Ok.
Worst group of under 23 players in the League. I doubt anyone would argue against that. It’s a given. Must be addressed.
Plenty of tall players on the list but it is also hard to see where the quality is- Lynch, Nank, Balta, Broad, Gibcus when fit, did I miss anyone? Big question mark on Gibcus, missing almost two complete years of football in your first three is not going to fill anyone with confidence. Apart from Balta, everyone else is nearing the end of their careers.
What about the rest? Fawcett, Gray, Blight, Bauer and Lefau are all relatively untried and need opportunity. They need to be given opportunities and turned over in the next two years if they don’t progress. So there is a short term project. Find out if any of these guys can get in the team and stay there for more than five game stints.
Koschitzke, Young and Miller are strugglers. They are the sorts of players who get a game in a weak team and are jettisoned when the team starts to improve. But they may have roles to play for a year or two. Not going to be in the AFL when they are 30.
Ryan? He’s tall. Struggles with the cut and thrust of playing top level football against desperate defenders. Needs to improve his marking. He looks so much better when he clunks a couple. Despite his height is he big enough to compete in the ruck? If Nank goes down with injury he will get an extended stint in the ruck and we find out quickly.
OHB and Collina? Long shots. At least OHB has played a few decent VFL games.
That’s a lot of players and a lot of question marks. I wouldn’t add more than two talls this year because it will make the group unmanageable but gee, I would be looking at key position and ruck free agents over the next two or three years. Too many of these players won’t be on the list in three years so there is a lot of work to do.
Our midfield is too one paced and needs speed and class. There is Taranto, Hopper, Ross, Prestia, Dow, Ralphsmith and McAuliffe. That’s not enough. Ralphsmith is the only one who shows a bit of toe but he can be a headless chook too. Campbell, Clarke, Sonsie and Banks need opportunity and extended runs in the seniors but we are well short of a decent midfield group. I would go hard at midfielders this year. Especially the players with a point of difference, speed, class, ball-winning, height and size. Apart from Prestia, all we have are 183 to 188 cm lean build types. We need bulls and racehorses.
Interestingly, the defence is ok. Surprisingly. They were under pressure all year. Smith, Brown and Trezise need more opportunity.
The forward line? Mansell is another struggler, Rioli could be good but could also be a bust. Struggles to get enough of the ball but at least he is quick and defensive minded. Green needs opportunity.
McIntosh might play a role during mid winter when younger players wilt but will be the first to retire at the end of the season.
If we draft 7 players, I would look at 4 mids, 2 talls and 1 classy small.
And at least one more of each at the next draft. And I would be looking very closely at free agents. We need a lot of players, especially 22 and under. Hopefully several of these are at other clubs right now.
Worst group of under 23 players in the League. I doubt anyone would argue against that. It’s a given. Must be addressed.
Plenty of tall players on the list but it is also hard to see where the quality is- Lynch, Nank, Balta, Broad, Gibcus when fit, did I miss anyone? Big question mark on Gibcus, missing almost two complete years of football in your first three is not going to fill anyone with confidence. Apart from Balta, everyone else is nearing the end of their careers.
What about the rest? Fawcett, Gray, Blight, Bauer and Lefau are all relatively untried and need opportunity. They need to be given opportunities and turned over in the next two years if they don’t progress. So there is a short term project. Find out if any of these guys can get in the team and stay there for more than five game stints.
Koschitzke, Young and Miller are strugglers. They are the sorts of players who get a game in a weak team and are jettisoned when the team starts to improve. But they may have roles to play for a year or two. Not going to be in the AFL when they are 30.
Ryan? He’s tall. Struggles with the cut and thrust of playing top level football against desperate defenders. Needs to improve his marking. He looks so much better when he clunks a couple. Despite his height is he big enough to compete in the ruck? If Nank goes down with injury he will get an extended stint in the ruck and we find out quickly.
OHB and Collina? Long shots. At least OHB has played a few decent VFL games.
That’s a lot of players and a lot of question marks. I wouldn’t add more than two talls this year because it will make the group unmanageable but gee, I would be looking at key position and ruck free agents over the next two or three years. Too many of these players won’t be on the list in three years so there is a lot of work to do.
Our midfield is too one paced and needs speed and class. There is Taranto, Hopper, Ross, Prestia, Dow, Ralphsmith and McAuliffe. That’s not enough. Ralphsmith is the only one who shows a bit of toe but he can be a headless chook too. Campbell, Clarke, Sonsie and Banks need opportunity and extended runs in the seniors but we are well short of a decent midfield group. I would go hard at midfielders this year. Especially the players with a point of difference, speed, class, ball-winning, height and size. Apart from Prestia, all we have are 183 to 188 cm lean build types. We need bulls and racehorses.
Interestingly, the defence is ok. Surprisingly. They were under pressure all year. Smith, Brown and Trezise need more opportunity.
The forward line? Mansell is another struggler, Rioli could be good but could also be a bust. Struggles to get enough of the ball but at least he is quick and defensive minded. Green needs opportunity.
McIntosh might play a role during mid winter when younger players wilt but will be the first to retire at the end of the season.
If we draft 7 players, I would look at 4 mids, 2 talls and 1 classy small.
And at least one more of each at the next draft. And I would be looking very closely at free agents. We need a lot of players, especially 22 and under. Hopefully several of these are at other clubs right now.
