Can't get a game at North Ballarat

[old dee 23,505]

Cook was a disaster but he was no orphan we have had plenty, I remember getting howled down when I suggested that he wouldn't make it half way through his first season.

Our recruiting sucks and it seems as if we haven't learnt a thing by recruiting has-beens from other clubs and expecting them to all of a sudden come good.

Mitch Clark and Jack Viney would have been complimented by Olie Wines and Jack Darling.

Yes he was

Yes I remember it well Robbie because we were both of the same opinion.

Now here is one for the "No one picked Darling brigade"

How come 11 other clubs did not pick him?

Easy, every other club thought he was a second round selection at best.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Yes he was

Yes I remember it well Robbie because we were both of the same opinion.

Now here is one for the "No one picked Darling brigade"

How come 11 other clubs did not pick him?

Easy, every other club thought he was a second round selection at best.

It was more-so off-field issues. Darling had been touted as a top 5 pick (at least) 12-18 months out from his draft. His talent wasn't in question, although he was considered perhaps a tad undersized. To say that he was "thought a second round selection at best" just shows your ignorance.

[DemonFrog 1,347]

It was more-so off-field issues. Darling had been touted as a top 5 pick (at least) 12-18 months out from his draft. His talent wasn't in question, although he was considered perhaps a tad undersized. To say that he was "thought a second round selection at best" just shows your ignorance.

There you go again Ben putting other posters down.

May be, just may be, he has a different opinion then you. Does this make OD wrong?

Did you really need to put your final comment in your post to make your point?

[Demonsterative 3,018]

Yes he wasYes I remember it well Robbie because we were both of the same opinion.Now here is one for the "No one picked Darling brigade"How come 11 other clubs did not pick him?Easy, every other club thought he was a second round selection at best.

His off field antics also contributed to his 2 nd round pick OD, fact is, clubs would have picked him earlier if he was worthy of a 1st round pick

[Earl Hood 6,061]

His off field antics also contributed to his 2 nd round pick OD, fact is, clubs would have picked him earlier if he was worthy of a 1st round pick

Results so far say he was a top 10 pick!

[Demonsterative 3,018]

Results so far say he was a top 10 pick!

In hindsight I totally agree.

[DeeSpencer 24,792]

Results so far say he was a top 10 pick!

He's good, but maybe it was just a drop of form that young players suffer from but to me he's starting to look a bit more like he's not quite the dominant key forward but more a dangerous and crafty slightly undersized tall.

Remember he dominated under 18's as a 17 year old and everyone thought he was the next Jono Brown. 12 months later he hasn't grown any taller, didn't play as well, messed around with a school girl and got his head kicked in on a night out.

Of course a clever team drafting for needs in a tall forward still would've had him ahead of Cook but an even smarter team might have avoided both and gone for best available. Or taken Cook in the second round and developed him properly and maybe today he'd be a decent B grade option at least. His post AFL career has shown he wasn't ever going to be a star. I also think when Cook was drafted he probably should've been made a defender. Good reading of the play might have countered his poor athleticism and he did have nice foot skills.

[Earl Hood 6,061]

He's good, but maybe it was just a drop of form that young players suffer from but to me he's starting to look a bit more like he's not quite the dominant key forward but more a dangerous and crafty slightly undersized tall.

Remember he dominated under 18's as a 17 year old and everyone thought he was the next Jono Brown. 12 months later he hasn't grown any taller, didn't play as well, messed around with a school girl and got his head kicked in on a night out.

Of course a clever team drafting for needs in a tall forward still would've had him ahead of Cook but an even smarter team might have avoided both and gone for best available. Or taken Cook in the second round and developed him properly and maybe today he'd be a decent B grade option at least. His post AFL career has shown he wasn't ever going to be a star. I also think when Cook was drafted he

probably should've been made a defender. Good reading of the play might have countered his poor athleticism and he did have nice foot skills.

I am biased I just wanted Darling at the time if he was available at pick 12. He had been an underage champion at 16 or 17 but then he got injured and didn't have a great under 18 championship as an 17/18 y.o. West Coast started the rumours of bad behaviour and concussion issues, allegedly. We all took the bate and the rest is history.

But really he is my prototype draft pick, gun forward, agressive, black belt Karate champion, physical build and proven record that he could kick goals. But then oh Shyte there's a risk I will pick Lucas instead. Give me strength oh Lord.

[Demonsterative 3,018]

I think Darling was his own worst enemy at a club in Subi. Not even WC could have orchestrated that fight (literally)

[DeeSpencer 24,792]

I am biased I just wanted Darling at the time if he was available at pick 12. He had been an underage champion at 16 or 17 but then he got injured and didn't have a great under 18 championship as an 17/18 y.o. West Coast started the rumours of bad behaviour and concussion issues, allegedly. We all took the bate and the rest is history.

