Mickstar wrote:
Paddycripps wrote:
I'm clearly alone in still backing Honey in. I think he's just down on confidence and remember he's hardly played many senior games. That doesn't mean he should retain his spot in the side right now because his form is down. But I see a talented footballer who's not being developed terribly well right now. Just in the sense he's down on confidence and being asked to play seniors.
Your not alone Paddy . I always could see the blokes potential . Not sure why he is copping the criticism after the Saints game coz he played better than Motlop and Durdin not that that is an indicator coz that pair where putrid . It is the small/medium forward set up that is killing us at the moment .
We put all our money into drafting Martin to fill our HF position. He's seasoned, can run all day, mark and kick goals....when he's fit. Cuningham was earmarked as the other HF and he was one of our draft picks we were developing.
We hear posters beg our coaches to develop our own, and give the kids a go, and when they are given an opportunity to build on their role, such as Honey has been, (and Kemp, Philp when played, Carroll) the same posters will say he's useless and doesn't deserve it and not ready, or a branded another failed draftee. Its quite sad. Yet those who know better about the player and our needs and our development plan, and our contingencies are selecting him. There's a message in that alone.
Have a look at the first 5 minutes of the game up to SOS first goal. Have a look at the 2nd goal of the quarter. Honey played a role in those goals. Cleared the path for SOS. His hard hits and physical game is what we want to see more of but its obvious he's playing a role to be an option on the outside.
In the last quarter Curnow kicks the ball long into the waiting arms of a lone Saint. The game was still in the balance. Honey had sprinted his guts out into the HF on his own about 35m from goal. He was completely ignored like Durdin was in round 23 last year in the last. No way Curnow could miss him coming onto his right foot. Glad the commentators mentioned it because no one seems to have mentioned it on footy forums. He's only 21yo.
We have been forced to play the kids before they are ready. Durdin Motlop have become faves for some but you don't hear boo when they play 80% game time and do very little. They all show signs, but not an AFL game...yet.
Kids need development and because of injury we need to play the kids. Honey is played to develop his HF craft because he has strength and is strong (have a look at last week's training photos), he's a unique specimen. He's super quick. Can take a mark and kick straight from 50. Any wonder why he has been getting games when he's fit? The cupboard is bare and we need to develop our own. What's our alternative? Trade in another HF which will take up plenty of cap space if we want a good one. That's where we are at. We need to develop our own. Its hit or miss if we are to see success, but we have to keep developing our own.
Kemp is another potential HF but he is being developed for a HB role. Dow isnt a HF. Fogarty wont be on the list next year. Carroll is a mid, but potentially a one sided HF. Honey seems to be the heir apparent. Lets hope we do a good job developing him and Motlop and Durdin. We are missing Owies and Martin more than some think.