Don't let West turn into another Mumford

[winty]

Agreed. Blake has had 4 solid seasons to muster up those crap stats

Not to mention Blake's had quite a few games where he was the number one ruckman too. West has solely been a back-up ruckman at this stage of his career.

 

[CatTricks]

Westy would be a good back up ruckman..more suited to play KP i rekn.
Good to hear he is staying put.

Bring on season 2011 GO CATS!

 

[goodoldcats]

I still think west could play mooneys position in the forward line while pinch hitting in the ruck. he really came on this year and think the club would be very happy with his progress

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It is slightly ironic that Blake's name is Mark.

Gold. Sig worthy that.

Has West played more than 2 games in a row! How about we give the guy 10 games in a row and see how he goes

Agree. Westy never gets any continuity, so you can't assess him on 10 games in 5 years. I would expect, given that Otto won't be up to playing every game this year, that Westy will get at least the 10 games in a row, and hopefully he can really progress by being given that opportunity.

 

[InnocentBystandr]

I assume Chris Scott had a say in making Trent West an offer to stay.
Good sign for Westy if that's so.

 

[Turbocat]

Blake gets a game somewhere in 2011 but its mainly West/Simpson for me. Blake thinks hes had a hard road but look at what West has had to do. West should get a go as #1 with Ottens as the 1/2 guy playing mainly forward but there if he gets into trouble. This way find out if West can advance while Blake stews and Ottens may just last a season out if he only has to be the relieve ruckman. If West can't step up then we should pump the games into Simpson.

Of course that means one of Mooney & Hawkins dont get a gig forward. For mine I'd try Hawkins at CHB preseason ( he seems more strong overhead than Lonergan) but if thats a no go then the new coach just has to go to the "hard choice" box and pull out the right answer.

 

[Vdubs]

Believe it or not, I'm most looking forward to Simpson. His mobility and height could end up being 211 -like. Lethal. He is the one that should be being groomed.

 

[CatTricks]

Believe it or not, I'm most looking forward to Simpson. His mobility and height could end up being 211 -like. Lethal. He is the one that should be being groomed.

agreed

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Agree turbo.

With the new rule both of the 2 ruckmen you pick will spend significant time forward, so Otto will, as will West/Simpson. This should hopefully help Otto however we shouldn't nurse him through more games than his body is up to, it's not a bad thing if we have to play both of the young ruckmen at times.

Most teams will go to playing 3 tall forwards under the new rule, one of whom will be the second ruck, so we'll have one of those, plus Pods, and one other tall forward, which means there's only one spot for Mooney and Hawkins. Given Scott's desire to promote youth, I therefore expect Mooney to get pushed into the VFL at some stage later in the year unless Hawkins' form is horrible.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Agree turbo.

With the new rule both of the 2 ruckmen you pick will spend significant time forward, so Otto will, as will West/Simpson. This should hopefully help Otto however we shouldn't nurse him through more games than his body is up to, it's not a bad thing if we have to play both of the young ruckmen at times.

Most teams will go to playing 3 tall forwards under the new rule, one of whom will be the second ruck, so we'll have one of those, plus Pods, and one other tall forward, which means there's only one spot for Mooney and Hawkins. Given Scott's desire to promote youth, I therefore expect Mooney to get pushed into the VFL at some stage later in the year unless Hawkins' form is horrible.

 

[jim boy]

I assume Chris Scott had a say in making Trent West an offer to stay.
Good sign for Westy if that's so.

Nah, in an interview a couple of weeks ago, Balme was very adamant that West had a future at Geelong and that club were very keen to hang on to him

 

[Turbocat]

With him coming in after draft and him not really knowing anything first hand on the players it would always be someone elses list his first year. I doubt he will overly influence the selection of draftees , he seems to be switched on to a hands off management style , at least at the start. If he had been here 12 months I doubt a couple of guys would be getting a gig again and he would have a better idea of our young under developed kids like Cowan and Christensen.

He is probably like most 1st year coaches , restricted by the timing of his appointment and because he is fresh into the club. One thing that is unusual is the quality of the players he will get to coach. Perhaps a little mature but to get a top 4 side as a Rookie coach is a bit different to what Thompson got.
I have always wondered if we messed in the Blight era by him staying too long. 90 an 93 where wasted chances and perhaps by 93 a fresh voice may have made more use of the list we had.

