Looking after the youngsters

[dimelb]

Paul Roos has said this kind of thing before and I hope the AFL take the comments on board. Brilliant hard nuts like Hannebery are rare as hens' teeth and must not be seen as the standard by which we introduce young players to the game.

Draft sets up teens to fail, says Melbourne coach Paul Roos

And as for you Rhyce, people who live in glass houses ...

[ScottH]

It's pretty sad when his own clubs fans give him hell every time he goes near the ball.
He'd have to be pretty tough mentally to put that aside when he gets the ball.

[Nico]

Jack Watts is an interesting No1 pick. Played most of his footy at private school comp, as did Hanners. But I think significantly played his last 7 under age games with Sandringham Dragons, and they lost them all. Now if he was such a gun how is it they lost all 7 and came last. Didn't help them a jot. When I saw this before he was drafted I thought this bloke might be a tad over rated. I feel quite sorry for the lad.

[Meg]

It's pretty sad when his own clubs fans give him hell every time he goes near the ball.
He'd have to be pretty tough mentally to put that aside when he gets the ball.

Totally agree. I always go down to Melbourne for the match against the Demons and usually sit in the MFC members area. I have been shocked by the venom aimed at Watts. No player (unless an unprincipled thug), but especially not a player of your own club, should be treated like that.

And isn't it likely that a points-based, live bidding system would only make the expectations heaped on a number 1 or high draft pick even worse?

[dimelb]

Totally agree. I always go down to Melbourne for the match against the Demons and usually sit in the MFC members area. I have been shocked by the venom aimed at Watts. No player (unless an unprincipled thug), but especially not a player of your own club, should be treated like that.

And isn't it likely that a points-based, live bidding system would only make the expectations heaped on a number 1 or high draft pick even worse?

Yes, especially for #1 when the "price" drops so sharply to #2 and so on down before it starts to level off. I've said elsewhere the curve is the wrong shape and should drop more slowly at first before dropping faster and leveling off.

[Meg]

Yes, especially for #1 when the "price" drops so sharply to #2 and so on down before it starts to level off. I've said elsewhere the curve is the wrong shape and should drop more slowly at first before dropping faster and leveling off.

Completely agree. I suspect the points allocated to the #1 pick have been biased by an outlier, very likely Nick Reiwoldt who was the #1 pick in year 2000 and who undoubtedly is being paid a very high salary by St Kilda. The methodology used for allocating points is very dubious.

[liz]

Roos is one coach who constantly bemoans the fact that 18 year olds aren't properly prepared for AFL style football - particularly those who've come through the TAC Cup system. Raising the draft age is one thing, but it is pointless unless some bridging league / programme is put in place to help them prepare. Comparing to US pro-sports is pointless unless the university system is going to step in and provide the same kind of development system that the US college system does. And of course it's not. It's just not part of the culture. And it would only work in conjunction with a NRL and basketball and soccer and rugby system, and a population density much greater than ours, such that college sport was actually followed in its own right. Look at the numbers who turn up to watch even AFL reserves team games and you'll realise how different the two environments are.

Go back 20, 30, 40 years (or longer) and the AFL provided its own development system. Someone like Michael Tuck played several seasons at reserves level before he became established in the senior team. Much smaller lists and a lift in intensity of the game, meaning most clubs expect to have extensive injury lists at some points in the season, force clubs to play teenagers before some of them are ready.

Some are ready at that age, of course. But then you get clubs who've been anchored down the bottom for a period and try to sell hope to their supporters by rolling out young "stars" before they are ready. Watts would appear to be a victim of this, but try telling Joel Selwood, Chris Judd, Jaegar O'Meara, Dan Hannebery, Isaac Heeney and many others of their ilk that they weren't ready to play while still in their teens.

[Nico]

Liz. When the Tax Cupcomp was set up I think early 90,'s, they were structured as an AFL club to make the transition much easier. The only thing they can't simulate is physically maturity and mental maturity.

[Kelpie_X]

And as for you Rhyce, people who live in glass houses ...

I looked at that Jack Watts and Rhyce Shaw exchange when Watts came on and I don't think Shaw was too comfortable doing what he did. I think it was a coaches directive that Shaw may not have agreed with wholly

[dimelb]

I looked at that Jack Watts and Rhyce Shaw exchange when Watts came on and I don't think Shaw was too comfortable doing what he did. I think it was a coaches directive that Shaw may not have agreed with wholly

I hope you're right, but if so I think Rhyce has enough credits and seniority, not to mention his own experience of negativity, to tell the coach it's not a good idea.

[ScottH]

I can't imagine Horse giving that as a directive.
Watts carries enough demons of his own, came on as a sub when the game was all but over.
He would have had to have had a buddy goodes quarter to steal the game.

Nah!!!

[Mel_C]

Nah I think it was all Rhyce...he likes to yap apparently ????.

I noticed on Saturday night that Laidler has a lot of mongrel in him!