Player Watch #28 Kane McAuliffe

[Moppey]

You think the club will play McAuliffe over a guy who just won the BnF? Likely next captain of the club? Fanciful thinking.

He's competing for a role with Ross and Smillie. I just don't see how he plays ahead of Smillie.

No i think all of Prestia Hopper and Taranto will play but also think there is a spot in the 23 for McAuliffe,Lalor, Hotton, Smillie, maybe our first pick this year as well.

It means other types miss instead of a big mid with the obvious attributes we clearly lack.
Id definately play McAuliffe in front of Jack Ross for instance because of his power pace spread and hardness/crunching tackles

Have bought this up often enough. On our list we currently have 10 Mids including mid/fwds you know proper mids not running flankers or wingers.
Its likely two of them Dow Sonsie are gonski given the list atm.

We play most games, no most clubs play 7 - 8 mids every week weather that's a Sammy Lalor or Taj Hotton who will spend a lot of time as forwards even young Algar who has great mid traits, remember types like Dusty, Bolton, Lambert, Edwards important pieces of the midfield but also important pieces forward.

So the 8 mids we will actually have not including draftees will most likely be playing most games.

 

[THE_GUN]

No i think all of Prestia Hopper and Taranto will play but also think there is a spot in the 23 for McAuliffe,Lalor, Hotton, Smillie, maybe our first pick this year as well.

It means other types miss instead of a big mid with the obvious attributes we clearly lack.
Id definately play McAuliffe in front of Jack Ross for instance because of his power pace spread and hardness/crunching tackles

Have bought this up often enough. On our list we currently have 10 Mids including mid/fwds you know proper mids not running flankers or wingers.
Its likely two of them Dow Sonsie are gonski given the list atm.

We play most games, no most clubs play 7 - 8 mids every week weather that's a Sammy Lalor or Taj Hotton who will spend a lot of time as forwards even young Algar who has great mid traits, remember types like Dusty, Bolton, Lambert, Edwards important pieces of the midfield but also important pieces forward.

So the 8 mids we will actually have not including draftees will most likely be playing most games.

Pretty sure Mr Calcium posted that jack Ross was sub 3.0 secons for the 20mtrs and fast
how much faster is kane than jack if Jack Ross is indead that fast

 

[Drunken Wookie]

its up to the mc to grow some balls and move taranto and hopper to hf for long stints to give kids like kane proper exposure in the middle. if tim and jacob feel slighted they can request trades eoy and net us some tidy picks.

 

[4tune8]

Pretty sure Mr Calcium posted that jack Ross was sub 3.0 secons for the 20mtrs and fast
how much faster is kane than jack if Jack Ross is indead that fast

Ross 2.95, McAuliffe 2.93, he was also 5th in the standing vertical jump and 3rd in the running jump

 

[Moppey]

3 mids extra if you add Kellaway

Minus two if Sonsie and Dow are really gone. Plus minus 3 at seasons end if Prestia retires so back to where we are now.

List right now is about 4 mids short for mids imo.
With trades delistings retirements it may take 3 years to get that number right.
But that all good we are in early rebuild we have to get a large pile of kids to around 100 games time is on our side.

 

[THE_GUN]

Ross 2.95, McAuliffe 2.93, he was also 5th in the standing vertical jump and 3rd in the running jump

Yep Kane is faster than Jack

Sorry Moppey

 

[Moppey]

Ross may well have clocked a quick time but he sure as hell rarely produces that pace in games and is widely critiqued for it..

 

[tigs2010]

This guy might have been a late pick but he was a steal. Had all the credentials to get picked higher. Can't wait to see him string a block of senior games together.

Was he ever rated highly during the year?

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Was he ever rated highly during the year?

would be #2 this year. behind matt whiplock

 

[Calcium Man]

its up to the mc to grow some balls and move taranto and hopper to hf for long stints to give kids like kane proper exposure in the middle. if tim and jacob feel slighted they can request trades eoy and net us some tidy picks.

To be fair to mc in Kanes 5 games he had 3rd most centre bounce attendances (not including nank) except Prestia’s first game back when he was 4th

Rd 9 - 15 cba in 69% game time
Rd 10 - 12 in 76%
Rd 11 - 15 in 75%
Rd 12 - 15 (Prestia and hopper had 19) in 62%
Rd 13 - 13 in 65% (hopper had 12).

So really the campaigner just needs to stay fit

 

[THE THIN MAN]

What round will Kane kick his 1st goal of his AFL career?

 

[Grrr]

No i think all of Prestia Hopper and Taranto will play but also think there is a spot in the 23 for McAuliffe,Lalor, Hotton, Smillie, maybe our first pick this year as well.

It means other types miss instead of a big mid with the obvious attributes we clearly lack.
Id definately play McAuliffe in front of Jack Ross for instance because of his power pace spread and hardness/crunching tackles

Have bought this up often enough. On our list we currently have 10 Mids including mid/fwds you know proper mids not running flankers or wingers.
Its likely two of them Dow Sonsie are gonski given the list atm.

We play most games, no most clubs play 7 - 8 mids every week weather that's a Sammy Lalor or Taj Hotton who will spend a lot of time as forwards even young Algar who has great mid traits, remember types like Dusty, Bolton, Lambert, Edwards important pieces of the midfield but also important pieces forward.

So the 8 mids we will actually have not including draftees will most likely be playing most games.

Ross is our only mid that uses the ball constructively. Hopper whilst good at getting it is a poor kick, Taranto is worse. Prestia is about their level these days with disposal. Ross may not be quick, but he's quicker than the others. The way we lumbered after our opponents last season was embarrassing.

