#30 - James Craig

[Drummond]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Judging by YouTube, looks good. Great tap ruckman and nice second efforts but at that height I doubt he's becoming a ruckman. However the good news is that he looks agile and nimble enough to be a great key defender. I'm thinking CHB long term. I like his aggression too. Good value at 61.

 

[Drummond]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

because Drummond isn't an expert, and makes OTT comments which makes people beleive their players are good
Panos was supposed to be first round and Ah Chee was a good prospect
but the experts dont agree with him

BACK THE TRUCK UP.

When have I ever said Panos is going to be a superstar???! He's a good honest kid, tries hard, beautiful kick and good reach, but never have I said we or anyone else should've taken him 1st, 2nd or anywhere really for that matter. I have no clue where you're getting this from.

 

[Mismatched]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy with Craig at 61, didn't want him any earlier, but happy at 61 , he rucks very well, is extremely athletic and aggressive. Has the ability to be very damaging around the ground, on top of his clever tap work. Even if he doesn't make it as a ruckman, his athletic capabilities and footy smarts make him very flexible. Merely pointing out that Ryder goes alright in the middle due to his leap, but struggles around the ground due to lack of size, and in his case perhaps rucking nous.

I see your point, but remember Ryder's a bit of a lightweight at 90kg, coming up against 100kg+ ruckman who are taller and stronger, which in a strength contest, which these contests invariable are, Ryder has no hope. Craig's already 92kg and would put on an extra 5-8kg's within a year or so, so I don't think Ryder is a great example around the ground. Better examples would be Jeff White, or more recently Sellar and Maric who are quite adept around the ground despite their lack of height. Not saying he'll necessarily become a ruckman, just that writing him off because Ryder struggles is incorrect IMO.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

If he wants to ruck he'll need to build a massive engine and just run the daylights out of the bigger/less athletic rucks. Looking at his stats he just doesn't get enough of the ball around the ground to be successful at AFL level because he'll need to be an around the ground ruck, not a tap ruck at AFL level- he'll struggle against the much bigger and athletic ruckman.

 

[BACCS]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Seems to have pretty good skills for a man of his size, and is well worth the punt at 61. Just unsure of his position, will be interesting to see where we use him. Considering we were thinking of taking him at 29 according to many Phantom drafts, hopefully will be a steal at 61.

 

[oldcrowgirl]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Does anyone know of links to interviews with any of the new Crows? We don't get much of that here in Canberra, and when they do talk footy on the radio, its usually re Sydney or a big Melbourne team.

I did hear Daniel Talia on 5aa last night just before they dropped out. He sounded pretty happy to be drafted to Adelaide. But I haven't heard about the others.

I am pretty happy with our picks, from what I can find out about them. I think that the Crows are usually pretty diligent about checking them out. But we don't want to waste picks on more Lees and Kites.

Go Crows in 2010!!

 

[Riggy1]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

BACK THE TRUCK UP.

When have I ever said Panos is going to be a superstar???! He's a good honest kid, tries hard, beautiful kick and good reach, but never have I said we or anyone else should've taken him 1st, 2nd or anywhere really for that matter. I have no clue where you're getting this from.

sorry.
A while back I convinced myself that anything about a Norwood player that I disagree with, is your fault.
I knew people rated him highly and from instinct I blamed you for making people think that.

Getting over this negative perception but occasionally (like then) i get angry and talk crap.

 

[Campbell's Chunky]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

sorry.
A while back I convinced myself that anything about a Norwood player that I disagree with, is your fault.
I knew people rated him highly and from instinct I blamed you for making people think that.

Getting over this negative perception but occasionally (like then) i get angry and talk crap.

o rly?

 

[macca23]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

sorry.
A while back I convinced myself that anything about a Norwood player that I disagree with, is your fault.
I knew people rated him highly and from instinct I blamed you for making people think that.

Getting over this negative perception but occasionally (like then) i get angry and talk crap.

Really?

Never!! You must be the master of disguise, Riggy!!

 

[KUNG FU]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Craig's value really stands out on the ground. He demands attention and is rarely flat-footed. I am convinced he won't make it as a ruckman though and am a little disappointed Rendell has described him as such. As I mentioned earlier, he did really well at DC in the repeat sprints which is a crucial indicator for KPPs. He did kick a few goals at the Champs, but that would be a reach for him. I'm yet to see him play as a KPD, but he has the athletic capacity and work-rate to make it work. I guess we'll see in time. Great value at 61.

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

James was just on 5AA. Pretty sedate interview but seems like a quality kid

craig.mp3 - 8.27MB

 

[WALL-e]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Press Conference

http://bigpondvideo.com/adelaidetv/226302

 

[FAITH]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

Craig's value really stands out on the ground. He demands attention and is rarely flat-footed. I am convinced he won't make it as a ruckman though and am a little disappointed Rendell has described him as such. As I mentioned earlier, he did really well at DC in the repeat sprints which is a crucial indicator for KPPs. He did kick a few goals at the Champs, but that would be a reach for him. I'm yet to see him play as a KPD, but he has the athletic capacity and work-rate to make it work. I guess we'll see in time. Great value at 61.

