Nick Vlastuin

[French Tiger]

I have always liked him as a potential midfielder because he has the frame to play inside.

That's the thing, with them chasing Moore & Townsend we have a top 10 pick inside mid type already with Nick

 

[Cotchin_4_brownlow]

That's the thing, with them chasing Moore & Townsend we have a top 10 pick inside mid type already with Nick

Moore and Townsend were major fails.... I hope we didn't give up draft picks for them. Nick showed some signs in the guts, could become a handy contested ball winner and allow Cotch to get a bit more outside ball.

 

[bullus_hit]

No, he didn't come as a elite midfielder. He was a back flanker who had runs on the ball. Never a big ball winner. Never a great runner.

It's the case of Richmond trying to yet again, manufacture midfielders instead of taking them.

Friday was a great sign, there is a skill set to work with but it's a long way to go before he is a midfielder.

Agree with all of that. This was my feeling prior to the draft.

Nick Vlastuin - I must admit that Vlastuin has been oscillating up and down my rankings for some time. In the end, I've placed him behind Macrae and Mayes on the grounds that he hasn't yet convinced me that he'll be the huge ball winning machine that we so obviously need in middle. At the moment, I primarily see him on a back flank where his neat and composed disposal will be used to great effect, along with his fierce attack on both the player and ball. In short, he's a tackling machine and with his sizable frame, should go on to intimidate and unsettle many unsuspecting forwards at AFL level.

The big issue with Vlastuin comes down to his ability to get his hands on the ball enough, despite being listed in the best players for Northern Knights on 8 occasions, he only managed to pass the 20 possession mark twice in 10 games. In some ways his tackle count has gone some way to compensating for the low disposal numbers, with an average of 6 tackles a game, it is definitely a feature of his game that I would consider to be elite.

 

[K3]

No, he didn't come as a elite midfielder. He was a back flanker who had runs on the ball. Never a big ball winner. Never a great runner.

It's the case of Richmond trying to yet again, manufacture midfielders instead of taking them.

Friday was a great sign, there is a skill set to work with but it's a long way to go before he is a midfielder.

Can't agree Scoop. Based on my dodgy memory Nick was a midfielder who was played back, later in his last TAC season, due to injury, as they didn't want him getting crunched. I am happy to be proven wrong, but that's what the ol' grey matter is letting me know.

 

[artball]

No, he didn't come as a elite midfielder. He was a back flanker who had runs on the ball. Never a big ball winner. Never a great runner.

he may not have come to this club in their mind as a mid, but that's where he played as a junior at Eltham. pretty sure he captained the Vic Metro side from that position as well ?

Can't agree Scoop. Based on my dodgy memory Nick was a midfielder who was played back, later in his last TAC season, due to injury, as they didn't want him getting crunched. I am happy to be proven wrong, but that's what the ol' grey matter is letting me know.

yr memory isn't dodgy K3

 

[Scoop]

Can't agree Scoop. Based on my dodgy memory Nick was a midfielder who was played back, later in his last TAC season, due to injury, as they didn't want him getting crunched. I am happy to be proven wrong, but that's what the ol' grey matter is letting me know.

The other way around. He did dabble in the midfield but mainly as a back flanker. As Bully showed, he never won big numbers at TAC level.

he may not have come to this club in their mind as a mid, but that's where he played as a junior at Eltham. pretty sure he captained the Vic Metro side from that position as well ?

yr memory isn't dodgy K3

Local footy is another thing. Don't doubt your Panther info, 99% of kids who aren't KP's play on ball at local level that end up at the TAC. At TAC level he was a back flanker who rotated in the middle.

 

[tonemaster]

Not sure how relevant junior football is, especially when you consider body maturity can make such a huge difference.

The most goals Jack Riewoldt has ever kicked in a game is in the AFL.

 

[tigerlove]

Can't agree Scoop. Based on my dodgy memory Nick was a midfielder who was played back, later in his last TAC season, due to injury, as they didn't want him getting crunched. I am happy to be proven wrong, but that's what the ol' grey matter is letting me know.

Nick was a midfielder for most of his career. Played more half back in his last TAC season but did manage 30 disposal and 27 disposal games in his last 4 for Northern Knights playing more midfield. He's a midfielder and showed on the weekend how adept he is at playing the role. When I watched the replay I saw that he was quite often pitted against Cyril Rioli at ball ups and he won the ball in quite a few in which Rioli didn't ge tnear it. I know Rioli's not a pure midfielder but it was still pretty impressive. The knock I have on Vlastuin as a midfielder is his stamina which is probably always going to be an issue but he must be used in midfield stints. He's too good not to.

