11. Joel Corey
I expect Joel this year to continue being a top line midfielder. He gets a lot of the football so if there is something I would like to see him improve on maybe it is his disposal. If he could just hurt the opposition a bit more with his field kicking that would be great. Super consistent over a few years Joel is a player we can rely on week in week out to perform at an appropriate level. If he continues that we will be more than happy with his service.
12. Trent West
Trent is an interesting one. Personally I rate him higher than Mark Blake and that is no disrespect to Blake. I think West can play. He is a good mover and has good skills. The main area he needs to improve in is his ruckwork, not that its bad it just needs to become better. If that can happen expect him to put a lot of pressure on Blake for the second ruck spot. Trent will get an opportunity in the NAB Cup and it will be interesting to see how he goes. If there is an injury to Ottens or Blake then he is next in line so I expect him to see some senior action this season. He is still young and as we know with ruckmen they take time. But be patient with this one because he is a goodie.
13. Tom Lonergan
Yes it is great to see him back and if and when he gets a run in the ones it will be a great sight. In reality he is probably our back up key defender but he also has an ability to go forward which a good string to his bow. I would think he will only see senior action if injuries occur maybe more chance as a forward but his versatility is an asset. Back or forward Tom is a courageous players as we know. This season I expect Tom to consolidate his comeback in the twos and be ready to go if needed in the ones back or forward if injuries occur. And if he gets his opportunity I have no doubt he will acquit himself well.
14. Joel Selwood
What Geelong supporter doesn’t love this kid. His debut season needs no explanation. But what for him this year? Well with a full pre season under his belt and a premiership year of experience behind him it is frightening to think how good he might be. But hold your horses cat fans go easy on the boy. I still expect him to play a simular role to last season coming off the bench a bit but getting a bit more game time. We don’t need to be one of our leading midfielders but just needs to make the cameos of last year just more of them. He will probably get a bit more attention this year from the opposition but that wont worry him as he is more than happy to get the hard footy and not hang outside a rely on others to get it for him. Second year blues are common but it is hard to see this kid have them due to his hard work ethic and the leadership qualities.
15. Ryan Gamble
A big year for Ryan. Been at the club for a few years now and needs to start delivering on his potential. Has had a few injuries and needs an uninterrupted pre season if he is to play senior football. And if he does where. He does have the ability to do the freakish and can take a big grab. Could he be a high leaping forward in the Russell Robertson mould for us, that would be nice and I think our forward line could use that. Also with his mobility he could move up the ground a bit and be a target coming out of defence. His kicking does need some improvement. I think there is a role for him in the side but he will have to earn it. Expect a NAB Cup run for him to prove it. If he gets his chance in the ones he might just add another dimension to our forward line.
16. Dawson Simpson
A big hulking lump of a ruckman. I think the best we can expect from Dawson is a season in the VFL just working on every aspect of being an AFL footballer. If he can show some signs of ability that would be great. I see him as a long term prospect which most ruckman are.
17. Shannon Byrnes
I see Shannon as the most likely player of our premiership side to not get a game round 1. Harsh yes but it’s a reality. I think he was lucky to play in a premiership as I think his skills and decision making are not at the level they need to be. Don’t get me wrong he was serviceable and did more than enough to justify his spot at the end of the season but I just think we have plenty of youngsters coming through gunning for his spot that might just get it (Varcoe, Prismall, Gamble). But still expect him to play his 10-14 games and be serviceable. A good squad player who just can’t kick.
18. Nathan Djerrkura
The boy has got some wraps on him but struggled with injury last year. This season I expect him to have a great year in the VFL side and really push for senior selection and maybe nab a game or two. But if he can have a good pre season and play most of the year in the VFL and perform well I think is the best case for Nathan. As for his best spot that is hard to say which is good. He can be a defender, mid or forward. But ideally I would like to see him in the midfield as his hardness and pace is a great asset. Look for Nathan’s third year at the club for his breakout year.
19. Matthew Egan
Cruelly struck by injury at the wrong time of the year. Aside from that what a season. This year we all hope he can get over his injury and get back in the side asap. He will continue to take the oppositions best forwards I think which releases Scarlett to be more attacking, which is a great combination. Where will his improvement come from. Well because of his injury I think he will have spent a lot of time in the weights room so expect him to be a lot stronger. But I think his experience playing on the best forwards last year will help him improve this year. He now has learnt a lot about playing on these players and that will hold him in good stead this season.
20. Steve Johnson
We all hope Steve can stay off the drink this season. I think we all know he will he has learnt his lesson. I expect Steve to get a lot more attention this season from defenders following last years brilliance. He must get even fitter so that he is able to run more to break these defenders. Steve likes to push back into defence a bit a then get on his own as he runs back down the ground. I don’t think that will be as easy this year. So better fitness will help him out run those who dare go with him. I expect much the same from Steve next season as from last year. He found his ideal role as a mobile forward and played it splendidly but with more defensive attention this yeaer Steve will need to be fitter to deal with it.
