Analysis Fringe Older Players

[Quinz]

It's my view that if you're over 25 and not regularly playing in a team, your career is probably in trouble.

It has been our tendency to hang on to these kind of players for longer than necessary, but rarely trying them in any new ways that could unlock some better performances. An example I often bring up is Will Schofield- often on the fringes of our best 22, but has pace, a long kick and good agility but has never been used up the field, on the wing or on the flanks to see if he could offer something. Not even at WAFL level. That's just baffling.

Anyway, the other feature that seems particular to West Coast, but might just be my perception, is players dropping off earlier than other clubs. Once we see players hit 28-29 they often can decline quite quickly, Shannon Hurn is a good example who rarely kicks over fifty now, and I'm not sure has the ability to any more.

So if you're a declining older player, a fringe player over 25 or a stop gap player your future must be in some question. I wanted to put the question to the BigFooty faithful, in this time of moderate reflection and balanced discussion, to decide what to do with the following players:

Who would you keep for 2018? Baring in mind the usefulness of having AFL quality depth in reserves, but trying to rebuild some core components of this side.

Sam Butler
Jonathan Giles
Josh Hill
Shannon Hurn
Lewis Jetta
Mark LeCras
Eric Mackenzie
Chris Masten
Fraser McInnes
Sam Mitchell
Drew Petrie
Jack Redden
Will Schofield
Simon Tunbridge
Sharrod Wellingham

 

[Jootube]

Sam Butler - Gone
Jonathan Giles - Gone
Josh Hill - Gone
Mark LeCras - Gone
Simon Tunbridge - Gone
Drew Petrie - Probably gone

Shannon Hurn - Keep (not captain)
Lewis Jetta - Keep
Eric Mackenzie - Keep (1-year deals)
Chris Masten - Keep (short deals)
Sam Mitchell - Keep (providing body holds up)
Jack Redden - Keep
Will Schofield - Keep
Sharrod Wellingham - Keep

Fraser McInnes - (is 23?)

No one on this list deserves a contract above 2 years.

 

[ArdentEagle]

It's my view that if you're over 25 and not regularly playing in a team, your career is probably in trouble.

It has been our tendency to hang on to these kind of players for longer than necessary, but rarely trying them in any new ways that could unlock some better performances. An example I often bring up is Will Schofield- often on the fringes of our best 22, but has pace, a long kick and good agility but has never been used up the field, on the wing or on the flanks to see if he could offer something. Not even at WAFL level. That's just baffling.

Anyway, the other feature that seems particular to West Coast, but might just be my perception, is players dropping off earlier than other clubs. Once we see players hit 28-29 they often can decline quite quickly, Shannon Hurn is a good example who rarely kicks over fifty now, and I'm not sure has the ability to any more.

So if you're a declining older player, a fringe player over 25 or a stop gap player your future must be in some question. I wanted to put the question to the BigFooty faithful, in this time of moderate reflection and balanced discussion, to decide what to do with the following players:

Who would you keep for 2018? Baring in mind the usefulness of having AFL quality depth in reserves, but trying to rebuild some core components of this side.

Sam Butler
Jonathan Giles
Josh Hill
Shannon Hurn
Lewis Jetta
Mark LeCras
Eric Mackenzie
Chris Masten
Fraser McInnes
Sam Mitchell
Drew Petrie
Jack Redden
Will Schofield
Simon Tunbridge
Sharrod Wellingham

Sam Butler - Retire/Delist
Jonathan Giles - Delist (would rather chance my arm on a Rookie)
Josh Hill - Keep for depth but not starting 22
Shannon Hurn - Keep for depth but not starting 22
Lewis Jetta - Keep in current role...Keeping him the the game with cheap touches in the backline is doing wonders for his confidence
Mark LeCras - Retire
Eric Mackenzie - Starting 22, just getting his groove back. Solid.
Chris Masten - Trade for 3rd rounder if I could force his hand otherwise depth
Fraser McInnes - Hard one...Borderline depth/delist depending on Petrie
Sam Mitchell - Starting 22, player/on field coach, far too valuable for the younger team I'd be running with.
Drew Petrie - Starting 22. (1yr contract)
Jack Redden - Play in Priddis role, Priddis becomes depth and player mentor
Will Schofield - Keep - I love the idea of Schofield on the wing, be perfect for that role.
Simon Tunbridge - Delist
Sharrod Wellingham - Play as defensive midfielder/tagger

 

[Monocle]

Who would you keep for 2018? Baring in mind the usefulness of having AFL quality depth in reserves, but trying to rebuild some core components of this side.

