Player Watch #6: Caleb Windsor

[Gysberts2Bate]

Maybe it was Goody's instruction to get some kids that can impact early? Instead of young raw KPP when Goody was in "win now" to save his job.

I assume that's it. I wasn't following that draft particularly closely but I was definitely hoping/expecting for us to take Caddy if Duursma didn't slide based on what I was hearing and what the consensus seemed to be on upside.

His potential is huge, something like peak Stringer meets Jarryd Roughead, or Jeremy Cameron-esque. Assuming Tassie will come hard for him.

 

[Lord Nev]

Can't remember where I heard it but I thought we really liked Caddy and were tracking him closely that entire year but got cold feet late.

Maybe it was Goody's instruction to get some kids that can impact early? Instead of young raw KPP when Goody was in "win now" to save his job.

TBF - End of 2023 we had JVR & Jefferson as KPF development types, Disco shaping as a forward option, Petty coming off 8 goals in 2 games, as well as Schache & Smith on the list - Could just be they didn't want to invest high in a key position forward at the time and thought we needed more run?

We spent a high pick on Tholstrup as well who the club said would be a longer term developer.

 

[ABray10]

I'd be curious to know why we rated Windsor higher than Caddy. I love Winsdor but Caddy has 'best in the comp' potential. Surely we didn't think Caddy was going to slide to pick 13, if anything Windsor was a better chance of that but there was enough mail suggesting both were guaranteed to be taken by the teams in between.

Wonder how much it had to do with where we were at end of 2023, and feeling as though Windsor could come right in and make a difference to forward 50 input as a first year even in finals v Caddy potentially taking a couple of years to impact.

I wonder if they kind of thought he was a bit of an undersized key forward and that wasn't what we needed with how we played footy.

They were waiting for a guy who was 3m tall and 150kg who they could kick to outnumbered 3 to 1 in line with the game plan.

 

[The Dr]

Kinda shows how far Windsor has come that him being out is a fair loss for our midfield.

 

[Topkent]

Kinda shows how far Windsor has come that him being out is a fair loss for our midfield.

And our lack of depth, we don't even have your Billings types around anymore. Apart from Viney is the depth mid like Laurie?

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Kinda shows how far Windsor has come that him being out is a fair loss for our midfield.

At the same time, there's a few guys with different midfield strengths (esp contested work) that haven't been getting an opportunity in there because the coaches have backed Windsor in (for better or worse), so will be good to see what Langford, Tholstrup, etc can contribute if they get more on ball time, esp at CBAs. Shame Lindsay is still out.

 

[Lampers]

I wonder if they kind of thought he was a bit of an undersized key forward and that wasn't what we needed with how we played footy.

They were waiting for a guy who was 3m tall and 150kg who they could kick to outnumbered 3 to 1 in line with the game plan.

I heard from a former school teammate of Caddy that he’s not of great character which could’ve been part of the decision making. I used to work with a bloke who was friends with a member of the Caddy family and he said they are a bit of a wild bunch.

 

[The Dr]

I heard from a former school teammate of Caddy that he’s not of great character which could’ve been part of the decision making. I used to work with a bloke who was friends with a member of the Caddy family and he said they are a bit of a wild bunch.

I wonder if recruiters put too much emphasis on character tho. Unless they’re way off the rails, surely a club can chip rough edges off if a young player has talent to burn.

 

[Topkent]

I wonder if recruiters put too much emphasis on character tho. Unless they’re way off the rails, surely a club can chip rough edges off if a young player has talent to burn.

They absolutely do, rough kids can be fixed, shit players can't be improved.

 

[Lord Nev]

Contextual stat, but currently equal 4th (with Bont) for 'winning clearance when he's in the middle, compared to when not'. Not bad for a Jayden Hunt

5

Jayden Hunt

Age

31

Ht

188cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.3

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

4star

MG

78.7

1star

D

5.3

1star

K

3.3

1star

HB

2.0

1star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

3star

MG

78.7

1star

D

5.3

2star

K

3.3

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.3

4star

MG

78.7

2star

clone...

Better than Bont: How this unsung Saint has elevated his game

Taken with pick 50 at the draft, Hugo Garcia is one of the most improved players in the league this year

www.afl.com.au

 

[stEdy]

I mean, I don't think his actual clearances numbers are that high per centre bounce (didn't read the article), but it seems like the Ben Brown

50

Ben Brown

Age

33

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

2.2

5star

D

7.9

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.6

1star

M

3.7

4star

T

0.9

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.2

4star

"running patterns" argument. Or a statistical anomaly.

Windsor has shown nice improvement this year but I don't think he's the secret ingredient to our clearances.

(I like Windsor)

 

[Lord Nev]

I mean, I don't think his actual clearances numbers are that high per centre bounce (didn't read the article), but it seems like the Ben Brown "running patterns" argument. Or a statistical anomaly.

Windsor has shown nice improvement this year but I don't think he's the secret ingredient to our clearances.

(I like Windsor)

His CC per CBA numbers aren't high at all, nor are his raw clearance numbers, I think it's likely due in part to rotations, but mostly maybe just how good the mix of mids we have atm is and how he contributes to that for his part.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I mean, I don't think his actual clearances numbers are that high per centre bounce (didn't read the article), but it seems like the Ben Brown "running patterns" argument. Or a statistical anomaly.

