Reading an article on Reed Mahoney and comments on his role, (if he has one with Parra) and could not help but note the comments of one of our old stalwart supports in Hector, a great personal friend of another wise man on this site "the great Sluggy"".
I think Hector's experience in seeing young players come through over the years is worth noting. I think a lot of the younger well meaning guys on here see talent and have been very wary after they then see them not develop, (an almost cynical perspective). This sort of experience is pretty endemic with some of the older supporters who have over the years seen so many overated players come through. No question Parra's talent ID has never been a strong point when you look at it.
Talent ID is gold and we have had some good ones that have been lost over the years because we didn't look after or respect them. I would like to think that Parra could develop a short list of what has come and gone and look to retrospectively have a look at how to maintain a core. Someone like Hector, lives locally and sees all the grades when he can and sees a player like say Ryley Smith and points out the shortcomings of a Reed Mahoney on a comparative basis.
We have aspiring young coaches (in years if not age) that are involved in the current re development of our pathways, the good young players they become involved with will eventually become targets if those coaches move on (the ambitious will).
So I am not saying I have the answers to this, we are doing something comparatively with EA identifying juniors and writing about them (for this site) so we as supporters can be better informed of our young talent. With due respects to EA and his idea's and judgement, it could be for someone like him to be identified by the club (maybe even retained casually) to get around and identify and mix with a few of the ""old bastards"" and gather opinions. A big job! but not a full time one, that gets this information. After a while the good judges will emerge and can be tapped?
Who gets this information....well I'm not sure, can you trust the GM Football (personaties aside) the First Grade Coach or the CEO. Probaly to be empowered properly its the GM Football?
Maybe we need the Hector's of the world (or the like) encouraged to be involved in observations in a practical (whatever that actually is) way. They would not be paid but sorted out from junior slubs and other observers that are always somewhere in the mix in any sport. The EA's or his asistants becoming the collaters of such information. Remember the ""curates egg" they will only be good in parts, but how many players get spotted by other clubs from sources theymay use watching our juniors. We know Roosters use this technique because their pathways are thin.
The format of such a process is not to appoint coaching staff to identify talent ID in a structural sense but to gather practically opinions of people that have been around a while and have some thing to pass on.
PS This is not a business plan, just a throw your cards in the air way of becoming more conscious of a different culture in a more artificially intelligent world.
Replies
Nice post, nice shout out to Hector who though i agree with from time to time and disagree with, he knows his stuff and loves the club and is respectful as well.
It all happens tonight, let's see if Ryley Smith can make an impression.
Thanks LB but tonight is something we are all looking forward to but be careful in your judgements. These trials made Sanderson as a superstar on one move, Weekes last night something similar.....these games are not season makers or breakers ...... I just worry about injuries in these type of games.
I think I will watch the coach and his comments closely.
Poppa im going in just wanting to see how players go, don't care if we win or lose, just getting an understanding of these players.
yep
LB thats a big Ditto back to you thanks but im just a silly old bastard that has opinions on things like my old mate pops and my old departed mate Geoff the Slugman . I appreciate the kind words Dave aka Pops .He really is not a bad bloke if you like bad blokes . All joke aside i just love the Eels always will till the toes piont skyward 79 this year and been going to and supporting my team since the age of 7 . Just lik e to my humble opinions and respect that others have their opinions . Onward and upward go the Eels
Since youve mentioned Hector I'v decided to give this blog a reprieve BUT anyone more nonsense from you today and I will destroy this discussion
Signing off kind regards Nortius
Happy Days Mick . I'll keep him in check😳 peace not war🙄
Probably not in our time Bobby.
Good work Hector
Mick, that is almost God Like.....delusions of grandeur well beyond your capabilities.
Reminds me of an ""ÄNT" floating down the river on his back with a ""hard on"" yelling ""open the bridge open the bridge""
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