If Craig isnt the long term replacement for Ben Rutten, then i know nothing about footy.
I was very happy to get him, because i was worried that if Rutten reitres or is injured there really isnt anyone who can take his spot. Someone to take on the big gorrilas. Craig is the guy in my opinion. Clean, Good user of footy, good brain, strong, tall, great leap, great at repeat sprints.
BARGAIN.

Talia initally i thought looked like Kite. But he reminds me of Chad Cornes.
Awesome CHB/CHF but can also break the game open in the midf. GUN!.

Gunston reminds me of Hentschell. His long term replacement.

Shaw reminds me of Birchall. Playmaker type role, sets things up. Great get!

Rendell is a GUN! Only a few good talls in the draft apprently.
YEH RIGHT!

The only thing our squad lacks now is 2 gun inside/outside midfs.

Hopefully next year.

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

The only thing our squad lacks now is 2 gun inside/outside midfs.

Hopefully next year.

Unfortunately, the only way I see us getting a gun inside/outside mid next season is by trading. Unless we pull another Vince or something, the best mids generally go first round.

 

[Mismatched]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

If Craig isnt the long term replacement for Ben Rutten, then i know nothing about footy.
I was very happy to get him, because i was worried that if Rutten reitres or is injured there really isnt anyone who can take his spot. Someone to take on the big gorrilas. Craig is the guy in my opinion. Clean, Good user of footy, good brain, strong, tall, great leap, great at repeat sprints.
BARGAIN.

I had Young down for that role, but then it's always good to have more than one long term option.

Talia initally i thought looked like Kite. But he reminds me of Chad Cornes.
Awesome CHB/CHF but can also break the game open in the midf. GUN!.

Gunston reminds me of Hentschell. His long term replacement.

Shaw reminds me of Birchall. Playmaker type role, sets things up. Great get!

Rendell is a GUN! Only a few good talls in the draft apprently.
YEH RIGHT!

The only thing our squad lacks now is 2 gun inside/outside midfs.

Hopefully next year.

Can 4 count as a few?

 

[Chief Crow]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/87631/default.aspx

Craig, who was confident he still had some growing to do, said he was looking forward to playing consistent football at senior level before pushing his way into the cutthroat Adelaide side.


that will be good if the club see him as a AFL ruckman

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/87631/default.aspx

Craig, who was confident he still had some growing to do, said he was looking forward to playing consistent football at senior level before pushing his way into the cutthroat Adelaide side.


that will be good if the club see him as a AFL ruckman

Neil Craig indicated in a recent press conference that while they expected Craig to mature into being able to play multiple positions, he had been selected primarily as a ruckman. Great to hear there's still growing If he can end even one inch taller he'll be tall enough to play AFL ruck in my opinion. 198cm you can get away with if you're good enough around the ground.

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

I haven't heard Shaw or Gunston speak yet, but Craig's press conference was very impressive, and Talia is a great talker too. I love the way our kids are always so professional, at 18 if you don't mind!


Craig and co love picking up intelligent, mature kids, and don't seem to miss out on much talent doing so

 

[Chief Crow]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

I haven't heard Shaw or Gunston speak yet, but Craig's press conference was very impressive, and Talia is a great talker too. I love the way our kids are always so professional, at 18 if you don't mind!


Craig and co love picking up intelligent, mature kids, and don't seem to miss out on much talent doing so

Expect Shaw and Gunna to have there press conferences on monday when they arrive at the club.

Craigy also mentioned that Shaw is extremely intelligent too and he would rival Davis in that department

 

[Crow-mo]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

if James Craig can jump higher than Jeff White he is already a ruckman.

 

[cmndstab]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

if James Craig can jump higher than Jeff White he is already a ruckman.

White is the quintessential example of how you can make it as a ruckman (and an extremely good one) in the AFL despite being undersized. Considering our undersized ruck stocks I wish we could get him to the Crows to teach them how to do it

 

[Vader]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

White is the quintessential example of how you can make it as a ruckman (and an extremely good one) in the AFL despite being undersized. Considering our undersized ruck stocks I wish we could get him to the Crows to teach them how to do it

White is actually a quintessential example of why Craig won't make it in the AFL as a ruckman, unless he grows another inch at least.

White was a very, very good ruckman.... until the AFL introduced the centre circle. This limited his ability to leap over the top of his opponent. From that point on he was never more than a shadow of his former self.

White was also extremely athletic and had a lot of impact around the ground (similar to Cox), though he wasn't great at the around the ground ruck contests.

 

[Crow-mo]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

interesting. when did they introduce the centre circle line?

 

[Vader]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

interesting. When did they introduce the centre circle line?

2005

 

[Crow-mo]

Re: Selection 61 - James Craig

ok, thought it might have been a bit earlier than that.

that said, White didn't start to have any noticable drop in output until 2008.