Shane Kersten

[bullus_hit]

He's not really a genuine KP though is he? Could grow more I guess.

At the Champs last year he played as a leading full-forward, he's also got a small tank so any aspirations of a midfield role seem years off. The only thing I can think of is Dimma wants a replacement for Miller, hardly a glowing endorsement of Griffiths' prospects.

 

[tigs2010]

At the Champs last year he played as a leading full-forward, he's also got a small tank so any aspirations of a midfield role seem years off. The only thing I can think of is Dimma wants a replacement for Miller, hardly a glowing endorsement of Griffiths' prospects.

Or Griff plays back line.

 

[Lennox Street]

We could roll the dice and pick up Kersten but what are the chances he'll vindicate such a high selection? Would he even offer more than Miller? If we're adopting the best available strategy then I reckon there are better options.

If we are sniffing around Markworth, Haynes and Kersten it suggests we aren't looking for a KP - but a guy who can play alongside Vickery and Reiwoldt and complement them. Would be a good position for us to lock down. Get them playing alongside each other quickly.

 

[bullus_hit]

If we are sniffing around Markworth, Haynes and Kersten it suggests we aren't looking for a KP - but a guy who can play alongside Vickery and Reiwoldt and complement them. Would be a good position for us to lock down. Get them playing alongside each other quickly.

So where does that leave Griff? Would it be feasible to play them all together?

 

[jb03]

He is not a pack crasher and below his knees I think he is just average.

Not too many overhead or one grab marks in the videos.

 

[Tiger Ghost]

Hehe its funny, everyday the HS or EQ features there next player people decide he's the one for us a lot of which is based off a few minutes of internet highlights. Oh well back to my scotch ;D

 

[Lennox Street]

So where does that leave Griff? Would it be feasible to play them all together?

In the same team yes but when Vickery goes to the ruck or bench Griff would go to the goal square. When Reiwoldt goes to the bench you'd use Griff. The occasional bit of 3 bigs. He'd get his 20 minutes. But Griff as a 3rd forward who can play lead up and get goals off the ground? Just think that Richmond would like a Ryan O'Keefe, Nathan Fyfe type to get the blend right.

 

[AstuteTiger]

I'm not so sure he could hold down CHF, He's certainly not of the calibre of Darling

gotta disagree on both fronts, kersten has similar traits to darling, very agile and has speed and with those tools could play as a roaming forward (CHF) or closer 2 goals (FF)...

 

[Smoking Aces]

Again, I hope not. Fingers crossed GWS roll the dice and take him.

Agree.

 

[BrisTiger24]

Looks good. Two questions for someone in the know:

1. Did he play in the U18 carnival??

2. Did he play WAFL seniors and if so, how many games?

 

[pahoffm]

Looks good.  Two questions for someone in the know:

1.  Did he play in the U18 carnival??

2. Did he play WAFL seniors and if so, how many games?

Played FF in the 2010 carnival but didn't appear to play in the 2011 carnival.
For his WAFL stats, see

http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/2164

Didn't play seniors in 2011, though he did reasonably well in the seniors for an under-aged boy in 2010.

Maybe the Weagles are trying to hide him.

 

[GEDS1]

There is no doubt based on FJ's post draft comments last year that Darling was on our radar and I think we may be looking at Kersten to make up for that miss.

I have faith in what our guys are trying to achieve. I would have thought mid at 15 but what do i know.

 

[BrisTiger24]

Played FF in the 2010 carnival but didn't appear to play in the 2011 carnival.
For his WAFL stats, see

http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/2164

Didn't play seniors in 2011, though he did reasonably well in the seniors for an under-aged boy in 2010.

Maybe the Weagles are trying to hide him.

Thanks Phanto. A miraculous display in round 2 in reserves. Kicked 4 goals from 0 disposals, 0 marks and 0 tackles

 

[tigs2010]

Busted elbow this season. But came back and was apparently very good. If they were hiding him you would think they wouldn't have played him at all.

 

[pahoffm]

Well Kerstens is certainly a lead-up FF.

