Rumour GFC 2024 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[CatRiot]

I have not studied his VFL stats but the glimpses of what I saw would give GWS a few head nodds of confidence. Wonder if he has been offered a big contract by them?

VFL Stats - Aaron Cadman

vfl.aflmstats.com

 

[BORIS332]

Early days...but Wilson standing out at StKilda training shows why Geelong might been tempted by him.

Running a sub-6min 2km says a lot about character and professionalism.

 

[Cameron_Jezza]

VFL Stats - Aaron Cadman

vfl.aflmstats.com

He was on a GwS members call recently , I watched it with a friend who is a GWS member.
He seems more confident than last season.
Unfortunately I don't think we will get him until he is a free agent on 2030 or so.

 

[CatRiot]

Clark watch. Does this mean he's training again? Is that a bag with boots? I have spotted him in any recent action shots.View attachment 1868191View attachment 1868190

Why does Clark always look like he has a little Hitler moustaki? Lol

Might be the shadow under his schnozz, but seen it a few times in photo's with him.

Early days...but Wilson standing out at StKilda training shows why Geelong might been tempted by him.

I think he will be a good player. Would've liked if we got a nice shiny pacey med sized outside mid to partner with Holmes, but maybe they think we have that covered with Dempsey/Mullin/Mannagh/Bowes/Hardie/Miers. Though not sure any of those could be elite in that position like a Duncan and I Smith - I prefer those rangey pacey types with deep kicking penetration like Holmes and Wilson. However, I do think we had to go Key position with Pick 11.

 

[Cameron_Jezza]

Why does Clark always look like he has a little Hitler moustaki? Lol

Might be the shadow under his schnozz, but seen it a few times in photo's with him.


I think he will be a good player. Would've liked if we got a nice shiny pacey med sized outside mid to partner with Holmes, but maybe they think we have that covered with Dempsey/Mullin/Mannagh/Bowes/Hardie/Miers. Though not sure any of those could be elite in that position like a Duncan and I Smith - I prefer those rangey pacey types with deep kicking penetration like Holmes and Wilson. However, I do think we had to go Key position with Pick 11.

Does Clark look like he has grown?

 

[CatRiot]

Does Clark look like he has grown?

Don't think he will... has narrow shoulders. Will be a tiny looking player. Still think he will be decent, but longevity questionable with those small bodies at AFL level.

 

[Cameron_Jezza]

Don't think he will... has narrow shoulders. Will be a tiny looking player. Still think he will be decent, but longevity questionable with those small bodies at AFL level.

Why did we pick him then?
Tom Scully is perhaps who we can hope for?

 

[Mr Meow]

Why did we pick him then?
Tom Scully is perhaps who we can hope for?

Lachie Neale.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Why does Clark always look like he has a little Hitler moustaki? Lol

Might be the shadow under his schnozz, but seen it a few times in photo's with him.


I think he will be a good player. Would've liked if we got a nice shiny pacey med sized outside mid to partner with Holmes, but maybe they think we have that covered with Dempsey/Mullin/Mannagh/Bowes/Hardie/Miers. Though not sure any of those could be elite in that position like a Duncan and I Smith - I prefer those rangey pacey types with deep kicking penetration like Holmes and Wilson. However, I do think we had to go Key position with Pick 11.

Same with Jimmy Willis.

I know many don't like when posters are critical of a player's appearance, but it's not a great look.

Got no problem with a moustache, just not that moustache.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Why did we pick him then?
Tom Scully is perhaps who we can hope for?

His comparison in Joel Selwood was never a behemoth.

Particularly narrow through the torso, and not particularly broad shoulders either...he seemed to work out okay.

Luke Hodge had a similar build post puppy fat, with Tom Mitchell, Sam Mitchell, Trent Cotchin, & Lachie Neale all similar as well.

Can't win at the minute with some. Stevens is a manchild who needs to lose weight, and Clark's never going to grow/bulk up despite being 19.

They'll both sort it out, nobody is the finished product at 18/19.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Why did we pick him then?
Tom Scully is perhaps who we can hope for?

I'm hoping for Zak Butters.

 

[goyoucatters]

I'm hoping for Zak Butters.

I like your thinking. But that is seriously some hope. Butters is absolutely elite.

