Play more kids,get SOMETHING out of season ??

[Piesnchess]

Well, stating the bleeding obvious, we aint going to the big dance this season, and i sincerely doubt we can make the finals. Actually, making the 8 is far harder than i thought it would be, despite our poor form. The way i see it, eagles, crows, swans will be top three, then North, then hawks, cats, Giants, with one spot left for the Tigers, whom i presume must get cracking soon, or the Suns. So, on that basis, what do we use this season for, do we try to win as many games as we can, by persisting with older players, some nearly cooked, like white, blair, tooves, goldsack, or do we go for an total injection of youth, with an eye to next season and beyond. ?

This is a real conundrum for Bucks, on thin ice, does he play older guys for a few more wins, or go for more kids for long term future benefit, but puts himself under more pressure ? I dont watch that much VFL, but i did two weeks ago, and i was very impressed with youngsters like Crocker, Whyatt, and young Smith, and of course, the huge Yank Cox. This kid Sier looks the real goods too, or is it far too early to give him a gig ?
So, how best to use and utilise the rest of this season, onfield, for the best future of the club. ? And please, no smartass sack Bucks stuff, we have enough of that around, im talking about player potential and blooding more kids now.

Thoughts ?

[duke750]

Sad, but I think this year is already a development year.

Perhaps time to develop young players, get game time into Cox, Wills etc, and see if Bucks can build some momentum towards 2017.

At some point soon we will need to accept that 2016 was not a great year

[Lazza]

[John Wren]

we were never going to the big dance this year. making the eight was and is always going to be a challenge in a season where it was anticipated to be the closest yet.

we are only 4 weeks in. suggesting to play the kids is an overreaction right now. if come midseason we are still travelling poorly then you might consider it. there is no need to blood kids at the expense of trying to win games.

[didick]

I don't think we can load up the team with mostly kids. We need a good mix of experience to lead the way. Having a heap of youngins with little experience will lead to a lot of demoralising losses and could do more harm than good. We need to settle on a core team that is a good mix, with the younger players being those showing the most promise, with a sprinkle of some others now and again that may have potential. We need to get settled for a change.

[Woods Of Ypres]

you have changed your tune, Piesnchess !!

[HAL]

Only temporarily.

[yin-YANG]

Kids need some guidance and don't learn much from getting smashed week after week. So no to a sweeping changes however we need to blood our youngsters into the team. Give em some experience - give the supporters some hope - you never know a couple might actually help out short term like Langdon who just stepped up when given a go.

We have some talented kids on the list - I would like to see Broomhead given a go up forward before we go for the total newbies though…

[jackcass]

Play the kids when their VFL form demands it and an there's a spot in the senior team. If we're not in contention for finals round 17-18 then start looking at some senior players ducking off for end of season surgeries and that by default allows kids opportunities.

As it stands at the moment and barring injuries, only Wills and Smith look like pushing for senior selection any time earlier anyway.

[Piesnchess]

[ANNODAM]

[mattys123]

Play (and select) to win until we are mathematically out of the finals I say.

No one gets games unless they deserve them, that should be our approach, regardless of age, experience or potential.

[Lazza]

[stui magpie]

[Bob Sugar]

Let the kids coach the team, couldn't do any bloody worse, "u9s rules boys, everyone's on the ball"