Player Watch James Aish

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mike123

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To the guys who watch live, is Aish a good runner?

I remember watching him against GWS live and he was trailing Scully and Kelly most of the game.
 

swoop42

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To the guys who watch live, is Aish a good runner?

I remember watching him against GWS live and he was trailing Scully and Kelly most of the game.
I'd be surprised if he is.

Watching his performances on the television last year I was struck how little he would find himself in space and not under immediate pressure.

I thought then as I do now that unless his fitness levels improved dramatically or he showed a distinct improvement in his understanding of our structures in season 2 (if that was his problem) he would struggle to fulfill the promise of his junior career.

His build simply wont allow him to become a contested ball beast at AFL level so he needs to be the silk on the outside for us but that will only come if he can find time and space out on the field consistently.

He isn't genuinely quick and doesn't have Pendlebury like evasiveness in congestion (few do) so gut running both ways will have to be it.

So far only the contested marking for his size is an elite trait IMO.

Hopefully lack of injuries to the squad will allow him an extended stay at VFL level and he can dominate it for a period before returning a better player.
 

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I'd be surprised if he is.

Watching his performances on the television last year I was struck how little he would find himself in space and not under immediate pressure.

I thought then as I do now that unless his fitness levels improved dramatically or he showed a distinct improvement in his understanding of our structures in season 2 (if that was his problem) he would struggle to fulfill the promise of his junior career.

His build simply wont allow him to become a contested ball beast at AFL level so he needs to be the silk on the outside for us but that will only come if he can find time and space out on the field consistently.

He isn't genuinely quick and doesn't have Pendlebury like evasiveness in congestion (few do) so gut running both ways will have to be it.

So far only the contested marking for his size is an elite trait IMO.

Hopefully lack of injuries to the squad will allow him an extended stay at VFL level and he can dominate it for a period before returning a better player.
So you think being in the VFL for Most of the Season be a Good Thing for Aish?
 

Mkcaptain

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Hopefully Plays in the VFL Saturday and Plays with a Chip on his Shoulder and show what a Huge Mistake Dropping was
I'd be pissed off at him if he has a chip on his shoulder. He was rightfullly dropped after his performances in the preseason and Round 2. If he has a chip on his shoulder he has learnt absolutely nothing from last year.

But... I have confidence he'll understand why he was dropped and he'll play with a good attitude in the VFL.
 

robertg22

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He's not adding anything to the team at the moment. Far too many unanswered questions about Aish...Is he a mid? Is he a flanker? Why doesn't he lay tackles? Can he win contested ball?
This is what I posted about Aish at this time last year, I don't think we're any closer to finding out answers unfortunately..
 

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I'd be pissed off at him if he has a chip on his shoulder. He was rightfullly dropped after his performances in the preseason and Round 2. If he has a chip on his shoulder he has learnt absolutely nothing from last year.

But... I have confidence he'll understand why he was dropped and he'll play with a good attitude in the VFL.
But Being Dropped for I guess Simlar Reason's as last year. Is not a Great Sign Either
 

Mkcaptain

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But Being Dropped for I guess Simlar Reason's as last year. Is not a Great Sign Either
Its not an insurmountable problem. Just as long as he understands why he was dropped and he plays with the right attitude in the twos then he'll be back in the seniors in no time
 

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Vicky Park

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I'd prefer Aish had not been dropped, but for purely selfish reasons. For the team, and for the message the coach wants to send, then it probably had to happen.

He started last season very slowly and then made significant strides in the second half of the year. Hope that happens again, but its not a good pattern.

I see him as a confidence player, and when that improves, along with his maturity, we should have a player. Problem is, we have a few players in this category, and our patience is running out.
 

regpies

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We keep playing him on a wing and half forward, that's not him and we have better guys to play that role anyway.

His best footy is around the ball and stoppages. But due to our midfield there isn't much game time for him in there so I guess he waits for injury to get a game. Or he goes to the VFL and works on playing as a wing. Which he doesn't because we play him mostly around stoppages when he plays VFL. It's a lose lose situation for him.
 

loki04

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Aish lacks weapons. It's that simple.

Not big or strong enough to be a bull inside mid and not quick enough on the outside to get separation and be a real damaging option there. Doesn't run and carry or break the lines (like he did as a 16 year old in the SANFL). He tends to play very stop and prop footy.

His hand ball and vision is usually top notch but his kicking a bit hit and miss so far. Definitely haven't seen the supposedly elite kick that he was touted pre draft.
 

DaVe86

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I think if we were picking our best 22 this week, then Aish doesn't quite make it.

But I feel for him after missing r1, then coming back r2, then getting dropped r3. He seems to be a player that needs a bit of a cuddle and support. Seems to lack confidence and just needs to know he belongs.

In any event, I think it is better for his development that he gets to play in his preferred role at VFL level and rebuild his confidence. It worked for him last year, and when he came back to the side he was very good.

