Heath Grundy

[Scottee]

Have noticed a few comments about Heath on other threads and a couple have not been all that complementary.

Thought I would chuck in my opinion FWIW.

Must say that my first impression was not too great. However on reflection I think he could be an excellent prospect because:

He is obviously not at the same fitness level as the other players.
Despite some early reports he is not "slow"
He showed excellent ability to lead to the ball.
To me he looks like he is still growing in the upper body and with additional gym work will become a much stronger player.

The kid is after all only 18 and will probably end up at about Adam Goodes' size. Very much deserving a of bit of time to prove himself in my opinion.

[TheHood]

I did make a comment re Grundy but I also suggested that he should not be judged on that one perfomance and should get another run on Saturday to find some touch.

I think all the comments on Grundy have been fairly constructive.

It is a great situation to have such a health batch of rookies. If there is a coach in the AFL wanting to develop them and see them do well, then it is Roosy.

In my previous post I forgot to mention that:

McVeigh looked fantastic shrugging off tackles and he's just got the most pure kicking action.

LRT showed a lot more confidence and loved his attack on the footy and long kicks!

[Scottee]

Exciting to see the improvement in the list isn't it!!

[liz]

Originally posted by Scottee
Exciting to see the improvement in the list isn't it!!

It is - though the true test is still to come. As Roos has pointed out, it's at the top end of the list that genuine improvement now needs to emerge.

We've recently witnessed Kirk and Barry elevate themselves from fair-to-decent to very good players. O'Keefe just needs to repeat last season to be talked of in the same voice. Hall and Goodes (notwithstanding his issues last season) have lifted themselves to the level of the top dozen or so players in the league. Williams has been a class act for many years.

We now need another two or three to put their hands up and lift themselves to those levels.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Davis is one who can definitly do that Liz, imo.

On Grundy, I agree with Nico.

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
Davis is one who can definitly do that Liz, imo.

Agree, but WILL he? Yes, I know there have been injuries & complications, but I get the feeling....his heart just isn't really in the sport. If he played to the best of the ability, and is used as rotation on the pill and as small forward, the change in the midfield would look staggering. I wish he could combine his natural ability - which is as good if not better than anybody on the list (perhaps Magic is up there) with the determination to improve of say a Maxy, Kirky or even Warfey ffs.

I'm just doubtful he'll ever be as good as he could be. And it's awful to see the Pie fans gleeful at his lack of playing time.

[Snowy]

I agree that it's quality at the pointy end, rather than overall depth that is a concern. McVeigh and Davis may be the two most likely to step up. I think the former might, in a few years time but the signs don't look for Davis, especially missing another pre-season. His type finds it hard to get motivated when the going gets tough.

Goodes may also re-emerge as a more valuable commodity this year if his knee (s) are fixed.

[liz]

Originally posted by Snowy
I agree that it's quality at the pointy end, rather than overall depth that is a concern. McVeigh and Davis may be the two most likely to step up.

Kennelly is the one that Roos has specifically mentioned and one that supporters have probably flagged as having the necessary class.

We need him to become a Nigel Lappin-type player, rotating from HBF to the wings and occasionally through the centre. I know it's a big call to say he could become as good as Lappin but it's the kind of development we need to happen. And it's worth noting that Lappin didn't arrive on the scene with a bang - ala Riewoldt or Judd. He just gradually got better and better until he came to be spoken of as one of the top echelon of players.

[Nico]

Watched the 1st half of the Wiz Cup game last night. Grundy missed 2 marks but the kicks from Bolton and Schneider were very ordinary and almost made him look silly.

He was on the lead and if they were half decent kicks he would have looked very good, as he appeared to anticipate their play and lead before or as they gathered the footy. He made up for it a short time later, again on the lead, and marked nicely out in front of himself.

My prediction - a solid team member of the future. Just something about him.

[Snowy]

I agree Liz about Kennelly, but he already provides a lot of value to the team performance and structure. Players such as McVeigh and Davis can provide so much more when they play to their optimum ability. I think the Irishman gives his all and has improved exponentially with each season but it's hard to know how much better he can become.

[Jeffers1984]

He wasn;t all that bad at all i think. First Senior game so the nerves were definately there. Leads confidently and his kicking to leads were pretty good. His one to Okeefe was alright (even though ROK didnt mark it).

Plenty of upside to him rather than Daniel bloody Hunt!!

[smasher]

We were lucky get Grundy,so say the experts.He was touted as a top ten draft pick and most we shocked he wasn't picked up in November.He also went quite late in the rookie draft and I think he was considered quite a bonus for us.
Does this say he was an over-rated junior?
IMO he had many chances to impress against the doggies but he dropped a couple of marks early,probably due to nerves.He made position well and seemed tp have quite a bit of pace.
The jury is out on this youngster...time will tell