Jolly, LRT & Doyle - What does the future hold for Andrew Ericksen?

[TheHood]

He will be 20 in July and I have to confess that I have never seen the guy kick a ball in anger.

Does he look a good prospect for 2006 or 2007?

For those in the know, is the timing right for him to break into the team at age 22 or 23?

According to the poll on sydneyswans.com he is the least likely to play senior footy next year.

Does anyone know whether he is earmarked by the coaching staff for some Wizard or practice games in 2005.

[Sanecow]

I don't know if I would place too much credibility in that poll. Hell, I even voted and that was based entirely on the vague memory that someone said that Schmidt has a fat ass.

[TheHood]

Yeah, fair call, the poll isn't exactly reliable because I voted 3 times ha

But I think in this case, all of our vague memories indicate that he is way out of sight and mind at the moment.

What I would like to know is, are we harbouring a big woosy ex-basketballer or do we have a genuine chance of seeing him debut soon?

Who has seen him play? What are the observations?

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by TheHood
Who has seen him play? What are the observations?

He's Tall.....Very Tall.

But seriously considering his background, i think he's come in leaps and bounds this year mainly rotating from Ruck to Full Forward (where he impressed me a bit). However in terms of the footballing brain per se, he needs alot of work. I think he can make it, just needs heaps of patience and time and with Jolly coming in, i think it will be more the better for him (and us) to not worry about him being thrown in the deep end so soon. Still 2 yrs off.

[Nico]

You just never know. Amazing what a season plus a pre season does. Happens every year that players bob out of nowhere.

[liz]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
He's Tall.....Very Tall.

But seriously considering his background, i think he's come in leaps and bounds this year mainly rotating from Ruck to Full Forward (where he impressed me a bit).

I saw him snap a couple of goals for the reserves that a 6 ft man had no right to nail, let alone one who's closer to 7ft! It's fair to say that he'd pretty good below his knees for one so tall.

Still needs to lift his intensity in contests considerably but hopefully that is something that will develop naturally as he gets bigger. Goodes used to shy clear of the physical stuff when he was younger but it doesn't seem to be an issue for him now.

[stellation]

I think he has a place, but as noted by others not for a couple of years yet at least (injury/form permitting). I don't really know whether LRT should be listed in our ruck options (although I realize he is an option) unless it is taking forward or defensive 50 ruck duties/everyone else (including Saddo!) breaks.

Andrew certainly is a tall drink of water and the thing that suprised me seeing him play later in the year was he didn't look to be particuarly unco.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by stellation
I don't really know whether LRT should be listed in our ruck options (although I realize he is an option) unless it is taking forward or defensive 50 ruck duties/everyone else (including Saddo!) breaks.

LRT should not be made to ruck unless its a game where all FOUR of our other options are injured or resting.

With Ball, Doyle, Jolly, Goodes and Ericksen (in that order likely to play ruck), we have no need for LRT to ruck. I'd even prefer Bazza over him as he is more effective. Lets get real with LRT and work hard on him as a KPP. Sure it may take an extra year (courtesy of a shorter AFL career to date) and be done with bit-parting him. I even remember Roos stating he was not a true ruck option?