Windsor has shown nice improvement this year but I don't think he's the secret ingredient to our clearances.

(I like Windsor)

I don't think he's meant to be the secret ingredient though. He's never going to be our best or even second best contest midfielder, but he doesn't have to be to have huge impact in there if you do have others to do the dirty work when needed. It's more that the game is changing such that you have to have someone like Windsor (but significantly better at winning their own ball) in there for a rounded mix, it's not even a POD.

Best case scenario for mine is him becoming a Bailey Smith type (in terms of style, not necessarily 'best midfielder in the comp' level). Gut running transition animal. That's why the focus over the preseason was his aerobic capacity even before mass despite knowing he was undersized for a full time centre square midfielder. But does need to get better at wearing contact. Don't think Windsor will match Smith's high possession/inside extraction game or explosive power but is a better kick going inside 50 and could kick more goals as well.

Bazlenka could probably win way more contested ground ball than he does and lay a whole lot more tackles but is deliberately held back from it to focus on transition/outside impact.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I don't think he's meant to be the secret ingredient though. He's never going to be our best or even second best contest midfielder, but he doesn't have to be to have huge impact in there if you do have others to do the dirty work when needed. It's more that the game is changing such that you have to have someone like Windsor (but significantly better at winning their own ball) in there for a rounded mix, it's not even a POD.

Best case scenario for mine is him becoming a Bailey Smith type (in terms of style, not necessarily 'best midfielder in the comp' level). Gut running transition animal. That's why the focus over the preseason was his aerobic capacity even before mass despite knowing he was undersized for a full time centre square midfielder. But does need to get better at wearing contact. Don't think Windsor will match Smith's high possession/inside extraction game or explosive power but is a better kick going inside 50 and could kick more goals as well.

Bazlenka could probably win way more contested ground ball than he does and lay a whole lot more tackles but is deliberately held back from it to focus on transition/outside impact.

I would much rather Holmes than Smith as the comp.

Windsor is a much more of an impact and burst player - don’t think he will ever be similar to Smith

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I would much rather Holmes than Smith as the comp.

Windsor is a much more of an impact and burst player - don’t think he will ever be similar to Smith

Yeah that's a good take, was thinking too much about height and Holmes having a much longer stride/being a stronger overhead mark.

 

[Topkent]

Smith is a death by a thousand cuts type of player. Windsor ATM is pure impact per disposal.
Don't have the stats but he's a meters gained straight line player which suits our current style. 18 of his disposals are worth and Oliver 38

 

[Lord Nev]

he's a meters gained straight line player

 

[Topkent]

I like stats when they back my point

 

[Topkent]

This is where I'll maturely disagree with you nev, I don't rate Tholstrup or Salem on metres gained. Windsor I look at completely differently, you almost exclusively want him getting the ball and straight lining towards goal, those guys I mentioned have other roles in the back half. Tholstrup can have a good game with essentially no metres gained if he intercepts and quells his opponent. Obviously if he wins possession he'll move it up field he can have a good game doing what I said and dishing handballs sideways. I don't think Windsor could ever have a good game without high meters gained atleast ATM

 

[Lord Nev]

This is where I'll maturely disagree with you nev, I don't rate Tholstrup or Salem on metres gained. Windsor I look at completely differently, you almost exclusively want him getting the ball and straight lining towards goal, those guys I mentioned have other roles in the back half. Tholstrup can have a good game with essentially no metres gained if he intercepts and quells his opponent. Obviously if he wins possession he'll move it up field he can have a good game doing what I said and dishing handballs sideways. I don't think Windsor could ever have a good game without high meters gained atleast ATM

I get ya, my difference is I look at 'retained metres gained' especially by foot from guys like Salem, Tholstrup, Lindsay, Bowey etc because that's what our game style is asking from them when we're doing what we should. Tholstrup maybe the odd one out as he does get those lockdown roles, so couldn't GAF about disposals as much in those games.

Windsor I'd be judging on any of those metres gained stats, and then a little bit inside 50 retention and receiving stats like hitout gathers and handball receives. As I've said before, ideally I want Steele having more handballs than kicks, and Windsor being one of those handball receive players from him.

 

[The Dr]

Omg what is this cordial and respectful discussion

 

[melbun]

Omg what is this cordial and respectful discussion

**** off

 

[Daemon]

Omg what is this cordial and respectful discussion

This new paradigm is strange and weird. I don't like it.

 

[Topkent]

Cost me $250 on the last leg of a 25-1 multi because he couldnt get the ball

Like come on man, Im not expecting 30 but 13 disposals in a game where both midfields feasted on the ball, he has no ability to impact the game outside of stoppages. Wheres the overlap run, or the gut run to help out the defence or win a crumb. Doesnt have the footy intelligence yet of good midfielders

 

[ABray10]

Cost me $250 on the last leg of a 25-1 multi because he couldnt get the ball

Like come on man, Im not expecting 30 but 13 disposals in a game where both midfields feasted on the ball, he has no ability to impact the game outside of stoppages. Wheres the overlap run, or the gut run to help out the defence or win a crumb. Doesnt have the footy intelligence yet of good midfielders

Yep, needs to get better at being part of the defensive transition, with his speed he should be a key part of the way we want to play out of the back line. Just never seems to put himself in position to be used when we are transitioning.