I expect Joel this year to continue being a top line midfielder. He gets a lot of the football so if there is something I would like to see him improve on maybe it is his disposal. If he could just hurt the opposition a bit more with his field kicking that would be great. Super consistent over a few years Joel is a player we can rely on week in week out to perform at an appropriate level. If he continues that we will be more than happy with his service.
12. Trent West
Trent is an interesting one. Personally I rate him higher than Mark Blake and that is no disrespect to Blake. I think West can play. He is a good mover and has good skills. The main area he needs to improve in is his ruckwork, not that its bad it just needs to become better. If that can happen expect him to put a lot of pressure on Blake for the second ruck spot. Trent will get an opportunity in the NAB Cup and it will be interesting to see how he goes. If there is an injury to Ottens or Blake then he is next in line so I expect him to see some senior action this season. He is still young and as we know with ruckmen they take time. But be patient with this one because he is a goodie.
13. Tom Lonergan
Yes it is great to see him back and if and when he gets a run in the ones it will be a great sight. In reality he is probably our back up key defender but he also has an ability to go forward which a good string to his bow. I would think he will only see senior action if injuries occur maybe more chance as a forward but his versatility is an asset. Back or forward Tom is a courageous players as we know. This season I expect Tom to consolidate his comeback in the twos and be ready to go if needed in the ones back or forward if injuries occur. And if he gets his opportunity I have no doubt he will acquit himself well.
14. Joel Selwood
What Geelong supporter doesn’t love this kid. His debut season needs no explanation. But what for him this year? Well with a full pre season under his belt and a premiership year of experience behind him it is frightening to think how good he might be. But hold your horses cat fans go easy on the boy. I still expect him to play a simular role to last season coming off the bench a bit but getting a bit more game time. We don’t need to be one of our leading midfielders but just needs to make the cameos of last year just more of them. He will probably get a bit more attention this year from the opposition but that wont worry him as he is more than happy to get the hard footy and not hang outside a rely on others to get it for him. Second year blues are common but it is hard to see this kid have them due to his hard work ethic and the leadership qualities.
15. Ryan Gamble
A big year for Ryan. Been at the club for a few years now and needs to start delivering on his potential. Has had a few injuries and needs an uninterrupted pre season if he is to play senior football. And if he does where. He does have the ability to do the freakish and can take a big grab. Could he be a high leaping forward in the Russell Robertson mould for us, that would be nice and I think our forward line could use that. Also with his mobility he could move up the ground a bit and be a target coming out of defence. His kicking does need some improvement. I think there is a role for him in the side but he will have to earn it. Expect a NAB Cup run for him to prove it. If he gets his chance in the ones he might just add another dimension to our forward line.
16. Dawson Simpson
A big hulking lump of a ruckman. I think the best we can expect from Dawson is a season in the VFL just working on every aspect of being an AFL footballer. If he can show some signs of ability that would be great. I see him as a long term prospect which most ruckman are.
17. Shannon Byrnes
I see Shannon as the most likely player of our premiership side to not get a game round 1. Harsh yes but it’s a reality. I think he was lucky to play in a premiership as I think his skills and decision making are not at the level they need to be. Don’t get me wrong he was serviceable and did more than enough to justify his spot at the end of the season but I just think we have plenty of youngsters coming through gunning for his spot that might just get it (Varcoe, Prismall, Gamble). But still expect him to play his 10-14 games and be serviceable. A good squad player who just can’t kick.
18. Nathan Djerrkura
The boy has got some wraps on him but struggled with injury last year. This season I expect him to have a great year in the VFL side and really push for senior selection and maybe nab a game or two. But if he can have a good pre season and play most of the year in the VFL and perform well I think is the best case for Nathan. As for his best spot that is hard to say which is good. He can be a defender, mid or forward. But ideally I would like to see him in the midfield as his hardness and pace is a great asset. Look for Nathan’s third year at the club for his breakout year.
19. Matthew Egan
Cruelly struck by injury at the wrong time of the year. Aside from that what a season. This year we all hope he can get over his injury and get back in the side asap. He will continue to take the oppositions best forwards I think which releases Scarlett to be more attacking, which is a great combination. Where will his improvement come from. Well because of his injury I think he will have spent a lot of time in the weights room so expect him to be a lot stronger. But I think his experience playing on the best forwards last year will help him improve this year. He now has learnt a lot about playing on these players and that will hold him in good stead this season.
20. Steve Johnson
We all hope Steve can stay off the drink this season. I think we all know he will he has learnt his lesson. I expect Steve to get a lot more attention this season from defenders following last years brilliance. He must get even fitter so that he is able to run more to break these defenders. Steve likes to push back into defence a bit a then get on his own as he runs back down the ground. I don’t think that will be as easy this year. So better fitness will help him out run those who dare go with him. I expect much the same from Steve next season as from last year. He found his ideal role as a mobile forward and played it splendidly but with more defensive attention this yeaer Steve will need to be fitter to deal with it.
, when will Part 3 be up? (can't wait)
