Koby Stevens

[swansfan51]

How was he Knocked Out.

Video of Koby Stevens Pre-Draft:

http://www.mediafire.com/?qwnmyc34qxz

I quite like what I've seen of him in the WAFL this year, but that is one hell of a highlights video. Not one single kick from him lead to a mark by a teammate, and there were about 15.

 

[lionshine]

Can any West Coast fan tell me what happened to Ashley Arrowsmith taken something like ppick 35 in the 2008 draft? Cheers.

Also you guys have an awsome midfield with Masten, Swift, Stevens and Shuey

 

[TradeDraft]

Can any West Coast fan tell me what happened to Ashley Arrowsmith taken something like ppick 35 in the 2008 draft? Cheers.

Playing for the Northan Bullants in the VFL

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Can any West Coast fan tell me what happened to Ashley arrowSmith taken something like ppick 35 in the 2008 draft? Cheers.

Also you guys have an awsome midfield with Masten, Swift, Stevens and Shuey

Ash Smith was pick 36 in the 2008 draft, hes playing for Perth (Basket Case) in the WAFL.

Averaging around 21 disposals a game for a poor side, playing of the half back flank, wing and half forward line. He kicks some nice goals, uses his pace to decent effect.

But he still needs to work on his running power and start attacking contests. He's close to a debut given our injury problems and was listed as an emergency against the Western Bulldogs.


"Ashley Arrowsmith" was taken in the 2007 Rookie Draft and delisted at the end of 2009.

 

[adagio]

Also you guys have an awsome midfield with Masten, Swift, Stevens and Shuey

Good to hear that from an opposition supporter.

Be nice if we can get them on the park. Sheppard is a goer too

 

[MightyMark]

Good to hear that from an opposition supporter.

Be nice if we can get them on the park. Sheppard is a goer too

I reckon the Eagles are a bit of a sleeper and could surpirse a few teams in the next few years. Masten, Shuey, Stevenson, Stevens, Sheppard, Strijk, Mitch Brown, Waters, NicNat are all young and could develop into pretty handy players.
Nicnat feeding the ball to Masten, Shuey and Co. will be great to watch in the coming years and Waters and Sheppard will be great coming off halfback. Kennedy, LeCras and Scott Selwood are all in there early 20's as well.
If you can manage to snare another young KPP in the next couple of years, you could be looking at a formidible side.

 

[adagio]

I reckon the Eagles are a bit of a sleeper and could surpirse a few teams in the next few years. Masten, Shuey, Stevenson, Stevens, Sheppard, Strijk, Mitch Brown, Waters, NicNat are all young and could develop into pretty handy players.
Nicnat feeding the ball to Masten, Shuey and Co. will be great to watch in the coming years and Waters and Sheppard will be great coming off halfback. Kennedy, LeCras and Scott Selwood are all in there early 20's as well.
If you can manage to snare another young KPP in the next couple of years, you could be looking at a formidible side.

That's certainly what we're all hoping (no doubt Woosha more than anyone).

You hate to use injuries as an excuse but right now it is affecting us. 2 of our top 5 players are virtually out for the year (Kerr + Glass), as well as Butler who is vital to our backline. Plus some of our most promising mids in Shuey, Masten and Swift.

It means we're playing a lot of raw kids who aren't quite ready yet as well as some over-the-hill senior players that are only getting a game to protect those players a little.

Ultimately that equals an ordinary football side, but the outlook 2-3 years down the track is positive. It's no coincidence that our best players are currently at that 50-70 game mark in their careers (e.g. LeCras, Hurn, Kennedy, Waters). All these aforementioned kids will hit that mark at around the same time, which should result in a rapid rise to the top.

That, I think, is what Woosha is pinning his hopes on and why he sounds a little insane at the moment with his 2012 predictions.

 

[MightyMark]

I'm not a West Coast supporter but I always rated Woosha as a coach, I really hope that West Coast show a bit of faith in him. Considering he won a grand final 4 years ago he should be given a little bit of time to rebuild the team (given the up and down nature of most teams in this day and age). Like Adagio said West Coast hasn't had the best injury run so that hasn't exactly helped them, and with there current crop of young talent im sure West Coast will start reaping the rewards of Woosha's recruiting in a few years.

 

[estibador]

Also you guys have an awsome midfield with Masten, Swift, Stevens and Shuey

Yeah they certainly have been awesome so far...

