VFL 2024 VFL Thread

[dogwatch]

Reckon Croft Jnr is starting to look more advanced than most 1st year key position players. Looks a naughton clone.

He was playing wing in senior EDFL iirc. Might be worth a shot sometime.

Croft senior debuted in July of his first year aged 18 but he only played 8 games over his first three years. So it looks like he wasn't quite ready at that stage. He came good in his fourth year at the club.

Times have changed and the standard of professionalism has gone up heaps since then. And Croft junior might be a different type to his dad. But most likely we'll just need to be patient.

 

[dergert]

If you're not excited about Lachlan Smith.... You should be.

 

[Mofra]

Crofty, Kretiuk & Southern - we didn’t lack any tough campaigner’s in the late 90’s.

Carrying on the Toohey-Kennedy-Dent tradition

Tim Callan gets forgotten but was a damn hard player too.

 

[Dog 36]

If you're not excited about Lachlan Smith.... You should be.

Why?

History tells me that English will be number 1 ruck for sometime to come on the proviso he stays

Smith will be handy iIF English goes but whilst Timmy is at the club and is not injured hard to see anyone else playing the ruck roll see Sweet

 

[dogwatch]

Why?

History tells me that English will be number 1 ruck for sometime to come on the proviso he stays

Smith will be handy iIF English goes but whilst Timmy is at the club and is not injured hard to see anyone else playing the ruck roll see Sweet

It's a long way to the top if you want a ruckin' role.

 

[grassman75]

Carrying on the Toohey-Kennedy-Dent tradition

Tim Callan gets forgotten but was a damn hard player too.

Peanuts used to beat him though

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Why?

History tells me that English will be number 1 ruck for sometime to come on the proviso he stays

Smith will be handy iIF English goes but whilst Timmy is at the club and is not injured hard to see anyone else playing the ruck roll see Sweet

Smith's playing incredibly well for someone of his age in the VFL, but it's still a long way to go to be AFL standard, so there's no worry there.

For a sake of comparison, Toby Nankervis, a short, lack of leaping ability ruck who is Smith's fairest comparison was still running around as an overager for the Tasmanian U18 team and only cemented himself when he got over to Richmond in his fourth year (equivalent to Smith's fifth year). Comparison is 2028, when English will be 28.

Irrespective of if it's with us or if there's another trade like Sweet to get more opportunity out there, I agree, Smith will be a solid top-15 in the ruck in the future like Nankervis has been, he's shown enough at this age here. Just that might not be for another five years, as rucks take forever to develop.

 

[dogwatch]

Smith's playing incredibly well for someone of his age in the VFL, but it's still a long way to go to be AFL standard, so there's no worry there.

For a sake of comparison, Toby Nankervis, a short, lack of leaping ability ruck who is Smith's fairest comparison was still running around as an overager for the Tasmanian U18 team and only cemented himself when he got over to Richmond in his fourth year (equivalent to Smith's fifth year). Comparison is 2028, when English will be 28.

Irrespective of if it's with us or if there's another trade like Sweet to get more opportunity out there, I agree, Smith will be a solid top-15 in the ruck in the future like Nankervis has been, he's shown enough at this age here. Just that might not be for another five years, as rucks take forever to develop.

English will be 30 in 2028. In fact he'll turn 31 in August that year.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Croft senior debuted in July of his first year aged 18 but he only played 8 games over his first three years. So it looks like he wasn't quite ready at that stage. He came good in his fourth year at the club.

Times have changed and the standard of professionalism has gone up heaps since then. And Croft junior might be a different type to his dad. But most likely we'll just need to be patient.

He likely would have played more dogwatch, but those pesky hammies of his plagued him right from the start of his career.

And, while a very different kettle of fish to current day drafts, Crofty was pick 2 in the 1989 draft. (Although looking at the rest of that draft, only Galaxy Coleman is notable. Repacholi and Brunner were considered good picks, but had no impact, while the less said about our other picks that year, the better!)

