View Full Version : Who will be our next Francou.....
dreamkillers
30 Jun 2002, 16:20
We all know how valuable Francou is to our side with his in and under play, the ability to clear a ball from a pack and read the ruck taps amongst many other things - he just appears to have so much time.
So I thought I'd start asking who do you see out of our current crop of young on-ballers as starting to take over the role in the next 2-3 years as Francou reaches 30 - I do see him playing many more years after that but no harm in looking to the future.
Personally I think it will be Josh Carr as he just gets better and better each year with the last 18 months showing how good an attacking player he can be. The no fear attitude as well as the ability to win the hard ball and get it on to our advantage and to think he has only just turned 22 with most on-ballers at their peak after 25.
Interested to hear your thoughts.........
Originally posted by dreamkillers
We all know how valuable Francou is to our side with his in and under play, the ability to clear a ball from a pack and read the ruck taps amongst many other things - he just appears to have so much time.
Well i think Francou is one of a kind but I feel C.Hall could take over in a few years. S.Burgoyne has those elusive skills, Guerra could do it and I know not many people will agree with my final candidate but M.Stevens could if he can make the next step.
Did you hear about Port's rookie Nick Jackman winning the game after the siren for South Adelaide, he was BOG aswell, not bad for a kid who has played less than a handful of SANFL games.
dreamkillers
30 Jun 2002, 18:06
Originally posted by Zombie
Did you hear about Port's rookie Nick Jackman winning the game after the siren for South Adelaide, he was BOG aswell, not bad for a kid who has played less than a handful of SANFL games.
Up here in the NT we hear very little about the SANFL.......at least we have Vi's great site and bigfooty.......:D
As for M Stevens I think you may be on your own there........far to light for me but may be lucky enough to remain in the squad for next year........it will be interesting to see who are the 3+ players dropped from the squad at the end of the year.
Bowen Lockwood would probably be a definite,
Darren Mead if he does indeed choose to retire.
After that are those players that have been in the squad for a few years now but haven't taken their chances in Paul Koulouriotis, Derek Murray & Michael Stevens.
Some others may also add Cain Ackland, J Poulton and K Cornes but I think they are either young enough in Cain's case or have shown enough this year to remain in the squad.
The selection and recruiting teams certainly have an interesting job at the end of this season.
Yeah I would say Bowen and Meady almost a certainty
K.Cornes??? That's a bit rough! has hardly put a foot wrong.
I said Poults earlier in the year but I have been really impressed with him this year and wouldn't drop him from the 22 let alone the squad.
Koula should be pushing for a spot in the 22 by the end of the year
Ackland should be traded, we have too many good ruckmen, although he is young.
S.Bassett would have to be looked at, he's been in the squad since The Power entered the AFL. With Morgan and Thurstans in the squad it makes it difficult to keep Bassett
So I say:
Mead (retires)
Lockwood
Bassett (trade or delist)
Ackland (trade bait)
D.Murray (50/50)
dreamkillers
30 Jun 2002, 19:24
Originally posted by Zombie
Yeah I would say Bowen and Meady almost a certainty
K.Cornes??? That's a bit rough! has hardly put a foot wrong.
I said Poults earlier in the year but I have been really impressed with him this year and wouldn't drop him from the 22 let alone the squad.
Koula should be pushing for a spot in the 22 by the end of the year
Ackland should be traded, we have too many good ruckmen, although he is young.
S.Bassett would have to be looked at, he's been in the squad since The Power entered the AFL. With Morgan and Thurstans in the squad it makes it difficult to keep Bassett
So I say:
Mead (retires)
Lockwood
Bassett (trade or delist)
Ackland (trade bait)
D.Murray (50/50)
I did say 'some others' about Kane.....just going on a few people's opinion in our supporters group up here in Darwin.......I'd be giving him another couple of years
I agree with you on Poults.....Koula will depend if he survives the year injury free.......
As for Bassett I strongly disagree as he really hasn't had enough chances and when he has played (in particular the finals last year) he has shown enough........and he can play at both ends of the ground so would be handy switching him to have a tall forward line...........
It's just hard trying to find that 3rd player......although it has been rumoured that some of our fringe players will be up for trade bait at the end of the year........