 

[thejester]

Early days...but Wilson standing out at StKilda training shows why Geelong might been tempted by him.

In retrospect it's notable how the chat around Wilson wasn't so much 'is he good enough?' but 'is he good enough to justify such a high pick?' Which on one level is understandable, but on another is slightly strange.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I like your thinking. But that is seriously some hope. Butters is absolutely elite.

He is a terrific player, but only became close to the level you mention this year. His 5th season at AFL level.

Nothing wrong with that, it's a very normal increment of development, but it should prove to people that making negative comments on Clark this early is just ridiculous.

We can't want him to be Zak Butters, and then expect him to be him right way.

Zak Butters wasn't...well...Zak Butters until his 5th year.

 

[goyoucatters]

He is a terrific player, but only became close to the level you mention this year. His 5th season at AFL level.

Nothing wrong with that, it's a very normal increment of development, but it should prove to people that making negative comments on Clark this early is just ridiculous.

We can't want him to be Zak Butters, and then expect him to be him right way.

Zak Butters wasn't...well...Zak Butters until his 5th year.

Don't disagree with any of that. I'm happy for Jhye to have a long runway to being a really capable AFL player.

Still, if he ends up becoming the level of player that Butters is right now, we will be laughing. That kid is crazy good.

 

[BORIS332]

He is a terrific player, but only became close to the level you mention this year. His 5th season at AFL level.

Nothing wrong with that, it's a very normal increment of development, but it should prove to people that making negative comments on Clark this early is just ridiculous.

We can't want him to be Zak Butters, and then expect him to be him right way.

Zak Butters wasn't...well...Zak Butters until his 5th year.

I agree to a point, but Butters played 19 games in his first season at Port. It's obviously far too early to be writing Clark off, but I don't blame anyone for expecting more from a top 10 midfielder in their first season.

 

[goyoucatters]

I agree to a point, but Butters played 19 games in his first season at Port. It's obviously far too early to be writing Clark off, but I don't blame anyone for expecting more from a top 10 midfielder in their first season.

Clark was injured for a fair whack of his first season with us. Couldn't have notched up 19 games, even if he'd played in the ones every week that he was available to play football.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I agree to a point, but Butters played 19 games in his first season at Port. It's obviously far too early to be writing Clark off, but I don't blame anyone for expecting more from a top 10 midfielder in their first season.

He was injured virtually the entire year. Wardlaw and Tsatas had some injury issues and played many VFL games before getting a chance in the AFL. And I don't see anyone worried about their progress.

Based on his 1 quarter in the AFL there's every chance he would've played a lot of footy for the rest of the year if fit. He wasn't. Shit happens but I don't think we got any real info of where he stands good or bad from last year.

 

[BORIS332]

Clark was injured for a fair whack of his first season with us. Couldn't have notched up 19 games, even if he'd played in the ones every week that he was available to play football.

The comparison was to Butters who played round 1 in the AFL in his first season. Clark played the first six VFL games and struggled to get near the pill, apart from his game against basket case Coburg.

 

[Mr Meow]

The comparison was to Butters who played round 1 in the AFL in his first season. Clark played the first six VFL games and struggled to get near the pill, apart from his game against basket case Coburg.

The original question was framed for what we could hope for (wildest dreams based on his stature/playing style), and therefore what type of player would be if he excelled and reached his ceiling.

I said a Neale type player, D Bridge said Butters (I believe there was a hint of tongue in cheek there too, as there was mine). These aren't predictions on him replicating their careers, they are speculations on what the point of drafting him was (and I don't think we picked him up to be a Scully type player).

Year one was basically a write off either way. A full season of VFL and/or 8+ AFL games in 2024 (which he'll have to improve a lot to earn...no need to remind me) and we'll get our first real idea. That 13-16 disposal mark is common for top midfielders in their first couple of full AFL seasons. If he hits that when he does get the call up I wouldn't be capping his ceiling prematurely.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

was sub in the 2013 GF as a 20 year old in his second season. He played 2 games before round 17 that year (not sure if injured or just not picked).

Basically your first 2 years as an inside mid are irrelevant in determining what you become from there. If he doesn't at least push for selection it would be disappointing. But right now there's no reason to think anything has changed from 12 months ago when we picked him.

