Player Watch #17: James Stewart - Groin injury, not running yet. couple of weeks once he starts running - 23/4

eth-dog

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Negative

His biggest asset is his mobility and for a bloke who is 200cm, being employed as a mobile 3rd tall, gaining weight would ruin this.


Keep him mobile. Will only benefit from another year in our system.
I can see both POV's. I'd like him to get a tad stronger so his marking improves a bit more but not enough to restrict his mobility.
 

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Sealz

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Really good yeah for this bloke!
Established himself in the team and has been more than serviceable playing as our 3rd tall. His hands are bloody fantastic and probably only behind Hooker on our list. Surprised he has a worse conversion Hooker? Definitely needs work!
 

eth-dog

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Really good yeah for this bloke!
Established himself in the team and has been more than serviceable playing as our 3rd tall. His hands are bloody fantastic and probably only behind Hooker on our list. Surprised he has a worse conversion Hooker? Definitely needs work!
His hands are poor in a contested marking situation. Take all of Bellchambers (comfortably second best on our list), Francis, McKernan, Daniher, Goddard ahead off the top of my head as well as Hooker obviously
 

Whispering_Jack

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His hands are poor in a contested marking situation. Take all of Bellchambers (comfortably second best on our list), Francis, McKernan, Daniher, Goddard ahead off the top of my head as well as Hooker obviously
His hands are very good, he just doesn't have the ability to out body opponents like Hooker, Belcho, Smack etc all do.
 

Whispering_Jack

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There is also a bit of a difference between being physically strong (of which he very much is) and having the experience, smarts and talent to use that strength in a contest.

He will get better at it, he doesn't need to get any stronger
Agree. I still think he has great/clean hands.
 

BrunoV

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I can see both POV's. I'd like him to get a tad stronger so his marking improves a bit more but not enough to restrict his mobility.


I don't think that Stewart's problem is out-muscling an opponent. From all reports he's an animal in the gym anyway.

I reckon that we saw him simply spill what almost became an un-contested mark, because he defeated an opponent in the wrestle, many more times than we saw him prevented from impacting a contested because he lost the wrestle or was out-bodied. In his first 6 weeks there were a few dodgy efforts when he didn't attack the ball in the air with enough intensity but that's not related to strength and now seems to be a thing of the past anyway.

I wouldn't be messing with anything in a physical sense. I don't know how one improves one's hands but that's what he needs.
 

eth-dog

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His hands are very good, he just doesn't have the ability to out body opponents like Hooker, Belcho, Smack etc all do.
That's actually a fair assessment, hadn't considered that
I don't think that Stewart's problem is out-muscling an opponent. From all reports he's an animal in the gym anyway.

I reckon that we say him simply spill what almost became an un-contested mark, because he defeated an opponent in the wrestle, many more times than we saw him prevented from impacting a contested because he lost the wrestle or was out-bodied. In his first 6 weeks there were a few dodgy efforts when he didn't attack the ball in the air with enough intensity but that's not related to strength and now seems to be a thing of the past anyway.

I wouldn't be messing with anything in a physical sense. I don't know how one improves one's hands but that's what he needs.
Huh, never thought about it that way.
 

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Really happy with the former Giant. 22 goals from 16 games (ave. 1.375) is a handy enough return playing as 2nd/3rd forward.

Would hope he can improve that output upwards of 35 goals (1.5 goals per game - pending fitness) and improve his marking & I50 count too. With so many similar types on our list (Brown, Laverde, Begley vying for senior selection), two bad games in a row will put pressure on him to keep performing. Was nice watching him develop across 2017, hoping to see him continue to develop in 2018.
 

bombreys

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Really happy with the former Giant. 22 goals from 16 games (ave. 1.375) is a handy enough return playing as 2nd/3rd forward.

Would hope he can improve that output upwards of 35 goals (1.5 goals per game - pending fitness) and improve his marking & I50 count too. With so many similar types on our list (Brown, Laverde, Begley vying for senior selection), two bad games in a row will put pressure on him to keep performing. Was nice watching him develop across 2017, hoping to see him continue to develop in 2018.
Yeah I like him a lot. He's a unique sort of a player, he just always seems to bob up at the right time. Doesn't make too many mistakes either.

Amazingly, he'll probably be our worst forward next year :drunk: (Joey, Hooker, Stringer, Fanta, Tippa)
 

BrunoV

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Really happy with the former Giant. 22 goals from 16 games (ave. 1.375) is a handy enough return playing as 2nd/3rd forward.

Would hope he can improve that output upwards of 35 goals (1.5 goals per game - pending fitness) and improve his marking & I50 count too. With so many similar types on our list (Brown, Laverde, Begley vying for senior selection), two bad games in a row will put pressure on him to keep performing. Was nice watching him develop across 2017, hoping to see him continue to develop in 2018.



He's one of my favorite players now. He is growing into a real point of difference that will gives us versatility and helps to create mismatches.

