Matthew Davis

[liz]

Originally posted by monopoly19
Wasn't Matthew Davis the guy that was going to take a long time to come on?

He was barely old enough to be drafted when the Swans took him.

Any comments about how this year is his last chance must equally apply to the likes of Schmidt and Willoughby, who were drafted the same year and were older when drafted.

I very much liked what I saw of him in 2004. He had an interrupted start to 2005 and his year also finished early, both times due to groin problems. Sadly this is a condition that seems to affect a lot of young footballers nowadays and may well be due to overwork on young bodies. He never really got going in 2005, which was a shame, but he still showed glimpses of real class.

I'm willing to state right now that even if he doesn't play senior football in 2006, he is still a decent chance to be retained at the end of the season. Our senior team is pretty hard to break into at the moment but that doesn't mean that all the yet-to-debuts are duds. If he couldn't force his way into a wooden spoon team, you might be worried, but that's not the situation here.

IMO he'd be a perfect replacement for Kennelly, if and when he decides to go home. He is a similar height and build, moves beautifully and definitely has a bit of class about him.

[Charlie]

He's actually three weeks younger than Heath Grundy and only six months older than Ryan Brabazon. Of all the (seemingly unfortunate) 2003 draftees, he probably has the most time on his side. Especially considering he was seen as a long-term prospect when he was picked up.

Schmidt and Willoughby worry me more - these are kids that would have played 25 games by now at most clubs. That's got to be eating away at them.

[Roscoe]

Charlie - I dislike your comments about Schmidt and Willo (jnr)
because I agree 100% with what you said !

After 2 years this could be make or break for our two 2003 picks

IMHO Moore and malceski must be in front of them

the other worry is McVeigh - where to for our young midfielders ?

[hammo]

Originally posted by Roscoe


the other worry is McVeigh - where to for our young midfielders ?

That's why it's crucial we give these guys game time in 2006 to find out if they'll make it.
We run the risk of losing many of our young back-up midfielders if they ask to be traded at the end of the season due to lack of opportunities.
Kirk, Crouch, Mathews and co are all getting on in football terms, not to mention the likely retirement of Willo at the end of the year.
But I'm sure the coaching staff have considered this.

[ROK Lobster]

Perhaps, in a similar spirit to the recruiting bigger bodies principle, Roos and the gang are developing bigger bodies before letting them loose in the AFL in an effort to prolong careers, or at least make those careers as productive as possible (similar to the current cricket Australia philosophy). Much as we get excited by the Schneiders and the Bevans who burst on to the scene, perhaps there is something to be said for further developing a footballer physically, mentally and emotionally before letting him loose in the AFL.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
Much as we get excited by the Schneiders and the Bevans who burst on to the scene, perhaps there is something to be said for further developing a footballer physically, mentally and emotionally before letting him loose in the AFL.

I'd agree with that.

I know I was somewhat alone in not being inspired by Jarred Moore last year... but Dempster, Vogels and Malceski all impressed me much more. The fact that they were 20-21 - bigger, accustomed to playing against grown men in the bush or Canberra (a tautology?) and more mature - definitely had something to do with how composed they all were. Each one of them slotted into AFL like they'd been in the team for years.

However, in the cases of Willoughby and Schmidt at least, I don't believe that they've been deliberately held back. All reports I've heard of them in the past year or so says they are AFL ready. But how do we put games into them, when Davis, McVeigh, Mathews, Malceski, Williams, Fosdike, Schneider, Ablett, Bolton, Dempster, Crouch, Kirk, Buchanan, Moore, Bevan and maybe even Spriggs are ahead of them?

I fear that they will be our Craig Boltons - they sound like they have the ability... but it might not be the Swans that benefit from it.

[hammo]

Hope you're wrong Charlie but you look at the players ahead of them and it's hard to see them getting a game this season.

Roos will need to perform a good juggling act this year.

It's one thing to have intense competition for spots but we need to keep an eye on the future.

If reports about the great skills of Willo II and Schmidt are right, then it would be great to see them alongside Malceski and N.Davis in the red and white in years to come.

[ROK Lobster]

Schmidt looks ready. I am still not convinced as regards Willo II - he seems to have very skinny legs.

Not that I wish injuries on anyone but 2 or 3 semi serious injuries to midfielders would present the club with an interesting opportunity. Much as I thought he played well last season (particularly the first half) I wonder how Jude would go getting himself back in the side if he were to misss 10-12 weeks or so?

[DST]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
Much as I thought he played well last season (particularly the first half) I wonder how Jude would go getting himself back in the side if he were to misss 10-12 weeks or so?

You have got to be joking ROK Lobster, Jude could do a knee and miss 12 months and he still would be an automatic selection if fit. He would also walk into the other 15 sides in the comp.

There are far to many people on this board who are way to harsh when comparing our players to that from other clubs.

A bit like the grass is always greener on the other side theory, well it ain't 99% of the time.


DST

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by DST
You have got to be joking ROK Lobster, Jude could do a knee and miss 12 months and he still would be an automatic selection if fit. He would also walk into the other 15 sides in the comp.

So there are three sides where he wouldn't even make their top 22?

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by DST
A bit like the grass is always greener on the other side theory, well it ain't 99% of the time.
DST

Well it bloody well is in my case. My next-door neighbour had new grass put in and it is the most lush lawn I have ever seen. He mows it every week and fills his catcher about six times.

Hang on, what were we on about?

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by Sanecow
So there are three sides where he wouldn't even make their top 22?

Oops. Read it again.

[Sanecow]

Geez ur a tool. Uni, South and Fitzroy FFS. Pwned!11!!

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Geez ur a tool. Uni, South and Fitzroy FFS. Pwned!11!!

I think that DST was using the present tense.

[Sanecow]

I wish I started this thread so I could delete it.