Ryan Willits

[richmond fanatic]

Sorry if theres another thread on this but where is he at? Hes been overlooked by Westhoff. I liked the look of him, but havnt heard much of him since. For all I know he could be injured, but just interested. Cheers :thumbsu:

[Spadge]

noticed in the training drills on Ch10 news tonight Willits was in ruck drills with Lade
Perhaps they might look at grooming him for a mobile ruckman

[richmond fanatic]

noticed in the training drills on Ch10 news tonight Willits was in ruck drills with Lade
Perhaps they might look at grooming him for a mobile ruckman
Is there any chance of him being delisted or traded back to Melbourne?

[malcolm]

Yes for a late 2nd or early 3rd round draft pick or a player like Jay Schulz

[Powerstufff]

Is there any chance of him being delisted or traded back to Melbourne?I'll pose the other half of that question (sadly).
"Is there any chance of a contract extension at Port?" No. Place a bid.

[richmond fanatic]

Yes for a late 2nd or early 3rd round draft pick or a player like Jay Schulz
Schulz for Willits and you have yourself a deal.

[RussellEbertHandball]

Ryan's contract finishes this year. I don't know if the club will keep him of if they will cut him some slack as he had to move SANFL clubs earlier this year which would have set him back.

Given that Thurstans was on the list for 4 years before he got a game at the start of his 5th, and White was only debuted late in his 3rd. I wouldn't be surprised if we keep Ryan.

[Powerstufff]

Ryan's contract finishes this year. I don't know if the club will keep him of if they will cut him some slack as he had to move SANFL clubs earlier this year which would have set him back.

Given that Thurstans was on the list for 4 years before he got a game at the start of his 5th, and White was only debuted late in his 3rd. I wouldn't be surprised if we keep Ryan.
Nah, Toby was a super skinny kid who played OK for Sturt in a time of limited opportunities with Port. He episodically had some quite good games with us as he came on.
Willits in contrast has seen conservatively ten players pass him for regular spots. A man of his size could not perform serviceably in any position for Glenelg and now is in the same position with West Adelaide.

[Phhht]

Nah, Toby was a super skinny kid who played OK for Sturt in a time of limited opportunities with Port. He episodically had some quite good games with us as he came on.
Willits in contrast has seen conservatively ten players pass him for regular spots. A man of his size could not perform serviceably in any position for Glenelg and now is in the same position with West Adelaide.

But thats the thing, he looks like he is a man but really he is relatively young. Turned 20 early this year. I agree he looks like he should impose himself on a game given his size but expecting an 18/19 yo - when he was at a rabble down glenelg way - to impose himself on games??? how many actually do that?? And his moving to westies has probably held his development back a little at this stage.

I think he is worth persisting with. A trade with Schulz.....maybe. but trade him this year for picks just isn't worth it IMO. Weak draft 2nd rounder at best probably wont get us anything comparable to him right now.

Had a very quick chat to him last friday night after the game and he seemed in really good spirits and looking forward to next year. Although I must admit he didnt actually say it was at Alberton ;)

[almqvist]

give him one more year

[Geoffa32]

Nah, Toby was a super skinny kid who played OK for Sturt in a time of limited opportunities with Port. He episodically had some quite good games with us as he came on.
Willits in contrast has seen conservatively ten players pass him for regular spots. A man of his size could not perform serviceably in any position for Glenelg and now is in the same position with West Adelaide.
I think he is another Thurstans....will take a long time to work out where he fits in the team...I see Thurstans as a frustrated Ruckman. His efforts agaisnt Hudson in the last showdown confirmed this...But he is doing well this year fro you guys in the backlines...GF he was the goal kicking hero...

Willits reminds me of Ben Rutten. Against us last year he played that role and helped in you guys beating us. WHen I saw him there I thought, "Oh Crap, they have found on"...A big solid Defender, but he has not developed, now I ehar he is being programmed to be a forward, and now Ruck???

