Ben Reid

[Darkdayz]

It's pretty simple really. People expect too much too soon.

too true mate, I mean the kid turns 21 this week, he has played 10 or so games. He's still eligible for rising star
Some seriously forget how old the kid is, how much experience he has had compared to other in the side. Cant image what he'll end up being able to do once he gets to 50 odds games...

 

[1eye]

One swallow don't make'th the summer.
Hard work will hopefully see our number 8 pick rise to become a solid player.

 

[Zahki]

He did well. Hope he gets some more games this year. For all the hype he gets as our future CHB, there's no point playing him in the VFL week after week. There is only one way 10 game players turn into 100 game players, give them games and let them develop. In a tough spot since we're pushing for a premiership this year, but I think there's certainly room for him given how well our backline support each other. Who better to learn the trade off than Maxwell, Heater and Presti?

 

[didaka]

too true mate, I mean the kid turns 21 this week, he has played 10 or so games. He's still eligible for rising star
Some seriously forget how old the kid is, how much experience he has had compared to other in the side. Cant image what he'll end up being able to do once he gets to 50 odds games...

Like Maxwell said on One week at a time. When you come into the senior side, you just want to get your fist on the ball, and not make any glaring mistakes. Once you get settled then you learn to take the game on and back yourself in.

 

[Nebula1971]

As mentioned, he saved 2 certain goals.

He is exactly what we need. Roo and Buddy will have their work cut out when he puts on a little more size. He has the athleticism to run with them, but not the tank (Franklin maybe). People forget that he is under age too...

Will be a gun...

 

[The Royal Sampler]

LOL agree, went on the essendon board last week and read through their post about how, Reid, Brown, and Dawes wouldn't even get a game at essendon, one guy even insted that they were "d graders" at best, and that he actully knew allot about them. Dont thoses essendon supporters look silly now. Although to be fair it was hardly against good opponets, the test will be agaisnt better teams in the games to come.

Yeah, one loser posted that our bench was the worst in the history of Australian Rules Football, and so at quarter time I quoted him and replied "How do you like our bench now, Bummers?" but it must have been deleted.

 

[Football God]

never thought much about him TBH.. but yesterday... hmmmm... give him another go and i'll give you a better answer.. lol.

 

[Markfs]

Ben Reid..... by next year he should be ready to hold down CHB. He showed he was a footballer and not just a tall athlete.. his decisions were excellent... well done to the coaching staff and to the kid..

 

[Dundalis]

I've always had high hopes too, but a lot of people find it hard to look past his output and see the potential there. The usual retort to "potential" is "lack of footy smarts", but he showed yesterday his anticipation and composure are strengths that will only get better with experience.

In regards to the potential of our youngsters, I rate Reid the equal highest (excluding established guys like Thomas and Pendles).

Reid - A+
Sidebottom - A+
Wellingham - A
Beams - B+
Wood - B
McCarthy - B
Macaffer - B
Dick - B
Dawes - B
Toovey - C
Blight - C
Anthony - C
Goldsack - C
Nathan Brown - C
Barham - F

Gee isn't Sidebottom overrated on here. He's a very smart player, but he's not going to be anywhere near as good as Beams is. Beams is harder at it, much more aggressive, has a more penetrating kick, and is quicker (without necessarily being quick). Beams was basically Joel Selwood mark II out there yesterday. He's basically cemented himself as a genuine inside mid, he was under just about every pack and some of his delivery inside 50 were fantastic (also had a Magpie record inside 50's for one game I believe).

For that matter I rate Wellingham ahead of Sidebottom too, as he has enormous potential with his athleticism and pace, while looking like possibly being a genuine inside and outside mid. Sidebottom still doesn't look like either an inside or outside mid, he's just chugging along kind of playing in between, I guess you could say on a wing. He's playing ok, but long term though he can't sustain that, he needs to cement a position. I'm not sure what that position will be though. Doesn't have the pace to be an out and out outside player, nor the level of hardness to play a genuine inside role. I'm not even sure if his position is as a midfielder at all. I guess people will say he will play a similar role to Pendles, but Pendles is a far superior outside player due to freakish ability to not be tackled regardless of how many players are around, and despite lack of foot speed is often able to go on bouncing runs, due to phenomenal spatial awareness. He's also much taller and much stronger. Sidebottom is composed on the footy, but does not have anywhere near the same ability. And as far as strength goes, Sidebottom not only has a thin frame, but is not particularly powerful in his lower body (even skinny underdeveloped players can show great lower body strength, like a young Ablett), and gets ragdolled relatively easily.

You have Nathan Brown as a C, I would barely rate Reid above him, if at all, at least Brown has had successive great games for Collingwood in his career. Reid looked decent for the very first time yesterday. That's not near enough to make rubbish predictions like he will be a star of the comp or one of the great defenders in a few years. Seems like it's very easy to impress many Pies supporters.

The Dons were a disgrace, and Reid from what I saw was put under very little pressure. He played a reasonable game, which is good considering previous games were rubbish. I'd keep him in the side to see whether he can improve on it and hopefully he does. We need that 06' draft to not be a wasted one. A genuine CHB to compliment the great utility backmen we have back there would probably give us the best defense in the comp along with the Saints.

