Re: Potential List Changes for the Northern Blues 2018
Reply #13 –
But...unless he's being cleverly placed in hiding, Ben has not shown the form that would have him as a priority in terms of our drafting and if things fall into place we mightn't have too many picks left at the bottom of the draft to use on him.
A rookie spot...maybe.
Yes, I think this is the reality of the situation.
A lot of fans just assess the lad on the surname, including some members of the this forum, and when anyone posts a realistic appraisal of the lad they get pegged as Silvagni haters. Not unlike when we post a realistic appraisal of SoJ and get slammed as Silvagni haters.
The irony for me is that it's the blind faithful and idolaters that heap the pressure on the kids to perform above their natural abilities, the very people who defend the Silvagni's will be their ultimate downfall becuase they have generated unrealistic expectations of the kids!
I can tell you from a very good source that Luke Hodge was incredibly impressed with the physical abilities of BSoS, that is not in question. Allegedly the question is does he want to be an AFL player badly enough? You have to want it to be a AFL player to get through the day to day, having the athleticism isn't enough, just ask Nathan Ablett!
I don't want us drafting the kid on hope and them allowing him to be torn to pieces by bitter fans and a ruthless AFL media just because in their perception he is blowing his chances! Let's face it, his boosters, idolisers and media critics will generally be the most vitriolic!