[*PAFC*13]

Why would we want Jay Schulz? Willits has a hell of alot more potential than Schulz does. Willits will stay on the list, talls are usually given 4 - 5 years to show what they got.

[Asgardian]

Not at cowland, re Gibson

[Mr Magoo]

Nah, Toby was a super skinny kid who played OK for Sturt in a time of limited opportunities with Port. He episodically had some quite good games with us as he came on.
Willits in contrast has seen conservatively ten players pass him for regular spots. A man of his size could not perform serviceably in any position for Glenelg and now is in the same position with West Adelaide.


The Port magpies should do everything they can then to get him to play for them. An article in the sunday mail/advertiser mentioned that Port weren't very happy that Westies had been playing Willitis at CHB. So the simple solution is to move him onto Port Magpies where he would be groomed to play CHF/FF plus the bonus is that he might actually start progressing forward like Surjan did once he moved from Centrals to Port. Key position players generally take a little longer to develop etc... so maybe we should persist with him a while longer as we need to get at least 1 key forward in the system to eventually take Tredrea's position in the side.

[Porthos]

To be honest, I would probably take a Willits-Schulz trade. At least we know Schulz could be a fair backup at AFL level, and there would certainly be room for improvement once out of Richmond ;)

But as Eddie Woloschek would say, NO LOSERVILLE PLAYERS

[FishingRick04]

I think he is another Thurstans....will take a long time to work out where he fits in the team...I see Thurstans as a frustrated Ruckman. His efforts agaisnt Hudson in the last showdown confirmed this...But he is doing well this year fro you guys in the backlines...GF he was the goal kicking hero...

Willits reminds me of Ben Rutten. Against us last year he played that role and helped in you guys beating us. WHen I saw him there I thought, "Oh Crap, they have found on"...A big solid Defender, but he has not developed, now I ehar he is being programmed to be a forward, and now Ruck???

I still view Ryan as a possible Moster full back. My obersvations make him out to be a natural defender, but what do I know, they coaches would know alot more than me/us. Maintain the faith.

[Andre]

I think he is another Thurstans....will take a long time to work out where he fits in the team...I see Thurstans as a frustrated Ruckman. His efforts agaisnt Hudson in the last showdown confirmed this...
Thurstans isn't good enough to be a full time ruck. That said when we play sides with one dominant ruckman and one kid/second string ruck I'd like to see him used against the young ruckman/second string ruck so that Lade and Brogan can double team the other to wear down.

Eg. versus Cox/Seaby Thurstans could have rucked against Seaby allowing Brogan and Lade to double team Cox - one to take him at centre bounces, the other to follow around the ground. Both to bash into him. If we face the Eagles again I'd like to see this happen. Or versus Geelong Thurstans do some ruck when Ottens isn't in it.

[Geoffa32]

Thurstans isn't good enough to be a full time ruck. That said when we play sides with one dominant ruckman and one kid/second string ruck I'd like to see him used against the young ruckman/second string ruck so that Lade and Brogan can double team the other to wear down.

Eg. versus Cox/Seaby Thurstans could have rucked against Seaby allowing Brogan and Lade to double team Cox - one to take him at centre bounces, the other to follow around the ground. Both to bash into him. If we face the Eagles again I'd like to see this happen. Or versus Geelong Thurstans do some ruck when Ottens isn't in it.
I Agree.....At a lot of other clubs Thurstans would do the Brogan role...But against Cox/Seaby and most Combinations you could have an advantage in Ruck with three to wear them down.

[TheFridge]

Lots of hype, not a lot of output...

Certainly looks the part, but really seems to struggle in the mobility and positioning stakes. I can't see him as a ruck in the modern game personally, as he is not tall enough and as stated before I don't think he has the mobility for the role.