McAuliffe replaces Prestia, as great as he has been he isn't any more.

 

[TJTIGER]

Left footer too.

Just stay ****en fit campaigner

If that doesn't work, I don't know what will?!!

 

[TJTIGER]

I could see him being a bettwr Jack Graham who was an integral part of our successful sides. Has better pace, better kick, gets more ball, can play inside or outside. So there's every chance he could be a solid roleplayer in a successful side.

Be a very big win for the club, if it pans out that way Grock... Better than Jack G that is.

 

[Grockadoc]

Be a very big win for the club, if it pans out that way Grock... Better than Jack G that is.

Agree.

 

[partycorolla]

Ross is our only mid that uses the ball constructively. Hopper whilst good at getting it is a poor kick, Taranto is worse. Prestia is about their level these days with disposal. Ross may not be quick, but he's quicker than the others. The way we lumbered after our opponents last season was embarrassing.

McAuliffe replaces Prestia, as great as he has been he isn't any more.

Not sure what we gain by playing Prestia at all to be honest. Maybe he can set training standards. If we can play him for 5-60% game time but it's really just thanking him for 3 flags... Need to get game time into the next wave. Let Dion rip it up in the VFL and teach the young ones going through there...

 

[THE_GUN]

Not sure what we gain by playing Prestia at all to be honest. Maybe he can set training standards. If we can play him for 5-60% game time but it's really just thanking him for 3 flags... Need to get game time into the next wave. Let Dion rip it up in the VFL and teach the young ones going through there...

With such a young list and 5 players on the bench teaching the young kids on the ground with positioning is extremely important and been mentioned many times that Dion has a brilliant footy brain and coaching skills.
Club being bad we really have nothing to lose with him in the side apart from game time for the kids which they will be getting more as they develop

 

[spky1234]

With such a young list and 5 players on the bench teaching the young kids on the ground with positioning is extremely important and been mentioned many times that Dion has a brilliant footy brain and coaching skills.
Club being bad we really have nothing to lose with him in the side apart from game time for the kids which they will be getting more as they develop

At worst we are paying Prestia outside the soft cap to coach.

At best he's fit enough to play and instruct on field.

 

[THE_GUN]

At worst we are paying Prestia outside the soft cap to coach.

At best he's fit enough to play and instruct on field.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make but i will give an answer trying to predict what you tried to mean

Difference between why we kept him as a player:
We only have 3 selections and will need to delist players next year as well and Prestia provides leadership and experience as well as on field coaching as well as having a shed load of cap space and value soft cap space more than players cap space in 2026

 

[tropicaltiger]

Should be prime for 2026

lets hope he has got the injuries done and has a great preseason and explodes onto the scene in 2026 along with Gibcus and Smillie

me too

 

[Grrr]

With such a young list and 5 players on the bench teaching the young kids on the ground with positioning is extremely important and been mentioned many times that Dion has a brilliant footy brain and coaching skills.
Club being bad we really have nothing to lose with him in the side apart from game time for the kids which they will be getting more as they develop

Hopper, Taranto and even Ross not enough experience? He may have a good brain, but that is what coaches and game reviews are for.

 

[4tune8]

Hopper, Taranto and even Ross not enough experience? He may have a good brain, but that is what coaches and game reviews are for.

It was quite fascinating to listen to Prestia when he was mic'd up in round 20. He wasn't just helping the young mids, he was directing play, instructing Hopper where to line up at centre bounce, giving feedback to Sims about releasing a player for a deeper F50 entry. Pretty much the on field coach and a valuable asset.

In Game Mic'd Up: Dion Prestia

Go behind the scenes of our Round 20 clash with Collingwood as Dion Prestia wears the mic and brings you closer to the action.

www.richmondfc.com.au

 

[Grrr]

It was quite fascinating to listen to Prestia when he was mic'd up in round 20. He wasn't just helping the young mids, he was directing play, instructing Hopper where to line up at centre bounce, giving feedback to Sims about releasing a player for a deeper F50 entry. Pretty much the on field coach and a valuable asset.

In Game Mic'd Up: Dion Prestia

Go behind the scenes of our Round 20 clash with Collingwood as Dion Prestia wears the mic and brings you closer to the action.

www.richmondfc.com.au

I get that, but there comes a time when that becomes secondary to individual and team importance. It looked like that time had come at times last season to me.

All centre square set-ups are controlled by one or more players. As the senior mid it would be Prestia's job, but our other mids could do that also.

If he responds and winds back the clock good on him. But we need the old Prestia back, and we need speed.

 

[fargothegreat]

It was quite fascinating to listen to Prestia when he was mic'd up in round 20. He wasn't just helping the young mids, he was directing play, instructing Hopper where to line up at centre bounce, giving feedback to Sims about releasing a player for a deeper F50 entry. Pretty much the on field coach and a valuable asset.

In Game Mic'd Up: Dion Prestia

Go behind the scenes of our Round 20 clash with Collingwood as Dion Prestia wears the mic and brings you closer to the action.

www.richmondfc.com.au

No wonder our midfield is so ****ed if Prestia is having to tell even Hopper where to stand at stoppage.

 

[Morro]

Which brings up an interesting question
Jack Ross !

If we get 2 x mids this year and McAuliffe , Smillie , Lalor and Seth come on and play more midfield time and we start struggling for positions.

Ross will get offers as a free agent and may be the player that makes way end of 2026

Essendon love him and will come hard IMO