Callum Bartlett: A Study in Patience

[western royboy]

We would be idiots if we delisted him now, plenty of others in front of him that have had more opportunities and less upside.

 

[lionshine]

Why would we delist him after putting so much effort into him? I am really, really hoping we keep him next year and I think we will TBCH!

 

[Caiphus]

He's a keeper. We aren't going to have a massive turnover this year in the list especially if, as it appears likely, we are getting rid of a couple hundred games of experience in buchanan and stiller.

 

[jackess]

He's gonna be like a mature aged recruit when he debuts in round 1 next season.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I've always hoped that he'd come on and make a big impact, similar to what Zorko did this year. He does have a great story.

What plays in our favour in terms of keeping him is that he absolutely loves it in Brisbane and loves the club - of course he would, they took a punt on him in the draft, and then gave him an extra year on top of the usual 2 year draftee contract despite not playing any footy. I reckon he's one who really would like to repay the faith.

As I said, I think we'll know he's more a chance of being de-listed if he's selected for a game or two. If they don't play him in the seniors in our remaining games, you'd be almost certain it'd be because of a longer term strategy. Really hope we keep him on.

 

[soupy66]

Sounds silly then, but you have to hope he doesn't debut this year then based on your theory. Never thought I would think that.

 

[Voss the boss]

My mates is good friends with his x - i have just sent him an sms to see if he knows anything re CB contract. Worth a try....

 

[3KZ is Football]

Except he could end up at most other clubs before Geelong...

I agree, but of all the clubs in the AFL, other than Brisbane, Geelong has the strongest understanding of Bartlett's potential and they would snap him up if he was available. You are right though, if we let Bartlett go, he is sure to be picked up by one of our opponents.

Number 22 in this highlight reel:

 

[PattyKwasagun]

My mates is good friends with his x - i have just sent him an sms to see if he knows anything re CB contract. Worth a try....

Let us know if you hear anything, that'd be great.

 

[chopperduck]

Cal's had two injuries in four years; unfortunately they were both Big Macs. He's not as injury-prone as it might seem.

That's what i mean Rip, i think once you have a 3rd major, you'd be lucky to stay on the list, especially if you haven't even played a senior game. Outside the major ones, he is pretty good, but he has missed lots of footy. I think you'd be crazy to delist him, he is exactly the kind of player we need, he has finally got some footy behind him, he could really have an impact next year. Beams and Bartlett together have the ability to add a lot of grunt to our midfield. You won't get too many better prospects that Bartlett.

What is a shame is that there is no 'easy' way a club can demote a player from the senior list to the rookie list in cases like this, where maybe a rookie list spot might have been a way to go, you simply can't just swap them.

 

[Haso]

Beams and Bartlett together have the ability to add a lot of grunt to our midfield. You won't get too many better prospects that Bartlett.

I'm with you, CD. I would love to see Beams and Bartlett in the same side with 70+ games under their belts. I really hope this happens.

 

[western royboy]

I agree, but of all the clubs in the AFL, other than Brisbane, Geelong has the strongest understanding of Bartlett's potential and they would snap him up if he was available. You are right though, if we let Bartlett go, he is sure to be picked up by one of our opponents.

Number 22 in this highlight reel:

No.12 in the highlight reel - with the Helmet goes alright as well.

 

[Panthera]

I think we need to realise that that highlight reel was prior to his injuries and that the best aspect was his baulk, long kicking and sideways movement against lesser opponents. With recos on both knees, this wont come back again. Now it all depends on whether he has any other strings to his bow.

I, for one, would keep him on the list....it's not like were striving for the 2013 Grand Final and need the final piece of the puzzle solved

 

[Hollow Knight]

I think we need to realise that that highlight reel was prior to his injuries and that the best aspect was his baulk, long kicking and sideways movement against lesser opponents. With recos on both knees, this wont come back again. Now it all depends on whether he has any other strings to his bow.

He's still quite an agile player Panthera.

 

[Panthera]

He's still quite an agile player Panthera.

AFL standard agile???

 

[Hollow Knight]

AFL standard agile???

Depends what you mean by that. There are a lot of regular AFL players that I wouldn't describe as agile.

I would still say it is one of his more interesting attributes.

