Best First Year Player

[crazzzy_grrl]

Just having a look around the wce website and was looking at the names who have won the best first year play. The last three have been Kerr, Judd and Sampi. Does anyone have any idea who might get it this year, coz we had so many debuts so its a tough one. Personally i think Seaby will get it.

 

[dees_best]

I may be an outsider but Beau Waters will win it IMO.

You got yourselves bargains in Waters and Butler.

Good work.

 

[Mead]

Very very even this year.

I guess it will be Seaby simply because he played 4 or 5 more games than Butler or Waters did. I think in terms of consistent performances from week to week, Waters was the best, but won't get it because hamstring problems meant he missed a few games.

Seaby will be a deserving winner though- his mobility, marking ability and ability to place the ball when he wins ruck knocks are just exceptional. imo, in terms of potential and likelihood of him delivering, I'd rate him behind only Judd in our 21 and unders. A couple of years down the track, I will be very surprised if Seabs isn't considered to be one of the top 2 or 3 ruckmen in the competion.

It gets said a lot but geez we did okay out of the '01 draft- Judd, Sampi, Seaby, Hansen..

 

[Streaker]

Waters and Butler were good as was Jones, Seaby, Nicoski and Hansen. If Nicoski, Jones, Waters, Hansen and Butler hadn't sustained injuries it would have been interesting. I would have to say Butler would be the best 1st year player for mine.

 

[Clayton]

Seaby has been excellent for us this yr, whether it be as a back up ruckman or pinch hitting up forward. He's played all but 3 games since his call up in round 4 aswell I think he'll win it ahead of Waters!

 

[Monocle]

Seaby has been excellent for us this yr, whether it be as a back up ruckman or pinch hitting up forward. He's played all but 3 games since his call up in round 4 aswell I think he'll win it ahead of Waters!

What he said.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Hopefully Beau will get it, then he can get back to back wins and get best first year player for Adelaide next year.

 

[Clayton]

You can cross him & Butler off your wish list

 

[larrikin]

I think Butler has shown more than Waters this year.

Butler's skills have looked great and he hasn't looked out of place in our much vaunted midfield. I think Waters has been solid, but Butler really excites me.

I do, however, believe that Seaby will comfortably win it.

 

[Mead]

I think Butler has shown more than Waters this year.

Butler's skills have looked great and he hasn't looked out of place in our much vaunted midfield. I think Waters has been solid, but Butler really excites me.

I do, however, believe that Seaby will comfortably win it.

Interesting take.

Butler and Waters are pretty much the exact opposite in terms of how they play. During the preseason I was very impressed with Butler, but I think Waters has been a bit better this year

At this stage the way is see it is-
Butler
Pros: Very quick, extremely good skills. Extremely good under pressure, and sets up good play. Nice kick, and a pretty good mark for his size.
Cons: Sometimes goes the handball when he shouldn't, tends to get bustled out of contests a bit at this stage. Hasn't shown much defensively.
Potential- Very poised for a kid his age- once he has the tank he could be a finesse player of the Cousins/Crawford mold- can find the ball and use it well under pressure. I also think he'll be more physical as he gets older- he's not afraid to get stuck in, its just that his body isn't there yet. Best case scenario is a high stat getting midfielder like Cousins, worst case is a impact player and bit part wingman like Chambers.
Next year I think he'll start a lot of games for us on the wing.

Waters
Pros: Very good blend of physicality and the ability to find the ball. That genuine tough nut element is extremely hard to find which alone makes him more valuable- Butler types are more commonplace around the league than Waters. Reasonable pace, very strong extremely good mark, very good in packs and is also a ball magnet. Versatile- can be a defender or a midfielder.
Cons: Disposal at this point is patchy- sometimes v good, sometimes v bad. Tends to be a bit overenthusiastic when it comes to tackling, often takes people high or gives away freekicks.
Potential- imo more potential than Butler. He's got a very good blend of toughness and ability which makes him capable of being a versatile bargearse type midfielder, and his game against Port this year was probable the best individual performance by any of our first year players.
2 or 3 preseasons from now he'll be extremely big and tough for a midfielder, and given his overhead ability he may even be capable of playing in kpp roles when the matchups are right. His skills need to improve but given that at the moment they are inconsistent rather than poor, I think he's capable of better
Best case scenario is a Hird, Ling or even an Archer. Worst case scenario would see him exposed for not having the top level pace or skills, and ending up a Rowan Jones.

So yeah, personally I rate Waters more, partly because I think he played the best individual game of any first year player this season, and partly because he has a set of attributes that we tended to lack. Butler is class, but most teams have a couple of kids like in the finessey Butler or Schammer mold- much rarer to get a big bodied midfielder who is a genuine hard nut from the first time they ever step onto an AFL field..

 

[bunsen burner]

I think Butler has shown more than Waters this year.

Butler's skills have looked great and he hasn't looked out of place in our much vaunted midfield. I think Waters has been solid, but Butler really excites me.

I'm the opposite. Butler has been solid but Waters excites me. Who knows how they will fare in the future but I'm tipping Waters to be a strong physical type that we so need if we are going to try to emulate Brisbane.

 

[larrikin]

I'm the opposite. Butler has been solid but Waters excites me. Who knows how they will fare in the future but I'm tipping Waters to be a strong physical type that we so need if we are going to try to emulate Brisbane.

Can't disagree with you there.

Waters probably does have more potential - he has the body size and attitude to become a Voss like player. However his skills this yaer have disapointed at times, especially his disposal by foot.

I like what Butler has been able to do with the tools he has now. He isn't big, or even as strong as a Kerr but he's not scared to get in the base of a pack. What I have liked about him is the way he finds space where there is none, and looks like he has time - much like Cousins.

So IMO, Waters probably has the potential to have more impact as a player, but at this stage I would pick Butler in the team before him.

 

[underthebridge]

i hope seaby wins it, he has really taken a big step towards marking his place in the ruck.

 

[coasting]

If it was judged on performance alone it would have to be Butler.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

If it was judged on performance alone it would have to be Butler.

Hmm... but it probably will take into account how many games aswell, and Seaby played the most and took on a more important role in the team.

I'd love to see all of them to win it, very impressed with all the debutants this year

 

[cartman]

butler for me, shows heaps of promise

 

[CrackerJack]

Sam Butler & Brett Jones also stood out

 

[jod23]

If Nicoski hadnt done his shoulder, I think he may have beaten them all this season. But im going with Seaby, just in front of Waters and then Butler. We certainly have an exciting future.

 

[larrikin]

dd

 

[larrikin]

If Nicoski hadnt done his shoulder, I think he may have beaten them all this season. But im going with Seaby, just in front of Waters and then Butler. We certainly have an exciting future.

Have to agree

I actually reckon he could be the superstar amongst the bunch. I have no doubt he'll be midfield in the next year or so.

I love that left boot!!!!!