Who is the next Lester?

[Gadzorks]

I'm thinking about Ryan Lester.

Lester was an unassuming player who, by his own admission, played safe for the first chunk of his career, but now is happy to take risks and make mistakes. And is a much better player for it.

Lester's on field performance was great early on but why did it take so long to develop that next level of confidence that underpinned his current success?

Did his rise correlate with marrying into the zorko clan and sitting around at countless family events talking footy and gaining insight into zorko's mindset which influenced his own?

The ashcrofts, motty, lohman, Fletcher and morris have that self belief to spare but are there other players on our list who, like Lester, who have a massive ceiling that they may not reach because they can't build their self belief even when they are playing well.?

What is it that will unlock that belief and ability?

 

[Gadzorks]

And how do I edit the typo in the thread title? Should be who not why.

Bloody texting on a small screen. Bloody old eyes and fat fingers.

 

[briztoon]

And how do I edit the typo in the thread title? Should be who not why.

Bloody texting on a small screen. Bloody old eyes and fat fingers.

Click the edit feature in the original post, and it will allow you to edit the title.

 

[Groo2]

Only 3KZ can answer this question

 

[knaf]

Check his Roster thread. Had several years when he dealt with back related hamstring injuries, which restricted his movement. I believe, the talent was always there, just needed to get his body right.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Harris Andrews is getting close but might be as good as him one day.

 

[lionshine]

Luke Lloyd

 

[Gadzorks]

Harris Andrews is getting close but might be as good as him one day.

That wasn't the point - we've done Lester's abilities. Short version - are their learnings in Lester's pathway that can be identified and used for future players?

Long - The bit I was focused on was how odd/rare it is for players to be granted a decade to develop their best. And I was wondering if a relationship that extended out of the club sphere was an influencing factor on that late development..

And if so, how can we harness that to help the development of future players because this run of elite players coming to us will end and we need to find ways to make sure the talent available to us gets every support and oppotunity to develop.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

I am the next Lester.

 

[dlanod]

Long - The bit I was focused on was how odd/rare it is for players to be granted a decade to develop their best. And I was wondering if a relationship that extended out of the club sphere was an influencing factor on that late development..

All you need is a decade, and a car's worth of injuries ahead of you so there's literally no choice but to be given the playing time.

 

[McLuggages]

There won't be another one anytime soon, nor does there have to be. Pretty unique set of circumstances he found himself in.

If you're talking heart and soul player who hangs around the list way longer than we'd expect and then comes good late career - maybe Bruce?

Answerth has a bit of Froggy about him if he works his socks off to 200 games somehow none of us would've seen it coming?

 

[Ceebee]

There will never be another one and I am so glad he got a premiership .

 

[Elixuh]

I can’t wait for 3kz to cancel Gadzorks.

 

[KissKiss]

I thought that Ah Chee might be going down a similar path but then he nailed his spot this year and especially in the finals.

In terms of other guys who are regularly sitting on the outside of the firsts but clearly still have lots of talent. And might just need the right timing to get a regular spot as more of a veteran (not they are there yet): Answerth, Dev, Lloyd are all potential options. Maybe Gardiner and Doedee could do something similar in have to bide their time now for a while

 

[Gadzorks]

I can’t wait for 3kz to cancel Gadzorks.

My boss might also like it. It'd save me hours of scrolling time a day during the season.

 

[Nuggo]

Answerth showed his worth but due to the tight squeeze down back he could become a trade target for other clubs. Don't think will he take the same path Lester took.