Blues 2004 Preview

[Asgardian]

Time to preview club lists for 2004, same as I have for a few years now, some you'll agree with, some you'll hate, that's cool, it'll create discussion, but no flaming thanks, that's only for morons

Jordon Bannister:- Too easy to move away from ball, needs lots more body strength
Callan Beasy:- Better than I originally thought, like his attitude, but needs to improve skills
Glen Bowyer:- Risky pick-up considering injury history, a good player if he stays in team
Blake Campbell:- Went backwards in 2003, He looks a player, but must work harder still
Scott Camporeale:- Classy player, but a bit too much in defence, must go forward more
David A. Clarke:- A good pick-up, has class, skills & body strength, must stay fit
Cameron Croad:- Yet to see him play
Justin Davies:- Needs to keep head on straight, knows how to play, must do it on field now
Adrian Deluca:- New kid, yet to see him play
Brendan Fevola:- I was wrong, he kept his head & did well in 2003, let's see him do it again
Brad Fisher:- Did well in 2003, hungry for ball, & likes a goal, needs more muscle
Anthony Franchina:- Experience & toughness saved spot on list, needs to do more in 2004
Barnaby French:- Disappointed, but has aggro to improve
Daniel Harford:- I was wrong, another club did want him, coz of good game against Blues
Ryan Houlihan:- Grew as a player, adding versatility to game, valuable team-man now
Darren Hulme:- Good dirty mongrel under packs, every team needs 1, or 2
Brett Johnson:- Good games against the Blues helped him, has the talent
Stephen Kenna:- New kid, yet to see him play
Anthony Koutoufides:- Magic man, is getting older though
Matthew Lappin:- Improved all over game, playing back driving forward, can still get goals
Luke Livingston:- Disappoints me, not physical enough, nor does he work hard enough
Jonathon McCormick:- Mature age recruit showed he has the goods, nice physicality too
Cory McGrath:- Can be dangerous around goals, but goes to sleep, a bit lazy
Digby Morrell:- Has an on/off switch, remember to turn it on, he's good
Ricky Mott:- Huge physical guy, with talent, but he thinks he's a superstar, a bit lazy
Karl Norman:- Has nice defensive game, is learning, must remember to secure own house
Ian Prendergast:- One of my errors, played well in 2003, nice aggression
Heath Scotland:- Can play well in midfield, but not often, he's okay
Kade Simpson:- 4 games without a single possession? no wonder I can't recall seeing him
Trent Sporn:- Love seeing fast tall wingmen, gotta get more muscle & possessions
Nick Stevens:- Okay, he's a quality outside midfielder, has trouble with a tag
David Teague:- Has a bit of mongrel, tough & fearless, I like him as a player
Bret Thornton:- Yep, did well as a defender, better than I had thought
Jarrad Waite:- Looked a solid kid with courage, looks like a long term player
Andrew Walker:- New kid, yet to see him play, huge wraps on him
Lance Whitnall:- When you're that big, you're gonna get injuries, excellent forward
Simon Wiggins:- Versatility is his key, nice skills & pace, confident lad

Rookies:

Laurence Angwin:- Mr. Idiot, no-one doubts the kid has ability, most question his sanity
Adam Bentick}
Murray Boyd}
Andrew Carrazzo} Yet to see any of these kids play
Setanta O'hAilpin}
Sam Pleming}

Given the drafting & trading restrictions, the Blues have done okay with recruiting mainly second tier players. This should help their competitiveness, but I doubt it'll have much of an effect on ladder position in 2004. However with continuing improvement, 2005 & beyond is looking brighter.

A lower ladder position is on the cards for the Blues in 2004.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Certainly kinder to us this year As but I gotta stir the pot .... fence sitting as to ladder position mate? Lower ladder position appeases all depending on whether they see it as 11th or 16th. Put it on the line and give us your prediction. We promise we won't abuse you ... much.

 

[Asgardian]

G'day me old ODN's mate.

Nope, not fence sitting at all, splinters in the old rotund bum hurt too much, lol....

As per the last few years, I want to complete all the club lists before doing final ladder predictions, that way at least I'll be informed before I make myself look silly, lol

 

[Moo]

2 that I would disagree with are Mott and Scotland.

Mott is a good player and I think the superstar comment was fair 12 months ago.

Give the bloke credit he left a guaranteed 1 year spot with Freo (albeit Rookie) to get more game time. I should add Mott played one of the better games this year in the local WAFL - to quote Langdon "The most dominate performance of the season".

Scotland can get that ball - it is a very underestiamted quality.

That aside I still put you at 15th - but remove those draft restrictions and blood the young uns in 04, top 8 is probably 2 -3 seasons away.

moo