Player Watch #13 Hugo Ralphsmith

[matt_y106]

The only player on the list I hope isn’t there when the teams get announced each week.

Dow was comfortably number 1, followed by Ralphsmith. So this sentiment is something I can agreee on for 2026

 

[THE_GUN]

View attachment 2469775

 

[Yze does it]

we'll see.... dont forget four points is not as valuable as it will be in 2027 so I got a fair idea Adem will still be experimenting and juggling a few things around. now there's five on the bench there is a perfect opportunity to play 3 wingers at 70% game time each. two can run their arses off while they're on the ground and the other can have a rest on the pine and rinse and repeat. I see smiley being a semi permanent fixture there where he will have plenty of galloping room with a better tank in 2027.

Round 1 Hugo on one wing, Tresize has been playing wing a lot. The rotation from Retscko, Sonsie I don't think Ross played much there in 25.
Banks is settled and going well at half back.

 

[sregit]

Has athleticism but unfortunately is as soft as butter. He could play the part of the lion in the wizard of Oz.

 

[Grrr]

I think the wing is Ralphsmith's to lose. He has gone pretty well over the last two seasons and deserves first dibs.

But he needs to improve again because there are some players who can play the position as well. You would have to say that Ross was probably better when he played there, had some very good games, not that I am advocating it, but he might get squeezed from the middle.

I believe Broad should be on the other wing mainly to get Trainor back where he belongs. Broad is still a very good player and apart from not used to working in the traffic of midfield has all the attributes.

Retschko is in the wings. He would have played for us last season with the form he had in the VFL, so he will be there-abouts.

Short could play the more attacking wing position as well, again to move him out of the backline. His long kicking would be a weapon.

If the draft Grlj, he looks a proper wingman.

Bottom line, none are set as wingman, so you would want to keep your form.

 

[The Mighty]

7 years for this dud ................7 years.

Sleeps with the lights on, weak as pisss in or at the contest is a short stepper isa liability defensively, has no presence on the ground, doesn't win or find the footy and cant use it when he does get it because he's too busy panicking that someone's gonna hit him.

Should've been gone years ago.

Dreamtime this year proved it beyond all doubt when he was schooled and bullied all night by a kid playing his first game.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

7 years for this dud ................7 years.

Sleeps with the lights on, weak as pisss in or at the contest is a short stepper isa liability defensively, has no presence on the ground, doesn't win or find the footy and cant use it when he does get it because he's too busy panicking that someone's gonna hit him.

Should've been gone years ago.

Dreamtime this year proved it beyond all doubt when he was schooled and bullied all night by a kid playing his first game.

Simply did not happen.

 

[richoplzbreed]

7 years for this dud ................7 years.

Sleeps with the lights on, weak as pisss in or at the contest is a short stepper isa liability defensively, has no presence on the ground, doesn't win or find the footy and cant use it when he does get it because he's too busy panicking that someone's gonna hit him.

Should've been gone years ago.

Dreamtime this year proved it beyond all doubt when he was schooled and bullied all night by a kid playing his first game.

That was embarrassing and painful to watch. Had his pants pulled down and his lazy arse repeatedly spanked in front of the whole country. Anyone with even an ounce of pride would've fired up and returned fire, if anything he went more timid. Must be pretty disheartening for the younger players to see someone who's now classified as a veteran be so feeble. It's not like the kid was Harley Reid either. Inexcusable really.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

That was embarrassing and painful to watch. Had his pants pulled down and his lazy arse repeatedly spanked in front of the whole country. Anyone with even an ounce of pride would've fired up and returned fire, if anything he went more timid. Must be pretty disheartening for the younger players to see someone who's now classified as a veteran be so feeble. It's not like the kid was Harley Reid either. Inexcusable really.

Ralphsmith was the 5th highest rated player on the ground. His opponent Clarke was the 6th highest rated player.

Looks to me like whilst Clarke was busy pulling Ralphsmith's pants down, Hugo was also busy pulling Clarke's down, but just went a little bit further.

Hugo(left) v Clarke(right)

Player rating - 16.0 v 15.7

Disposals - 17 v 16

Contested possessions - 8 v 3

Intercepts - 8 v 1

Scores - 2 goals 1 v 3 goals 1

Score Launches - 3 v 0

Tackles 4 v 3

Pressure Acts 16 v 11

 

[sregit]

Ralphsmith was the 5th highest rated player on the ground. His opponent Clarke was the 6th highest rated player.

Looks to me like whilst Clarke was busy pulling Ralphsmith's pants down, Hugo was also busy pulling Clarke's down, but just went a little bit further.

Hugo(left) v Clarke(right)

Player rating - 16.0 v 15.7

Disposals - 17 v 16

Contested possessions - 8 v 3

Intercepts - 8 v 1

Scores - 2 goals 1 v 3 goals 1

Score Launches - 3 v 0

Tackles 4 v 3

Pressure Acts 16 v 11

Another example of stats clouding the truth. Ralphsmith had his arse kicked.
It was pathetic. He is pathetic. Hugo Shortsteps needs to be weeded out.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Another example of stats clouding the truth. Ralphsmith had his arse kicked.
It was pathetic. He is pathetic. Hugo Shortsteps needs to be weeded out.

