Dunstan
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Dunstan
This may just be me, but about halfway through this year I had lost hope of Dunstan improving any further. He had been twice dropped for the first time in his career, and was barely making an impact in the games he came back for.
This may just be me being impatient with a young player, but I wasn't too hopeful with him.
Then after returning from being dropped the third time he seems to have flicked a switch, and in my opinion, has been our best player for the past five weeks.
He is Starting to run our games rather than run out of puff in a quarter meaning more disposals (averaging a smidge over 27 in those 5weeks), is kicking goals (averaging a goal a game), connecting play throughout the ground and being so creative when he gets it. This follows what I consider his best game over his short career
I for one see him possibly being one our best players over the next couple of years
This may just be me being impatient with a young player, but I wasn't too hopeful with him.
Then after returning from being dropped the third time he seems to have flicked a switch, and in my opinion, has been our best player for the past five weeks.
He is Starting to run our games rather than run out of puff in a quarter meaning more disposals (averaging a smidge over 27 in those 5weeks), is kicking goals (averaging a goal a game), connecting play throughout the ground and being so creative when he gets it. This follows what I consider his best game over his short career
I for one see him possibly being one our best players over the next couple of years
Fortius quo Fidelius means Strength through Loyalty. . . I think
- Junction Oval
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Re: Dunstan
It's good that he has grasped the nettle with both hands.
We can see lots of improvement. Let's hope for all, that it continues into 2018, because we will need all guns firing next year.
We can see lots of improvement. Let's hope for all, that it continues into 2018, because we will need all guns firing next year.
- Linton Lodger
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- saintsRrising
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Re: Dunstan
Yes he hit a but of a pothole at the 50-ish game mark, but is going along very nicely again now at his 68 game mark.
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
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Re: Dunstan
Yes, it has been very encouraging seeing him run into some form lately.
Curb your enthusiasm - you’re a St.Kilda supporter!!
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- desertsaint
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Re: Dunstan
Had no doubt - the guy is outstanding, just too much thrown on him too early. luckily the coach realised he was merely mortal and needed time to develop and regain confidence. couldnot beieve how quickly some on here were rubbishing him when he hit a poor patch of form. Been our best player since his return. Could go on to captain the club.
"The starting point of all achievement is desire. "
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Re: Dunstan
It goes to show you need to give them a good run at it before writing them off.
Some of the garbage spewed out about players who have played fewer than 50 games is lamentable. However, I admit to having doubts about Dunstan and couldn't be happier with his recent form.
Some of the garbage spewed out about players who have played fewer than 50 games is lamentable. However, I admit to having doubts about Dunstan and couldn't be happier with his recent form.
- skeptic
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Re: Dunstan
I've banged on about this a bit lately but Dunstan is a good example of a player going back to Sandy to work on his weaknesses.
The knock on Luke was always his aerobic capacity. He simply tired after good first halves (where he'd get 15 odd disposals) and be unable to impact the contest in the second.
At VFL level, Dunstan was able to play as a mid for longer without that part of his game being so badly exposed... hence he got better.
It's why letting players flounder at AFL is such a shocking and surprisingly widespread practice.
Mav Weller is an example of a player that we've inexplicably persevered with all year and what has it got us? We've completely destroyed his reputation amongst the fans at least... and it's probably cost us games of football too.
And Mav hasn't improved, and it's cost us the opportunity to develop someone else.
For all the grief I've copped over the years for suggesting players like Gwilt, Jones, Schneider, McQualter, Gilbert etc be dropped when they WEREN'T playing well (with most of those guys having patches were they were and weren't playing well).
Ppl used to say that you shouldn't gift players games if they don't command spots but being given opportunity, learning from it, and going back to further improve your game is a key part of development.
It's why I'm very bullish on a guy like Lonie who is a superstar at VFL but his skills inexplicably don't translate to the seniors... for him it's more psychological and that's ok. Keep playing and dropping him.
The knock on Luke was always his aerobic capacity. He simply tired after good first halves (where he'd get 15 odd disposals) and be unable to impact the contest in the second.
At VFL level, Dunstan was able to play as a mid for longer without that part of his game being so badly exposed... hence he got better.
