R17 Vs Lions @ CAZALY'S

[Aaron]

Per Match Review: Lions ball-magnet cleared, Dogs young gun fined - Neale has not case to answer for tackling Blakey to ground:"
Blakey has possession of the ball on the wing and is pursued by Neale and Dayne Zorko. Blakey attempts to kick the football as Zorko lays a lunging tackle, dislodging the football. Neale then simultaneously tackles Blakey to ground, who braces for contact using his right arm, causing impact to his shoulder. It was the view of the MRO that Neale’s actions did not constitute Rough Conduct. No further action was taken."

[bloodspirit]

I think McInnerney is showing plenty and Bell, while a bit up and down, is also showing some resilience. Wicks is looking good and Stephens looks pretty adept at the level.

Some players who are probably not going to continue on the list are:

Reynolds: injury has killed his chance.

Maibaum: Same applies to Jack as to Reynolds

Gray: has not shown enough for an AFL layer from another club to be retained

Knoll: injury is adain the concern for this bloke. He might be retained but even without injury he has a few skills problems that would need to be addressed. His ball drop is downright under 8's. He is good in ruck contests and can take the big mark. But do they take a risk or go to the draft or trade?

E Taylor: after this last incident I don't think the club has a choice. He is so dambed talented. What a waste.

Sinclair: does he retire? That is the question.

Naismith: will he ever come back?

Ronke: injury has made things pretty difficult for Benny and if lists are cut so might he be.

Rowles: has not even featured in dispatches. I would suggest his AFL journey might be coming to a close

Now I want to speculate.

Does Joey go around for another year? I'm not sure he will. He and Ana have a young family and his loss of a few metres of pace would be quite obvious to him. So he may just hang the boots up. Some people are speculating as to a forward role. But that was exactly the reason he left Hawthorn. He wanted to play mids and he was told there was no chance. So does he retire? Probably a thread in that all on it's own.

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The problem with those figures, all figures really, as they do not examine the circumstances of a player not making it. Stats that break down the circumstances are better. For instance what percentage did not make it due to long term injury? What percentage due to behavioural difficulties? What percentage retired themselves and decided it wasn't for them? Several that I know of decided their medical career was more important. What percentage walked away due to mental health issues? What percentage walked away due to relationship and relocation?

There are many different reasons players don't continue their AFL journey. Being delisted due to not being quite good enough at the level or not even attaining the standard is just one. Be interesting to see the success rate when all of those factors are considered.

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One must remember that a lot of these 'low stats' have come during a weird season unlike any other where games and turnarounds are a lot shorter and players are living in hubs, miles from their normal week to week homes and their usual home base support networks. Add to that our extensive injury list of experienced players and raft of below average recent season trades and a lot of these kids are probably debuting earlier than they normally would and subsequently with a shorter period of club development (from their drafting to their debut). It's a truly exceptional year that I think should be assessed in a different context to how one normally would.

You could counter that it's the same for all the clubs but given our younger than league average squad (virtually the youngest), it's going to effect us more. I agree with you that we need some mature hard bodies to compliment them but given the circumstances of this year, our youngsters have done alright in a development year, possibly getting better development than normal.....having been somewhat fast tracked into the big time.

I think it's a little early to claim that our youngsters 'simply won't amount to much'. I'm confident that our club may well be colouring you pleasantly surprised in the next few seasons.

Good posts, both of you! I agree with an unusually high proportion of what you have written, wolfie!

I'm in the glass half-full, doe-eyed, Pollyanna brigade and I'm happy with what I am seeing.

I like J-Mac (actually, my 6 year old son, coined the monicker "the nut" (or even "the good old nut!") for him - apparently because McInerney sounds like macadamia!) but he's clearly an outside player, at least at this stage of his career when he's such a lightweight. I have been impressed with Bell and Wicks but they win their plaudits for their endeavour more than their talent and I don't know how far they will go. Bit the same for McLean. Stephens will be fine. Rowbottom is a star. Blakey needs to mature but has all the tools, except that he's also a bigtime lightweight at this stage of his career. Thurlow is showing something and I thought he was destined to be delisted. I'm with whoever said Hayward has had a great second half of the season. Clarke has his merits but I'm still not sold. I'm not sold on Amartey. I'll save further thoughts about the list for another thread.

How are people rating Melican's last few weeks? Is he going to come good? I haven't decided.

Would be good to figure out Aliir's best position. Maybe we don't need to pursue whatshisname from Richmond when we have Aliir already?

[Markwebbos]

AA needs to have a summer growth spurt and put on about 5cm

[mcs]

Perhaps that is where you and I differ. I would rather start at a realistic, or unreasonably low bar and then be surprised for the better if they achieve over that bar. The fact is not many of these young ones will make it based on overwhelming statistical figures throughout the game's history, so I would rather not latch my expectations onto a handful of developing players whose developments simply won't amount to much. And then if they do, colour me pleasantly surprised.

I've never said they are all destined to be superstars - the only one I have huge wraps on is Rowbottom, and I'm certainly not alone in that view.

For the others, I'm just willing to give players more leeway to prove their capabilities one way or the other before writing them off, that's all. Its a big call to be judging players, in a normal season, let alone the crazy season we have had, on the stats they produce in a handful of games, and for many their first few games in the top league.

We have little to lose and plenty to gain from giving players a decent show over the next season or two. And if we trade well, those at the bottom end will drop out anyway to be replaced by better players, as we strengthen the list.

