Send Bennell to the VFL

[Little Goffy 14,545]

Courage can be learnt.

If not courage then habits of action which exactly resemble courage can be learnt.

Just over a half-century of modern military psychology has tested and tested it, and the results from combat speak conclusively.

[Summer Blease 0]

You can gain courage, you can't learn it. It can't be coached to you or you can't learn it from a book. He needs to be constantly thrown into scenarios where he is being called upon to be courageous to hopefully become courageous. I see more harm being done to the team with him being in it whilst 'learning' this trade, as apose to him doing it in the VFL. As long as he knows its not a demotion based on form, but rather on learning physical accountability or lack there of

[Yokozuna 1,004]

Nostradeemus, I understand your opinion, and you obviously want him dropped to teach him, but why are you getting so annoyed, if not angry when people are not agreeing with you?

And Rhino, I was not saying that simply having pace is courage. I was saying that running, chasing, tackling etc. is all courage, especially when done when you are fatigued. Courage is not only going back with the flight. But we can argue all day about peoples different definitions of courage.

[Nasher 33,616]

Bennell knows he stuffed up and was embarrased. He was looking for a hole to bury himself in, couldn't find one so had to 'stretch out his aching calf'- which incidently made it even more embarrasing. We can leave him in the side and tell him he stuffed up when he would already know, or we can be proactive and do something about it. And sending him to the VFL is not a punishment- people get sent their to work on fitness as to not 'show them up' in the big league, why can't it be the same for courage?

I get your point, but why can't he work on it in the AFL? It's only necessary to send a player in to the VFL if it's too difficult to work on that weakness at the top level. In the case of Bennell, it's not a skill weakness, it's a psychological one, and practicing at any level is going to be equally as effective as anywhere else. There's also a very good chance he'll play well for weeks and weeks without this issue popping up again - something you wouldn't see with a skill weakness. What will have been gained by dropping him to the VFL in that instance?

[Summer Blease 0]

Nostradeemus, I understand your opinion, and you obviously want him dropped to teach him, but why are you getting so annoyed, if not angry when people are not agreeing with you?

And Rhino, I was not saying that simply having pace is courage. I was saying that running, chasing, tackling etc. is all courage, especially when done when you are fatigued. Courage is not only going back with the flight. But we can argue all day about peoples different definitions of courage.

Yokozuna, not angry or annoyed, a little frustrated that people were summising the VFL drop suggestion was to do with form/punishment, when in reality it has nothing to do with either of them.

Nasher- I agree in part. The only part I differ is which league he can gain his courage in. I hate to push the young man under the bus, but had he had the courage to take that mark the result could have very easily been different. A big burden to put on a second year player, true, but the point is what if it happens again? I would rather it happened again in a game where it has no bearing whatsoever on our premiership season. This is basically the main reason I want him dropped to the magoos.

Alternatively we can leave him in the side, but if it does happen again on the big stage it's going to put him out there as a woose once again.. just feel it has the potential to be a more damaging scenario. But hey, we might be able to nut this problem out in training. Could it be done in training, or do we need real minutes in the middle? We all agree it has to be stamped out, but by which means?

[Big Kev 369]

Hi Vagg, we champion half forward flankers must think alike! I don't think Bennell shirked it. I believe he heard a call from Newton to leave it and as a result he half pulled out of the marking contest. That's how it came over on foxtel anyway. It seems everyone has forgotten about his very COURAGEOUS mark in the goal square where he could have easily head butted the goal post. No, no mention of that one from his knockers. He had a quiet first half, but in the second he was very, very good. He will be a great player for us.

That is the way I saw it.

[Craig Drinker 179]

I personally thought Bennell played pretty well against Collingwood.He may have not gone as hard as he could at one contest but was pretty good for the rest of the game.

Based totally on form in the Collingwood game I thought Bate ,Scully and Strauss didn't have the best games.However I doubt any of these will be dropped for the game against Adelaide.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I thought Bennell played very well today and has gone a long way towards redeeming himself. He showed just what he can do and I hope those that have been calling for his head will cool it. He will be a very good footballer for us.

[dee-luded 2,959]

your born with courage,its not something you can coach, hes going to be good player, but i dont think it will be the last time young jamie hears footsteps.

I don't agree.. You might be born with a propensity for aggression, or you might be born shy or extroverted, but courage is something that has a lot to do with the self esteem as a youngsters development & how deep they believe in themselves & their principles.

IE: "lives or dies by their principles".

This can be learnt later in life, but it gets harder to escape the comfort zone of how they've always done things.

Thats why he needs to not be let get away with it now!

I'm sure this coaching group will address this issue.

Edited April 11, 2010 by dee-luded

[Steamin Demon 392]

For all those Jamie Bennell slammers, I hope you watched his game today. Still bound for the VFL ? I think not !!

[heartbeatstrue 57]

Bennell was on fire in the last qtr, he got the ball on the wing right in front of us and I saw the look in his eyes, it was wild. He was running straight into an Adelaide player, and normally I'd expect him to handball it off backwards or sideways. But that look in his eyes, he was inspired. Bennell went straight at him, then either side and he was through and into space, kicking goalwards. Ferocious!

