Training - Friday 15th November, 2013

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Gonna be interesting to see what becomes of Lynden Dunn under Roos

Doubt anyone here has him close to our best 22 but i reckon ROos has a few surprises up his sleeve for us all

Yeah spot on. When I had a look at most peoples 2014 line ups I didn't see a lot of Dunn (also Strauss, Pedersen, Byrnes ect).

If it was him he is looking big (or that just might be my bad memory).

Re Roos well we have been promised a lot by other coaches and look how that's gone. Sure Roos comes with what the others haven't had - premiership credentials - but ultimately when it comes to players at the MFC you can lead them to water but you can't make them drink.

[monoccular 16,058]

Gonna be interesting to see what becomes of Lynden Dunn under Roos

Doubt anyone here has him close to our best 22 but i reckon ROos has a few surprises up his sleeve for us all

We all saw what Roos did for Ted Richards...

IF Roos thought that Dunn was as bad as some posters here, would he still be on the list? (I qualify that by admitting my unawareness of his contract status).

I suspect he has a "secret plan" for him.

[Dees2014 2,377]

I think Dunn has a number of attributes which we need and have been under exploited by the MFC eg he can kick long, and is a long accurate kick for goal. I think he is best used as an attacking HB who can run forward and bomb goals from outside 50 off marks and free kicks from the little guys, a bit like Wheatley used to do.

HBF is his position IMHO, particularly if he can improve his defensive skills, and his willingness to run back as well as forward to cover.

He certainly has some talent and some weapons we can use.

[waynewussell 4,088]

I haven't posted for a while but the topic of what Roos sees in Dunn has sparked a reaction. We all cringe when Dunn tries to intimidate (although he had a reputation as a bit of a sniper in TAC). However, he does manage to have an impact in most of his games. Early on he established a reputation for kicking goals, sometimes multiples. Later he developed a reputation for annoying an opponent, and I'm all for this. The only problem was that he frequently gave away free kicks for diving on an opponent...going to ground... giving away an unnecessary free and being out of the contest. Through all of this he has been able to get his hands on the ball... he is still able to kick distance (one of the biggest kicks at the club in 2013). His stats are very good... just turns over the long kick on occasions when other shorter options are ignored. He has a good body and he has a good motor. If Roos can impart a bit of 'good decision making' then we have a weapon off half back.

[Wells 11 4,699]

Im not sure what I think of Dunn. But Im not sure what I think about a lot of our players after the last 2 years. But, given that Neeld had possibly the worst game plan Ive ever beheld, its hard to judge. We were kicking to packs and up the frikn boundary line and seemed to just have no forward run. No free players meant our disposal effeciency was always going to look horrible and everybodys disposal count would be down. It mightn't ALL be because a player cant kick.

I wish there was a stat for "free player missed". Im not sure "clanger" would include long kick up the boundary line when a player was inside and free. Not that we seemed to have ANY of those in 2013. I honestly believe a decent game plan with an injection of midfield depth could make us look 100% better. Even Dunn.

Which may at least get us into the middle of the ladder

[daisycutter 28,494]

dunn is probably still here mainly because he has a contract and we are short on dosh

i wouldn't read anymore into it than that

[Bitter but optimistic 21,238]

dunn is probably still here mainly because he has a contract and we are short on dosh

i wouldn't read anymore into it than that

The lads like Dunn DC. They think he is a Llama.

[biggestred 4,291]

I read somewhere that dunn had won 45/46 one on one contests (may have been marking contests) inside the back 50

I actually thought he had one of his best years last year.

[daisycutter 28,494]

The lads like Dunn DC. They think he is a Llama.

nah, a single humped camel.....sorry to disappoint the lads

[Bitter but optimistic 21,238]

nah, a single humped camel.....sorry to disappoint the lads

The lads don't like equine analogies but is that sort of a one trick pony?

[daisycutter 28,494]

The lads don't like equine analogies but is that sort of a one trick pony?

there is no need to insult ponies.....you could get banned for being ponyist

[Earl Hood 5,789]

Im not sure what I think of Dunn. But Im not sure what I think about a lot of our players after the last 2 years. But, given that Neeld had possibly the worst game plan Ive ever beheld, its hard to judge. We were kicking to packs and up the frikn boundary line and seemed to just have no forward run. No free players meant our disposal effeciency was always going to look horrible and everybodys disposal count would be down. It mightn't ALL be because a player cant kick.

I wish there was a stat for "free player missed". Im not sure "clanger" would include long kick up the boundary line when a player was inside and free. Not that we seemed to have ANY of those in 2013. I honestly believe a decent game plan with an injection of midfield depth could make us look 100% better. Even Dunn.

Which may at least get us into the middle of the ladder

I see his value as back in his run with negating, tagging role that he played well a few years ago and again on Judd this year. He is big, has an engine and a bit of aggro. He can tag, defend and occasionally sneak forward for a goal. He has experience and could be useful in a side that starts to perform

[DemonOX 8,530]

Im not sure what I think of Dunn. But Im not sure what I think about a lot of our players after the last 2 years. But, given that Neeld had possibly the worst game plan Ive ever beheld

You are being too kind Wells Neeld didn't have a game plan not even a bad one I don't think!

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

I rate Dunn.

[TGR 1,367]

Easing? Don't you mean they were flying?

