Lynden Dunn....a dilemma

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,665]

Dunn did a fantastic stopping job today, and should be highly commended for it.

However on two occasions he failed to act when it was required of him, resulting directly in goals to Sydney. Each of these transgressions was worthy of a place in Sandringham next week.

What should we do?

I think I know.

[DaveyJones'sLocker 637]

i think we should remove this thread.

he did a good job on goodes and found some ball himself which was an improvment. who would u bring back?

[Doggo 32]

Wrote this in the 'votes' post, thought it was more relevant here.

Lynden Dunn had a strange game for me. IMO, I saw all of the best and worst of what Dunn has shown us in his career, in the one game. Much like Melbourne weather, he had 'four seasons in a day' today.

He did an outstanding job in containing Adam Goodes to just 12 disposals and a goal- showing himself to be a more than capable stopping midfielder against elite competition.

His run and 4 bounces thru the centre was very dashing and would have been one hell of a goal had he dobbed it- showing that he has the pace and ability to carry the footy and be a penetrating runner.

Overall, his ball use was pretty tidy and in the 3rd quarter he found a bit of footy when we started getting on top.

But...

On more than one occasion he looked like he squibed the contest. Especially in the air. I know he has never been considered a strong-mark or particularly good overhead, but today he just looked hopeless. Like PJ did 3 years ago. His inability to help Warnock in one marking situation late in the game, where he had the run at the ball but opted to wait for it to land in his lap, rather than attacking the footy and putting some body in, really highlighted it for me.

Also a couple of times when he had the footy in space, he seemed to hear footsteps, and rushed his disposal under pressure.

Generally today he struck me as a guy who didnt really have the commitment to put his body on the line for the team. Something that i've seen on more occasions than i'd hope for.

He was very good at his role today on Goodes, and seemed extremely task-minded and disciplined in that regard. But there was more than a few occasions where i was bemoaning his lack of physicality in helping out his teammates, and not leaving Goodes at appropriate times to attack and defend for teammates. His inability to win his own footy is also of some concern.

Good game purely because of his job on Goodes, but i'm still waiting/hoping for Dunn to come good. Didnt deserves votes from me today.

[sylvinator 96]

Dunn did a fantastic stopping job today, and should be highly commended for it.

However on two occasions he failed to act when it was required of him, resulting directly in goals to Sydney. Each of these transgressions was worthy of a place in Sandringham next week.

What should we do?

I think I know.

Interesting point.

i saw both incidents. They were really bad. Especially the first one. If Dunn was a team player he wouldv put in the extra effort to help out his teammate. It was a selfish act.

I thought Dunn played well on Goodes, HOWEVER, if Bailey is serious about transforming our football culture into selfless, rather than a selfish culture, then Dunn should certainly be dropped this week.

if he were dropped for a week i would commend Bailey. Nonetheless, he is playing well as a tagger and this bodes well for him in the future if he changes his attitude.

[Rogue 585]

Wrote this in the 'votes' post, thought it was more relevant here.

Good post.

[Jaded No More 60,220]

Would be slightly hypocritical to drop Dunn for some selfish or soft acts.

Have you met some of our senior players?

Yes he squibbed it. So has Morton this season and so have many players over the course of their career. It's a poor effort, but not everyone has the killer instinct that allows them to dive head-first into every contest.

Dunn needs to get better using his body and being physical, but I remember a young Brad Green having the same problem and now he is one of the first ones to dive on a loose ball and go head first into a contest.

[w00dy 146]

as i wrote in the votes thread too, Dunn has always been a forward... i believe he played most of his junior footy there...

it would be totally different feeling for him now that he's playing all over the ground... he wouldn't be used to the concept of backing into a pack, or being the 3rd man up as he's always been a lead up forward...

an aspect of his game he needs to work on...

should we drop him? no way... apart from this he still played a great game...

the only way he's gonna fix this is at afl level... vfl level is a drop of intensity, which won't teach him anything... he needs to be prepared to go in at the top level...

if it continues to happen then you look at sending him to sandy, however it's only happened twice in the one game so far... lets see what happens over the next few games...