I can understand why SANFL coaches want to play him down back, especially at the clubs to which he has been allocated under the SANFL rules. I don't really have an opinion as to whether he should be kept or let go though as I can't see him making it, but, heck, he has got the build.... I'll leave it to the experts on our coaching team...

On the SANFL allocation system, it seems to be a poor process for the development of KP kids on the Crows and Power lists. Willits, as an example, is wanting to be developed as a KPP forward. Due to the allocating of draftees to the bottom clubs, he is automatically allocated to teams who struggle to get the ball past centre with any sort of regularity - how on earth is a KPP supposed to develop? The argument is different for midfielders and even smaller players, but the Willits situation perhaps highlights a possible answer to why both Adelaide based clubs have struggled to develop KPP forwards - Tredrea and Westhoff have of course been exceptions but they both have been developed in stronger SANFL clubs....

[Geoffa32]

Lots of hype, not a lot of output...

Certainly looks the part, but really seems to struggle in the mobility and positioning stakes. I can't see him as a ruck in the modern game personally, as he is not tall enough and as stated before I don't think he has the mobility for the role.

I can understand why SANFL coaches want to play him down back, especially at the clubs to which he has been allocated under the SANFL rules. I don't really have an opinion as to whether he should be kept or let go though as I can't see him making it, but, heck, he has got the build.... I'll leave it to the experts on our coaching team...

On the SANFL allocation system, it seems to be a poor process for the development of KP kids on the Crows and Power lists. Willits, as an example, is wanting to be developed as a KPP forward. Due to the allocating of draftees to the bottom clubs, he is automatically allocated to teams who struggle to get the ball past centre with any sort of regularity - how on earth is a KPP supposed to develop? The argument is different for midfielders and even smaller players, but the Willits situation perhaps highlights a possible answer to why both Adelaide based clubs have struggled to develop KPP forwards - Tredrea and Westhoff have of course been exceptions but they both have been developed in stronger SANFL clubs....
Your right,....Crows and Power should have a reserves, every AFL club should have one...As as curtain raiser to games, I recokn it would bea great idea...

Sending Willits to West to develop as a KPP Forward, probably not a good idea in hidsight....He has been playing down back as that where the action for them is LOL

[Powerstufff]

The Port magpies should do everything they can then to get him to play for them. An article in the sunday mail/advertiser mentioned that Port weren't very happy that Westies had been playing Willits at CHB. So the simple solution is to move him onto Port Magpies where he would be groomed to play CHF/FF......It is worth re-emphasising that Port Adelaide Magpies are not Port Adelaide's Reserves and they have their own players to develop/motivate and their own competition to play in.
Firstly they may not want a player who has failed to deliver in various positions for both Glenelg and West Adelaide. Secondly they will select their own KPPs, not act on Port Adelaide's instructions.
IF Willits is on our list next year and IF a move to the PAMFC came off he would have to earn a CHF/FF spot there. Glenelg tried hard with him by all accounts and then, when it didn't work, tried to salvage the situation by moving him down back. They feel they tried hard with him and that they acted in good faith towards him and Port. One senior Glenelg figure I heard speak lets it be known the Tigers are pretty annoyed at the events that saw Willits go to Westies. Not neccessarily at the loss of Willits but at the implication that Glenelg were holding him back.
It really sounds like same old, same old at West Adelaide.

[Geoffa32]

It is worth re-emphasising that Port Adelaide Magpies are not Port Adelaide's Reserves and they have their own players to develop/motivate and their own competition to play in.
Firstly they may not want a player who has failed to deliver in various positions for both Glenelg and West Adelaide. Secondly they will select their own KPPs, not act on Port Adelaide's instructions.
IF Willits is on our list next year and IF a move to the PAMFC came off he would have to earn a CHF/FF spot there. Glenelg tried hard with him by all accounts and then, when it didn't work, tried to salvage the situation by moving him down back. They feel they tried hard with him and that they acted in good faith towards him and Port. One senior Glenelg figure I heard speak lets it be known the Tigers are pretty annoyed at the events that saw Willits go to Westies. Not neccessarily at the loss of Willits but at the implication that Glenelg were holding him back.
It really sounds like same old, same old at West Adelaide.
Lokan and Waterhouse will love that....LOL

[power pack 1]

Sadly Ryan is another player who is in abit of trouble here! Ryan showed abit last year but has done nothing this season. He could of been the next David Grainger?

