Player Watch Ed Allan

[TradeDraft]

Like to see that more from Ed

 

[JuniorB]

I've been on the Ed bandwagon for a while.
Looks like it has wheels now - go Ed!

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

To my eye he looks considerably bigger than last season. Is there anyone there that can confirm?

 

[stormskye]

Last game v the dees in 2024 still haunts me, I’m not jumping on just yet.. but I’m looking at tickets

 

[FAIRANDBALANCED]

Great build and athleticism, brain has not caught up to his legs yet. Hopefully it will at some point, he does turn the ball over by foot a lot.

I'm not sure i have seen his pace run down or pressure many people? McReery style? That's a question mark too.

 

[Exambolor]

Like to see that more from Ed

Like that we are playing him as an inside midfielder not shunting him to the wing

 

[SwanBet]

Liked what I saw today. I think the breakout is coming.

Still a bit to work on but his running ability is a real asset.

 

[manicpie]

After seeing degoey kick the ball inside 50, not sure we need to worry about Allan. There's not too many people hitting targets inside 50 after bursting from stoppage. As long as their not hitting defenders lace out, I wouldn't even worry about it.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

After seeing degoey kick the ball inside 50, not sure we need to worry about Allan. There's not too many people hitting targets inside 50 after bursting from stoppage. As long as their not hitting defenders lace out, I wouldn't even worry about it.

I'm with you. I'd be happy if he kick it to the square or deep in our 50 that creates a stoppage.

If Ed can start bringing that explosiveness week in, week out then that's a huge win. Nick, Long, JDG, Josh, Allan and Beau is a good mix of pace and grunt. Throw Anderson in there too after his suplex on Briggs.

 

[ksardog]

Only just got home and started watching highlights during the 3rd qtr, only vision I’ve seen on him was him swinging on to his left foot
Was an atrocious kick
Hopefully I see better from him when I watch the whole replay

 

[TradeDraft]

Like that we are playing him as an inside midfielder not shunting him to the wing

And as he showed in the VFL Last Year that he looks way better as a Inside Midfielder as can get Lost on the Wing

 

[JoinDate]

The 2026 brownlow medalists.

 

[Rorzza]

It's a little bug bear for me, playing young players in one position in the VFL and another in the AFL. I don't get it, it's possible sometimes it can't be helped.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It's a little bug bear for me, playing young players in one position in the VFL and another in the AFL. I don't get it, it's possible sometimes it can't be helped.

If you (rightly) say sometimes it can’t be helped …. Then you do get it.

 

[DopeMaster]

ITs not really patience for me, as I haven't been keen since his first year. My question is what's he good at? Ball use is below par, contest work is below. A bit slow to react. He's tall and he can run, but does he have any football strengths?

Linebreakingpace as a link man is a plus. If he can develop his over marking (big if) he can float forward and be a threat Ala Bont.

His decision making appears good to my eye. Eg waiting and holding the ball, drawing a player before releasing.

So a few strong attributes to work with.

Agreed he has many areas to improve on if he’s ever to become a more complete player.

Hoping growing into his body willl give him confidence to throw his weight around a bit more. Being a baby giraffe often leads to timidity.

Plus, it’s an extremely rare combo to be key position height with the wheels to burn off players chasing. The combination is a significant point of difference.

 

[sr36]

Linebreakingpace as a link man is a plus. If he can develop his over marking (big if) he can float forward and be a threat Ala Bont.

His decision making appears good to my eye. Eg waiting and holding the ball, drawing a player before releasing.

So a few strong attributes to work with.

Agreed he has many areas to improve on if he’s ever to become a more complete player.

Hoping growing into his body willl give him confidence to throw his weight around a bit more. Being a baby giraffe often leads to timidity.

Plus, it’s an extremely rare combo to be key position height with the wheels to burn off players chasing. The combination is a significant point of difference.

Looked very promising today.

