Traded #10: Aaron Francis - Traded to Sydney w. Pick 42 + Future fourth rounder for Pick 37. Thanks Frang!

[RedmanWasHere]

Heading in to his prime years and his 5th season.

5th season?

Gee that's gone rather quickly.

 

[Big Fresh]

Id say both langford and laverde are both footballers... natural classy forwards

Laverde is more of a collection of great attributes at this point.

 

[Rancid Trogs]

Can we please get this kid away from the forward line! Let him destroy opposition forwards and intercept mark at will. Let him become the quarterback of our next premiership side (Luke Hodge / Chad Cornes style). Then in case of emergency, swing him forward late in games for a mis-match and he'll kick the odd goal or three. But don't ruin the first five years of his career trying to make him something he's not.

If played as a defender I have no doubt he will become clearly our most valuable player, and one of, if not the most valuable players in the comp.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

Can we please get this kid away from the forward line! Let him destroy opposition forwards and intercept mark at will. Let him become the quarterback of our next premiership side (Luke Hodge / Chad Cornes style). Then in case of emergency, swing him forward late in games for a mis-match and he'll kick the odd goal or three. But don't ruin the first five years of his career trying to make him something he's not.

If played as a defender I have no doubt he will become clearly our most valuable player, and one of, if not the most valuable players in the comp.

Does smell like Hurley Mk2 to me. Might be a good forward but when Hurley went back he became a top 3 defender.

 

[Rancid Trogs]

Hurley - Hooker - Francis is potentially the best KPD combination in the comp. Let it be so.

 

[Bombermania]

Can we please get this kid away from the forward line! Let him destroy opposition forwards and intercept mark at will. Let him become the quarterback of our next premiership side (Luke Hodge / Chad Cornes style). Then in case of emergency, swing him forward late in games for a mis-match and he'll kick the odd goal or three. But don't ruin the first five years of his career trying to make him something he's not.

If played as a defender I have no doubt he will become clearly our most valuable player, and one of, if not the most valuable players in the comp.

I think a lot will depend on Hooker, if he delivers up forward, then Francis will slide up the ground but having the flexibility of him going forward for a burst is something we should develop, much like Hodge can go forward and kick a big goal.

 

[blitzer]

People need to stop using Hurley as an example as to why Francis can't succeed as a forward. Its just dumb.
1) Hurley is just one person - not every person develops the same - so it firmly comes under the category of anecdotal evidence.
2) Hurley's junior success was always as a defender (except for like a handful of games where he went up forward just to show that he could play there). Francis is less clear.
3) Some players are successfully able to transition from defense to forward - anyone heard of this bloke called Mathew Pavlich - he was a quality defender before he became a great forward.

Francis has a few edges as well. He's taller and will eventually have a stronger build, he doesn't have wrist issues affecting his marking and he seems to be a better set shot on goal. Plus he doesn't continually overrun the ball (sorry Hurley but we all saw you do that too many times to count).

Nobody knows right now what Francis best position will end up being. He has shown great potential in the VFL at both ends and even at AFL he has been splitting his time at both ends.

 

[Doss]

Francis taller than Hurley? I didn't think he was.

 

[blitzer]

Francis taller than Hurley? I didn't think he was.

I could have sworn that Francis was 194 and Hurley was 192. However with the way sizes in the AFL get quoted who knows. He looks taller to me though.

 

[Doss]

Hurley's 193. I though Francis was 190-191. Anyway...

 

[Vander18]

Can we please get this kid away from the forward line! Let him destroy opposition forwards and intercept mark at will. Let him become the quarterback of our next premiership side (Luke Hodge / Chad Cornes style). Then in case of emergency, swing him forward late in games for a mis-match and he'll kick the odd goal or three. But don't ruin the first five years of his career trying to make him something he's not.

If played as a defender I have no doubt he will become clearly our most valuable player, and one of, if not the most valuable players in the comp.

On what possible basis can you have already concluded that he's not a forward?

 

[Lore]

Hurley's 193. I though Francis was 190-191. Anyway...

That's what it says officially, although Francis' measurement was 191 at the 2015 combine and Dodoro was interviewed after the 2015 draft saying that Francis told him he'd grown another couple of centimetres. He does look taller than the other 190s in some of the videos that the website posts, but who really knows.

 

[Don35]

One of the biggest challenges for guys like this is having a plan and settling him into a position. Problem is the guy could be a gun anywhere.

Perfect world he'd get the opportunity to play third tall half back then develop into his career from there.

Biggest fear for him is that he burns 3 or 4 years getting swung around all over the place and never really settling.

Don't think it will happen as for mine he's a huge chance to be best player from that draft. Personally would rather him over any of the 2015 class.

 

[eth-dog]

Answer for him is to get his fitness base up, put him on a wing and tell him "just boss them"

 

[BrunoV]

Hurley's 193. I though Francis was 190-191. Anyway...

The constant discussion surrounding height is not necessarily as pedantic as it seems. The reality is that Hurley is on the short side for a key position player. He does not play as well on guys like Tom Lynch as he does on players like Jack Riewoldt.

If Francis is smaller than Hurley it makes him genuinely undersized as a key position player.

