To use a tennis term; Davies has too many unforced errors.

_________________
No ones listening till you make a mistake.

Maybe suffering from a bit of the "Sam Cranages"


"I am working on my Pace, Strength and Skill, other than that I think I have got this AFL caper worked out".

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I was about to get up and defend Davies for that most horrible of insults, calling him a Cranage. Some of my mates call each other Cranage when you stuff up on the sports field, its about as bad as you can get. Probably better than a aDoering though.

But then I thought, yeah, really good VFL player playing loose and running circles around the opposition, questionable AFL form - Cranage, Plunkett all alike...

One other thought though, think someone else had this a while ago...

Davies kicked 2 goals 8 early in 2005. How would it be if he kicked 8 goals 2 instead?

_________________
Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

To quote Allan Jeans...."woulda-coulda-shoulda".

_________________
No ones listening till you make a mistake.

I think Davies needs to be played on the ball or on a wing. What Pagan needs to do is let him play to his strenghts. I remember early in his career blitzing against Freo in the first quater of a game before Mckernnan knocked him out in a clash of heads. Starting in the middle, he looked all class in that game.

Some post here said he can't mark. What a load of rubbish. He has taken some hangers in the VFL and has lept for some beautys in the AFL, problem is they just haven't stuck. Much like Walker and his attempts. Once they start to stick the confidence will come. I think he will emerge this year.

One thing that sticks out for me is that the guy is very shy. Speaking to him at the B&F in 2004 he was saying he was still in awe of playing and training with the likes of Kouta and didn't really cope to well with public attention of being an AFL footballer. He was still nice enough to chat for a while and he even ordered me a beer from the bar so that makes him a top sorta bloke in my book. Hopefully he can grow confidence in himself. Talking to him that night he seemed almost embarresed that he won that game again the Pies of his own boot.


Not sure of the relevance of the post about him being 23 and having played 41 games. I mean how many games have Livo, Wiggins and Sporn played? How many times have they had over 18 possesions a game? How many of them have won a game of their own boot? And these guys were all first round draft picks.

I hope Davies tears them apart this year and sticks up his detractors.

How is having 5 shots on goal in a game a failure? I reckon thats great. Lets do some extra work with him so he'll kick 5.0 in each of the first two games this year.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

The relevance is that you want to play Justin Davies midfield yet the statistics show he doesnt get enough ball to justify your view.
41 games, 23 years old yet cant crack 20 possessions in a game?
Houlihan has a high of 30, Bentick has mid 30s.
Both would use the ball far better than Justin.
As for Livo and Wiggins, they are in the same perilous position in my books.
That's why the comment was made.

I would not have thought it was that difficult.

Then again, he didnt buy me a beer.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

A little hard to get more than 18 when you're either in the forward pocket or on and off the bench.

Of his 41 games whats his high in mins played?

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I wasn't actually calling him Sam Cranage - but referring to a player profile interview that Sam Cranage once gave - and Sam Cranage referring to his deficiency in Pace, Strength & Skill.

You are right about Davies goalkicking it was about 2 goals 8 behinds in his first 3 games. One of those goals was from the boundary line on his wrong foot.

One of those behinds was a set shot from 20 metres out dead in front.

All the same I still think there is something about Davies - could be a little Brad Pearce like in my view capable of the mercurial - just not often enough.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Are you suggesting a conspiracy Brad?

Justin has had plenty of opportunities and doesnt take them.
Denis doesnt drag him or drop him because of a family fued or because Justin killed his cat!
It's purely because he is'nt taking his chances and earning a spot.

It's as simple as that.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Davies is an explosive player however he needs to be confident at that time.

When hes feeling comfortable he adds some attacking pressue.
Eg In 2004 at OO VS Melbourne where he handballed to himself shrugged a defender and slotted it through around 40 out
- 3 goals in a quarter vs collingwood

I also get fustrated with him when he screws up opportunities by innaccurate kicking.

The difference between Wiggins and Davies is Wiggins will chase down a player, Where by Davies wont. Wiggins however doesnt have a match winning ability.

_________________
"Dont count the games, make the games count"