 

[Enforcer25]

I just don't see it...

They have some honest triers that will grow into good players, but they just don't have the quality. not one of them will be a star.
Karma?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I just don't see it...

They have some honest triers that will grow into good players, but they just don't have the quality. not one of them will be a star.
Karma?

Well, we still do have to wait and see. But one thing is clear, we will turn over a fair number of players in the next three years.

Some good signs against the Bulldogs was Scott Selwood and Sheppard. Won and used the ball well.

 

[the doc]

I just don't see it...

They have some honest triers that will grow into good players, but they just don't have the quality. not one of them will be a star.
Karma?

Whilst not being a Freagle, why karma?

The club has been successful and this has lead to a sense of arrogance. Yes the supporters (other than Swannies, who is a champ) reflect this but I do not feel like they are a Carlton like club.

Injuries have flogged them but the lack of development of some of the kids is worrying. Swift looked better last year as did Brown in his first few games. It surely easier to perform if you have a core of senior players leading. They just do not have that at this stage.

 

[ziad]

I reckon the Eagles are a bit of a sleeper and could surpirse a few teams in the next few years. Masten, Shuey, Stevenson, Stevens, Sheppard, Strijk, Mitch Brown, Waters, NicNat are all young and could develop into pretty handy players.
Nicnat feeding the ball to Masten, Shuey and Co. will be great to watch in the coming years and Waters and Sheppard will be great coming off halfback. Kennedy, LeCras and Scott Selwood are all in there early 20's as well.
If you can manage to snare another young KPP in the next couple of years, you could be looking at a formidible side.

This obviously the plan.
Beyond current injuries we have also drafted immature kids and some with OP as longer term prospects given the GC and GWS years ahead. Thes are potentially of greater value that their draft position but also present a risk.

JON as a rookie is similar - a high draft pick with pace and skill but huge problems. Thus he was a speculative investment. If we are strong enough to help him through he will be valuable. There are promising signs in the regard.
Without a crystal ball it is impossible to tell but this year was alwas going to be tough particularly as we have had a few untimely senior players retire injured. But the longer term is very positive.

 

[Enforcer25]

Whilst not being a Freagle, why karma?

The club has been successful and this has lead to a sense of arrogance. Yes the supporters (other than Swannies, who is a champ) reflect this but I do not feel like they are a Carlton like club.

Karma? Was just being facetious really.
Closest thing I can come up with is their being the West Coke Eagles when they were at the top. And even that I don't really think is an issue.
Arrogant supporter base maybe?

Injuries have flogged them but the lack of development of some of the kids is worrying. Swift looked better last year as did Brown in his first few games. It surely easier to perform if you have a core of senior players leading. They just do not have that at this stage.

Yeah, senior players not performing makes a massive difference, but Melb have suffered from this worse than any other team the past 3 years, yet we've not been afforded the same sympathies, rather accusations of tanking.

My issue is that I just don't see any star power there to develop.
That has been one of melb's biggest problems in the past and I see the same thing with WCE. It's a luck thing, but it can be defining.

 

[yaco55]

Will be much better than Pridis, has better pace and better foot skills.

Can't see Pridis playing anywhere but on-ball so maybe A Selwood will get moved back to defense once Stevens has cemented his place in the midfield.

We can only hope.

Priddis is underrated by most.

A ball magnet, clearance machine and great tackler.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Priddis is underrated by most.

A ball magnet, clearance machine and great tackler.

Stats wise he can tackle. The reality is he gets most of them against direct opponents, his defensive efforts only apply to flat footed opposition within 2m.

 

[yaco55]

Stats wise he can tackle. The reality is he gets most of them against direct opponents, his defensive efforts only apply to flat footed opposition within 2m.

I thought that would benefit the team - I understand that he doesn't have lightning pace but surely being an effective close in tackler is valuable.

Priddis is another very good AFL footballer who falls to the negativity that pervades AFL circles - focusing on weaknesses but not strengths.

 

[estibador]

Priddis is another very good AFL footballer who falls to the negativity that pervades AFL circles - focusing on weaknesses but not strengths.

His problem is the eagles don't have the personnel around him to maximise his strengths and cover for his weaknesses.

 

[estibador]

Yeah they certainly have been awesome so far...

I just don't see it...

Not sure if you were following on from me but I was being sarcastic.