Inside is his go. As breaking from congestion looked good. I don't like his ball use for the outside.

He'll get plenty of time because he's so athletic and I think he still needs to get stronger, but for the first time I could see what others like about him.

 

[DopeMaster]

I also expect that when his body and more importantly his core is fully developed, he’ll add the Ned Long string to his bow where he takes a tackles, raises his arms and dishes it off etc.

His core strength just isn’t there yet.

But pleasing to see he’s put on size over the offseason. His bone structure suggests he may end up quite the beast.

I’m still not 100% sold, but more optimistic than pessimistic given all of the above.

 

[DopeMaster]

Looked very promising today.

Inside is his go. As breaking from congestion looked good. I don't like his ball use for the outside.

He'll get plenty of time because he's so athletic and I think he still needs to get stronger, but for the first time I could see what others like about him.

The bursting from congestion was good to see wasn’t it?

Perhaps you’re right and ball use will never be there for an outside linking player. But that doesn’t preclude him from being a valuable linking man in transition.

But if he’s to make it in the middle improving his contested work will be the decisive factor.

As above, I think (hope) intent will come from fully developed core strength and physical maturity.

 

[sr36]

The bursting from congestion was good to see wasn’t it?

Perhaps you’re right and ball use will never be there for an outside linking player. But that doesn’t preclude him from being a valuable linking man in transition.

But if he’s to make it in the middle improving his contested work will be the decisive factor.

As above, I think (hope) intent will come from fully developed core strength and physical maturity.

Looked stronger - like he'd really added some power to that first couple of steps. Physical tools are obviously very good and if he can add strength they'll be outstanding.

 

[JuniorB]

Looked stronger - like he'd really added some power to that first couple of steps. Physical tools are obviously very good and if he can add strength they'll be outstanding.

If he builds the strength to break tackles, they'll never catch him.
A promising outing today.

 

[Robroy22]

Both his goals were fabulous but in between he still failed to force the issue. Wanna see him run down tackle, smother, block and help others more often. He has the tools, just watches the game too much instead of owning it.

 

[sr36]

Both his goals were fabulous but in between he still failed to force the issue. Wanna see him run down tackle, smother, block and help others more often. He has the tools, just watches the game too much instead of owning it.

At the moment he has the physical tools for the outside, but still hasn't got the strength. So it really is still a question of what role until he adds power for the inside or gets better with the ball for the outside. Hopefully the watching lessens as he gets stronger and more confident.

 

[JuniorB]

At the moment he has the physical tools for the outside, but still hasn't got the strength. So it really is still a question of what role until he adds power for the inside or gets better with the ball for the outside. Hopefully the watching lessens as he gets stronger and more confident.

I think his perceived indecision and wayward delivery is mainly about confidence.
He just needs to say to himself "I'm the man", and everything else will fall into place, given he has all the physical tools.

 

[Harry O]

Looked very promising today.

Inside is his go. As breaking from congestion looked good. I don't like his ball use for the outside.

He'll get plenty of time because he's so athletic and I think he still needs to get stronger, but for the first time I could see what others like about him.

His upper body looks as big as most midfielders in the comp
Legs still quite skinny though

Speed from stoppage is a real point of difference

 

[DopeMaster]

At the moment he has the physical tools for the outside, but still hasn't got the strength. So it really is still a question of what role until he adds power for the inside or gets better with the ball for the outside. Hopefully the watching lessens as he gets stronger and more confident.

I’d say as a receiving / linking mid in the mould of Crisp when he goes through there could be a decent entry point.

Would add value with his pace in running transition chains from the back half.

As a first receiver in tight can explode out of stoppage as we’ve seen a few times.

I think that’s his bread and butter for now until he fully grows into his body and his core hits its potential.

When that happens, if he can add an inside game and become an aerial threat up forward he could he really could be anything. Big ‘if’ of course.

But purely in terms of physical attributes he’s a bit of a unicorn.