Past #18: Shaun Atley - delisted end '21 - 237 NM games / 44 NM goals - thanks Ats

[Donkey Chop]

That goal was pretty classy

 

[Aberration]

Found the footy and used it well so overall, encouraging signs for Ats.

Just wished he backed himself a bit more, like in that passage where he hit up Nahas in the goalsquare, I would have loved to see him turn on the jets and burn the chaser off.

Hopefully that comes back as he grows in confidence.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Good game Ats. Good to see the short stint in the 2's worked a bit. Back it up in a fortnights time.

Imagine other locks in the side having stints in the two's to regain form?

We could be on to something here!

 

[Heaps of fun]

Yep. Good start. Well played.

23 touches and a goal, sounds like Gary Rohan's best game

 

[Lavy_Panther]

I was actually surprised he had 23 when I looked at the stat sheet, but that's not to say I thought he played poorly - just I didn't notice him. Love him, hope he can continue to lift.

 

[Elroo]

Its amazing what can happen to a players commitment when they are finally dropped after being gifted games by BS for ages.

 

[Rockstar6]

Imagine other locks in the side having stints in the two's to regain form?

We could be on to something here!

One can only dream...

 

[KangaRooster]

How good was it watching him pump that goal from 50 out!?

What a huge advantage it would be for our side if he could average a goal or more a game. We're lacking for goal-kicking midfielders, so maybe we need the HBFers to step it up.

Lock it in the forward line, then let Mullet unload bombs and Atley break lines to slot them, deadly.

 

[Rockstar6]

I was actually surprised he had 23 when I looked at the stat sheet, but that's not to say I thought he played poorly - just I didn't notice him. Love him, hope he can continue to lift.

What you said can only be a good thing. He has 23 and a goal, you dont notice him. Hopefully he enters beast mode

 

[Psicosis]

WOW! You're telling me that dropping an under-performing "lock" player, emphasizing that nobody is safe, unless they perform results in players playing better?!?!

I'd love to pretend that this is going to be a continued trend for the club, but it won't.

I do hope Atley continues to improve.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Thought his first qtr was as influential a quarter I've ever seen him play. Plenty of things to work On but that first quarter was great.

 

[Event Horizon]

Was just having a look at 2010 National Draft to see who has done well out of it.
Without going into too much analysis, after Atley who was drafted at pick 17, there were two pretty handy players in Isaac Smith at pick 19 and Luke Parker at pick 40. This proves two things. One, is that there are still gems to be drafted outside top 10 in most years, and two, that unless Atley pulls his finger out, he will forever remain potential Judd.

 

[King Corey]

Was just having a look at 2010 National Draft to see who has done well out of it.
Without going into too much analysis, after Atley who was drafted at pick 17, there were two pretty handy players in Isaac Smith at pick 19 and Luke Parker at pick 40. This proves two things. One, is that there are still gems to be drafted outside top 10 in most years, and two, that unless Atley pulls his finger out, he will forever remain potential Judd.

Swap the destinations and you'd probably find the club outcomes would be the same.

Parker would be a gun at Hawthorn. Smith would be a gamebreaker at Sydney.

Atley would be a gun at Hawthorn or Sydney.

Parker would be promise personified at North but not quite there. Refer: Atley

Smith would be a flakey outside player currently playing at North Ballarat after 15 excellent early AFL games if he came to us. Refer: Harper

 

[muttley45]

What the hell is going on with this guy ?, dont know his stats this year, but i would venture that running bounces, rebound 50's, even disposals and 1%'s would all be down on previous seasons, IMO, he should start at centre bounces on the wing, and be the No 1 handball target for Cunners and Swallow to quick release to, so he can use his biggest asset, and our biggest deficiency, pace, to break away from the congestion, i know this is not a popular opinion here, but i no longer believe he does his best work on the backline and it appears neither does he, surely Mullet can replace him in that role, and release him for duties further up the field

 

[Jimmy's Hot Dogs]

Parker would be promise personified at North but not quite there. Refer: Atley

Smith would be a flakey outside player currently playing at North Ballarat after 15 excellent early AFL games if he came to us. Refer: Harper

I'm not totally disagreeing with you KC but Parker looks to have that inherent mongrel in him and will to impact all contests around him. One of the things that are hard to measure at draft time.

Smith is kinda flaky at Hawthorn -but is oh so effective.

 

[jess_1804]

Just had a quick look at the stats and his averages are back down to those he had in his debut year in almost every category. Seems to have regressed a lot further than I'd realised.

That being said, I have noticed Ats taking more run and bounces during games the last two weeks since his VFL stint. I'd like to think he's slowly getting his confidence back, but he better bloody hurry up!

 

[Mr. Blonde]

It would be good to see him tried in the Higgins role for a few weeks later in the year as an attacking midfielder/half forward. He can use his pace to get in behind the defence and add defensive pressure when the ball is on the way out.

But.....you just know it will never happen. He will stay as a struggling half back/defensive wingman.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

If you werent a north supporter you wouldnt know if he's on the field or not. Shame.

 

[King Corey]

I'm not totally disagreeing with you KC but Parker looks to have that inherent mongrel in him and will to impact all contests around him. One of the things that are hard to measure at draft time.

