Robert Walls in Saturday's Age

JohnM · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:43 pm

For those who haven't read it, he wrote an article largely centered around Pagan. The gist of it:

At Carlton, Pagan has coached to preserve his winning %, instead of doing the right thing by the club by trying to set us up long-term.

Pagan should give hope to the supporters who have lost confidence in the club, by genuinely promoting youth.

On youth: "Never again should the likes of an ageing, befuddled and bemused Mick Martyn wear the navy blue. Play teenagers Josh Kennedy and Bryce Gibbs in the senior team, make Jarrad Waite and Setanta O'hAilpin the linchpins of defence. Let's see and hear more from Kade Simpson, Bret Thornton and Brad Fisher. Be positively bold and make Marc Murphy, a teenager with only 13 games to his credit, captain. The kid's a star on and off the field. He is the future."

Go Robbie!!

blueman · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 6:28 pm **Posts:** 2220

Id say we have more to gain than we have to lose by following Robert Walls advice.

ACHILLES · **Joined:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:38 am **Posts:** 622

Here's the link

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... 08184.html

Hornet · **Joined:** Sat May 21, 2005 5:15 pm **Posts:** 7454

Robert Walls is the master of stating the bleeding obvious. :lol:

DocSherrin III · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:09 pm **Posts:** 17238

I have a lot of time for Robert, however I take most of his articles with a grain of salt. One should remember that it was only a few years ago that he was sprouting the same 'Captaincy' talk and advocating for Darren Hulme to be made Captain.

Whether it is Lance Whitnall or Nick Stevens i really don't mind so long as they present well, don't drop their head at any stage and have or earn the respect of their teammates.

As for Matty Lappin - he made it quite clear that he was out of the running with his comments, and only put more pressure on Mark Murphy to perform beyond what we expect. It wouldn't surprise me if MM joined the leadership group next season...he might display great leadership qualities now - but he has time and I believe we owe it to him to give him that time.

Mickstar · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 7477

I have huge respect for Robert Walls as a great Carlton champion player and coach................But as a writer he is the original Captain Obvious.Tell us something we dont know Robert.

Pafloyul · **Joined:** Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:15 pm **Posts:** 4842

He may be captain obvious to many of us but until I stop hearing the mantra "we had no choice" he will get my approval.

TheBluesMuse · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:27 pm **Posts:** 5270

Robert Walls wrote:

Of those 11, only two remain. It was a Band-Aid solution at best. It also highlighted the lack of long-term list management that has stunted the growth of the team for years. It was also selfish of Pagan as I believe his priority was to coach for a successful record rather than the long-term success of the team.

I don't think it was deliberately selfish, I think it's more the fact that Pagan was pushing himself to the utter limit and holding on to something that was, although not to his knowledge, outdated. Successful coaches will push the limits and I think he was holding on to the fact that "hard work" will get you what you want and his judgement wasn't astute. I think he's finally learned that talent is needed, he may have had an inflamed opinion of his abilities but I think with blokes like him it would be almost forgivable as they'd be constantly pushing themselves. It's clear now that he doesn't have mas many YES men around him so we may, just may get the right combination.

Rambo Stallone · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:29 am

That story is rubbish to some point,those 11 players,most hacks was one year of the draft,that would have been better to get no names,but we probably would have got more hidings that year and we haven't got the youngest list in the AFL it's Hawthorn by the official stats for 2007,we are second.The other thing guys like Sporn,Davies,Beasy,Campbell,Livingston,O'Keefe,Wiggins were young kids getting a game,but everyone on this site said they were crap.

Synbad · **Posted:** Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:20 am

We keep forgetting about Scotland as captaincy material but anytime i hear anything about him he is a quality standup Carlton man and in my opinion our best player outside of Fev last year.

Rambo Stallone · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:20 am

Synbad wrote:

We keep forgetting about Scotland as captaincy material but anytime i hear anything about him he is a quality standup Carlton man and in my opinion our best player outside of Fev last year.

And Thornton also,forget that contract issue,even the great Kota would have done the same if he was starting his football the same time as Thornton,with all the turmoil.

camel · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:38 am

Synbad wrote:

We keep forgetting about Scotland as captaincy material but anytime i hear anything about him he is a quality standup Carlton man and in my opinion our best player outside of Fev last year.

Oops!

malbi · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:00 am

Robert Walls' article is about 4 years too late. Mick Martyn is long gone. I think last year showed that Pagan was prepared to play the kids. Players like Murphy, Kennedy, o'hAilpin, Bower and Jackson started to get a go. These players have to be developed though. It's no use feeding them straight to the wolves.

ADP · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:22 am

Hornet wrote:

Robert Walls is the master of stating the bleeding obvious. :lol:

Yep, in his articles as well as his "special" comments.

He treats his audience as complete fools who are all new to the game. I can't remeber ever reading or listening to him and thinking "hmmm...yep, good point Rob."

I read this piece on Pagan and though "Hasn't this been done to death already!!!"

GIVE US SOMETHING NEW FOR flower SAKE!!

Pafloyul · **Joined:** Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:15 pm **Posts:** 4842

Oh...yeah - very good!

The next time we satisfy the old cravings and OD we will all have a go at Wallsy for not being pertinent enough. :roll:

Robert Walls in Saturday's Age

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