[Ford Fairlane]

Sadly Ryan is another player who is in abit of trouble here! Ryan showed abit last year but has done nothing this season. He could of been the next David Grainger?

Not in a million years.

[Powerstufff]

.....He could of been the next David Grainger?Wyan Rillits...nah, doesn't work.

[Phhht]

Not in a million years.


Exactly Ford.

I sometimes wonder whether some of the people who make such judgement calls even watch a players performance and progress.

Gee, he has been on our list for 3 years now, he should be dominating games by now :rolleyes:

[Port_shadow11]

give him one more year


I agree .. give him another year .. (so far he has changed clubs and has played CHF & FF / FP and now he has been groomed for CHB and ruck)..

at 198 cm + and at 100kg .. he has the ablility to create all sorts of miss matches in opposition back lines (if he plays forward) especially with the 199cm Hoff up there (and the small 193cm Tredders :D)

hopefully the forward line for next year will be

FF Ebert (179 cm) Hoff (199cm) Motlop (187cm)
HF Tredders (193cm) Willits (198cm) Grey (184cm)

:thumbsu:

i would not be happy if he got delisted or traded

[RoosterLad]

Wyan Rillits...nah, doesn't work.

Hahaha.

Dave Granger? What the hell were you thinking power pack, some people seriously have no idea.

[Phhht]

Hahaha.

Dave Granger? What the hell were you thinking power pack, some people seriously have no idea.

hey RL,

hows the squib going down your way?

[TheFridge]

And sadly, we can close the book on the PAFC chapter in Ryan's book.

Good luck to him wherever he may end up.

And perhaps a salient reminder that a late first round draft is certainly no guarantee to make it....

[Porthos]

Yep. Key forward is the tough position to pick, you can't just have the odd go occasionally and expect a champ.

[TheFridge]

Yep. Key forward is the tough position to pick, you can't just have the odd go occasionally and expect a champ.

I know what you are saying, and agree...

But (and you knew there was a but coming...), the Willits experiment is also evidence that you should not pick based on need necessarily. Salient reminder - hypothetically, if we had a choice between a "possible" KPP or a "likely" midfielder type, who should we take?

For mine, I suggest it is safer to take the more likely to make it player. However, if the gap is minor, then of course plump for the player who best fits the need...

I would feel more comfortable gambling with later picks when it is all a lottery anyway.

(Porthos, I think you will disagree with me on this one, but hey c'est la vie...)

[Porthos]

the Willits experiment is also evidence that you should not pick based on need necessarily.Actually, its not.

The club never said they picked him as anything other than the best available.

Next picks after Willits through until our next pick (#34)
Dean Polo
Thomas Murphy
Jesse Wells
Sean Rusling
Nathan van Berlo
Adam Hartlett
Matthew Little
Pat Garner
Chad Gibson
Matt Rosa
Andrew Lee
Jarred Moore
Brent Prismall
Cain Ackland
James Ezard

Not exactly a squad of all-stars, is it?

Salient reminder - hypothetically, if we had a choice between a "possible" KPP or a "likely" midfielder type, who should we take?

For mine, I suggest it is safer to take the more likely to make it player.No shit its safer. It also is a strategy designed to make sure you never get the tall forward you really need

EVERY AFL club with any sense drafts the tall guy earlier than they `should' so that they can get the player they need. So you have to account for that!

Its nice to be in a position to sit back and draft the `better' midfielder/forward/defender and we have been in that position for most of Tredrea's career. We are no longer in that position.

