That article from last November ranking our kids the worst in the league was absolutely spot on.
All show promise.Lafau, Ralphsmith, Brown, Campbell, MJ and Tresize.
I also rate Bauer highly.
22 touches in first half 3 weeks ago then pulled out to be a shadow for the seniors that afternoon. Got influenze the following week and been away for a fortnight. All goodAll show promise.
No stars amongst that group though.
I rate McCauliffe as the 2nd best of our juniors but he had a strange season after barnstorming the VFL competition early. Managed/Injured/Sick? Not sure what happened but needs to reset in the VFL now with an uninterrupted run of games to get his confidence back.
Gibcus clearly rated #1 for me despite injury concerns.
Not one Rising star nomination this year (or some time for that matter) nor any Richmond player under 25 getting a vote in the Brownlow.
Who really are our up & coming players on our current list?
There's barely a single one that is a certainty to gave a really good AFL career.
That's a worry.
I reckon Brown was unlucky not to get a rising star nom, as was Seth Campbell probably . Both of them had 6-8 weeks of really decent footy but no real break out game.Rising star nominations are an arbitrary measure to assess quality.
The vast majority of RS nominations either come from top 20 draft picks, or later draftees playing with plenty of other quality players (ie. they are drafted later in the draft but start playing in finals playing teams).
We didn't have a foot in either camp this year, ie. very few top 20 draft picks (only Gibcus - injured in Rd1) and Brown, and we certainly didn't play finals.
Brownlows the same. How many players under 21 that got Brownlow votes, were not drafted in the top 15-20 or didn't play for a finals bound club?
How you choose to measure our talent is up to you.Rising star nominations are an arbitrary measure to assess quality.
The vast majority of RS nominations either come from top 20 draft picks, or later draftees playing with plenty of other quality players (ie. they are drafted later in the draft but start playing in finals playing teams).
We didn't have a foot in either camp this year, ie. very few top 20 draft picks (only Gibcus - injured in Rd1) and Brown, and we certainly didn't play finals.
Brownlows the same. How many players under 21 that got Brownlow votes, were not drafted in the top 15-20 or didn't play for a finals bound club?
How you choose to measure our talent is up to you.
I think the young talent on our list is currently comparatively thin & this reflects that. If you think otherwise that’s fine.
BTW Cumberland was our last Rising Star nomination 3 seasons ago.
Yep, if you’re not part of Shifter’s little group you don’t get a look in.I reckon Brown was unlucky not to get a rising star nom, as was Seth Campbell probably . Both of them had 6-8 weeks of really decent footy but no real break out game.
It’s also picked by Shifter Sheahan …enough said
Youth was given ample opportunity to impress. There were just no outstanding performances.Our list profile didn't align ourselves to win many RS nominations this year despite what people might think we "should" have.
Was Cumberland?Yep, if you’re not part of Shifter’s little group you don’t get a look in.
Was he ever a chance to win it? Same with Stack, they couldn’t ignore his performances, but he was never really considered a chance to break into Sheahan’s clique.Youth was given ample opportunity to impress. There were just no outstanding performances.
Was Cumberland?
Youth was given ample opportunity to impress. There were just no outstanding performances.
Was Cumberland?
I reckon Cumberland got a nomination when he kicked 5 goals. The rising star nomination always rewards single stand out games rather than consistent good form but no stand out. Same reason Gibcus never got a nomination in 2022 despite playing probably 3 months of good consistent footy.Youth was given ample opportunity to impress. There were just no outstanding performances.
Was Cumberland?
It’s as much a media award as the AA stuff is. Remember the year Shai lit it up against Freo, but didn’t get the nomination because Brad Johnson couldn’t be bothered to watch the game? The only valid award is the Coleman, because it’s not awarded on a matter of opinion.I reckon Cumberland got a nomination when he kicked 5 goals. The rising star nomination always rewards single stand out games rather than consistent good form but no stand out. Same reason Gibcus never got a nomination in 2022 despite playing probably 3 months of good consistent footy.
It is just the way it is.
Bit harsh regarding a few of these kids I'd reckon.All this despite taking five players inside the first 30 picks in 2021 draft. We love to blame injuries for our performances this year but geez, the complete non-entity’s that are our recent draftees who were largely injury free btw were also a massive factor in our terrible season.
Campbell shows some real promise and Steely looked to be a bit of a goer late.Bit harsh regarding a few of these kids I'd reckon.
Gibber's lost 2 seasons with major injuries so hasn't really had much of a look after a very promising first year.
Clarkey, scrawny weed who had a decent second season n then popped a knee early this year, get the body right n some meat on the bones n I think he can be a decent player. Was pretty much popping a goal a game from limited possessions on a flank.
Brown, broke a wrist in 2023 n missed half a season so developed in the magoos. Played out this year with a couple of mangled shoulders so didn't have quite the impact expected, but he plays smart n composed n if the shoulders have been fixed he'll be a bit more physical next year.
Banksy's been a bit more of a slow burn, but he's stepped up to some decent footy in a crap side this year.
Reckon there's 4 decent players there if we can get their bodies right, keep therm on the park n get them up around the 50 games.
Sadly there's only the one I'm bitterly disappointed in n that being the Sonze, n I've said more than enough about him during the season. Got no idea of what happened regarding the end of season review, so for the moment he's still on the books n got 2025 to show me I'm a *smile* n know bugger all about footy.