 

[Turbocat]

In retrospect it's notable how the chat around Wilson wasn't so much 'is he good enough?' but 'is he good enough to justify such a high pick?' Which on one level is understandable, but on another is slightly strange.

Yes.

The too early conundrum is a bit strange. If you could pick a player with any pick that goes on and plays 100 plus games you have probably done OK. My guess is Wilson play at least that and a good chance to double that. If he was at Geelong doing that in a Pre Season he would be on track for an early debut.

What I found a little strange this year was the "downs" about this draft outside of the top group... that was pegged at around our pick at 7. Listening to some it was like anything outside of that that top group was useless and a waste of time Atpit .. I have no idea who will play more games or be a better player ..Caddy, OSully or Wilson ..who ended up going at around the Holmes range.

 

[Turbocat]

I think he will be a good player. Would've liked if we got a nice shiny pacey med sized outside mid to partner with Holmes, but maybe they think we have that covered with Dempsey/Mullin/Mannagh/Bowes/Hardie/Miers. Though not sure any of those could be elite in that position like a Duncan and I Smith - I prefer those rangey pacey types with deep kicking penetration like Holmes and Wilson. However, I do think we had to go Key position with Pick 11.

You cant have them all. Im happy that was have been focused more on talls in recent years.

We have two young KPD and recent years has shown that KPD is a hard role to fill if you do not develop from within we now have the best group of young rucks that we have had for some time. If we can add another KPF type to replace Hawkins then we have no pressure at all to pay overs in trades.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Yes.

The too early conundrum is a bit strange. If you could pick a player with any pick that goes on and plays 100 plus games you have probably done OK. My guess is Wilson play at least that and a good chance to double that. If he was at Geelong doing that in a Pre Season he would be on track for an early debut.

What I found a little strange this year was the "downs" about this draft outside of the top group... that was pegged at around our pick at 7. Listening to some it was like anything outside of that that top group was useless and a waste of time Atpit .. I have no idea who will play more games or be a better player ..Caddy, OSully or Wilson ..who ended up going at around the Holmes range.

I think suggesting anything outside the top group was a waste of time was overstating it. But pick 20 in this draft might've been equivalent to pick 30 in a typical draft. And pick 30 equivalent to pick 50.

Picks 30 and 50 in a normal draft aren't useless by any means.

But it's interesting we took Mannagh at 36 which is higher than we took Stewart. But Stewart was considered certain to go while Mannagh was somewhat of a surprise. Then our last 2 picks Wiltshire and Humphries probably would've been there at pick 200. I think that says a fair bit about how we rated the normal junior talent after our 2nd pick.

 

[D BRIDGE]

I like your thinking. But that is seriously some hope. Butters is absolutely elite.

Yeah Butters has turned into a real machine... But as Mr Meow noted, he only really hit that elite standard this season and was just a good young prospect on the rise until then.

I will put my hand up and say that I was anti-drafting Clark... I preferred Ginbey, but I fully understand why Clark was taken and when I think about it I was happy enough we got him... We really were not shot at any top rated junior after winning the flag until the GC handed us the greatest and most lop-sided trade in AFL trade history (well I assume it is)... So maybe it was just meant to be.

If you flipped it though and Ginbey was a Falcon and Clark was from WA, I'd be very surprised if we would have taken Clark over him.

Anyway, Clark was a Falcon, the club really should know what they are gonna get with him (hopefully) and he is now ours.

Back to the Butters thing... yeah I'm looking at best case scenario with Clark there... I can't hope he will turn out to be Buddy Frankly because that's just not the player he is, but Clark and Butters absolutely have a bit in common.

Both basically the same size/weight when drafted.
Both drafted with the same draft pick.
Both smaller sized inside mids that have an edge on just about anyone they play against with their fierce attack on the ball and fearlessness/courage.

Clark obviously has a long way to go, but if it all works out for the best I can see him being a Butters type... probably with a bit less class and without that powerful Butters sideways step (but I didn't see Butters doing that stuff until this year either) so there's hope.

So yeah a Butters type is best case for me, boy did he take a step into being top shelf this year.

If I had to go a level down I'd say a Viney type... once again he is smaller... but still gets by on being harder than others with great leadership.