Pre-Game Potential: AFL 2019 Rd 8: Carlton vs. Collingwood

[Baggers]

Questions :
Why aren't the young guys learning off Kreuzer, Simpson, Curnow, Cripps ? Why must they only learn off Murphy ? Does he have a monopoly on teaching ? So these other blokes just stand around doing nothing whilst Murphy "destroys" another generation of youngsters ? Where are the previous generations that he's destroyed ? Can anyone give me one single name ?

Answer :
Because it's a fantasy. A fantasy argument constructed by people who see a negative outcome, see a player they don't like, and join the two using the most simplistic cause and effect you can imagine.

Have you tried meditation? Passion flower tea? 

I don't think it's either / or. Of course the young ones are learning from the Simmo's, K's, Ed's and so forth. But with experience and Captaincy comes reasonable expectation, and that includes Murph.

The discussion now is about the Murphy of now, not the Murphy of years ago.

Roughead wasn't dropped to 'set an example', he was dropped for not performing to an expected level. Many believe that Murphy, at this time, is not performing to a level he should. Murph has made some dreadful errors of late, even gifting goal scoring turnovers - and that demoralises team mates. Standards for very experienced players are understandably high, as they should be. Kids are cut some slack... for a bit.

And the other issue is about our habit over the years of gifting players games - be it because he was the teacher's pet, the cupboard was bare or simply reputation. Sellers made a point of this on the teev the other night, he even commented that some senior players needed to be dropped for non-performing.