Remove this Banner Ad

Strategy Curtin's role in 2025?

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Must be aiming for the long term to be forward with Fog and Thilthorpe.

The talk about Tex being nursed to 300 makes my blood boil. I’d hope Tex doesn’t do that, I hope he does the team thing as his final act and steps aside gracefully.

That’s all hope though, we’ve seen players that just can’t let go too often.

In the meantime, don’t really care where he fits in … even on the bench to relieve one of Tex / Fog / Thilthorpe - as long as he’s in the 22 and not subbed off every other game.
 
It’s a bit of a conundrum. The problem is that him, Tex, Fog and TT are all pretty slow. We don’t want the opposition streaming out of defence with our talls all 10m behind.
Deep entries, and good defensive positioning between hf and hb, might make it work. And we’ll need heaps of pressure out of our small forwards.
 
It’s a bit of a conundrum. The problem is that him, Tex, Fog and TT are all pretty slow. We don’t want the opposition streaming out of defence with our talls all 10m behind.
Deep entries, and good defensive positioning between hf and hb, might make it work. And we’ll need heaps of pressure out of our small forwards.
You have missed some of Fogs highlights, bouncing down the wing?
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

It’s a bit of a conundrum. The problem is that him, Tex, Fog and TT are all pretty slow. We don’t want the opposition streaming out of defence with our talls all 10m behind.
Deep entries, and good defensive positioning between hf and hb, might make it work. And we’ll need heaps of pressure out of our small forwards.

I have to say Tex has actually looked pretty good with some of his tackling and pressure intensity during preseason. Opposition at times were able to walk it out of defence, but hopefully with the likes of ANB/Peatling rotating through HF we should get a bit more pressure to boot
 
You have missed some of Fogs highlights, bouncing down the wing?
Yep Fog isn't slow, he's actually pretty quick on the lead and has claimed some pretty decent scalps in rundown tackles, Thilly for his size isn't slow either.
 
Must be aiming for the long term to be forward with Fog and Thilthorpe.

The talk about Tex being nursed to 300 makes my blood boil. I’d hope Tex doesn’t do that, I hope he does the team thing as his final act and steps aside gracefully.

That’s all hope though, we’ve seen players that just can’t let go too often.

In the meantime, don’t really care where he fits in … even on the bench to relieve one of Tex / Fog / Thilthorpe - as long as he’s in the 22 and not subbed off every other game.

If that's the aim, we're likely better off letting Curtin walk this year to West Coast/Fremantle whilst we'll get a solid draft pick then retaining.

Though considering we also have used Curtin on the wing, I wouldn't say there is any long term planning with Dan this year (and really, long term planning is pure fantasy for any serious sports team when it comes to selections). It's just an open spot that we can give him game time in if he's good enough to carve a niche, and we believe he has a complementary skill set for it.
 
With Tex back this season, we have a pretty tall forward line with him, Fog and Thilthorpe, so putting Curtin up there could well make it too one dimensional.

I think that he may well be put into the 2nds or used as sub over a few games.
The addition of ANB, along with Keays, and Rankine spending more time in the midfield possibly again this year, we are really short on speed and smalls.

I don't think throwing him all over the ground does him any good, and with the extra midfield depth this year I dont see that as an option for him either.

He may well have to wait for injuries to get a go.

I am going with a double cut chicken salad mayo [emoji108]
 

Remove this Banner Ad

If that's the aim, we're likely better off letting Curtin walk this year to West Coast/Fremantle whilst we'll get a solid draft pick then retaining.

Though considering we also have used Curtin on the wing, I wouldn't say there is any long term planning with Dan this year (and really, long term planning is pure fantasy for any serious sports team when it comes to selections). It's just an open spot that we can give him game time in if he's good enough to carve a niche, and we believe he has a complementary skill set for it.
Huh? You don't think that having Thilthorpe - Fogarty - Curtin as our forward line would be something to behold? With players like Rachele - Keays - ANB - Rankine - Peatling rotating through as the smalls?

All three are not ordinary big loping guys ...

Fog - pick#12 - 25 years old 192cm (6'4")- beast-mode tough and strong - evasive, incredible kicking on either foot.
Thrilly - pick#2 - 22 years old 201cm (6'7") - just a massive unit - super skilful below his knees, good runner, great disposal.
Curtin - pick#8 - 19 years old 197cm (6'6") - looks strong and athletic - moves brilliantly, super hands, potential personified.

Tex is handing it over to the best looking credentials we have ever had in the forward line.

Why would we "cash out" Curtin?? Too much talent in one area? Surely we have set the path for our team to stretch defences - out score 'em.
 
I think the wrong question is being asked about Curtin. People are worried and want to know "where does he play" in the context of the full season.

For me the question should be, "who does he exploit" and the context should be against each opponent.

We need to stop thinking he needs a role for a full season, and more use him like Geelong use Blicavs, or the Power used to use Westhoff. Just look at the oppo team and see where Curtin does the most damage.

TBH I hope he plays 10 roles this year. Cause he is the kind of player that will likely win 9 of them.
 
I think the wrong question is being asked about Curtin. People are worried and want to know "where does he play" in the context of the full season.

For me the question should be, "who does he exploit" and the context should be against each opponent.

We need to stop thinking he needs a role for a full season, and more use him like Geelong use Blicavs, or the Power used to use Westhoff. Just look at the oppo team and see where Curtin does the most damage.

TBH I hope he plays 10 roles this year. Cause he is the kind of player that will likely win 9 of them.
Long term maybe but I don't think young players can successfully chop and change between roles.

Needs to find his feet at the level first, then can branch out.

I'm not sure we know where/how to use him to get him started.
 
Last edited:

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Long term maybe but I don't think young can players can successfully chop and change between roles.

Needs to find his feet at the level first, then can branch out.

I'm not sure we know where/how to use him to get him started.
With the expectation that he's gone up a level with a 2nd pre-season under his belt, I'd like to see him given a wing to make his own. I agree re finding his feet. If he is good enough and we can use him to exploit the opposition by him pushing forward during times in a game, well and good. Let Cumming, with experience under his belt, be the one that plays a bits and pieces role and relieves on a wing during a game or does a certain job if need be. Sholl (the 2024 version) on one wing and Curtin on the other, with Cumming, Draper, Dowling, Dawson pitching in at times.

If one of Walker, Thilthorpe or Fogarty get injured, then you could look at Curtin filling the 3rd tall forward role if it's best for the team. At least we'd have had a chance to see what Curtin could do with a bit of freedom up the field to make some sort of judgement on where his best long term position might be.
 
Good interview with Dawson on SEN this morning. He sees him as a midfielder like himself long term. Seemed to think he would play that half forward / wing role this year. I got the impression he will play Round 1.
I think his best role is half forward flank. He can go into the front half of the midfield, kick some goals and create another marking option.
For me, and I hope he can prove me wrong, he just doesn't get enough of the ball to be a full time mid, and I think we have enough good options there already.
 
I do worry.

What I project will happen is that Draper vs Curtin this year shows us why it was a mistake making our big drafting play on someone who isn't a midfielder.

And makes me kinda hope we include him in a trade, and pull out a big play for Dyson Sharp. Another premium SA midfielder.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Strategy Curtin's role in 2025?

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top