AFL Player 19: Kayle Gerreyn

[VelvetSledge]

 

[cobra land]

I don't see him making it as a ruck, he'll be too busy with his role as a generational full forward.

I like your optimism mate and I hope your right, he could be the next Wayne Carey

 

[andleanback]

You guys all think the next ruck to debut will be Vigo, but it's actually gonna be Kayle.

#MyBoy

He’s got a lot of talent, but he’s a mile away from afl

 

[DERO]

Chook

 

[Yoda_]

We've got a player here if he gets fit enough for senior footy

Another low possession, high impact game in the VFL today

7 possessions
6 marks (at least 3 contested)
6 tackles
2 goals, 1 behind

 

[jannissary]

We've got a player here if he gets fit enough for senior footy

Another low possession, high impact game in the VFL today

7 possessions
6 marks (at least 3 contested)
6 tackles
2 goals, 1 behind

how do you reckon his body would hold up vs a steven may type

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

how do you reckon his body would hold up vs a steven may type

He could bench press May for reps

 

[Nicholas61]

how do you reckon his body would hold up vs a steven may type

Probably better than most other 19 year olds! Just turned 19 today.

 

[fairbump_playon]

I feel like he could have been a massive hairdresser in another life

Smooth for a big lump. I like what I’m seeing

 

[ant555]

I feel like he could have been a massive hairdresser in another life

Smooth for a big lump. I like what I’m seeing

Rene Kink ?

 

[Yoda_]

ant555, BrunoV, ill keep the discussion going in his player thread

If Gerryn is going to suggesting to be a ruck/fwd then I hope we can the flick the idea. Not only are we bereft of ruck options but he has shown some real craft inside 50.

 

[ant555]

ant555, BrunoV, ill keep the discussion going in his player thread

If Gerryn is going to suggesting to be a ruck/fwd then I hope we can the flick the idea. Not only are we bereft of ruck options but he has shown some real craft inside 50.

Think if makes it then it will be forward/ ruck . Vigo looks more the other way. Ruck / forward.

 

[Yoda_]

Think if makes it then it will be forward/ ruck . Vigo looks more the other way. Ruck / forward.

Id have thought the other way around (Vigo ruck, Gerryn fwd)



A good problem too have none the less

 

[ant555]

Id have thought the other way around (Vigo ruck, Gerryn fwd)



A good problem too have none the less

That is what I said. It’s the Gerry thread

 

[BrunoV]

ant555, BrunoV, ill keep the discussion going in his player thread

If Gerryn is going to suggesting to be a ruck/fwd then I hope we can the flick the idea. Not only are we bereft of ruck options but he has shown some real craft inside 50.

My starting point probably isn't even Gerreyn, it's team and list balance.

I've carefully followed the way in which we've developed 2 ruckman from the age of 18 now and the pattern is pretty clear.

We don't really speculate with the pick. What I mean by 'don't speculate' is that we're not seeing an overload of players recruited onto the list, in that way that we've seen with KPPs, and we're not seeing kids drafted and then delisted within a few years. There is a maximum 4 list spots for ruckmen and they're used very carefully. The one exception to a quick delisting was Crauford but legend has it that the extent to which his head was not in the space of 'professional athlete' was proportionate to his pretty ridiculous level of talent. It was also the Covid year (2020).

What I assume is happening is that there is an initial 12 to 24 month evaluation/probation period. The decision is made about the player in that period and then the commitment is made. It makes sense to me because you need to have the confidence to offer contracts and want the certainty of planning with the use of a list spot that is dormant for at least 4 years. Draper and Bryan smashed the evaluation period and their 'making it' has been almost self-fulfilling / a foregone conclusion from that point (even though it has taken a further 3 to 5 years).

While it was less clear 4 weeks ago we're now seeing it with Visentini. Since he has been handed the keys in the VFL the quality of his play has surpassed both of his predecessors, even if his tap work has not been quite as prolific (which could also relate to conditions and rule changes reducing the number of stoppages).

With Draper and Bryan on the cusp of forming a tandem for a long-term period, I have a very difficult time believing that we used another list spot on a player we see as a ruckman, only 12 months after starting the 3rd project. Even if one of Draper or Bryan were to leave both Visentini and Gerreyn are too young to be AFL ruckmen for at least another 2 seasons. A stop-gap would be needed between the number 1 and Visentini/Gerreyn. Having 2 ruckmen compete for time in the VFL is also not going to help their development. It's also almost certainly creates a dead list spot.

