I really want Justin Davies to take the next step.

To me he's one of those players who needs something to click for him to go to the next level.
At times last year he looked liked an ordinary suburban player running around for the ants but at other times he had flashes of brilliance and class that made you think geez this kid is a real talent. He's got a little bit of agro and a real competitive nature which if controlled properly is a great attribute.

It maybe that it's a lack of guidance or leadership that he's missing out on. Then again it maybe not.

He doesn't seem to have bulked up much the last two seasons which may affect his confidence a bit. Wonder how he's going in the gym so far this pre-season.

As I said I really want JD to "make it" so what do you think he needs to work on to get to that next level?

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There's so much I could say...

The worry for Justin is he played as well in year 1 as he did in year 4.
In other words he came into the system with some ability but has'nt been able to build on it.
I'd love to see him come on but I dont see where the improvement will come from.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Sometimes he looks really slow, he doesnt have the intensity that Bentick has, he needs to just go harder at the ball.

The poor performances of Davies was one of the many disappointments of this year. I was expecting him to take the "next step" after a strong finish to the 2004 season.

In my opinion he is probably best suited to playing as an inside midfielder where he can utilise his greatest strengths i.e. his clean hands, general toughness and tackling. He doesn't quite have the pace and evasiveness required to be an effective small forward.

This is the year for Juzzy (at least I hope so!!!)

He just looked like a frustrated player all year and it really boiled over in the Ants last game of the year where he got sent off. He has come back to pre-season in fantastic shape and looks a million bucks, more muscle tone and with a spring in his step. He's had chances but if DP can give him an extended run and give him the confidence I think he can produce. I would like to see him play on-ball where his aggression would prove a benefit

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C'mon Blueboys!

A good start would be to stop smacking guys out when he's playing for the Bullants.

Next he could stop missing shots at goal from 30 metres.

And then probably lifting his pass hit rate would go ok.

I thought at the start of the 2005 season he was playing well, but I think he kicked something like 2.10 in the first 5 rounds? His 2005 would have been very different if it was 10.2.

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

Unless he is on his wrong side and hard up against the boundary line of course.

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

Winston Churchill

Agro - good memory.

Athorn - it was 2.8 in Rounds 1-5. Then he was dropped, brought back for Round 8, dropped, then brought back for Rounds 11-13 with limited game time, then brought back for Round 22.

Before I left for holidays late in the season I thought Davies was gone. Suspended again at VFL level, I thought his mind was off the job, perhaps at frustration at being dropped on limited game time. But his return in Round 22, which I didn't get to see, looks great on paper - 2 goals, 17 stats - looks like the return from an AFL quality player.

He can't

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Time to go: Smorgon, Pagan

why not?

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There's so much I could say...

Davies has mental lapses.
Id play him in the middle abot next season so he has to concentrate.
The forward pocket role is just not him because he is away from the game too long and then cant switch back on.
He needs to work on his sloppy disposal.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

If anyone doubts that Davies has football ability then have a look at the Wiz Cup GF from 2005. He played with real spark and some sensational aggression.

The kid can play and he does have the ability. He needs to get his head around being consistant at every contest and in every game. He can not let himself down with a lack of effort a get sucked in with silly displays that get him reported.

He is so quiet I wonder if he realises how good he could be. Sometimes he appears to lack confience in his own ability and his game suffers. He can play the game he just has to switch on from the first bounce and show it.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

He's one of the best marks at our club and is great below his knees but I think his field kicking and his occasional lack of accountability rule him out of a midfield possie. I'd love to see him become a Russell Robertson type - a genuine target up forward instead of a forward pocket that Fev keeps telling to get out of his space. However he'd have to work on his attitude, which according to cazz could just be a confidence issue. I hope the club works with him on the psychological aspects of his game, because another year like 2005 will end his career.

Invest in one of those screw drivers with the tightest of tight grips so we can get his head fixed properly.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

He'll have 4 weeks to work it out
Got rubbed out in the Bullants Prelim game for belting 2 different players.
ANGRY PILLS THAT DAY

Not real tough either.
One wasn't in play...ala b hall
the other was in a marking competition ala lynch v wakelin.

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Stay tuned We're in for a BUMPY ride

I remember watching Carlton vs. Port Adelaide from 04. I came on here after the match and bagged the shit out of him, saying he's a softcock, can't kick, can't mark, can't handball, and worst of all can't even get the ball.

A couple weeks later i was saying how much of a gun he is after a match at Optus against Melbourne Round 20 or roundabouts that. Then in round 22 he played an absolute blinder against Collingwood. Running, harrassing, tackling everything you could possible want a player to do.

I've heard that he was given a massive rocket up the arse by Pagan before those last couple rounds and he responded with those performances. So obviously, he had to get something to keep his mind on the job... But how do we keep his mind on the job?

Hopefully it will come with maturity and this will be the year.

I think when Davies is expected to kick a goal or hit a target it just doesn't happen and he falls into a trap of false pressure. When he's not expected to do stuff his true talent comes out because there's no pressure, no expectations, and he just does what comes naturally.


Well that's my take on Davies. But no doubting he has the talent.

Maybe TD will have an effect on him?
I hope so anyway.

i thnk the only way for justin davies to turn his career around is to think straight. this kids knows he has the talent, he knows he can cut it in the AFL, hell we all do, the kid just needs to realise that he still has to work, you can be one of the most talented players to ever pull on a pair of boots but if you aint got the heart you will never make it, look at lawrie angwin.

JD needs to focus on getting his body right, but more importantly, his mind. i'd love to see JD reguarly playing on the HFF for us this year, putting his body on the line, like i have seen him do early in his career, kicking goals, like we all know he can, taking hangers, like we all know he can, and being a smart team player, like we all hope he can.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice

Because he's mentally weak and doesn't do what he has to do on the field. I've always paid him extra attention and cannot wait till he's out of the club. He was far more lucky to survive than Bannister etc, lovely display in the last VFL game - the petulant squib

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Time to go: Smorgon, Pagan

He started the year off looking like he was about to really explode, but everytime he got the ball around goals he kicked a point. He had something like 10-11 scording shots in the first 4 games and came away with something like 1 goal (which IIRC was a really arsey snap from near the boundary).

I think that, then getting dropped really sucked it out of him and he dropped the bundle.

I agree with what Synbad said about stuicking him in the middle. Or maybe give him the jobs Walker had this year (tagging). Make him work hard for it.