Opinion Cameron Guthrie

[footscore]

we have to remember that Guthrie has yet to be completely embarrassed in a game.
He's had 3's kicked on him (not sure about big bags?) helps to play alongside some of the best defenders in the league but even in that NAB game v North, Lindsay Thomas didn't have it all his own way and you could argue that after 5 or 6 rounds, Thomas was the best small forward in the game averaging 4 goals a game and really dominating at the end of matches.

Just seems like a very cool cat, leveled headed and will be another one of those Kelly/Corey types who fly under the radar for years.

 

[bulletproof]

Another post from the lunatic fringe.

Just to try and put my Guthrie comments in context, I have ranked our under 23 ( i left out Menzel because of imjury) players on what I believe their future value to the club will be:

1: Motlop
2: Vardy
3: Duncan
4: Christensen
5: Taylor Hunt
6: Blicavs
7: Billie Smedts
8: Horlin-Smith
9: Thurlow
10: Caddy
11: Guthrie
12: Murdoch
13: Walker
14: Stringer
15: Schroder

Now I will admit you could move Guthrie above Caddy (and a few others maybe as high as 7) but I have a personal preference for Caddy but I can't see how objectively Guthrie could move into top 3 and people are comparing him to a player who is in the best 3 cats in my lifetime.

 

[Partridge]

8 disposals, stats aren't everything but I stand by my original assessment of his game. Back pocket is the easiest place on the ground to get easy kicks and he doesn't seem to get it often enough. Winning the ball is important, don't be a football hipster and claim it doesn't.

After 26 games he has not had a game where he has laid down a marker and announced himself as a player. Thurlow did it in his first. Murdoch has had some shockers but showed his talent against St Kilda.

The last quarter was probably his best quarter for the club so hopefully we are on the verge of seeing the potential being unlocked.

Guthrie seems to have more fans than Taylor Hunt which is just weird.

I'll take Guthrie every day of the week over Murdoch. That would be the easiest selection decision you could get. In Guthrie's poor game (only to some, I thought he was fine), he still had as many as Murdoch has had in any game this year. Then again, he doesn't have pace or other mysterious qualities that are somehow mandatory now.

 

[Partridge]

I'd prefer Guthrie in the team to Murdoch. Might point is, I have seen Murdoch play a game that shows me what sort of player he will be in 50 games.

I don't think I have seen Guthrie play a game that shows me what he can develop into.

If you go back through all our top players they have shown that very early on. Bartel, Kelly, Ablett. They had some bad ones but they showed what sort of players they would be early on.

If he is going to be a scrapper of a back pocket, that is fine. We actually have a use for that. It was others that set the Corey Enright benchmark.

Taylor Hunt eats him alive, Thurlow will by next year. Murdoch is a mystery.

Taylor Hunt has played over 20 games more. At this stage that is a huge difference. Even then Guthrie isn't far behind him at all.

We don't know how good Thurlow may or may not be. I'll be very pleasantly surprised if he "eats him alive". Personally I doubt it.

Murdoch simply has work to do. Has pace - which apparently brainwashes all and sundry - but otherwise is like a lot of young players. Needing time and improvement.

 

[Partridge]

Another post from the lunatic fringe.

Just to try and put my Guthrie comments in context, I have ranked our under 23 ( i left out Menzel because of imjury) players on what I believe their future value to the club will be:

1: Motlop
2: Vardy
3: Duncan
4: Christensen
5: Taylor Hunt
6: Blicavs
7: Billie Smedts
8: Horlin-Smith
9: Thurlow
10: Caddy
11: Guthrie
12: Murdoch
13: Walker
14: Stringer
15: Schroder

Now I will admit you could move Guthrie above Caddy (and a few others maybe as high as 7) but I have a personal preference for Caddy but I can't see how objectively Guthrie could move into top 3 and people are comparing him to a player who is in the best 3 cats in my lifetime.

Not at all BP, it's excellent discussion.

Speaks volumes for the young talent we have that there is very, very little between the first 10 or 11 on that list.

 

[catempire]

I think when assessing a young player's output you need to take a step back and ask: what role is he being asked to play?

For mine, Guthrie has almost exclusively been used as a shut-down small defender this season and he has done it very well in Josh Hunt's absence. The thing about him is, he can play through the midfield and even up forward if they give him that chance. It's just that we are yet to see it because the need has been as a small in defence.

I also think that in comparing him with other young players there's a tendency to say the players that kick goals or rack up possessions in the middle of the ground are "better" or will be better in the long run. Yet, there's a very big need in our team to find the next lock down small defender. Having a 20 year old doing a very fine job of it at this age is an absolute bonus. Furthermore, the reason people make comparisons with Enright is because of his unassuming nature (at least at the moment) but his capacity to do more than that over time. I'm not suggesting he'll be anything like the player Enright has become, but I think the comparison is useful to assess where he is as a player and what sort of player (as distinct from quality of player) he might become.

