He is according to this. Well deserved if true, he's had a top season.

http://tiny.cc/iyxh7

He is according to this. Well deserved if true, he's had a top season.

http://tiny.cc/iyxh7

I'm happy with that if they want to give him a further 2 years. He's put his head down & gone hard @ it, & has shown he can improve, so deserves another contract.

Plays an important role in our team, especially considering modern footy. Capable of kicking 25-30 goals a season + subdue the best rebounding defenders.

good on him for finding his niche and turning his career around not a minute too soon.

Still prone to the odd brain explosion, but is a starting 18 player now and therefore deserves 2 years

He's 192cms isn't he? I'm surprised we haven't moved him on.

He's 192cms isn't he? I'm surprised we haven't moved him on.

Thats why he's taken 'So Long'.

A very handy size for a player with zip & plays small.

I said it in another thread. In just half a dozen performances he's gone from depth player, to probably behind Frawley and Grimes, our third most important defensive player. Maybe fourth depending on where you place Garland.

I reckon it's a testament to the coaching department particularly. The way I see it, he's a fantastic story to show the kids coming through on what to do when confronted with weaknesses in your game.

The first thing: Prepare religiously, which he has a reputation for doing. He's a hard worker, a serious career footballer, and one of our more desperate competitors. This is the first thing to look for, and it's easily identifiable.

The second thing, hope you have a coaching panel that can identify his weaknesses, inform him of them, and then explain what he has to do to rectify them... and if he can't rectify them, explain what role he has to play to work around them, and hope he takes to the role with some sort of excitement and adrenaline.

ie, Dunn was a forward who couldn't seem to confidently take a contested overhead mark. His kicking was iffy at the start of the year, and he drifted in and out of games when he played deep. But he has pretty good pace and balance for a big man, and his kicking range is superb. So what do you do? Bravo to the coaching department for identifying both an area the team had a deficiency in, and a role that fit Dunn's skill set like a glove.

In terms of supporters, we'd do well to look at Dunn as a cautionary tale. You could count on one hand the players on the list who don't have weaknesses. In fact I can think of only Trengove and Sylvia who don't have glaring holes in their game to overcome (injury aside). All the other guys, who frustrate the armchair experts, should be given the chance over the space of a few seasons to find a defined role. Players like PJ likewise should take heed. PJ has strengths, like running, pretty sound kicking for goal and in the field. But he can't mark and is variable in his tapwork. I have a sneaking suspicion the footy department have stuck fat with him because, like Dunn, they see a defined 15-22 game role for him in the side.

This probably goes for a dozen players on the list. I love that the club is sticking with kids that show something, instead of crucifying them the moment they disappoint. It means players who come to the demons through draft or trade KNOW they'll be given every opportunity.

Another feather in DB's cap.

........................................................

Another feather in DB's cap.

Excellent post Dappa, and I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you have said. A question: Do you think the run-with roles that Dunny was given over the previous couple of years were a deliberate strategy to develop the defensive side of his game in anticipation of his present role, or do you think this is just coincidental?

Excellent post Dappa, and I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you have said. A question: Do you think the run-with roles that Dunny was given over the previous couple of years were a deliberate strategy to develop the defensive side of his game in anticipation of his present role, or do you think this is just coincidental?

It could be a mixture of both as we severely lacked big bodied midfielders when he played on the ball and provided a bit of grunt but we have now shored up our midfield stocks and the work that he was doing was transferable to the forward line.

A conundrum this week is, do we keep Dunn in the forward line where he has been kicking goals, or do we send him to Hodge who struggles with a tag(then the Hawks struggle), because Dunn would seem the perfect matchup for Hodge. He started in the centre against the Bombers and did a fine lock down job on Jobe to help set up that win. Cam Bruce may be the other player to run with Hodge as ROK did last week.

BTW, i have been on the Dunn bandwagon for a while. There have been many haters on this site, and you know who you all are!

Dunn is a Gun

Excellent post Dappa, and I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you have said. A question: Do you think the run-with roles that Dunny was given over the previous couple of years were a deliberate strategy to develop the defensive side of his game in anticipation of his present role, or do you think this is just coincidental?

Maybe it helped him build confidence & self belief as he matured & his body developed somewhat. Now he's a man & is ready to accept bigger challenges.

Edited August 10, 201014 yr by dee-luded

I'd give the job to Bruce. He's proven to be the best run with player we have at the moment. Probably the best "footy smarts" for the role on Hodge, might just be a little on the short side. Definitely start with Bruce though

I'd give the job to Bruce. He's proven to be the best run with player we have at the moment. Probably the best "footy smarts" for the role on Hodge, might just be a little on the short side. Definitely start with Bruce though

I'd give the job to Bruce too. Especially since we won't lose much in terms of goals or run if Bruce needs to play a purely defensive role.

If we give Dunn the job on Hodge, we risk robbing ourselves of the 3 goals a game that he's been contributing to the side lately.

This is great news if true. I had heard that he was considering his future quite heavily earlier in the year with a view toward perhaps leaving. Actually, if I remember rightly the feeling was more to do with the fact that he felt he would be delisted.

