Lynden Dunn

[Dee tention 617]

Lynden Dunn can play various positions with his size and speed. If anyone has noticed him sprinting to the bench during a game. You would think he was running the 100m at the Olympics. He is very quick for his size.

He played some great footy last season in stopping some of the best. But should this continue this season? He has said he will become a more attcking midfielder whilst still being a stopper. Alien Ling type. All great!

But I am of the opinion he could be more damaging as an attacking midfielder who can push forward. Especially with his speed, size and extra strength. 98kg should be definitly used too do more attacking. At least mix his role up game by game.

I think the tagging could be done by somebody else. Or at least mix his role by match-up. Dunn has done his share and could benefit from the change. I believe he could be a great asset to a more attacking midfield.

But thats just my opinion. Only he and the coaching staff know what position is best!

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

its a tricky one, idealy when we have the pill you want him to run of his man and create, but if he is playing on oppositions no.1 play maker, it makes it hard becasuse we are turning it over so much and the opposition knows it and can exploit it. this year with a fully fit Brock and Beamer , Morton with games under his belt and Davey looking set to explode he might get more of a license.

[Hards 2]

Too good to be a tagger imo, should be played as a half forward, along side Bate and maybe rotating through a wing occassionally with Morton, Bruce etc who are all that 190ish.

[rusty_kingswood 0]

I really like were he is playing at present. last year he did a good job at the run with role, but not fantastic.

Youre right, he has great speed and fantastic skills. When he learns how to play the role better and learns to runs off his man, he will be invaluable in this position.

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

Too good to be a tagger imo, should be played as a half forward, along side Bate and maybe rotating through a wing occassionally with Morton, Bruce etc who are all that 190ish.

if that is the case , we should consider it a luxury. in my response to Yze Magic`s best 22 i had Miller and Bate as two roaming half forward targets. with Dunn in the centre with Brock and Beamer. when the Eagles had Judd Cousins and Kerr starting in the middle who was the tagger? if were good enough he will be to busy attacking

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

According to the Melbourne Football Club, Dunn is a "forward-cum-tagger".

I really hope that's a typo.

[Rogue 585]

Too good to be a tagger imo, should be played as a half forward, along side Bate and maybe rotating through a wing occassionally with Morton, Bruce etc who are all that 190ish.

The fact that he can play, but is tagging, is a good thing IMO.

Given the choice, it's better to have someone decent playing a run-with role than another Godfrey.

It means that he can develop an attacking bow to his game, and when we have the ball he can use that to hurt the players he is tagging.

According to the Melbourne Football Club, Dunn is a "forward-cum-tagger".

I really hope that's a typo.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cum

[LeBron James 41]

According to the Melbourne Football Club, Dunn is a "forward-cum-tagger".

I really hope that's a typo.

I'm more interested that he's 98kg! Jesus Christ, chuck him forward!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

The fact that after four years, a first round draft pick is only a tagger leaves me somewhat underwhelmed with Dunn. If he cant do more than just tag then he is run of the mill playe whose a dime a dozen and whose future is at best uncertain.

If there was a player that needed to make a position his own and actual perform its Dunn. He can bulk up all he likes but unless he starts actually win some good ball and using it to the teams advantage then he's a pedestrian and at risk of being overtaken by younger more capable players.

And its great he can sprint fast towards the interchange. That'll hurt a few oppositions.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cum

I just thought it would have been "come". You learn something everyday.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I'm more interested that he's 98kg! Jesus Christ, chuck him forward!

No way 'Morton2Watts',, he's got to harden the f*c$ up a lot before he earns the trust back to play a forward role in my book.

Key forward roles demand you be absolute class with toughness (Hird), or harder than Iron (Brereton) on field.

[Jaded No More 68,972]

The fact that after four years, a first round draft pick is only a tagger leaves me somewhat underwhelmed with Dunn. If he cant do more than just tag then he is run of the mill playe whose a dime a dozen and whose future is at best uncertain.

There are several specialist taggers in the AFL who are excellent players and vital to their team's success (and I don't think I have to name them for you).

If Dunn can add an element of attack to his game (and there is no reason why he can't given his general disposal skills), while still successfully shutting down the opposition's best player, than he too will be a vital and successful AFL player.

This whole argument that he was a first round pick and yet has only turned out to be a tagger is silly! He's turned out to be a tagger because that's the only position where he has been given a significant amount of time to learn and develop.

[BAMF 4,385]

This whole argument that he was a first round pick and yet has only turned out to be a tagger is silly! He's turned out to be a tagger because that's the only position where he has been given a significant amount of time to learn and develop.

He had enough time in the forward line to develop. He just wasnt good enough. Looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.

Question: Who was the better tagger?

a ) Dunn 2008

b ) Bartram 2006

[AzzKikA 2,371]

I love him in the tagger role, all last year it was one of the positives from almost every game. How long has it taken Ling to become what he is? Give him time in the tagging role and leave him there, with Westy helping him he will do great things in the role.

[montasaurus 0]

He had enough time in the forward line to develop. He just wasnt good enough. Looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.

Question: Who was the better tagger?

a ) Dunn 2008

b ) Bartram 2006

Easy Bartram in 06 as he had a better midfield around him. But left to their own devices in 100pt thrasings who knows?

He had enough time in the forward line to develop. He just wasnt good enough. - in 06/07 I thought he really showed a bit up forward. Then in 08 he was thrust into an injury riddled midfield to do a job in a position I suspect he would have never played. We need to give the kid a break he is only 21 and will get a lot better. Has to play forward in my book. Bartram with a full pre-season under his belt has to be the #1 stopper this year. Our midfield stocks are better then this time last year but our forward line is weaker therefore Dunn has to go forward IMO.

