Review Alex Fasolo

[MagpieJoel]

I like the kid. I have no problem with the supposed arrogance. He has confidence, and that is a good thing.

What I dislike is how he can go missing during games. He needs to influence games more consistently.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

What's with the "move him to the midfield" mantra? Why not just concentrate on making him a specialist forward? Don't understand why as soon as someone looks like they show promise in a position that they automatically get 'upgraded' to a different role.

He can mark, he can kick, he's got a good head on his shoulders and he's got a strong core. Just wait until he learns the 'Koala Tackle' a-la Medhurst style.

I'm not a believer in specialist small forwards. They are a dying breed. To be a contributer in modern footy you need to be a goalkicking midfielder. The only true specialist small forward these days is the one taking the defensive forward role, shutting down the oppositions most attacking defender.

Specialist small forwards invariably go missing in finals when the pressure is on and the supply dries up.....Leon Davis and Stephen Milne a couple of examples. You need to be able to rotate through the middle these days.

 

[Knightmare]

What's with the "move him to the midfield" mantra? Why not just concentrate on making him a specialist forward? Don't understand why as soon as someone looks like they show promise in a position that they automatically get 'upgraded' to a different role.

He can mark, he can kick, he's got a good head on his shoulders and he's got a strong core. Just wait until he learns the 'Koala Tackle' a-la Medhurst style.

For me a Medhurst type career is a worst case scenario for Fasolo.

I'd move him to the midfield *eventually* because his playmaking ability by foot is just so good. He really has the ability to set up our forwards like few others (note: better than Pendlebury/Beams/Swan/Ball/Sidebottom/Thomas others in this area) and as a strong bodied, already strong 1v1 player if he can develop that inside game and become a better stoppage player (which he should be able to) he can become a genuine a-grader and a big asset to the midfield.

You are right he is excellent up forward but with the bench likely at some stage reducing to the two, having more midfielders who can rotate forward will be of greater importance than another specialist forward.

 

[jmac70]

Tracking nicely - should continue to improve next season.

 

[Maggie5]

I am still ambivalent about the Fas. Agree that he is a very good mark and kick, think that he has managed his ego and turned that into exuberance which is a good thing but my big concern is his defensive side and also can go missing in times of need. Sometimes when the pressure is on, goes missing or when he has the ball reminds me of a deer and headlights. Still have Blair well and truly in front of him.

 

[rand corp]

Immensely talented kid with sublime skills, competitiveness, good smarts, really the only area he is lacking is pace. Another very promising midfielder being asked to play as a half forward flanker (ala Beams in previous seasons) he has managed to kick important goals in 2012 and showed his inside ability when given spells in the middle.
Like many young players slotted into the HFF he struggled at times to get involved and stay involved in the play and we only saw flashes and spurts of his ability. I expect him to continue to get more time in the middle as his tank improves and I think he will develop into a very good footballer with elite skills. Pace the only query.

 

[blaze036]

Immensely talented kid with sublime skills, competitiveness, good smarts, really the only area he is lacking is pace. Another very promising midfielder being asked to play as a half forward flanker (ala Beams in previous seasons) he has managed to kick important goals in 2012 and showed his inside ability when given spells in the middle.
Like many young players slotted into the HFF he struggled at times to get involved and stay involved in the play and we only saw flashes and spurts of his ability. I expect him to continue to get more time in the middle as his tank improves and I think he will develop into a very good footballer with elite skills. Pace the only query.

For his body shop and ability he doesn't need pace, could develop into a keiran jack type midfielder but with a much better marking and goal kicking ability. If that is the case he will become one of our better players and potentially AA. Depends how well he can transition into being a midfielder no#1 and small forward #2.

Its possible he could be the long term successor to Luke Ball

 

[Hva sher a]

I am still ambivalent about the Fas. Agree that he is a very good mark and kick, think that he has managed his ego and turned that into exuberance which is a good thing but my big concern is his defensive side and also can go missing in times of need. Sometimes when the pressure is on, goes missing or when he has the ball reminds me of a deer and headlights. Still have Blair well and truly in front of him.

let's not forget this was his 2nd season. Although his selfishness can irritate me, I can forgive that because of what he brings to the side.
I'd like to see him tag team with Swan between half fwd and midfield. Both are great one on one marks, both a strong inside types, although Swanny is a much better accumulator of disposals at this stage.
More importantly I think Swan would enjoy being able to kick more goals.

As for Fas I'm not totally opposed to him spending time as a defender. It didn't hurt Swan in his early days either

 

[blaze036]

let's not forget this was his 2nd season. Although his selfishness can irritate me, I can forgive that because of what he brings to the side.
I'd like to see him tag team with Swan between half fwd and midfield. Both are great one on one marks, both a strong inside types, although Swanny is a much better accumulator of disposals at this stage.
More importantly I think Swan would enjoy being able to kick more goals.

As for Fas I'm not totally opposed to him spending time as a defender. It didn't hurt Swan in his early days either

He was really unselfish the 2nd half of 2012, i think it may be gone or nearly gone from his game.

He is one of the best shots for goal on our list, so i'd rather he hogs shots than passes to sinclair or cloke to have a shot

 

[Bard]

I think he's going along beautifully, has developed where he needs to developed and whilst he still has deficiencies in his game if he continues the way he has they'll be ironed out within another couple of Seasons.

As for his 'selfishness' I love it, in fact I don't think he has enough of an ego. No one else on our team this year celebrated a goal other than Krakouer and I think that's incredibly unhealthy.

 

[stui magpie]

Really like this kid. For mine he copped a lot of unwarranted criticism at times during the year for being selfish and/or soft. I don't think he's either.

He has silky disposal, is smart, great overhead for a bloke the same height as Sinclair (not just good hands but great body work) and while not lightening is not slow.

As he physically and mentally matures, adds some more muscle and builds a tank he's going to be an absolute weapon

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

He's a second year player, tracking very nicely. I also love his cocksure swagger. Will become a very good midfielder