LJ ready for senior selection.

[Bloody Hell]

nice assumption there buddy.

the swans coahing and players group are definitely NOT like all the other clubs because of Paul Roos and Brett Kirk and hopefully it stays that way after they depart.

Where's that failed blood brothers thread...

[CJK]

I dont understand what all of this wrist slitting is about

Look where we are.

[Matty10]

playfair offers us plenty and will continue to for those who actually want to see it.

LJ is still a long term project but will be exciting if he stays injury free.

I agree - and I also find it bizarre why so many people want to denigrate some of our players so much of the time (regardless of their performances, which to an impartial eye would warrant some level of reconsideration).

I find it amazing that people think that all one has to get selected is to play well in the magoos. Sure that's part of it but there is so much more that has to be considered. Is the player mentally ready for the step up to Senior footbal? This would incorporate everything from confidence levels to general attitude. Is the player physically ready? Is he carrying an injury?. Once those factors are looked at you have to look at the balance of the side and who your playing.

The only people to know these things are the coaching staff and while I would love to see LJ and TDL play in the seniors I trust the coaching staff to know when they are ready to play. I would hate for them to play when not ready and have their developement put back.

Well said Big Al.

[Big Al]

Probably not lol. But it just seems that way sometimes. Like you said we don't have the full picture so our scheming little minds have to full in the blanks somehow

hehe.. that's very true.

[Vonsteinman]

So if we take your position and just "trust the coaching staff to know when they are ready to play" there is no point having this thread or this conversation or any other chat about selection. Coaches know best! Thats it!
Unfortunately,I have been around enough clubs to know you are SO WRONG about this! Favouritism,nepotism, cronyism all flourish in a football club and I am sure the Swans are no exception. Some players are disliked ,some are sycophants, some don't get on with the leadership group.There are many many more reasons than your simplistic one and although your perfect world would be a nice one to live in,it doesn't exist.

Please tell me that I've completely missed your point and in fact you are not implying that one of the above could be a reason that LJ is not in the senior side already!

Firstly, I should warn you H that taking the high ground based on growing up in and around AFL can raise the ire of some on here, because apparently that's an implication that you think others that haven't know nothing about footy and that their opinions aren't worth a pinch of @@@@!!!

Now, if I may be so bold, I too have grown up in and around (Australian Rules) football and in my experience with every club that I have been involved in, getting a potential young superstar into the senior team is something greatly anticipated by pretty much everyone in the club. It is, however, extremely important that those charged with making the call are able to avoid getting carried away by the hype about potential stars and making sure they are developed in the right way and giving them the opportunity when they are ready.

LJ was sidelined for the best part of a year through injury and so it is hardly surprising that the selectors would take a gentle approach to his development. Putting him in a little late might be frustrating for the player and some supporters, putting him in too early could prove devastating.

That said, being from a long way away, I am v jealous of those who are getting to watch him run around in the twos and can't wait to see him get a run...

[Primmy]

The Hair Bear is a gem of a player, but he missed ALL of last year, and some of the preseason. He had the ressie watchers on their toes and feeling good earlier this year, but we have to acknowledge that he has been behind in match conditioning. Now if he gets a gig soon, good. that means the coaches feel he is ready. If he doesn't get a gig THIS year, well and good too. It only means that he is not ready yet. He is going to be a very good player, no doubt about it. He does not appear to lack self confidence, he sure as blazes doesn't lack ability, and he has not levelled out in improvement, he has been getting better and better.. Its whether or not he would play out the game at AFL level at this stage. Its just a matter of time, and his ability to force his way in.......my instincts tell me this is one bloke who does need to fight for the right.

[BSA5]

LJ missed all of last year, has had to deal with massive (intentional) fluctuations in weight, is currently too skinny to play in a key position at AFL level (those suggesting he is a like-for-like replacement for Playfair are off the money, he wouldn't be nearly as strong as Playfair at the moment), is probably still a bit behind in terms of aerobic fitness, and going by the latest photo on the Swans website, has recently cut his hair, massively dampening his mojo.

