Walsh V White

[Hartijon]

I would say the fact that we targeted him and he was so absolutely determined to come to us indicates that we've guaranteed him a spot at FF in Rd 1 next year (barring injury/absolutely horrible preseason form). Whether that will be at the expense of White, I doubt. I see it as being Walsh at FF, and then down to White vs Pyke for the key forward/2nd ruck role. Personally, I have Pyke ahead, but the coaches may see it differently, or want to give White a run to begin with and replace him with Pyke if he fails.

+1 I agree with this analysis and it demonstrates the thinking behind his recruitment. Otherwise we have a similar player in White. Obviously the jury is still out on White and he will keep getting chances but now all our eggs are not in one basket. I will reluctantly join the White wagon on an ejection seat too! Walsh may be just what Jesse needs to fire him up!
once again the selectors have given us some good cattle to work with and a Lamb as well! Very very excited about our forward line and the possibility of a stable structure with height ,weight,crumbers ,straight kickers and x factors.Its all there!! Up to a Horse to weld it into a unit. (Cattle Lambs Horses..what kind of FC is this??)

[Dosser]

+1 I agree with this analysis and it demonstrates the thinking behind his recruitment. Otherwise we have a similar player in White. Obviously the jury is still out on White and he will keep getting chances but now all our eggs are not in one basket. I will reluctantly join the White wagon on an ejection seat too! Walsh may be just what Jesse needs to fire him up!
once again the selectors have given us some good cattle to work with and a Lamb as well! Very very excited about our forward line and the possibility of a stable structure with height ,weight,crumbers ,straight kickers and x factors.Its all there!! Up to a Horse to weld it into a unit. (Cattle Lambs Horses..what kind of FC is this??)

If, as you say, they are all in a stable structure then it should be fine.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I just thought that it was kind of funny how close they were in age/height/weight and basically the same goal average to boot yet Tommy seems to be a lock by some on here for lining up at FF round 1 with Jesse banished to Siberia (well Canberra, but same thing).

It is funny, and of course the similarities don't end there, they both came from a non-afl background, they have both at times been billed as imposing athletes (the first time I heared that ill-fated phrase I think it was Tommy Hafey describing Craig Elias). There is one difference that may be telling, from what I understand Tommy may be less well equipped for the ruck than Jesse (so we could play two ruckmen again like the current premiers!).

[Wazza]

Ill get onboard the Jessie bandwagon, but im gonna need one of those ejection seats that pilots have, just in case.

Every seat on the Jesse train is fitted with a oopsy seat, for quick exit - even the driver has one

Cheers

waz

[BSA5]

It is funny, and of course the similarities don't end there, they both came from a non-afl background, they have both at times been billed as imposing athletes (the first time I heared that ill-fated phrase I think it was Tommy Hafey describing Craig Elias). There is one difference that may be telling, from what I understand Tommy may be less well equipped for the ruck than Jesse (so we could play two ruckmen again like the current premiers!).

Urgh! No they didn't! White has been playing footy since he was a kid!

[stellation]

I would say the fact that we targeted him and he was so absolutely determined to come to us indicates that we've guaranteed him a spot at FF in Rd 1 next year (barring injury/absolutely horrible preseason form). Whether that will be at the expense of White, I doubt. I see it as being Walsh at FF, and then down to White vs Pyke for the key forward/2nd ruck role. Personally, I have Pyke ahead, but the coaches may see it differently, or want to give White a run to begin with and replace him with Pyke if he fails.

I expect we have got him here based on a promise of opportunities, as well. I am not sure about guaranteeing positions to guys that are yet to debut if they've gone to that level.

I tend to agree that it's not explicitly a case of Tommy or Jesse for being in the team.

[Primmy]

BSA, be a little more specific for those that don't know. White did play footy from the start with a fair bit of other sport thrown in, and a couple of years deviation into basketball, and back to footy - its a media specific that players with the swans come primarily from another sport.

[stellation]

Urgh! No they didn't! White has been playing footy since he was a kid!

I appreciate that seems to be a pain point for a number of folks, I understand he did grow up in a footy household and played junior footy- and his (I believe) good footskills are testament to that. I think the significant thing with Jesse, as with a number of others reguarly listed in the "different sporting background", is that he did not follow the traditional elite youth development path where much of the key training that most of our list have been exposed to is pushed. From what I can gather, any footy played at this time was more coming in for the occassional game and getting by on size/talent than training/game etc.

[BSA5]

I appreciate that seems to be a pain point for a number of folks, I understand he did grow up in a footy household and played junior footy- and his (I believe) good footskills are testament to that. I think the significant thing with Jesse, as with a number of others reguarly listed in the "different sporting background", is that he did not follow the traditional elite youth development path where much of the key training that most of our list have been exposed to is pushed. From what I can gather, any footy played at this time was more coming in for the occassional game and getting by on size/talent than training/game etc.

Yeah, but so did a bunch of other players. Nick Riewoldt grew up in QLD too, but you don't see that bandied about as an excuse. To compare his football background to Walsh's is ridiculous!

[stellation]

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that being from QLD meant no elite youth training, it is certainly there.

[Bas]

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that being from QLD meant no elite youth training, it is certainly there.

Jason Dunstall comes to mind, without having searched any other past players. I think these guys just must have been footy freaks in those days.

[Primmy]

So that's the c lue! To get another footyfreak, take a look at Qld juniors!! Stuey? Kinn? get on to it.

[Hartijon]

Yeah, but so did a bunch of other players. Nick Riewoldt grew up in QLD too, but you don't see that bandied about as an excuse. To compare his football background to Walsh's is ridiculous!

Never let the truth get in the way of a good myth hey? Its hard to imagine an Australian kid not trying many sports ,given the PE programmes in schools and often a dead keen basketball PE teacher can influence kids for a year or so. The difference in Victoria is the standard of junior competition is higher in AFL than NSW or Queensland. Does that matter? Not if the kid is a star,they will make it from any background.

What irks me is the notion that certain players need more time to develop because they come from a non football environment. I think this is a myth if they get to the elite AFL level.

[stellation]

Never let the truth get in the way of a good myth hey?

That statement could probably go both ways in this conversation.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Jason Dunstall comes to mind, without having searched any other past players. I think these guys just must have been footy freaks in those days.

Actually this is an interesting point, in times gone by, the non-football states were capable of producing a few outstanding players. Perhaps, somewhat ironically, what the elite underage programmes manufacture are a larger number of good players?