2015 academy discussion thread (with some FS thrown in for good measure)

[Mug Punter]

I've got a gut feeling (based on no facts whatsoever) we're not going to get Dunks.

His old man is a nasty bitter twisted old man and when the pressure is on you can bet he will knife us in the back. He's our own KRudd

[707]

I've got a gut feeling (based on no facts whatsoever) we're not going to get Dunks. His old man is a nasty bitter twisted old man and when the pressure is on you can bet he will knife us in the back. He's our own KRudd

Can't agree, there's been a thawing of the strained relations of late and Josh is a Swans supporter as is his 15yo brother Kyle. Whether he gets drafted by us will purely depend on where we finish at years end (how many points we have) and when other clubs call out Mills and Dunks names (how many points we need to spend).

[WauchopeAnalyst]

Time heals most wounds. I don't think Dunks hates the club, just some people and even some of that has waned. 10 chances out of 18, 60% to 40%. You never know?

[liz]

What makes you say that Mills will be better than Heeney?

A combination of things. He was much more impressive in the championships last year in the games that I saw, although it should be noted that Heeney spent a lot more time in the forward line. And his stats last year in our NEAFL games for a bottom age under-18's player were nothing short of remarkable, far more substantial than Heeney's when he played NEAFL, both as a top-age/bottom-age player. I know that factors like game-time, positions, opposition etc. need to be taken into account and I also know that Callum is probably more of an accumulator than Isaac but it's just my opinion.

Having said that though I didn't expect Isaac to have such an impact in his first few AFL games this season so maybe he wasn't exactly going 100% for the Rams with the knowledge that he was practically already a swan. Could also explain the lesser midfield minutes.

Either way and no matter what mine or anyone's opinion is, it's a very exciting discussion to be having.

I'll weigh in.

Discussions about whether Mills will be better than Heeney are meaningless at this stage. For a start, we have no idea how good Heeney is going to be. He arrived at the club ready to play senior footy. Physically he is reasonably well developed for his age, he's been training with the club off and on while in the academy, and had played many NEAFL games. He's shown some impressive ability in his first few games but he's got lots of development left in him and we have no idea yet if he is a potential superstar or just a good solid player who's developed early. If clubs could accurately predict a player's AFL potential from their underage performances, Fyfe, Beams, Parker, Hanners, Sloane and many others would have been drafted far higher than they were.

Mills has already shown enough (as an underager) at NEAFL level to suggest he has what it takes to play senior AFL. No-one watching him play NEAFL last year would have picked him as a 17 year old top up player compared to the listed players he played alongside. He is a ball magnet, a very good decision maker and his skills look very good at that level. He also looks highly competitive and seems to have a mature head and to understand the game. In other words, he has many of the same attributes as Heeney.

Assuming his extended layoff this year due to injury hasn't set his physical development back too far, I expect he will arrive at an AFL club next year (hopefully ours) ready to play senior AFL almost straight away. How he develops from there (and how Heeney develops) is anyone's guess.

Despite him missing the season to date, he is still being spoken about by respected talent spotters as one of the cream of this year's crop - he's been described as the most balanced, "complete" midfielder. A couple of key position players have had great seasons and thrust themselves into the likely first few picks of the draft. But none of that diminishes the respect that those talent spotters clearly have for Mills' potential.

[Pmcc2911]

You make a number of valid points: no one really knows how good Heeney will be other than the early indicators are there.
The other point is that Mills is pretty much at the same point of development for his age as Heeney was, therefore you would expect Mills to play senior footy next year and make a similar impact as Heeney did.
What happens after that is up to good luck and hard work.

- - - Updated - - -

Does anyone know where you can find a list of academy players by age group.

[Conor_Dillon]

Discussions about whether Mills will be better than Heeney are meaningless at this stage.

Meaningless, but a welcome distraction from the events of the weekend

[707]

What events? What weekend? :-)

[S.S. Bleeder]

I've got a gut feeling (based on no facts whatsoever) we're not going to get Dunks.

His old man is a nasty bitter twisted old man and when the pressure is on you can bet he will knife us in the back. He's our own KRudd

I think you mean Bill Shorten. He was the man that ensured the numbers in both revolts.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I'll weigh in.

Discussions about whether Mills will be better than Heeney are meaningless at this stage. For a start, we have no idea how good Heeney is going to be. He arrived at the club ready to play senior footy. Physically he is reasonably well developed for his age, he's been training with the club off and on while in the academy, and had played many NEAFL games. He's shown some impressive ability in his first few games but he's got lots of development left in him and we have no idea yet if he is a potential superstar or just a good solid player who's developed early. If clubs could accurately predict a player's AFL potential from their underage performances, Fyfe, Beams, Parker, Hanners, Sloane and many others would have been drafted far higher than they were.

Mills has already shown enough (as an underager) at NEAFL level to suggest he has what it takes to play senior AFL. No-one watching him play NEAFL last year would have picked him as a 17 year old top up player compared to the listed players he played alongside. He is a ball magnet, a very good decision maker and his skills look very good at that level. He also looks highly competitive and seems to have a mature head and to understand the game. In other words, he has many of the same attributes as Heeney.

Assuming his extended layoff this year due to injury hasn't set his physical development back too far, I expect he will arrive at an AFL club next year (hopefully ours) ready to play senior AFL almost straight away. How he develops from there (and how Heeney develops) is anyone's guess.

Despite him missing the season to date, he is still being spoken about by respected talent spotters as one of the cream of this year's crop - he's been described as the most balanced, "complete" midfielder. A couple of key position players have had great seasons and thrust themselves into the likely first few picks of the draft. But none of that diminishes the respect that those talent spotters clearly have for Mills' potential.

My understanding is that his disposal is poor. Surely another player with poor disposal is the last thing we need? I'm not saying I don't want him BTW.

[liz]

My understanding is that his disposal is poor. Surely another player with poor disposal is the last thing we need? I'm not saying I don't want him BTW.

What is your understanding based on? Doesn't marry with the half dozen or so times I've seen him play.

Of course, at senior level, disposal quality is affected by a player's ability to adjust to pace and pressure as well as by his basic skills. He may not adjust to increased tempo, but I've seen nothing myself to suggest that would be the case. NEAFL is quicker, more pressured etc than U18 football yet he slotted into that as if he was a seasoned 21 year old, not a 17 year old novice.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Time heals most wounds. I don't think Dunks hates the club, just some people and even some of that has waned. 10 chances out of 18, 60% to 40%. You never know?

I would have thought that Dunks' gripe would be with Roos. He was the one who ended his career. Surely he couldn't hold a grudge with the club for a decision that the coach made?

[WauchopeAnalyst]

I would have thought that Dunks' gripe would be with Roos. He was the one who ended his career. Surely he couldn't hold a grudge with the club for a decision that the coach made?

Maybe the list manager but he has gone also.

[liz]

I would have thought that Dunks' gripe would be with Roos. He was the one who ended his career. Surely he couldn't hold a grudge with the club for a decision that the coach made?

I've read elsewhere the call attributed specifically to Roos but never quite understood why. The Dunkley farewell game was the game when the players publicly expressed their desire for Roos to get the job. He was still caretaker at that point, and, if you believe the rumours, the club had Wallace lined up to take over the following season. I find it hard to believe a caretaker coach, to whom the club had not committed, single handedly made a call on a player's future.

[giant]

An interview and glowing commentary on Mills on the AFL podcast this week. Lot of man love for Callum from his namesake Twomey.

[Mug Punter]

I think you mean Bill Shorten. He was the man that ensured the numbers in both revolts.

Yep, him too