List Mgmt. Free agent: Geelong signs Sam Blease as a delisted free agent

[speedybundy]

Because they learnt the hard way not to pick out of form players. Blake, Rooke and Taylor were out of form too. History is littered with the best team choking on GF day. Those who never learn from history will repeat it. It was the worst choke since North in 98

Are you saying wojo or stokes was out of form? Difficult to say that wojo was any more out of form than stokes

 

[Strangled Cat]

if his not good enough for melbourne.

dont you think his not good enough for geelong?

That is such failed logic. Explain why Matt White was rejected at Richmond but has become something of a revelation since joining Port? I give Blease every chance of being successful if Geelong recruit and develop him. Melbourne is a club where potential goes to die. Don't underestimate how the dejection of playing for an abysmal club like Melbourne can affect a player's psyche.

Perhaps Blease is a downhill skier. Perhaps he's a player that doesn't have the ability to stand up when everything around him is turning to s**t. A lot of players aren't.... not everyone can be a Joel Selwood! Perhaps though, the talent scouts at Geelong have identified his strengths and certainly believe that he could be a very effective player in a specific role.

We've lost Varcoe and Christensen, two of our quicker players going around. Blease can fill the void of outside pace, he can kick long running goals and provided that he's given ample opportunity to play his natural game of outside run-and-carry via great inside midfield feed, there's no reason at all to believe that we couldn't develop him to be a specialist in that role.

"A pessimist will see difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist will see opportunity in every difficulty". I don't blame Melbourne supporters for being pessimists given what their club has dished out over a long period of time, but I certainly don't necessarily trust their judgements on players that have gone through their system as I believe that what they've seen is a bit skewed due to the poor development and utilisation of their players.

 

[SleazySimon]

Are you saying wojo or stokes was out of form? Difficult to say that wojo was any more out of form than stokes

Stokes was injured and out of form. Wojo was one of the best in the Prelim the week before

 

[Vdubs]

As soon as he wasn't picked for the 2008 GF I knew we would lose and I put $80 on Hawthorn to win

Us as well.
We groaned when we saw Stokes jog out, and Wojo in the stands, Stokes being obviously injured the week before.

 

[speedybundy]

Stokes was injured and out of form. Wojo was one of the best in the Prelim the week before

So we agree then, for some reason got the vibe you disagreed. Continue on with your day

 

[Go the Biff]

He didnt fit the way Melbourne played, possibly has personality issues, but if the Cats are interested, doubt it. The way he plays will suit our game plan as we like to play a lot of 'run & gun' corrdior footy, and when we do that sucessfully, we are unstoppable, the quicker the ball get to Hawkins and Clark one out the better, and as I have said before, Blease has pace to burn. Will benefit from the quality of inside players at Geelong (Selwood, Caddy, Duncan, Danger in 2016?) and will therefore be put in open paddocks and be able to use his speed.

A club like Melbourne has lost a lot of 1st round draft picks, many over the last few years, through trade or delistings, so from that my guess is they haven't been good, or cared at all about young player development, possibly not putting time into it, (Viney and Hogan possible exceptions), the kid must have talent, went 1st round, and the Cats identify him as a need, so i will take him, especially for peanuts.

I know he isn't proven yet, but has showed glimpses (YouTube highlights), and a lot of posters are saying he butchers the ball, but in his Highlight package, he has great goal sense, on both sides of his body, with a bit of work could possibly become a rebounding half back in the mould of Wojo, either way the Cats have a role in mind, and i hope its on the wing, in open spaces.

In the end we can speculate all we want, until we see what happens, no one knows whats going to happen.

You're way off the mark. We've been screaming for a player who could run & take the game on. Why do you think the very ordinary Matt Jones gets a game ? Why else would we have recruited Hairy Labamba ? Blease just couldn't do it. He is quick, really quick, but only goes when he wants to. The epitomy of a downhill skier. He is an excellent kick under no pressure but a butcher under any pressure, real or implied.

To scotch another myth, Sammy is not a small forwards backside. Doesn't read the ball off packs, never gets front & square to crumb. He is an outside mid / high half forward sneaking up onto the wing.

I'll not go as far as to call him soft but he certainly doesn't put his hand up when the going gets tough. While a likeable kid it also doesn't seem to take a lot for Sam to get on very good terms with himself and I wonder if he's one of those kids for whom just being on an AFL list is enough.

