Ben Sinclair Ready To Breakthrough.

[Chris_2593]

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news...8/default.aspx

COLLINGWOOD midfielder Ben Sinclair remains determined to break into the senior side in 2011 despite injury ruining the start to his season for the second year running.

The 19-year-old, who played for the Magpies in the first three rounds of this year's NAB Cup, has been ruled out of action for at least the next month after being diagnosed with a left leg fracture.

He said the shin problems that kept him out until round six of the VFL last year, after he showed promise in two NAB Challenge games, had taught him the value of patience.

...........

Sinclair admitted his lower leg had been sore for about a month leading into the VFL's round one but the problem worsened in the Magpies' season opener against Frankston on April 3.

"I don't think I got a knock or anything. It just got sorer," he said.

"Then I went to bed and woke up the next day and I couldn't put any weight on it when I tried to get out of bed, it was just that sore, and I got scans from there."

Sinclair has been told not to bear weight for at least a week and is spending his days rotating between the club, where he receives massages and gets in the pool, and the couch at home where he lives with his parents.

He said surgery hadn't been an option and the injury was expected to heal itself, with his pain level in the leg and at the site of the fracture, which is just above his ankle on the outside, the indication of whether it was getting better.

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/111568/default.aspx

Very interesting article. Would love to see him get a game this year. Impressed me a lot in the Nab cup. Thoughts on him?

 

[mattys123]

I actually see Sinclair as Ben Johnson's long term replacement, and not just because they look similar when out on the field.

His place in the side is going to be as an attacking half back, and you could see last year, and the beginning of this season that he had a lot of potential.

Hopefully he recovers from his injury soon and he can start the push to a senior spot later in the season.

Sinclair and Josh Thomas are 2 of the most impressive youngsters we have at the club, both just need a decent run with injuries to push for senior selection.

 

[ChipDouglas]

If you can't run then your season is stuffed. Doubt we'll see him in the seniors this year and is still to light and plays a bit out of control.

 

[TradeDraft]

Sinclair and Josh Thomas are 2 of the most impressive youngsters we have at the club, both just need a decent run with injuries to push for senior selection.

Good Point There Matty and Espically with Josh Thomas they could play Senior Footy if they can stay away from the Injury Bug.

It is Concerning they had Injuries This Season and Last. Hope they are not going to be more Injury Prone Players

 

[HFF]

Unfortunately I hold fears for the boy making it.

His kicking and style is very much Jaxson Barham-esque. Manic, can run all day, top pace, tackles but kicking is atrocious.

IMO, Benny Johnson's long term replacement (in the sense to play his role) is Tyson Goldsack. Goldy normally makes great decisions with the football, can shut down an opponent like Johnson and is actually better in the air and at tackling than BJ which adds another string or two to his bow. He can run and carry and break the lines and become that 80m player like Johnson is as he too has great depth in his kicking.

Sinclair needs to improve out of sight IMO.

Josh Thomas on the other hand, now there's a fine player.

 

[the mighty T]

Im about as convinced by Sinclair as i am about Jmac and thats not saying a hell of a lot

He has got great pace but ive thought his disposal is a little wayward, not unlike barham, and lets face it we delisted him

More than happy to be proven wrong by the young bloke, but personally ive got my money on Josh Thomas, Rounds, Tom Young ahead of those two fellows

 

[Jesus Baulks]

Ben Sinclair ready to breakthrough... in a month or two when he starts running again.

 

[esc0bar]

Wont make it into Buckleys first season of coach if he can't improve his kicking. This is based on Buckleys opinion of players that can't kick and his strict measurement system he designed for draft camp.

Hmm never thought much of the kid, didn't impress me much in the NAB cup. hope he can improve as im one for the success stories.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Unfortunately I hold fears for the boy making it.

His kicking and style is very much Jaxson Barham-esque. Manic, can run all day, top pace, tackles but kicking is atrocious.

IMO, Benny Johnson's long term replacement (in the sense to play his role) is Tyson Goldsack. Goldy normally makes great decisions with the football, can shut down an opponent like Johnson and is actually better in the air and at tackling than BJ which adds another string or two to his bow. He can run and carry and break the lines and become that 80m player like Johnson is as he too has great depth in his kicking.

Sinclair needs to improve out of sight IMO.

Josh Thomas on the other hand, now there's a fine player.

Got to disagree here. Goldsack does not get enough of the ball nor does he have the pace to be Johnson's replacement. I really do not see any similarity in their playing styles or roles for one to replace the other.

 

[Optimax]

Wont make it into Buckleys first season of coach if he can't improve his kicking. This is based on Buckleys opinion of players that can't kick and his strict measurement system he designed for draft camp.

Hmm never thought much of the kid, didn't impress me much in the NAB cup. hope he can improve as im one for the success stories.

His kicking being bad is a misnomer, and a more proof that once someone says something on Bigfooty it takes off and becomes truth.

His kicking isn't buckleyesque, but it certainly isn't bad. He is a middle tier type player with goodish skills, and extreme pace and tenacity

 

[JOELY]

good luck to him, hope he continues to improve and makes it. would want to stay injury free though, there's going to be one or two pretty unlucky players at the end of the season when we have to delist a few.