As it stands, LJ will be selected as a flanker, meaning he'll have to knock somebody out of that position, he'll have to prove he's fit enough to play out a game there, he'll have to perform consistently, and he'll have to add at least 3 cm to his current head of hair to justify his selection.

[Hartijon]

Please tell me that I've completely missed your point and in fact you are not implying that one of the above could be a reason that LJ is not in the senior side already!

Firstly, I should warn you H that taking the high ground based on growing up in and around AFL can raise the ire of some on here, because apparently that's an implication that you think others that haven't know nothing about footy and that their opinions aren't worth a pinch of @@@@!!!

Now, if I may be so bold, I too have grown up in and around (Australian Rules) football and in my experience with every club that I have been involved in, getting a potential young superstar into the senior team is something greatly anticipated by pretty much everyone in the club. It is, however, extremely important that those charged with making the call are able to avoid getting carried away by the hype about potential stars and making sure they are developed in the right way and giving them the opportunity when they are ready.

LJ was sidelined for the best part of a year through injury and so it is hardly surprising that the selectors would take a gentle approach to his development. Putting him in a little late might be frustrating for the player and some supporters, putting him in too early could prove devastating.

That said, being from a long way away, I am v jealous of those who are getting to watch him run around in the twos and can't wait to see him get a run...

Thank you for restoring my faith in Football coaches! I know now that LJ will be given an opportunity when he is ready and if he is not given an opportunity,its because he is obviously Not ready! Hard to argue with that logic or lack of it! No point me giving an opinion because I should trust the coaches,who are all impeccable people not subject to normal human frailities. The fact that none of the football coaches I know are like that i should keep quiet about because it implies that people who don't know coaches might think i am saying they don't know..??? Guess there is nothing to do but wait for the Coaches to decide while also waiting for the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to come. :-) They are obviously real too .

[Vonsteinman]

Thank you for restoring my faith in Football coaches! I know now that LJ will be given an opportunity when he is ready and if he is not given an opportunity,its because he is obviously Not ready! Hard to argue with that logic or lack of it! No point me giving an opinion because I should trust the coaches,who are all impeccable people not subject to normal human frailities. The fact that none of the football coaches I know are like that i should keep quiet about because it implies that people who don't know coaches might think i am saying they don't know..??? Guess there is nothing to do but wait for the Coaches to decide while also waiting for the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to come. :-) They are obviously real too .

Well I have to say that, if in your experience "none" of the football coaches are "like that", then you've had a godawful run with football coaches. I genuinely think it's sad that you've never come across a football coach who cares about nurturing talent and that they are all playing favourites, practising nepotism (btw, this has come up before... who exactly in the 22 is related to one of the coaching staff? Not saying its not the case, just haven't heard that there are any family ties between playing group and coaches) or looking after old mates.

At no stage have I called for you to keep quiet, I tend to agree with a number of your views expressed on this forum. I'm simply presenting an alternative opinion and if you're referring to my second paragraph, there was a wink at the end of that, which was meant to imply that that was a joke. It was in reference to some other unrelated dialogue on the forum and I regret the fact that you didn't appear to get that.

[Hartijon]

Well I have to say that, if in your experience "none" of the football coaches are "like that", then you've had a godawful run with football coaches. I genuinely think it's sad that you've never come across a football coach who cares about nurturing talent and that they are all playing favourites, practising nepotism (btw, this has come up before... who exactly in the 22 is related to one of the coaching staff? Not saying its not the case, just haven't heard that there are any family ties between playing group and coaches) or looking after old mates.

At no stage have I called for you to keep quiet, I tend to agree with a number of your views expressed on this forum. I'm simply presenting an alternative opinion and if you're referring to my second paragraph, there was a wink at the end of that, which was meant to imply that that was a joke. It was in reference to some other unrelated dialogue on the forum and I regret the fact that you didn't appear to get that.

