2021 VFL discussion thread

[Ralph Dawg]

Such varying assessments on Gould. My opinion is that he's been very steady in the VFL. To date, he's averaging about 16 disposals and 4 marks. His disposal and work rate has been good. I don't think he's been beaten by any of his opponents.

A few have knocked his athleticism and fitness but I have no issue. He has been playing as a key position backman, not as a running / distributing halfback. I'd be comfortable if he was given an opportunity at AFL level soon although preferably as part of a 3 prong tall defence with McCartin and Rampe.

On a related note, it seems most approved of Ling's performance yesterday and am happy to defer to those who watched his game closer than I did. However, there were a couple of occasions of poor disposal that I found concerning given one of the reasons we drafted him was that he was considered elite in this area as a junior. Hopefully it was just an aberration. It would be great if he could start to apply pressure on those ahead of him.

[Steve]

It is a bit of an odd situation that not so long ago we hand-picked all those players like Taylor, Brand, Gray and Clarke who, in fairness to them, are playing at the standard that would have been expected of delisted free agents or minor trades (ie. I don't think they are disappointments, they are at a standard that we should have expected when we recruited them) - but are not in our AFL plans at all now.

Circumstances change, and we have had a number of youngsters come on who have stepped up ahead of those others, but it is still odd to me we added those 'depth' players when we were clearly going through a mini rebuild over the past couple of years.

I guess on the flipside it does allow us to nurture our youngsters in the VFL side having some of those experienced, bigger bodies taking the heat off them. And we haven't had too many injuries to midfielders or small forwards where Clarke or Taylor might have got more of a run.

[707]

Taylor, Brand, Gray and Clarke all recruited for free and with minimal salary cap impact I'd expect, except Taylor cost us a pick 40'ish?

Purely recruited to add depth at a time we had none. The first/second season AFL level performance of Warner, Campbell, Gulden etc has lessened the need for those players, who will probably be delistings at seasons end, except contracted Taylor, but needed at the time of recruitment.

[Steve]

Taylor, Brand, Gray and Clarke all recruited for free and with minimal salary cap impact I'd expect, except Taylor cost us a pick 40'ish?

Purely recruited to add depth at a time we had none. The first/second season AFL level performance of Warner, Campbell, Gulden etc has lessened the need for those players, who will probably be delistings at seasons end, except contracted Taylor, but needed at the time of recruitment.

I get all that, but in the end they’re not really providing depth if they’re so far down the pecking order. And it’s in the years where you think you’ll be a strong finals team that depth is needed/relevant which was never going to be the last couple of years.

Even excluding a few others on the injury list, they’re behind guys like Bell, Blakey, Stephens, Ronke and possibly now even Sheather.

I’m not really criticising what’s been done, but it will be interesting what they do at the end of this year, as if they delist them all we will still have that gap in our age profile, and be heading into a period where we’d hope to be a regular finals team. I wouldn’t be shocked if the likes of Clarke and Brand got extensions as cheap backup role players.

[Aprilbr]

I find it hard to see how Taylor, Brand, Gray and Clarke can stay on our list going forward. Brand may be the exception because we really lack tall defenders but that is about it. Players like Ronke and Ling are also looking like they may be delisted at year end. Gould may leave for better opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, Stephens and Blakey are definitely worth keeping in my humble opinion. We, like many teams, are averaging about 10 players being turned over each year in recent seasons. Most are delisted but some are traded or ask to go. Its AFL in the 21st Century. Hopefully, we are able to keep the out of contract ones that we want to keep. We have a lot of out of contract players this season.

[bloodspirit]

I reckon that players like Taylor, Clarke, Gray, Brand etc have worth above and beyond their ability to provide depth in case of injury to the senior side. You don't want to have a reserves team stacked with promising youngsters alone. You need to have some experience, especially AFL experience to put around them and to aid their development. These players can help the younger fringe dwellers both on the field (directing them, protecting them with their more hardened bodies) and off-field (mentoring, analysing games, setting training standards, showing the importance of proper nutrition etc etc) as well. Sam Gray and Lewis Taylor have each played over 100 games of AFL footy and that counts for a fair bit. This is especially true since the soft cap cuts and the downsizing of coaching and welfare staff.

Another benefit of these depth players is that they help us fill the list spots that we are obliged to fill while being paid at minimum wages - thereby assisting us to stay within the salary cap as well as being capable if called upon to play at AFL level.

There are too many fringe players for us to cut them all this season. Some will survive another year. I agree Brand plays a role where we lack depth and has that in his favour. Although potentially if we pick up Paddy McCartin and a younger KPD he could be cut.

It will be very interesting to see what the club does with the likes of Ronke and Ling. If there are other clubs interested in drafting Ronke I think we would just trade him cheaply and help him get to where he wants to go. Ling is more likely to be retained but would be good to see him show more than he has so far.

[bloodspirit]

Ryan Hebron - Part 1: VFL journey leads all the way home (theinnersanctum.com.au)

[ugg]

Sydney v Gold Coast | Event | Kayo Sports

Looks like we are playing the Suns this week - Saturday 11am.

[Mountain Man]

At Tramway?

[Mark26]

Sydney v Gold Coast | Event | Kayo Sports

Looks like we are playing the Suns this week - Saturday 11am.

Fantastic! It will interesting to see how the players dropped ie Stephens and Blakey go if they are still in the ressies. I also have hopes that Ling will crack back in and Gould will make his debut too. Anyway, hope we see real progress and we give those Suns a walloping. Fingers crossed.

[Blood Fever]

Ryan Hebron - Part 1: VFL journey leads all the way home (theinnersanctum.com.au)

Thx for posting this. Interesting read. Like the culture we have where everybody gets treated like a listed player. As they should.

[Aaron]

VFL Coaches Corner: Round 8
We finally see Jeremy Laidler's reviews of our Round 8 loss to Southport Sharks LAST Saturday.
As usual not much useful information for the fans but Taylor and Sheather were praised a little more than the others.

The Sydney Swans will host Gold Coast SUNS at Lakeside Oval, Sydney at 11.05am while across town GWS GIANTS will face Aspley at Blacktown Olympic Park at 12.05pm on Saturday June 12. Both games will be shown live and free on Kayo Freebies.

[Ralph Dawg]

After last night's dismal effort, I assume there are spots available for those who play well. I will be watching these players with interest today:

Brand, Gould and maybe BOC. One of these guys would have to be a strong chance to displace Fox, who clearly is not a tall defender.

Blakey. If he can produce another strong game off HB, he should come into consideration. We have lacked drive of HB, especially by foot with no one really taking the defence on.

Ling. Both Cunningham and Lloyd were injured last night. Need Ling to be ready to play as he is our next small defender in the event of injury to either of these two.

McLean. Jiath absolutely murdered us last night. Heeney was on him but did not make him accountable and he was able to do as he pleased in defence. McLean was great at running the opposition's key defender out of the play and a strong showing could bring him into contention, especially given how quiet Logan was last night.

[dejavoodoo44]

Dream start for Van Huisstede. Two goals in two minutes.

[dejavoodoo44]

Handy 70-44 lead at half time. A number of good performances. McLean going well with three goals. Sinclair getting things moving in the middle, but possibly opposed to a part timer. Clarke and Stephens busy. Most of the backs doing well. Some of the non-listed players have been very good. Gulden close to BOG, Hebron possibly our best defender and Morrison has taken his chances for three goals.

Unfortunately, Sheather went off early and looks like being out of action for a while, with a possibly serious collar bone or shoulder injury.