[Powerstufff]

I wonder what the delay was in Willits' delisting. Was there debate over another contract (length, amount)? He was a standout under-performer who I thought would have been asked for his locker key at season's end. What made the club hesitate?

[Mr Magoo]

It is worth re-emphasising that Port Adelaide Magpies are not Port Adelaide's Reserves and they have their own players to develop/motivate and their own competition to play in.
Firstly they may not want a player who has failed to deliver in various positions for both Glenelg and West Adelaide. Secondly they will select their own KPPs, not act on Port Adelaide's instructions.
IF Willits is on our list next year and IF a move to the PAMFC came off he would have to earn a CHF/FF spot there. Glenelg tried hard with him by all accounts and then, when it didn't work, tried to salvage the situation by moving him down back. They feel they tried hard with him and that they acted in good faith towards him and Port. One senior Glenelg figure I heard speak lets it be known the Tigers are pretty annoyed at the events that saw Willits go to Westies. Not neccessarily at the loss of Willits but at the implication that Glenelg were holding him back.
It really sounds like same old, same old at West Adelaide.

Fair point but if Willitis had been sent to the Port Magpies you would've thought he would see a lot more of the ball playing in our forward lines than at Westies or Glenelg. Then again if he went to play for centrals (if he could break into their side) he could've looked like a million dollars & probably would've kicked 40+ goals.

But unless he gets picked up again by Port or the crows i guess this is a dead topic.

It's a catch 22 situation i guess in that the bottom sides in the sanfl will almost always pick up the key forward/key defender from Ports/AFC draftees & then if they struggle people will begin to wonder why....

[FlyingCrow]

Actually, its not.

The club never said they picked him as anything other than the best available.

Next picks after Willits through until our next pick (#34)
Dean Polo
Thomas Murphy
Jesse Wells
Sean Rusling
Nathan van Berlo
Adam Hartlett
Matthew Little
Pat Garner
Chad Gibson
Matt Rosa
Andrew Lee
Jarred Moore
Brent Prismall
Cain Ackland
James Ezard

Not exactly a squad of all-stars, is it?

No shit its safer. It also is a strategy designed to make sure you never get the tall forward you really need

EVERY AFL club with any sense drafts the tall guy earlier than they `should' so that they can get the player they need. So you have to account for that!

Its nice to be in a position to sit back and draft the `better' midfielder/forward/defender and we have been in that position for most of Tredrea's career. We are no longer in that position.
Van Berlo....

[Jumbo]

Van Berlo....

meh, slightly better than WILLITS

[erical]

Not in a million years.
David Granger never succeeded at the highest level either so I guess they can be pretty comparable?

[Ford Fairlane]

David Granger never succeeded at the highest level either so I guess they can be pretty comparable?

I don't think that's what the comparison was about, but whatever works for you.

[jarmanagic]

[quote=Porthos;9484623]Actually, its not.

The club never said they picked him as anything other than the best available.

Next picks after Willits through until our next pick (#34)
Dean Polo
Thomas Murphy
Jesse Wells
Sean Rusling
Nathan van Berlo
Adam Hartlett
Matthew Little
Pat Garner
Chad Gibson
Matt Rosa
Andrew Lee
Jarred Moore
Brent Prismall
Cain Ackland
James Ezard

When there is all this jockeying over draft picks that sort of list is a reminder of the hit and miss nature of the draft, even the top 30. Of those players only Van Berlo, Rusling and Rosa look good, and even Rusling whilst promising has probably played less than 5 good games

I heard Matthew Knights on radio saying they were happy to pick up Daniher with Father-son because they picked him up at pick 39 but rated him 25-33. A little too precise for mine Knighta

Why did Port wait until now to delist him? Surely nothing has changed over the last month?