Bennell & Davey combined well a couple of times, too.

[waynewussell 5,747]

Bennell was good today, particularly in the last. He has rare pace and can carry the lines. Don't get confused by the calls to drop him. They had nothing to do with skill or potential. The calls to drop him were about punishment for not going when he perceived a body coming hard the other way. I was very pleased for Bennell today, but I wasn't surprised. I rate him, always have. However, we felt that a point had to made about a few glaring examples of fear factor! I was happy in the end to go with the selection panel.

[Sir Why You Little 37,036]

Great game from Jamie-thought of this thread during the game. B)

He was one of the few players in the first half who was able to be creative.

His 2nd half was a cracker. He will only get better.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Bennell was good today, particularly in the last. He has rare pace and can carry the lines. Don't get confused by the calls to drop him. They had nothing to do with skill or potential. The calls to drop him were about punishment for not going when he perceived a body coming hard the other way. I was very pleased for Bennell today, but I wasn't surprised. I rate him, always have. However, we felt that a point had to made about a few glaring examples of fear factor! I was happy in the end to go with the selection panel.

I think the point was made without the need to drop him. I'm sure that he was as disappointed in himself as anyone.

[Footynut 302]

Well deeluded... Where are you now? I suppose your going to tell us that u still stand by your point that bennell is bound for king st with Sylvia and didak?

[agent_orange 0]

Well deeluded... Where are you now? I suppose your going to tell us that u still stand by your point that bennell is bound for king st with Sylvia and didak?

This thread has been owned by Bennel in the best manner - the footy do the talking.

Guess that id why Demonlanders don't select the sides. Most have no idea.

[dee-luded 2,959]

For all those Jamie Bennell slammers, I hope you watched his game today. Still bound for the VFL ? I think not !!

I did. I had a good view. He was ineffective for the first 3 qtrs. He received many possessions & couldn't do anything with them. He ran around in circles looking for others to present & when they didn't he was lost. He held onto the ball statically instead of running off demanding the forwards present. He sat back off the contest instead of going in to contest the ball & he mostly avoided tackling, just chasing, for the first 3 qtrs.

He put in a marked difference in the last 30 or so minutes which provided us with a significant supportive effort which helped win the game.

It's taken him till this point (the last Qtr today), this year, to play constructive footy.

I hope he continues the last Qtr effort. That's how he played last year.

Edited April 11, 2010 by dee-luded

[Carn dees 108]

Always had faith in the kid

Remember we kinda stole him from westcoast, they were very very keen.

[Summer Blease 0]

This thread has been owned by Bennel in the best manner - the footy do the talking.

Guess that id why Demonlanders don't select the sides. Most have no idea.

Yeah, you'd think that, seeing as we are a collective group of working class people in the real world, and selectors for the team eat, sleep and dream football. I'd say another reason why Demonlanders don't select the sides is that they can't read a thread and jump to assumptions based off thread title alone. Extremely ignorant and frustrating- so very, very frustrating.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Always had faith in the kid

Remember we kinda stole him from westcoast, they were very very keen.

I have high hopes for this kid, thats why I want him to turn out Right.

I've watched him closely since his debut, as well as a selective few others.

I rate Bennell highly as our (McLeod) to be type. That is why I was so disappointed in his efforts prior to todays last Qtr stand.

He must continue that form onwards or be dropped as we drop others for lowering their standards.

We'll see how he goes next week.

[wisedog 352]

I thought Bennell was brilliant. The gameplay had been so stilted that Bennell's pace and creativity really shone through in the last. He was a real stand out.

[Go Dees Attack 0]

JB is a legend. We need him out there, he is an inspiring player.

Go Dees

[PJ_12345 1,098]

I dont think dropping him is the issue. After watching the game after i went to the match i'm happy to see him chasing.

Putting him down to the scorpions i think would be the wrong decision.

Keep him in!

[Summer Blease 0]

It seems good has returned to MODOR. Lets hope this issue can be thrown into the depths of that big volcano thing- and Frodo Bennell can release himself of this burden.

Go Dees!

[dee-luded 2,959]

You can gain courage, you can't learn it. It can't be coached to you or you can't learn it from a book. He needs to be constantly thrown into scenarios where he is being called upon to be courageous to hopefully become courageous. I see more harm being done to the team with him being in it whilst 'learning' this trade, as apose to him doing it in the VFL. As long as he knows its not a demotion based on form, but rather on learning physical accountability or lack there of

You can learn what it takes for one to become, if not allready, show courage,or the acts of valour.

Eg: Stopping to aid someone seriously injured at an auto accident, when their Wailing in pain. Or running into a toxic smoke filled basement, with some level of intelligence, to ascertain if no one is left in there.

Or Treating someone with a badly severed calf muscle in an industrial accident with blood everywhere & the person in shock.

Or defending someone from attack by a bunch of yobbo's.

There's plenty of ways you can stand up for what you believe in, for its the desire & belief in what your doing that gives you the reason to be courageous.

These things you discover as you mature, or can learn of yourself, at some stage, but it takes a level of passion!