2011 Debutants

[The Dawes]

Thought it might be worthwhile getting people's opinions on the players most likely to make their AFL debut in the black & white this year.

If we look back at the last 3 seasons the number of debutants has declined but with the culling of many players with senior experience at the end of last season and the likelihood of injuries at certain times I think we can expect to have a few more than 2010.

For the record the debutants since 2008 have been:

2010 - Blair.
2009 - Sidebottom, Beams, Macaffer & Barham.
2008 - Dawes, McCarthy, Wellingham, Anthony & N Brown.

FWIW these are the guys I reckon will debut in 2011:

Alex Fasolo - played WAFL seniors already and looks to have the physique to cope in his first season.
Josh Thomas - got rave reviews in the VFL last year and a full pre-season should give him the opportunity to play at some stage.
Luke Rounds - ditto but has had more time to develop on an AFL list, so surely only injury should prevent him from playing.
Tom Hunter - liked what I saw of him last year and think he may be able to do a Jarryd Blair.
Tom Young - really impressive last year in the VFL and only needs to keep improving to debut in 2011.

 

[HFF]

Luke Rounds and Josh Thomas are the only two for mine.

They are looked upon as senior players now so they will get their chance if they impress with form.

Fasolo may have the body but in terms of preparation for senior footy, he is well behind many players currently outside of the 22 that are ahead of him. Will probably see some NAB Cup game time though.

Hunter has no chance.

Young will have another development year, plus our defence is very strong for him to break into at the moment. Ditto Keeffe.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Thought it might be worthwhile getting people's opinions on the players most likely to make their AFL debut in the black & white this year.

If we look back at the last 3 seasons the number of debutants has declined but with the culling of many players with senior experience at the end of last season and the likelihood of injuries at certain times I think we can expect to have a few more than 2010.

For the record the debutants since 2008 have been:

2010 - Blair.
2009 - Sidebottom, Beams, Macaffer & Barham.
2008 - Dawes, McCarthy, Wellingham, Anthony & N Brown.

FWIW these are the guys I reckon will debut in 2011:

Alex Fasolo - played WAFL seniors already and looks to have the physique to cope in his first season.
Josh Thomas - got rave reviews in the VFL last year and a full pre-season should give him the opportunity to play at some stage.
Luke Rounds - ditto but has had more time to develop on an AFL list, so surely only injury should prevent him from playing.
Tom Hunter - liked what I saw of him last year and think he may be able to do a Jarryd Blair.
Tom Young - really impressive last year in the VFL and only needs to keep improving to debut in 2011.

In order of likelihood to debut, I would suggest it is as follows

1. Luke Rounds. Was very close last year (emergency a number of times). Very strong chance to play early, depending on form.
2. Lachlan Keefe. Is now our next cab off the rank for a key defensive position, and has versatility for stints in the ruck (and maybe forward).
3. Josh Thomas. Seems to have some fans down at the club. May be tough as he seems to be a pure midfielder and the queue is quite long.
4. Tom Young. Won our best VFL player, which suggests he is around the mark.
5. Alex Fasolo. Wouldn't expect to see a first year kid, especially a mid/forward given our abundance of mid/forwards, but may be a chance.

I wouldn't think there would realistically be anyone else in contention.

 

[TradeDraft]

In order of likelihood to debut, I would suggest it is as follows

1. Luke Rounds. Was very close last year (emergency a number of times). Very strong chance to play early, depending on form.
2. Lachlan Keefe. Is now our next cab off the rank for a key defensive position, and has versatility for stints in the ruck (and maybe forward).
3. Josh Thomas. Seems to have some fans down at the club. May be tough as he seems to be a pure midfielder and the queue is quite long.
4. Tom Young. Won our best VFL player, which suggests he is around the mark.
5. Alex Fasolo. Wouldn't expect to see a first year kid, especially a mid/forward given our abundance of mid/forwards, but may be a chance.

I wouldn't think there would realistically be anyone else in contention.