All in all it's a good position to be in.........:D
Porthos
30 Jun 2002, 20:22
Francou replacements....
Josh Carr - he can handle traffic
Kane Cornes
Chris Hall
Mark McKenzie
Smokey: Michael Wilson
Porthos
30 Jun 2002, 20:27
Delistables....
If no trades can be secured...
Bowen Lockwood
Derek Murray
Michael Stevens
Paul Koulouriotis (unlikely)
If we win the premiership, Mead or Paxman or both will retire if they're in it. I would put money on it.
Of those mentioned: -
Delistable or Tradeable
Cain Ackland
Bowen Lockwood
Koula
Michael Stevens - possible
Other:
Darren Mead - the end is nigh but not just yet
Scott Bassett - no way lose - he is AFL standard right now
Derek Murray - keep at least one more year. Noticed that Allan Murray was in the best players this weekend.
Poults - no way - is now AFL standard
I don't want to see too much trading/delisting. Part of the team's strength is it's sense of "team", and that is weakened if players are let go for no real reason.
PAfolwr
30 Jun 2002, 22:22
Kane Cornes will probably cement his spot in the side by the end of the year if given a few more opportunities.
He definitely can be our next Francou, just in a different style.
Without stating the obvious, Guerra Cornes and J.Burger are our "next" in line gun players.
I see the Guru replacing Francou with his in and under work. Junior Burger has the ability to break tackles but his skills are so impressive that he will more likely be a "link" player or finisher than in and under. What about Poults could he take the next step? His fitness has improved and so has his skill level and he is as tough as they come.
As for those who may exit at the end of the year.
Mead - probably will retire:(
D. Murray - has to be cut.
Koula - Will struggle to stay.
Lockwood - Will struggle to stay.
M. Stevens - probable trade bait.
Ackland - will have to lift to stay on.
Bassett - will stay, has shown he can play at AFL level.
K. Cornes - not going anywhere.
Poults- also has shown enough this year.
Do you think the club should organise with Meady to have him retire at the end of this year and have the last Showdown dedicated as being the last game he plays if he is fit?
I.E. announce on the Friday that the Showdown will be Meady's last game for the club unless he is required in the finals (if we are there).
I can't see Mead being in our best 22 if we make the finals, unless we get injuries, so he probably wont get to play in premiership should we win it.
I think be allocating the SD 12 as being his final game will create huge passion in the game (as if we need more) and we could try and send him off with a fitting victory.
Of course if in the finals we require him we can bring him in.
wha do you think?
SKC
dreamkillers
2 Jul 2002, 00:38
Originally posted by kaysee
Do you think the club should organise with Meady to have him retire at the end of this year and have the last Showdown dedicated as being the last game he plays if he is fit?
I.E. announce on the Friday that the Showdown will be Meady's last game for the club unless he is required in the finals (if we are there).
I can't see Mead being in our best 22 if we make the finals, unless we get injuries, so he probably wont get to play in premiership should we win it.
I think be allocating the SD 12 as being his final game will create huge passion in the game (as if we need more) and we could try and send him off with a fitting victory.
Of course if in the finals we require him we can bring him in.
wha do you think?
SKC
Bit too premature for me........I think he could be handy in the finals as a backup...........
Tredders#16
3 Jul 2002, 16:52
It's the first week of July!
I cannot see how we could write off Meady at this stage when we don't know what could be around the corner, injury and form-wise!
Everyone here in Victoria has been saying to me, "Oh, your Pwer boys are gonna win the flag!" and I just can't be that confident at this stage. If it were played right now, then I'd say, YES, we would win it! Realistically, though, we still have a dozen or so games to play.
If we lost Primus or especially Tredrea on the eve of the finals, I think we'd be stuffed! We may be able to cover for one game or so, but Tredders especially would be the end of our chances IMO.
Tredders#16
Tredders#16
3 Jul 2002, 16:55
Oh, and to answer the question on the thread...I believe Josh Carr or Brent Guerra will be the replacement for Josh Francou when he retires, providing both players are still at the club and Freo and a Melbourne club respectively don't poach away in the meantime!
I agree with Eago that Poults could be a smokey for the role.
Tredders#16