 

[Caiphus]

I think we need to realise that that highlight reel was prior to his injuries and that the best aspect was his baulk, long kicking and sideways movement against lesser opponents. With recos on both knees, this wont come back again. Now it all depends on whether he has any other strings to his bow.

I, for one, would keep him on the list....it's not like were striving for the 2013 Grand Final and need the final piece of the puzzle solved

If his recos are holding up well then there is no reason why he can't be agile, a long kick or retain a burst of pace.

From what I have seen of him, he hasn't been super fit, but he wills himself to contests and seems like he has the temperament to gut run till he spews.

 

[Hollow Knight]

If his recos are holding up well then there is no reason why he can't be agile, a long kick or retain a burst of pace.

From what I have seen of him, he hasn't been super fit, but he wills himself to contests and seems like he has the temperament to gut run till he spews.

Does a lot of unfancy stuff in the clinches too. Burrows in... tackles, blocks...

 

[Haso]

Does a lot of unfancy stuff in the clinches too. Burrows in... tackles, blocks...

He does. From my limited viewings, this is a large part of his game at the moment. Very impressive in this regard.

 

[Dylan12]

A change in jumper number may just be the tonic.

 

[LION UP]

A change in jumper number may just be the tonic.

Nope not gunna happen. I asked him about that when the talk last year was about number changes so coming back after the 2nd reco and he was not interested. Not superstitious.

 

[POBT]

The problem with Bartlett is that we don't know enough. We don't know if he'll go better with a full pre-season. We don't know if the promise he showed as a junior is still there. We don't know if his body is capable of holding up to the pressures of week in, week out footy at the highest level. We don't know if the knees have totally screwed his ability to compete as he wants to.

As TFB said though, the best thing about Bartlett is that he doesn't appear to lack work ethic so you know that you'll get the best effort out of him.

But I couldn't blame the club if they cut him from the senior list. Yep - he's been dealt a really raw deal in terms of his footy career to date. I think we all want him to succeed in the maroon, blue and gold. But the club has to be a bit hard-nosed about it. It is worth remembering that keeping Bartlett on the senior list effectively denies someone else that place - either a draftee or one of our existing players who probably work just as hard and have just as great a desire to keep playing. Just because Bartlett has had terrible luck doesn't necessarily mean he is any more or less deserving of a spot than someone else.

I'll be really upset for him if he is cut. But I won't be surprised at all. No matter what the reason, 3 years for 0 games represents a complete lack of return on investment. You'd want some assurance that you'll get a future return if you are to keep pumping time and resources into him.

Tough choice for the club with him. I really don't envy them. It will feel like an absolute bastard act to delist him, even if that is the right decision from a footy perspective.

 

[3KZ is Football]

A change in jumper number may just be the tonic.

I think he would make a fine Number 3. I really believe that once he is fully fit he will really grow into that number and do it proud.

 

[Fatcat08]

Will certainly be interesting to see if we keep him on. Clubs have spent much more time on players with injuries for a small return in the past, even ours. Look at Essendon and the time they have put into Gumbleton. After 3 season he had played only 5 games (in his first). Biggest difference is that he was a no 2 draft pick and more importantly a key forward. Had Bartlett been a highly touted KPF then I think we would easily be offering him another year or two. Being a mid may cost him however given that they are easier to replace than a key position player.

Personally I'd be inclined to offer him another contract. I think we've had guys on our list who have offered less both in output and potential in the past and yes while we want to limit this I do think that there's a spot or two on every teams primary list for a player based on perceived potential rather than output at this point. I would be surprised if every team didn't have a player on their primary list who has played no or minimal games in 4-5 years on the list. They do tend to be the key position guys but they are there.

Equally I wouldn't be surprised to see him get cut at the end of the year, however if our focus is on 2015 or so for a premiership crack (that was the plan published by the lions themselves) then I think there is more merit keeping Bartlett on the list than someone like Hawksley or Stiller or dare I say it even Drummond (being a little harsh there but that's the way footy goes these days).

 

[thoselionslads]

I guess it will depend on what the club's expectations were this season.

He had a very limited pre season. I reckon his output in the reserves this year has been ok considering his lack of football over the past two years.

Keeping Bartlett is of more value than using pick 50/60 something in the draft imo.