Where does Weidemann's loyalty lie ?

[Ian]

After reading the article "Blooded by the Weed" By Doug Robertson" from the 26th Dec, one statement I read made me wonder if his loyalties are with West or the Cows.

"I'll speak to the Crows early in the New Year and see what they want but we'll pretty much leave it to Adrian to show us where he wants to play."

Surely a SANFL coach would play a player in a position to best suit that SANFL club, not try and do the best for the Cows or Powder Puffs.

Here's the full article so you can read it in full context;


Blooded by the Weed
By DOUG ROBERTSON
26dec05

BIG, brawny Adrian Bonaddio is Adelaide's "Baby Rocca" but he won't be exposed to the AFL firestorm before his time.

The raw rookie says he's modelling his game on brothers Sav (Kangaroos) and Anthony Rocca (Collingwood) because of their similar body size but the time to find his own identity beckons.
Broad-shouldered Bonaddio, 19, (195cm, 97kg) will launch his professional career with West Adelaide and he couldn't be better placed to develop at a measured pace.

Coach Wayne Weidemann knows the stresses of oscillating between the AFL and SANFL competitions with instructions to polish specific skills – a task which sometimes goes against the needs of the local club.

However, no other SANFL coach has experienced that exact demand. Weidemann played 68 AFL games with the Crows (1991-96) but he was no star – he had to work hard for every success and he was regularly cast back to Woodville West-Torrens.

Now he says he relishes the chance to guide Bonaddio through the initial pitfalls after claiming him as the first selection in the SANFL mini-draft.

"I know how hard it is to go back and forward," Weidemann said. "All week you're training to the Crows' structure then you've got to go back to the SANFL and fit in to that structure.

"I'll speak to the Crows early in the New Year and see what they want but we'll pretty much leave it to Adrian to show us where he wants to play."

Bonaddio has one luxury at Richmond – he knows West recruit and former Port Melbourne team-mate Lance Oswald, 23 (177cm, 79kg).

"It's hard for these (AFL) guys because they know virtually nobody," Weidemann said. "They get really familiar with their Crows team-mates but we only see them probably once a week."

Strong overhead and an accurate kick, Bonaddio played only reserves at Port Melbourne, largely because of the high number of Kangaroos players drifting back to their AFL reserves team.

But Weidemann said the former Oakley Chargers TAC Cup under-18s key forward would be given time to blossom in the SANFL playing against men equally as strong and a lot more experienced.

"We took Adrian as the third marking option in attack but I'd have no problem pushing him back to find his way around the league," Weidemann said. "I've spoken to (Crows recruiting manager) James Fantasia and they're really, really happy to have a big, strong rookie who takes a good mark and is a nice kick as well.

"We'll play him close to goals and he's also capable of doing some ruck work up forward."

[Wedgie]

"but we'll pretty much leave it to Adrian to show us where he wants to play." could be interpreted a couple of ways.
He might be saying that the lad will make the decision for them as it'll be easy to see where he fits in best by what he shows on the track or during a game, I don't think he's saying the lad is going to dictate where he plays.

I wouldn't read too much into it, I'd interpret Weeds words as saying "I've been there and done that when it comes to alternating between SANFL and AFL and I'm going to help these kids as best I can using my experiences".

[Ian]

Just reading the whole article, it sounded to me like he would play him where it would best suit his development as a AFL player.

[redandblack]

"but we'll pretty much leave it to Adrian to show us where he wants to play." could be interpreted a couple of ways.
He might be saying that the lad will make the decision for them as it'll be easy to see where he fits in best by what he shows on the track or during a game, I don't think he's saying the lad is going to dictate where he plays.

I wouldn't read too much into it, I'd interpret Weeds words as saying "I've been there and done that when it comes to alternating between SANFL and AFL and I'm going to help these kids as best I can using my experiences".

Good post, Wedgie.

We've started the new year by agreeing.

Unbelievable

[Wedgie]

Just reading the whole article, it sounded to me like he would play him where it would best suit his development as a AFL player.

That's the beauty of different interpretations/people, reading the whole article it sounded to me like he was saying he's got real experience in understanding the demands on players alternating between the AFL and SANFL and will use this to everyone's advantage.