He has come full circle in my eyes. Loved his 2006 work and ability to have shots on goal, hated his frequent brain snaps as a utility and now love his work as a defensive forward.

I'd give the job to Bruce. He's proven to be the best run with player we have at the moment. Probably the best "footy smarts" for the role on Hodge, might just be a little on the short side. Definitely start with Bruce though

There's been suggested that Hodge may go back to half back to help out, with Guerra poss out. They may lack decent ball use out of defence.

Interesting, IMO we matchup well against the old Hawk boys.

He's 192cms isn't he? I'm surprised we haven't moved him on.

They just never seem to make it those blokes of that height, bit freaky if you ask me.

There have been many haters on this site, and you know who you all are!

I prefer the term "Dunn skeptic"

Seriously, can we quit it with the "Dunn hater" B.S. though? Many were questioning the worth of Dunn and rightly so given his output over the years, but that doesn't make people "haters". I doubt there's too many people who would not acknowledge the form he has been in recently, myself included.

Couldn't be happier.

Gone are the days where everyone had no idea what Dunny's role was. Remember when he was experimented down back??? :/

He has taken over Brad Miller's spot as the aggressive, tall, hard leading forward. And he's 4 years younger

I prefer the term "Dunn skeptic"

Seriously, can we quit it with the "Dunn hater" B.S. though? Many were questioning the worth of Dunn and rightly so given his output over the years, but that doesn't make people "haters". I doubt there's too many people who would not acknowledge the form he has been in recently, myself included.

Agree. I'm just like most others: I never thought Dunn would make it, but now that he's performing regularly and is a major contributor I'm as happy as everyone else.

Never hated him. Just never thought he was good enough.

Many here have criticised Dunn being pushed up the ground and away from his natural forward position. It cannot be argued though that this has transformed him from a potential one dimensional full forward to a hard working forward that has many strings in his bow. Kudos to the club to sticking with the plan to expand Dunn's potential rather than looking for a quick fix.

Edited August 10, 201014 yr by No16

I'd give the job to Bruce. He's proven to be the best run with player we have at the moment. Probably the best "footy smarts" for the role on Hodge, might just be a little on the short side. Definitely start with Bruce though

WOOO someone who agrees with me, I think Bruce can do it as well. Hodge isnt THAT quick so brucey should be able to keep up with him

There's been suggested that Hodge may go back to half back to help out, with Guerra poss out. They may lack decent ball use out of defence.

Interesting, IMO we matchup well against the old Hawk boys.

There goes that theory Guerra appealed and won

There have been many haters on this site, and you know who you all are!

Can you name them?

Honestly branding posters "haters" or "bashers" has all the intellectual sophistication of branding someone a racist.

I prefer the term "Dunn skeptic"

Seriously, can we quit it with the "Dunn hater" B.S. though? Many were questioning the worth of Dunn and rightly so given his output over the years, but that doesn't make people "haters". I doubt there's too many people who would not acknowledge the form he has been in recently, myself included.

Too much common sense Nasher. (I did not see your post earlier!)

There is no doubt Dunn has taken the necessary steps as a footballer to actively compete and perform at this level. This is a different player to 10 to 12 weeks ago. He should be roundly congratulated for his effort to improve. I hope he keeps it up.

Deserved a 2 year contract. And if he performs at the level he currently is, MFC would have got a bargain at the contractual rate negotiated.

A conundrum this week is, do we keep Dunn in the forward line where he has been kicking goals, or do we send him to Hodge who struggles with a tag(then the Hawks struggle), because Dunn would seem the perfect matchup for Hodge. He started in the centre against the Bombers and did a fine lock down job on Jobe to help set up that win. Cam Bruce may be the other player to run with Hodge as ROK did last week.

BTW, i have been on the Dunn bandwagon for a while. There have been many haters on this site, and you know who you all are!

Dunn is a Gun

I hate this nah nah nah nah nah I told you so crap. I think you will find all real supporters who come to this site want to see players succeed. Others are in it to beat a drum or self aggrandize.

We have all made good calls and bad calls. Dunn clearly needed to improve a number of areas of his game.

Dunn's game has improved out of sight since DB made him play a tagging defensive role which required him to increase his running ability and use his body positioning to influence a contest. He has really matured as a footballer especially.

I'm sure that many here are aware of this, but i'll say it anyway... I believe that the club are taking the same approach they did with Dunn, as they are now with Morton. They're making sure that anyone who has decent height (both are 192cm), speed, agility and forward potential are working on their defensive skills. From what i've read it appears that Morton is continuing to get dropped because of the lack of defensive pressure. He has also played a tagging role recently, where he lined up on Goodes. I remember Dunn doing exactly the same thing 2 years ago.

Both are also 1st round draft picks, and a few here have mentioned it that the footy department see Morton as a future forward not a midfielder. If this is the case, lets just hope that the results are just as good, if not better.

If it works out then we'll have three forward prospects that can run all day, are agile, a decent mark and all over 192cm - Dunn, Morton, Watts. Group those three with possibly Bate (another 192cm player), Petterd, Jurrah and Wonna and you've got a very mobile and versatile forward line for the future.

This thread just goes to show that the Demonland Mob are pretty good at dishing it out, but incredibly poor when it comes to eating humble pie.