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Injury Billie Smedts - broken collarbone

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There could be a silver lining in this - if you look at the kid from Tassie - Thurlow - i reckon he has come back from that serious injury really focussed - hes got into the side and is making every post a winner - he has really matured - playing like he doesnt want to lose his spot - maybe the forced time he had on the sidelines - you know - it would only be natural to think how his opportunity could slip through his fingers

Smedts has got talent - that smother on the run - where he combined with Scarlet - and then Hawkins to goal - in the win after the siren win against Hawthorn - was a brilliant - and skilful bit of play

Hes been a carefree ratbag up to this point - 8 weeks on the sidelines - he might start thinking - when he comes back - its his last shot at it
 
Smedts will be on the list next year as he should be. His VFL form showed he was a class above the VFL..worth checking the video …he's got some skills has Billie.
 
Teriyakicat said:
I was thinking it'd be good if he worked on his legs while he's out of action Bobby, but then that might unbalance him because he's so lean.

What I'm worried about is that he will have a similar year to Taylor Hunt and Travis Varcoe after they did their collarbones. They seemed to be very quiet for the next 12 months- almost as if they were too afraid to put themselves through that again.
If that happens to Billie, I can see the club letting him go. They've shown they're not averse to throwing out high draft picks if they're not producing (e.g. Brown at the end of last year- after he sustained a similar run of bad luck over the years).
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Spot on about THunt, but Varcoe had a dislocated shoulder that required reconstruction.
Good news is they are both performing well now.
Bad news is they are at opposition clubs.
I for one will be a bit peeved if we delist Billie- I really do think he has something to offer.
 
With what we have leaving already ( and its May) I can't see them cutting Billie after he has started to turn the corner. He has the skills and the ability and even in the VFL game, you could see the effort he was making.

Add that to the AFL stuff this year, and he's done enough for mine to keep going provided he returns with the same vigour.

He should be able to keep much of the running fitness after a few weeks and then its all about rehab and strength etc and getting the confidence back in the collarbone. Id back him in from here given he was on the rise and he knows that he's close to the exit should he not get his shit together.

Go Catters
 

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Goggin Our Best said:
There could be a silver lining in this - if you look at the kid from Tassie - Thurlow - i reckon he has come back from that serious injury really focussed - hes got into the side and is making every post a winner - he has really matured - playing like he doesnt want to lose his spot - maybe the forced time he had on the sidelines - you know - it would only be natural to think how his opportunity could slip through his fingers

Smedts has got talent - that smother on the run - where he combined with Scarlet - and then Hawkins to goal - in the win after the siren win against Hawthorn - was a brilliant - and skilful bit of play

Hes been a carefree ratbag up to this point - 8 weeks on the sidelines - he might start thinking - when he comes back - its his last shot at it
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Hasn't Smedts already had injuries, though? And it seemed to me like he was trying pretty hard to consolidate his spot in the side in his first few games this year. Despite playing in a position that he is perhaps not best suited to, the endeavor seemed to be there. It's yet another poorly timed injury for a young player.
 
David the Cat said:
Smedts will be on the list next year as he should be. His VFL form showed he was a class above the VFL..worth checking the video …he's got some skills has Billie.
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Yes and no.
10 possessions in Q1, 1 possession in Q2, injured and straight off the ground in Q3.
 
Teriyakicat said:
Me too, hamG. I have the feeling that this is what he was being groomed for, despite Scott's words saying that he's a defender. There're enough players in our forward line who can't defend well (big forwards), so we can't afford to put anyone else in who doesn't have a defensive mindset. The more experience Billie gets in the backline, the more natural his defensive skills will kick in when he is moved forward later.
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Makes a lot of sense. That's what I would expect would be a natural progression of his career.
 
