It's interesting to look at these 4 players. Collingwood at the time seemed to have picked a couple of players out of the blue but having seen a fair bit of both Thomas and Pendlebury you can see why.
Thomas reminds me alot of a young James Hird. He seems to have alot of "footy smarts" and has a reputation of coming up good in the big games. He also has that x-factor, like Hird he can do something special. These traits seem to suggest he will be a very good player for Collingwood. Of course he is still young and there's a long way to go, but I think you're onto a good thing here.
Pendlebury has great ballance. That seems to be his biggest asset. I've seen alot of him in the VFL last year and he does have that natural ability to find the ball and then use it well. A good solid package and because of his age he could still go on to be anything. Another good call by the Pie recruiters.
Ellis was picked as a long term prospect, everyone knew he probably wouldn't play any football last year and would only be a part timer at training. This year he has had some injury setbacks, but from what I've heard he is a very promising young player. Represented his school well last year and if he was in this years draft he would have gone early as well. Because he hasn't played a game at the top level it's probably too early for anyone to have anything difinitive to say about him.
Dowler had an interupted season last year with his injury. He came into the side late in the season for a couple of games where he spent a lot of time on the pine, I was surprised he got up for a game at AFL level so early. He played alot of time down back for Box Hill last year, probably as a part of his "football education" so he didn't really get a chance to show his credentials as a key forward. Based on what people have seen you can say this season will be one where he spends most of his time trying to find his feet in the VFL and will probably come into the side a few times throughout the middle and end of the season, which will give a better indication of what sort of player he could be.
All in all I think Collingwood got a couple of players with a lot of upside who also have the ability to make an imidiate impact. Hawthorn picked up a couple of players with a lot of upside who weren't going to make an imidiate impact. It shows so far. Lets just hope all of these boys can keep on coming on and all become a big part of their respective teams success'.
Thomas reminds me alot of a young James Hird. He seems to have alot of "footy smarts" and has a reputation of coming up good in the big games. He also has that x-factor, like Hird he can do something special. These traits seem to suggest he will be a very good player for Collingwood. Of course he is still young and there's a long way to go, but I think you're onto a good thing here.
Pendlebury has great ballance. That seems to be his biggest asset. I've seen alot of him in the VFL last year and he does have that natural ability to find the ball and then use it well. A good solid package and because of his age he could still go on to be anything. Another good call by the Pie recruiters.
Ellis was picked as a long term prospect, everyone knew he probably wouldn't play any football last year and would only be a part timer at training. This year he has had some injury setbacks, but from what I've heard he is a very promising young player. Represented his school well last year and if he was in this years draft he would have gone early as well. Because he hasn't played a game at the top level it's probably too early for anyone to have anything difinitive to say about him.
Dowler had an interupted season last year with his injury. He came into the side late in the season for a couple of games where he spent a lot of time on the pine, I was surprised he got up for a game at AFL level so early. He played alot of time down back for Box Hill last year, probably as a part of his "football education" so he didn't really get a chance to show his credentials as a key forward. Based on what people have seen you can say this season will be one where he spends most of his time trying to find his feet in the VFL and will probably come into the side a few times throughout the middle and end of the season, which will give a better indication of what sort of player he could be.
All in all I think Collingwood got a couple of players with a lot of upside who also have the ability to make an imidiate impact. Hawthorn picked up a couple of players with a lot of upside who weren't going to make an imidiate impact. It shows so far. Lets just hope all of these boys can keep on coming on and all become a big part of their respective teams success'.