But really he is my prototype draft pick, gun forward, agressive, black belt Karate champion, physical build and proven record that he could kick goals. But then oh Shyte there's a risk I will pick Lucas instead. Give me strength oh Lord.

The guy's not the prototypical key forward though. He's 21 so it's incredibly hard to say anything negative about him right now but I think he should be moving in to the midfield a la Jarryd Roughead because at his size I predict his improvement as a true key forward is limited. West Coast dont have a big midfielder so I see it happening.

[spirit of norm smith 15,276]

11-14-2010, 08:18 PM #1 (permalink)

cotter101

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top 25 2010 afl phantom draft should be accurate

1. GC. david swallow

2. GC. harley bennel

3. GC. Sam day

4. WC. andrew gaff

5. lions. dyson heppel

6. tigers. jared polec

7. GC. josh caddy

8. dons. shaun atley

9. GC. danie gorringe

10. GC. recee conca

11. GC. Tom lynch

12. dees. Jack darling

13. GC. jayden pitt

14. crows. brodie smith

15. cats. issac smith.

16 power. scott lycet

17. north. kieren harper

18. blues. Mathew watson

19. hawks. seb tape

20. freo. billie smedts

21. swans. ryan lester

22. dogs. mitchel wallis

23. cats. brad harvy

24. saints. josh green

25. lions. mitch halahan

what you think?

anyone see Lucas Cook ... most phantom drafts had Lucas Cook at pick 25-40. Everyone did laugh when we called him at pick 12. Missed Atley & Darling

[Earl Hood 6,061]

The guy's not the prototypical key forward though. He's 21 so it's incredibly hard to say anything negative about him right now but I think he should be moving in to the midfield a la Jarryd Roughead because at his size I predict his improvement as a true key forward is limited. West Coast dont have a big midfielder so I see it happening.

It is difficult to give an answer on this post. So far he has nailed the half forward position for WCE, he is aggressive, kicked goals, set up goals, played the defensive forward role with agressive tackling inside 50. But look other than that he Is too young to work out his place in the side, really.

Forget the midfield, he is still killing them at half forward. And I like his ability to bounce back upright from a prone position. Apparently it is a karate thing but Shyte I like that.

[Earl Hood 6,061]

11-14-2010, 08:18 PM

#1 (permalink)

cotter101

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Join Date: Nov 2010

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top 25 2010 afl phantom draft should be accurate

1. GC. david swallow

2. GC. harley bennel

3. GC. Sam day

4. WC. andrew gaff

5. lions. dyson heppel

6. tigers. jared polec

7. GC. josh caddy

8. dons. shaun atley

9. GC. danie gorringe

10. GC. recee conca

11. GC. Tom lynch

12. dees. Jack darling

13. GC. jayden pitt

14. crows. brodie smith

15. cats. issac smith.

16 power. scott lycet

17. north. kieren harper

18. blues. Mathew watson

19. hawks. seb tape

20. freo. billie smedts

21. swans. ryan lester

22. dogs. mitchel wallis

23. cats. brad harvy

24. saints. josh green

25. lions. mitch halahan

what you think?

anyone see Lucas Cook ... most phantom drafts had Lucas Cook at pick 25-40. Everyone did laugh when we called him at pick 12. Missed Atley & Darling

It is getting late. I am feeling a bit ill.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Did you really need to put your final comment in your post to make your point?

Everything I do needs to be done.

Push off, lightweight.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

The issue is Cook was never going to make it at AFL level and that's a fact; some saw it early others didn't. Unfortunately the Melbourne recruiters were amongst the "didn't". I recall at the time, saying to my wife, what the bloody hell have we done.

How they picked him will remain one of the mysteries of our time, one of, if not the worst selection ever.

[LegsLeoncelli 162]

The fact is that he is a young man with his whole life ahead of him. He is out of the AFL system and moving on with his life.

To everyone on here, please, bad bump, and just let it go.

Time to look forwards, not backwards.

[Earl Hood 6,061]

The issue is Cook was never going to make it at AFL level and that's a fact; some saw it early others didn't. Unfortunately the Melbourne recruiters were amongst the "didn't". I recall at the time, saying to my wife, what the bloody hell have we done.

How they picked him will remain one of the mysteries of our time, one of, if not the worst selection ever.

Agree with your thoughts but how did he get All Australian CHF??? That gave the pick some legitimacy at the end of the day. And I think BP worked off that fact. Did we actually talk to the kid and work out his work ethics and ambitions? I don't think so.

At the end of the day some kids play great footy under age with other kids! But the jump to playing with men can be a big ask for some kids. I know I found it very difficult at first. It took me probably 3 years to become comfortable playing with mature age thugs.

