Key Position Prospects

[keen cats fella]

Yes, i am aware that Tom Hawkins will be a superstar IMO, but will Nablett?
Has he shown alot 6 roundsin to suggest he will make it to be a competition standout??

 

[SJ]

Nathan has been the shining light so far this season in my opinion. Has come on in leaps and bounds and has found another gear or two, along with a motor that sees him continually presenting around half-forward, and having the confidence to quickly turn onto his right (or, surprisingly more often left) and hit a player inside 50.

Just what we need - has the hands, the pace, the endurance, the disposal and the skills at ground level. And the genes.

Fantastic.

 

[scottydeewah]

what he said ^

 

[CF]

Yes, i am aware that Tom Hawkins will be a superstar IMO, but will Nablett?
Has he shown alot 6 roundsin to suggest he will make it to be a competition standout??

what Nathan has now played 17 games in the AFL? He still has a long way to go to reach his full potential. But he has shown he is a gifted footballer so far.

 

[fuzz23]

Take note guy's, not many footballers have that "natural ability" Nablett, possesses that ,just like his old man. He is a NATURAL, just wait and see.

 

[conanthelibrarian]

Don't forget too that Nathan didn't have the same lead up to his AFL career as most the other players in the league his age has had, ie. TAC-Cup or AA U-18 championships, so in essence he's come from such a long way back to pass players on our list who've had that preparation. Then there's the fact that KP players take longer to mature than onballers, so it's safe to say we haven't even seen the best of Nathan yet. When that happens look out!

 

[Dont you hate pants?]

He is going to be a real handy player for us in the coming years. He has shown this year that he wants to play, is commanding the ball when it comes forward and looks like he is having a good time out there. I'm not sure if its me but he seems to be abit quicker of the mark this season when on the lead? All I know is in the near future our forward line of johnson, GAJ, Chappy, Nathan, Hawkins, Mooney, Ottens (if he ever comes forward again), varcoe etc will be many a headache for opposition teams!

 

[Hood007]

Don't know any team that has 2 young exciting prospects like the 2 we have... Hawthorn would come close but don't know if u can get too excited about Roughead just yet...

 

[CF]

I have an annoying response for you..........why do we have this thread repeated every 2 months or so.....someone bags Nathan....then we all say pull your head in.....wait another 2 weeks and the whole thing will be repeated again.

 

[sarah.13]

We all agree that we have 2 exciting key forward prospects,but the club needs to develop key backmen and need to do it quite quickly.
Playfair is not good enough.
S. Hunt is more of a running 3rd tall and probably isn't quite good enough.
Spencer is the forgotten man and has not been given any opportunities and seems to lack the class to take the next step.
Grima has talent but seems more suited in the forward line. He needs to be turned into a backman.
Lonergan looked like being the answer before his injuries and hopefully will make a successful comeback.
We need to draft or trade a key backman this year as our stocks are very thin at the moment.

 

[conanthelibrarian]

We all agree that we have 2 exciting key forward prospects,but the club needs to develop key backmen and need to do it quite quickly.
Playfair is not good enough.
S. Hunt is more of a running 3rd tall and probably isn't quite good enough.
Spencer is the forgotten man and has not been given any opportunities and seems to lack the class to take the next step.
Grima has talent but seems more suited in the forward line. He needs to be turned into a backman.
Lonergan looked like being the answer before his injuries and hopefully will make a successful comeback.
We need to draft or trade a key backman this year as our stocks are very thin at the moment.

Trade Playfair to Richmond or Kangaroos for a top draft pick. They both have a history of trading high picks for duds.

 

[CF]

Playfairs contract is up this year I think so he wont get traded as if any other club wanted him they'd just wait for the PSD and avoid paying the club for him. He should be delisted the end of this year I'd reckon

 

[thehoff]

We all agree that we have 2 exciting key forward prospects,but the club needs to develop key backmen and need to do it quite quickly.
Playfair is not good enough.
S. Hunt is more of a running 3rd tall and probably isn't quite good enough.
Spencer is the forgotten man and has not been given any opportunities and seems to lack the class to take the next step.
Grima has talent but seems more suited in the forward line. He needs to be turned into a backman.
Lonergan looked like being the answer before his injuries and hopefully will make a successful comeback.
We need to draft or trade a key backman this year as our stocks are very thin at the moment.

He didn't even deserve the chances he received. The guys is a deadset dud!

 

[conanthelibrarian]

What has happened with Stephen Owen? Is he still at the club?

 

[Catman]

Yes, i am aware that Tom Hawkins will be a superstar IMO, but will Nablett?
Has he shown alot 6 roundsin to suggest he will make it to be a competition standout??

Nathan will be better than Tom and Tom will still be a massive star. That's how highly I rate Nathan.

Once he strengthens up even more and learns how to use his body in marking contests it'll be scary.

 

[Hood007]

Nathan will be better than Tom and Tom will still be a massive star. Thats how highly I rate Nathan.

