This is just a bit of an overview of players at each club who would be eligible for our Ching. It’s quite interesting to look at it this way. In the going well section I’ve put players of sufficient quality who are considered regulars. Shown Promise is for those guys who have done exactly that or been a bit in and out. On the bench is for untried or players who have had a small taste.
It's not meant to be a who's got the best young players review but more a look at who's got what and where they are at currently and collectively. See what you make of it and in what stead these clubs might be in the near future!
Adelaide
Going Well: K.McGregor, G.John****
Shown Promise: n/a
On The Bench: T.Hentschel, B.Reilly, J.Schuback, M. Smith, N. Bock, M. Mattner, B. Rutten, L.Jericho
Not an awesome bunch. Clearly their priority is with the senior group of players
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Brisbane
Going Well: J.Brown
Shown Promise: J.Charman, R.Copeland
On The Bench: J.Gram, R.Hadley, A. McGrath, D.McLaren, S.Morrison, J.Brennan, A.Corrie, D.Merrett, J.Wright, T.Selwood,
The players they have here seem perfectly selected to become replacements for current senior players. It has serious quality in KP’s and ruck who are ready now and a couple of young mids for the longer term.
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Carlton
Going Well: Nil
Shown Promise: B.Fevola, R.Houlihan, L.Livingston, S.Wiggins,
On The Bench: C. Beasy, B. Campbell, T.Sporn, J. Davies, A. Pickering, J. Waite, B. Thornton, K.Simpson, B.Fisher, C.Croad, K.Norman, A.Matthews,
Long years of pain for the Blues on the horizon.
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Collingwood
Going Well: J.Cloke, A.Didak, J.Fraser, B.Johnson, R.Lonie, L.Davis
Shown Promise: R.Cole, M.McGough
On The Bench: T. Davidson, G. Richards, R. Shaw, D. Swan, B.Nixon, L.Mullins, L.Shackleton, C.Cloke, T.Walker, M.Lokan,
An excellent batch, particularly of mid size players. Perhaps a bit light in KP strength (Fraser plays like a 175cm goalsneak if you ask me).
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Essendon
Going Well:
Shown Promise: D.Cupido, R. Forster-Knight, D. Hille, A.McPhee, M.McVeigh, A.Welsh
On The Bench: J.Bannister, M.Bullen, J.Davies, S.Harvey, S.Hunt, S.O’Keefe, J.Reynolds, T.Richards, J.Watson, J.Winderlich, D.Walsh, T.Cartledge, J.Lay****,
Probably about 1-2 years behind us in development at this stage. Nice mix of player sizes and type.
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Fremantle
Going Well: P.Hasleby, D.Headland, J.Longmuir, M.Pavlich
Shown Promise: L.McPharlin, P.Medhurst, D.Woods, A.Siegert,
On The Bench: A.Browne, B.Cunningham, R.Haddrill, D.Haines; G.Polak, B.Schammer, R.Crowley, G.Edgecumbe, S.Thornton, B.Doswell, A.Sandilands,
Arguably the best group. Top 4 would probably play in any team. Very strong in KP’s. Mids bolstered by arrival of Headland.
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Geelong
Going Well: P.Chapman, J.Corey, C.Enright, C.Ling,
Shown Promise: G.Ablett Jnr, J.Bartel; S.Johnson, J.Kelly, D.Spriggs, D.Foster, J.Rooke
On The Bench: B.Finnin, C.Gardiner, Joshua Hunt, David Johnson, Matthew McCarthy, Henry Playfair, T.Lonergan, A.Mackie, T.Callan, P.Chambers, B.Moloney,
Another strong batch who have been pushed through a bit quicker than ours. KP talent is raw but the mids are awesome. I expect many of the guys on the 2nd line to move up by end of the year.
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Hawthorn
Going Well:
Shown Promise: C.Bateman, C.Brown, S.Greene, L.Hodge, B.Johnson; N.Lonie; N.Ries
On The Bench: R.Campbell, T.Clarke, D.Elstone, R.Ladson, D.Loats, S.Mitchell, M.Williams, L.Brennan, T.Boyle, L.Veale
A fair way behind some of the others in development and looks a bit unbalanced. Concentration on smalls and mids here. Very little in KP quality coming through although several senior KP’s are still youngish.