[Ford Fairlane]

I have to admit I had this misty-eyed romantic notion of plonking Willits in the goal square next year and getting him to lead straight up the guts so that we were forced to hit the corridor whenever we went inside 50, as soon as we crossed the centreline, be it from the wing or down the middle. This rather jurassic piece of thinking was inspired by watching some old Port premierships, when we did that sort of thing, and had crumbers to swoop on the ball if it hit the ground. But these days our smalls/mids who play inside 50 want to mark like KPPs and the crumbing types get pushed back to half back to provide supporting run out of defence to the spots where they should have been. I guess the game has passed me by ..

[Powerstufff]

....Why did Port wait until now to delist him? Surely nothing has changed over the last month?Snap. See post #34.

[Ford Fairlane]

The tiser at some stage reported he was contracted for 2008, but I thought he only had a 1 year deal after his initial 2 year deal expired ... and contracts haven't been mentioned since his delisting.

My initial thought was that Grima or Obst must have impressed at training. After all we're really sailing close to the wind as far as tall KPPs - especially forwards - go. It makes the decision not to complete the Schulz trade even more risky.

[FlyingCrow]

I thought he was a natural Full back. Something you guys dont ahve. You have Thurstans who is a frustrated ruckman.

Some Vic club will pick him and he will play there for ten years.

[blackdiamond]

If I was the Club I would be talking up the point that we will take Stuart Dew with our last pick (even if we have no interest), it may just get a team like Hawthorn to overspend early and therefore keep the player that we really want alive.

[FlyingCrow]

If I was the Club I would be talking up the point that we will take Stuart Dew with our last pick (even if we have no interest), it may just get a team like Hawthorn to overspend early and therefore keep the player that we really want alive.
Good call

maybe thats what the Crows are doing...I hope so. I dont want Bargearse, his nickname at our club as a kid, playing for us.

[Porthos]

I thought he was a natural Full back. Something you guys dont ahve.I dunno what else you'd call Alipate Carlile?

[jarmanagic]

I dunno what else you'd call Alipate Carlile?


I reckon he is a fair way off being proven

I think your biggest weakness in 08 could be in defence. Walkelin retiring and Wilson being unable to play much (if it all) robs you of experience and stability. Even f Thurstans goes on (???? 1.5 good years in 10) and Chaplin continues to improve you are still short defensive talls for mine. Chad Cornes might need to come back to CHB

[Peninsula Boy]

I reckon he is a fair way off being proven

I think your biggest weakness in 08 could be in defence. Walkelin retiring and Wilson being unable to play much (if it all) robs you of experience and stability. Even f Thurstans goes on (???? 1.5 good years in 10) and Chaplin continues to improve you are still short defensive talls for mine. Chad Cornes might need to come back to CHB

I'm reasonably happy with our backline. It's young but shows plenty of talent. We have the old stager in Thurstans and PB but also have young leadership in Chaplin, Carlile who continues to improve and a plethora of options in the small backman department, some improving and some gagging fora position in the team and yeah, as you've stated, if we have some probelms, we can always swing Chadler down back.

[twosheds]

Good call

maybe thats what the Crows are doing...I hope so. I dont want Bargearse, his nickname at our club as a kid, playing for us.

Wow , come up with that all by yourself ?

[Mr Magoo]

Good call

maybe thats what the Crows are doing...I hope so. I dont want Bargearse, his nickname at our club as a kid, playing for us.

:confused: i thought that Roo had already retired :D

I reckon he is a fair way off being proven

I think your biggest weakness in 08 could be in defence. Walkelin retiring and Wilson being unable to play much (if it all) robs you of experience and stability. Even f Thurstans goes on (???? 1.5 good years in 10) and Chaplin continues to improve you are still short defensive talls for mine. Chad Cornes might need to come back to CHB

Don't forget that we still have Grose developing/coming along nicely at North Adelaide as a key defender. Wilson's injury only opens the door to give an opportunity to one of Lower/Thomas to finally get some much needed experience under their belts. Alipate, Pettigrew & Surjan while all of them are very young inexperienced defenders who'll obviously get beaten occasionally, but the key is to persist/persevere with them through the good games & the bad games until they can start getting some consistency in their games (usually players need at least 50+ afl games for this to happen).

