News A new Fab 5????

[Panthera]

OK, obviously a massive call based on what we've seen as a total sum; but today we may have seen Ryan Harwood complete our new Fab 5

He looked composed in a hostile environment against possibly the best midfield since Voss, Black, Akermanis, Lappin & Power.

That group was extraordinary both as individuals and as a group - the new Fab 5 don't necessarily need to be that good (god, I wish they are), but simply provide a contest and win their share of clearances.

2010 has been horrific in so many ways, but the 5 players I'm thinking can
have a massive off season as a mini-group and band together and take us forward in 2011 are:

Rich, Redden, Rockliff, Banfield and Harwood.

Plenty of ups and downs from this group but all are under 21 and haven't played 100 games in total.

Another first round midfielder later this year and the future isn't all doom and gloom

 

[troppo]

I couldn't agree more. We have the makings of a very talented group. With such a young group however there will be(and have been) games where we get smashed. Hopefully when we get past that there will be some success.

 

[Lionfan]

Chuck in our 2 gun ruckmen in and we should be ok!!

 

[Panthera]

Chuck in our 2 gun ruckmen in and we should be ok!!

I was thinking the same thing, but they never both play well in the same game

 

[Hollow Knight]

Will need to make room for Bartlett eventually.

 

[irel]

 

[Panthera]

Will need to make room for Bartlett eventually.

I hope so, but after 2 recos that'd be a bonus of massive proportions at this stage.

 

[Ceebee]

Just hope we can keep them. we have to have patience and hope they all become good players. There is certainly a lot to like about them. hard to keep your head up when the side is struggling.Vossy certanly knows what it is like to begin your career in a battling team.

 

[Lions1024]

Graeme Hadley has done a really good job recently with our drafting. He's not only drafted gems but he's created a good balance of inside and outside mids. Using the Geelong midfield as an example:

Ablett: inside/outside mid
Selwood: inside mid
Bartel: inside/outside mid
Kelly: outside mid
Corey: outside mid
Ling: tagging mid
Chapman: forward half flank/ outside mid

Our (future) midfield has got a similar balance between outside and inside mids:

Rich: inside/outside mid
Redden: inside mid
Harwood: inside mid
Rockliff: outside mid
Polkinghorne: tagging mid
Banfield: half forward flank/ outside mid

Currently we're probably short of a good outside speedy type midfielder, but we drafted Bartlett who looked like filling that role until his injury. Barring any development issues, we look to have a very promising midfield. All of those players look likely to make it and be good players (some look like really top notch players : Rich, Banfield and Rockliff).

I was hesitant to add Brennan and Rischitelli due to the rumours surrounding them, but if they don't leave, our midfield would have excellent depth.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Will need to make room for Bartlett eventually.

I agree... he will be a star. But take out banfield as we need him to develop into an elite small forward. But expect to add a guy like atley in the draft

 

[lionshine]

I agree... he will be a star. But take out banfield as we need him to develop into an elite small forward. But expect to add a guy like atley in the draft

Yeah I agree when you add in the potential of guys like Bartlett and Golby to the group of mids Pathera posted plus a mid we will draft with our first Round pick expected to be somebody like Gaff, Atley or Parker we will have a great young midfield!

 

[Vipertooth]

Oh god, getting my hopes up, I like this thread!!! Positive news for once, I hope it all works out nicely for us

GO LIONS

 

[lionshine]

Oh, how could we forget the Incredible Polk???

 

[acuguy]

The only problem with that group is apart from Banfield there is no speed

Voss-Before he broke his leg he was exceptionally fast, even post broken leg until about 2003 i would rate him a quicker player than the others apart from Banfield

Lappin-Exceptional line breaking pace

Akermanis-Lightning

Black-He and Rich similiar pace

Power - as a youngster he has very good pace, he had the ability to run players down from behind. Infact i would only rate Banfield ahead of him in that current group.


We have a group of accumulators of the footy which is fantastic, as someone said in an earlier post we now must inject some serious leg speed into the group with our first 2 picks.

 

[Stocka]

I suppose supporters of every club think they've got the next great group of young players on the basis of these same young players having gotten a couple of games recently, with them perhaps also having shown a bit of talent.

 

[Gabbatoir]

True, but if Rockliff jags the rising star not too many can claim two rising star awards in two years.

 

[Stocka]

I think it's interesting that this thread has also been started by the same person who posted this following thread last week: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=732673 (Entitled: Voss and his amatuer support staff can get stuffed if these players are there in 2011 rah rah rah).

In the thread, the OP mentions something about one of the problems being that the club and supporters "accept mediocrity". Yet, in this thread, the same poster has pretty much done a backflip by heralding a bunch of young players as the next "Fab 5". Perhaps this is a case of getting ahead of oneself more than accepting mediocrity, but they seem like good bedfellows to me.

In my opinion, one of the problems that is evident with the club (and some supporters) is that they get ahead of themselves. This thread is a good example.

 

[Balony_pony16]

stocka, I think people are just trying to be positive...also, I don't know about people getting ahead of themselves, as lions supporters are clearly in the rebuilding frame of mind. Getting ahead would be suggesting that the lions are currently in good shape and ready for a till at finals next season

 

[jackess]

I think people are rating Polkinghorne too highly. For me he hasn't really showed he's going to be a 200+ game player. Especially recently he hasn't been getting much of the ball and with Redden and Rockliff coming through I'm not convinced Polks is in the Lions best 22. Perhaps after a big preseason he can have a breakout year next year.

 

[Stocka]

stocka, I think people are just trying to be positive...

That's fair enough. Mind you, the thread that I mentioned from last week by the same OP was not all that positive.

also, I don't know about people getting ahead of themselves, as lions supporters are clearly in the rebuilding frame of mind. Getting ahead would be suggesting that the lions are currently in good shape and ready for a till at finals next season

So you don't think that saying that a group of players who have played less than 50 games each are going to be the next "Fab 5" is getting ahead of oneself? I think it is, to be honest.

I feel reasonably positive about the players that OP mentioned, but I'm only evaluating them for where they are at in their careers at this point in time, as opposed to predicting that they might eventually be of the standard of the best midfield group in the league in the future.

As I said, every club would probably like to think that their young players will amount to being a league dominating force.

 

[blynd_freddie]

I think people are rating Polkinghorne too highly. For me he hasn't really showed he's going to be a 200+ game player. Especially recently he hasn't been getting much of the ball and with Redden and Rockliff coming through I'm not convinced Polks is in the Lions best 22. Perhaps after a big preseason he can have a breakout year next year.

Harsh but a fair call – taggers or run-with players need to also have an offensive side as the situation demands. I think this has been the classroom both Polks and Rich have been in at times this year and arguably why Selwood and Stiller have to a degree struggled to gain regular selection – IMO they seem to be poorer options but it wouldn’t surprise me with Stiller being a semi regular listed emergency, he may replace Polks this week.

 

[Stocka]

Polkinghorne was on Ablett for much of the day, wasn't he?

I'd agree that some of the calls we've seen for him to be moved into the midfield (with the implication of him having an immediate positive effect) have been a bit premature, but I definitely think he's in our best team.

 

[Nuggo]

Polks looked his best when he was playing as a mid sized leading forward. His set shot efficiency appeared to be sensational.

 

[Stocka]

I haven't minded Polkinghorne down back. He has more composure than some of the other players who we've run through there this year.

 

[whatboutbob]

Polkinghorne was on Ablett for much of the day, wasn't he?

Yep, and Voss also said on gameday it was done as a learning experience through thick and thin because Polks "is a powerful young player" who'll benefit from it.