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BigFooty Forum
Any thoughts on players that will impress/regress/finesse?
I've jotted down whatever came to mind for each player.
Ah Chee
To play well enough so that his time at East Perth will be minimal or non-existent. Expecting him to be a solid contributor, with more quiet games than really good games. Maybe like Redden 2017.
Ainsworth
I didn't really like the pick at the time. Hopefully he can prove me wrong.
Barrass
I hope he plays every week. He is pretty slow but think his strengths mean he will be a decent player for us for a long time.
Bayok
Being Cat B means there is less pressure. Just hope he can keep improving, either dominating the midfield of reserves or putting up decent league performances.
Brander
He really tailed off at the end of the 2017 TAC Cup season. If he can get back to the form that had him in contention for no. 1 then we've got a great player on our hands.
Brayshaw
I think he is going to grow into the WAFL season. Expecting maximum effort every week.
Burrows
Going to be interesting to see how he goes - assume he starts in the reserves.
Cole
I feel like I haven't seen much of him. Really uncertain about what to expect.
Cripps
Now that he has some competition for a spot, I feel like he needs to play to his strengths, and focus on being a pressure forward. Heaps of tackles, heaps of pressure. This could really complement the class (and laziness of LeCras). I'm not sure if Ryan and Rioli are the most defensive forwards either, so we may need Cripps to deliver in this area.
Darling
Expecting more of the same. Maybe a bit more time leading up the wings.
Duggan
I hope we keep him at HBF and let him flourish in the role. Will give him confidence I think, before he moves into the midfield in a year or two.
England
Know next to nothing about him. Haven't heard any training reports mention him.
Gaff
Hope he stays. Such a crucial player for us.
Hurn
Expecting more of the same. Can't see him dropping off yet.
Hutchings
While he is average, he is probably a better HFF than Redden, Ah Chee and Sheed. So they may want that flexibility.
Jetta
It would be nice if he tried every week - with effort he adds so much to the team.
Karpany
Can't see him playing unless there are injuries. But think he can keep improving slightly so that this year will be his best so far. Just don't think he can make it.
Kennedy
His injury sounds a bit concering. If he is fit I'm expecting another huge year.
LeCras
Think he will be a bit further up the ground, trying to use his class on a flank with Ryan and Rioli playing deeper. Should be his last year but has a few good games left in him.
Lycett
Hard to know who will win the battle between Lycett and Vardy. Lycett will have to show that he can be an effective forward. He's missed so much football lately that it's hard to know how his year is going to go.
M. Allen
I'd sort of written him off, but apparently he is training well.
Mackenzie
Think he will be better than 2016 and hopefully 2017, but still a long way from his peak.
Masten
Some of his games in 2017 were his worst I can remember. If he can just go back to what he does best, then he can at least provide useful depth for us.
McGovern
More of the same. Hopefully all at CHB.
McInnes
Expecting lots of good WAFL performances.
Mutimer
I'm still not sure what his best position is. Can't see him making it.
Naitanui
Expecting a really slow start, with flashes of brilliance. Doesn't seem like he is back to full fitness, so worried that he may miss some footy, fingers crossed he is ok. By the middle of the year expect to see more of his trade-mark dominance. Really hoping he can play well as a resting forward.
Nelson
From his interview he is staying in the backline. I think he now has enough experience to stay in the team. Has a fait bit to work on but think he can do enough to be in our best 7 defenders.
O. Allen
Hopefully he gets over his leg injuries soon. I think he is purely a forward, but is going to be a good player for us in a couple of years.
Olango
Same as Burrows.
Partington
Feels like we've forgotten what times were like at the height of Partington-mania in mid-2017. I think he will spend equal time in WAFL and AFL. His greatest challenge will be contributing as a forward flanker, when he is probably more suited to playing as a rover.
Petrucelle
Sounds exciting, but with kicking issues. I'm not expecting much but looking forward to seeing him in the flesh.