 

[VitalDread]

Round​	Opponent​	Date​	Time​	Location​	Broadcast​
14	North Melbourne	Saturday 29 June	2.05pm	Arden St Oval	AFL.com.au
15	Werribee	Saturday 6 July	2.05pm	Avalon Airport Oval	AFL.com.au
16	Carlton	Sunday 14 July	12pm	Mission Whitten Oval	Ch 7
17	Geelong	Saturday 20 July	3.40pm	GMHBA Stadium	AFL.com.au
18	BYE
19	Casey Demons	Friday 2 August	3.05pm	Mission Whiten Oval	AFL.com.au
20	Frankston	Sunday 11 August	12pm	Kinetic Stadium	Ch 7
21	Sydney Swans	Saturday 17 August	11.05am	Tramway Oval	AFL.com.au

 

[Bulldogs85]

VFL Team | Round 10

Footscray has made three changes to its line-up ahead of tomorrow’s double-header against Collingwood.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Footscray has made three changes to its Round 10 line-up, ahead of tomorrow’s double-header against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.

Charlie Clarke returns after missing last week with illness, while Kai Stretton and Connor Watson have both been recalled.

Rory Lobb

7

Rory Lobb

Age

31

Ht

207cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.9

4star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.6

3star

and Lachie McNeil have been elevated to the AFL side, with Cameron Kizan also coming out of the team.
Lachie Smith, Jedd Busslinger and Jordan Croft headline a group of what could be up to 10 AFL-listed players included.

Footscray will look to continue their undefeated streak, with the first bounce at 4.05pm AEST on Friday afternoon.

Gates 5, 8 and 9 at Marvel Stadium will open from 3.45pm AEST to accommodate patrons wishing to attend – but must hold a valid ticket/admission to the later AFL match.

The match will be streamed via afl.com.au/vfl, with game-day updates also available via @FootscrayVFL on X (Twitter).

Support the 'Scray with a VFL membership, giving you access to all Footscray Bulldogs home games at Mission Whitten Oval.

VFL Team | Round 10​

Collingwood v Footscray Bulldogs
Friday 31 May, 4:05pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri

B: Spicer, Lewis, L.Smith
HB: Bedendo, Bianco, Clarke
C: Croft, A. Jones, Crofts
HF: Orgill, Busslinger, Hunt
F: Craig-Peters, Poulter, Cleary
R: Khamis, Kellett, Baker
IC: Willoughby, Gilbee, Dahms, Stretton, Watson
EMG: C. Smith, McRae, Bade, Maple

In: Clarke, Stretton, Watson
Out: Lobb (AFL), McNeil (AFL), Kizan

 

[lachy]

Slow start but getting on top now.

Buss clearly the best of AFL listed players

On SM-S926B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Testekill]

So what's the point of tightening up HTB if they're not going to pay not disposing of it properly?

 

[PurpJuice]

Lachie Smith is a huge surprise. Not every 18yo bloke comes in and dominates like he has.

 

[Testekill]

Why does Baker always run on the line?

 

[Wizard17]

Been poor with our f50 entries

 

[VitalDread]

I hope the clubs who are interested in Baker aren't watching that first Q

 

[Testekill]

Smith doing a little bit of packbusting there.

 

[Testekill]

Even when we get out we are a little too cute in the forward 50

 

[PurpJuice]

So glad we didn’t pick up Spicer

 

[Testekill]

Great contested mark by Bedendo and a needed goal

 

[Wizard17]

10 clearances to CCP already...

 

[Testekill]

10 clearances to CCP already...

Playing like he has a point to prove

 

[Testekill]

Croft is learning what it means to be a Bulldogs tall, blocked or scragged off the ball at all times.

 

[PurpJuice]

I rate Busslinger so highly, he is going to reach the heights of Sam Taylor

15

Sam Taylor

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.1

4star

MG

130.5

2star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

60.8

1star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.8

5star

MG

110.8

2star

, genuinely looks incredible.

I don’t mind about Bazlenka, but I’m praying we keep him.