(03-22-2017, 09:11 AM)Raydan link Wrote:Again explain to me how swapping a decrepit player like Thomas for Cunningham upsets the balance. Do we really need to carry two below average players neither of whom made our top 10 B&F when we have a future 200 gamer needing experience. Let him run out in front of 70,000, where they say a playing in front of a big crowd is worth 2 games of experience.
You've missed the point completely, those first gamers in front of 70000 will be like Neo first time in The Matrix, distracted by the woman in red, hyperventilating and oblivious as the evil agents have their way!
Thomas, White, Armfield, like them of hate them, they've been there and done that. What they lack in one area their experience more than covers. I made the analogy between McLean and Thomas once before, McLean was even slower than Thomas but just seemed to find himself in space at the right moment. Not by accident, but because experience helped him know where to be and when. Doing the smart stuff and managing themselves through a game like beginners cannot. It's an aspect of playing AFL a lot of the kids just don't have, and it has nothing to do with ability or fitness. They'll get plenty of opportunity to gain experience, but not all at once and not in the majority.
When those younguns get hyped in the first 5 mins they'll most likely be blown up by halftime, you just cannot carry more than 3 or 4 first gamers for that reason alone.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"