I was Wrong

[Tommy_Porridge]

Have their been times when you saw a player play their first game for the Crows and you were convinced they were going to be a good player, only to be way off the mark? Or on the other hand, you thought a player was a dud after seeing them in their first game, or first few games and they turned out to be good?

I suspect for most of us it would be easier to come up with names for the first category, but here are my biggest blunders.

Thought he was going to be good:

Lance Picioane. He was drafted as a first rounder in the teens so expectations were already high. He got quite a bit of game time in the preseason cup, and displayed a lot of confidence and looked like a seasoned veteran. Seemed to have a lot of time and his skills looked good. He was selected in Round 1 for the Premiership team just months after being drafted. An impressive start for any young draftee. And in that game against Carlton in round 1 of 1998, which the Crows lost I thought he was one of our better players, playing in the forward lines and if memory serves me correct kicked a goal or two. I was over the moon about this young star-in-the-making. Unfortunately for us and Lance it was all down hill from there and that first game was the best he ever played for us.


Thought he was a dud:

Trent Henstchel. His first game was a shocker. In fact his first few games were shockers. I haven't seen too many worse games from anyone ever. I just couldn't see how this guy would ever develop into anything good. His skills were poor. His awareness and reading of the play were poor. His intensity looked non-existant. But thankfully he's turned things around in a big way.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Welcome aboard Tommy.

Thought he was going to be good:

Coach:Gary Ayres,
Player: Smith - I believed people when they said "he looks good" and then I saw him play.

Thought he was a dud:

Bassett. I never really rated him that highly until Rutten went back to FB. Was very impressed with the way he played when he wasn't matched up against FF's twice his size.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I was excited by Ricky O'Loughlan but we all know where that ended.

Peter Cavan when he came to the crows never enthused me but as I said above, we all know where that ended

 

[noddy]

First time i saw Angwin play was for the Bays against the Blues (i think) when he was thrown into the ruck he absolutely destroyed them, said to myself & anyone else who would listen "this kid is going to be champion for the Crows in future years"



Remember along with many others complaining about Ken McGregor & how useless he was.

Was we ever proven wrong or what !! ??

 

[Damp Squarie]

Thought he was going to be good
M.Robran -Turned out to be a dud.
Thought he was going to be a dud
R.Shaw - Turned out to be a dud.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Thought he was going to be good
M.Robran -Turned out to be a dud.
Thought he was going to be a dud
R.Shaw - Turned out to be a dud.

Bit tough of Matty Robran there, he was no superstar but he was a solid player for the AFC, and probably one of the best CHF we have ever had.

As for R.Shaw, cant argue with that

 

[Stiffy_18]

Thought Eccles was going to be good turned out to be a dud

Thought McGregor was going to be a dud and he turned out a beauty . This is the type of outcome where I love the humble pie

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Thought he was going to be good
M.Robran -Turned out to be a dud.
QUOTE]

This is abit silly TopJars.

The facts are Robran was a dual premiership player playing in the hardest possie on the ground. The Crows CHF in our team of the decade. 2 quiet GF's (although he did lift in the 98 2nd half) but he bagged 6 in the prelim in 98 to help us get there

IMO he had an amazingly good skill level for a big bloke. He had weaknesses yes but theres no way he could be called a dud

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Humble pie not what I expected it would be!

VB & XXXX dont know what the fuss is all about.

As for the AFC

Evan Hewitt thought was going to be a star and was disappointed with what he didnt do, Robert Shaw thought he was what the team needed and had to take a good hard look at myself after the first season, what was I on;

Like others Kenny was runner up to the one everyone thought we should get in Pavlich, but like everyone else, made to sit up and take notice.
Pretty pleased about the last one however.

 

[PAfolwr]

Thought he was going to be a star
McGregor. From the very first time I saw him I though gee wiz this kid could be anything.
I was wrong, within not too long he was just about a dud.

Thought he would be a dud
McGregor. No sooner I gave up on him, he was moved down back and lifted his game heaps of notches.



Mind you Mark Williams wasn't far away.
At first I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.
Then I thought he would never change his defensive ways.
Just when I was about to give up on him he changed that and produced the goods.
Now I expect him to become one of the great coaches ever. We'll see.

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Thought he was going to be good:

Scott Hodges


Thought he was a dud:

Mc Gregor

Edwards also started slowly in his first 2-3 yrs (probably not quite Dud material though)

 

[Cap]

Thought he was going to be good:

Andrew Eccles - thought the guy had ability


Thought he was a dud:

D Jarman (just kidding)

would have to Welsh - couldnt see the point in getting him at the time

 

[Fergus]

Thought he was going to be a dud:
Very repetitive but Kenny McGregor for me as well. I remember being totally frustrated for the first half of the home game that he stood Jonathon Brown early on in his career - then he stitched Brown up in the last half and that was the start of Kenny the CHB.

