Luke Brennan

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by The Big Cat
Could be a winner. But was ranked by Champion Data as having the worst disposal of any player in the AFL (who had played more than a few games) in 2005. But our coaches can change anything, I hope!

Wha???
Worse than Ablett??
Noooooooooooo.
(*Whoosh - it's the backlash!!*)

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by The Big Cat
But our coaches can change anything, I hope!

What have they changed before?

[SimonH]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
What have they changed before?

Turned Amon Buchanan from a time-server whose greatest achievement was being hard to distinguish from Schneider, to a guy who kicks the premiership-winning goal and plays for his country. (If they get the blame for everyone who goes wrong, then vice versa for everyone who comes from the clouds.)

[Captain]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
What have they changed before?

Not sure about skills, but players attitudes.....Plugger, Hall etc

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by The Big Cat
Could be a winner. But was ranked by Champion Data as having the worst disposal of any player in the AFL (who had played more than a few games) in 2005. But our coaches can change anything, I hope!

Spriggsy, revisited?

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by SimonH
Turned Amon Buchanan from a time-server whose greatest achievement was being hard to distinguish from Schneider, to a guy who kicks the premiership-winning goal and plays for his country. (If they get the blame for everyone who goes wrong, then vice versa for everyone who comes from the clouds.)

If Brennan becomes another 'Buchanan' I'll be rapt, but improving a player's skills is not really something I've seen us do a lot of.

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
If Brennan becomes another 'Buchanan' I'll be rapt, but improving a player's skills is not really something I've seen us do a lot of.

There are some players who you can see will probably become good AFL players right from the start - even in early training sessions. Schneider is an example, even though he has a long way to go to really fulfill his potential IMO.

Others you can see something is obviously there, but there are some deficiencies (often build, or discipline) that they need to overcome before their natural abilities come to the fore. Goodes is probably an example.

But there are plenty others who finally become players you would never have imagined them turning into when you first saw them - either because they add new high level skills to their repertoire or they just improve out of sight. Sure, much of this is going to come down to the hard work of the players concerned but surely the coaching staff can take some of the credit too?

The Swans have a decent number of such players on their list - as well as Buchanan, there is Leo Barry, Brett Kirk, Ryan O'Keefe. Arguably you could put Kennelly and Craig B in that group too, though their circumstances were a little different.

Bit rich to say that there is no evidence of the coaching staff really changing anyone.

[NMWBloods]

The case of Brennan is of a player who didn't work at another side, partly because of his skills. I cannot think of an example of a player we have picked up from another side and improved his skills. This is specifically what I referred to.

[Ajn]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
What have they changed before?

LRT has to be an example

Probably would have lost 2005 without the improvement they put into to this rugby mindsetted player

[NMWBloods]

LRT always seemed to have the athletic skills - it was a matter of converting them into football smarts.

I am talking about a player who has played AFL at another club, has shown a major skill deficiency, and then we have corrected that. Spriggs is a good example and that didn't seem to work.

[Ajn]

Ted Richards

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Ajn
Ted Richards

Still can't kick particularly well on a regular basis.

[chammond]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Still can't kick particularly well on a regular basis.

Phooey!

Hall, Richards and Jolly are all better players now than when they left their previous clubs.

Of the current bunch, only Nick Davis hasn't improved.

The Brennan issue will probably remain moot anyway. He'll only get a game if -

he recovers from his long-term injuries, and
he gets fit, and
he performs well in the reserves, and
a senior player gets a long-term injury, and
we need a back-up medium sized utility as a priority.

Chances are he'll be another Chris Obst.

[liz]

Originally posted by chammond
Phooey!

Hall, Richards and Jolly are all better players now than when they left their previous clubs.

Not to mention Craig B

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by chammond
Hall, Richards and Jolly are all better players now than when they left their previous clubs.

Bit early to say on Richards yet. Hall and Jolly were always decent players - Hall needed focus and Jolly needed game time. Quite a difference from one of the worst disposals in the competition needing to improve his kicking. C Bolton was already a good player - he has naturally improved over time, but he didn't lack an important skill.