Opinion Elite Potential on our List

[ant555]

He’s hardly just a hard-working player who gets the best out of average physical traits, which is what we’re reading around these parts

His all-round attributes are there for all to see. I just hope the belief is beginning to manifest for him.

I rate him . I am more impressed with his ability to have an impact in the midfield or on a wing or when he goes forward. I suspect he would be just as good at half back if he played there but midfield is where he will be best.

 

[Blind Turn]

I rate him . I am more impressed with his ability to have an impact in the midfield or on a wing or when he goes forward. I suspect he would be just as good at half back if he played there but midfield is where he will be best.

He should be aiming higher than being merely an effective role player is my view. His balances are what I am liking. The balance between endurance and burst speed. The balance between attack and defence. The balance between above head skills and below knee skills. The balance between outside and inside work. The balance between hard working and flair like the mark above. He has all the tools to be elite.

 

[ant555]

He should be aiming higher than being merely an effective role player is my view. His balances are what I am liking. The balance between endurance and burst speed. The balance between attack and defence. The balance between above head skills and below knee skills. The balance between outside and inside work. The balance between hard working and flair like the mark above. He has all the tools to be elite.

I am not saying role player He has already proven he is more than a role player.

 

[Agronomus]

Good mark but lets be honest he had no pressure . Yes it was a good read by him to get separation but he got a clean run at the footy. Not that I do not rate him but it was just a run up and jump on someone mark.

When was the last time an Essendon midfielder did something like that?

 

[boncer34]

Tsatas is going to be elite (do I have to say "in my opinion"?) even though he can't laser a ball 50m. He'll be the one taking the ball forward not sideways like Parish

Parish was 11th for metres gained for midfielders in 2023. He fell away last year due to his inability to get a clean run at it, but moving the ball forward isn't a weakness of his.

Moving it forward "cleanly" is, but Tsatas is going to face the same problem.

 

[ant555]

When was the last time an Essendon midfielder did something like that?

When was the last time we had an athletic midfielder that was 185-188 and not 178-180 ?

 

[DERO]

When was the last time we had an athletic midfielder that was 185-188 and not 178-180 ?

Never.

 

[DERO]

Hirdy maybe?

 

[Agronomus]

As great as Jobe was, when was the last A grade line breaking midfielder we've had that wasn't Hird prior to the internet?

 

[katana]

As great as Jobe was, when was the last A grade line breaking midfielder we've had that wasn't Hird prior to the internet?

tim watson.

 

[Yoda_]

As great as Jobe was, when was the last A grade line breaking midfielder we've had that wasn't Hird prior to the internet?

Jason Johnson was an All Australian

 

[Agronomus]

Jason Johnson was an All Australian

tim watson.

Timmy was almost before Television

 

[Darealrath]

Jason Johnson was an All Australian

Remember in 2000 before he was our best mid (in 2001 - not really counting Hird who was more a utility) and when clubs hadn't really worked out how to maximise the interchange and Sheedy would bring him on close to half time and he'd go absolutely bonkers for 20 minutes. And then Bewick would come on half way through the 3rd and take the piss.

 

[Happyskeret]

Remember in 2000 before he was our best mid (in 2001 - not really counting Hird who was more a utility) and when clubs hadn't really worked out how to maximise the interchange and Sheedy would bring him on close to half time and he'd go absolutely bonkers for 20 minutes. And then Bewick would come on half way through the 3rd and take the piss.

I remember the north guy that got absolutely crunched by Jason and Mark Johnson in the 2000 pre season cup final. I think it was Blakey? I remember them being called the bash brothers back then. Even though they weren’t related.

 

[Darealrath]

I remember the north guy that got absolutely crunched by Jason and Mark Johnson in the 2000 pre season cup final. I think it was Blakey? I remember them being called the bash brothers back then. Even though they weren’t related.

Yep it was Blakey! I was sitting on the wing and saw it coming - such a perfect hit, and Lloyd got a goal from memory.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Durham could have a Bartel ceiling. Reminds me a lot of him as a player.
Although he is more Norm Smith than Brownlow IMO.

 

[Vindicater]

Elite potential (as in top five in their position)

Tsatas
Caddy
Kako
Martin
Durham
Reid
Ridley

Those are the players we want to see carry us forward.

 

[Blind Turn]

Elite potential (as in top five in their position)

Tsatas
Caddy
Kako
Martin
Durham
Reid
Ridley

Those are the players we want to see carry us forward.

If the penny drops for Draper he is easily top 3 in his position. A big IF, but he is seriously untapped and a huge weapon if his kinks can be even slightly ironed out.

 

[Agronomus]

Elite potential (as in top five in their position)

Tsatas
Caddy
Kako
Martin
Durham
Reid
Ridley

Those are the players we want to see carry us forward.

And Will Duursma

 

[bombreys]

Elite potential (as in top five in their position)

Tsatas
Caddy
Kako
Martin
Durham
Reid
Ridley

Those are the players we want to see carry us forward.

This is probably the best list I've seen/one I agree with most so far.

 

[bombreys]

If the penny drops for Draper he is easily top 3 in his position. A big IF, but he is seriously untapped and a huge weapon if his kinks can be even slightly ironed out.

He's about to enter his ninth season. 'Easily top 3' when he's probably not been a top 10 ruck through eight seasons is a massive call.

I'd dare say it's never happened in the history of the game.

 

[wichidi]

And Will Duursma

Does have a bit of the Ed Langdon about him.

 

[Yoda_]

This is probably the best list I've seen/one I agree with most so far.

Agreed,

I think Redman borders on potential if Ridley is there. McGrath as a small defender should be in this conversation as well

 

[Blind Turn]

He's about to enter his ninth season. 'Easily top 3' when he's probably not been a top 10 ruck through eight seasons is a massive call.

I'd dare say it's never happened in the history of the game.

I don’t think there’s been too many with the unique attributes he possesses either.

Look, I understand the doubts surrounding this bloke. I have them too, but he’s still got time on his side. There’s lots of ruckmen who had it click later in their career and if it does for him he still has time to reach an elite level. Even Simon Madden took until he was 25-26 to elevate himself to elite-status ruckman (albeit having been a more than capable forward-ruck for many years prior). At 25 he was dropped to the reserves and well off being considered an elite ruckman. Sam has a couple of years to make his case I reckon.

‘Easily top 3’ is based on his attributes and not on his short-circuiting.

 

[ant555]

I don’t think there’s been too many with the unique attributes he possesses either.

Look, I understand the doubts surrounding this bloke. I have them too, but he’s still got time on his side. There’s lots of ruckmen who had it click later in their career and if it does for him he still has time to reach an elite level. Even Simon Madden took until he was 25-26 to elevate himself to elite-status ruckman (albeit having been a more than capable forward-ruck for many years prior). At 25 he was dropped to the reserves and well off being considered an elite ruckman. Sam has a couple of years to make his case I reckon.

‘Easily top 3’ is based on his attributes and not on his short-circuiting.

I doubt he has the footy smarts. The penny can drop 100 times but if you lack the actual footy brain then it does not really matter. He has X factor for sure. His skills will always be all over the place and other rucks can work him over as he lacks the footy awareness as far as knowing where to run and position himself. If he can stay on the park he will be exciting and personally I think he could be a guy that kicks 20-25 goals a year .