AFL Canberra Round 7: Ainslie v Reserves

[Primmy]

Nice pictures Jesse, especially of Nathan Gordon, that would do any photographer proud (except I couldn't upload larger version, you may want to check that). The ground surface looked almost unnaturally good.

[Jesse Richards]

Nice pictures Jesse, especially of Nathan Gordon, that would do any photographer proud (except I couldn't upload larger version, you may want to check that). The ground surface looked almost unnaturally good.

Thanks, Primmy.

I checked downloading the Large version. Maybe you did download it, but it was smaller than you expected? 799x855 pixels was the largest size I uploaded.

Of course, I increased the contrast, but, yes, the surface pretty much was like that. And it had been raining all night in Canberra and still no mud.

[unconfuseme]

Swans 7.8 (50) Ainslie 6.14 (50)
Meredith 3 goals
Barlow 43 disposals
Bird 36 disposalsGordon had a chance from about 50 out after the siren but missed.

Who does these stats ugg? ... love to see them each week for the whole team if at all possible ??

[wearebloods]

Currie was a tower of strength, and seemed to relish the challenge of being one of the more mature players out there. Really liked his work around the ground, and at ground level, in unsuitable conditions he never stopped.

Fantastic to see Currie step up! Any guesstimates how much time on ground he had?

Also good to see Thornton & Meredith back in the action, would be good to see both of them getting a taste of senior action this year.

[SimonH]

Meredith is too good for this league.

Let's be frank in our asking-for-it-to-all-go-pear-shaped optimism. We have so many quality young (<40 games) midfielders (some of whom have been cultivated as defenders or forwards) that it's easy for one or two to be forgotten.

Based on limited viewing time, Meredith is a real class act; and one of about 7 reasons why I have no fears that our side will struggle in the middle over the next few years, even without Kirk and JBolt. Casual note that isn't intended to really, really put the curse on him: he was drafted at a higher pick than Dan Hannebery.

What to do about Dan Currie? Pyke seems to be playing very well to my eye, but surely we can't let this guy languish. Pretty hard to imagine that in this day & age we could play all 3 of them in the side, even if the side lacked White or Playfair; but how long can he keep knocking up 'best players list' results in the 2nds and go nowhere? Time is tickin' until Seaby's return as well. And if this 2006 draftee hasn't even debuted by round 1, 2011, and remains 4th in the ruck queue behind 3 guys who aren't going anywhere, what then? The guy was drafted with huge wraps, seems to have now lived up to expectations, but it's hard to see a way forward apart from him drifting off elsewhere to possibly become to the Swans, what Mumford is to Geelong.

[laughingnome]

Lets say hypothetically for a minute that Currie will not break into the side in the next 3 years. The best option is to trade a high draft pick to GWS or GC who will both gladly take a full-formed ruckman who can jump into the AFL without a moment's pause. With Mumford, Seaby, Pyke and White I don't think it's that great a loss, especially if the price is good.

Is there any chance of Currie being a defender, either at Full-Back or CHB? Craig isn't as young as he once was and it'd be nice to have a tall body down there for a change.

[UglyDuckling]

Lets say hypothetically for a minute that Currie will not break into the side in the next 3 years. The best option is to trade a high draft pick to GWS or GC who will both gladly take a full-formed ruckman who can jump into the AFL without a moment's pause. With Mumford, Seaby, Pyke and White I don't think it's that great a loss, especially if the price is good.

Is there any chance of Currie being a defender, either at Full-Back or CHB? Craig isn't as young as he once was and it'd be nice to have a tall body down there for a change.

I highly doubt anyone would pay a high draft pick for a kid who has never played a senior game if they wanted him they would just get him to not resign with us and get him for free.

[Robbo]

laughingnome. If you want to add to a young players trade value then you have to play him. You can't have it both ways.

[ugg]

I think in general that is true, but ruckmen seem to attract a premium.

See Barry Brooks, didn't play a game at Port (who were about 5 deep in ruckmen Primus, Lade, Brogan, Ackland, Brooks) and St Kilda traded picks 7 and 31 for him!

[laughingnome]

laughingnome. If you want to add to a young players trade value then you have to play him. You can't have it both ways.

Normally I'd agree, I just think that with 2 new teams the premium placed on ruckmen that are young, injury-free and physically developed steps up to an even higher level than put on them now. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him gone. But if there is truely no place in the side for him then why not assess his trade potential?

[Melbourne_Blood]

As much as I like Pyke, if Currie really is going to be as good as many beleive than surely we have to do all we can to keep him. We can't risk losing a guy who could play ten years for us for a guy who is still learning the game at 26 years old.

In hindsight maybe we didn't need to go after Seaby. It seems strange we would go after two ready made ruckman when we have Pyke and Currie ( Is Orreal a ruckman too?) in the wings.

Ceratainly we needed one, and Mummy is clearly the better of the two, but perhaps the club thought Mummy was still in need of time to develop under a more experienced ruckman? Pyke's improvement has probably been a bit of a surprise too.

It's clear now though that Mummy is more than capable of handling most of the ruck. I hope Currie gets a chance while Seaby is injured to have a crack in the ones. Pyke is playing 38% game time. Thats all Currie has to do. He could probably even have a stint in the forward line to try and cause headaches. It would be disappointing he doesn't get at least a game or two before Seaby's return