[deanox 9,034]

good call about green jaded, it is something that can be learnt and instilled.

i dont think he should be dropped. he had a pretty good game, with a couple of standout low lights that doogo correctly said cost him a spot in the votes. hopefully bailey will take im aside and show him the tape and tell him that he never wants to see that again. im not sure it is drop worthy.

how many touches did dunn get today? he is obviously learning a new role and i think he is coming along nicely. he has done some pretty good stopping jobs, hopefully he is starting to be able to get as may touches as his opponent. the step after that is knowing when, as a tagger, you can leave your player and get possessions without allowing your player space. that is a pretty hard job, and there arent too many players in the league who are capable of that...

[45HG 1,539]

By the way, where did this term squibbed come from? Swear i heard it for the first time about 3 weeks ago.

It is an interesting one, because i think it reflects very pointedly on the culture of a team. How do you train a person to become harder at the ball? You create a team culture where it becomes the norm, and the necessity, to do so. How you do that? I'm not sure.

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,378]

By the way, where did this term squibbed come from? Swear i heard it for the first time about 3 weeks ago.

It is an interesting one, because i think it reflects very pointedly on the culture of a team. How do you train a person to become harder at the ball? You create a team culture where it becomes the norm, and the necessity, to do so. How you do that? I'm not sure.

Thought he was really good today..

Possibly his best overall game, was given a job, stuck to it well..

Drop him.. no way, not now lord!!

IMHO this weeks changes should really only be out: Bode, IN: Morton..

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

This is one of those instances where you just wouldn't want to be DB. He plays well, but has a couple of passages that were pretty much unacceptable.

So what do you do? Discipline him? We're not like the Hawks and screaming out for room to fit in players who deserve to get a game. We can't afford to drop guys who can keep fit, in form dual-brownlow-medallists quiet... but it would be harmful to his progress to let the squibbing continue unchecked.

What to do?

[Jarka 767]

Dropping Dunn would be a mistake at this time, after four years in the system the only way he's going to develop is game time for Melbourne. Putting him back to Sandy would probably just kill off his confidence. He has many faults but he isn't alone in that category, let's just see how he goes for the rest of the season.

One thing I'm happy about is that there are no longer the cries to play him as a key forwward on this forum....

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

as i wrote in the votes thread too, Dunn has always been a forward... i believe he played most of his junior footy there...

it would be totally different feeling for him now that he's playing all over the ground... he wouldn't be used to the concept of backing into a pack, or being the 3rd man up as he's always been a lead up forward...

an aspect of his game he needs to work on...

should we drop him? no way... apart from this he still played a great game...

the only way he's gonna fix this is at afl level... vfl level is a drop of intensity, which won't teach him anything... he needs to be prepared to go in at the top level...

if it continues to happen then you look at sending him to sandy, however it's only happened twice in the one game so far... lets see what happens over the next few games...

Spot on!

He is young, playing out of his normal position on the best players going around each week, and like Morton earlier in the year, I'm sure he's embarrassed. He's a league footballer FCS, I'm sure Bailey and Co will know how to get the best out of him without dropping him.

[Gorgoroth 12,447]

Squibed has been around for ever.

Both were bad, but as Jaded said about Green, players can learn, some do not think just act, others think and you need to make sure they think and still do what is required, thats the challenge, you need to make them not want to disappoint their team mates and the leaders of the club should be the ones doing that constantly to show the way.

[Jaded No More 60,220]

Squibed has been around for ever.

Both were bad, but as Jaded said about Green, players can learn, some do not think just act, others think and you need to make sure they think and still do what is required, thats the challenge, you need to make them not want to disappoint their team mates and the leaders of the club should be the ones doing that constantly to show the way.

Exactly.

My natural instinct, if I saw Barry Hall coming my way, would be to scream and run... at best I'd throw a shoe at him or something.

