Player Watch Iliro Smit

[Timmy from Thomastown]

yes, but he lost a year to injury

All the more reason to have extra depth.

Smit lost a year to being trialled at full back

 

[JLC]

Yes and probably more than three.

Our problem really is the demographics, not ideal having a 30 year old plus two under 22. Nobody in the seeet spot age-wise. But it is what it is.

Doubt anybody in the MSD will be anything more than a short term backup. If they play outstandingly then msybe Smits in trouble, especially if Condon joins us but I think that’s a long shot.

They aren’t easy to find and too easy to give away too early. One year extension I’d say, obviously dependant on the rest of this season.

Wasn't Smit through the MSD?

 

[Kappa]

He doesnt look great at VFL level but I remember watching Witts when he was 20 and he wasn't doing a lot either.

 

[Rorzza]

This kid is a unicorn and improved significantly over summer, personally I hope CFC persists. He is now doing stuff like on the weekend in the VFL regularly. I'm bullish on giving the kid some scope to develop.

 

[Copeland]

Wasn't Smit through the MSD?

Wasnt the call "we couldnt pass on him"

 

[Copeland]

This kid is a unicorn and improved significantly over summer, personally I hope CFC persists. He is now doing stuff like on the weekend in the VFL regularly. I'm bullish on giving the kid some scope to develop.

Did he play well, I didnt see it

 

[Rorzza]

Did he play well, I didnt see it

Yes, I thought he did. Role, second ruck that plays forward. He kicked a couple of goals and the second one was really athletic. Only 8 disposals with his 14 hit outs but DE 100 % which is excellent!

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Wasn't Smit through the MSD?

If we are picking up a ruckman this year he will need to be ready made is my point. And ready made might just be short term to cover a gap rather than a development opportunity

 

[JLC]

If we are picking up a ruckman this year he will need to be ready made is my point. And ready made might just be short term to cover a gap rather than a development opportunity

True, possible.

Often the time spent developing ruckman is a waste of time and resources when there are ready mades available.

 

[pablo disco bar]

If aiden begg got a game i feel like this bloke should also.

Just play him

 

[manicpie]

I'm not giving up on Smit, there's something there and I really like his ability when forward.

 

[No SPIN]

I'm not giving up on Smit, there's something there and I really like his ability when forward.

His mobility for his size is Jacksonesque - and I hope the Club has the patience to allow him to develop his skills to AFL standard.

 

[Robroy22]

I think the next time we come up against a jumping ruckman (like a Jackson, or a SDK) we're gonna have to bite the bullet and go with the dual ruck combo again. Cameron hasn't been able to negate the jumpers at all yet at centre contests, so Smit might just have to be the one to do it.

The new ruck rules have created a problem (that we thought we had beat when Steen started jumping) but now we're back in the mob again unless our other young bloke can make it happen.

Teakle is not the answer, he's cover for Cameron but he's no athlete.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I'm not giving up on Smit, there's something there and I really like his ability when forward.

The longer we hold out the better in an ideal world but if we need to call him up we shouldn’t be scared to.

 

[manicpie]

We could always play Smit this week to see how he goes. Sometimes there's only one way to find out and I do like his ability to lead when forward. However, his set shots need work.

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

He doesnt look great at VFL level but I remember watching Witts when he was 20 and he wasn't doing a lot either.

True but problem is Witts was always freakishly tall. If you are "only" 200cm as a ruck you need a lot more tricks than a 210cm ruck .

 

[TradeDraft]

We could always play Smit this week to see how he goes. Sometimes there's only one way to find out and I do like his ability to lead when forward. However, his set shots need work.

We be Bloody Desperate to do that then

 

[ksardog]

Smit will be ready when he starts taking some contested pack marks each game, until then he is just a mobile big man

 

[No SPIN]

True but problem is Witts was always freakishly tall. If you are "only" 200cm as a ruck you need a lot more tricks than a 210cm ruck .

True - but we don’t play against 210cm Rucks every week - they are rare.

 

[sideswipe]

I think the next time we come up against a jumping ruckman (like a Jackson, or a SDK) we're gonna have to bite the bullet and go with the dual ruck combo again. Cameron hasn't been able to negate the jumpers at all yet at centre contests, so Smit might just have to be the one to do it.

The new ruck rules have created a problem (that we thought we had beat when Steen started jumping) but now we're back in the mob again unless our other young bloke can make it happen.

Teakle is not the answer, he's cover for Cameron but he's no athlete.

The simple answer is another rule change. Let's have the umpire start play with a "roll out" along the ground instead of a throw up. Same for boundary throw ins.

We might just be able to entirely eradicate ruckmen.

 

[gouki88]

True - but we don’t play against 210cm Rucks every week - they are rare.

They will be less rare, or at least in that 206+ range. Only need to look at McAndrew, Sweet, Reeves, English, Edwards, Darcy, Moyle and more soon I'm sure. The new rules advantage taller rucks with higher reach, where the previous rules really suited the wrestlers

 

[Palmer Stoat]

His mobility for his size is Jacksonesque - and I hope the Club has the patience to allow him to develop his skills to AFL standard.

I've watched quite a bit of VFL over the last couple of years, and while Smit is a decent athlete, he's nowhere near as athletic as Luke Jackson. Anyone expecting this from him be will be disappointed, IMO.

 

[gouki88]

I've watched quite a bit of VFL over the last couple of years, and while Smit is a decent athlete, he's nowhere near as athletic as Luke Jackson. Anyone expecting this from him be will be disappointed, IMO.

Jackson is probably the most uniquely agile ruckman since Goodes was in the ruck. Smit is nothing like that athletically, hence why one went pick 3 to a team that already had the best ruckman of the 21st century, and the other was a pick in the MSD

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Jackson is probably the most uniquely agile ruckman since Goodes was in the ruck. Smit is nothing like that athletically, hence why one went pick 3 to a team that already had the best ruckman of the 21st century, and the other was a pick in the MSD

I'm not against giving Smit a run in the seniors, but we need to have realistic expectations.

My view is that Smit is unlikely to become a long-term AFL ruck. I don't think he has a viable combo of height and leap (given new ruck rules), and his kicking and marking are, IMO, adequate at best.

That said, I've been wrong before, and in our circumstances, it makes sense to give senior exposure to young players.

 

[No SPIN]

I've watched quite a bit of VFL over the last couple of years, and while Smit is a decent athlete, he's nowhere near as athletic as Luke Jackson. Anyone expecting this from him be will be disappointed, IMO.

I was attempting to indicate Smits athleticism, however it was not my intention to equate it exactly to Jackson.