On West , he has been deprived of chances which is sort of the opposite of Mumford. Westy probably looked around but maybe due to the "non" Mumford factor no club was really interested.Maybe Geelong was lucky that they didn't play him more. Hawthorn delisted Skipper today and he played quite a few games for them , the only sense it makes to me is he wanted to be elevated and they said no and another team said nominate and we will take you.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I would agree, there were never going to be big list changes this year with Scott having come in so late. Besides which, it's ideal for the coach to be able to have a few months look at the players before he decides who is and isn't in his plans. The changes will come first in selection policy next year, and by the second half of next year it will be fairly clear (based on who isn't getting picked) who Scott is going to retire and delist, and there'll be fairly significant changes at the end of next year.

On Skipper, someone must have gauranteed him a senior contract, but I wonder who. Maybe Rossy Lyon?

 

[David the Cat]

West apparently now has a two year contract so he is with the Cats for the forseeable future.


there are a lot of West fans out there ( I am not so sure...) so now he has got the opportunity. The big question is....is he good enough?

 

[Rustin' Man]

I hope that one of the first things Chris Scott does is get himself a ruck coach. I have thought that over the last few years the younger ruckmen at the club needed a dedicated full-time helping hand - I believe that Otto has been doing some of the work but I think that this is not good enough.

 

[Belisarius]

I hope that one of the first things Chris Scott does is get himself a ruck coach. I have thought that over the last few years the younger ruckmen at the club needed a dedicated full-time helping hand - I believe that Otto has been doing some of the work but I think that this is not good enough.

I find it hard to believe we do not have a specialist ruck coach.

Turbo Cat wrote - Of course that means one of Mooney & Hawkins don't get a gig forward. For mine I'd try Hawkins at CHB preseason ( he seems more strong overhead than Lonergan) but if thats a no go then the new coach just has to go to the "hard choice" box and pull out the right answer.

I am in agreement - give Hawkins sometime down back and see how he goes. No way can we really have Hawkins and Lonergan in the same team unless both improve lot.

 

[Rustin' Man]

Belasarius, I too find it hard to believe that we have no specialist ruck coach.

 

[Partridge]

I'd be happy if West could turn into another Mumford.

Will he then go elsewhere? The system is designed to even out the comp , someone will probably give him a go if we don't but not too many have done a "Mumford" so to speak.

Generally if players are good enough , they can force their way into the side. Selwood did it , Prismall couldn't so he moved to a weaker club. And hasn't that worked well.

Hang on, sorry but I have to correct that. Everyone forgets this - Prismall did his knee in a final. He was in the side. If he hadn't been so greedy and petty he would be guaranteed senior football right now with us, and probably a much better player.

Tenace was someone who couldn't crack a spot in the side, but not Prismall.

 

[Belisarius]

Would love to see West come good and be another Mumford. Only 2 things wrong - he is not as big as Mumford (a better rucking height) and he does not appear to have the grunt of Mumford.

Maybe he will be a late bloomer - obviously the Cat hierarchy think so.

PS. Think Dawson maybe better option in 2 years time.

Blake I would suspect will be at Catland 1 more year (contract - if we are paying him at least have him in the twos as a back up ruckman if a heap of injuries happen) - so West has 2 years to prove himself I would reckon.

If he shows mobility perhaps could be a back up CHB or CHF ? 198 cm is an in between height for me. Too short to be a dominant ruckman - too tall to be mobile enough to play CHB or CHF.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Hang on, sorry but I have to correct that. Everyone forgets this - Prismall did his knee in a final. He was in the side. If he hadn't been so greedy and petty he would be guaranteed senior football right now with us, and probably a much better player.

Tenace was someone who couldn't crack a spot in the side, but not Prismall.

Thank you!! The revisionist history that seems to follow Prissmall sh!ts me no end.

 

[Vdubs]

I hope that one of the first things Chris Scott does is get himself a ruck coach. I have thought that over the last few years the younger ruckmen at the club needed a dedicated full-time helping hand - I believe that Otto has been doing some of the work but I think that this is not good enough.

Reg Hickey Stand has said that forever. He wants Sam Newman.

 

[Rustin' Man]

Veedubs, I don't agree with RegHS about Sam Newman as a ruck coach. He's been out of the game for too long and things have changed considerably since he pulled on the boots. Besides he's happy being a dimwit on Channel 9. I was actually thinking of someone who has not long retired from the game (not Steven King) and who may have some useful knowledge to impart.

 

[maxy87]

Steven king teaching blake? Now thats irony

 

[Rustin' Man]

I said NOT Steven King - but I appreciate the irony of that situation. King has already been appointed as a coach at the Saints.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Plenty of ex Geelong options...Damian Bourke, Darren Flanigan, John Barnes. I reckon someone like Corey McKernan would be good too, as a ruckman/forward combo type.