- Apr 27, 2014
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Who cares about this bloke as he achieved sfa in four years at the club.
Player Watch #7: Ben Lennon
- Thread starter MR
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sregit
Club Legend
agree 100%. Not worth discussing a very very ordinary player. Should have packed him off after 2 years. Never showed any sign that he'd make it.
HumanMeatball
Brownlow Medallist
Doubt he’d care about not making it in the afl if he gets 500k minimum to punt in the nfl and do heck all
Quite right. He's a professional athlete with a limited career span, like all other professional athletes.
Must maximise his potential earnings while he can.
TigermanM2
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 7, 2013
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That sort of dough is still a way off though. It is against NCAA rules for any athlete to receive compensation for playing a sport. His scholarship will only cover school and tuition fees.
Under the table payments can happen but the sanctions against school and player are serious if caught. It's extremely doubtful anyone would be taking this course of action for a punter anyway.
Bitter that he was no good!
- Jan 7, 2010
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Probably because he was no longer able to hold the club to Ransom...
Dr Tigris
Brownlow Medallist
Good on the other Ben.
I'd say he had a sour taste because he tried really hard but found himself not so much not good enough, as not the right type, for a premiership team.
He was competing against Dusty and Caddy (no chance) and Townsend (defensive specialist, which Ben isn't) for a medium forward role. The usual hole was taken by one of George, Bolts or (my absolute man crush favorite) Dan Rioli. So no matter what he did he wasn't good enough. Shai was probably next in line.
Anyway, good luck to him. Hopefully the guy we drafted in his place is damn good. Probably the lid from Kalgoorlie, who I love the sound of.
I'd say he had a sour taste because he tried really hard but found himself not so much not good enough, as not the right type, for a premiership team.
He was competing against Dusty and Caddy (no chance) and Townsend (defensive specialist, which Ben isn't) for a medium forward role. The usual hole was taken by one of George, Bolts or (my absolute man crush favorite) Dan Rioli. So no matter what he did he wasn't good enough. Shai was probably next in line.
Anyway, good luck to him. Hopefully the guy we drafted in his place is damn good. Probably the lid from Kalgoorlie, who I love the sound of.
TigermanM2
Norm Smith Medallist
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The point is he didn't try really hard. By his own admission he turned his toes up and gave up a quarter through the season and just went through the motions.
Townsend is a perfect comparison. Couldn't get in the side but just kept at it, kept at it, never gave up, put the work in and was rewarded like very few are.
As they say 95% of the time if you want a glimpse of the future you look at the past and when things get a little tough for Ben, as they will, I wonder if it will be the same again.
Dr Tigris
Brownlow Medallist
That's a big part of why he wasn't the right type for our premiership. If he was a genuine never say die type he'd be fine. Plenty of talent. But hitting hard and doing the dirty exhausting defensive work was never his forte.
Sorry he's gone, but in some ways it's a relief because he's a tease. I'd rather Castangna because he never stops tryin.
- Oct 3, 2006
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A bit harsh, but he's not really looking like one in the pics just up on the AFL site. Been in a good paddock.
Well-nourished.
Not the right type for a premiership team?
I'll give you the word. All 18 teams, including ours, harbour ambitions to win the premiership.
Hence - as per your statement - that's why there was zero, zilch, nada, nought interest from any other club in B. Lennon.
In the cold hard light of day, you wake up one day and realise that BRUCE Lennon, who was taken at pick 33 in the draft, played sevem more games than BEN Lennon, who was a first round pick at No. 12, all in two less seasons.
TigermanM2
Norm Smith Medallist
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Maybe he is is saying punter but really wants to be on the offensive line.
- Oct 11, 2003
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Spot on
Dr Tigris
Brownlow Medallist
I meant our premiership team. We relied on a bunch of fast small types with huge defensive pressure. + Dusty, Caddy and townsend. For our team he didn't fit.
I will add, Lennon's venture into the world of college football has FAIL written all over it.
I hope he makes it, but it is going to take a complete turnaround in attitude.
I'm an avid US football follower and have been for nearly 40 years, and it's laughable the blase attitude of many on here who equate 'booming' or 'massive' kick to success. It's not just a matter of being a good kicker of the football, you are expected to work your arse off, which is an area Lennon has been a failure at. A punter, on average has three to eight opportunities a game, to impact the contest ... the margin and percentage of error is great. He botches two of three or two of four that's 33 per cent or 50 per cent of punts failed. NO college or NFL team is going to stand for that. There is a misconception that distance is all that counts .. placement and hang time are equally, if not, more important. As stated previously he will need to work really hard and not fall for the I have minimal involvement in the game so I'll coast like I did at Richmond. That said, luck to him!
On the plus side he will get to see first-hand a great young running back in Zach Moss, who will be a teammate. Absolutely starred in Utah's Bowl win over West Virginia.
Phar Ace
Brownlow Medallist
Same, I hope he and anyone else for that matter makes it over there. Different role I know, but they sussed Hayne out pretty quickly - they will get to know Lennon too. Sadly, for him, he'll be back quicker than a Trump tweet.
Sir_Loin
🏆🏆🏆
Rocca, Graham and Bennett all did well there as punters. It’s not the same as playing as running back or receiver or any other offensive/defensive position
- Apr 15, 2013
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Not to say they won't make it in the NFL, but those 3 mentioned have the two Ben's well and truly covered as AFL players.
Seems like they're happy to get a qualification and do the college stuff and making the NFL would be a bonus. THey're going to have a good time either way so good on em.
Sir_Loin
🏆🏆🏆
No doubt but the punter does nothing else but punt and kick field goals, doesn’t really matter if they’ve been a good AFL player as long as they can kick the ball the way they want them to. That’s why a lot them can play well into their 30s
Toadvine
17?19?
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Aussie Brad wing who's with the New York Giants is highly regarded and he played footy until he was 18 with Sandy Dragons.
Griffiths has far beyond the physical attributes of what is the norm for a punter But in the end it's all about technique and professionalism. That's why I think Griff has more of a shot than Lennon
- Dec 10, 2011
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American sports are full of Figjams. He should fit in well.
Phar Ace
Brownlow Medallist
Bang! That's the thing - have watched Ben Lennon train and play. His training from what I witnessed was always about short cuts, less than more. Don't get me wrong, the young guy has talent, and his kicking is one of those, but when you think about the professionalism required, I think Ben will be worked out very quickly - unless he decides to do things differently than in the past. It's in his court - he is light years ahead of millions of others but he tends not to value that quite the same way as others yet. Time will tell. Geez I hope he grasps it.
I couldn't be happier for him. He gave us all he had and at a time when we had a strong team, like many others, he could not break in. He must have been in the thinking when we brought in Townsend and Graham late in the season, he was near the top of the VFL goal kicking at the time. There but for the grace of god as they say ... he could have been a premiership player.
As with the big fella Griffiths Lennon has landed on his feet with a new career opportunity opening up for him.
I think its awesome, another success story for the magic year of Richmond in 2017.
Good luck Ben Lennon, thank you for your service and may you succeed spectacularly in your new career.
As with the big fella Griffiths Lennon has landed on his feet with a new career opportunity opening up for him.
I think its awesome, another success story for the magic year of Richmond in 2017.
Good luck Ben Lennon, thank you for your service and may you succeed spectacularly in your new career.