The fact that he's talking about employing a running coach to work on his endurance is instructive. He has been told for years what he needs to to become a regular AFL player & to date he hasn't addressed his shortcomings. Now that he sees the paycheque disappearing he is starting to see the urgency.

I'm of the belief that Blease had the tools to be a regular AFL player - purely as an outside mid but there are plenty of blokes - Isaac Smith, Andrew Gaff - who play that role and are vital to their sides fortunes. But he's wasted it and sadly I think he's too far behind to get it back.

You can opine that he doesn't fit Roo's game style but he has struggled for game time under a number of coaches although to be fair, his first couple of years were cruelled by injury. At the end of the day, the main thing holding Blease back was himself

For all that, I hope it's not too late & he makes the most of any second chance that may come his way be it with the Cats or anyone else..... well, maybe not Collingwood or Essendon.

 

[Seeds]

This guy sounds like our next Scotty Bamford. that dud we recruited from the lions. the Fitzroy lions.

 

[Vdubs]

This guy sounds like our next Scotty Bamford. that dud we recruited from the lions. the Fitzroy lions.

IIRC, Sammy was recruited ahead of teammate Rory Sloane, both players highly rated at Eastern Ranges. Blease injured himself at school, severely, (ankle) cost him his first year as a recruit, his confidence and some pace.
He has definite ability, maybe needs an attitudinal reconstruction, DUD is not correct .

 

[Vdubs]

You're way off the mark. We've been screaming for a player who could run & take the game on. Why do you think the very ordinary Matt Jones gets a game ? Why else would we have recruited Hairy Labamba ? Blease just couldn't do it. He is quick, really quick, but only goes when he wants to. The epitomy of a downhill skier. He is an excellent kick under no pressure but a butcher under any pressure, real or implied.

To scotch another myth, Sammy is not a small forwards backside. Doesn't read the ball off packs, never gets front & square to crumb. He is an outside mid / high half forward sneaking up onto the wing.

I'll not go as far as to call him soft but he certainly doesn't put his hand up when the going gets tough. While a likeable kid it also doesn't seem to take a lot for Sam to get on very good terms with himself and I wonder if he's one of those kids for whom just being on an AFL list is enough.

The fact that he's talking about employing a running coach to work on his endurance is instructive. He has been told for years what he needs to to become a regular AFL player & to date he hasn't addressed his shortcomings. Now that he sees the paycheque disappearing he is starting to see the urgency.

I'm of the belief that Blease had the tools to be a regular AFL player - purely as an outside mid but there are plenty of blokes - Isaac Smith, Andrew Gaff - who play that role and are vital to their sides fortunes. But he's wasted it and sadly I think he's too far behind to get it back.

You can opine that he doesn't fit Roo's game style but he has struggled for game time under a number of coaches although to be fair, his first couple of years were cruelled by injury. At the end of the day, the main thing holding Blease back was himself

For all that, I hope it's not too late & he makes the most of any second chance that may come his way be it with the Cats or anyone else..... well, maybe not Collingwood or Essendon.

I can say with confidence that is way off the truth, but it is easy to gain that perception.
Football means the world to him, has for many years.

 

[Whit3y]

You're way off the mark. We've been screaming for a player who could run & take the game on. Why do you think the very ordinary Matt Jones gets a game ? Why else would we have recruited Hairy Labamba ? Blease just couldn't do it. He is quick, really quick, but only goes when he wants to. The epitomy of a downhill skier. He is an excellent kick under no pressure but a butcher under any pressure, real or implied.

To scotch another myth, Sammy is not a small forwards backside. Doesn't read the ball off packs, never gets front & square to crumb. He is an outside mid / high half forward sneaking up onto the wing.

I'll not go as far as to call him soft but he certainly doesn't put his hand up when the going gets tough. While a likeable kid it also doesn't seem to take a lot for Sam to get on very good terms with himself and I wonder if he's one of those kids for whom just being on an AFL list is enough.

The fact that he's talking about employing a running coach to work on his endurance is instructive. He has been told for years what he needs to to become a regular AFL player & to date he hasn't addressed his shortcomings. Now that he sees the paycheque disappearing he is starting to see the urgency.

I'm of the belief that Blease had the tools to be a regular AFL player - purely as an outside mid but there are plenty of blokes - Isaac Smith, Andrew Gaff - who play that role and are vital to their sides fortunes. But he's wasted it and sadly I think he's too far behind to get it back.