 

[faible]

Could Francis be a dangerous midfielder in the Fyfe-esque mould with sufficient fitness?

He's certainly explosive and with 2-3 years of work in the gym should be extremely difficult to tackle, plus we already know his marking is a strength. The big question would be does he have the tank to play through the midfield, or is he going to be a 3rd tall that does bursts through the midfield on occasion?

I'm not quite sure a comparable player springs to mind other than perhaps Fyfe, he's not a Bontempelli or Cripps type, thought they'd both be similar heights.

 

[Lore]

Could Francis be a dangerous midfielder in the Fyfe-esque mould with sufficient fitness?

He's certainly explosive and with 2-3 years of work in the gym should be extremely difficult to tackle, plus we already know his marking is a strength. The big question would be does he have the tank to play through the midfield, or is he going to be a 3rd tall that does bursts through the midfield on occasion?

I'm not quite sure a comparable player springs to mind other than perhaps Fyfe, he's not a Bontempelli or Cripps type, thought they'd both be similar heights.

Was billed as a Goddard type before we drafted him, so certainly there is anticipation that he may eventually go through the midfield. I'll leave player comparisons to others though haha

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Could Francis be a dangerous midfielder in the Fyfe-esque mould with sufficient fitness?

He's certainly explosive and with 2-3 years of work in the gym should be extremely difficult to tackle, plus we already know his marking is a strength. The big question would be does he have the tank to play through the midfield, or is he going to be a 3rd tall that does bursts through the midfield on occasion?

I'm not quite sure a comparable player springs to mind other than perhaps Fyfe, he's not a Bontempelli or Cripps type, thought they'd both be similar 5heights.

he's the sort of player they'll be comparing other draftees to in 5-10 years

 

[faible]

Was billed as a Goddard type before we drafted him, so certainly there is anticipation that he may eventually go through the midfield. I'll leave player comparisons to others though haha

I have heard that, but Goddard was never overly bullocking or explosive - both of which appear to be strengths of Francis - whilst i'm not sure Francis is supposed to have the quality of disposal that Goddard had in his prime.

I don't have enough depth of knowledge of Francis or the players in the league to come up with some better comparisons though; I think he'll get a fair bit of license to roam once he has the endurance, so I'm not sure it's a matter of Defence OR Attack for him as a player.

 

[Lore]

I have heard that, but Goddard was never overly bullocking or explosive - both of which appear to be strengths of Francis - whilst i'm not sure Francis is supposed to have the quality of disposal that Goddard had in his prime.

I don't have enough depth of knowledge of Francis or the players in the league to come up with some better comparisons though; I think he'll get a fair bit of license to roam once he has the endurance, so I'm not sure it's a matter of Defence OR Attack for him as a player.

I think the comparison was in regards to being a mid-size utility, rather than his playing style.

 

[Vander18]

For me, some of the glimpses he's shown up forward mean you have to explore his ability there initially. Star forwards are simply harder to find - if you have a guy who could potentially be one, it'd be remiss not to investigate that potential. The key is, if not suited, and as others have said, let's not have an extended period of trying to make him something he's not. It'll be clear enough after one season of extended opportunity whether it'll work or not.

Two other things:

1) Why people determine a players position based on where he played junior football baffles me. Francis' best AFL position is flat-out unknown - I would suggest even to the club. It will become clear with time.

2) Height isn't the be all and end all as to whether any player should play key position. Leap, reach, timing and body strength are all factors as well.

Is Francis a key position player? Who knows - see point one above. Time will tell. Speculating re this on the basis of where he stands in the 190-195cm spectrum seems a tad silly to be honest.

 

[Rancid Trogs]

On what possible basis can you have already concluded that he's not a forward?

Whether he's a forward or not is beyond my un-educated judgement. However, he has displayed significantly better play when stationed behind the ball at all levels (U/18s, VFL, AFL). And when you have a player significantly better at a position, you play him there. He impacts so much play when marshaling the back half. Let him be influential!

As I suggested, once he is in game and running hot, throw him forward as required to alter the course of a game. But play him predominantly where his best football is played.

 

[Foxx]

Whether he's a forward or not is beyond my un-educated judgement. However, he has displayed significantly better play when stationed behind the ball at all levels (U/18s, VFL, AFL). And when you have a player significantly better at a position, you play him there. He impacts so much play when marshaling the back half. Let him be influential!

As I suggested, once he is in game and running hot, throw him forward as required to alter the course of a game. But play him predominantly where his best football is played.

Imo he plays his best football forward, by a long way too. Looks solid and comfortable forward. Looks jittery and turns it over at times down back.

 

[efcboy]

Was billed as a Goddard type before we drafted him, so certainly there is anticipation that he may eventually go through the midfield. I'll leave player comparisons to others though haha

Taller version of ricciuto. Absolute bull - get out of my way approach to his game.

 

[Jobe Watson]

I'll admit I'm another in the "Francis as a defender pls" camp. He can be an elite intercept marking defender and he showed this in his very first AFL game. I think it's his more natural position and is where he'll play his best football.

 

[doug85]

Frang took a number of overhead marks leading up at the ball on debut.

He could definitely thrive as a CHF