PS I don't really think that, I just wanted to get off to a nice start in 2006 with redandblack.

[holden78]

not with west talking to him the other day hes only there because he wants to coach . Told a few stories he thinks thomas is a joke

[Ian]

not with west talking to him the other day hes only there because he wants to coach . Told a few stories he thinks thomas is a joke

Not with West, thats the impresion I got from the article

He thinks Thomas is a joke, certainlly no orphan there

[Dog_ger]

Isn't there something that says "that the player must be played where the SA AFL club nominates..?" Or the player will be transferred to another club..? This happened last year or the year before..?

[westside]

Just reading the whole article, it sounded to me like he would play him where it would best suit his development as a AFL player.

Heaven forbid...

[redden whites]

My god the garbage you have to read in this town is amazing "adelaide crows baby rocca" I guess crows fans must lap this garbage up or it wouldn't get printed . I am still getting over "crows reveal the next Tredrea " from January last year. The double page spread on how Henchelle was going to be centre half forward all last year(only to be dropped for a month in round Not only was this a double page spread but it was the lead headline on the posters out the front of delis ,shops etc...Does a crows moron actually go in and buy a paper because of this?? they must or crap like this just wouldn't happen .Can you imagine "Bulldogs reveal the next Carey " lead headline in the Melbourne paper only to find out it was some b-grader they picked up from Preston?Honestly what could be next to embarrass me as a South Australian citizen leave alone football fan..a football players wedding on the front page of the JANUARY 1 edition maybe??????? surely not!!!!!!

[stan]

Back to the topic:

I think what the weed meant by this is that they dont really have much back ground on this Kid, so where to play him, hmmm tough one asking adrain sounds like a good idea to me.

[JK]

I think Weidemann is a good fit for Westies and where they're currently at, they will rely heavily on the improvement of kids and I think he will be great for them in this area ... Agreed on the Crows drivel that continues to get printed .. Sure, run with legitimate articles on issues, but the fanfare for some of the stories in the Tiser is just ridiculous!

[stan]

I think Weidemann is a good fit for Westies and where they're currently at, they will rely heavily on the improvement of kids and I think he will be great for them in this area ... Agreed on the Crows drivel that continues to get printed .. Sure, run with legitimate articles on issues, but the fanfare for some of the stories in the Tiser is just ridiculous!

Oh come on CP, we know you love it

[JK]

I think Weidemann is a good fit for Westies and where they're currently at, they will rely heavily on the improvement of kids and I think he will be great for them in this area ... Agreed on the Crows drivel that continues to get printed .. Sure, run with legitimate articles on issues, but the fanfare for some of the stories in the Tiser is just ridiculous!

Oh come on CP, we know you love it

LOL .. Well it does make better reading than the current coverage our SANFL club has received lately!

[BEERGUTS05]

could this also be waynes way of saying that he has a shit squad with no stand out options so a young guy like him can basically pick his position if he puts in the hard yards early ?

[Strawb]

I disagree with you beergut. West have a good squad and the weed's training methords are different to Rehnny's. Both coaches have different methords and i feel that the weed knows how to work with what he has got because he has done it before with clubs like Gaza. Only time will tell on how west will go this year. West will be big improvers this year like Wigan in the English soccer never doubt Sprit.

[Wedgie]

I agree Westies will be the big improver in 2006, throw in South's nuisance value when they're all on song and Norwood's improvement and there's not going to be a lot between the top 8 teams.

[Booney]

I agree Westies will be the big improver in 2006, throw in South's nuisance value when they're all on song and Norwood's improvement and there's not going to be a lot between the top 8 teams.

LMAO,poor Bays.

[BEERGUTS05]

I just struggle to see where this improvement is going to come from ?

Are we talking improvement against expectation, I also suppose if the competition evens out a bit they may win more games – but that doesn’t really mean they have improved – the comp may have become weaker ?

I realise this sounds stupid coming from a Norwood supporter but West have a history of not being able to keep a competitve side on the park – now that they have lost a lot of senior players I think 06 could be lean pickings, saying that according to the crows fans Jericho is turning it on, he is seen as too soft for AFL so maybe he could be one fo the guys to help push Westies up

[stan]

The Weed will get the best out of his squad. He's a mans man. The west players will enjoy playing for him.