Gillies

[Jumping Jack]

Any training reports or associated news on the Pie Man ?

Have'nt seen much mention of him during pre season ..... played a handful of encouraging games last year and I'd be thinking that he's going to be a player to fill the Harley role now that the former captain has retired.

Hunt is also likely to make his way back - this will release Kelly / Bartel from the backline and give us even more midfield / small forward strength but I still think we lack another good size tall down back. This role might come down to Gillies or Drum.

I like Gillies - has a rough head and from all reports is an mean as Cats urine ..... very much in the Scarlett mould and something they noted when they drafted him.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

given the eventful offseason we've had so far, you'd have to say that no news is good news really.

 

[Tristagi]

hopefully the lad gets a crack NAB cup round 1, can't see the club rushing making the likes of Scarlo/Dasher/Stevie J/Chapman/Mooney into the NAB Cup so the likes of Gilles/Drum/Gamble/Lonergan/Hogan all get a crack early on.

 

[TheCattery2007]

Big fan of Gillies, he's got a bit of mongrel about him. I think he'll be a good player for us.

Personally, I think Gillies is in front on Drum at the moment - I mean Drum only played 5 games for Freo last year!! Whatever the reasons, that's not good.

 

[Glassjaw]

I'm interested to see what they do with him. I wanted him to take Harley's role but then we drafted Drum. And with Hunt back there isn't room for all three. Even if two of them play and Kelly goes back into the mid, who gets the arse from there?

 

[Partridge]

I'm interested to see what they do with him. I wanted him to take Harley's role but then we drafted Drum. And with Hunt back there isn't room for all three. Even if two of them play and Kelly goes back into the mid, who gets the arse from there?

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm far from certain that Kelly will be moved from defence, he had a great year there.

As for Harley's replacement, I wouldn't mind seeing Gillies get first crack. He's the right size to groom for a third tall defender.

And rest assured, we'll see plenty of all the young guys in the NAB Cup. The established players would play 2-3 games at the absolute most.

 

[Glassjaw]

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm far from certain that Kelly will be moved from defence, he had a great year there.

As for Harley's replacement, I wouldn't mind seeing Gillies get first crack. He's the right size to groom for a third tall defender.

And rest assured, we'll see plenty of all the young guys in the NAB Cup. The established players would play 2-3 games at the absolute most.

I'd probably rather he stayed in defence too to be honest. And I'd probably like to see Gillies take Harley's spot also. But I'd like to see Drum get a gig too, see what he is capable of. Shame we can't fit them all in.

Then that leaves Hunt. Pains me to say, but I'd like to see Wojo make way for him.

 

[Partridge]

I'd probably rather he stayed in defence too to be honest. And I'd probably like to see Gillies take Harley's spot also. But I'd like to see Drum get a gig too, see what he is capable of. Shame we can't fit them all in.

Then that leaves Hunt. Pains me to say, but I'd like to see Wojo make way for him.

Yeah, but it's also a good thing - competition for spots is the hallmark of great clubs. Keeps everyone sharp.

Hunt or Wojo? Difficult choice. Hunt's got better disposal and probably more solid defensively, but doesn't provide Wojo's run (although to be honest I think both have a little lacking when it comes to minding an opponent).
As you said, then there's Drum as well. If he can be successfully "un-Freo-ed" we could have a good player on our hands.

Good situation to be in though, wish we had the same problem in every position.

 

[Ricketts]

They'll all get a decent run. Not everyone will be available for every match.

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

Big fan of Gillies, he's got a bit of mongrel about him. I think he'll be a good player for us.

Personally, I think Gillies is in front on Drum at the moment - I mean Drum only played 5 games for Freo last year!! Whatever the reasons, that's not good.

Reason? Cos it's Freo. They love overlooking and trading quality.

Drum will be very interesting to watch, and backline depth is what we need most I believe.

From the little I have seen Gillies has serious talent. Really looking forward to seeing him in the AFL.

Wojo will be a fringe backman in 2010, and a quality one at that. Byrnes and Varcoe will fill the pace void.

Somehow we go into yet another season with multiple options and very versatile players. Consdering the success of the past 3 years that is quite impressive. With the depth of talent we have another flag is as possible as it was in 2007.

