Craig Bird- Rising star

[stellation]

I didn't see the Lions game, how did those two go?

[NMWBloods]

I didn't see the Lions game, how did those two go?

Dalziell was excellent again - 27 poss and a superb goal from the boundary line.

[swantastic]

I think Bird will turn out to be better than a large portion of the nominees this year, so I'm not too concerned whether he gets nominated or not.

He's a footballer becoming an athlete, instead of the other way around. I'd rather that over the Trent Croad recipe for success. Along with Vez and Schmidt, he has one of the best football brains amongst the young players.

Spot on DA that's the way it should be,but theres no to many people who have that natural ability or so called x-factor.

In the sport i participate in i reckon 1 out of every 1000 maybe would have that natural ability.

If you are one of the lucky ones its a lot easier to get fit.

[swansrule100]

Dalziell was excellent again - 27 poss and a superb goal from the boundary line.

he is older though, maybe too old? i am not sure

[573v30]

he is older though, maybe too old? i am not sure

21 years 5 months

[liz]

Dalziell was excellent again - 27 poss and a superb goal from the boundary line.

I haven't watched the Lions for quite a while now so I've not seen this kid play. Therefore can't comment on his games and he may well really deserve a nomination.

There does, however, seem to be a bit of a trend at the Lions with first year mids racking up possessions in their first season but failing to go on with it. Scott Harding was a ball magnet in his first year, then it was Cheynee Stiller. Neither is a regular in their team a season or two on. At least in part it must be that Matthews gives his very young midfielders licence to just go out and hunt the footy. That is in contrast to Roos who seems to prefer to give his young midfielders a specific role to do before they graduate onto becoming playmakers in their own right.

I know not everyone is a fan of the defensive mindset of the Swans' midfield but I think it is clear this is what happens. Bird definitely started his career with run-with roles, if not exactly tagging roles, and has now graduated into winning more contested ball around the packs. He's also starting to position himself really well to receive uncontested kicks but at important times. Twice last week in the last few minutes when we were hanging on against Freo he went to exactly the right spot to help relieve the pressure.

Regardless of whether he gets RSN in the final couple of weeks or not, I am very happy he's playing for the Swans. Can't wait to see him when he has another pre-season or two under his belt.

[Ludwig]

I've been really impressed with Bird. I am sure he will be a star.

Reminds me a lot of a young Jimmy Bartel. Not quick, not flashy, but gets the ball and uses it very well. Very skilful in all aspects of the game.

[NMWBloods]

I think Bird will turn out to be better than a large portion of the nominees this year, so I'm not too concerned whether he gets nominated or not.

He's a footballer becoming an athlete, instead of the other way around. I'd rather that over the Trent Croad recipe for success. Along with Vez and Schmidt, he has one of the best football brains amongst the young players.

I much prefer the option of taking footballers and improving their fitness and athleticism, than taking an athlete and trying to teach them football. A footballer understands the flow of the game and where to position themselves and can read where the ball is going. This is one of the keys to success of Geelong IMO, and answers one of the other threads about positioning.

[stellation]

Dalziell was excellent again - 27 poss and a superb goal from the boundary line.

Phwoar, that's a decent return. If he's eligible he should get the nod over Craig.

[Claret]

Cale Morton is very stiff not to have been nominated so far.

He had 30 touches yesterday (20 of which were kicks) and a goal.

It has to be his turn.

[smasher]

Dalziel is too old for the NRS!

[ugg]

Yep by 3 months. Morton should the R20 nomination sewn up in any case.

[swansrule100]

I much prefer the option of taking footballers and improving their fitness and athleticism, than taking an athlete and trying to teach them football. A footballer understands the flow of the game and where to position themselves and can read where the ball is going. This is one of the keys to success of Geelong IMO, and answers one of the other threads about positioning.

very true

i dont remember ablett jnr getting a rising star nomination, not sure on the others (ablett probably did anyway)

[liz]

I much prefer the option of taking footballers and improving their fitness and athleticism, than taking an athlete and trying to teach them football. A footballer understands the flow of the game and where to position themselves and can read where the ball is going. This is one of the keys to success of Geelong IMO, and answers one of the other threads about positioning.

I think ideally you need a mix of the two. You can take a slow midfielder with poor endurance and improve those areas to some degree but there is a limit. And a team can cope with a couple of these types if they are good ball winners. But sadly you look at players like Schmidt and Moore who both have excellent football brains and know that their lack of footspeed and natural endurance is probably going to stop them becoming top notch AFL players. That doesn't mean there's no place for them and I'm not advocating they be moved on. But a main ball winning brigade in a few years time of Moore, Schmidt and Bird is - as a group- not going to be quick enough.

The athletes have their place and a lot of them seem well suited to defence, where they are behind the play, rather than having to make it. I don't think it's coincidence that the three Irishmen currently entrenched in their teams are mostly playing as half-back flankers / back pockets. Nor that Murphy is being groomed as a CHB rather than as a forward.

Daniel Harris from the Roos is a case in point. He's very good round the packs but probably can't spend more than 60-70% of time on the ground at the pace the modern day game is played. Other slowish ball winners, like Mitchell, Kirk, maybe Cross have the endurance thing nailed.

[NMWBloods]

I think ideally you need a mix of the two.

Ideally I think you are right. I would weight the balance towards footballers, but a few real athletes can add run (and sometimes something unexpected) to the side. I think that Geelong and the all-conquering Brisbane team are/were more weighted toward footballers. It's great to be able to get running outside midfielders or rebounding half bank flankers who are footballers, but there are not so many of them and that's where the athletes can fit in as you say. Just need to be careful it's not overdone. The most difficult ones are the few of ours you've noted - good footballing brains and skills but not the best athletes.