Then I look at Gerreyen and he's modern KPP size, a few inches short of most modern ruckmen and certainly without the athletic spring of a player like Bailey Williams or Ryder. There are a few guys likle Nankervis and Briggs who are the same height or even shorter than Gerreyn. I don't believe that a player with that level of limitation is someone we'd bother recruiting from scratch. Recruit him once he's proven at the level as a stop-gap, yeah sure, but there is too much uncertainty involved to warrant the use of the list spot to take them at 18 (and Richmond traded for Nankervis after 3 or 4 seasons).

As I look at Gerreyn he seems like a natural forward to me. He has the ruckman string to his bow and he's big enough to play as a second ruck and even pinch hit when availability demands it. He looks to me almost exactly what I'd expect to see if they're looking for a specialist key forward / second ruck who can compliment Draper / Bryan / Visentini or even play in a side with 2 of the specialist ruckmen and Caddy.

As for a direct comparison with Visentini he's in a fair bit of trouble if he is a ruck. Incumbency is a factor. But more importantly, Visentini has him covered for almost all of the characteristics that define quality ruckmen. Over what period of time would a spot in a side open up for him? That said, and while I think Visentini looks okay as a forward, Gerreyn is about as far in front of Visentini as a forward, as he is behind as a ruck.

The ruck isn't like the KPP spots. You can develop 3 talls at either end at the same time because that's what the roles allow. If you're trying to develop multiple ruckmen from scratch you're doing it with effectively half the game time they need.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Rene Kink ?

Get Kayle in the red shorts!

 

[Happyskeret]

He is a bit meh to me at the moment. I like to see him get to a consistent 20 possession game before I judge him.

 

[ant555]

He is a bit meh to me at the moment. I like to see him get to a consistent 20 possession game before I judge him.

Would be a big effort from FF

 

[ghostdog]

We've got a player here if he gets fit enough for senior footy

Another low possession, high impact game in the VFL today

7 possessions
6 marks (at least 3 contested)
6 tackles
2 goals, 1 behind

Without having seen him play, I'm imagining a Luke Jackson type. How far off the mark am I?

 

[faible]

Without having seen him play, I'm imagining a Luke Jackson type. How far off the mark am I?

Less rucky, less of a tank.

 

[Calthorpe14]

Without having seen him play, I'm imagining a Luke Jackson type. How far off the mark am I?

Wouldn't say he's as athletic as Jackson, although few are at that height. Jackson will be more effective long-term in the ruck drifting forward, where Gerreyn looks more natural as a KPF

 

[BrunoV]

Without having seen him play, I'm imagining a Luke Jackson type. How far off the mark am I?

I would say more Mitch Lewis / Nick Larkey as a forward. He's hasn't rucked a lot at this stage.

 

[Happyskeret]

Would be a big effort from FF

It would be impressive though. lol.

 

[noobermensch]

Without having seen him play, I'm imagining a Luke Jackson type. How far off the mark am I?

I was a big fan of his last year and very happy that we drafted him, understanding that it was very much a risk-reward pick. He played predominantly ruck through the junior ranks, but was always projected as more of a key forward long term, so a risky prospect given he would need to spend a lot of time developing his forward craft with no guarantees.

His traits were strong. Big frame, already quite solid at a young age, competitive and able to take a big contested mark. One of the best kicks of the footy in last years pool and quite good on his non-dominant side. Middle of the pack for straight line speed but solid agility test from memory. Has some class about him in the way he moves and his cleanness below his knees.

Lots to work with. I wouldn't pick Luke Jackson as a comp, he doesn't have that sort of athleticism.

 

[Ambrosia]

I was a big fan of his last year and very happy that we drafted him, understanding that it was very much a risk-reward pick. He played predominantly ruck through the junior ranks, but was always projected as more of a key forward long term, so a risky prospect given he would need to spend a lot of time developing his forward craft with no guarantees.

His traits were strong. Big frame, already quite solid at a young age, competitive and able to take a big contested mark. One of the best kicks of the footy in last years pool and quite good on his non-dominant side. Middle of the pack for straight line speed but solid agility test from memory. Has some class about him in the way he moves and his cleanness below his knees.

Lots to work with. I wouldn't pick Luke Jackson as a comp, he doesn't have that sort of athleticism.

Good kick not athletic. Sounds like a backman to me

 

[Red Black and Blue]

In a not very flattering comparison, he reminds me of Paul Johnson.