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Jared Polec

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cotter101 said:
Thanks for the kind comments on our board:thumbsu:, I know he will be a gun. I dont see why lions supporters think we should have taken Heppel.
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While I'm not one of them (more than happy to wait for Polec to come good), they probably think that because Heppell was able to play 23 pretty good games this year, and won the rising star.

Having Heppell right now wouldn't be so bad in hindsight... but there's still plenty of time for Polec to overtake him. The "did we screw up by drafting X over Y" discussion shouldn't really take place until at least 3 years after the draft.
 
Not hijacking this thread but Stiller was quite good this year without being a superstar. He did what was required off him and thats why he kept his spot. Did some courageous things during the season and he deserved his spot.
 

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Lionheart182 said:
Who's spot would Heppell have taken this season? We already have quite a few of that type of player.
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He would've made our 22 easily. Could've replaced anyone of around 6 guys that played most weeks this year.

In saying that it is way to early to judge who will be the best. If you ask me right now i would still take Swallow as number 1 followed by Gaff and then Darling. Heppell would be 4th.

At the end of next season we may be looking back and saying Polec is the pick of the bunch. I hope so!
 
Heppell was obviously the standout from the draft crop of 2011 - but I still think Polec suits our team better.

Heppell will no doubt be a 10-15 year, quality half-back flanker, but I reckon we are in desperate need of some pace in the midfield (or on the wing) which Polec provides.
 
If I leave Polec out of consideration for a second (because it is hard for us to (a) be unbiased and (b) judge him based on a couple of senior games), based on what we saw in 2011, I'm still not convinced that Heppell would be the best fit for the Lions. Not saying that I wouldn't have him on board but, for our needs, I'd rather (in this order):

Lynch
Swallow
Day
Darling

3 tall forwards and a guy who I think is already a better footballer than Heppell. As good as Heppell was this year, I'd take the 4 named above if I had my choice of any player. In fact, I'd probably also take Bennell as well, if I could be certain that he'd get his head right.

Heppell is a great pick up at 8 and is clearly going to be a top player for a long time. I'm not slagging him off but there are still 4-5 players who I think are a better fit for us, even taking into account Heppell's great debut year.
 
Is there a reason that Jack Darling didn't get picked up until Pick 26? There has to be surely. He is gonna be a gun
 
Milk Steak said:
Is there a reason that Jack Darling didn't get picked up until Pick 26? There has to be surely. He is gonna be a gun
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There were a number of reasons offered. No physical growth left in him. Too short to be a KPP. Had an average 2010 (in comparison to his form earlier). Some off field stuff (which may or may not have been overemphasised). A bad head knock.
 
As good as Heppell is, i agree that he didn't really suit our needs. Top player, will be one of the better players from the 10 draft, but doesn't suit our team needs at this time.
 
POBT said:
There were a number of reasons offered. No physical growth left in him. Too short to be a KPP. Had an average 2010 (in comparison to his form earlier). Some off field stuff (which may or may not have been overemphasised). A bad head knock.
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He looks a perfect size for a KPP for me and he's got good agility. Would love to have him floating around half forward for us, especially with Browny near his end ( career, not death)
 
Milk Steak said:
He looks a perfect size for a KPP for me
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I believe he was 190cm at draft time. Not short but most KPFs are at least 195cm these days. A lot of people actually thought he was going to end up as a midfielder.
 

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POBT said:
His running capacity would suggest that he could easily end up in the guts. I think that's been the biggest improvement in his game since being drafted.
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Just back to Polec for a sec, I have faith he will be a player, but how depressing would it be if we picked a Richard Tambling
 
Milk Steak said:
Just back to Polec for a sec, I have faith he will be a player, but how depressing would it be if we picked a Richard Tambling
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I agree with this... then again I don't.
 
I don't understand the point of theoretical comparsions of 'this player wouldn't fit in our team structure', or 'Who would they replace??'

I am of the belief that a structure shouldn't be rigid, the best 22 would be on the park and the structure changes with the players who are on the field. It's no point saying that Heppel wouldn'tve gotten games, because he would've. Maybe we wouldn't play him in the same position or have our structure set the same way, but there is always rooom for good players..
 
Lions made a huge mistake not taking Heppell. Massive oops on that one! So much for dodgie ankles!

win some you lose some..this one is a big mistake!
 

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'Jared came in for his first year and played in the NAB Cup and played three games. He just needs to develop on his body size. We know he’s going to be a good player, it’s just going to take time.' - from Lions.com.au

I think that's how most of us feel about him to be honest. Who knows if it'll be next year, the year after or even later, but I believe our decision in picking Polec will be justified soon enough.
 
PattyKisagun said:
'Jared came in for his first year and played in the NAB Cup and played three games. He just needs to develop on his body size. We know he’s going to be a good player, it’s just going to take time.' - from Lions.com.au

I think that's how most of us feel about him to be honest. Who knows if it'll be next year, the year after or even later, but I believe our decision in picking Polec will be justified soon enough.
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Second that. Did anyone see the play he did in one of the early rounds where the ball was on the ground between him and his opponent and he kinda spun in sideways and pivoted out in one move. Vague description, but if anyone knows when I'm talking about, it was very skillful
 
Just watched his first goal against Essendon in the Nab cup then too. I'm sold again
 
I wonder if maybe he's been suffering particularly badly from homesickness this year. He showed so much potential but really didn't deliver in the reserves games I saw of him, and the NEAFL is a step down from the SANFL where he dominated. Can't help but wonder if there are other circumstances behind it all.
 
PattyKisagun said:
I wonder if maybe he's been suffering particularly badly from homesickness this year. Can't help but wonder if there are other circumstances behind it all.
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I'd be disappointed if that was the case and when doing our due dilligence, if in fact we even did so, and were unable to identify if he was the type.

Not saying Jared is...but Mitch clearly is/was and there are many examples out there, but I continue to be amazed at how precious Aussie kids are with respect to wanting to return home to be closer to mummy and whoever else. So many kids persue their dreams in other sports and areas of life at younger ages, suck it up and get on with it, never once questioning their ambitions because of the location of where it is they are fulfiling their dream.

Too many kids just need to grow a pair...and from an AFL perspective, I commend players who move interstate and independently carve out careers without wanting to run back home at the drop of a hat.
 

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