Given where our list is at we are realistically three years away form being a genuine premiership contender. Therefore I thought it would be interesting to see how our list is developing towards that goal. Therefore below is our projected 2013 team based on our current list. (Age in 2013 in brackets:
B: S McMahon (27) N Grima (28) S Thompson (27)
HB: G Urquart (25) L Hansen (24) M Firrito (29)
C: D Wells (28) J Ziebell (22) L Anthony (25)
HF: Warren (24) R Tarrant (24) S Wright (22)
F: M Campbell (26) D Petrie (C) (30) L Thomas (25)
R: H McIntosh (28) B Cunnington (21) A Swallow (26)
Int: R Bastanic (21) T Goldstein (24) L Greenwood (24) TBD
Bonus: B Harvey (35), B Rawlings (32), L Harding (32) D Pratt (30) - Would be great is any of these four were still playing, although Pratt would only be 30 I believe his lack of pace could be exposed as he gets older.
Too early to tell: B Norris (21), A Kennedy (21), J MacMillan (21), R O'Keefe (22), A Black (21) - Most of them were late draft picks so any contribution would be a bonus. I am wary of Aaron Black, he moves like a ruckman, not a key position player, but he is only 192cm, I hope I am wrong but I believe he slid in the draft for a reason.
Retired: C Jones (32) - Will be well and truly done by 2013
Not good enough:
Leigh Adams (25) - too short,
W Benjamin (23) - can't kick,
C Gartlett (24) - I am betwixt and between on him, he could surprise me
Ed Lower (25) - Not good enough, list clogger
C Meredith (24) - would be shocked if he made it,
A Obst (26) - Is terrible and I am staggered he is on the list, has no position at AFL level
B Ross - (24) - Not good enough, if he is in our midfield in 2013 we will not be a contender
J Smith (27) - He is 24 and has played 7 AFL games, good VFL player defintely not AFL standard, list clogger
A Edwards (29) - too short, too slow, can't kick, has unbelievable hands but he is not good enough at AFL level, list clogger. He is already 26.
- The theme here is too many players who are good VFL players, who are not good enough to be solid AFL players.
Trade: D Hale (29) - Is unfairly maligned by Roos supporters, was a victim of playing in a team that moved the ball slowly and indirectly. But I will concede he was very disappointing last year. Get the ball in long and direct and he won't be outmarked. The modern rules are tailor made for a player of his height. He is also an excellent kick for goal. You don't kick 8 goals against the Geelong defense at its peak at Shell Stadium if you don't have ability. However he is surplus needs, so hopefully he has a cracking 2010 and we can trade him to GC for Gold Coast. Should be kicking 60 goals a year.
Needs: Midfielders, in order to be a contender you need midfield depth and 2-3 All Australian midfielders. We need to bolster our midfield in the coming drafts and/or trade periods.
Weakness: Backline, Thompson and Grima are working class, but will be effective if we have a dominant midfield.
Potential Stars: The contenders generally have 3-5 All Australians, from the team above the following players have AA potential, Urquart (will have an exceptional 2010), J Ziebell, B Cunnington, D Wells, R Tarrant, D Petrie, H McIntosh, maybe B Warren
Jury's Out: L Hansen, we will know more at the need of 2010, it is critical he can hold down CHB, showed flashes early but has been disappointing since, he is now 21, so still has time on his side, but he has to play 22 solid games next year.
Coach: So much to like about B Scott, by 2013 he should be hitting his strides
In summary, I think we are well on our way to building a premiership side. Our drafting since 2006 has been good. The key now is to develop our recent early draft picks into elite players as is adding talent and depth to the midfield in the ensuing drafts. Our key position stocks are strong, particularly if Hansen can hold down CHB.
B: S McMahon (27) N Grima (28) S Thompson (27)
HB: G Urquart (25) L Hansen (24) M Firrito (29)
C: D Wells (28) J Ziebell (22) L Anthony (25)
HF: Warren (24) R Tarrant (24) S Wright (22)
F: M Campbell (26) D Petrie (C) (30) L Thomas (25)
R: H McIntosh (28) B Cunnington (21) A Swallow (26)
Int: R Bastanic (21) T Goldstein (24) L Greenwood (24) TBD
Bonus: B Harvey (35), B Rawlings (32), L Harding (32) D Pratt (30) - Would be great is any of these four were still playing, although Pratt would only be 30 I believe his lack of pace could be exposed as he gets older.
Too early to tell: B Norris (21), A Kennedy (21), J MacMillan (21), R O'Keefe (22), A Black (21) - Most of them were late draft picks so any contribution would be a bonus. I am wary of Aaron Black, he moves like a ruckman, not a key position player, but he is only 192cm, I hope I am wrong but I believe he slid in the draft for a reason.
Retired: C Jones (32) - Will be well and truly done by 2013
Not good enough:
Leigh Adams (25) - too short,
W Benjamin (23) - can't kick,
C Gartlett (24) - I am betwixt and between on him, he could surprise me
Ed Lower (25) - Not good enough, list clogger
C Meredith (24) - would be shocked if he made it,
A Obst (26) - Is terrible and I am staggered he is on the list, has no position at AFL level
B Ross - (24) - Not good enough, if he is in our midfield in 2013 we will not be a contender
J Smith (27) - He is 24 and has played 7 AFL games, good VFL player defintely not AFL standard, list clogger
A Edwards (29) - too short, too slow, can't kick, has unbelievable hands but he is not good enough at AFL level, list clogger. He is already 26.
- The theme here is too many players who are good VFL players, who are not good enough to be solid AFL players.
Trade: D Hale (29) - Is unfairly maligned by Roos supporters, was a victim of playing in a team that moved the ball slowly and indirectly. But I will concede he was very disappointing last year. Get the ball in long and direct and he won't be outmarked. The modern rules are tailor made for a player of his height. He is also an excellent kick for goal. You don't kick 8 goals against the Geelong defense at its peak at Shell Stadium if you don't have ability. However he is surplus needs, so hopefully he has a cracking 2010 and we can trade him to GC for Gold Coast. Should be kicking 60 goals a year.
Needs: Midfielders, in order to be a contender you need midfield depth and 2-3 All Australian midfielders. We need to bolster our midfield in the coming drafts and/or trade periods.
Weakness: Backline, Thompson and Grima are working class, but will be effective if we have a dominant midfield.
Potential Stars: The contenders generally have 3-5 All Australians, from the team above the following players have AA potential, Urquart (will have an exceptional 2010), J Ziebell, B Cunnington, D Wells, R Tarrant, D Petrie, H McIntosh, maybe B Warren
Jury's Out: L Hansen, we will know more at the need of 2010, it is critical he can hold down CHB, showed flashes early but has been disappointing since, he is now 21, so still has time on his side, but he has to play 22 solid games next year.
Coach: So much to like about B Scott, by 2013 he should be hitting his strides
In summary, I think we are well on our way to building a premiership side. Our drafting since 2006 has been good. The key now is to develop our recent early draft picks into elite players as is adding talent and depth to the midfield in the ensuing drafts. Our key position stocks are strong, particularly if Hansen can hold down CHB.