It's why letting players flounder at AFL is such a shocking and surprisingly widespread practice.
Mav Weller is an example of a player that we've inexplicably persevered with all year and what has it got us? We've completely destroyed his reputation amongst the fans at least... and it's probably cost us games of football too.
And Mav hasn't improved, and it's cost us the opportunity to develop someone else.
For all the grief I've copped over the years for suggesting players like Gwilt, Jones, Schneider, McQualter, Gilbert etc be dropped when they WEREN'T playing well (with most of those guys having patches were they were and weren't playing well).
Ppl used to say that you shouldn't gift players games if they don't command spots but being given opportunity, learning from it, and going back to further improve your game is a key part of development.
It's why I'm very bullish on a guy like Lonie who is a superstar at VFL but his skills inexplicably don't translate to the seniors... for him it's more psychological and that's ok. Keep playing and dropping him.
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Re: Dunstan
Maybe the club's staff have hit the right formula with developing Dunstan.
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other players
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other players
2020 was an aberration, when we travelled twice to Adelaide and won both, beat Tigers early, beat our bogey Swans. 2021 we've returned to our old ways. Damn
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Re: Dunstan
This system also helped savage regain some major form in the second half of this season, it also helped Sinclair last year to develop into who he is now.skeptic wrote:I've banged on about this a bit lately but Dunstan is a good example of a player going back to Sandy to work on his weaknesses.
The knock on Luke was always his aerobic capacity. He simply tired after good first halves (where he'd get 15 odd disposals) and be unable to impact the contest in the second.
At VFL level, Dunstan was able to play as a mid for longer without that part of his game being so badly exposed... hence he got better.
It's why letting players flounder at AFL is such a shocking and surprisingly widespread practice.
Mav Weller is an example of a player that we've inexplicably persevered with all year and what has it got us? We've completely destroyed his reputation amongst the fans at least... and it's probably cost us games of football too.
And Mav hasn't improved, and it's cost us the opportunity to develop someone else.
For all the grief I've copped over the years for suggesting players like Gwilt, Jones, Schneider, McQualter, Gilbert etc be dropped when they WEREN'T playing well (with most of those guys having patches were they were and weren't playing well).
Ppl used to say that you shouldn't gift players games if they don't command spots but being given opportunity, learning from it, and going back to further improve your game is a key part of development.
It's why I'm very bullish on a guy like Lonie who is a superstar at VFL but his skills inexplicably don't translate to the seniors... for him it's more psychological and that's ok. Keep playing and dropping him.
Dropping players to improve is the bread and butter of development I reckon
Fortius quo Fidelius means Strength through Loyalty. . . I think
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Re: Dunstan
I think between Dunstan and Steele we have our own reliable versions on Mat Crouch and Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
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Re: Dunstan
I agree with Wellard I mean MickThomasMickThomas wrote:Maybe the club's staff have hit the right formula with developing Dunstan.
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other players
As ex-president Peter Summers said:
“If we are going to be a contender, we may as well plan to win the bloody thing.”
St Kilda - At least we have a Crest!
“If we are going to be a contender, we may as well plan to win the bloody thing.”
St Kilda - At least we have a Crest!
- AeonFlux
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Re: Dunstan
Wellard and Mick Thomas???Jacks Back wrote:I agree with Wellard I mean MickThomasMickThomas wrote:Maybe the club's staff have hit the right formula with developing Dunstan.
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other players
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Anyway, I hope to find out more intel over the next few days. Tomorrow over a decent cup of coffee when I contact a lonely goth in a country town (Walkerville). And then a weekend meeting with the woman of Ireland at a party in Fitzroy. Then, all will become more rosy than grey.
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HarryM wrote: Nope never heard of them![]()
- AeonFlux
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Re: Dunstan
As for Dunstan. The reports are his fitness has improved out of sight following a gruelling top secret training camp in central Australia. Our very own desertsaint personally had him running laps of Uluru - pushing the DS kombi. And Luke's improved kicking? After drop punts over Uluru, a 40m ping at the goals is now nothing for Luke.
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HarryM wrote: Nope never heard of them![]()
- desertsaint
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Re: Dunstan
don't let the cat out of the bag aeon - secret mens business. shhh.