Smith is kinda flaky at Hawthorn -but is oh so effective.

Agree and agree but my feeling is good clubs can't always just be getting lucky with their picks and less successful clubs can't always be getting unlucky.

The kids are always rated thereabouts and apart from the odd exceptions - bolters like Dangerfield or sliders like Mitchell - it generally seems to be down to the destination club along with a sprinkling of good fortune as to whether a player is successful or not.

 

[adas]

Look at Atley and then have a look at Adem Saad.

One was a highly rated first rounder who was apparently the "steal" of the draft at pick 18. The other from the VFL.

Saad took the game on at every opportunity whilst Atley was mostly invisible. Saad was everything we want Atley to be.

The lack of development of our high prized pricks has a consistent theme about it... And im beginning to question whether it's the players or the club.

It wouldn't surprise me one iota if Atley were playing for Sydney, Hawthorn or Freo, he would be the damaging halfback we expected him to be.

Seems as though the whole list is bereft of any confidence, and personally, that lack of confidence is now also felt by me as a supporter.

 

[King Corey]

Exactly adas.

Cunnington has gone backwards.
Ziebell is still hit and miss.
Aaron Black was a beautiful natural player. Now he can barely coordinate a kick.
Bastinac a natural balanced ball winner who wore an opponent tight in his first games. Now he's desperately needing a defensive side.
Boomer is starting to miss targets.
Petrie looks all at sea half the time now.
Scott Thompson has gone from AA defender to rancid numpty.
Swallow's offensive impact has gone backwards from early in his career. What happened to the hardworking kid who could kick the occasional goal?
Lindsay is being made to act like a 5 foot tall key forward.
It'll be a matter of time before Dumont's natural nouse and appetite are diminished to senior standards.
Dal Santo has added nothing to his toolkit (not like that TT) in coming to Arden Street.
Atley is going nowhere. Ditto Harper.
McDonald the exciting long kicking kid was reduced to a turnover merchant devoid of confidence.
Majak is thrown to the wolves for 1 game per year then doomed to the VFL regardless of his or his peer's form.

These guys all have talent. Maybe, just maybe the environment isn't bringing out their best.

 

[astrovic]

Look at Atley and then have a look at Adem Saad.

One was a highly rated first rounder who was apparently the "steal" of the draft at pick 18. The other from the VFL.

Saad took the game on at every opportunity whilst Atley was mostly invisible. Saad was everything we want Atley to be.

The lack of development of our high prized pricks has a consistent theme about it... And im beginning to question whether it's the players or the club.

It wouldn't surprise me one iota if Atley were playing for Sydney, Hawthorn or Freo, he would be the damaging halfback we expected him to be.

Seems as though the whole list is bereft of any confidence, and personally, that lack of confidence is now also felt by me as a supporter.

To be fair - and I'm not making excuses for Ats who was poor on the weekend - there's a difference between the two that doesn't come down to Atley's effort compared to Saad.

When Atley got the ball, he looked ahead and saw a bunch of Suns busting a gut to cover his exits, and manning up everyone he might kick to - and our players weren't exactly taking their men into dangerous spots/away from where Atley needed to run to. Ats ends up running on the spot at half back rather than running into a sea of opposition players closing him down and forcing a panicked kick or handball out of him.

When Saad got the ball, he looked ahead and saw and absolute paddock to run into cos our mids hadn't pushed hard to cover the exits out of defence. They were all ball watching or over committing to pushing forward. On the turnover the ball went straight back over their heads to where Saad was waiting. He actually had to look behind himself to see any blue and white jumpers (then chuckle at whichever plodder was closest) and take off. 3 to 4 bounces later and he had 3 different forwards making dangerous leads for him to kick to inside 50. Piece of cake.

Our off the ball work rate is killing us.

 

[koshari]

Our off the ball work rate is killing us.

I can actually remember our manic style a few years ago when the concern was we were running oirselves off our feet.

Seems an eternity ago now.

 

[muttley45]

I didn't think Atley was recruited as a defender, but he is now into the 5th year of his apprenticeship back there. His running bounces and rebounding seem to mirror his apparent enthusiasm for the role, that is, on the wane. Why cant Mullet slot into the backline and release Atley to utilise his strengths further up the field where we are sadly lacking pace atm. He could be developing a system with Cunners and Swallow where he is the regular quick release target at stoppages, then get on his bike, and i dont mean take 1-2 steps have a bounce and dish it off to someone else, use his pace for a full 15m, then reasess options, Dylan Shiel style

 

[Shermanator]

I didn't think Atley was recruited as a defender, but he is now into the 5th year of his apprenticeship back there. His running bounces and rebounding seem to mirror his apparent enthusiasm for the role, that is, on the wane. Why cant Mullet slot into the backline and release Atley to utilise his strengths further up the field where we are sadly lacking pace atm. He could be developing a system with Cunners and Swallow where he is the regular quick release target at stoppages, then get on his bike, and i dont mean take 1-2 steps have a bounce and dish it off to someone else, use his pace for a full 15m, then reasess options, Dylan Shiel style

Agree use him like wet toast use Gaff - he's been their best player in a team that's sitting 2nd..

Atley is a perfect fit as a link-man between the flanks