zoning of the TAC sides. The Bendigo Pioneers are the only TAC team who don't enjoy the geography of a local oval. An oval to train on as a group week in week out, a full summer of set plays, team structures would be a boon for this side. But because of cost, the enormous size of their player grab and the horrible coaching centralised focussed mentality they seem to be obsessed with the only players capable of playing TAC must come from Bendigo or its immediate 100 k clubs. In reality they miss out on their massive zone. Time and time again, Players from the Mid Murray, Sunraysia and Mallee Leagues miss out because even though they are good enough or better, the mindset of the Bendigo Base is "dont rate players from outside the zone of comfort unless they are freaks" . Kids who work just as hard and would kick butt in TAC are missed because the Pioneers are too Bendigo focussed.
Perfect Example is the lad from Imperils in Sunraysia FNL who has been named nearly every week in the best players in the seniors in SFL for his hard ball gets. Nic Mee, 16 years and yet when the Pioneers played the rebels in Mildura a few weeks back, starts every quarter on the bench in a game where the Pioneers were belted in the contested possessions. Tells me there is an idealogy whcih needs to be addressed. Mee would be at 16 a first picked player in any TAC team in 2012. How can a side who goes undefeated in the Under 16 Championships in 2010 against all the other TAC Under 16 sides get belted week in week out in 2011. There has to be an identifiable problem with selection. If Bendigo don't want the bigger zone, not just to have it in case there is a star but to quash others is wrong. They need to put the work in. The token game North just to satisfy the AFL is crap. They have to spend some time and some money and look at what they are missing if they want to maximise the potential of their massive zone zone.