You can opine that he doesn't fit Roo's game style but he has struggled for game time under a number of coaches although to be fair, his first couple of years were cruelled by injury. At the end of the day, the main thing holding Blease back was himself

For all that, I hope it's not too late & he makes the most of any second chance that may come his way be it with the Cats or anyone else..... well, maybe not Collingwood or Essendon.

id rather take the opinion of a demons fan so thanks for that

 

[Lana]

I can say with confidence that is way off the truth, but it is easy to gain that perception.
Football means the world to him, has for many years.

Sounds like you know the guy personally.

I just don't see him as the next best available prospect, when you bring in a player of his age who has been on a list for as long as he has, you'd want to have some confidence that he could perform if called up to play round 1.

 

[FredLeDeux]

id rather take the opinion of a demons fan so thanks for that

You are crackers.

 

[Strangled Cat]

id rather take the opinion of a demons fan so thanks for that

You'd rather see the glass half empty...

 

[Whit3y]

You are crackers.

keenan?

is your level of knowledge of a melbourne player superior to the average demons fan?

 

[Vdubs]

Sounds like you know the guy personally.

I just don't see him as the next best available prospect, when you bring in a player of his age who has been on a list for as long as he has, you'd want to have some confidence that he could perform if called up to play round 1.

Eastern Ranges.

 

[FredLeDeux]

keenan?

is your level of knowledge of a melbourne player superior to the average demons fan?

My knowledge of everything is superior to Crackers Keenan.

 

[Vdubs]

id rather take the opinion of a demons fan so thanks for that

As long as you are referring to the bit I highlighted, and you still have that opinion, fair enough.

 

[Seeds]

IIRC, Sammy was recruited ahead of teammate Rory Sloane, both players highly rated at Eastern Ranges. Blease injured himself at school, severely, (ankle) cost him his first year as a recruit, his confidence and some pace.
He has definite ability, maybe needs an attitudinal reconstruction, DUD is not correct .

Hope you are right. I know nothing about this guy other than what everyone is writing about him and a few highlight reels. But both those did make me think of Bamford.

 

[foxy_dal]

I think it was pretty much confirmed with Geelong having an article on being interested in him but if there was any doubt I can confirm on good authority that you will be picking him (as a delisted free agent I assume).

As has also been posted he has been training with a new trainer and is as fit as he has been before.

Don't think he was really happy at Melbourne which no doubt affected his lack of performance but I think in the right system he will be a handy depth addition at worse and will play more games for you then an pick 70 would on average.

 

[OzeSparky]

I think it was pretty much confirmed with Geelong having an article on being interested in him but if there was any doubt I can confirm on good authority that you will be picking him (as a delisted free agent I assume).

As has also been posted he has been training with a new trainer and is as fit as he has been before.

Don't think he was really happy at Melbourne which no doubt affected his lack of performance but I think in the right system he will be a handy depth addition at worse and will play more games for you then an pick 70 would on average.

What do you think of him though? Can he be a real player or is he just making up the numbers? I mean can he play a role and do it well.

 

[foxy_dal]

What do you think of him though? Can he be a real player or is he just making up the numbers? I mean can he play a role and do it well.

Well I'm not sure he will quite add the value of an Isaac Smith or the Hill brothers as far as elite outside runners but I think he could slot in as a 15-17 possession 1-2 goal player if played on a forward flank.

Not sure how many spots are up for grabs in your starting 22 but he would be a good sub candidate if he doesn't make the best team. I guess in summary I am 50/50 that he makes your best 18 next year and plays an integral role.

I believe the Cats have told him they don't just see him as a backup player and want him to play a role but that's probably what any potential recruit gets told.

 

[Lana]

I think it was pretty much confirmed with Geelong having an article on being interested in him but if there was any doubt I can confirm on good authority that you will be picking him (as a delisted free agent I assume).

As has also been posted he has been training with a new trainer and is as fit as he has been before.

Don't think he was really happy at Melbourne which no doubt affected his lack of performance but I think in the right system he will be a handy depth addition at worse and will play more games for you then an pick 70 would on average.

What kind of authority?

 

[CharacterFirst]

What kind of authority?

Good.

 

[Lana]

Good.

Smart ass .

 

[meto]

As long as you are referring to the bit I highlighted, and you still have that opinion, fair enough.

What's the assertion, that he's soft?....What do you know there Vdubs, being of Eastern origin?