[drdrake 3,185]

I don't hpld much hope for this guy, being a tagger is a cop out, he should be aiming to be what we drafted him for a forward, 192 98kgs he is a good size can kick goals. I would like to see Bartram, Petterd, Cheney, Grimes and Bell become that negating midfielder. IMO if he can't play as a forward his future at the club will be limited.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

There are several specialist taggers in the AFL who are excellent players and vital to their team's success (and I don't think I have to name them for you).

If Dunn can add an element of attack to his game (and there is no reason why he can't given his general disposal skills), while still successfully shutting down the opposition's best player, than he too will be a vital and successful AFL player.

This whole argument that he was a first round pick and yet has only turned out to be a tagger is silly! He's turned out to be a tagger because that's the only position where he has been given a significant amount of time to learn and develop.

The taggers you talk about are players who shut down an opposition player and still win enough of the pill to be effective contributing players in the team. Dunn does not do it.

He has turned out a tagger because he does not have the wits nor the capability to play a more offensive role forward or back. After 4 years he has not shown that and you rightly point out the big "If Dunn can". Well we have to see. But to date he has not shown that he can make any position his own.

Bartram was pick 60 in the 2005 and plays a stoppage role with varying level of success. Dunn was pick 15 in the 2004 and struggles to be a negating player at AFL level after 4 years. To date, we have wasted a first round pick on a player who can do no more than another player who you can draft as a dime a dozen 4th round pick. Its not unreasonable to expect such an important investment in "talent" would yield a player who had greater proficiency and impact at AFL level. Its a concern we have used a valuable selection in a draft only to have a player who after 4 years has shown little likelihood of making a role his own.

He needs to step up big time this year (as do a few of his teammates).

[mo64 5,880]

There are several specialist taggers in the AFL who are excellent players and vital to their team's success (and I don't think This whole argument that he was a first round pick and yet has only turned out to be a tagger is silly! He's turned out to be a tagger because that's the only position where he has been given a significant amount of time to learn and develop.

Correct. Once a player is drafted, it's irrelevent whether he's a 1st round pick or a 4th rounder.

Dunn was drafted as a key forward or 3rd forward. In his first 3 seasons, he had Neitz, Robertson, Miller and Holland ahead of him. I thought he showed something in his 1st season, but unlike Miller, wasn't given 4 seasons to establish himself as a key forward.

Last season he added another string to his bow by becoming a successful tagger. If given time to develop, he has the skill set to add an attacking side to his game.

[DeeBest 13]

Once a player is drafted, it's irrelevent whether he's a 1st round pick or a 4th rounder.

I think it is relevant.

If you buy a $20 pen you expect it to work properly for a long time. If you spend 50c on a biro you don't care if it dries up and you have to buy a new one.

To me the same applies to footy - the greater the cost of a player, the higher the return I expect. So as a first round draft selection, my expectations of Dunn are significantly higher than they are of someone whose 'inexpensive' later in the draft.

[Weedster 174]

Too good to be a tagger imo, should be played as a half forward, along side Bate and maybe rotating through a wing occassionally with Morton, Bruce etc who are all that 190ish.

Agree - I think he has enormous up side as a forward option <_< - needs the confidence to back himself

[mo64 5,880]

I think it is relevant.

If you buy a $20 pen you expect it to work properly for a long time. If you spend 50c on a biro you don't care if it dries up and you have to buy a new one.

To me the same applies to footy - the greater the cost of a player, the higher the return I expect. So as a first round draft selection, my expectations of Dunn are significantly higher than they are of someone whose 'inexpensive' later in the draft.

Disagree. There shouldn't be any greater expectation or pressure on a player just because he was drafted earlier. The only expectation that a recruit should have is that they make the most of their ability.

If a 1st round pick doesn't turn out to be a star, maybe that's the fault of the recruiting manager. Why burden the player with the expectation?

You don't delist a player like Dunn because he hasn't lived up to the expectation of a 1st round pick. He is still capable of playing an important role within the team.

[Rampaging Demons 1]

rather bartram be the tagger - as he can at least win his own ball....

a massive year for lynden dunn - needs to make a position his own.. last year we wanted him to be the next chad cornes... well, still be a good option for that!!

[DeeBest 13]

Disagree. There shouldn't be any greater expectation or pressure on a player just because he was drafted earlier. The only expectation that a recruit should have is that they make the most of their ability.

If a 1st round pick doesn't turn out to be a star, maybe that's the fault of the recruiting manager. Why burden the player with the expectation?

So you won't be disappointed if Jack Watts ends up no good then?

And speaking of "burdening the player with expectation" - have a look how much hype there has been from MFC supporters about Watts just cos he was pick 1.

Sorry but supporters expectations do correlate with the position a player was taken in the draft.

[mo64 5,880]

So you won't be disappointed if Jack Watts ends up no good then?

And speaking of "burdening the player with expectation" - have a look how much hype there has been from MFC supporters about Watts just cos he was pick 1.

Sorry but supporters expectations do correlate with the position a player was taken in the draft.

If supporters expectations count for anything, Sylvia wouldn't be on our list. Thankfully the football dept. takes no notice of supporter expectations of individual players.

And if Jack Watts gives his utmost but doesn't live up to the hype, Barry Prendergast will be out of a job. But Jack Watts will still be playing AFL football because he would still be a servicable AFL footballer.

[DeeBest 13]

Thankfully the football dept. takes no notice of supporter expectations of individual players.

They do at Punt Road