Past #10 Aaron Francis

[The King!]

It's a fun little linsanity type story at the moment and something positive for red heads.

 

[grimlock]

 

[wolftone57]

I think this bloke's problem is all in his head. It is all about confidence. I think he has plenty of the traits needed. Ha can take a beautiful mark. He can get the ball down to the smalls. He just doesn't seem to believe in himself.

I am telling you Aaron, you could be a****ing good player. You have all the ability. If only you believed

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think this bloke's problem is all in his head. It is all about confidence. I think he has plenty of the traits needed. Ha can take a beautiful mark. He can get the ball down to the smalls. He just doesn't seem to believe in himself.

I am telling you Aaron, you could be a****ing good player. You have all the ability. If only you believed

Gave JJ a goal and was looking to give off when he kicked his. The guys got around him beautifully. He went at #6 for a reason but has never managed to play to that. Hope he gets another year as he's handy at either end and AFL level depth is hard to come by.

 

[MF]

Gave JJ a goal and was looking to give off when he kicked his. The guys got around him beautifully. He went at #6 for a reason but has never managed to play to that. Hope he gets another year as he's handy at either end and AFL level depth is hard to come by.

Yeah I'd definitely be hanging on to him. Even if he doesn't fulfil his potential he's definitely the kind of guy you want as depth in your side. Can do a job at either end when needed.

 

[Caj]

I think he’s taken a massive step forward this year

I’d like to see the 3 big forwards canned and Francis take the 3rd spot after Amartey and McDonald

He does need to believe in himself more but there’s a really good player in there that I haven’t seen in previous seasons

Plus he’s our new Sam Reid

20

Sam Reid

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.4

3star

swingman who can play back as well

 

[MF]

Plus he’s our new Sam Reid swingman who can play back as well

There's a bit of Sam Reid about him really. Fairly quick and athletic for a big guy & not completely useless when the ball hits the ground.

 

[wolftone57]

Gave JJ a goal and was looking to give off when he kicked his. The guys got around him beautifully. He went at #6 for a reason but has never managed to play to that. Hope he gets another year as he's handy at either end and AFL level depth is hard to come by.

I think he could be more than depth. He was a star at junior level. He started out pretty well at Essendon but lost confidence. Maybe the coach was negative about him. I think if he gets confidence he can be more thana bit player

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think he could be more than depth. He was a star at junior level. He started out pretty well at Essendon but lost confidence. Maybe the coach was negative about him. I think if he gets confidence he can be more thana bit player

It would be great if that happens.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

There's a bit of Sam Reid about him really. Fairly quick and athletic for a big guy & not completely useless when the ball hits the ground.

Quick?

 

[MF]

I think he could be more than depth. He was a star at junior level. He started out pretty well at Essendon but lost confidence. Maybe the coach was negative about him. I think if he gets confidence he can be more thana bit player

He suffered a pretty tragic loss just before his AFL career started too with his brother passing from cancer. Can't really underestimate what that would have been like to deal with right at the same time as the transition to AFL life.

 

[rustycrate]

He suffered a pretty tragic loss just before his AFL career started too with his brother passing from cancer. Can't really underestimate what that would have been like to deal with right at the same time as the transition to AFL life.

I've liked his games this year. He has done some good things forward when we needed him to.
I'd sign him for another year.

The problem for us is we have a bunch of tall forwards that are ALMOST good enough.
Each of them is not the complate package. I could list each of their deficiences but that would just be rehashing a lot of posts over the last year on many threads.
Each has something different to give to the side and each has their drawbacks.

It is what we have. Hoping the taller Academy players this year can help long term in this area.

 

[McGowan3]

It would be great if that happens.

Deserves at least another year.

 

[MF]

Quick?

Agile is probably more apt

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I thought he was unfortunate to be subbed today.

To my eye, he’s a superior forward to McLean. Perhaps just needs to learn a bit of ruck chop-out?

 

[strauchanie59]

I thought he was unfortunate to be subbed today.

To my eye, he’s a superior forward to McLean. Perhaps just needs to learn a bit of ruck chop-out?

Or bring Ladhams in for McLean. Francis needs to stay in and stay in the forward line.

 

[Jewelsbon]

I thought he was unfortunate to be subbed today.

To my eye, he’s a superior forward to McLean. Perhaps just needs to learn a bit of ruck chop-out?

The ruck aspect had to be the reason he was subbed and not McLean, he was having a great game.

 

[The King!]

The ruck aspect had to be the reason he was subbed and not McLean, he was having a great game.

wish we could just see Mcdonald instead of either, though then we have no second ruck I guess

 

[Kiama Chris]

The ruck aspect had to be the reason he was subbed and not McLean, he was having a great game.

McLean was injured during Q4 (calf I think) and I doubt he'll get up for the Doggies. Ladhams in, Francis stays.

 

[Jeffers]

McLean was injured during Q4 (calf I think) and I doubt he'll get up for the Doggies. Ladhams in, Francis stays.

He came back on

 

[Kiama Chris]

He came back on

Still limping badly

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

How stiff was Francis not to be paid that mark!! Super effort and he is doing well forward, gives a contest and he has great hands also.

 

[tombomb]

If he was willing to accept just basic money, I would happily give him a 3 year deal.

Just a handy player to have on the list.

 

[Kiama Chris]

If he was willing to accept just basic money, I would happily give him a 3 year deal.

Just a handy player to have on the list.

For sure he'll be offered something. Top level VFL, AFL standard depth and a good guy. Definitely worth keeping.

 

[hairy biker]

The substitution did seem a bit strange and I hope it wasn't the result of some niggle.

Without overstating it I thing he is currently a key component of our fwd line (did I just overstate it???).

Gets on the move, creates space, leads at the player with the ball, so offers a target for the player with the ball.
He also tends to lead up to the 40/50 metre area which allows space behind him for another fwd to lead into.

It seems to me the majority of Amartey's marks are 20/30 metres out from goal, irrespective of whether Francis is playing or not.
However the difference is he has more space with Francis in the team and we tend to have a more open fwd line,rather than the opposition setting up for a bomb to a pack that 20/30 metres out.

It's fairly fundamental fwd play but how often do we complain our fwds never separate or we always kick to the same spot?

I think those complaints are less vociferous with Francis in the team and in some ways it is a selfless role knowing that he may not be used.
He plays the role well and I'm not sure we have another fwd that can currently replicate that task.