Geelong Josh Worell 195cm / I 've seen everything from 74 to 83kg, he's skinny. Sandringham Dragons
Tough for the Cats with their first pick. The list is again and aging fast. The premiership window is at 11.40 and Tim Kelly leaving pushes that to 11.52. It’s one last hurrah for the Cats and then it’s done. It might even be over next year if injuries hit.
They need everything. But when you look at their players over 195cm, it’s real ugly.
Ratugolea is something, he could be A grade. Could develop into a Corey McKernan type forward/ruck. At 21, he’s a stud. Outside of that you have nothing under 28. It’s ugly. Don’t forget that the Cats traded for Lachie Henderson and gave up the pick that become Harry McKay. Oh wouldn’t he be a nice in here about now. There is a lot of that in the Geelong list. Trades for now in the past, are hurting them now. Chuck Harry McKay in and you have a side that could win a flag next year and be set for key forwards for the next 5. You can have both.
This sealed the deal. Was thinking of taking Rivers but banked on him being available a few picks later. The above made Worell a no brainer. So what is he? An athlete. A 195cm colt who loves to intercept out of the back half. He went forward in the champs and kicked goals but I see him playing down back as that third or second tall depending on the match up. Athletically, for 195cm, he would have few peers in the AFL. Not that far behind Noah Balta. Elite mover. So quick for his size. Not strong enough yet but that’s ok. He’s 75kgs, in 2024 he is 89kg. That’s Nick Haynes/Dylan Grimes size. And that’s what I see him being. But a more attacking type. Worell isn’t as lock down as Haynes or Grimes. See ball, get ball. Reads the ball off the boot very well. Played in the Ruck for Hailebury in school footy in stints and almost played as a tall ruck rover. You could throw him anywhere but ultimately I think he settles down back. Geelong need to show him Andrew Mackie tape, that’s another player he could replicate. Worell represents everything Geelong need, size, ability to kick, athletic and 195cm. These type of players don’t come around all that often. The modern day running 195cm player that you flip forward or back gives a side devoid of young talls huge flexibility. It’s going to be a slow burn in 2020 waiting for him to put size on and recover from the shoulder reco but it’s worth it. I’d love this bloke at the Tigers with our first pick. If he is available on the night, Gelong would be crazy to pass but I can see them going small and looking for players that can contribute in 2020 and it would be huge mistake, with this many picks there needs to be some forward planning.
This pick also gives you the opportunity to push Jordan Clark onto a wing or up into the midfield. If you want to keep him down back, no problem, you know have to super quick intercepting players zinging around your back half. That's a good springboard for the next decade. A small piece of the future is locked up, you can't have enough skilful, athletic players in the back half. This pick just makes too much sense not to happen.