[bing181 9,005]

anyone see Lucas Cook ... most phantom drafts had Lucas Cook at pick 25-40. Everyone did laugh when we called him at pick 12. Missed Atley & Darling

Jay Clark (Hun) had him at 25 (Lions), and Emma Quayle had him at either 20 to Freemantle or 23 to Geelong. Not sure where your "most phantom drafts" comes from, as most (credible) drafts I saw had him mid-late first round as the next tall off the rank after Gorringe.

[Demonland 70,326]

Everything I do needs to be done.

Push off, lightweight.

Enough of that thanks.

You can conduct a good debate without resorting to the put downs so please leave it alone.

[DeeSpencer 24,792]

Agree with your thoughts but how did he get All Australian CHF??? That gave the pick some legitimacy at the end of the day. And I think BP worked off that fact. Did we actually talk to the kid and work out his work ethics and ambitions? I don't think so.

At the end of the day some kids play great footy under age with other kids! But the jump to playing with men can be a big ask for some kids. I know I found it very difficult at first. It took me probably 3 years to become comfortable playing with mature age thugs.

The All australian at under 18 level is the most ridiculous award ever given. There's 4 teams competing you simply have to be the best player in your position of the 4 teams. I don't know who the other CHF's were in Cook's draft year beside Darling and as mentioned he had a poor carnival. So really a couple of good junior games had Cook in that prime position.

Watts taking strong marks and winning games with clutch goals says all you need to know about playing as a key forward in under 18's.

In Watts' year the only good key defender at the time was probably Hurley who was on Watts' team. That's the other thing to consider, who knows what opponents Cook was against.

Cook is so low on the dees dodgy drafting record because we took a shot at a key forward at pick 12. You'll miss a lot with them. John Butcher looks like losing right now. Mitch Thorp and Beau Dowler were big wipe outs. You take a chance because the upside is huge.

I get upset over Taggert, Tynan, Blease, Strauss, Tapscott and Gysberts before I care about Cook.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Agree with your thoughts but how did he get All Australian CHF??? That gave the pick some legitimacy at the end of the day. And I think BP worked off that fact. Did we actually talk to the kid and work out his work ethics and ambitions? I don't think so.

At the end of the day some kids play great footy under age with other kids! But the jump to playing with men can be a big ask for some kids. I know I found it very difficult at first. It took me probably 3 years to become comfortable playing with mature age thugs.

I wonder if they actually talked to him, I've never seen a player with less appetite for the contest than him.

There were questions over his mental capacity to play the game at the highest level.

Anyway he's gone and hopefully we will never select a player again without some sort of psych evaluation.

Edited November 2, 2013 by RobbieF

[beelzebub 23,200]

The issue in the main re Darling was talent v risk.

His "issues" discounted his appeal and in reality his appeal slipped.

Many clubs felt others a better pick was there for their 1st round.

By default for many he best fit a 2nd round selection . The balance of ability v risk came back to worth a punt.

[DemonFrog 1,347]

Everything I do needs to be done.

Push off, lightweight.

Unfortunately, your comments/insults are very predictable.

Its clear you think yourself as a heavyweight poster who appears to have little respect towards other forum contributors.

You may well have very worthy comments and insight in to various issues and threads in Demonland but by adding constant put downs to differing views does in fact devalue your own posts.

Over time you should come to understand that your constant put downs actually makes a larger statement about yourself than to the other poster you are trying to discredit.

In your view a lightweight I may be, but I am a MFC Supporter/Member first and foremost like the majority of Posters here. Althought I may personally disagree with specific posts/comments, I rarely see that the Poster does not have the best interest of the MFC at heart.

I would strongly disagree with your comment that everything you do does need to be done. But that comment does say alot about you as a person and would indicate to me and others that you are likely not to listen to the above advice. After all a rightous man is the most ignorant.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Unfortunately, your comments/insults are very predictable.

Its clear you think yourself as a heavyweight poster who appears to have little respect towards other forum contributors.

You may well have very worthy comments and insight in to various issues and threads in Demonland but by adding constant put downs to differing views does in fact devalue your own posts.

Over time you should come to understand that your constant put downs actually makes a larger statement about yourself than to the other poster you are trying to discredit.

In your view a lightweight I may be, but I am a MFC Supporter/Member first and foremost like the majority of Posters here. Althought I may personally disagree with specific posts/comments, I rarely see that the Poster does not have the best interest of the MFC at heart.

I would strongly disagree with your comment that everything you do does need to be done. But that comment does say alot about you as a person and would indicate to me and others that you are likely not to listen to the above advice. After all a rightous man is the most ignorant.

Just mucking around pal. Have a great day.

[DemonFrog 1,347]

Just mucking around pal. Have a great day.

You too Mate.