If he didn't get any better the sum of what he's done is a 22 to 30 goal a year player who'll get low-to-mid teens possessions, three to four tackles and who has a huge defensive work rate (equal to the smalls). That's so valuable when it's from a guy who is 198cm and 95kgs because of the very real threat of 4-5 shots on goal or the 20 possession two goal game higher up the field. I think it makes him a comfortable best 22 selection.

If he can improve his hands even just a little bit so that he can one-grab a few more 50/50 balls where he wins field position he wouldn't have to play any differently to become a 30 to 40 goal player. That's an excellent return from a third tall forward that brings everything else to the table.

The nature of the role and the likely selection of a mid-sized forward (Stringer and probably two of Laverde, Begley and Langford are all going to spend time at half forward) together with two high quality smalls makes it unlikely that's he'll get the supply to dramatically improve his average numbers. For him it will almost always be about his work rate and taking opportunities as they are presented.
 

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He's one of my favorite players now. He is growing into a real point of difference that will gives us versatility and helps to create mismatches.

If he didn't get any better the sum of what he's done is a 22 to 30 goal a year player who'll get low-to-mid teens possessions, three to four tackles and who has a huge defensive work rate (equal to the smalls). That's so valuable when it's from a guy who is 198cm and 95kgs because of the very real threat of 4-5 shots on goal or the 20 possession two goal game higher up the field. I think it makes him a comfortable best 22 selection.

If he can improve his hands even just a little bit so that he can one-grab a few more 50/50 balls where he wins field position he wouldn't have to play any differently to become a 30 to 40 goal player. That's an excellent return from a third tall forward that brings everything else to the table.

The nature of the role and the likely selection of a mid-sized forward (Stringer and probably two of Laverde, Begley and Langford are all going to spend time at half forward) together with two high quality smalls makes it unlikely that's he'll get the supply to dramatically improve his average numbers. For him it will almost always be about his work rate and taking opportunities as they are presented.
His hands were infuriating at times this year. He'd have a mismatch for speed or size, out-fox his opponent or simply just read the drop beautifully only for him to flat hand the ball like his mitts were made of reinforced concrete. Soften those hands up and he becomes our second most dangerous forward.
 

BrunoV

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His hands were infuriating at times this year. He'd have a mismatch for speed or size, out-fox his opponent or simply just read the drop beautifully only for him to flat hand the ball like his mitts were made of reinforced concrete. Soften those hands up and he becomes our second most dangerous forward.

Yep, was dropping what essentially became uncontested marks. Just cleanly grab those marks and I reckon it would have been another 10 shots on goal (inside 30ish).

That's not a huge improvement to make either.
 

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He's one of my favorite players now. He is growing into a real point of difference that will gives us versatility and helps to create mismatches.

If he didn't get any better the sum of what he's done is a 22 to 30 goal a year player who'll get low-to-mid teens possessions, three to four tackles and who has a huge defensive work rate (equal to the smalls). That's so valuable when it's from a guy who is 198cm and 95kgs because of the very real threat of 4-5 shots on goal or the 20 possession two goal game higher up the field. I think it makes him a comfortable best 22 selection.

If he can improve his hands even just a little bit so that he can one-grab a few more 50/50 balls where he wins field position he wouldn't have to play any differently to become a 30 to 40 goal player. That's an excellent return from a third tall forward that brings everything else to the table.

The nature of the role and the likely selection of a mid-sized forward (Stringer and probably two of Laverde, Begley and Langford are all going to spend time at half forward) together with two high quality smalls makes it unlikely that's he'll get the supply to dramatically improve his average numbers. For him it will almost always be about his work rate and taking opportunities as they are presented.
Without dissecting your whole post. Playing as a defensive forward, he should be allowed the opportunity to play closer to goal with the players we have/will bring into the best 22.

With our aim of improving ball movement and transition from defence to offence will reward those who work harder I50 which Stewart is one. He should be rewarded with more 1:1 contest, with his experience building, hopefully he can become a 35+ goal a year forward. It is only 1.5 goals a game (if he plays all 22 games of course).
 

blitzer

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I think we're only scratching the surface of what he can become. Genuinely agile for his size, nice kick and great size. I think the thing he has to improve the most is working out how to use his size to win out against smaller blokes in marking contests a bit more reliably. If he can fine-tune that area he can become a 2 goal a game 2nd/3rd tall forward which is very valuable.

After seeing him in the team I would absolutely hate it if we went with a smaller forward line structure and he played reserves. To me he's absolutely best 22 and he's only going to get better as he approaches 50 games experience. I do think it would be handy if he improved a bit in the ruck as well because he would make a handy pinch hitting option (not the absolute most important thing but something every team needs to think about).
 

Jade

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Out of contract at the end of 2018.

Really hope we're already moving to re-sign him, has really bought in to the club culture.

Offers a great bit of depth and flexibility to our forward line.

Actually operates closer to a third tall despite his height.

I'd be more than comfortable in putting another two year deal under his nose.
 
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