(04-03-2021, 06:38 AM)Baggers link Wrote:I wouldn't say, 'gifted', Pauly... but I would say never underestimate the sentimentality in our's and other struggling sides. Successful sides rarely have passengers, especially two weeks in a row. But we have shown a strong propensity over a long period to 'allow' passengers.
Sometimes you have to stick with the 'passengers' as there just aint the talent pressing in the Magoos for selection - we've certainly been there, just ask BB.
But now we do have blokes pressing, yet being denied for some unknown reason. For example, there has been nothing in Casboult's efforts in the first two games to justify fronting up tomorrow... and the argument of 'team balance' does not hold water for moi. You put your best available on the paddock. If Casboult was injured we'd find a way to structure our forward line.
With today's Magoos hit-out, McGovern, Kennedy and Stocker have all put their hands up... and Willo bounced back for a BOG - another hand up.
If you reward below par efforts, you'll ask for below par results. Selection needs to be ruthless, as is the case with top sides.
(No mention of Carroll in today's Magoos games... rested? Injured? Also mentioned was that Marchbank is likely to play in the Magoos next week).
My participation in this discussion started when I read that Murphy is being gifted games to get to 300. He entered the season on 285. If you seriously believe that he is being gifted 15 out of 22 (leaving out finals), or 70% of the total games this season to make the milestone, well................
Leaving that aside and taking a short term view, we are 2 games in. Plenty of players not at their best. Maybe, just maybe, these blokes who are pressing for selection are getting close, but still not good enough to earn selection ? Maybe the MC has gone all risk averse because they would rather go with tried and true instead of taking risks, giving that it appears to be finals or bust for Teague. Maybe the nothing practice matches up till now are not a reliable form indicator ? Maybe Murphy's experience and other attributes are getting him over the line ?
In short, there is no basis for thinking the club has gone all sickly sweet like an overripe mango, and there's no basis for thinking anyone is being gifted games.