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North
Going Well: L.Brown
Shown Promise: L.Harding, C.Jones, D.Petrie, B.Rawlings, D.Teague
On The Bench: R.Crowe, D. Hale, D.Harris, D.Motlop, D.Smith, A.Watson, D.Wells, C.Urch, K.Shore, H.Mcintosh, J.Perry, B.Grima,
A bit inexperienced but has a nice mix of players sizewise and positional. Probably a year or two away.
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Melbourne,
Going Well: B.Green, P.Wheatley
Shown Promise: S.Armstrong, D.Jolly, C.Lamb, S.Thompson
On The Bench: D. Breese, B. Miller, L. Molan, A. Rogers, M. Jamar, N.Smith, D.Bell, J.Rivers, C.Hunter, R.Ferguson,
A steady group but can’t see a lot of outstanding quality here.
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Port
Going Well: B.Guerra
Shown Promise: S.Burgoyne, K.Cornes
On The Bench: C.Ackland, D.Cassisi, C.Hall, P.Koulouriotis, A.Morgan, D.White, S.Salopek, S.Gilham, B.Ebert, W.Champion
A bit lighter than I expected but this appears to be a group which is complimentry to, as opposed to rebuilding, the main group. Port have a lot of quality in the age group just above this lot, ie Tredrea, Dew, N.Stevens. Carr etc.
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Richmond
Going Well: A.Fiora
Shown Promise: M.Coughlan, K.Pettifer, D.Rodan, T.Zantuck
On The Bench: B.Nicholls, M.Dragicevic, C.Hyde, A.Krakour, A.Mills, C.Newman, D.Sipthorp, J.Schulz, M.McGrath,
Ordinary batch. Tigers would be more hopeful than expectant that this group will produce many quality players. Also lacks quality KP’s.
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St Kilda
Going Well: N.Riewoldt
Shown Promise: J.Blake, X.Clarke, N.De Santo, J.Koschitzke, M.McGuire, T.Schwarze, L.Penny,
On The Bench: L.Ball, B.Brooks, J.Houlihan, L.Montagna, C.Oliver, B.Goddard, M.Ferguson, L.Fisher,
On paper looks good by virtue of where so many were selected in various drafts. Lots of unfulfilled promise at this stage but it is quite feasible that by the end of the year many will have climbed steadily through the ranks. They will get plenty of opportunity.
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Sydney
Going Well:
Shown Promise: S. Doyle, B. Fixter, T. Kennelly, R. O’Keefe, S.Stevens
On The Bench: L.Ablett, A.Buchanan, D. Hunt, M. Powell, L. Roberts-Thompson, A. Schneider, J. Sunqvist, J.McVeigh, S.Dempster, M.Powell, J.Thewlis, N.Malceski
Ordinary. Roos might be sorry he didn’t chase the Dogs coaching gig a bit harder!
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Bulldogs
Going Well: D.Giansiracusa, R.Murphy
Shown Promise: S.Birss, L.Gilbee, M.Hahn, R.Hargrave, J.McMahon
On The Bench: P. Bowden, N. Bruton, B. Colbert, D. Cross, B. Harris, K. McGuinness, S. Power, W. Skipper, P. Wiggins, T.Walsh, C.Faulkner, W.Minson, B.Murphy, C.Wight
The quality as we all know is in the mid size players. Plenty of raw and untried KP’s.
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WCE
Going Well: C.Judd, D.Kerr
Shown Promise: D.Adkins, D.Cox, A.Embley T.Gaspar, D.Glass, D.Haynes, A.Hunter, Q.Lynch
On The Bench: A.Hansen, J.Humm, A.McDougall, K.Munro, A.Sampi, M.Seaby, A.Selwood, B.Staker, P.Johnson
Aside from Judd and Kerr this looks like a solid rather than spectacular group. Plenty of height in this lot and if they emerge they could enjoy a period of sustained success in the next year or two.