Redden
He played a few good games in the back half of the year. He will get opportunity and a role that should suit him. I'm tipping him to deliver tackling and b-grade performances all year, which is really all we can ask from him.
Rioli
Incredibly bullish on Willie. Feel like his hammies are the only thing that can stop him. I think he will look at home at AFL level. He may have some low output games, but great impact per possession. Think he could be one of the big stories in the AFL in 2018.
Rotham
His numbers towards the end of the year were pretty poor. If he could string together some half-decent senior WAFL performances together it would be a massive improvement. If he can't show much then he may be a bust.
Ryan
I think he will come in and contribute from round 1. Like Rioli, he may be a bit quiet sometimes, but I can see him averaging 10 touches and 2 goals a game.
Schofield
Will put in 6.5/10 performances each week, mostly in the WAFL but some AFL.
Sheed
Our best young mid. And he's not that good. I think he will have a great season though, will get heaps of opportunity and hopefully a few standout games.
Sheppard
Be interesting to see if we go with only two tall defenders, could bring KPD Shep back into action - how good was he in 2015.
Shuey
Going to cop some big tags this year. Should be good enough to fight through it most weeks.
Vardy
Think he is a better forward than Lycett, but worse ruck. Be a good battle in the JLT for the second ruck role.
Venables
I don't think he will have the tank for much midfield. I'm expecting him to spend equal parts in WAFL and AFL as a forward flanker. Think he will be inconsistent but classy, showing that he can develop into a really exciting player who splits time between midfield and half forward.
Waterman
If he can have a good run with injury I think he can press for selection. He's got good aggression.
Watson
Really showed promising signs a couple of times in 2017. But his disposal at times was horrible, as was his consistency. I'm expecting him to improve the consistency but still battle a bit with disposal. I think he will play some AFL and deliver some quality footy.
Yeo
All about how well he can play in the midfield, and how much time he spends there. I'm not confident that he can step up to being an a-grade mid. But if he can be a good mid half the time and an excellent HBF the rest of the time, then that would be a good outcome.
I've jotted down whatever came to mind for each player.
Ah Chee
To play well enough so that his time at East Perth will be minimal or non-existent. Expecting him to be a solid contributor, with more quiet games than really good games. Maybe like Redden 2017.
Ainsworth
I didn't really like the pick at the time. Hopefully he can prove me wrong.
Barrass
I hope he plays every week. He is pretty slow but think his strengths mean he will be a decent player for us for a long time.
Bayok
Being Cat B means there is less pressure. Just hope he can keep improving, either dominating the midfield of reserves or putting up decent league performances.
Brander
He really tailed off at the end of the 2017 TAC Cup season. If he can get back to the form that had him in contention for no. 1 then we've got a great player on our hands.
Brayshaw
I think he is going to grow into the WAFL season. Expecting maximum effort every week.
Burrows
Going to be interesting to see how he goes - assume he starts in the reserves.
Cole
I feel like I haven't seen much of him. Really uncertain about what to expect.
Cripps
Now that he has some competition for a spot, I feel like he needs to play to his strengths, and focus on being a pressure forward. Heaps of tackles, heaps of pressure. This could really complement the class (and laziness of LeCras). I'm not sure if Ryan and Rioli are the most defensive forwards either, so we may need Cripps to deliver in this area.
Darling
Expecting more of the same. Maybe a bit more time leading up the wings.
Duggan
I hope we keep him at HBF and let him flourish in the role. Will give him confidence I think, before he moves into the midfield in a year or two.
England
Know next to nothing about him. Haven't heard any training reports mention him.
Gaff
Hope he stays. Such a crucial player for us.
Hurn
Expecting more of the same. Can't see him dropping off yet.
Hutchings
While he is average, he is probably a better HFF than Redden, Ah Chee and Sheed. So they may want that flexibility.
Jetta
It would be nice if he tried every week - with effort he adds so much to the team.
