A Key Improver

[theGav56]

I am interested to hear who other posters may be the most important player to develop for us this year.

I am thinking of criteria like;

• a player who is yet to become established or to have approached their full potential
• who is looking like they may do that in the coming season,
• who plays in a critical area for us, perhaps an area we have been weak in.

Perhaps an obvious contender would be Clarke. Definitely heaps of potential and has the opportunity to nail a weak area for us as a Key Forward.

Neale is also getting a lot of praise in the off-season, and the prospect of an in and under ball-winner with skill could be a key midfield foundation stone for us.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

From the training reports, it sounds like McPhee is being groomed to play a negating role, perhaps on small defenders? If so, that would be an important role we need filled, and he could probably do it.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Sorry, I meant small forwards.

 

[theGav56]

Yeah maybe. But to be honest if the opposition had MacPhee lining up on Ballantyne I wouldn't mind it at all.

 

[Seppo]

Mr Zafro Clarke.

Could fill on of our biggest deficiency on the field and he is the type of player going into his 4th yr that needs to lift and start performing well and staying in the 22.

 

[estibador]

If Barlow can get back to his 2010 form it will make a massive difference to our team.

Mundy and Barlow both in top form being fed by Sandi would be a huge headache for any opposition coach.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Cant see Clarke being anything other than handy for us, which is fine if it frees Pav up. I think he will be a role player in this position. If he is in fact in the 22, will be hot competition from Kep.

Probably too much expectation on Neale aswell, if people expect him to play this season, especially in the middle.

McPhee on the smalls might just work, especially if there is pressure up the ground forcing the opposition to go long in the air. And McPhee is a tough competitor.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Yeah maybe. But to be honest if the opposition had MacPhee lining up on Ballantyne I wouldn't mind it at all.

at least it's his best possie.

in other news:

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Cant see Clarke being anything other than handy for us, which is fine if it frees Pav up. I think he will be a role player in this position. If he is in fact in the 22, will be hot competition from Kep.

Probably too much expectation on Neale aswell, if people expect him to play this season, especially in the middle.

McPhee on the smalls might just work, especially if there is pressure up the ground forcing the opposition to go long in the air. And McPhee is a tough competitor.

I can see Zaarke! busting out and being an absolute monster. His development is a little behind others due to the dalliance with basketball, but he's at tipping point. I guess we'll find out.

re McPhee, it might be a case of his only position is his best position. The nippier forwards might have his measure, but he could hold his own against most.

 

[Jezzitizle]

I can see Zaarke! busting out and being an absolute monster. His development is a little behind others due to the dalliance with basketball, but he's at tipping point. I guess we'll find out.

re McPhee, it might be a case of his only position is his best position. The nippier forwards might have his measure, but he could hold his own against most.

Haha, at this time of year, every team has 10 secret players who are going to destroy the competition. Wont happen imo, but would love to be proven wrong. By round 4, if Zac isnt dominating, everyone will be calling for Lyon's head, saying its the dumbest move ever wasting such a quality ruckman at CHF. Expectations are too high.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

i don't think anyone's really going overboard. when you have the head coach saying that Zaarke! is an athletic freak and seeing his development last year as he progressively imposed himself on more games and training reports by posters saying how he's convinced them he could make a forward option, there's room there for optimism. sure he he may just end up being the next Koschitzke but he could also be something else entirely.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Ballas for sure... if he stays injury free he will be lethal in the forward line and if his stints in the mid are successful it will take pressure of guys like Mundy and Barlow.

If all three are running a muck in the middle with Sandi rucking at his best look out for some quick centre clearances.

 

[Seppo]

at least it's his best possie.

in other news:

This!!

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

cheers dude, i was gonna start a zaarke! login but then realised i couldn't be arsed.

 

[Clay Davis]

I think aside from forward line problems (which Clarke could help with), three things we really lacked in 2011 was ball winning, pace and quality disposal (in around that order)

This screams Hill to me. If Hill starts winning his own ball, getting free and using it well then we become a different side. From training reports it sounds that Lyon really wants the team to use him as much as possible. Obviously a more dangerous midfield in general helps that as well (Mundy + Barlow in the same side, without injury clouds).

 

[Patty_Moz]

To me last yr showed that when key players went down we were pretty ordinary so we need improvement not from one player but groups of players and there are two groups that stand out to me.

I see experienced players such as Crowley, Johnson, Duffield, Mcphee, Bradley, Anthony who had pretty ordinary seasons in 2011 and we need them back to their best to help out the kids and the top line players. At their best they will get plenty of games under Lyon but I don't think that Lyon will put up with another poor season from these guys.

