Brent Hall

[bren_gc]

Hey guys, just thought I would put forward the question of 'what promise does Brent Hall hold?'

I know he is young and big, so will take a while to come on. But to anyone who has seen him play many games (other than the flicker of a chance he got at senior level) where do you think he will be best suited, or will he be any good at all?

I've heard he has played well in defence for willy, could he be our next FB? He seems to be a big boy, is he good enough to play ruck? I'm not sure he will be used as a forward at all.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Jabso]

Project player. Probably first position is ruck and then forward, will take alot of work to turn into a backman.

 

[hotpie]

Has a year left to prove himself. Needs a huge 2006 to remain an AFL listed player.

 

[dasler]

Hey guys, just thought I would put forward the question of 'what promise does Brent Hall hold?'

I know he is young and big, so will take a while to come on. But to anyone who has seen him play many games (other than the flicker of a chance he got at senior level) where do you think he will be best suited, or will he be any good at all?

I've heard he has played well in defence for willy, could he be our next FB? He seems to be a big boy, is he good enough to play ruck? I'm not sure he will be used as a forward at all.

What are your thoughts?

I saw a lot of Brent as a junior at South Fremantle and he definitely has talent. Very mobile and deceptively quick for a player of his size. Came across to Collingwood with glandular fever from recall and as a bottom age draftee.

IMO he definitely has a lot of potential and was a key player in the South Fremantle colts.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

To be honest, I don't think he will last...suprised he stayed on the list. I think, from some reviews heard, he is best suited as a tall back, but...doesn't look too mobile, but moves better than first impressions. Played about 15-20 mins in the ruck against Cartledge and Bradley and won 8 hitouts...played forward aswell.

 

[Murray]

To be honest, I don't think he will last...suprised he stayed on the list.

Ditto

 

[FIGJAM]

I personally think his best position is ruck.

Dudkins disagrees stating that he will probably be a KP defender. Colin Wisbey also said same in his report on him.

One question is, if he is arguably best suited to a KP defensive position, then why have I never seen him played there? Ever!?

Or alternatively, why has he never been given an extended period in the ruck for Willi? He's played bursts at best. Billy Morrison had a run in the ruck longer than Brent in one game I saw!

He's not a forward's arse. Never will be, yet our "development brains trust" seems to lump him there all the time!

Everyone is focussing on his negatives, but he does have some serious positives. He is one serious unit, he is only 19 and he is literally awesome below his knees, and not just for a 200cm ruckman. Plus he's no slug and is mobile.

His weaknesses are he's a squib in marking contests, he clearly isn't doing enough and he doesn't command or demand the football like an AFL player should.

I think he has promise, but he has to be taken out off the forward line immediately. If he's played there too much again, I'm going to write a letter to Maltthouse.

If he is to become a defender, then extensive tutelage under McKenna may help. If he is to become a ruckman, then a propper ruck coach might help. If you are a propper ruck coacch, please sent your resume to Eddie.

 

[MarkT]

In the one senior and handful of VFL games I have not seen any glimpse of the talent he was alleged to possess when illness and injury excuses were thrown around for his negligible output. I’ll bet 2006 will see him out and he might get luck and end up rookied by Freo. I’d love to be wrong but I pray for no more Ben Kinnear/Andrew Williams sagas. He’s young enough to improve but what at I can’t see at this point. Assess and cull.

 

[Murray]

In the one senior and handful of VFL games I have not seen any glimpse of the talent he was alleged to possess when illness and injury excuses were thrown around for his negligible output. I’ll bet 2006 will see him out and he might get luck and end up rookied by Freo. I’d love to be wrong but I pray for no more Ben Kinnear/Andrew Williams sagas. He’s young enough to improve but what at I can’t see at this point. Assess and cull.

And we have a very similar 'project' player in Walker (is he up for long service yet?).
Jesus - we don't need two of them

 

[MarkT]

I'd be trading Walker this week if at all possible.

 

[Murray]

I'd be trading Walker this week if at all possible.

Agree with that

 

[hotpie]

I'd be trading Walker this week if at all possible.

Not possible. Worth nothing in a trade.

The choice for Walker is persist or delist. As he's contracted, persist is the only viable option. Having both him and Hall taking up space is a problem in terms of too many project players, but at least with Davidson and Morrison gone the problem is only half as bad as it was last year. Walker still has some potential, although 2005 was a big backwards step for him, whil Hall seems to have no potential at all.

 

[grayza]

Hall would be wanting some regular game time and pinching Fanning's possie in the ruck order next season or he will be gone

 

[MarkT]

Hotpie I am just sick of seeing blokes that so obviously look flawed. Walker has had opportunities and not grasped one. With Rocca, Tarrant, Fraser, C2, C3 & Rusling as forward option he has no hope of a game as a forward. We rucked Jason Cloke ahead of him last year and rightly at that. Down back he has Maxwell and O’Brian to contend with. I’d be happy to trade him in something like a 4th/5th round pick for a 3rd/4th round pick and pay his salary. Basically buy a minor draft upgrade.

As for Hall I don’t mind giving him another year but I doubt it will make any difference in the end.

 

[hotpie]

Hotpie I am just sick of seeing blokes that so obviously look flawed. Walker has had opportunities and not grasped one. .

Agree thoroughly, but you seem to live in this little fantasy world where you think we can fix all our ills in one hit by delisting half our list in a season. Facts are we've cleaned out a lot of dead wood by delisting two unproductive talls, and we'll clean out more at the end of 2006, including Hall, probably Walker, and a Fanning, Fraser and a Cloke or two may also find themselves under pressure unless they deliver, plus possible retirement from Wakelin.

We cant go at a much quicker rate than what we're going at currently. We have 40 on our list - like all clubs -18 every week just make up the numbers. Walker and Hall have a year to prove they are not just making up the numbers.

I wouldnt have an issue with Walker being delisted immediately to make way for O'Brien if he wasnt under contract. Thats just a waste of money.

As for trading - who'd take him?

 

[Us3]

if you can trade him with his salary paid by his new club i would take it.
i cant see him breaking into the 22 without another devastating run of injuries from us.

try for a new development player if our quota of 2 in the whole squad isnt met and try again, walker has had his chances

 

[bren_gc]

I'm not a big fan of walker. But I feel we really need to find a backup FB soon to develope ready for when presti goes (i know this could/should be 3 or 4 years away.) Presti has had a good run with injuries this year, but that wont always be the case. We need a backup. Can walker fill this need? (If not he has to go, no use anywhere else) Can Hall fill it? (Is he too tall?) I think we have wakelin covered with maxwell and o'brien (do we know who is getting promoted from the rookie list yet?). Clement still has plenty left in him.

You all say walkers salary might be a problem with trades... does anyone know the ballpark contract he's on? Are we paying him too much for zero results?

 

[Coin_Toss]

There is one word to describe Brent Hall so far...DUD!

I hope it turns around for him, but I doubt it.