Player Rater

26th July 2011 Category: Hit and Run

Image: Slattery Media Group

Hit and Run is a weekly post that includes a number of short statements about the week in footy. This week focusing on Saturday Night's game between Essendon and Carlton.

• The Essendon board has created an almost unmanageable situation with the appointment of James Hird. At what point does Hird’s job come into question? Brisbane (and Carlton to a lesser extent) are in the same predicament. Installing a club hero as coach is fantastic when things are rolling your way, but it’s essentially an emotionally motivated decision that likely does long term harm. As they say, there are two types of coaches – those who have been sacked, and those who will be sacked. 

• Come draft time if clubs are unsure of who to draft, they should apply "The Mitch Robinson Rule: Draft the player that has the least regard for his own safety and the safety of players around him." At very least you get a player that electrifies fans and motivates teammates. 

• In the absence of Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson has held up better than most expected. Henderson had been criticized for his lax attitude as a forward. The move to the backline has him refocused. Tom Hawkins and Chris Scott should take note. 

• Chris Yarran might be the smoothest operator in the league. His effortless running style and silky skills are reminiscent of Andrew McLeod. 

• Eddie Betts kicked 8, but he shouldn’t get the votes. Chris Judd’s performance was near perfection. It almost would have been worth him missing the birth of his child. Almost. 

• No four game player will ever have a poster that's in as wide a circulation as Jake Carlisle. 

• Does using a player as a swingman harm development? Throughout the nineties, David Neitz and Chris Grant played as swingmen - switching from week to week between centre half back and centre half forward - for the Demons and Bulldogs respectively. Both were great one club players, but did the insistency of their role harm progress? Ultimately a great forward has a greater impact on a team. Hird should stick with Michael Hurley at centre half forward, until there's a viable alternative.