It seems the player he was playing on was even more pathetic than him then. That player allowed Hugo 8 contested possessions, 3 score launches, 2 goals, 8 intercepts and was out-tackled and out-pressured. Those stats don't lie, they are facts. You recall Clarke getting several handball receives and a couple of contested marks deep forward against Hugo and you think it means he trounced Hugo. Clarke trounced him in 2 contests. Outside of that, Hugo had clearly the better of Clarke, as you might expect.

I actually don't think Hugo is a frequent short stepper. His issue is he is not strong in body on body contests, probably due to a lack of gluteus maximus power.

 

[Karp3_dm]

It seems the player he was playing on was even more pathetic than him then. That player allowed Hugo 8 contested possessions, 3 score launches, 2 goals, 8 intercepts and was out-tackled and out-pressured. Those stats don't lie, they are facts. You recall Clarke getting several handball receives and a couple of contested marks deep forward against Hugo and you think it means he trounced Hugo. Clarke trounced him in 2 contests. Outside of that, Hugo had clearly the better of Clarke, as you might expect.

I actually don't think Hugo is a frequent short stepper. His issue is he is not strong in body on body contests, probably due to a lack of gluteus maximus power.

Dude. the kid was playing his 1st game of football as an 18 year old meanwhile Hugo is into his 6th year

How are you even debating this?

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Dude. the kid was playing his 1st game of football as an 18 year meanwhile Hugo is into his 6th year

How are you even debating this?

Because posters are routinely claiming Clarke trounced Hugo. If they said he did a lot better than you would expect for a first gamer, no debate. Saying he trounced Hugo is factually incorrect.

 

[tiger_tough]

He was embarrassed in the dreamtime game no doubt. Some really pathetic efforts.

 

[Karp3_dm]

Because posters are routinely claiming Clarke trounced Hugo. If they said he did a lot better than you would expect for a first gamer, no debate. Saying he trounced Hugo is factually incorrect.

He did offensively
Hugo failed defending him massively all night

Yes he was good and damaging the other way round but defensively Hugo was pathetic

 

[lizard man]

There’s only one way to solve this Hugo debate ….. pistols at dawn

 

[lizard man]

 

[Morro]

Is he really as soft as mentioned in here? I mean there is soft as in scared and then there is not able to win alot of contested footy which gets confused with being soft in here alot.

Which is it, cos I dont see him as scared. In 2024 he flew for marks with no fear, played some good footy, took the game on etc.

 

[THE_GUN]

Is he really as soft as mentioned in here? I mean there is soft as in scared and then there is not able to win alot of contested footy which gets confused with being soft in here alot.

Which is it, cos I dont see him as scared. In 2024 he flew for marks with no fear, played some good footy, took the game on etc.

There are players that go in like kamakazi's ( Cotchin )
Then there are players that play the ball and not interested in the tuff stuff like Brando

HRS is a ball player and i have never seen him duck his head or do a Duursma and drop a premiership cup
But i suppose some just want him to knock peoples heads off then have a go at him for getting suspended like Pickett

The kid is fine and will get an extension

 

[Muddiemoose]

Is he really as soft as mentioned in here? I mean there is soft as in scared and then there is not able to win alot of contested footy which gets confused with being soft in here alot.

Which is it, cos I dont see him as scared. In 2024 he flew for marks with no fear, played some good footy, took the game on etc.

Don’t think so
Think he kind of got that reputation early just because he was very much an outside player but the last few years he’s looked a lot more well rounded and wouldn’t consider him soft at all

 

[THE_GUN]

Don’t think so
Think he kind of got that reputation early just because he was very much an outside player but the last few years he’s looked a lot more well rounded and wouldn’t consider him soft at all

We have supporters that label these kids early as being soft that are not
Houli , Brando , Grigg , Butler etc

Just have to ignore them and accept they are not crash and bash players and outside players are the ones usually getting targeted

 

[Timothy Luncheon]

Is he really as soft as mentioned in here? I mean there is soft as in scared and then there is not able to win alot of contested footy which gets confused with being soft in here alot.

Which is it, cos I dont see him as scared. In 2024 he flew for marks with no fear, played some good footy, took the game on etc.

Definitely don't think he is soft like people have been saying. There were numerous times this year where he went in hard with the body to try and get the ball out of a contest. He's weaker in contested marking situations which he could improve on though

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Don’t think so
Think he kind of got that reputation early just because he was very much an outside player but the last few years he’s looked a lot more well rounded and wouldn’t consider him soft at all

that essendon debutant out pointing him like 3 times in a row in a marking contest absolutely ruined his rep in here. but reality is it was one game and he was forced to play a role he'd never played. as a pure wingman he's a solid player with room for improvement.

 

[RockJobster0312]

Is he really as soft as mentioned in here? I mean there is soft as in scared and then there is not able to win alot of contested footy which gets confused with being soft in here alot.

Which is it, cos I dont see him as scared. In 2024 he flew for marks with no fear, played some good footy, took the game on etc.

I always think that there are a few times each game where there’s a situation where the ball is in dispute and if he goes and goes hard he could win it.

But he often doesn’t. It’s not that he loses that contest, just doesn’t win it. A harder player would likely win it.

Don’t think he’s soft. It would take a lot for me to label someone as such. He’s just not someone who thrives on the physical stuff.