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Re: Dunstan
Geez we better not discuss trade gossip on this forum, because media might see it! Damian Barrett's Private Ears would be tuned inAeonFlux wrote:Wellard and Mick Thomas???Jacks Back wrote:I agree with Wellard I mean MickThomasMickThomas wrote:Maybe the club's staff have hit the right formula with developing Dunstan.
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other playersMaybe only for a short time? One did step in, the other step out. But which is our Monday's expert? Which one tilts at windmills?
Anyway, I hope to find out more intel over the next few days. Tomorrow over a decent cup of coffee when I contact a lonely goth in a country town (Walkerville). And then a weekend meeting with the woman of Ireland at a party in Fitzroy. Then, all will become more rosy than grey.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
2020 was an aberration, when we travelled twice to Adelaide and won both, beat Tigers early, beat our bogey Swans. 2021 we've returned to our old ways. Damn
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Re: Dunstan
People are too quick to judge. Look at what people were saying about Sam Mitchell and Cameron Ling in their early years hell even 5/6 years in. Dunstan will be a gun. He kicks goals ffs. And good ones. We are so harsh on the kid. He bleeds for the saints wants to win more than anyone, kicks goals, tackles hard its only because he has a wobble people judge him. Ahhh swan and mitchell both wobblers hat took 6 years to get going. Dunstan is just finishing his 4th. Give him another 2/3 and lets see. Im betting gun.
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Re: Dunstan
Jacks Back wrote:I agree with Wellard I mean MickThomasMickThomas wrote:Maybe the club's staff have hit the right formula with developing Dunstan.
I hope they learn from this...
and apply to other players
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Re: Dunstan
As well as he's arobic capacity improving , I've said on many previous " Dunstan " posts that because he was a mature big bodied young player , he was given the " grunt roll" in the midfield. He was used primarily as a blocking player or battering ram to release Stuv and create a path out of the middle, he was played as a defensive mid ( I had many disagreements with those who said he had no talent, or such a midfielder role existed)
This role was the reason he was never dropped , though almost everyone insisted he should be.
He was dropped ( rightly) when we got Steel and Koby to share the role and Dunstan had little impact when released from his defensive role , that's all he had played since arrival
IMO This role in the first years was holding back his natural development , IMO he always had the talent.
It's no coincidence that since we've got , Steele and Koby to at least share that role it's released him somewhat
So we now have him playing a more Lenny type roll, he will get better because
1: He has talent ( why we write off every young player and put a ceiling on them baffles me )
2: He has a different roll (or most times shared with others)
3: His arobic capacity has improved greatly
This role was the reason he was never dropped , though almost everyone insisted he should be.
He was dropped ( rightly) when we got Steel and Koby to share the role and Dunstan had little impact when released from his defensive role , that's all he had played since arrival
IMO This role in the first years was holding back his natural development , IMO he always had the talent.
It's no coincidence that since we've got , Steele and Koby to at least share that role it's released him somewhat
So we now have him playing a more Lenny type roll, he will get better because
1: He has talent ( why we write off every young player and put a ceiling on them baffles me )
2: He has a different roll (or most times shared with others)
3: His arobic capacity has improved greatly
And the president said " I did not have sex with that woman"
And our former president said " Football is like golf"
Go Sainters !!!!!
And our former president said " Football is like golf"
Go Sainters !!!!!
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Re: Dunstan
I must admit, seeing him in his first season I saw a future captain.
Think of me long enough to make a memory.
- GregPackhamsHeadband
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Re: Dunstan
Me too. I think the club may concur. You don't get Lenny's number without being highly regarded. We forget he's had some fairly significant injury problems. Development in young players is rarely linear. Dunstan is quality.Bruce G McAbee wrote:I must admit, seeing him in his first season I saw a future captain.
I think you're pretty tough, don't I?
- GregPackhamsHeadband
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Re: Dunstan
Me too. I think the club may concur. You don't get Lenny's number without being highly regarded. We forget he's had some fairly significant injury problems. Development in young players is rarely linear. Dunstan is quality.Bruce G McAbee wrote:I must admit, seeing him in his first season I saw a future captain.
I think you're pretty tough, don't I?