He he,I missed that! No problems mate,my tongue is in my cheek a lot also coz its a lot of fun to get real serious over an issue that really doesn't warrant strong emotion! I find it very relaxing! My footy coaches were pretty strongly opiniated guys. I played country football so many were "player coaches " and they were by far the best coz they were out there with you. Roosey has to coach from the sidelines to replicate the feel of the game.Don't know who is related in the Swans team but one of my coaches had twin boys who always played even though one was hopeless.It split the club!
I truly doubt much favouritism goes on at the Swans but reckon it does at other clubs.The Club we are playing this weekend has a huge reputation for favouring certain players and I met an ex-player who left for precisely that reason. Real or perceived??I don't know but surely we can talk about it? Coaches are human and have their pet likes and dislikes whether a player is deemed ready or not.Thats all I am saying.

[BSA5]

Thank you for restoring my faith in Football coaches! I know now that LJ will be given an opportunity when he is ready and if he is not given an opportunity,its because he is obviously Not ready! Hard to argue with that logic or lack of it! No point me giving an opinion because I should trust the coaches,who are all impeccable people not subject to normal human frailities. The fact that none of the football coaches I know are like that i should keep quiet about because it implies that people who don't know coaches might think i am saying they don't know..??? Guess there is nothing to do but wait for the Coaches to decide while also waiting for the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to come. :-) They are obviously real too .

Questioning things is fine, but only when there's a genuine reason to question. For example, I question Matthew O'Dwyer's treatment by the selectors. Vespa's situation is up for some debate. The reasons these guys aren't getting games may be fully genuine, but they're not obvious. However, it is quite obvious to me why LJ might not be getting names. He hasn't been absolutely bashing the door down at ressies level (despite being more than handy), he's underweight for a KPP, he's coming off a year-long layoff, and he isn't an obvious replacement for anybody who is underperforming (again, he wouldn't be coming in to play a key position, so while he could still replace Playfair, it wouldn't be like-for-like).

[ShockOfHair]

Fair comparison with MOD and Vez.

Not much mystery about Johnston. He has a young body and has played just a dozen seconds games. Becoming a KPP takes time - look at Jesse.

A bit of a mystery over MOD, who wasn't great but was too bad either. I think he's just unlucky - a bit like Bevan in often being the 23rd man. This is his do or die year so you'd hope the club gives him at least one more chance.

Vez has been injured but Roos has flagged him up for promotion so looks like he's in with a chance later this year. It does seem to have taken awhile t hough.

[rojo]

This is a very amusing thread to wade through so thank you Scott for starting it. Ever since LJ started playing in the Ressies this year I have been eager to hear details of how he has been coming along and apart from the one afl article there have only been snippets. So now I am happy. I was thinking that he might be the kind of player who would rise to the challenge if he was tossed in at the deep end, now, maybe motivate him to work harder on the track, but after reading through all the pros and cons have decided to go with the cons - his injury history
being a good reason to proceed with extreme caution. Makes you realise what a responsibility those in charge have in trying to make the right decisions for the short term/long term, team/individual good.

[giant]

LJ missed all of last year, has had to deal with massive (intentional) fluctuations in weight, is currently too skinny to play in a key position at AFL level (those suggesting he is a like-for-like replacement for Playfair are off the money, he wouldn't be nearly as strong as Playfair at the moment), is probably still a bit behind in terms of aerobic fitness, and going by the latest photo on the Swans website, has recently cut his hair, massively dampening his mojo.

As it stands, LJ will be selected as a flanker, meaning he'll have to knock somebody out of that position, he'll have to prove he's fit enough to play out a game there, he'll have to perform consistently, and he'll have to add at least 3 cm to his current head of hair to justify his selection.

Nice work - the knockout punch.

[Hartijon]

"and he'll have to add at least 3 cm to his current head of hair to justify his selection"

You missed out the other criteria for selection.
1.No more smells on the team bus
2. Stop talking to Roosey's missus all the time
3. No more falling asleep in team meetings (or learn to sleep with eyes open)
4.Stop sitting in Kirk's chair
5. Pretend to be interested in Buddhism
6. Show incredible interest in boring training dills (discard the ipod at training!)
7. consider a Jesse White tatoo