Player Watch #45: Zac 'Banga' Banch - re-signs for 2026

[Shack18]

Can he and Trembath both kick on and make the 2025 MSD one for the ages?

Both looked great this morning at training, Banch covered the ground incredibly well

 

[Sphynx]

Banch will play 100+ games for the club. I’m pretty confident of that.

His ceiling for those games is also pretty high.

Simply has too many AFL tools not to make it.

He has pace, strength, work rate, defensive intent, hardness and can get the ball up the ground.

Just needs some game time and experience to get the confidence.

I think I prefer him to JK, although I would not be opposed at all to running a Best 22 with all of Curtis, Banch, Dovaston and JK in it. The better sides have this number of dynamic quick medium smalls in it.

 

[the big lebowski]

Banch will play 100+ games for the club. I’m pretty confident of that.

His ceiling for those games is also pretty high.

Simply has too many AFL tools not to make it.

He has pace, strength, work rate, defensive intent, hardness and can get the ball up the ground.

Just needs some game time and experience to get the confidence.

I think I prefer him to JK, although I would not be opposed at all to running a Best 22 with all of Curtis, Banch, Dovaston and JK in it. The better sides have this number of dynamic quick medium smalls in it.

Well it’s a best 23 now so you might get your wish

 

[speedy]

Banch will play 100+ games for the club. I’m pretty confident of that.

His ceiling for those games is also pretty high.

Simply has too many AFL tools not to make it.

He has pace, strength, work rate, defensive intent, hardness and can get the ball up the ground.

Just needs some game time and experience to get the confidence.

I think I prefer him to JK, although I would not be opposed at all to running a Best 22 with all of Curtis, Banch, Dovaston and JK in it. The better sides have this number of dynamic quick medium smalls in it.

Nailed it, has too many AFL tools. I hope he gets every chance to prove himself over Konstanty and Spargo.

 

[pupstar]

Banch will play 100+ games for the club. I’m pretty confident of that.

His ceiling for those games is also pretty high.

Simply has too many AFL tools not to make it.

He has pace, strength, work rate, defensive intent, hardness and can get the ball up the ground.

Just needs some game time and experience to get the confidence.

I think I prefer him to JK, although I would not be opposed at all to running a Best 22 with all of Curtis, Banch, Dovaston and JK in it. The better sides have this number of dynamic quick medium smalls in it.

Yep looks like we nailed last year's MSD.

 

[desie]

Must say i’m salivating at the thought of Banga and Sausage kicking snags next year

Good roll players.

 

[Roos1991]

Banch will play 100+ games for the club. I’m pretty confident of that.

His ceiling for those games is also pretty high.

Simply has too many AFL tools not to make it.

He has pace, strength, work rate, defensive intent, hardness and can get the ball up the ground.

Just needs some game time and experience to get the confidence.

I think I prefer him to JK, although I would not be opposed at all to running a Best 22 with all of Curtis, Banch, Dovaston and JK in it. The better sides have this number of dynamic quick medium smalls in it.

Between Clarko, Littlejohn and Barlow, they need to find a way to make this happen. It'll transform how we play.

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[ferball]

Yeah the Psuedo-CHF experiment needs to end

The only real way to end it is have the rest of the side work as hard as he does to provide options.

 

[shinboner magic]

Would love us to play 3 small forwards in the future with Banch , Dovaston and one of JK or Spargo.
All should be able to work up and down the ground

 

[Dinkers]

Apparently BOABBanch is extremely driven as this AFL caper beats the shit out of his previous 'job'. It's refreshing to see someone realise the opportunity they've been given.

Hope he gets a fair crack at it, personally I think he's better than the watto wee Watson the Wizard.

 

[shinboner magic]

Apparently BOABBanch is extremely driven as this AFL caper beats the shit out of his previous 'job'. It's refreshing to see someone realise the opportunity they've been given.

Hope he gets a fair crack at it, personally I think he's better than the watto wee Watson the Wizard.

Hopefully the rest of the side can work out he’s not our chf and stop kicking on his head

 

[zoomba23]

Hopefully the rest of the side can work out he’s not our chf and stop kicking on his head

In alternative terms, hopefully the rest of the side can work out he's not our chf and start moving to provide some sodding options so he doesn't have to bear the brunt of the dirty work

 

[Dinkers]

In alternative terms, hopefully the rest of the side can work out he's not our chf and start moving to provide some sodding options so he doesn't have to bear the brunt of the dirty work

Reckon they're misjudging his pace, makes sense if you consider it. His closing speed is putting him under the ball, hopefully we can adjust. As I highly doubt even our dills are thinking long bombs to BOABBanch

 

[Themanbun]

Reckon they're misjudging his pace, makes sense if you consider it. His closing speed is putting him under the ball, hopefully we can adjust. As I highly doubt even our dills are thinking long bombs to BOABBanch

Yes one of the big things about him I was told is he doesn't decelerate before the ball hits him. Which is a great thing. Really that should be what every player at AFL level does, but it stands out in our side.

 

[Dinkers]

Yes one of the big things about him I was told is he doesn't decelerate before the ball hits him. Which is a great thing. Really that should be what every player at AFL level does, but it stands out in our side.

Interesting, he though should adjust if he's going to run under the ball, if he doesn't it will be a short career. No good being a great fielder at third man to then charge in and watch the ball sail over your head.

The ball is king as we say