 

[tigerlove]

The other way around. He did dabble in the midfield but mainly as a back flanker. As Bully showed, he never won big numbers at TAC level.

Well Bully is wrong. As mentioned he had 30 and 27 disposals in 2 of his last 4 games. No coincidence that he played more midfield in those games.

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192116736&client=1-3020-111703-206344-16804346

 

[buenavista]

he may not have come to this club in their mind as a mid, but that's where he played as a junior at Eltham. pretty sure he captained the Vic Metro side from that position as well ?

50% right arty, he played in the midfield for Eltham and Northern Knights, but played across half back for Vic Metro (as Captain)

 

[Scoop]

Well Bully is wrong. As mentioned he had 30 and 27 disposals in 2 of his last 4 games. No coincidence that he played more midfield in those games.

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192116736&client=1-3020-111703-206344-16804346

Naw he's not. To win big possies in only 2 games, shows that he wasn't a big ball winner in the other eight.

Therefore not a mid. Or if we did draft him as a mid, we drafted a mid who couldn't win it that much. That's worse.

 

[Mr Brightside]

Let's hope his served his apprenticeship at half back and now will ad some much needed grunt in the middle, one of our few who is versatile

 

[tigerlove]

Naw he's not. To win big possies in only 2 games, shows that he wasn't a big ball winner in the other eight.

Therefore not a mid. Or if we did draft him as a mid, we drafted a mid who couldn't win it that much. That's worse.

Yes he is wrong, and you are too. You said he was NEVER a big ball winner. Fact is he showed he can be a big ball winner as the did in some of his last few games where he actually played more midfield time. As others have mentioned he was a midfielder in his junior days and only reason he was playing half back was he was coming off injuries prior to 2012 season, had a particularly bad ankle injury.

 

[Leysy Days]

Hallelujah at last Supercoach has listened.

Two years too late but at last playing Nick where he is suited and the team needs him most.

Dont back down now Dimmer

 

[Scoop]

Yes he is wrong, and you are too. You said he was NEVER a big ball winner. Fact is he showed he can be a big ball winner as the did in some of his last few games where he actually played more midfield time. As others have mentioned he was a midfielder in his junior days and only reason he was playing half back was he was coming off injuries prior to 2012 season, had a particularly bad ankle injury.

Agree to disagree. Flanker midfielder.

Hallelujah at last Supercoach has listened.

Two years too late but at last playing Nick where he is suited and the team needs him most.

Dont back down now Dimmer

This will be the question, will Dimma keep rolling him through. I liked it when he started in the square. Statement of intent.

 

[artball]

This will be the question, will Dimma keep rolling him through. I liked it when he started in the square. Statement of intent.

i hope Dimma does. we've lacked muscle in there all season. i'd like Nick, Cotchin, Miles and Dusty all hanging around in there. with intent !

 

[bullus_hit]

Well Bully is wrong. As mentioned he had 30 and 27 disposals in 2 of his last 4 games. No coincidence that he played more midfield in those games.

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192116736&client=1-3020-111703-206344-16804346

Don't see how I'm wrong, he passed the 20 possession mark twice in 10 games, you have listed the two occasions he managed that feat. In the end he still hasn't managed to rake in big numbers at AFL level. I hope he builds the tank because his clearance work is decent, the major factor will be building up the endurance, this is still a work in progress however.

 

[evo]

I suspect with the return of Chimpy, Conservativewick will rush Flossy immediately to the back pocket again.

Hope I'm wrong, he looked very comfortable as a mid.

 

[tigerlove]

Don't see how I'm wrong, he passed the 20 possession mark twice in 10 games, you have listed the two occasions he managed that feat. In the end he still hasn't managed to rake in big numbers at AFL level. I hope he builds the tank because his clearance work is decent, the major factor will be building up the endurance, this is still a work in progress however.

Sorry, it's Scoop's fault He intimated that based on your post Vlastuin has never managed big possession counts. I agree Vlastuin hasn't racked big numbers at AFL level. He's also not the one running away from his opponents in the backline to get the easy receive and disposal. He's even often had to play against players much taller than himself. The point people are making is he was a midfielder as a junior, some of you are claiming otherwise, and to me it seems almost ludicrous that he has been tried for a decent period in the middle for the very first time on the weekend. And he did well too for 70% game time, 8 contested, 5 clearances, 6 tackles and 82% disposal efficiency.

PS I agree with you, his endurance is the key to becoming a permanent midfielder, not sure he has that.

 

[artball]

PS I agree with you, his endurance is the key to becoming a permanent midfielder, not sure he has that.

ditto. i reckon he had 2 to 3 quarters of decent midfield work on Friday night. and as he died a little, so did the team.