James Strauss

[melbournemartin]

Never thought all that much of him to be honest. His AFL and VFL performances haven't changed that opinion.

 

[master bate]

Sadly for Strauss, injuries have held him back enormously. He was playing great footy in the VFL just before he strained his ACL think he looks a little bit untrustworthy in the knee still.

That would be medial ligament not ACL.

But the point remains his games early in the year weren't complete shockers and he has mixed good and bad VFL games around (another) injury.

The reality was with a guy who can kick a footy as good as Strauss that he wasn't going to be a super player from day one, otherwise he would have been pick 1. The club openly admitted he moved much higher in the draft order due to his footskills.

 

[Fairtex]

Not everyone who is drafted highly turns into a star... look at Nick Smith (426) a few years back taken at pick 15? We might of made a drafting error, not a big deal, we have plenty of his type.

 

[Gazza_11]

I don't rate him, and surely he won't be able to fit into our team now?

Any value?

 

[SugarHealey]

Anyone else getting a little worried? Has had some injuries holding him back, but I would have hoped for a little more progress in his career given he was taken with pick 19. Still got time, he's only just turned 20 but I want to see something, anything.

Only just managed to get a 'good' squeezed in at the end of this week's VFL player review...

James Strauss: I thought Straussy had a pretty average first half. Matera kicked two goals on him. He didn’t dispose of the ball that well - he just seemed to lack a little bit of purpose and intensity, I thought. I had a talk to him at half-time about it, and I thought that in his second half he rebounded a bit better. He played his one-on-one role and got a few touches and he was responsible for that last pass to Bate for the goal that won the game. At least he didn’t just keep going the way he was going, which was good.

Hmmn, see Maric last year. We'll have to be patient with him.
Probably, the best thing to do is just forget about him playing with the Dees & just let him slowly develop at his own pace @ Casey.

 

[Dez!]

Never thought all that much of him to be honest. His AFL and VFL performances haven't changed that opinion.

Steady on, he's played what 4 games? Shit give the kid a chance, let him get his body right and watch him unleash that laser boot of his.

Definitely worth persisting with.

 

[Ghost of Grinter]

Was a decent junior player and was great at hitting Watts up
on the lead for Vic Metro.

I wouldnt be too worried about Strauss, I rate the kid and still never
expected he would be dominating by now.

Can play, will be a player.

When you go from Juniors to having injuries to VFL, its different football.

Get a pre-season under Strauss' belt and all will be forgotten.

I dont see Strauss as a backman anyway.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Strauss will be fine, there is a spot there for him when he is ready.

Maric is the bigger worry, has had the extra year in the system but seems to be one of those players who drifts in and out of games and that won't help him if he wants to impress and get back into the side. We're not lacking for half forward flankers.

 

[The Professor]

Maric is the bigger worry, has had the extra year in the system

True but Strauss and Maric are pretty much the same age. Maric was a part time footballer/VCE student like Watts in 08.

Saying that, they are both worries. Strauss is physically a powerful, quick, devastating runner who's got a lethal 55+ penetrating kick. Unfortunately he can only touch the ball with a handball receive.

Maric is the magic man with a reputation for a great kick. Unfortunately he misses a lot of targets. Not quick and very short. He'll do something that make u think nice player but not for me.

Both look like players who lose confidence very easily and it shows.