List Mgmt. The Rookies

[koutamarto]

Agree about BJ, he clearly has something that allows him to be more than handy at VFL level but hasn't really shown any tricks at AFL level.

The other concern is at least a couple times he appears to have pulled up short in a contest. Now he is young and things can change, it wouldn't be fair to label him a squib or something right now, but it's not a great sign. If a player comes in fighting for a spot you would hope they would at least be fully committed in the few contests they may be involved in.

When the bloke does get into good position he does get burnt by skill errors alot. Guess he needs to work harder to get there more often.

But the thing that stands out to me is when he does get to a contest He is so clumsy. Like goofy clumsy.
I wanna see him against a lesser team with an extended run. time to reward VFL form with a propper crack.

 

[Jeremias]

Can we? Isn't it elevate or delist after two years?

That used to be the case a few years back (after which you could delist and then re-draft a player as a rookie for a 3rd or 4th year, as we did with Sam Jacobs), but the rule has since been changed to allow rookies to be kept for a 3rd year.

 

[Coona Blues]

Agree about BJ, he clearly has something that allows him to be more than handy at VFL level but hasn't really shown any tricks at AFL level.

The other concern is at least a couple times he appears to have pulled up short in a contest. Now he is young and things can change, it wouldn't be fair to label him a squib or something right now, but it's not a great sign. If a player comes in fighting for a spot you would hope they would at least be fully committed in the few contests they may be involved in.

He's 19...promising talent IMO. At least good depth up forward.

Doesn't hurt to keep him on the rookie list, does it?

Yes he is, age and quality of opponent have to be considered when critiquing his performances thus far. He has time on his side still - and can certainly improve from here on - but at the moment I remain unconvinced.



Not at all - hence why I said I'd be in favour of keeping him on the rookie list for a 3rd year. The question was more whether he's good enough to enough to warrant anything beyond that - at the end of this year or next.

This is going to be a pivotal year. Our entire rookie list has "upside".
BJ is all of the above. The question is what does he bring to the rebuild?
Does he fill a gap? KPP, Ruck, Small Forward? Can he "go through the midfield"? Does he bring X factor or is he going to be another
depth foot soldier? We have a myriad of good guys who arguably "deserve" a spot.

We need to upgrade, not continue to embrace mediocrity. Everyone has Ellard gone for this reason, and many Army and White too.

We need bankable talent in the National Draft, the most speculative we can afford is SOSOS.
The rookie draft is where we find that under developed Garlett X factor or stock up on young rucks if they are available, as you
don't know what you have until they get with the big boys. (I like the idea of a couple of kids and Korcheck fighting for a career)
A KPP who slides?

Our rookie list is very much a bit each way other than the Irish and back up Wood. Walsh is the only one with a definitive roll,
he has big questions on his disposal, which may or may not be "fixable". Fields has "that boot" but like Watto seems to be
restrained from letting loose to strut his stuff. As a "meat and poatatoes" 3rd tall provides no upgrade. Gowers has one thing
we are lacking, quality disposal on both sides, and has time for physical development.

Barring filling a spot when we have injuries, I struggle to see a spot for young Johnson, but clearly the Northern Blues
watchers have regard for him, hope it is more than support and loyalty.

 

[Coona Blues]

That used to be the case a few years back (after which you could delist and then re-draft a player as a rookie for a 3rd or 4th year, as we did with Sam Jacobs), but the rule has since been changed to allow rookies to be kept for a 3rd year.

We can only keep 3 from the primary rookie list. Not sure of the implications on Cat B - Byrne and Russell

 

[Spitfire1801]

We can only keep 3 from the primary rookie list. Not sure of the implications on Cat B - Byrne and Russell

Goodbye Russell

 

[thylacine60]

Who is BJ for ****sake?

 

[ShanDog]

Get the feeling he'd look better in a good team. Like most of our youth.

Exactly my thoughts, too. In a quality side, he could definitely be a handy small/medium forward, especially if he keeps improving.

 

[Blue__Balls]

Who is BJ for ****sake?

Might I recommend a Google image search...?

 

[thylacine60]

no

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Anyone for Mitch Thorp?

Tall, agile, KPF who can take a big grab.

 

[thylacine60]

C4, 2012 C4 has hacked your account.........

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I like what I see with this Bootmsa kid

 

[Aphrodite]

I like what I see with this Albert Proud

 

[thylacine60]

he did it again already.......

 

[Sin City]

Anyone for Mitch Thorp?

Tall, agile, KPF who can take a big grab.

Yeah sounds great.

 

[Aphrodite]

I like what I see with this Bootmsa kid

Someone hacked your account C4!

 

[ShanDog]

I like what I see with this Bootmsa kid

You got him on Snapchat too?!

 

[Jeremias]

With exit interviews scheduled around now, expect to hear some news on this sooner rather than later.

Still plenty of uncertainty surrounding some of these guys despite the past few months perhaps painting a clearer picture than we had earlier in the season.

Wood - as mentioned in the OP, signed a two year deal at the end of last year so he'll be around next year. His importance will go through the roof should Kreuzer leave as a FA.

Sheehan - season ruined by injury, showed real promise in 2014 so if he wants to be here, he'll be here.

Gowers - did not feature in the second half of the season due to a shoulder injury. Our first pick in last year's rookie draft, jury is out as to whether he did enough to earn a second year on the rookie list.

Johnson - has played senior football in both years at the club, but interestingly did not feature at senior level in the last month of the year when we almost ran out of options. That could be telling. May struggle to get a 3rd year.

Walsh - broke through to play 3 senior games in the second half of the year, starting all with the green vest. Not much to be taken from those games but continued to put his hand up at VFL level all year.

Fields - did not add to his two senior games, which was a bit of a surprise. Beautiful kick but looks to have a few more tricks to his game.


Byrne - played a quarter at senior level early in the year, and two VFL games mid-year, but other than that was cut down by injury. Huge talent, as with Sheehan he'll be here if he wants to be. Could easily play plenty of senior football next year.

Russell - another who had an injury interrupted season, but did not have much of an impact when fit. Seemed to finish the year OK but may struggle to keep his spot for another year.

 

[HARKER]

Not one player there i don't like and it will be sad to lose a couple.

 

[Magruder]

Could live with losing Johnson & Russell. The others have shown enough.
Irish lads are huge talents, really liked the look of Fields.

 

[Sin City]

Reckon Blaine had to at least become a part time midfielder to make it and despite showing some ability up forward he hasn't developed his on ball game. Tough to see him sticking around unfortunately.

 

[Jatz]

As long as Walsh survives, I'll be happy!

 

[Jimmae]

Gowers has a lot of tools and just needs a good pre-season to show what he's capable of. He was always going to be a 2-year prospect given his year in the TAC was largely interrupted. Walsh has impressed me, as has Byrne, but that's about where it ends as far as this season is concerned.

Sheehan stays on because of his form prior to being cut down with OP very early on in the season, and how he responds will be critical to his career on-going; Wood stays so long as he doesn't take up a proper list spot (or we forego a rookie slot and nominated rookie slot to accommodate him on the senior list), while Russell, Fields and Johnson just aren't enough chop to be senior list candidates.

I know, we all love Fields' kicking, but he's slower than Watson.

 

[andrew_]

Wasn't Gowers injured all year? I really rate him.
Johnson and potentially Russel to be delisted and promote 3 (Wood/Walsh/Sheehan/Byrne)

 

[TBellicious]

I am very excited about Byrne