 

[Number 10]

Disagree with him being Johnson's replacement... Surely that is Tom Young's spot?

I can't wait til Thomas plays his first game, he has a freshness and intensity that should bring the team to a new level. He doesn't look lost and tries so hard (even in the NAB).

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I agree with those who say that injury and poor disposal will keep him out of the team this year. And, yes, he is a bit too Barhamesque at the moment.

 

[Optimax]

I agree with those who say that injury and poor disposal will keep him out of the team this year. And, yes, he is a bit too Barhamesque at the moment.

He is a 10 times better disposer and decision maker the Jaxson.

Doesn't get the same amount of ball though

 

[DWil6]

In the long term I wouldn't be surprised if Jye Bolton is better than both Sinclair and Josh Thomas. Hell, even in the short term!

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Disagree with him being Johnson's replacement... Surely that is Tom Young's spot?

Tom Young doesn't have anywhere near the pace to do what Ben Johnson does for us.

Seedsman, Bolton and Cribbin could be others that fill Johnson's role, if they step it up.

 

[Scodog10]

Can't believe the comparisons to Barham! Put simply Barham had Paul Licuria's skills by foot and S Buckley's ability to choose the right option. Sinclair isn't a brilliant user of the footy but he is nowhere near as poor as Barham was. BTW that's no slight on Licca, what made him a gun was that he knew his limitations by foot and always chose the right option.

Sinclair will get his chance and hopefully he can take it because he does have some footy smarts and genuine leg speed, which we're lacking a touch atm.

 

[sr36]

I've always seen Sinclair as a poor man's Dale Thomas. He has the same sort of frenetic commitment, which at times can be over commitment that Daisy possesses. I'd really like to see him developed in a run with role, because at the moment he seems to get a bit lost and isn't in the contest enough.

 

[Quicky]

So he has a stress fracture?

Can't believe the comparisons to Barham! Put simply Barham had Paul Licuria's skills by foot and S Buckley's ability to choose the right option.

You do Licuria an injustice.

 

[Ed D]

Wont make it into Buckleys first season of coach if he can't improve his kicking. This is based on Buckleys opinion of players that can't kick and his strict measurement system he designed for draft camp.

Hmm never thought much of the kid, didn't impress me much in the NAB cup. hope he can improve as im one for the success stories.

From memory it was Buckley talking Sinclair up as being a chance of a round 1 debut last year.

I think Sinclair is a bit of a scrappy player but I'd like to see him get into the seniors and show what he can do. I think he could be a very handy player for us if he got on a bit of a roll. With a fractured leg it's looking a little unlikely this year, perhaps a handful of games late in the year if things go well, but you'd think this would put him behind guys like Dick, Macaffer, Goldsack, McCarthy, Fasolo, even Simon Buckley and perhaps Jye Bolton.

 

[Quicky]

From memory it was Buckley talking Sinclair up as being a chance of a round 1 debut last year.

I think Sinclair is a bit of a scrappy player but I'd like to see him get into the seniors and show what he can do. I think he could be a very handy player for us if he got on a bit of a roll. With a fractured leg it's looking a little unlikely this year, perhaps a handful of games late in the year if things go well, but you'd think this would put him behind guys like Dick, Macaffer, Goldsack, McCarthy, Fasolo, even Simon Buckley and perhaps Jye Bolton.

It's funny but when I think of Sinclair I think of a player like Toovey who broke into the team and grew into his role. Toovey was a scrappy player in his earlier games too. I also think of MM's recent comment about players playing within their abilities. This was in relation to us not "playing like premiership players" and sticking to our strengths. I think there is a bit to like with Sinclair, particularly his attitude and commitment out on the field, but there are a few rough edges to smooth over before he makes it.

 

[Knightmare]

Less durable Barham with a better inside game and has more years of Aussie Rules experience under his belt.

Will get opportunities this season. Long term I think he could be a 50+ gamer and a possible solid role player.


For those saying Johnson replacement, while we don't necessarily need a like for like swap, I'd liken his style more to a D.Thomas because like Thomas he isn't afraid to tackle and go hard at the ball even with his slight build.
Sinclair when he puts size on could be a very interesting inside/out player.

 

[Scodog10]

You do Licuria an injustice.

Yeah I was harsh on Licca. He may have been a below average disposer by foot but he did at least have Barham covered!!

 

[gifted1]

he probably scrubbed a couple of kicks in the nab cup and now he has a terminal kicking probably.
Big footy is a classic for people grabbing limited evidence and then all of a sudden it's consensus view.
He's not a bad kick he's just a boy with an immature frame adapting to the rigours of senior footy, yep you're gonna get tired and sore and scrub the odd kick.
He's alright benny sinclair but unless he can get a good run with injury, 2012 is probably his chance, or if he's really lucky he might get an odd game this year

 

[Quicky]

Big footy is a classic for people grabbing limited evidence and then all of a sudden it's consensus view.

Quoted for accuracy.