That is about Right with out seeing them play. Though I would have Keeffe bit further down as Tarrant would be ahead of him. I would have them as

1: Rounds
2: Thomas
3: Young
4: Fasolo
5: Ugle
6: Farmer
7: Keeffe

 

[Old Spice]

Rounds possibly for Cafe if injured.

Thomas for Ball or Blair.

Young also possible, but again, you'd think there might need to be some injuries.

When you think about having to squeeze in Taz, Krakouer, Dick and Davis, makes it tough going to get into the outfit.

 

[The Big Steele]

Who knows? Who would have thought Blair would be a premiership player this time last year. Players improve at different rates, injuries give opportunitues.

 

[The Dawes]

Luke Rounds and Josh Thomas are the only two for mine.

They are looked upon as senior players now so they will get their chance if they impress with form.

Fasolo may have the body but in terms of preparation for senior footy, he is well behind many players currently outside of the 22 that are ahead of him. Will probably see some NAB Cup game time though.

Hunter has no chance.

Young will have another development year, plus our defence is very strong for him to break into at the moment. Ditto Keeffe.

Might be worth bearing in mind that last year we used 33 players - 7 of which are no longer on the list. So a similar run with injuries as last year will mean we have to find the same number of players - leaving aside Buckley, Tarrant & Krakouer who will probably play at some point that still leaves 4 vacancies which must come from players yet to debut.

In 2011 the list contains 11 players yet to debut not including rookies.

I think it's highly likely that more than 2 will debut.

 

[Old Spice]

Good point Dawes man re the 33 players for 2010. Watching the highlight dvd the other day, it already felt an eternity ago watching Medders, Anthony, Lockyer, Davis, Obree, Fraser and Presti running around. That's what happens when you watch the GF replay 187 times though.

 

[mattys123]

1: Rounds
2: Thomas
3: Young
4: Fasolo
5: Ugle
6: Farmer
7: Keeffe

I agree you Dave, apart from Ugle, I don't think he will debut this year, as all I can see him being in "year one" is a small forward, and we already have a plethora of those in the seniors and pushing for senior selection.

Glad you put Keefe in though, even though he hasn't played ruck too much, I see him as our no.4 ruck option, behind the 3 "seniors", Jolly, Leeroy and Wood, and if one or two of those get injured, Keefe might get 1-2 games this season.

Farmer's a "smoky" IMO, I think he would need to develop a little more "bulk" over pre season and during the season itself, but he could be a late season debutant.

Thomas, Rounds and Young will play at least one game of senior football each this year, with Thomas rated the highest by myself, in terms of possible senior games played in 2011.

Realistically, to stay "competitive" at the top, after 2011, we will need the likes of Rounds, Young, Thomas, Keefe and Fasolo coming through to replace some of our older players, so to see them debut in 2011 would be great.

 

[Histrionics]

Good point Dawes man re the 33 players for 2010. Watching the highlight dvd the other day, it already felt an eternity ago watching Medders, Anthony, Lockyer, Davis, Obree, Fraser and Presti running around. That's what happens when you watch the GF replay 187 times though.

Only 187? soft.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

That is about Right with out seeing them play. Though I would have Keeffe bit further down as Tarrant would be ahead of him. I would have them as

1: Rounds
2: Thomas
3: Young
4: Fasolo
5: Ugle
6: Farmer
7: Keeffe

Nice list Dave.
I think I would move Young to number 2 but I agree with the rest

 

[Old Spice]

Only 187? soft.

I regretfully concede.

 

[iGNITER]

I reckon Fasolo and Rounds will debut in 2011.

Rounds was very close on a number of occasions throughout 2010.

Have big wraps on Fasolo. Seen a few of his games in the WAFL and wouldnt be surprised to see his debut in 2011.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

I reckon Fasolo and Rounds will debut in 2011.

Rounds was very close on a number of occasions throughout 2010.

Have big wraps on Fasolo. Seen a few of his games in the WAFL and wouldnt be surprised to see his debut in 2011.

