Tom Mitchell

[barneyboyz]

Was listening to Tom this morning on SEN, and it got me thinking about our development, as compared with the so called best.

Tom went to the Hawks mainly due to a lack of opportunity and maturity, both of which, the move south have benefited him greatly. Now, look at the similar scenario with Tim Membrey

There's been much discussion here about our development, and really, who knows the exact extent of the truth? but for me I reckon stability has been the issue at the Saints in the last two years, and especially through the forward line.

FWIW, my view is that improvement will come from drafting the best young talent available every year. Stop chasing Northern champions, and build our own. Remember too that over the last 20 years, our club has been very good at keeping good players, and generally that's because they played for the jumper. They weren't brought here for the money.

This hasn't been the Hawks strategy, and shouldn't be ours

[spert]

As Jason Dunstall said a few years back- I think when asked about the Saints.. recruit the best possible talent available that's what the Hawks try to do, don't just recruit for positions. The Saints for too long have concentrated more on keeping their bigger names happy, but let the rest take care of itself, when we should have been really building a better bottom 6. We made a blue when recruiting Paddy for example- although number one in the draft, the club just went for the replace one big forward with another option(with the eventual retirement of Roo coming up).

The club needs to be really smart in the next rounds of recruiting.,,smarter than they have been in recent history.

[tedtheodorelogan2018]

There a few current players out there on the edge or cusp like Membrey and Roberton. They sometimes need a new environment to flourish. The club is looking at them.

[st.byron]

There a few current players out there on the edge or cusp like Membrey and Roberton. They sometimes need a new environment to flourish. The club is looking at them.

More mystical tidbits implying ITK knowledge without any indication of who the players might be or a source for the info. New username, same posting style......

Next will be that I’m a stalker for calling it out.

[barneyboyz]

As Jason Dunstall said a few years back- I think when asked about the Saints.. recruit the best possible talent available that's what the Hawks try to do, don't just recruit for positions. The Saints for too long have concentrated more on keeping their bigger names happy, but let the rest take care of itself, when we should have been really building a better bottom 6. We made a blue when recruiting Paddy for example- although number one in the draft, the club just went for the replace one big forward with another option(with the eventual retirement of Roo coming up).

The club needs to be really smart in the next rounds of recruiting.,,smarter than they have been in recent history.

Especially when we had no idea of how blokes like Marshall and Pierce were going to develop. One thing I think we need to do better, is admit when we got it wrong and rectify it. We replaced Roo with Paddy, but he was never going to be the same player. We have to keep turning the ground over, we'll get some gems and some misses, but it has to be the way

[sunsaint]

There is no doubt his career at hawthorn has rocketed him to a genuine AA/brownlow medalist in a rapid progression
And while listening to him speak last night I was immediately reminded how similar he sounded to R Harvey - both extremely focused driven and dedicated. Most footballers are but as he said (as dedicated as we all think they are) it took him changing his diet for the better to elevate him to brownlow elite status. The real conclusion there is that all the guidance given via the club accounted for little and it was outside influence and the desire to be better that brought on the change(and maybe a big dollop of male laziness)

AS outsiders looking in we make assumptions - and most probably miss the mark
But in regard to hawthorn and their professionalism (and success) there were many many many here writing that they paid overs for Mitchell and were absolutely crazy to trade as they did for JOM
All clubs make "informed" ( professional) decisions...and in the last 30 years our club has gone both paths of bringing in expensive imports and developing star kids
The better clubs just make fewer mistakes

[barneyboyz]

There is no doubt his career at hawthorn has rocketed him to a genuine AA/brownlow medalist in a rapid progression
And while listening to him speak last night I was immediately reminded how similar he sounded to R Harvey - both extremely focused driven and dedicated. Most footballers are but as he said (as dedicated as we all think they are) it took him changing his diet for the better to elevate him to brownlow elite status. The real conclusion there is that all the guidance given via the club accounted for little and it was outside influence and the desire to be better that brought on the change(and maybe a big dollop of male laziness)

AS outsiders looking in we make assumptions - and most probably miss the mark
But in regard to hawthorn and their professionalism (and success) there were many many many here writing that they paid overs for Mitchell and were absolutely crazy to trade as they did for JOM
All clubs make "informed" ( professional) decisions...and in the last 30 years our club has gone both paths of bringing in expensive imports and developing star kids
The better clubs just make fewer mistakes

JOM was gettable for us, but I think we were spooked by already having Freezer, being that two 'busts' was going to be diabolical. I would have kept Freezer next year btw.

Watching some of Tom's many highlights I can only hope that Seb can learn to take more time and straighten up with his kicking (also lower his eyes). If he can do this, then he could be a beast. Time will tell, and he's already at the club!

[barneyboyz]

Quite often that development takes place by simply changing a players role. Take James Harmes for instance. James built his game on pure desire for the footy from a very early age, he was always with a footy. he's had several roles at the Dees, and even whilst playing in the same position i.e. midfield and now tagger. Early this year he was probably floundering a little, and could have been tempted to move (other than being a Dees supporter too). All of a sudden he's one of the best run with players in the comp (Jack Steele anyone???)

At a guess, there's 6 - 7 players on our list that either aren't playing in their best position, or the penny hasn't quite dropped yet. Kevin Sheedy was either criticised or praised on this theory for many years, but he always knew who could play where, and importantly, when!