Sam Butler
Jonathan Giles
Josh Hill
Shannon Hurn
Lewis Jetta
Mark LeCras Free up some
Eric Mackenzie Trade Free up some
Chris Masten Trade free up some and more importantly a list spot.
Fraser McInnes Keep as a cheap option.
Sam Mitchell
Drew Petrie Undecided
Jack Redden
Will Schofield Depends on McInnes but only keep one.
Simon Tunbridge
Sharrod Wellingham

 

[jdisc]

Sam Butler - Delist
Jonathan Giles - Delist
Josh Hill - Delist
Shannon Hurn - one more year
Lewis Jetta - still solid
Mark LeCras - Delist
Eric Mackenzie - still solid
Chris Masten - tricky, contracted till 2019, possibly trade?
Fraser McInnes - Delist, decent WAFL player but wont make it in AFL
Sam Mitchell - dependent on his body can go another year or just move into coaching
Drew Petrie - Delist
Jack Redden - should be 22 but MC is ******ed
Will Schofield - as others have said i feel he's a lot more versatile than just FB, has decent pace and does well under pressure
Simon Tunbridge - he's clearly got some talent but at this stage i would delist to open space
Sharrod Wellingham - Delist then rookie draft so we can delist him again

 

[ArdentEagle]

Monocle
Interesting that you'd trade Mackenzie...I'm not sure we'd get near what I'd consider to be his true value. (mid 20's)
You'd trade both Schofield and Mackenzie if we keep McInnes?

A lot of cash you want to free up, who did you have in mind to go after?

 

[Eagleboy68]

Sam Butler: gone
Jonathan Giles: gone
Josh Hill: gone
Shannon Hurn: gone
Lewis Jetta: retain
Mark LeCras: gone
Eric Mackenzie: gone
Chris Masten: gone
Fraser McInnes: retain
Sam Mitchell: retain
Drew Petrie: gone
Jack Redden: retain
Will Schofield: retain
Simon Tunbridge:gone
Sharrod Wellingham: gone

Priddis:gone

 

[illegaleagle]

if i was the running the club od go for full rebuild.

Butler - gone
Priddis - gone
Masten - gone
Wellingham - gone
hurn - gone
giles - gone

surprisingly i would keep mitchell and petrie for another an give mcinness 1 more year to take over from Petrie

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Sam Butler - Gone
Jonathan Giles - Gone
Josh Hill - Stay
Shannon Hurn - Stay
Lewis Jetta - Stay
Mark LeCras - Gone, please, just please
Eric Mackenzie - Stay
Chris Masten - Stay
Fraser McInnes - Stay
Sam Mitchell - Gone
Drew Petrie - Gone (sorry Drew)
Jack Redden - Best 22
Will Schofield - Stay
Simon Tunbridge - Gone
Sharrod Wellingham - Stay

 

[QS]

Mass exodus is all well and good, but how do we top up the list? We only get so many draft picks..?

 

[jdisc]

Mass exodus is all well and good, but how do we top up the list? We only get so many draft picks..?

trade and draft

pretty sure you get as many picks as you need to top up your list

 

[Monocle]

Mass exodus is all well and good, but how do we top up the list? We only get so many draft picks..?

Not so we get as many draft pick as we need to fill our list.

Only mandatory regulation is that we must take three live picks every year.
A live pick is a drafted player or a rookie upgrade.
As far as I am aware there is no restriction on how many players you can turn over on your list in any one year.

 

[FKASC]

We do need to seriously go deeper in the next couple of drafts and that doesn't include trading for mature aged recruits.