It's not in a lot of people's nature to let a 100kg man run through them. Natural instincts are usually based on protecting yourself from physical harm, not trying to get killed. On a football field, that becomes unacceptable, but that does not mean that your natural instincts are suddenly switched around. I'm sure many players are terrified everytime they throw themselves into a contest, but you wouldn't know that because they still go hard. Dunn needs to find that courage in him that say "yes I'm going to get smashed in this contest, but I'll get up and shake it off". That is certainly something that can be taught. Will he ever be freakishly brave like Rivers? No. But he can certainly improve that aspect of his game if he wants to.

[torpedo 33]

as i wrote in the votes thread too, Dunn has always been a forward... i believe he played most of his junior footy there...

it would be totally different feeling for him now that he's playing all over the ground... he wouldn't be used to the concept of backing into a pack, or being the 3rd man up as he's always been a lead up forward...

an aspect of his game he needs to work on...

should we drop him? no way... apart from this he still played a great game...

the only way he's gonna fix this is at afl level... vfl level is a drop of intensity, which won't teach him anything... he needs to be prepared to go in at the top level...

if it continues to happen then you look at sending him to sandy, however it's only happened twice in the one game so far... lets see what happens over the next few games...

What he said.

If its still happening at the end of the year or next year start worrying, for the time being as long as he is improving week to week he should stay in the team, he is under going a massive learning curve playing a role totally new to him.

[Hannabal 4]

Yes he squibbed it.

Unfortunately he's an habitual offender.

I'd be disappointed if he wasn't dropped despite his good game. Coaches need to create a culture where those sorts of acts aren't tolerated. It's a bit different to Morton doing it as an 18 year old in his first game. Mind you he'd want to eradicate it pretty quickly or I'd expect the same punishment.

I'll be interested to see what Bailey stands for this week. I'll know when I see the teams read out.

[The Emblem 1]

Some of this thread amazes me.

Dunn was one of our best yesterday and kept one of the games true champions relatively quiet.

He's doing the job DB's asking of him.

[Tim 3,030]

I too was annoyed by the 2 incidents mentioned by JJC, which took some shine off an otherwise excellent display.

I thought the interesting thing about both incidents was that it wasn't so much about Lynden being afraid of impending physical contact, as his failure to apply the physical pressure by initiating the contact himself. He should have forced spillages in both marking contests, and that seems a lot easier than standing in front of a pack waiting for a mark, etc. Maybe an issue about lack of sufficient intensity.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Unfortunately he's an habitual offender.

I'd be disappointed if he wasn't dropped despite his good game. Coaches need to create a culture where those sorts of acts aren't tolerated. It's a bit different to Morton doing it as an 18 year old in his first game. Mind you he'd want to eradicate it pretty quickly or I'd expect the same punishment.

I'll be interested to see what Bailey stands for this week. I'll know when I see the teams read out.

I think Hannibal is right on this one. Dunn needs to get that habit out of his system quicksmart.

[Choko 493]

I think Hannibal is right on this one. Dunn needs to get that habit out of his system quicksmart.

Not only do I think we should drop him, I think we have to drop him. It's one thing not to be the toughest player going around, and not every player is as good at the physical stuff. But it's another thing altogether not taking your turn. He did it twice, and he has done it before. Compare that to Slattery.

I think it is a terrible look, and I don't really care how well he played on Dog Goodes. He should be dropped.

He won't be though.

[Wolfmother 182]

By the way, where did this term squibbed come from? Swear i heard it for the first time about 3 weeks ago.

It is an interesting one, because i think it reflects very pointedly on the culture of a team. How do you train a person to become harder at the ball? You create a team culture where it becomes the norm, and the necessity, to do so. How you do that? I'm not sure.

Wasn't there an article with TJ stating that if you didn't put your body in at Brisbane... the leadership group would pull you aside and give it to you as well as the whole club... Hopefully DB is trying to create the same culture at MFC... it may take three years with some of the older players disappearing but looking at the new leaders of the club... miller, brock, jones they would all pull the player aside and tell them exactly what should occur

[45HG 1,539]

It would start with having a proper leadership group i suppose

[Wolfmother 182]

One that doesn't include Yze

[Choko 493]

It would start with having a proper leadership group i suppose

Exactly. And in the absence of such leadership, it has to be the coach. Which is why he should make a statement.