VFL 2019 Rd 4: Northern Blues vs. Werribee

[LP]

VFL teams loaded with AFL players aren't coached specifically to win VFL games, they are developing systems, if it so happens they get the systems right then at VFL level they win as a consequence not because of opposition analysis.

I've had long post game discussions with Ex.AFL coaches now coaching in the VAFA about this very subject. The NBs will always suffer while our primary goal is developing AFL youth, as our AFL list matures the NBs will benefit. In the VFL kids will always be played out of position or with specific tasks and agendas taking priority over defeating an opponent.

People point to the Handbaggers VFL to counter this argument, but they are very different and their success and failure works both ways. Because of location and coincidence with a TAC Cup squad they are effectively an academy type setup. They have coherence across three or four levels with almost no local competing interests, yet they still seem to underperform at VFL level which supports the development hypothesis.

It's no point bagging Carlton/NBs, when you see the only really successful AFL hosted teams are Geelong and Box Hill which have won just three flags in a decade! The rest go to affiliates or stand-alones.

[ianh]

Agreed LP....how many spuds have we picked up from Geelong over the decades? Apart from Hickmott who was superb for us, I can't think of many others that have done much...Michael Mansfield, David Clarke, Billie Smedts and now Darcy Lang to name a few..

Some short memories here - how about a couple of midfielders called Carrazzo and Williams?  Two premierships out of Mario Bortolotto (plus snotting David Cloke in 82 religiously following Parko's instructions that if they started a fight deck the guy closest to you).  Got 54 games out of Mansfield, even if many were ordinary, 24 out of the underused Laidler even 36 out of Justin Murphy after his return from the cattery.  David Clarke Snr only played 9 games for us but averaged better than 2 goals a game and was instrumental in getting us over the line in the '82 prelim only to be dropped for the granny.

Not to mention the McShane brothers both captaining the Blues in the early days and  77 games from Jim Flynn including the 1906/7/8 premierships.

We've had a few good'uns from there.

Just don't mention the names O'Reilly or Smedts - but in recent years they and perhaps David Claarke junior are the only real busts we've had from Geelong, although Lang is looking that way unless he can rediscover his ability to give a continental.

[Professer E]

Why we took that peanut Murphy back from the cats is a mystery. 

[LP]

I can't be bothered analysing all this, I suppose you have to accept the good with the bad overall, for example we did well out of clubs like the Aints for years.

[kruddler]

Gee, another Hickmott would just about complete our side....

We overlooked 2 in the last draft!
Mid season draft? Oskar Manton got a mention recently.

[Jack Burton]

So did Kristian Jaksch

[Baggers]

Some short memories here - how about a couple of midfielders called Carrazzo and Williams?  Two premierships out of Mario Bortolotto (plus snotting David Cloke in 82 religiously following Parko's instructions that if they started a fight deck the guy closest to you).  Got 54 games out of Mansfield, even if many were ordinary, 24 out of the underused Laidler even 36 out of Justin Murphy after his return from the cattery.  David Clarke Snr only played 9 games for us but averaged better than 2 goals a game and was instrumental in getting us over the line in the '82 prelim only to be dropped for the granny.

Not to mention the McShane brothers both captaining the Blues in the early days and  77 games from Jim Flynn including the 1906/7/8 premierships.

We've had a few good'uns from there.

Just don't mention the names O'Reilly or Smedts - but in recent years they and perhaps David Claarke junior are the only real busts we've had from Geelong, although Lang is looking that way unless he can rediscover his ability to give a continental.

Parko had huge wraps on him re his substantial contribution to the club in terms of leadership around the place, especially for the '81 or '82 premiership side (I forget which one).