Just don't know how strong a lead-up FF he is.

Would need to improve from 2010, but he would've anyway being an under-aged boy then.

 

[mld]

So where does that leave Griff? Would it be feasible to play them all together?

Injured, probably.

 

[GEDS1]

Well Kerstens is certainly a lead-up FF.

Just don't know how strong a lead-up FF he is.

Would need to improve from 2010, but he would've anyway being an under-aged boy then.

Phanto is Jay *smile* (albeit with speed) a good comparison ? How tall is he I have heard conflicting reports ?

 

[The Cotch]

Quigley explains all your questions.


Kersten is your classic old fashioned full forward very much in the mould of Fevola or for watchers of the NEAFL Darren Ewing. He has a brilliant set of hands and is far and away the best mark of anyone in this draft. He makes marking looking easy with superior judgment of the ball in the air and fantastic soft hands. He just plucks it out of the air and you wonder why the hell the other players aren’t doing the same thing. When the ball is on the ground he is equally good being very clean (top 10 in the clean hands test at the Combine this year) with an uncanny ability to know where the goals are and then put it through for a goal.

The big knock against him is his height. He comes in at just over 190cm which is short for a modern FF but is in fact pretty much exactly the same height as Fevola. His lack of height may cause him some issues but for me I take him every time over a guy 5 cm taller with no real idea around goal. The other issue for him this year has been that he missed 14 games (including all of the Champs) with a serious elbow injury. He returned at the end of the year and added some real spark to the South Fremantle colts team. He picked up 18 goals in the last 3 rounds of the home and away and managed a very nice haul of 5 in the colts GF. This is all whilst being on a seriously low fitness base on his return. Its worth noting that he played seniors for South Fremantle last year and acquitted himself very well. As a bottom aged player last year at the Champs he also managed 15 goals to lead the way if memory serves.

As mentioned he is carrying a bit of extra condition at the Combine and did not do any of the endurance testing. He always needed to improve his endurance to play to his potential at AFL level and the time out didn’t help him. He only managed 13.08 in the beep last year which gives you an indication that he is going to be in for a lot of pain for the first few years whilst he builds up his endurance. Last year though he did a very nice 2.88 in the 20m which is the kind of speed teams love their forwards to show and despite carrying extra kilos this year he was pretty close to that again in the 20m this year. Kersten definitely has the speed to get separation and he has the smarts to time it right and lead to dangerous spots. His repeat sprint time was also good last year in 24.39 and his agility was solid. He did the jump testing this year and was very impressive in the running jump. For me there is no question that he has the athleticism to play at AFL level. He is not much of a chaser atm and this is something which he will have to improve. If someone is close by he is a pretty reasonable tackler and he has the pace to shut them down quickly. He just needs to desire and fitness to do it more often.

Kersten is an excellent shot for goal having a balanced approach and a big leg on him. He is dangerous from outside 50 and is a dead-eye *smile* from tight angles. Given how good his goal kicking is you would expect his field kicking to be better but I get the impression he has not worked on it that much and he often tends to be lazy with his passes. Again this is something which I think will clean up okay with a little work in a full time environment.

Overall there are a few areas which he needs to improve on but the kid has the makings of a gun full forward. He has had things a bit easy at junior level and needs a work ethic drummed into him but the words coming from his coach seem to be okay. Its hard from the outside to determine how much of an issue the work ethic concerns are but there have been a few rumours around for a while. On the park though Kersten is one of those guys who when you see him play just seems to have that little bit more time than those around him. He reads the play better and gets to spots to influence play without really seeming to make any particular effort. He is a major talent imho and if he works at his game he could be one of the better FFs going around.

 

[Streak]

If he is predominantly a lead-up FF, then maybe he doesn't suit us?

With Jack and Vickers down there, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room, especially if Griff steps into the mix.

 

[The Cotch]

You cant have too many key forwards. Jack, Ty and Shane will work. It would make for one of the most dangerous forward lines in the competetition. Kersten is seriously good. I just assumed all along GWS or Brisbane would take him, but now hearing this, I honestly can't contain myself.