Re: Carlton 2017 - Review
Reply #53 –
The "Jones one" is something I'm still struggling a bit with.
Yes we've found a gem...and kudos to those responsible.
But why did it take us so long to identify that this is a key defender not a forward?
He was nearly "out the door" before he was given his opportunity.
My hope is that this signifies a greater awareness and an improvement in our major deficient area "Development".
Whether we got lucky with one smart fellows observations, or it's a new era in player development is yet to be determined...and the proof of the pudding will be in performance not potential (I'm a bit over the Nostradamus.... "Don't worry, he'll be right" approach...because we don't know 
)
We've identified some likely prospects but we need to see "Charlie Curnow" like progress, not second and third year blues.
Many of these blokes are high draft picks...not rookie picks, and the expectations should be high.
I have a theory.
In all walks of life, some people have aspirations to become something.
Jones aspired to be an AFL key position forward.
We all saw that he couldnt do it, but he was determined to try and make it. So he battled away at the task for 12 months or so under Bolton and they were willing to see where it went.
Sure enough it wasnt proving fruitful. Yet, he continued plugging away at it, until someone may have pulled him aside and said to him, how would you feel about a change?
Change can be very turbulent, and accepting that what you want to do, and what you can do are two very different scenarios, it can be difficult to nudge people in the right direction.
The fact that Liam knows how to play as a forward (somewhat) is helping him as a defender, and at some point I have no doubt we will put him forward again and he will be better at it for the experience of playing down back.
This isnt a game, where you put some ticks regarding developement around a player and watch their stats increase, or write their name down on a different part of the paper and watch it yield rewards.
This is real life, where people are stubborn, have emotions and sometimes getting them to the point where they become open to change is necessary. Dont look at the two years he spent with us playing forward as time wasted. Its all part of the journey.
Mind you, that last part is what makes me believe that our club is in good stead moving forward. We have embraced the journey aspect of decision making and how players developement wont be linear. Some will grow year upon year, others will have set backs along the way, but the setbacks dont matter, its how you respond that counts. Liam has absolutely been rewarded. The same opportunity is there for everyone, but they have to be open to it.
Topic: Carlton 2017 - Review (Read 14571 times)
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