The big H gave him a good wrap today on FB. "another great training session today. We're really moving in the right direction. Draftee Alex Fasolo showing good signs"

 

[Ed D]

I wouldn't be surprised if Sinclair or Farmer were a chance of a game later in the year, but they'd be behind the other names already mentioned:

Rounds, Thomas, Young, Keefe and Fasolo.

 

[iGNITER]

The big H gave him a good wrap today on FB. "another great training session today. We're really moving in the right direction. Draftee Alex Fasolo showing good signs"

I like the sound of that.

He will do the number 35 proud.

 

[Jelly Bean]

That is about Right with out seeing them play. Though I would have Keeffe bit further down as Tarrant would be ahead of him. I would have them as

1: Rounds
2: Thomas
3: Young
4: Fasolo
5: Ugle
6: Farmer
7: Keeffe

I just think that Keefe is far too far down that list. Needs to be top 3, just based on depth at his position.

If we play three tall defenders (Tarrant, Reid, Brown) like we will most weeks, all we need is an injury to one of those and Keefe is in. Imagine we are playing hawthorn (Buddy, Roughie, Hale) and one of our tall defenders is injured. Keefe is in.

Not saying he is certainty, but he is surely in front of Farmer and Ugle, who are behind a great number of players. Keefe is next in line for his position for god's sake...

 

[TradeDraft]

I agree you Dave, apart from Ugle, I don't think he will debut this year, as all I can see him being in "year one" is a small forward, and we already have a plethora of those in the seniors and pushing for senior selection.

Well the Club said when he was Drafted he could get a few games at AFL Level but I only give Ugle a Outside Chance

 

[Lockyer24]

I was thinking about our depth today, you would think at least 3 debutants will get a gig this year.

Rounds - first cab off the rank and with Caff struggling should get his chance
Fasolo - looks physically mature enough to step in early
Keefe - probably only if injury strikes however
Farmer - I think he is a smokey due to our lack of mid sised forwards
J Thomas - probably 2nd cab off the rank however our midfield and forward pockets slots are pretty deep so will have to really knck the door down

I think they are the 5 who have some hope. Young and Hunter not far off.

 

[Yoda_]

Saw the Pies VFL team on a couple of occasions (once live), interesting to note that Josh Thomas began the year (2010) essentially as what Luke Rounds plays permanently, then did well and moved on.

Would this not mean that he would get first shot?

I think that Thomas is more likely to get a senior gig first, personal opinion of course.

Of the first year players, Fasolo should later in the year having already made the transition from U/19 to senior footy pretty well.

 

[JollyBallsUp]

If Sinclair has an injury free season I think he will debut ahead of Thomas.
All at the club rate him highly and judging by the end of season player reviews he is in their thought process.

Agree we will need to debut 4-5 players at various stages next season and the sub rule helps with that given that a younger player can either be subed in or out.

 

[the mighty T]

A lot of this could depend on how we decide to use some of the players in our best 22, for example: potentially moving H. Shaw into the midfield early on in the season would open up a spot for Tom Young off the HBF

Also, it will depend how the likes of Leroy and Ben Johnson as older statesmen of the club start off their campaign, and whether MM decides to use other players in their positions ala Obree and Lockyer 09-10.

Rounds is certainly an interesting one, considering that he and blair were basically neck and neck for a debut game last season and blair only just got the nod, i'd assume that Rounds wouldnt be too far away.

Realistically i think our debutantes will be (aside from Krak and Taz):
1. Rounds
2. Young
3. Buckley
4. Josh Thomas
5. Fasolo
6. Sinclair
7. Keefe

 

[TradeDraft]

Rounds is certainly an interesting one, considering that he and blair were basically neck and neck for a debut game last season and blair only just got the nod, i'd assume that Rounds wouldnt be too far away.

I think Rounds missed out because of a Shoulder Injury

 

[the mighty T]

I think Rounds missed out because of a Shoulder Injury

I think that was later on TD, i can recall in Blair's debut game, rounds being named as an emergency, however i may be wrong.

 

[Kirby]

I'm pretty sure that Rounds and Young will get to debut this year, maybe Josh Thomas.