Guthrie will be there when the whips are cracking in September. I've got no doubt about that now.

 

[footscore]

Then again, he doesn't have pace or other mysterious qualities that are somehow mandatory now.

lol
so true

(but now we got speedsters across every position for the first time in decades!)

 

[vinum coupe]

Another post from the lunatic fringe.

Just to try and put my Guthrie comments in context, I have ranked our under 23 ( i left out Menzel because of imjury) players on what I believe their future value to the club will be:

1: Motlop
2: Vardy
3: Duncan
4: Christensen
5: Taylor Hunt
6: Blicavs
7: Billie Smedts
8: Horlin-Smith
9: Thurlow
10: Caddy
11: Guthrie
12: Murdoch
13: Walker
14: Stringer
15: Schroder

Now I will admit you could move Guthrie above Caddy (and a few others maybe as high as 7) but I have a personal preference for Caddy but I can't see how objectively Guthrie could move into top 3 and people are comparing him to a player who is in the best 3 cats in my lifetime.

It's not a bad list BP.
And if all 10 of those are ahead of Guthrie in 3 years we will have to build a new stand for all the silverware.

 

[vinum coupe]

And by the way BP, you know I have not been one to compare him to Enright.
He might have to do his role at some stage, but personally I think Thurlow already looks like he will be better at it.

I want Guthrie in the midfield, and I want him to be an elite midfielder. I think he has it in him.
And you don't.

That's fine, we differ there. And we'll know the answer eventually.

 

[Gwsrules]

And by the way BP, you know I have not been one to compare him to Enright.
He might have to do his role at some stage, but personally I think Thurlow already looks like he will be better at it.

I want Guthrie in the midfield, and I want him to be an elite midfielder. I think he has it in him.
And you don't.

That's fine, we differ there. And we'll know the answer eventually.

Not many rate thurlow to come in this week, assuming he is fit, does that mean he didn't do enough in his 3 games.

 

[krisholio14]

And by the way BP, you know I have not been one to compare him to Enright.
He might have to do his role at some stage, but personally I think Thurlow already looks like he will be better at it.

I want Guthrie in the midfield, and I want him to be an elite midfielder. I think he has it in him.
And you don't.

That's fine, we differ there. And we'll know the answer eventually.

Cam could end up the most versatile player at the club. Played in all parts of the ground as a junior, and has shown the ability to translate that to AFL level so far this year.

He strikes me as having one of the main things I like in a footballer, and that is that he finds ways to contribute even when he's not at the top of his game, without taking anything off the table. There aren't too many players who I've seen over the years who can do that - and one of those is Corey Enright.

 

[vinum coupe]

Not many rate thurlow to come in this week, assuming he is fit, does that mean he didn't do enough in his 3 games.

He was rested last week.

I assume this is a fantasy footy type question.

I have no idea how many games Thurlow will play. We are a washing machine when it comes to kids.

From what I've seen and taking into account those who have to come back I reckon he'll play another 5-7 games.

 

[David the Cat]

He was rested last week.

I assume this is a fantasy footy type question.

I have no idea how many games Thurlow will play. We are a washing machine when it comes to kids.

From what I've seen and taking into account those who have to come back I reckon he'll play another 5-7 games.

Agreed.....wouldnt be at all surprised if he plays this week.

 

[Partridge]

Really coming along well imo.
I have highlighted some of his defensive pressure, although some didn't turn into initial turnovers, has very good concentration as many 26 gamers will lose concentration and give up in a chase or choose to wait for the easy possessions but he seems to be extremely team-orientated.
He's got underrated speed, his opponents will have 2-3 metre head starts but he will make up ground quite easily.
Like Motlop, tends to glide without seemingly exerting too much energy.

Imagine his game after 50-75 matches

All I can is that isn't a bad game by any stretch. Couple of very good double efforts - first the spoil and then the tackle on Brown. Another one was the two tackles he laid on Ablett at the centre square. He escaped the first time, the second one affected his disposal and we ended up with the ball.

If that's a bad game I can't wait to see the good ones.

 

[Partridge]

I think when assessing a young player's output you need to take a step back and ask: what role is he being asked to play?

For mine, Guthrie has almost exclusively been used as a shut-down small defender this season and he has done it very well in Josh Hunt's absence. The thing about him is, he can play through the midfield and even up forward if they give him that chance. It's just that we are yet to see it because the need has been as a small in defence.