Teriyakicat said:
Me too, hamG. I have the feeling that this is what he was being groomed for, despite Scott's words saying that he's a defender. There're enough players in our forward line who can't defend well (big forwards), so we can't afford to put anyone else in who doesn't have a defensive mindset. The more experience Billie gets in the backline, the more natural his defensive skills will kick in when he is moved forward later.
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Mixed emotions on that Tcat. He showed he has something to offer in the first two games , but Im not sure he is naturally a mongrel. The game has sort of turned the role play on its head. There are more player with good kicking skills on the backline and up forward you need a bit of grit , someone who really enjoys contract and being a pain. Even better if they can kick goals.
Anyway, its a real shame for Billie...its like he has no luck.
 
Turbocat said:
Mixed emotions on that Tcat. He showed he has something to offer in the first two games , but Im not sure he is naturally a mongrel. The game has sort of turned the role play on its head. There are more player with good kicking skills on the backline and up forward you need a bit of grit , someone who really enjoys contract and being a pain. Even better if they can kick goals.
Anyway, its a real shame for Billie...its like he has no luck.
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I agree that he's not naturally a mongrel but he seems to have developed a bit of fire in his belly over the past year. Hopefully he will retain his natural attacking instincts and now be able to defend with some intensity as the ball comes out of our attacking 50.

I can't ever see him bulking up so, if the club want to keep him, they're just going to have to work out how and where to utilise his best assets.

I'm not sure how speedy he is- seems to be more a twister and turner than a flat out greyhound-type.
 
His quickness + off the chart agility = pressure regardless of his narrow frame or not being man enough to throw an elbow or round arm people in the face. I would then hope he matures and becomes a 4th lead up target to kick some goals (like Max did when he settled). Note that my 3rd target in our forward line is Menzel.

I miss Max.
 
Teriyakicat said:
I agree that he's not naturally a mongrel but he seems to have developed a bit of fire in his belly over the past year. Hopefully he will retain his natural attacking instincts and now be able to defend with some intensity as the ball comes out of our attacking 50.

I can't ever see him bulking up so, if the club want to keep him, they're just going to have to work out how and where to utilise his best assets.

I'm not sure how speedy he is- seems to be more a twister and turner than a flat out greyhound-type.
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I actually think he will fill out if he can just stop breaking something important each year.
 
I just went through some of Billie's work in 2013 via AFL smart replay. There were crumbing goals, left foot snaps, beautiful set shots from 50 metres, running goals from outside 50, some nice assist work, and the best was a goal from 70 metres after a one handed pickup in the wet. Of course it's not all about the goals but it's a decent sample of what he can do as a medium sized forward in what was only half a season. You'd struggle to explain to someone why this guy would then play the following year solely in defence. I really hope it has been because of "developmental" reasons and when he returns he'll be used again as an attacking option, depending upon how the season pans out. He's got some real talent, worth another year anyway, and should put just a couple more kgs on for 2016. Obviously there's some here that see it differently...very differently :)
 

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Cosmic Energy said:
I just went through some of Billie's work in 2013 via AFL smart replay. There were crumbing goals, left foot snaps, beautiful set shots from 50 metres, running goals from outside 50, some nice assist work, and the best was a goal from 70 metres after a one handed pickup in the wet. Of course it's not all about the goals but it's a decent sample of what he can do as a medium sized forward in what was only half a season. You'd struggle to explain to someone why this guy would then play the following year solely in defence. I really hope it has been because of "developmental" reasons and when he returns he'll be used again as an attacking option, depending upon how the season pans out. He's got some real talent, worth another year anyway, and should put just a couple more kgs on for 2016. Obviously there's some here that see it differently...very differently :)
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I am with you totally.
 
I think the biggest thing for Smedts is he needs to mature and take his game and himself more seriously. I noticed that at the vfl game he didn't take the time to speak to any of the players in the huddle or as they were getting off the ground. Hmac on the other hand spent a lot of time talking with Dawson and the midfield and played a role. You can't be serious all the time and you need people to lighten the mood and have a joke but there's a time and place. He will be on the list next year but if he doesn't take himself seriously soon he'll be out of the game before to long.
 

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