 

[ozpie]

I am glad that you guys have noticed what expert recruiters knew all along, ben Reid will be a great player and the fools that wrote him off can eat humble pie

 

[DWil6]

He hasn't made it yet but he is on the right track. I have always been a fan. Liked his work in the VFL. I even have no.20 on my jumper. (might be from back in the Tarrant days but I'm still claiming it)

 

[shawthing09]

I rate Reid really highly and was really happy with his efforts yesterday, it was the most comfortable he has looked in the back half in the 1's. It was also the best defensive game I have seen him play in the back half. In the few VFL games I have seen him play in defence he has been used much more as a rebounding player.

Not to take anything at all away from Reid but the Gumby spoil (a bit like the Dawes mark in the Adeliade final is being a tad overrated) Reid did fantastic to recover and get a fist to it without giving away a free kick but Gumbelton really didn't attack it or grasp it well at all. Reid recovered well but he never should have had that chance.

I agree with MDC, I still think he is our best potential foward and has more potential as a foward then a defender, that said I think he needs some time to settle into a position.

 

[HFF]

Best defensive game he has every played in 1s from Reidy.

Early on, I too thought he was our best potential forward, however, watching him closely and looking at our team balance/structure, we really need that athletic, rangy CHB capable of defence and rebound with penetration. He could potentially be a swing-man every now and again too.

Reid's field kicking is awesome. Hits flat, low and hard 50-60m bullets. Also, he looks far more comfortable and poised in traffic and when the ball is in his hands deep in defence under heavy pressure too. His acceleration and speed for his size is also super. With more experience, development and game time, he will hopefully become for us what Harry Taylor is to Geelong.

 

[loki04]

Before Reid was drafted he had no kicking issues at either goal or field kicking, he will become a valuable swing man imo.

His AFL goal kicking yips was nerves and once he overcomes them he was always going to improve.

He looked very dangerous as a forward at 18/19 his kicking let him down but it was mainly the 1 kick against carltank that everyone remembers. Kicked 3 goals against the crows in our Dubai flogging and was our best forward that day.

He is playing well down back but I think he will have a genuine player who can play each end in 2 years or so.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I see a lot of Dustin Fletcher in Ben Reid - closing speed, Go Go Gadget arms, versatility, and good footskills. And clean hands at ground level.

Everything but the pointy elbows!

 

[notorious_zhang]

He looked good out there and his play down back was good, with the few disposals he got, and took care of hurley well.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I'll save judgement on Reid, Daws and Brown until better opposition are played.

They all played pretty well on Sunday, but aside from Davis, everyone did. But Davis doesn't 'do' finals/finals type games, so that should be no surprise.

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

I'll save judgement on Reid, Daws and Brown until better opposition are played.

They all played pretty well on Sunday, but aside from Davis, everyone did. But Davis doesn't 'do' finals/finals type games, so that should be no surprise.

Davis absolutely dominated last Anzac Day. He was very close to best on ground.

Just saying.

 

[the_fresh]

Reid was good on the weekend, but 1 warm day doesn't make a summer.

And to have him above our best kid under 21 is just plain dumb.
Beams is so far our best under 21 year old on our list it's not funny.
Wellingham has been great this year, but Beams is a superstar.

 

[Bay Pie]

I'll save judgement on Reid, Daws and Brown until better opposition are played.

They all played pretty well on Sunday, but aside from Davis, everyone did. But Davis doesn't 'do' finals/finals type games, so that should be no surprise.

Dawes played on Hurley. Hurley a high drft pick maybe a year younger.

Reid on Gumbleton. Reid abit younger but come from the same draft.

Brown played on Hille and Ryder. Ryder a high pick and a year or so older.

These guys were all playing on high draft picks who were all at a similar age.

This is a far better gauge then comparing how they go on Reiwoldt at 28 peak of his powers, J.Brown although Nate has done OK him in the past.

 

[Histrionics]

He is the type of backman we have been looking for for a while now. Tall, agile and quick. The type of attributes to play on guys like Franklin.

His days as a forward are over.

 

[didaka]

Dawes played on Hurley. Hurley a high drft pick maybe a year younger.

Reid on Gumbleton. Reid abit younger but come from the same draft.

Brown played on Hille and Ryder. Ryder a high pick and a year or so older.

These guys were all playing on high draft picks who were all at a similar age.

This is a far better gauge then comparing how they go on Reiwoldt at 28 peak of his powers, J.Brown although Nate has done OK him in the past.

Good post. These are the players that Reid and Brown are going to play against in the coming years, by the time Brown and Reid are at their best, JB and Riewoldt will be long gone.

 

[Old Spice]

Absolutely Baypie and Didaka. You look at their 2006ish young KPP in Gumbleton, Hurley and Ryder and how we stacked up. Overall Pies draftees at a guess have less AFL experience, but beat their men in my opinion. Of course ultimately they do have to beat the Reiwoldts etc, but that will be done no harm by getting their confidence up against their peers.

Not the 1st good game from Reid either. I though his 2007 debut V Hawks as a 17 year old was good. From memory he took a crash through a pack mark and kicked a goal. I'm with whoever (Loki?) said his stutter kick was @ nerves not ability.

I still rate Goldsack as a prospect, so to have Reid as a potential swingman would be fantastic.

Finally, on Rus coming back to the fwd line after weeks in defence. That is great news. I would have loved to see Rus and Cloke together last Sunday, that would have been potent.

 

[THATSGOLD]

goldsack is a wildcard... he had 35 36 posses in a tac game? has shown he is capable of playing in middle. don't know if he can break into the side anytime soon unless we get an injury.
Reid looked composed, nice kick.. good game.. lets see him repeat it!

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Dawes played on Hurley. Hurley a high drft pick maybe a year younger.

He played mostly on Fletcher... but yeah, your point is still well made.