Player Watch #23: Blake Thredgold - Lisfranc injury in '26 preseason - expected to be out for 6mo - Blake says expects to spend time in gym in recovery

[roos_fanatic08]

Threadgold actually has the mobility and agility to go with even the zippiest of smalls. Straight line speed might be an issue, but he'd give it a red hot crack.

The best thing about Threadgold is that he is naturally a defender first.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Needs more meat on his bones. His only 2026 plans should be VFL and a late season run of 2-3 games.

 

[zoomba23]

Is Arch going down a chance for Thredgold to make a name for himself? He could be that lockdown defender on the medium/talls imo. Archer had an underrated aerial interception game, and we know Thredgold has that too.

It's not really how it works. An injury to a player doesn't accelerate another player's opportunities if said other player isn't yet ready for AFL

 

[r00boy96]

It's not really how it works. An injury to a player doesn't accelerate another player's opportunities if said other player isn't yet ready for AFL

Strong disagree, an opportunity directly gives someone the chance to accelerate their development. My assumption is that he is ready for AFL. We'll see if that's a correct assumption.

 

[Ardent Roo]

It's not really how it works. An injury to a player doesn't accelerate another player's opportunities if said other player isn't yet ready for AFL

It's exactly how it works opportunity-wise. You lose 2 or 3 defenders, it naturally means players who were destined to develop more in the 2s are thrust into AFL roles.

Doesn't make them more READY for AFL, but certainly accelerates their opportunities.

 

[zoomba23]

It's exactly how it works opportunity-wise. You lose 2 or 3 defenders, it naturally means players who were destined to develop more in the 2s are thrust into AFL roles.

Doesn't make them more READY for AFL, but certainly accelerates their opportunities.

Wawson and Corr will be ahead of him. We saw what happened when Whitlock was brought in too early

 

[shintemaster]

Wawson and Corr will be ahead of him. We saw what happened when Whitlock was brought in too early

Corr will be lucky to be on the field. Whitlock the most obvious one ahead, I think Dawson is a completely different type. Thredgold seems much more in the agile size KPP.

 

[zoomba23]

Corr will be lucky to be on the field. Whitlock the most obvious one ahead, I think Dawson is a completely different type. Thredgold seems much more in the agile size KPP.

Look, I don't know where Whitlock actually plays. I think he's a defender, many don't. I think we'll end up attaching him to a winch, connecting it to a button in the coaches' box, and dropping him at either end throughout a game as we see fit

 

[shintemaster]

Look, I don't know where Whitlock actually plays. I think he's a defender, many don't. I think we'll end up attaching him to a winch, connecting it to a button in the coaches' box, and dropping him at either end throughout a game as we see fit

I think Whitlock is a bit of a victim of his attributes, seems a relatively cerebral footy player so can play anywhere. Could almost see him as a Nick Riewoldt style lead aggressive running CHF / Wing player as well.

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

Whitlock will be a key defender. He’s will be halfway through his second contract when North figure it out.

 

[amaz199]

Whitlock is playing forward this year I believe.

They see Dawson playing back. Already have enough KPDs as is.

 

[shintemaster]

Whitlock is playing forward this year I believe.

They see Dawson playing back. Already have enough KPDs as is.

Kind of makes sense IMO with a full list. I know they've played with Dawson forward a bit but not sure he's ever shown the mental attributes to be a great forward. Comben has plenty of attributes to play forward but just seemed to get in his own way mentally / physically up forward and to my eye putting too much pressure on himself, causing confidence issues at goal with the few chances (not that it's an easy gig in our team of recent years).

With both looking more comfortable back we arguably don't have as pressing an immediate need. Think the interesting thing will be the extra on the bench and Goad as well which might see more height back in the forward line.

 

[Merlin007]

Whitlock is playing forward this year I believe.

They see Dawson playing back. Already have enough KPDs as is.

that's where he's training

 

[zoomba23]

Whitlock is playing forward this year I believe.

They see Dawson playing back. Already have enough KPDs as is.

That's why it's a bit weird that we went for Matt imo.

Did we identify such a gulf between them that we couldn't have recruited the pure forward?

 

[muttley45]

Is he a similar size to Dan Curtin ?

 

[amaz199]

That's why it's a bit weird that we went for Matt imo.

Did we identify such a gulf between them that we couldn't have recruited the pure forward?

Whitlock has upside. I'm prepared to wait and see on that one.

 

[zoomba23]

Whitlock has upside. I'm prepared to wait and see on that one.

So am I. I like his skillset, and his personality even more.

I just don't think most clubs search for positional versatility when they're in desperate need of key forwards, that's all

 

[Passmore]

So am I. I like his skillset, and his personality even more.

I just don't think most clubs search for positional versatility when they're in desperate need of key forwards, that's all

Can't say I watched them at all, but in U18's Matt kicked 27g from 14 games vs Jack 25g from 12.

He must have shown some decent ability as a forward.

Time will tell, as we say.

 

[zoomba23]

Can't say I watched them at all, but in U18's Matt kicked 27g from 14 games vs Jack 25g from 12.

He must have shown some decent ability as a forward.

Time will tell, as we say.

It's a good point you make, and that's why I asked whether we noted a gulf between them. If we did, I'll back the club in.

It's just that swingmen, or the option of swinging men (not like that), complicate things at this club. You know this

 

[DunderHead]

It's a good point you make, and that's why I asked whether we noted a gulf between them. If we did, I'll back the club in.

It's just that swingmen, or the option of swinging men (not like that), complicate things at this club. You know this

Impressive by both those boys

Impressive that Matt off the back of not playing forward or expecting to play forward was thrown up there and performed.

Impressive by Jack who off the back of injury came back in and performed strongly. I hope we steal Jack earlier rather than later.

 

[Roos1991]

I get the desire to play Whitlock forward but the opportunity created here by Arch being out just seems to make sense. Despite his size, he's agile and attacks the ball. This is a chance for him to really hone in on his ability to read the play and keep the pressure up all game, could also learn forward craft by playing on solid medium, tall and small forwards. Seems a no brainer to me.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Is he a similar size to Dan Curtin ?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I have a good feeling about Blake.
Just something about the kid screams "200+ gamer".

 

[WesternRoo]

Thredgold is quicker and more agile than either of Archer or McDonald.

Atley and Mullet were also, but I’d still trust Archer to defend the small forwards better.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]