 

[bring back polly]

throw Josh Hunt into the forward line to crack a few goals from 60 metres out. that allows Gillies to develop in the backline.

 

[Tristagi]

Josh Hunt at HFF could be scary..

 

[Knife Wrench]

Josh Hunt at HFF could be scary..

Josh Hunt lining up from the centre square would probably still be scary..

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'm interested to see what they do with him. I wanted him to take Harley's role but then we drafted Drum. And with Hunt back there isn't room for all three. Even if two of them play and Kelly goes back into the mid, who gets the arse from there?

I don't think the recruiting of Drum will have any long term negative effect on whether Gillies gets a crack. Drum was recruited because the club knows with Dasher going at the end of the year, and then Scarlo, and then after that Boris, we needed more defenders (particularly tall ones) than what we had. So in a few years, if they both progress, Gillies and Drum will probably be playing in the same backline. As for 2010, it simply means there's lots of competition for Harley's spot, which encourages them all to work really hard to get it.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'm far from certain that Kelly will be moved from defence, he had a great year there.

As for Harley's replacement, I wouldn't mind seeing Gillies get first crack. He's the right size to groom for a third tall defender.

And rest assured, we'll see plenty of all the young guys in the NAB Cup. The established players would play 2-3 games at the absolute most.

I agree that I'd like to see Kelly stay in defence where he did so well in 09. Having said that, there's a need to be flexible, so if for example we get injuries in the midfield or half forward I'm happy to see him moved there as he's capable in those positions also.

Re the NAB Cup, when Bomber was asked today, without naming names, he said we had to play youngsters (in the NAB) and we will rotate across the weeks.

 

[hamG]

+ for Drum we gave up basically nothing to give a former early pick a crack at a team that isn't Freo. We and him have everything to gain and nothing to lose, well he has a little to lose.

But here is the boy Tom, looking in awfully good shape.

 

[Tristagi]

not liking the pink shorts..

cocaine.. meh... pink shorts, that's something the leadership group need to be doing something about..

 

[randy12]

Tristagi your an idiot mate.. does it matter what colour shorts the kid is wearing? and would the leadership group really waste their time and take action against their players wearing 'pink' shorts?? ha.. all it matters is the kid can play! who gives a hoot what he wears, and what stokesy was wearing when he got arrested!

 

[LankyCat]

it takes a real man to wear pink

 

[Jumping Jack]

I reserve the right to amend comments in my original post - it does take guts to wear pink shorts but the "mean as cat's urine" comment might have been a tad innappropriate.

Let's hope that this picture does'nt find it's way to talent scouts in Sydney ...... they'd be all over him.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Drum is floating flanker type and Gillies is a dead set key position FB in the making so it will depend on what make up of the team Bomber wants.

As far as Hunt goes im unsure if he will have to work his way into the team or just slide straight back in assuming his knee is ok.

There is plenty of depth still with Wojo the player for me who will struggle to hold his spot because i would hope for Hogan to become more regular this year.

Kelly will only be better as a backman if he stay there and i would be happy for that to happen because he gives us hardness under pressure in the back 50.

Hunt , Gillies and Drum we will just have to see who wants it come NAB cup but im hoping Drum can play taht 3rd tall floating role like Harls did.

 

[longtimecat]

I would like to see Gillies go to full back and Scarlo take Harleys spot floating arround the backline giving instructions and doing what Scarlo does best, getting forward occasionally. This would allow Gillies to mature under Scarlo's supervision and may prolong Scarlo's career if he is not always taking the best forward.

 

[Claude Balls]

I would like to see Gillies go to full back and Scarlo take Harleys spot floating arround the backline giving instructions and doing what Scarlo does best, getting forward occasionally. This would allow Gillies to mature under Scarlo's supervision and may prolong Scarlo's career if he is not always taking the best forward.

Interesting.

 

[Furious_G]

That would actually be an interesting idea.....

 

[JUBJUB]

I would like to see Gillies go to full back and Scarlo take Harleys spot floating arround the backline giving instructions and doing what Scarlo does best, getting forward occasionally. This would allow Gillies to mature under Scarlo's supervision and may prolong Scarlo's career if he is not always taking the best forward.

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