I also think that in comparing him with other young players there's a tendency to say the players that kick goals or rack up possessions in the middle of the ground are "better" or will be better in the long run. Yet, there's a very big need in our team to find the next lock down small defender. Having a 20 year old doing a very fine job of it at this age is an absolute bonus. Furthermore, the reason people make comparisons with Enright is because of his unassuming nature (at least at the moment) but his capacity to do more than that over time. I'm not suggesting he'll be anything like the player Enright has become, but I think the comparison is useful to assess where he is as a player and what sort of player (as distinct from quality of player) he might become.

Guthrie will be there when the whips are cracking in September. I've got no doubt about that now.

Great post. Totally agree. It's pertinent to point out I'm not sure many have said he's going to be as good as Enright - what doesn't appear to be in doubt is that he has modelled himself on him. Fairly obvious and intelligent thing I would have thought.

Either way, he's tracking very, very nicely right now. Unless I've missed it, Saturday night was the first time he's ever tagged or played midfield before in the seniors. Looks like there's something there to work with. If he can develop an ability to tag while Taylor Hunt is out it could be yet another bonus.

 

[sarah.13]

All I can is that isn't a bad game by any stretch. Couple of very good double efforts - first the spoil and then the tackle on Brown. Another one was the two tackles he laid on Ablett at the centre square. He escaped the first time, the second one affected his disposal and we ended up with the ball.

If that's a bad game I can't wait to see the good ones.

As an aside, those are the sort of efforts that Brown needs to get into his game if he wants to stay at the cats.He has talent but that on its own isn't enough.

 

[AM]

I think when assessing a young player's output you need to take a step back and ask: what role is he being asked to play?

For mine, Guthrie has almost exclusively been used as a shut-down small defender this season and he has done it very well in Josh Hunt's absence. The thing about him is, he can play through the midfield and even up forward if they give him that chance. It's just that we are yet to see it because the need has been as a small in defence.

I also think that in comparing him with other young players there's a tendency to say the players that kick goals or rack up possessions in the middle of the ground are "better" or will be better in the long run. Yet, there's a very big need in our team to find the next lock down small defender. Having a 20 year old doing a very fine job of it at this age is an absolute bonus. Furthermore, the reason people make comparisons with Enright is because of his unassuming nature (at least at the moment) but his capacity to do more than that over time. I'm not suggesting he'll be anything like the player Enright has become, but I think the comparison is useful to assess where he is as a player and what sort of player (as distinct from quality of player) he might become.

Guthrie will be there when the whips are cracking in September. I've got no doubt about that now.

Agree with most of the post. Can't see that it is useful to compare two players that have so little in common though. Additionally, comparing players without taking account of their attributes (qualities) I find more difficult to do than you.

As you say, Guthrie is a small defender. Boris can play tall and small. Boris not only reads the game well he is a step ahead of the play which is part of the reason he intercepts so regularly and so well. Boris can be accountable for an opponent and be offensively dangerous too, something not in Guthrie's repertoire in my view. Boris covers for team mates as well as any player in our team and has the capability to influence a game. Again, something I haven't seen in Guthrie. I could go on.

Guthrie is still learning the caper and will be a good player for us but he is an entirely different sort of player to Boris. I suspect he will end up more as a midfielder than a back half small defender. I am biased when it comes to the great CE though - that's Corey Enright btw.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Hmmm! Not sure the linguists working on the MacQuarie Concise Dictionary would accept that as a definition.

Yeah. They are cunning linguists indeed.

 

[AM]

Yeah. They are cunning linguists indeed.

Spoken for and on behalf of Catherine Zeta-Jones.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Hey man, that shit gives you throat cancer! Be like drinking yourself to death I guess...

 

[bulletproof]

Blimey, he was woeful again.

 

[year of the cat]

Blimey, he was woeful again.

Along with half the team

 

[Partridge]

Blimey, he was woeful again.

How exactly? Did he concede 3 goals to Rhys Palmer like Enright? Or let is direct opponent run away from him twice to goal like Bartel?

Or is there no specific reason?

 

[THE CAT WRANGLER]

Guthrie was very un impressive again is unaware of his opponent lets players run around , rarely tackles and very few possessions

 

[geelong_crazy26]

guthrie is a very crucial piece to our continued success down at geelong, take a look at the age of our defence, j junt, enright, lonergan, kelly arent getting any younger, we need to get as much time into players like guthrie thurlow over the next year or so in order for our defense to remain an elite combination

guthrie will be an AA quality defender when he hits his straps, the kid is 20 years old and barely played any games, what do people expect right now of him?

if we do not transition some of these young defenders into the side, we will be in trouble next year and especially the year after that