A lot depends on injuries. Lamb is the BIG one, if he can get a full preseason with some quality mentoring from the senior players we could see him really explode (relatively speaking) next year. Needs to play midfield though, he's solid but somewhat uninspiring as a forward (though at AFL level he's likely to start on a flank with rotations through the mids as he develops).
Mitchell is another one. Without a decent preseason and constantly lacking match form, he still managed to dominate every minute he played at NEAFL. Get his injuries sorted and a big preseason into him and I reckon he's best 22.
Cunningham needs consistency. Wouldn't mind seeing Jack take him in the preseason in a similar way he did with Jetta. Show him what he needs to do to get fit and play senior footy.
Other than that, Biggs looks solid, though I'm not sure if he has enough about him to get him to AFL level. Brown and Lockyer have something, but are probably a fair way off at this point.
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Eagerly anticipating Lamb and Mitchell taking the next step considering how highly they both rate. Jed's preseason kicks off early with the bike ride through Myanmar (Burma) with Ryan and Crouchy currently in progress.
Also keen to see who we contract from the Swans Academy.Leave a comment:
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Shane Biggs is a good prospect and we should put him on the Senior List with Harry. He was in the best players in nearly every match he played and is a really good kick, better than Harry in that he is more consistent. Harry is a wonderful long kick but Biggs is a consistent kick all round. He also knows how to get the ball and can play wing, HB or in the centre. doesn't mind getting his hands dirty either.
Harry is improving from the flashy player he started out. In the last weeks of the season he seemed to develop a different side to his game from the outside game. He tackled much more and got hands dirty.
Lockyer has talent that was obvious from the games he played but he didn't play enough to see just how much.
Brown is a consistent performer when fit. He played most of the second half of the season and was more than serviceable without being brilliant. He is a very accurate kick and in the main makes good decisions (he has to really playing in the backline),
Mitchell didn't have a very good season due to injury but when he was out there he was dominant. He showed what is to come in one match where touched the ball 5 times in one passage of play and set up a goal starting the play at FB.
Lamb was injured most of the season I believe, probable a mostly manageable soft tissue injury. In the end it got him and he had a few games out. When he returned we started to see what he is capable of and so far that is pretty good. Set up most of out centre square work and played a role not dissimilar to Joey's role in the Seniors. He did it pretty well too.
We already know what Mitchell is going to be capable of but my bet is on the quiet achiever Biggs or a full season from Lockyer might just see him the biggest improver. Lamb is very near senior level now and I don't think he has much improving to do to be ready.Leave a comment:
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Depends on whom they pick up. If it is a toppie or two, or perhaps elevate a rookie; that leaves us with PERHAPs
Broome: definitely sneaky goal sense and accurate radar. Downside, he is very small and from the western side of the continent.
Jackson Potter: got the build, developed some mongrel, wants it bad.
Naismith; if he wants a gig, he will be a long term project, he is 6'8" and obviously rucking, but does he want to play AFL?
Lamb: knows what he has to do to make the grade, probably got a fright at the unexpected drops, will work his arse off.
Mitchell: its all there, just has to be released.
Biggs: now and again, when he played, I thought to myself "keeper". Not sure how far, but...
Cunningham: wait and see. He is not AJ, he is not Hanners. They are a law unto themselves. But he has the right attitude and talent.
Walsh; hit and miss, but with more hits by the end of the season. Wait and see.
Armstrong: definite - may get a regular gig in the AFL.
Everitt; the enigma, can be such a good player, can be ordinary too.
Brown: not enough on the paddock to make a full assessment, but he does have great hand/eye coordination, but his fitness base (lack there of) showed, not surprising seeing he had hip issues for the first six months.
Throwing in a smokey.
White: If they decide to keep him on the books for another season. Has it all, got lost often, frustrating to watch, but he improved steadily all year long in NEAFL. This kerfuffle may be the making of him. Calm under enormous pressure from outside. Just tie it all together and we may have a proper KPP, if he stays and if he is hugged enough. Dunno.Leave a comment:
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Tom Mitchell. Like Reid was, he is too good to spend too much time in the NEAFL. Injuries permitting, he is certainly good enough to find himself a spot in our midfield rotation - most likely in a vest at first.Leave a comment:
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There aren't very many left of last year's crop still on the list! And of those who didn't play in the GF (McGlynn apart, since he is "best 22") most either have a fair amount of exposed senior form (ie White, Armstrong and Everitt) or spent so much of last season with injuries that we don't have much to go on (ie Mitchell - though his raw ability was obvious, Lockyer and Brown).
Lamb too struggled with fitness (or form) for all but the last couple of months. He showed promise late in the season but I suspect he'll need a huge preseason (with no injury interruptions) to raise his endurance to the necessary level if he is to play senior football.
Cunningham is the one most likely for me, but he's not yet an obvious 'plug and play'. He clearly impressed the coaches during the last pre-season and did some good things in the NAB Cup. After that, his season form was solid with flashes of brilliance, rather than dominant NEAFL form. They seemed to be trying to improve his inside game, and also his defensive abilities. His bursts of pace and a long, penetrating kick suggest he does have attributes that might translate well to senior football eventually.
Walsh showed steady improvement throughout last season and could find a spot. I think it is as likely to be in defence as up forward.
Most have an idea of what Rohan can bring, but whether he'll be able to in 2013 is anyone's guess.
Matt Cameron and Nathan Gibbs are going to be as important as anyone at the club next year if we have a chance of defending the premiership.Leave a comment:
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Ressie Watchers....who's next?
A question for the Ressie watchers....
Who do you expect to be the big improvers next year?
And in what position?Leave a comment:
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Fair to say he was always going to get a second year on the rookie list. He certainly showed enough promise to go around again and this time next year is when the decisions will need to be made...Leave a comment:
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looking at his video hi lights he looks like a running forward set up type player and wonder whether he could genuinely play off the back flanks as a set up player in Seniors in a season or two ?
he appears to be able to play much higher then his 183cm as he gets up nice and high on the marks also which could help his defending against the mid size forwards ie 184cm to 190cm or so players that Mal and or Shaw get at the momentLeave a comment:
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Ressie Watchers....who's next?
just wondering on peoples thoughts re Shane Biggs
he has been kept on the list ahead of alot of players that were just dropped off for season 2013 !
alot of players that I thought would have been ahead of him also ie Meredith etc
what role could he play in the near future if at all in Senior football ?
could he be developed as a Shaw or Malceski style back ie a running back or setup of play type back if he is not good enough for seniors in the midfield and or forwards?
Is Lambie way ahead of Biggs in ability ?
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