I fully agree with the OP regarding not trying our ageing players in different positions. Liam Jones is a good example, but every team has examples like this.

Our list management doesn't seem very creative.

Getting a bit of a sense of recurring dejavu about being a WC supporter. It feels a bit like 2013 all over again

 

[QS]

I fully agree with the OP regarding not trying our ageing players in different positions. Liam Jones is a good example, but every team has examples like this.

We already have used our free pass on that. Gov.

 

[VinegarStrokes]

A turnover of 5 or 6 of the main list is exactly what we need. Take 4 or 5 in the draft and take a flyer on a state leaguer or a delisted player. If we could snag Gov Jnr that would be even better obviously.

Butler, Giles and Hill definitely gone. I can't even come close to making a case for any of them. Mitchell will probably retire and I'd give Wellers the flick also. Petrie and Tunners delist from the rookie list also.

 

[ghost82]

petrie has to go never should have drafted him but he is simpsons mate
mitchell has to go but he is simpsons mate
butler go
giles go
hill go
redden has to go never should have got him
mackenzie depth player
tunbridge go
welingham go
schofield stay in best 22 can play tall or small
lecras go
masten go is wafl star
jetta fringe player
hurn stay but should start thinking of retirement not the player he once was

need to start playing youth, but right way not what there doing with lamb playing him as kp when he is a natural winger

 

[ioppolo]

It's my view that if you're over 25 and not regularly playing in a team, your career is probably in trouble.

It has been our tendency to hang on to these kind of players for longer than necessary, but rarely trying them in any new ways that could unlock some better performances. An example I often bring up is Will Schofield- often on the fringes of our best 22, but has pace, a long kick and good agility but has never been used up the field, on the wing or on the flanks to see if he could offer something. Not even at WAFL level. That's just baffling.

Anyway, the other feature that seems particular to West Coast, but might just be my perception, is players dropping off earlier than other clubs. Once we see players hit 28-29 they often can decline quite quickly, Shannon Hurn is a good example who rarely kicks over fifty now, and I'm not sure has the ability to any more.

So if you're a declining older player, a fringe player over 25 or a stop gap player your future must be in some question. I wanted to put the question to the BigFooty faithful, in this time of moderate reflection and balanced discussion, to decide what to do with the following players:

Who would you keep for 2018? Baring in mind the usefulness of having AFL quality depth in reserves, but trying to rebuild some core components of this side.

Sam Butler
Jonathan Giles
Josh Hill
Shannon Hurn
Lewis Jetta
Mark LeCras
Eric Mackenzie
Chris Masten
Fraser McInnes
Sam Mitchell
Drew Petrie
Jack Redden
Will Schofield
Simon Tunbridge
Sharrod Wellingham

Butler-Gone
Giles-has another year, doubt he'll be sent on his way
Hill-undecided, if Lecca stays he's probably gone
Hurn-he'll stay
Jetta-he's earnt another shot
Lecca-should retire, may be kept if Hill gets the arse
EMac-keep.
Masten-I wish he'd go, but he won't
McInness-probably gone
Mitchell-1 more year please
Petrie-probably gone, but he's had a good year.
Redden-keep him and permanently put him in Priddis spot ffs.
Schofield-I'd love to keep him.
Tunbridge-gone
Wellingham-he'll stay on a short deal.

And I'll add Priddis-depth only next season please.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Keep Butler, i reckon he's got a cool head under pressure ay.

 

[Seadog]

Not as bad as I thought it would be, only 14 players, 11 of them who regularly play AFL, nominated to get the shunt. I'd be careful about bottoming out( because that is what would happen) as there is no guarantee we would rocket back up the ladder in a couple of years. Mind you we might slowly work our way down there anyway, mm decisions decisions.

 

[ChampRevesby]

This thing that is most troubling is the fact we have Mitchell who will be retiring next year and a cooked Priddis who is taking up a young blokes spot that we need to develop for next year and beyond. Should be getting young blokes in there now or we are going to slide further into the abyss. Grinds my gears that Sheed had to play less minutes in the middle to make way for Priddis, especially given Sheeds form over the last 5-6 weeks when we have been down (shows great leadership and potential). And then you have blokes like Lecca who are simply there based on credits in the bank and will probably keep his spot based on a few seagull goals. His defensive game is pathetic and needs a rocket.