Thought he was going to be good:
David Gallagher - Looked to have time to use the ball when he first started and his game against Hawthorn (IIRC) was pretty good. I just didn't realise that it just took him longer than others to decide what to do with it.

 

[drakeyv2]

Thought he was going to be good: - Adam Saliba

Thought he was a dud: - McGregor

 

[Crowked]

Complete duds I thought would be good
Jon Ross
Adam Saliba
Josh Mail

I wouldnt say they were complete duds but certainly didnt reach the level I had anticipated.
Ben Marsh
Andrew Eccles
Randall Bone

Thought they were duds but werent so bad
Shane Ellen
Chad Rintoul

Thought they were duds but ended up being pretty darn good
Peter Caven
Brett Burton

 

[Cap]

what ever happened to Josh Mail - I thought he was unlucky to be delisted in the first place - maybe I was too young to realise he was ******** ?

 

[Skippy_14]

Thought was going to be a dud:

I don't know. Piciaone and O'Loughlin I guess. I never really saw why some people were so excited about Piciaone. I just didn't get it. The only time O'Loughlin showed anything was that game against Carlton at Optus Oval in the rain when we won.
I can't think of anyone I thought was gonna be a dud but turned out good.

Thought was going to be good:

I gotta say Gallagher too. I thought he was looking alright when he first started for us. Meh.
Also Laurence Angwin, I went to that game he was playing with the Bays cos Dad and my uncle wanted to go. Geez he looked like he was going to be something huh? Oh well...

 

[Skippy_14]

I also thought Krueger was going to be a dud... I guess we're gonna have to wait and see if his back ever gets right.

 

[tribey]

Thought he was going to be a gun, turned out to be a dud:

Ben Marsh - 10 touches, 3 goals and 17 hitouts on debut. Looked every bit like a young Jeff White. Turned out to be more of a white flag.

Brent Williams - 1995 U18 AA CHF. Big, tall, mobile, a booming kick. Played the first seven rounds of '97 with mixed fortunes. Pick of the bunch was round 2 when he delivered 15 touches, 5 marks and 2 goals against Richmond. Looked decent enough. Was dropped after our home win over Essendon and never played AFL football again, even after being traded home to Melbourne.

Thiught he was a dud, turned out to be a gun:

Kenny McGregor - Not only did he play like a hack, he looked like something out of Revenge Of The Nerds. Coming into 2005 he still looks like a nuffy, but he's now one of the most accomplished CHBs in the comp who is also more than handy while pinch-hitting up forward. Humble pie to go.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Thought he was going to be good
M.Robran -Turned out to be a dud.
QUOTE]

This is abit silly TopJars.

The facts are Robran was a dual premiership player playing in the hardest possie on the ground. The Crows CHF in our team of the decade. 2 quiet GF's (although he did lift in the 98 2nd half) but he bagged 6 in the prelim in 98 to help us get there

IMO he had an amazingly good skill level for a big bloke. He had weaknesses yes but theres no way he could be called a dud

Yeah maybe Im a bit harsh
He reminded me of the horny lookin' babe I was sweet on at school.
Showed promising glimpses but never really amounted to much.

The fact he made CHF in our team of the decade says more about the horny lookin babe than it does our dirth of quality CHF's

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Yeah maybe Im a bit harsh
He reminded me of the horny lookin' babe I was sweet on at school.
Showed promising glimpses but never really amounted to much.

Perhaps its just as well you didnt hit it off with her if she looked like Matty Robran

 

[macca23]

Yeah maybe Im a bit harsh
He reminded me of the horny lookin' babe I was sweet on at school.

Did she shave too, TJ??

 

[Damp Squarie]

Only the pink bits....alledgedly

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Only the pink bits....alledgedly

*GULP* Over to you Macca to answer this one

 

[Mad Dog]

Welcome/Welcome Back... ..Tommy !!!

Thought they would be a dud....

Kenny Mac...he used to flinch at footsteps early and that used to worry me.

Doughty / D. Gallagher......on the money there.

Thought they would be a star...

Matthew Kelly
Randall Bone.....("Big Bone....kicks a big goal...")

Stiffy Johncock......on the money there.


Ian Downsborough....only gagging.....

it's funny though....usually you can tell after 1 attack on a 50/50 ball....