[Porthos]

I reckon he is a fair way off being provenI can't see a way in which Obst is more proven.

[FlyingCrow]

Wow , come up with that all by yourself ?
a name he has had since he was12

[FlyingCrow]

:confused: i thought that Roo had already retired :D



Don't forget that we still have Grose developing/coming along nicely at North Adelaide as a key defender. Wilson's injury only opens the door to give an opportunity to one of Lower/Thomas to finally get some much needed experience under their belts. Alipate, Pettigrew & Surjan while all of them are very young inexperienced defenders who'll obviously get beaten occasionally, but the key is to persist/persevere with them through the good games & the bad games until they can start getting some consistency in their games (usually players need at least 50+ afl games for this to happen).
If I can see a weakness in your team it is the backline.

Overall though Port are a decent side. So long as the GF is erased, and the hammering they will cop round one, 2008 should be another good year for you.

[P.A.F.C]

Our key defender options are far superior to our tall forward options

Thurstans, Carlile, Chaplin, Pettigrew and even Lower can take tall forwards. Pettigrew and Lower can both also play on smalls along with Thomas and Surjan. All of those players have played a fair few afl games, except Lower, so we'll really only have to 'blood' one defender next year.

[FlyingCrow]

Our key defender options are far superior to our tall forward options

Thurstans, Carlile, Chaplin, Pettigrew and even Lower can take tall forwards. Pettigrew and Lower can both also play on smalls along with Thomas and Surjan. All of those players have played a fair few afl games, except Lower, so we'll really only have to 'blood' one defender next year.
True but your Forward line with Ebert and Motlop is still productive. You won games last year through midfield and with forwards firing.

I am predicting Hoff will have a bad year next year.

[Port_GW]

True but your Forward line with Ebert and Motlop is still productive. You won games last year through midfield and with forwards firing.

I am predicting Hoff will have a bad year next year.

Ebert and Motlop are flankers/pocket players though, they shouldn't be relied upon to play CHF or FF. I think the club needs to bite the bullet and keep Chaplin at CHB and persist with either Thurstans or Carlile at FB.

Chad Cornes is more in demand as a forward than a defender, but in saying this he will more than likely spend some time up forward and in defence according to match ups, his own form and challenges presented by opposition teams/players.

[FlyingCrow]

Chad to CHF....would be good.

Carlile and Thurstans are adequete, but will never be a Glass, Wakelin (either) Rutten or Scarlett.

[Port_GW]

Chad to CHF....would be good.

Carlile and Thurstans are adequete, but will never be a Glass, Wakelin (either) Rutten or Scarlett.

No you're right, but Carlile, is still young and appears to be a quick learner, so within 2 or 3 years hopefully he will be holding his own as a key defender. Not all clubs can have strengths in all areas, some times you just have to make do with what you've got.

[FlyingCrow]

No you're right, but Carlile, is still young and appears to be a quick learner, so within 2 or 3 years hopefully he will be holding his own as a key defender. Not all clubs can have strengths in all areas, some times you just have to make do with what you've got.
True..

[twosheds]

a name he has had since he was12

Since he was 12 eh? I think you'll struggle to find anyone involved at Salisbury Football Club to back you up there, but hey if you have some pathological desire to let everyone think you have known him or known of him for 16 years, who am I to burst your bubble ?