Of course there is the flip side too, as you highlighted. Players that start great and drop off. Ronke is a good example for us imho (not that his top level was anything particularly outstanding) - had one night out and a solid season around it, but done nothing since.

[mcs]

How are people rating Melican's last few weeks? Is he going to come good? I haven't decided.

His last few weeks have been good for mine. Whether he is coming good, I'm not convinced - but its a welcome return to form. Maybe his body is finally back to something approaching 100% and he is feeling more confident in himself. I've always liked him as a player, but he is just a bit slow off the mark at times, and also struggles with giving away silly frees.

A lot may be said with what we seek to draft in terms of our first live pick. There are good KPD and KPF + Ruck/Forward in the draft. I think if anywhere, in defence we might be looking okay going forward the most of anywhere.

[TheBloods]

I've never said they are all destined to be superstars - the only one I have huge wraps on is Rowbottom, and I'm certainly not alone in that view.

For the others, I'm just willing to give players more leeway to prove their capabilities one way or the other before writing them off, that's all. Its a big call to be judging players, in a normal season, let alone the crazy season we have had, on the stats they produce in a handful of games, and for many their first few games in the top league.

We have little to lose and plenty to gain from giving players a decent show over the next season or two. And if we trade well, those at the bottom end will drop out anyway to be replaced by better players, as we strengthen the list.

Of course there is the flip side too, as you highlighted. Players that start great and drop off. Ronke is a good example for us imho (not that his top level was anything particularly outstanding) - had one night out and a solid season around it, but done nothing since.

You are not alone in your view of Rowbottom. I share some of it, but clearly not as much as the club as I would not sign any kid to a two year contract extension after they've played only a few games, not even a first round pick, which he was not. This is where we differ though, the club was more willing to take that gamble and luckily it appears it will work in our favour. Does NOT mean it is an advisable course of action.

The advantage of the last two seasons and likely next year if we are again out of finals contention is that we are able to see all that we are working with with those we have drafted. Richmond spent nearing on ten years drafting kids, delisting them without seeing what they could do, waiting for them to develop, then cutting most of them anyway when they weren't much. We are able to fast-forward a lot of that grief by just throwing them into a sink or swim environment and seeing which ones show something. JL must be commended for his willingness to jump head first into rebuilding this list. I hope he reaps the rewards of it. We shall see.

[wolftone57]

His last few weeks have been good for mine. Whether he is coming good, I'm not convinced - but its a welcome return to form. Maybe his body is finally back to something approaching 100% and he is feeling more confident in himself. I've always liked him as a player, but he is just a bit slow off the mark at times, and also struggles with giving away silly frees.

A lot may be said with what we seek to draft in terms of our first live pick. There are good KPD and KPF + Ruck/Forward in the draft. I think if anywhere, in defence we might be looking okay going forward the most of anywhere.

The boy was coming off an injury and an injury plagued 2019. He has been good. His best is very good and if he gets anjury free prep he will thrive.

I think one of our problems at the moment is Sam Reid. Definitely under performing.

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[MightyBloods]

I like how you have us picking up McDonald. He sounds like a great prospect, but reckon he goes top 3 before us. I heard him on Road to the Draft explaining how he developed as a midfielder and then had a growth spurt.

Do hope we draft a genuine ruck prospect rather than pick up a long-shot in the rookie draft (if there even is a rookie draft). I do like the sound of Henry Walsh (B-o-S). Thilthorpe for some reason sounds like he's not quite a forward and not quite a ruck. I'm sure I'll be proved wrong about that.

I'm of the belief that you don't draft a ruckman especially using an early draft pick. Landing these gold nuggets are rare and you still have to wait 5 to 6 years before they start having a real impact. I prefer to see us draft a ready made ruckman at around age 24 even if we have to pay overs. I do like someone such as Ladhams at Port Adelaide.

[Markwebbos]

I'm of the belief that you don't draft a ruckman especially using an early draft pick. Landing these gold nuggets are rare and you still have to wait 5 to 6 years before they start having a real impact. I prefer to see us draft a ready made ruckman at around age 24 even if we have to pay overs. I do like someone such as Ladhams at Port Adelaide.

You may be right. I think times have changed and we should be looking to draft someone in the 15-35 range, which looks tricky with our draft hand. Grundy (18), English (19), De Koning (30), Gawn (34).

So not burning a really high draft pick, but getting someone who has the attributes to be a modern, mobile ruckman.

Co-Jo although now shop soiled would fit that description. Soldo’s ACL has probably kept him at the Tigers.

[stevoswan]

I think one of our problems at the moment is Sam Reid. Definitely under performing.

Time to cut ties......sick of waiting for him to deliver.

[Kumarangk]

Time to cut ties......sick of waiting for him to deliver.

Agree, when he won a Flag i thought the sky's the limit for this kid but i'm afraid even discounting his fragile body he hasn't kicked on. Notice that anywhere 40 metres or more from goal when he gets possession he is looking to offload rather than take the kick ? Perhaps protected previously when Buddy, Tippett & others up front.

[Nico]

Agree, when he won a Flag i thought the sky's the limit for this kid but i'm afraid even discounting his fragile body he hasn't kicked on. Notice that anywhere 40 metres or more from goal when he gets possession he is looking to offload rather than take the kick ? Perhaps protected previously when Buddy, Tippett & others up front.

Late in the 2012 GF we couldn't get the ball out of Hawthorn's back line. Stand up Sam Reid who took the mark on the wing from a long kick out. From then the ball stayed in our forward line. He's got enough brownie points for mine.