2008 Player Review - # 14 Lynden Dunn

[Demonland 72,178]

14. Lynden Dunn [192cm 90 kg 14.05.87 - 39 games (16 in 2008) 28 goals (6 in 2008)] - hasn't quite made it as a tall forward so Dean Bailey gave him a number of tagging roles mainly in the midfield where he shut down some good opponents including Adam Goodes. The club will be hoping that he can progress futher not only in this latest role but also in producing some more attacking football in the future.

[H_T 3,044]

Has a fair motor on him as his run with roles have suggested. Improved year by all means, however been put on the back burner as a Key Forward role for now...shows some aggression at his opponent on occassions, if he can channel some of this towards the pill, I'm sure we'll see more improvement.

[Gouga 569]

If he can't make it as a key forward we should move him on sooner rather than later.

Almost anybody can be a tagger.

[deeflog 679]

I think he would make a really good run with player if he utilised his height, big motor and goal nouse by going forward and making his opponents accountable for him going the other way

[Guest Addam]

I think he would make a really good run with player if he utilised his height, big motor and goal nouse by going forward and making his opponents accountable for him going the other way

I've said it before. I'll say it again.

To be get recognition as a good tagger, you have to beat your opponent and have an effective game yourself.

Lynden was OK this season. He's a very one dimensional player though. I also dislike when he's to pushy around centre bounces and give's the opposition a kick from the square.

[deanox 9,915]

i thought he did a great job as a tagger this year. he clearly isnt going to make it as a tall forward, his body on body is not good enough against strong opponents, and his marking is not up to scratch, overhead or under pressure.

people often say that to teach a player where to go in the midfield one of the best ways is to make them follow the best players. given that dunn had no midfield experience it seems that this is exactly what he had been doing. and not only did he follow them around, he managed to nullify them more often than not.

dunn has a lot to learn, as said in this thread already, it is not good enough to be just a stopper these days, but you need to get a bit of it as well. hopefully what we saw this year was the coaching staff believing that dunn needed to learn a) how to play in the midfield, and b ) how to stop his opponent before he attempted c) getting the ball and hurting your opponent.

hopefully dunn can learn to use his height and size to his advantage by pushing forward and making opposition midfielders accountable when we have the ball. he managed to get a few touches around the stoppages etc, but he needs to be able to push away from his opponent and become a spare man when needed but also be able to still be accountable for your man in the case of a turnover. on this forum this appears to be an underrated skill.

dunn was wary of pushing forward for a reason, it is a ploy that can backfire quickly, leaving your man, often the oppositions key play maker, free in the centre if the ball is turned over, which seemed to happen a lot when we were going forward this year. it doesnt surprise me he wasnt keen to go running around where ever he wanted.

summary: found a new role, excelled in it for his first few attempts, but needs to improve a lot if he wants to be a player who deserves his spot each week.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I was watching Dunn's first game on the Bigpond site, it was against Geelong in '06 and he had a few bursts here and there where he was all over Milburn. He took some good marks, was leading well and kicked some nice goals.

I still think his best position is in the forward line.

[dee-luded 2,959]

If he can't make it as a key forward we should move him on sooner rather than later.

Almost anybody can be a tagger.

'Gouga', lets not be too hasty, 'cause if he's lacking confidance with the physical stuff, he can grow into the role buy doing as we are now playing him run with. this could see him develope 7 become a harder unit through time & experience, He could still eventuate into a tall roaming forward. Too soon to sell him off.

We should @ least wait till the trade period when the GC-17 can trade picks @ the 2010 draft period.

[waynewussell 5,742]

He made good progress in 2008. If he continues at this rate he will become a valuable commodity in 2009. Players of his height, with his running endurance, and kicking skills are hard to unearth. I also like the nasty streak he demonstrates on occasions, as long as he uses it (rather than loses it) to unsettle opponents.

[maximum bob 462]

He made good progress in 2008. If he continues at this rate he will become a valuable commodity in 2009. Players of his height, with his running endurance, and kicking skills are hard to unearth. I also like the nasty streak he demonstrates on occasions, as long as he uses it (rather than loses it) to unsettle opponents.

All being well, given increased strength, experience and centre smarts, Lynden Dunn could be our Brett Kirk.

That wouldn't be a bad result, but it won't happen overnight as they say.

[beelzebub 23,367]

Dunn.... seems able to do one thing...not so bad.. Can do another thing..pretty fair. Now all he needs to do is try and get it together as a more complete and accomplished player.

Dunn..sorta there...sorta not !!

[Toad33 57]

It appears Dunn is going down the same road that Bruce did; a season and a bit on a half forward flank before being introduced into the middle to do a run-with role.

From memory it took Bruce a couple of seasons to balance his defensive efforts with his offensive ones.

I seem to remember Dunn in his early games looking like a natural forward with the way he moved around the forward line.

I also find it 'funny' that he has never been tried in defence and even funnier that no one yet has suggested it.

He's definitely a keeper.

He may not have a big impact on a game for a couple of seasons, but I believe when this team starts firing in 2010 and beyond a big, angry, mobile, smart fottballer like him who can run all day and kick goals will be invaluable to the teams flexibility.

Go Dees - Building for the future.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

Good trade bait IMO.

Not a great forward.

Not a great midfielder/tagger. And why was he dropped for round 22?

Was good midway through the year when he held Foley, Cooney and Goodes, but didn't hear anything complimentary about him since round 15.