Also the 50 (ish) to 100 gamers or 3rd to 4th yr players that we know have a lot of talent and have shown a it in patches but for one reason or another (usually injuries) have dropped away or not been consistent enough. Hill, Ballas, Mayne, Broughton, Barlow, Suban, Silvani, Ibbo and Clarke have all been very good at times but now is the time that we need to have most of them playing at least 20 games with a good, consistent quality. This is probly where we will get our biggest improvement from and we will need it to contend.

 

[Nickos66]

Hill & Ballas to be the key improvers and integral to the success of our season in the key areas highlighted so far in this thread.

 

[free at last]

I reckon SNOS is a key to our improvement.
If SNOS can continue on his path to becoming one of the games elite fullbacks, we'll benefit greatly.The other for me is finding someone who can nullify the top line small forwards of the comp.

 

[Scham]

Kepler for me.

Providing his knee holds up for the season, I think he'll finally fully establish himself in the line up. He was one of the most effective forwards in the comp by round 6 last year but his knee gave out and seemed to lose favour with Harves.

The forward line needs to be more productive and he can play a big part in that. Just needs to work on his pack marking which I believe he's been working on this pre-season.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

i don't think anyone's really going overboard. when you have the head coach saying that Zaarke! is an athletic freak and seeing his development last year as he progressively imposed himself on more games and training reports by posters saying how he's convinced them he could make a forward option, there's room there for optimism. sure he he may just end up being the next Koschitzke but he could also be something else entirely.

judging from the sound of what you are saying here, you dont rate kosi. I think if clarke turns in to what kosi was at his best that would be a MASSIVE win, especially if he plays forward.

I think aside from forward line problems (which Clarke could help with), three things we really lacked in 2011 was ball winning, pace and quality disposal (in around that order)

This screams Hill to me. If Hill starts winning his own ball, getting free and using it well then we become a different side. From training reports it sounds that Lyon really wants the team to use him as much as possible. Obviously a more dangerous midfield in general helps that as well (Mundy + Barlow in the same side, without injury clouds).

agree. if hill can continue to develop and has the support he can be a top 5 player in the league.. if that happens watch out

Kepler for me.

Providing his knee holds up for the season, I think he'll finally fully establish himself in the line up. He was one of the most effective forwards in the comp by round 6 last year but his knee gave out and seemed to lose favour with Harves.

The forward line needs to be more productive and he can play a big part in that. Just needs to work on his pack marking which I believe he's been working on this pre-season.

unfortunately for kep though, his knee has been a problem since he was 19. if he can establish himself as a key forward who can kick 50 goals it would be fantastic though

 

[mayne iac]

Barlow improving will help.
A few 30 + disposal 3 goal games would be great thanks Michael, do it.

 

[carita]

T

"I see experienced players such as Crowley, Johnson, Duffield, Mcphee, Bradley, Anthony who had pretty ordinary seasons in 2011 and we need them back to their best to help out the kids and the top line players. "

Cant agree with you about Bradley.Thought that when he played he was inspirational at crucial moments and was really good in the forward line plus he can kick straight which is a bonus.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

judging from the sound of what you are saying here, you dont rate kosi. I think if clarke turns in to what kosi was at his best that would be a MASSIVE win, especially if he plays forward.

the operative there is 'at his best', which kosi dishes up either in flashes or for a handful of games a year. such a frustrating player. for his unreliability i don't rate him but acknowledge he could have been awesome if consistent. i don't expect clarke to stutter as kosi has over the years, though.

 

[Patty_Moz]

T

"I see experienced players such as Crowley, Johnson, Duffield, Mcphee, Bradley, Anthony who had pretty ordinary seasons in 2011 and we need them back to their best to help out the kids and the top line players. "

Cant agree with you about Bradley.Thought that when he played he was inspirational at crucial moments and was really good in the forward line plus he can kick straight which is a bonus.

Yeah a bit harsh on Bradley, he was good at times last year and I like him as a player but in the end he played 15 games for 25 goals and as we are talking about players that need to improve I think that we need Bradley's knees to hold out for 20 games and kick 35+ goals and then he will really be an important player in our side. That's the improvement I'm hoping for from Bradley.

 

[Docker Dolph]

If Zac this year is as handy as Kozi at his mediocre is then it'll be a very good result for us and for him.

As mentioned before, it'll be frustrating to read people having a crack at Zac based on their own unrealistic expectations. If he can outperform Kepler's year last season he'll be doing very well.

The absolute MOST we should expect from him this year is a Dawes type return. In my opinion it'll be at least next year before he reaches that level.