[Saintmatt]

Quite often that development takes place by simply changing a players role. Take James Harmes for instance. James built his game on pure desire for the footy from a very early age, he was always with a footy. he's had several roles at the Dees, and even whilst playing in the same position i.e. midfield and now tagger. Early this year he was probably floundering a little, and could have been tempted to move (other than being a Dees supporter too). All of a sudden he's one of the best run with players in the comp (Jack Steele anyone???)

At a guess, there's 6 - 7 players on our list that either aren't playing in their best position, or the penny hasn't quite dropped yet. Kevin Sheedy was either criticised or praised on this theory for many years, but he always knew who could play where, and importantly, when!

Perfect analogy re: Jack Steele. The next most obvious one is Blake Acres. It seems only our complete Dribbler of a coach thinks that his best position is roaming mid/2nd ruck.

[barneyboyz]

Quite often that development takes place by simply changing a players role. Take James Harmes for instance. James built his game on pure desire for the footy from a very early age, he was always with a footy. he's had several roles at the Dees, and even whilst playing in the same position i.e. midfield and now tagger. Early this year he was probably floundering a little, and could have been tempted to move (other than being a Dees supporter too). All of a sudden he's one of the best run with players in the comp (Jack Steele anyone???)

At a guess, there's 6 - 7 players on our list that either aren't playing in their best position, or the penny hasn't quite dropped yet. Kevin Sheedy was either criticised or praised on this theory for many years, but he always knew who could play where, and importantly, when!

Perfect analogy re: Jack Steele. The next most obvious one is Blake Acres. It seems only our complete Dribbler of a coach thinks that his best position is roaming mid/2nd ruck.

I fully expect that the 'dribbler' won't have it all his own way next year.

Question for Blake though is, are you not playing in the right position? or has the penny not yet dropped mate?

I guess also that Geelong must be asking the same questions about Danger atm i.e. is he a forward? is he a mid? I reckon West Coast, although they may not win the cup may just have the best balance here

[6621104]

from Barneboyz: Watching some of Tom's many highlights I can only hope that Seb can learn to take more time and straighten up with his kicking (also lower his eyes). If he can do this, then he could be a beast. Time will tell, and he's already at the club!
[/quote]

here's hoping. Seb should be working like crazy on his disposal, one amongst many.

[Scollop]

Can Sebby juggle?

[saynta]

Can Sebby juggle?

[spert]

If I was running the show, I would have Seb under the guidance of a running coach over summer- work on that sprinting!

[ausfatcat]

Tom went to the Hawks mainly due to a lack of opportunity and maturity, both of which, the move south have benefited him greatly. Now, look at the similar scenario with Tim Membrey

Salary cap was the reason (swans couldn't pay him what he wanted ) and was a regular at the swans in 2015 and 2016 (12 Brownlow votes each season) and they got pick 14 for him far froma fringe player

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-12/h ... r-mitchell

[David-Lee]

I wonder what would've happened if we gave Sydney our first round pick for Mitchell in 2016? Nope, wait, we got our brownlow medalists in 2016. My bad. We only had pick 23 but Hawks first rounder as well from 2017.
Oh well, hindsight, in 5-10 years our blokes will develop into something.

[Devilhead]

As Jason Dunstall said a few years back- I think when asked about the Saints.. recruit the best possible talent available that's what the Hawks try to do, don't just recruit for positions. The Saints for too long have concentrated more on keeping their bigger names happy, but let the rest take care of itself, when we should have been really building a better bottom 6. We made a blue when recruiting Paddy for example- although number one in the draft, the club just went for the replace one big forward with another option(with the eventual retirement of Roo coming up).

The club needs to be really smart in the next rounds of recruiting.,,smarter than they have been in recent history.

So you are saying the problem with drafting Paddy was we recruited him to replace Roo down the line which we shouldn't have even though he rated top two in the draft by nearly all teams because we should have drafted the best talent ........... which was Paddy?

[barneyboyz]

Tom went to the Hawks mainly due to a lack of opportunity and maturity, both of which, the move south have benefited him greatly. Now, look at the similar scenario with Tim Membrey

Salary cap was the reason (swans couldn't pay him what he wanted ) and was a regular at the swans in 2015 and 2016 (12 Brownlow votes each season) and they got pick 14 for him far froma fringe player

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-12/h ... r-mitchell

I hear you with that, was just from his conversation with SEN.

Interestingly, I reckon Sydney would most definitely have found the cash, if they'd identified his potential brownlow capabilities. So, of all the hype about their development capabilities, they still miss occasionally.

I just think that our benchmark is a little lower than the best, being that we see GOP as being (potential) AA, sometimes.

[freely]

If I was running the show, I would have Seb under the guidance of a running coach over summer- work on that sprinting!

I think I once heard Sam Mitchell say though - you work on improving the things you already do well. That's how you become a beast!

[barneyboyz]

If I was running the show, I would have Seb under the guidance of a running coach over summer- work on that sprinting!

I think I once heard Sam Mitchell say though - you work on improving the things you already do well. That's how you become a beast!

I reckon you are right there. Seb has clearly worked on his strengths, and I believe that if he can now work hard on his delivery, then a potential brownlow medallist he could be