TonyK
CibbuanoWhite must fight for spot: Bailey
June 30th 2008 00:06
MELBOURNE ruckman Jeff White will have to fight his way back into the senior side after being dropped for the first time since debuting with the club in 1998, according to coach Dean Bailey.
White did not play in Melbourne's thrilling one-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday, with the Demons opting to play Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson in the ruck.
Bailey said the fact that White had to fight to earn his position back in the side was a positive for the club.
"Yep, fight for the position is good. You need that internal pressure so that when players get games it's because they've earned it, rather than just go back and play a game and then come back in, but his form will determine how well he plays," Bailey said.
"Obviously today we've won and we'll examine the game of Jamar closely over the next couple of days and I'm not sure how Jeff went [for Sandringham], but he's a professional Jeff White and he ticks lots of boxes and he prepares as well as anyone I've seen.
"So I'd have been surprised if he didn't play well today."
Bailey said the decision to leave out White also put the microscope on Jamar, whose form has been below what is expected from the club.
"To be fair to Jeff and Mark Jamar, their form hasn't been what you'd say is good, it's been just bubbling along between just average or below average," Bailey said.
"It got to a stage where we decided as a match committee that maybe it's time for Mark Jamar to actually have … the pressure of everything to be put on his shoulders and let's see what we've got … it was good for 'Russian' to take responsibility on.
"Jeff's been a great player and he's still [got] eight weeks to go, so there is no reason why his form can't be at a level where he'll force his way back into the team and 'Russian' knew that there was a lot of pressure on today to perform.
"When you look at the tape, he was probably good, but we want our ruckmen to be competitive all of the time."
Bailey said it was important for Melbourne's younger brigade to step up in the absence of experienced players such as White, the injured Russell Robertson and the now retired David Neitz.
"Without those players there 'Robbo', David and Jeff – great experience and great players – and now they look around the room and they go: 'Well, it's up to us now'," Bailey said.
"We've got to put our best foot forward because we're now being examined like those guys have been and always will be."
White did not play in Melbourne's thrilling one-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday, with the Demons opting to play Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson in the ruck.
Bailey said the fact that White had to fight to earn his position back in the side was a positive for the club.
"Yep, fight for the position is good. You need that internal pressure so that when players get games it's because they've earned it, rather than just go back and play a game and then come back in, but his form will determine how well he plays," Bailey said.
"Obviously today we've won and we'll examine the game of Jamar closely over the next couple of days and I'm not sure how Jeff went [for Sandringham], but he's a professional Jeff White and he ticks lots of boxes and he prepares as well as anyone I've seen.
"So I'd have been surprised if he didn't play well today."
Bailey said the decision to leave out White also put the microscope on Jamar, whose form has been below what is expected from the club.
"To be fair to Jeff and Mark Jamar, their form hasn't been what you'd say is good, it's been just bubbling along between just average or below average," Bailey said.
"It got to a stage where we decided as a match committee that maybe it's time for Mark Jamar to actually have … the pressure of everything to be put on his shoulders and let's see what we've got … it was good for 'Russian' to take responsibility on.
"Jeff's been a great player and he's still [got] eight weeks to go, so there is no reason why his form can't be at a level where he'll force his way back into the team and 'Russian' knew that there was a lot of pressure on today to perform.
"When you look at the tape, he was probably good, but we want our ruckmen to be competitive all of the time."
Bailey said it was important for Melbourne's younger brigade to step up in the absence of experienced players such as White, the injured Russell Robertson and the now retired David Neitz.
"Without those players there 'Robbo', David and Jeff – great experience and great players – and now they look around the room and they go: 'Well, it's up to us now'," Bailey said.
"We've got to put our best foot forward because we're now being examined like those guys have been and always will be."
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