2004 Debuts

[monopoly19]

Of the players at the club who have not yet played a game, who would you most like to see playing in the senior side next year?

Jarrad McVeigh
Sean Dempster
Daniel Hunt
Josh Thewlis
Nick Malceski

and from the rookie list:
Scott McGlone
Paul Bevan
Ryan Crawford
Declan O'Mahony (not sure if he's even still around?)

I have absolutely no idea about any of them, so I'm just going to go for the New South Welshman - McVeigh and the rookies Bevan and Crawford. Feel free to disagree

[desredandwhite]

Daniel Hunt would have to be in his 3rd year by now - would want to impress next year (though didn't we take him as a 17 year old?).

Malceski and Thewlis have received plenty of good reports, but the one I rate highly is Sean Dempster. From what I have seen, he oozes class and confidence.

[BAM_BAM]

I'd like to see Josh play, but I'd LOVE to see McGlone, play. I think he's exciting and creative. He's a small in and under guy, not afraid to contest anything and runs and runs. Good in defence, just as good a shot at goal. Generally has a good run out of the backline

[stellation]

I saw J McVeigh play a junior game, he really tore it up. Like, totally dude.

[Charlie]

Preferably, all of them will play and all of them will make their mark.

All the 2002 draftees sound very good.

[Ryan Bomford]

IMHO Paul Bevan has been highly underated on this post. Consistently figured in the top five throughout the year. Expect to see him elevated him to the seniors this year.

[TheMase]

Originally posted by stellation
I saw J McVeigh play a junior game, he really tore it up. Like, totally dude.

I used to play against him. Didn't impress me then ...


Sean Dempster looks very classy. Thewlis and Malceski might get a run also, and we should see some action from Hunt (we did get him as a 17 year old, was expected to go top 10/20 the season after)

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
IMHO Paul Bevan has been highly underated on this post. Consistently figured in the top five throughout the year. Expect to see him elevated him to the seniors this year.

Not sure about that. He would have to bulk up a heap. I would say he'd be close to the skinniest kid on our lists, and by some margin from what I saw ...

[EMJ]

Declan O'Mahony didn't come from Ireland - he decided to stay home and finish his studies. Shame could of had another great Irish recruit.

[NMWBloods]

I'd like to see Malceski play. Saw him a couple of times in the reserves and thought he looked very classy, although he did a couple of silly things too. Probably still needs to bulk up a bit. Interesting to see if he cuts it at senior level.

[Steve]

Daniel Hunt is a project, the type of which I think will become a growing trend with all clubs.

The main talk coming out of the junior ranks is the dearth of tall players - clubs are trying to get in early and beat each other to accessing any available. I can only see this practice continuing and growing.

Obviously there are higher risks involved - at least with midfielders you have a fair idea of what sort of players they'll be in the future when they're running around in underage sides.

But with tall guys you have to imagine how they'll play when they add, in some cases, 25kg to their frames over maybe 5+ years.

Hawthorn last year drafted Boyle and Veale basically admitting that they didn't expect them to play senior for at least 3 years, Port have regularly drafted guys like Morgan and Thurstans, Matthew Smith at Adelaide seems from a distance no closer to senior footy after 3 years than he did when drafted.

All of this is another major reason why you would be highly hesitant to trade away a guy like Saddington.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
but the one I rate highly is Sean Dempster. From what I have seen, he oozes class and confidence.

I assume his dad is Graham Dempster, ex South Melbourne player of the 70s. Quite a skilled and classy player.

[Craig]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I assume his dad is Graham Dempster, ex South Melbourne player of the 70s. Quite a skilled and classy player.

No relation to Polly though. Pity.

[Bleed Red Blood]

From the sounds of things I'd get Dempster to debut first but we should hope they all make their mark next season.

[bandwagon]

I can't claim to have seen any of them play, but a quick trawl of the reserves results shows the following:


Name Games Goals Mention in 'BOG'
Bevan 20 8 4
McGlone 19 27 9
Mcveigh 19 23
Crawford 19 10 3
Malceski 18 25 2
Dempster 17 3 6
Thewlis 14 20 4
Hunt 11 21


Well, that's statistics, so make of it what you will....