Once he strengthens up even more and learns how to use his body in marking contests it'll be scary.

I think you're right there...
Nath's footy smarts are astounding for a big guy.
Imagine what he'll be like when he gets fitter. Got so much room to improve...

 

[SirRooke]

I think you're right there...
Nath's footy smarts are astounding for a big guy.
Imagine what he'll be like when he gets fitter. Got so much room to improve...

I agree. The kid is a gun. I'd like to know how many CHFs have kicked bags as regularly as him when they have under 20 games experience.

He is even up there with the leading goalkicking CHFs in terms of output. He's not far away from being elite actually. Just needs to add some aggression to his game, but i'm sure that is not too far away. Tomahawk and Mooney both have this and will bring it out of him sooner rather than later.

 

[Seb]

HF: xx Nathan xx
F: Grima Hawkins xx

Round 1, 2008.

 

[SirRooke]

HF: xx Nathan xx
F: Grima Hawkins xx

Round 1, 2008.

What about Mooney? Mooney is a champ. I can't see Grima getting in in front of him. And if Johnson keeps performing Grima doesn't stand a chance.

Grima would have to kick 8+ every game in the VFL at this rate to get in front of Hawk, Nath and Moon.

 

[CF]

Our forward structure is still immature by some standards so we need to rely on the likes of Mooney, Ottens, & Gaz/Chappy to be our main strengths. But we have talent to burn and 2008/2009 will see the rise of the future superstars of the game:

Tom Hawkins
Nathan Ablett
Travis Varcoe

I think that with another preseason behind Dog and he gets even fitter the next few years will see him play his best footy in his career.

At the moment we are really just sitting on the cusp of something great and it makes me very excited. But we may still need to wait another season or so before we see it truly blossom IMO.

 

[thejester]

Ignoring that Mooney could easily be rotating with Nath through CHF, I'm still not convinced by Mooney up forward. I simply think he's too damaging to spend the entire game in the forward 50. I'd rather see him in the centre and resting up forward then permanently there. Grima definitely has a long term future as a tall forward at the club.

 

[Seb]

What about Mooney? Mooney is a champ. I can't see Grima getting in in front of him. And if Johnson keeps performing Grima doesn't stand a chance.

Grima would have to kick 8+ every game in the VFL at this rate to get in front of Hawk, Nath and Moon.

Sadly i think Mooney has struggled to be a consistent quality forward. I was sure he'd find his niche next to Tommahawk and Nathan, but i think i'm wrong. He should roam around CHF and have a few runs on the ball to get us going when we're 'flat'.

Grima deserves a go. He has shown plenty in the VFL and is in no way similar to Steve Johnson.

 

[Seb]

At the moment we are really just sitting on the cusp of something great and it makes me very excited. But we may still need to wait another season or so before we see it truly blossom IMO.

When Scarlett, Milburn and Harley will be retired.

 

[thejester]

Rough stab at an analysis of the team in say 2009:

Backs: The current defensive arrangement is two talls (Egan and Scarlett), the more mobile player (Harley/Mackie), two small defenders (Hunt/Johnson), an attacking flanker (Woja/Enright) and the utility (Milburn). In two years you'd expect a combination of age and injury would have bumped Harley off; Scarlett may be in his last season. Milburn would be 32 but I'd dare to suggest that, given his recent lack of injuries and sheer consistency the club may try and keep him playing on. IMO in any case if what the rumours say are true the club has earmarked Callan to replace Harley or Milburn, so he'll come in. Egan at worst stays largely as he is, a tall defender who gets the best of his opponent but doesn't rebound that well; at best he turns into a dominating CHB who will beat guys like Brown/Riewoldt and compliment Scarlett as the defensive QB.

Centres: We have an absolute glut. The current midfield will be 26-28. Prismall, who I think we can all agree looks the goods, will be 23. Most of all, however, the guys we picked up this year - Selwood, Djekurra, Hogan - will be ready (physically at least) to play. Davenport and Bedford, whom everyone seems to think will make it, will also be ready. Will be interesting to see how in the long term the two 'generations' fight it out for the spots in the side. Rucks is a bit more simple: King will be gone, Ottens on the verge, Blake will be dominating and West will be ready to debut.

Forwards: Hawkins and Nath will only get better. Mooney will be on the slide but still very, very dangerous (though as I've said I'm not convinced...but no matter). Stokes, Junior and Chappy will all still be guns. Dog may be on his last legs from the ankles. Meanwhile Gamble and Varcoe at least look the likely types to step up and eventually replace them. Grima is also a strong possibility to be included - possibly being trained up as another utility ala Mooney and Milburn?

*shrug* Done very quickly, but that's what I would suggest. As Catman said, list-wise at least we are fine and have another generation of talent in the pipe. Whether or not they can be strung together is another matter, however, and one that rests more on how this year goes and how the club deals with its internal problems then the players.

 

[CF]

When Scarlett, Milburn and Harley will be retired.

That's why we need to recruit defensive/Backline players in the next 2 drafts