Jack Fitzpatrick nominated for VFL Mark of the Week -

VFL Player Review - Round 11

When I read the VFL review I think there is not a lot thereto work with. How many seasons are needed to tell some players to work on their defensive side? Is it really that hard? From Allison's reports it seems to be a real issue.

it is hard for me because I was a battling, defensive type player at Metro level, few skills but could usually shut a more talented player down. Cannot see why it takes so long to instill in some players the need to run both ways. That is the modern way.

When I read the VFL review I think there is not a lot thereto work with. How many seasons are needed to tell some players to work on their defensive side? Is it really that hard? From Allison's reports it seems to be a real issue.

it is hard for me because I was a battling, defensive type player at Metro level, few skills but could usually shut a more talented player down. Cannot see why it takes so long to instill in some players the need to run both ways. That is the modern way.

I have had a few chats with a couple recently ex afl players who I had the pleasure of attending school with and they said the biggest problem is that when you stick to a shut down role you get crucified for not wining the football, and when you win the football you get told off for not having a balance.

Basically it is hard to get a call up when you are just stopping your opponent, but when you win the football you get your chances to play.

That being said it is probably different with roos in coaching position but yes

there's definitely been a theme to these vfl reports this year.

not exactly glowing reports.

I have had a few chats with a couple recently ex afl players who I had the pleasure of attending school with and they said the biggest problem is that when you stick to a shut down role you get crucified for not wining the football, and when you win the football you get told off for not having a balance.

Basically it is hard to get a call up when you are just stopping your opponent, but when you win the football you get your chances to play.

That being said it is probably different with roos in coaching position but yes

Reading the reports this year it is the ability to make the quick transition from attacker to defender when the opposition have the ball. It's not about shut down roles it's doing your job and running both ways.

Reading the reports this year it is the ability to make the quick transition from attacker to defender when the opposition have the ball. It's not about shut down roles it's doing your job and running both ways.

Yeh the problem is that if you are running forward in the chain and your opponent doesn't follow you (due to him being a forward) and someone like nicho or the non Melbourne listed players turn the footy over, they are stuck in no mans land.

But in this instance I guess it's not so much about your direct opponent but your nearest player, but at the same find this was what he said was the hardest thing to balance while playing AFL and vfl

I think this whole discussion around the relevance or value to MFC is just shifting the blame somewhat. After all North has no one team acting as its reserves with their two players spread around a few teams in the VFL. Yet they are in the 8. Casey up until this year have been finalists for years. At least we have just one team to concentrate players in and nurture. As I said (poorly) before the difference is the VFL level Casey players that remain from last season and the fact that we seem too treat them as second class when they are integral to the development and maintenance of our reserves. We have to get our players to buy in when they are in the Casey team. I think JKH illustrates my point perfectly.

I think we're talking different things. Your imo talking about "the now", in terms of ladder position in the AFL. If you want to make the North Melb comparison, I say Re their following, they have None or next to Nil, & are still inline for ReLocation.

We need to grow our fan base & our grow a grass roots region for ourselves... & we should be doing it in a bloodless way, in our own playing strip & theme song.

I'm really talking about a longer term & Sustainable VFL presence, we're we can act the way we like; & if we pull the players in August, then its done in our strip & we don't offend any weaker partners in the relationship... or their supporters.

IF we are trying to grow an attachment with the people of the Casey Region, then we should act accordingly. We want & IMO the AFL want us to grow our presence in the Sth-East corridor of this state.

So we should let Casey survive on their own, instead of taking them down by 1000 cuts. We don't need their Skin/Jumper, name or identity. Better off not to, & to not drag them under.

And they will be better off maintaining their own Identity, in which ever form, or competition they choose.

We have a slight presence they're now, & with the Roos factor making changes at Melboune, with I'm sure more to come this end of season, imo Now is the time to plan for this change, as we become more professional once again.

The Roos team of assistants will get the development happening, so we need to firm our Sth-East Identity NOW (inside the next 12 months)... After Roosy finishes as head Coach, we will be missing the Bus yet again at the reserves level. And we will fall further behind the other AFL clubs already with their own VFL teams.