Gets a real opportunity this weekend to prove himself.As a neutral and interested observer who watched a bit of this kid before he was drafted, what is apparent to me is that he seems to have gone backwards in some of his best traits in the search of improving his weaknesses, but the improvement hasn't come.
As an 18/19 year old his strengths were his agility for a big man, the way he got around the ground and he was a decent overhead mark (though didn't love contact when it came) - he also had excellent skills and was clean below his knees.
He was also a good centre bounce ruckman if it was an old fashioned jump off, but if a stronger oppo ruck wanted to step across the line and engage, or just around the ground - he struggles in the wrestle.
Now, in the 5 year search for more size and strength in the contest and trying to get better engaging in a wrestle - he seems to have lost all his agility, he spills uncontested marks and he is fumbly below the knees - it would also appear that he has lost any sort of running capacity.
Almost like they are trying to turn him into something he isn't. He is non Nankervis and never will be, nor is he Big Oscar or Jarrod Witts. He is more the athletic running ruckman (like a really really poor mans Dean Cox or the best comparison would be Josh Fraser) - but they are trying to turn him into Darren Jolly, when he is more like a Josh Fraser.
Now Fraser never lived up to the hype, but he had a serviceable 200 game career and had he spent more of his career as a #2 ruck and playing forward - he would have had a much better career than he did getting bashed around as a #1 that wasn't quite up to it.
Samson is Josh Fraser, not Darren Jollly - work on his strengths, he isn't going to overcome the lack of competitiveness and strength around the contest - its clearly both a mental and a physical thing, end of the day some people just aren't wired like that to compete like their life depended on it.
A big whipping boy on here. Wish him all the best.





