This is my problem with the Russell debate.

He's not a top 10 pick - he's a player on a list of 38. That's what all our players are. Russell didn't choose to be taken in the top 10 - that was our decision. In some years he wouldn't have made top 20.

And yet still he's judged according to where he was picked as if every number 9 pick should be equal.

I rate Russell against the rest of our list. Any other comparison is unfair.

I also rate him on how he's improving and whether he's starting to understand what's necessary. For a kid who's had less than 12 months of genuine development coaching I'd say the results of that attention are paying off pretty quickly.

If people are disappointed in his performance based on where he was picked in the draft then they should blame the recruiting team rather than slagging off Russell at every opportunity.

Is Russell the worst player on our list? No.

So where does he fit in everyone's list of CFC's best players?

My guess is he's not at the bottom (or even bottom 5) of anyone's list.

Thanks for expressing my opinion GWS!

This is my problem with the Russell debate.

He's not a top 10 pick - he's a player on a list of 38. That's what all our players are. Russell didn't choose to be taken in the top 10 - that was our decision. In some years he wouldn't have made top 20.

And yet still he's judged according to where he was picked as if every number 9 pick should be equal.

I rate Russell against the rest of our list. Any other comparison is unfair.

I also rate him on how he's improving and whether he's starting to understand what's necessary. For a kid who's had less than 12 months of genuine development coaching I'd say the results of that attention are paying off pretty quickly.

If people are disappointed in his performance based on where he was picked in the draft then they should blame the recruiting team rather than slagging off Russell at every opportunity.

Is Russell the worst player on our list? No.

So where does he fit in everyone's list of CFC's best players?

My guess is he's not at the bottom (or even bottom 5) of anyone's list.

And here's my problem with the Russell debate - He was a pick 9 as you said - so what? It doesn't matter any more. But I think we're playing him MORE because of the # he was taken at rather than his ability.

If he was taken 3rd or 4th round, he would never have got the oportunities he's had.

I don't want him sacked, I want him sent to the twos and coached on how to read the play and execute (I'll grant you that he had a very, very good final Q last week).

Silent P (Pfieffer ) has kicked nearly as many goals in 6 games as JR has kicked in 4 years .

All I ask is that we play players on form and ability, NOT draft order.

So the MC are judging players on their draft positions rather than attributes and scope for improvement now??? Come on, give us a break.

Riley: Let's give Pfeiff a go this week.

Ratts: Nah he was only picked up number 2 in the PSD. We'll stick with Jordy - he was a number 9 in the National.

Riley: Don't forget Pfeiff was a number 12 when Adelaide drafted him!

Ratts: Shit - you're right, Pfeiff it is then. Hang on - 9 still beats 12! Better stick with Jordy.

Riley: You're the boss Ratts.

Ratts: You don't get to be head coach without being able to separate your 9s and your 12s Mark.

Russell's been improving all year. Took the last quarter of Sundays game for some of you to realise that. Not all players can play really good footy in their first few years some take time to develop...and if he was lacking confidence it wasnt his fault that he was kept in the 1's and not dropped to the 2's...but Ratts obviously knew if he showed faith in him the results would come sooner or later.

so stop bagging players out so much like you did with JR

So the MC are judging players on their draft positions rather than attributes and scope for improvement now??? Come on, give us a break.

17, not 12

Former 1st Round Draft Selection (No 17 to Adelaide in 2005) after winning NAB AFL U18 Championship All-Australian honours as a midfielder/defender. Has had injury setbacks with the Crows.

Draft History
2005 NAB AFL Draft 1st selection Adelaide No. 12 overall, 2008 Pre-season Draft 1st round selection (Carlton) – number 2 overall.

Riley: Let's give Pfeiff a go this week.

Ratts: Nah he was only picked up number 2 in the PSD. We'll stick with Jordy - he was a number 9 in the National.

Riley: Don't forget Pfeiff was a number 12 when Adelaide drafted him!

Ratts: Shit - you're right, Pfeiff it is then. Hang on - 9 still beats 12! Better stick with Jordy.

Riley: You're the boss Ratts.

Ratts: You don't get to be head coach without being able to separate your 9s and your 12s Mark.

That's how it happened - were you there too?

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/td-adelaide-crows?year=2005

Just in case there's money riding on this.