[Asgardian]

I reckon we'll be seeing a back line something like this --

FB Surjan, Thurstans, Carlile
HB P. Burgoyne, Chaplin, Lower/Thomas

With Pettigrew being the utility tall forward / backman if needed

[FlyingCrow]

Since he was 12 eh? I think you'll struggle to find anyone involved at Salisbury Football Club to back you up there, but hey if you have some pathological desire to let everyone think you have known him or known of him for 16 years, who am I to burst your bubble ?
"play the ball and not the man"

[Mr Magoo]

I reckon we'll be seeing a back line something like this --

FB Surjan, Thurstans, Carlile
HB P. Burgoyne, Chaplin, Lower/Thomas

With Pettigrew being the utility tall forward / backman if needed

Any truth to the rumor i heard tonight that P.Burgoyne has had or needs to have surgery on his shoulder & could miss anywhere between 3-6 games next year?

You can also throw Williams name into the mix for a spot on a HBF if that's the case.

[FlyingCrow]

I have heard the same thing...Nothing to bad, they thinking the lower end of 3-6 weeks off.

[Spadge]

the reports i heard was Burgoyne would be ok for the start of the season

[jarmanagic]

I reckon we'll be seeing a back line something like this --

FB Surjan, Thurstans, Carlile
HB P. Burgoyne, Chaplin, Lower/Thomas

With Pettigrew being the utility tall forward / backman if needed


not sure about this. There arent many proven AFL level players in that line up. Some on the way up, but for mine

Burgoyne yes, but playing the sweeping role (very well) not really defending.
Surjan good young running defender
Carlile long way to go
Lower/Thomas SANFL form, but...
Thurstans.. 1 good year in his career
Chaplin.. played the zone off defender very well second half of 07, but as a key defender.. Not sure yet. In time, but strong enough in 08?


I think defence your big query in 08, midfield/rucks/forwards look ok

[Port_GW]

not sure about this. There arent many proven AFL level players in that line up. Some on the way up, but for mine

Burgoyne yes, but playing the sweeping role (very well) not really defending.
Surjan good young running defender
Carlile long way to go
Lower/Thomas SANFL form, but...
Thurstans.. 1 good year in his career
Chaplin.. played the zone off defender very well second half of 07, but as a key defender.. Not sure yet. In time, but strong enough in 08?


I think defence your big query in 08, midfield/rucks/forwards look ok

I'd much prefer Chaplin over Bock.

[jarmanagic]

I'd much prefer Chaplin over Bock.
firstly dont see what that has to do with anything. why does everything on this board have to come back to a comparison with the Crows?

Secondly I wouldnt. I think Bock is an excellent CHB (not much of a forward)

Chaplin has half a year of good football playing predominantly as a floating defender. I think he can play but he is well behind Bock at the moment. Will see where he is in 12 months. I query his aerial power defensively

[Port_GW]

firstly dont see what that has to do with anything. why does everything on this board have to come back to a comparison with the Crows?

Secondly I wouldnt. I think Bock is an excellent CHB (not much of a forward)

Chaplin has half a year of good football playing predominantly as a floating defender. I think he can play but he is well behind Bock at the moment. Will see where he is in 12 months. I query his aerial power defensively

I'm just saying that i dont rate Bock and i think hes over rated, and that i think Chaplin will be a better CHB in the next few years than what Bock will be.

Time will tell if i'm right.

[portentous]

I'm wondering, if theres' no "good" talls by our picks-only "average" ones, do we then go with a really good midfielder and pick up a "lower rated" tall later, or pick an "average" tall and bypass the opportunity of picking up one of the best midfielders in the draft.

Is an average tall better than a good small??

[TheFridge]

Is an average tall better than a good small??

No, they are not IMO.

However, there are no absolutes in the draft, so the question is really "is an average rated tall better than a more fancied small"....

The answer is then more about how desperate you are to gamble - does striking it lucky with a more likely small a better bet than hoping to strike it lucky with a lesser rated tall. The upside with the tall is clearly higher.

Hence the call really is very subjective and will depend upon who is available witrh our pick and how highly rated they are by our recruiting team.

Hopefully, a highly rated tall forward prospect will be availbel with our first pick and it is a no-brainer...:)