No, today was the easiest of sessions. They might have done a bit after I left; but at Gosch's in the first hour, it was a trundle.

[Earl Hood 5,789]

nah, a single humped camel.....sorry to disappoint the lads

We are talking a Dromederry rather than a Bactrian then?

[jnrmac 18,953]

I read somewhere that dunn had won 45/46 one on one contests (may have been marking contests) inside the back 50

I actually thought he had one of his best years last year.

Thats right. He was only outmarked once in 46 contests. The heirachy like him. Supporters on the whole don't. His best is tremendous. His worst is bad. And has a lot of brain fades IMO

[DemonOX 8,530]

Got this from bigfooty.

Well... these are my notes from training

Boys started at 9:00 apparently which took me by surprise when I found out. Therefore missed around half an hour (it was scheduled to start at 9:30!!!)

The group seems to be split in two. One group, with Spencer, Hogan, McDonald, Jamar, Garland, Viney, Tapscott, Byrnes, Evans, McKenzie, Michie, Howe, Vince working on fitness near the Victory boys.

The rest working on quick ball movement - Watts' pressure and chasing in this drill excellent!

Roosy getting a tad more vocal with every session.

Toumpas once again doing well. Found space in this drill which is done in a very small radius, plus laying shepherds at will.

Same drill afterwards but altered.

Fitzy still fairly uncoordinated, few handballs missing the target.

Toump not afraid to take opponents on, breaking the lines in this drill.

Extra man added on defensive side, creating more pressure.

Handball drills followed.

Clark is steadily getting fitter.

Skills clean throughout handball drills, no one screwed up a handball.

Kicking inside 50/rebound 50 focus. Still a few kicking errors.

Toump just doesn't miss a target. Hit every kick on a teammate's chest. Signs look promising. Hoping he delivers given I seem to talk him up a bit.

Matt Jones using the ball very well.

Watts also kicking beautifully, like Toump, he is hitting them lace out.

Clisby and Terlich not using the ball particularly well - Terlich shanked his first kick over the fence!

Fitzy clunking marks. With Clark IMO still a little bit behind could Fitzy start in round one?

Main group went off, presumably to do a running drill. (possibly running the Tan - or hill work, cannot confirm)

Rehab group running 400s I think. Evans the pick if the group, Clark still a fair way back. Gapped by the others.

Bernie Vince running with the rehab group. Dom Tyson here too.

Russian doing ruckwork with... Allison? Huh?

Frawley and Dunn still loitering around before they start on Monday.

Gawn and Kent popped in to Edwin's (they didn't train) and said g'day also.

My only concern with this is that if I remember correctly this was how people were reporting on training last preseason too. (Except for Watts' pressure and chasing in this drill excellent and plus laying shepherds at will).

Or maybe it's the negative Goliath in me caused by the pain of the last 7 years.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I read somewhere that dunn had won 45/46 one on one contests (may have been marking contests) inside the back 50

I actually thought he had one of his best years last year.

There was a series in one of the papers rating people in different parts of the field. They had Dunn as the best 1-1 defender in the league based on their stats. As you say, he was beaten once in a 1-1 marking contest for the season. That is a hell of a record. I agree with what a few people have said, if he can improve his decision-making with the ball in hand and stop giving away stupid frees he'll be a very handy player for us next year.

[rjay 23,895]

My only concern with this is that if I remember correctly this was how people were reporting on training last preseason too. (Except for Watts' pressure and chasing in this drill excellent and plus laying shepherds at will).

Or maybe it's the negative Goliath in me caused by the pain of the last 7 years.

Yep, it's hard to take a clear view at the moment. The one big difference is the communication level from the coach already, that's a big plus.

Stone talked about people skills and that's what he brings with Roos. It's not man management, it's people skills.

edit: man management to me sounds more like manipulation, Jeans had great people skills at the Hawks. Roos has that, Stone very definitely has that and I know Allison does.

Edited November 15, 2013 by rjay

[Undeeterred 2,847]

Thats right. He was only outmarked once in 46 contests. The heirachy like him. Supporters on the whole don't. His best is tremendous. His worst is bad. And has a lot of brain fades IMO

That is a really astounding stat, when you think about it.

And a good summary of all that is Lydnen Dunn.

[Pennant St Dee 11,257]

Dunn is a better defender than Nick Maxwell, Michael Firrito, Will Schofield and would fit in well with Ross Lyons game plan. He is no star but he would be considered a decent 3rd/4th tall in one of the better sides in the league. We have other players besides Dunn who are way off best 22

[binman 37,992]

We have other players besides Dunn who are way off best 22

Absolutely.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Dunn is a better defender than Nick Maxwell, Michael Firrito, Will Schofield and would fit in well with Ross Lyons game plan. He is no star but he would be considered a decent 3rd/4th tall in one of the better sides in the league. We have other players besides Dunn who are way off best 22

I'm a critic of Dunn, however I reckon he'd be a handy player on a good team.

[DemonDave 1,078]

Dunn is a better defender than Nick Maxwell, Michael Firrito, Will Schofield and would fit in well with Ross Lyons game plan. He is no star but he would be considered a decent 3rd/4th tall in one of the better sides in the league. We have other players besides Dunn who are way off best 22

Some good comparative players there pennant. All are 'in between' size, competent footballers who are all susceptible to inexplicable brain fades. But all play an important role in their respective (generally stable) backlines.