TOPIC:

Ian Hill only just 17. He wont be eligible for AFL Draft this year so we should have him all next season except for u/18 commitments again.
Has played just 2 Colts games with average 24 possessions.
Perhaps if he is good enough he will be another Zac Fisher and play some good footy for us before being drafted next year.

Agree that since Earl took over the effort has been there 100% for 90% of games, that has to be a good sign. We are also getting enough of the ball and scoring enough. Disposal is a problem sure, especially when we need to play some keepy offs for 5 or 10 when the other side is on a spurt, but the bigger problem is what we are doing when the ball is in their hands - not enough pressure and not enough big blokes down back.

By the way who is this Duffy guy you talk of, surely not Max Duffy as no-one would remember him would they?

Smokey the poor skill errors you talk about where the same skill errors around 3 years ago yet here we are still talking about them.
Something needs to change big time at this club if it doesnt then expect the same stuff to be served up.

30plusyeardrought wrote: Smokey the poor skill errors you talk about where the same skill errors around 3 years ago yet here we are still talking about them.
Something needs to change big time at this club if it doesnt then expect the same stuff to be served up.

Much longer than 3 years ago 30+. Sick of saying it year in year out.
Vast improvement in skill levels and building and strengthening young bodies are things that we do not address properly. Unless there is a drastic change of thinking it certainly will be another 40 years without success.
Blind Freddie can see that.

I know it's much longer than 3 years Smokey.
I was using 3 years purely as a point of reference to Snakes tenure, not having a go more so he joins a long list of coaches that's failed to improve our skills.

Here's my two cents for what it is worth.

Earl has been pretty consistent with his message since he came to the club back in September/October 2014. He has said that it is about developing the young talent so that they can come in and play league football. He admitted that this was an area where the club had not done so well in previously and that he and the colts coaching group lead by Andrew Ruck would be working closely together so that when young players get a chance at league level they are able to adapt and perform to a reasonable, competitive level and not be completely blown out of the water. Andrew Ruck when he has spoken through the clubs website has reiterated this message as well as emphasising the importance of developing the players skillsets.

It has taken two full seasons and three preseason but we are now seeing the benefits of this approach with the likes of Corey Byrne, Cody Ninyette, Gordon Narrier, Kristian Morisey, John Levien, Zareth Roe and Anton Scotney as well as some other younger players playing regularly in our league side. Like most young players though they often make mistakes but that's part of the learning process.

I know every team gets injuries but I am pretty sure that since Earl has been here he has not had a chance to get his best 22 on the park in any game. Even going into round one this year we already had an injury list that was well into double figures. Not using this as an excuse, even though it hasn't helped, but to have such a bad injury list three seasons running the question has to be asked as to why this has occurred for so long. Do we need to change our approach to preseason or do we do too much or too little during the week that contributes to the likelihood of getting an injury. For a team like Perth we can't afford to have our best players off the park for large chunks of the season.

9 games to go and we are not going to play finals. If I was in charge I would be playing the kids. Say to them we are going to give you the next 5 or 6 games and not drop you.

Mr AFL wrote: Here's my two cents for what it is worth.

Earl has been pretty consistent with his message since he came to the club back in September/October 2014. He has said that it is about developing the young talent so that they can come in and play league football. He admitted that this was an area where the club had not done so well in previously and that he and the colts coaching group lead by Andrew Ruck would be working closely together so that when young players get a chance at league level they are able to adapt and perform to a reasonable, competitive level and not be completely blown out of the water. Andrew Ruck when he has spoken through the clubs website has reiterated this message as well as emphasising the importance of developing the players skillsets.

It has taken two full seasons and three preseason but we are now seeing the benefits of this approach with the likes of Corey Byrne, Cody Ninyette, Gordon Narrier, Kristian Morisey, John Levien, Zareth Roe and Anton Scotney as well as some other younger players playing regularly in our league side. Like most young players though they often make mistakes but that's part of the learning process.

I know every team gets injuries but I am pretty sure that since Earl has been here he has not had a chance to get his best 22 on the park in any game. Even going into round one this year we already had an injury list that was well into double figures. Not using this as an excuse, even though it hasn't helped, but to have such a bad injury list three seasons running the question has to be asked as to why this has occurred for so long. Do we need to change our approach to preseason or do we do too much or too little during the week that contributes to the likelihood of getting an injury. For a team like Perth we can't afford to have our best players off the park for large chunks of the season.

9 games to go and we are not going to play finals. If I was in charge I would be playing the kids. Say to them we are going to give you the next 5 or 6 games and not drop you.

My only issue with all of this statement is that it hasn't been the kids making the mistakes. It's been more experienced players. Turnovers and running into trouble has been terrible all year.

I'd probably agree with that PD1899. I probably didn't word it properly but my point was that younger players will make some mistakes and that hopefully they will learn from them as the get more games into them. As frustrating as it is we have to allow the younger players a bit of room to make these mistakes. The senior players though shouldn't be making these mistakes and as you pointed out that has often been the case this season. I think you understood the general gist of it though.

Which Perth senior players are the biggest culprits

I agree PD1899 some of our senior players were diabolical.
Sinclair, Jacobs and Jones for starters.
Not sure Jones is as bad as the other 2 but for mine Sinclair & Jacobs particularly Jacobs need to be dropped for that effort.
Not sure how many possessions Jacobs had but his turnovers would be about the same.
No composure, panic disposals either to the opposition or a team mate badly positioned causing the turnover.
Disgraceful.