I think with our packed midfield, he probably will slot in best across half back because we are a bit light on in that area right now. I'd just have him play half back for a few weeks and build up some confidence.
 

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Aish lacks weapons. It's that simple.

Not big or strong enough to be a bull inside mid and not quick enough on the outside to get separation and be a real damaging option there. Doesn't run and carry or break the lines (like he did as a 16 year old in the SANFL). He tends to play very stop and prop footy.

His hand ball and vision is usually top notch but his kicking a bit hit and miss so far. Definitely haven't seen the supposedly elite kick that he was touted pre draft.
I don't think he has an elite kick in regards to being able to hit 50 metre targets with a precision kick. But he is very reliable over short distances and also a pretty accurate shot on goal. I think he is a clean player, but also a very safe player. Needs to back himself and his decision making.

I think his skills are quite good. He is a good mark, good kick and good handball. Has a dip in relation to tackling but probably needs a bit more upper body strength. Not quick, but not a plodder either.

He can make it, but clearly seems to be a confidence player.
 

loki04

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I don't think he has an elite kick in regards to being able to hit 50 metre targets with a precision kick. But he is very reliable over short distances and also a pretty accurate shot on goal. I think he is a clean player, but also a very safe player. Needs to back himself and his decision making.

I think his skills are quite good. He is a good mark, good kick and good handball. Has a dip in relation to tackling but probably needs a bit more upper body strength. Not quick, but not a plodder either.

He can make it, but clearly seems to be a confidence player.
Yep he is a "neat" short kick and plays too safe. Which is counter productive as it holds up our play and allows the opposition to get back in numbers.

An elite kick is elite no matter the distance like Buckley was.
 

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We keep playing him on a wing and half forward, that's not him and we have better guys to play that role anyway.

His best footy is around the ball and stoppages. But due to our midfield there isn't much game time for him in there so I guess he waits for injury to get a game. Or he goes to the VFL and works on playing as a wing. Which he doesn't because we play him mostly around stoppages when he plays VFL. It's a lose lose situation for him.
100% agree.

He is a natural centreman. Would be great if he could make the transition to a wing, but I think this will take time as he is not naturally accustomed to this role- unless he sets up for this at stoppages and plays as an extra inside mid as Luke ball did when he was named on the wing
 

robertg22

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100% agree.

He is a natural centreman. Would be great if he could make the transition to a wing, but I think this will take time as he is not naturally accustomed to this role- unless he sets up for this at stoppages and plays as an extra inside mid as Luke ball did when he was named on the wing
I don't think he's strong enough, gets pushed off the ball too easily.
 

Prochard123

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Aish lacks weapons. It's that simple.

Not big or strong enough to be a bull inside mid and not quick enough on the outside to get separation and be a real damaging option there. Doesn't run and carry or break the lines (like he did as a 16 year old in the SANFL). He tends to play very stop and prop footy.

His hand ball and vision is usually top notch but his kicking a bit hit and miss so far. Definitely haven't seen the supposedly elite kick that he was touted pre draft.
Alot of players lack 'weapons' but still can be elite. Technically speaking none of Pendlebury, S Mitchell, Priddis, JPK, Cripps are damaging due to their lack of athleticism initially. However they have developed into great players with experience and footy intelligence. Pendlebury, Mitchell now knows how to find 'space' and the right positions to run to. JPK and Cripps gained immense size to dominate clearances. Priddis still isn't strong nor a player who's smart like Pendles but is still in the elite tier of inside mids.

You don't need a weapon to excel in AFL, you just need all of your attributes to reach a certain level and become a well-rounded player. Can see Aish doing that, but he needs to work harder to develop as an outside mid right now.
 

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We keep playing him on a wing and half forward, that's not him and we have better guys to play that role anyway.

His best footy is around the ball and stoppages. But due to our midfield there isn't much game time for him in there so I guess he waits for injury to get a game. Or he goes to the VFL and works on playing as a wing. Which he doesn't because we play him mostly around stoppages when he plays VFL. It's a lose lose situation for him.
I think the same thing as in the VFL he plays a Different Role then in the AFL. Does make it hard for him to Settle into 1 Postion
 

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Aish lacks weapons. It's that simple.

Not big or strong enough to be a bull inside mid and not quick enough on the outside to get separation and be a real damaging option there. Doesn't run and carry or break the lines (like he did as a 16 year old in the SANFL). He tends to play very stop and prop footy.

His hand ball and vision is usually top notch but his kicking a bit hit and miss so far. Definitely haven't seen the supposedly elite kick that he was touted pre draft.
So he is very overrated by people. Because of the Suppose Lack of Weapons he has nothing to set him apart and he is another that Could Dominates in the State Leagues but can't make the Jump to the AFL?
 

sr36

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An elite kick is elite no matter the distance like Buckley was.
Buck's wasn't elite over a short distance. Kicked it way too hard making it difficult to mark also resulting in more shanks than was ideal. But he was the best I've ever seen over a long distance.
 
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