No heart in the playing group and no brains in MC.

 

[Chris_6678]

Sam Butler - Gone - Time has passed him up big time. No point playing him at all this year. Nelson/ Cole and Watson to replace him.

Jonathan Giles - Gone

Josh Hill - Gone. Draft another small forward plus we have Rioli.

Shannon Hurn - Bet he will be a much better player next year when he isn't captain. Still has 1-2 years left in him.

Lewis Jetta - Been playing well this year.

Mark LeCras - Gone. Same situation with Lecra.

Eric Mackenzie - 1 more year as depth. Gov is heading into his prime and Barrass needs to learn of Emac how to handle the key forwards. We will need to look at drafting another tall down back.

Chris Masten - Meh. Try trade but i doubt he will want to leave WA

Fraser McInnes - Delist

Sam Mitchell - Look i would love him on the list for a year but this isnt going to improve our midfield. Get him into coaching now. Muitmer & Partington to play in his place

Jack Redden - Keep. We need Priddis to be dropped and let Redden play.

Will Schofield - Trade but like Masten cant see him wanting to leave.

Simon Tunbridge - Injury prone.

Sharrod Wellingham - Keep for one more year as depth.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Lol at people saying Priddis is gone. Those morons stupidly gave him a one year deal, he isn't going anywhere

 

[Double the Fist]

It's my view that if you're over 25 and not regularly playing in a team, your career is probably in trouble.

It has been our tendency to hang on to these kind of players for longer than necessary, but rarely trying them in any new ways that could unlock some better performances. An example I often bring up is Will Schofield- often on the fringes of our best 22, but has pace, a long kick and good agility but has never been used up the field, on the wing or on the flanks to see if he could offer something. Not even at WAFL level. That's just baffling.

Anyway, the other feature that seems particular to West Coast, but might just be my perception, is players dropping off earlier than other clubs. Once we see players hit 28-29 they often can decline quite quickly, Shannon Hurn is a good example who rarely kicks over fifty now, and I'm not sure has the ability to any more.

So if you're a declining older player, a fringe player over 25 or a stop gap player your future must be in some question. I wanted to put the question to the BigFooty faithful, in this time of moderate reflection and balanced discussion, to decide what to do with the following players:

Who would you keep for 2018? Baring in mind the usefulness of having AFL quality depth in reserves, but trying to rebuild some core components of this side.

Sam Butler
Jonathan Giles
Josh Hill
Shannon Hurn
Lewis Jetta
Mark LeCras
Eric Mackenzie
Chris Masten
Fraser McInnes
Sam Mitchell
Drew Petrie
Jack Redden
Will Schofield
Simon Tunbridge
Sharrod Wellingham

Redden Shcoey Masto McInnes for depth
Happy with a cleanout and a trade or two.

 

[frenchconnection]

This thing that is most troubling is the fact we have Mitchell who will be retiring next year and a cooked Priddis who is taking up a young blokes spot that we need to develop for next year and beyond. Should be getting young blokes in there now or we are going to slide further into the abyss. Grinds my gears that Sheed had to play less minutes in the middle to make way for Priddis, especially given Sheeds form over the last 5-6 weeks when we have been down (shows great leadership and potential). And then you have blokes like Lecca who are simply there based on credits in the bank and will probably keep his spot based on a few seagull goals. His defensive game is pathetic and needs a rocket.

No heart in the playing group and no brains in MC.

You've nailed it with your concluding comment. It's a worry.

 

[frenchconnection]

Lol at people saying Priddis is gone. Those morons stupidly gave him a one year deal, he isn't going anywhere

Still can't understand why that was done - with the apparent clause that was in Priddis's contract that's like a player holding a gun over the Club, no matter what his form has been. Priddis has never been elite, but his stats this year in comparison to other years has dropped off quite considerably which makes the decision to re-sign him all the more baffling.