Karpany
Can't see him playing unless there are injuries. But think he can keep improving slightly so that this year will be his best so far. Just don't think he can make it.
Kennedy
His injury sounds a bit concering. If he is fit I'm expecting another huge year.
LeCras
Think he will be a bit further up the ground, trying to use his class on a flank with Ryan and Rioli playing deeper. Should be his last year but has a few good games left in him.
Lycett
Hard to know who will win the battle between Lycett and Vardy. Lycett will have to show that he can be an effective forward. He's missed so much football lately that it's hard to know how his year is going to go.
M. Allen
I'd sort of written him off, but apparently he is training well.
Mackenzie
Think he will be better than 2016 and hopefully 2017, but still a long way from his peak.
Masten
Some of his games in 2017 were his worst I can remember. If he can just go back to what he does best, then he can at least provide useful depth for us.
McGovern
More of the same. Hopefully all at CHB.
McInnes
Expecting lots of good WAFL performances.
Mutimer
I'm still not sure what his best position is. Can't see him making it.
Naitanui
Expecting a really slow start, with flashes of brilliance. Doesn't seem like he is back to full fitness, so worried that he may miss some footy, fingers crossed he is ok. By the middle of the year expect to see more of his trade-mark dominance. Really hoping he can play well as a resting forward.
Nelson
From his interview he is staying in the backline. I think he now has enough experience to stay in the team. Has a fait bit to work on but think he can do enough to be in our best 7 defenders.
O. Allen
Hopefully he gets over his leg injuries soon. I think he is purely a forward, but is going to be a good player for us in a couple of years.
Olango
Same as Burrows.
Partington
Feels like we've forgotten what times were like at the height of Partington-mania in mid-2017. I think he will spend equal time in WAFL and AFL. His greatest challenge will be contributing as a forward flanker, when he is probably more suited to playing as a rover.
Petrucelle
Sounds exciting, but with kicking issues. I'm not expecting much but looking forward to seeing him in the flesh.
Redden
He played a few good games in the back half of the year. He will get opportunity and a role that should suit him. I'm tipping him to deliver tackling and b-grade performances all year, which is really all we can ask from him.
Rioli
Incredibly bullish on Willie. Feel like his hammies are the only thing that can stop him. I think he will look at home at AFL level. He may have some low output games, but great impact per possession. Think he could be one of the big stories in the AFL in 2018.
Rotham
His numbers towards the end of the year were pretty poor. If he could string together some half-decent senior WAFL performances together it would be a massive improvement. If he can't show much then he may be a bust.
Ryan
I think he will come in and contribute from round 1. Like Rioli, he may be a bit quiet sometimes, but I can see him averaging 10 touches and 2 goals a game.
Schofield
Will put in 6.5/10 performances each week, mostly in the WAFL but some AFL.
Sheed
Our best young mid. And he's not that good. I think he will have a great season though, will get heaps of opportunity and hopefully a few standout games.
Sheppard
Be interesting to see if we go with only two tall defenders, could bring KPD Shep back into action - how good was he in 2015.
Shuey
Going to cop some big tags this year. Should be good enough to fight through it most weeks.
Vardy
Think he is a better forward than Lycett, but worse ruck. Be a good battle in the JLT for the second ruck role.
Venables
I don't think he will have the tank for much midfield. I'm expecting him to spend equal parts in WAFL and AFL as a forward flanker. Think he will be inconsistent but classy, showing that he can develop into a really exciting player who splits time between midfield and half forward.
Waterman
If he can have a good run with injury I think he can press for selection. He's got good aggression.
Watson
Really showed promising signs a couple of times in 2017. But his disposal at times was horrible, as was his consistency. I'm expecting him to improve the consistency but still battle a bit with disposal. I think he will play some AFL and deliver some quality footy.
Yeo
All about how well he can play in the midfield, and how much time he spends there. I'm not confident that he can step up to being an a-grade mid. But if he can be a good mid half the time and an excellent HBF the rest of the time, then that would be a good outcome.