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

14. Lynden Dunn [192cm 90 kg 14.05.87 - 39 games (16 in 2008) 28 goals (6 in 2008)] - hasn't quite made it as a tall forward so Dean Bailey gave him a number of tagging roles mainly in the midfield where he shut down some good opponents including Adam Goodes. The club will be hoping that he can progress futher not only in this latest role but also in producing some more attacking football in the future.

Yes at 21 he's clearly displayed he is useless, and has no role to play in our future

We don't need players who can run with the Goodes / Cornes of the AFL

Bring back Godfrey!

When we are good, a slightly older Dunn will be one of the reasons why we are such a good unit, providing us with flexibility.

[e25 5]

Good trade bait IMO.

Not a great forward.

Not a great midfielder/tagger. And why was he dropped for round 22?

Was good midway through the year when he held Foley, Cooney and Goodes, but didn't hear anything complimentary about him since round 15.

In regards to his midfield/tagging role, I think Bailey will keep him there for the coming season. He's not great, but acceptable for a player being put in a completely foreign position. Given time I think he'll excell, or at least learn skills to make him a potent forward.

The way I read the dropping of Dunn & Bate for the last round, was Bailey seeing something in them & wanting to light a fire under them for this coming preseason as he intends to keep them.

As would I. Both these players have a fair bit of promise.

[Gouga 569]

We don't need players who can run with the Goodes / Cornes of the AFL

I wouldn't read too much into Dunn's performance on Goodes. Goodes was carrying obviously an injury, missed the next week against Collingwood.

When did Dunn play on Cornes, which Cornes?

[Hannabal 4]

Dunn - If you'd told me 4 years ago that our 192cm first round draft pick would be yet to cement a spot in the 22 towards the end of his 4th year and that he'd been turned into a tagger in an effort to find a position for him, then I would've been disappointed. I still am. Whilst he's had a modicum of success in a negating role he doesn't find much of the footy himself, doesn't excel with disposal, doesn't have any real pace, doesn't have elite midfielder skills, in fact he just doesn't have any real tricks that will turn him into a damaging long term AFL player. He was dropped after the GABBA game and I suspect that there are concerns amongst the Footy Dept. If he doesn't make it it won't be for a lack of trying, as he's very dedicated. I'm not a fan.

But because he wears red and blue there will always be those that see upside. If we have aspirations of developing a premiership side then players the calibre of Dunn aren't part of the journey longterm. But we tend to keep mediocrity for way too long down at the Dees so expect him to be there for some time to come.

[deanox 9,915]

Dunn - If you'd told me 4 years ago that our 192cm first round draft pick would be yet to cement a spot in the 22 towards the end of his 4th year and that he'd been turned into a tagger in an effort to find a position for him, then I would've been disappointed. I still am. Whilst he's had a modicum of success in a negating role he doesn't find much of the footy himself, doesn't excel with disposal, doesn't have any real pace, doesn't have elite midfielder skills, in fact he just doesn't have any real tricks that will turn him into a damaging long term AFL player. He was dropped after the GABBA game and I suspect that there are concerns amongst the Footy Dept. If he doesn't make it it won't be for a lack of trying, as he's very dedicated. I'm not a fan.

But because he wears red and blue there will always be those that see upside. If we have aspirations of developing a premiership side then players the calibre of Dunn aren't part of the journey longterm. But we tend to keep mediocrity for way too long down at the Dees so expect him to be there for some time to come.

my problem is that you can't just simply dump 22 year olds every year because they havnt shown that they will attain elite status.

you always lose a few older blokes, and its always clear that a coupld of youngens are clearly not up to afl, you can only have so much list turnover at a time. dunn may not make it, but he is still at a point in his career where he could turn it up a notch. he could be a very handy part of a team, and if he steps up and he has the players around him will be good enough. he may not make it. but there are players who need to be moved on first, and i think thats the reason we hang onto players, not because we think they are the shizzle.

disclaimer: many people here think players are the shizzle, and i am a perfect example RE i think bell might make it. each to their own in general, but some players shouldnt be allowed near a footy.

[Jarka 767]

Found his position in tagging this year but he just doesn't get enough of the ball. Sadly the negatives don't stop there. Poor overhead marking, poor decision making and poor disposal. Basically he was taken far too early which has put too much pressure on him to perform..

[LeBron James 41]

Stick him in the forwardline and leave him there IMO.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Good trade bait IMO.

Not a great forward.

Not a great midfielder/tagger. And why was he dropped for round 22?

Was good midway through the year when he held Foley, Cooney and Goodes, but didn't hear anything complimentary about him since round 15.

So how is he good trade bait if he cant crack a game in a rock bottom side and he is in his 4th year?

You must think other Clubs are dunces.

Dunn - If you'd told me 4 years ago that our 192cm first round draft pick would be yet to cement a spot in the 22 towards the end of his 4th year and that he'd been turned into a tagger in an effort to find a position for him, then I would've been disappointed. I still am. Whilst he's had a modicum of success in a negating role he doesn't find much of the footy himself, doesn't excel with disposal, doesn't have any real pace, doesn't have elite midfielder skills, in fact he just doesn't have any real tricks that will turn him into a damaging long term AFL player. He was dropped after the GABBA game and I suspect that there are concerns amongst the Footy Dept. If he doesn't make it it won't be for a lack of trying, as he's very dedicated.

A good summary