As a midfield group they've show 4/5ths of f**k all so far. Sure the names might look good on paper as some sort of theoretically highly rated draftee group but an 'awesome midfield'? Come on.

 

[adagio]

My issue is that I just don't see any star power there to develop.
That has been one of melb's biggest problems in the past and I see the same thing with WCE. It's a luck thing, but it can be defining.

Kennedy (22 years old), LeCras (23), Hurn (23) and Waters (24) is a solid start. When we're back at the top these guys will be our senior players and leaders (actually they pretty much already are). Butler, Priddis and Rosa sit in that pool as well.

I think there is a lot of talent coming through but we won't really know how good they can be until they reach at least to the age/experience levels of those above 4. The good news - if you can call at that - is these kids are getting plenty of games pumped into them somewhat prematurely, which hopefully translates into a fast-track in development.

Midfielders:

Adam Cockie (21)
Brad Ebert (20)
Tim Houlihan (21)
Chris Masten (21)
Patrick McGinnity (def) (21)
Ryan Neates (19) (fwd)
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (22)
Scott Selwood (def) (20)
Brad Sheppard (def) (19)
Luke Shuey (20)
Ashley Smith (def) (19)
Koby Stevens (19)
Lewis Stevenson (def) (20)
Tom Swift (19)

Defenders:

Jordan Jones (20)
Eric Mackenzie (22)
Will Schofield (21)
Andrew Strijk (mid/fwd) (22)
Matt Spangher (23)

Forwards:
Mitch Brown (def) (21)
Ben McKinley (23)
Tony Notte (20)
Ashton Hams (def) (23)
Lewis Broome (19)
Gerrick Weedon (19)
Callum Wilson (22)

Ruck:
Nicholas Naitanui (20)
Will Sullivan (20)

Now obviously a few of those names won't make it, but there's a bit there, particularly through the midfield. People tend to forget - or don't even know - how young most of our players still are. Throw 2 seasons of footy into those guys and it's a different side.

P.S. 12 of those kids played on the weekend against the Bulldogs.

 

[bodazoka]

Karma? Was just being facetious really.
Closest thing I can come up with is their being the West Coke Eagles when they were at the top. And even that I don't really think is an issue.
Arrogant supporter base maybe?.

Thats funny, Melbourne's supporters this year gained an arrogant streak when there team started winning.

I remember the thread on your board where allot of supporters were claiming a percentage boost before the Melb v WC game this year. Surely that smacks of arrogance from a club who won the wooden spoon the year before?

Yeah, senior players not performing makes a massive difference, but Melb have suffered from this worse than any other team the past 3 years, yet we've not been afforded the same sympathies, rather accusations of tanking.

That above line is arrogant, you get maulled by the media for tanking when in truth it was your senior players and now because you got accused of tanking you wont consider West Coasts under performing older players as the cause for our poor season?

You should be the first person to recognize the impact that is having and not relegate it to a side issue.

 

[Obeanie1]

Karma? Was just being facetious really.
Closest thing I can come up with is their being the West Coke Eagles when they were at the top. And even that I don't really think is an issue.
Arrogant supporter base maybe?


Yeah, senior players not performing makes a massive difference, but Melb have suffered from this worse than any other team the past 3 years, yet we've not been afforded the same sympathies, rather accusations of tanking.

My issue is that I just don't see any star power there to develop.
That has been one of melb's biggest problems in the past and I see the same thing with WCE. It's a luck thing, but it can be defining.

Kennedy and Le Cras are almost there already.

Add to that Naitanui, Shuey, Shephard, Swift and Masten you have a pool of A Grade U18 talent that could become our next generation of 'stars'.

Hurn at 23 is a B+ player with improvement to come.

Its easy to criticise players in a weak side, come back in a couple of years and we will see.

 

[INSANE]

Kennedy and Le Cras are almost there already.

Add to that Naitanui, Shuey, Shephard, Swift and Masten you have a pool of A Grade U18 talent that could become our next generation of 'stars'.

Hurn at 23 is a B+ player with improvement to come.

Its easy to criticise players in a weak side, come back in a couple of years and we will see.

Agree. Anyone who says after a handful of games that none will be stars is just dumb, ignorant AND dumb. Swift, Shuey, Masten and Naitanui did have or still are carrying pretty serious injuries or carry over effects from previous serious injuries. Also, we have out of form/average senior players which makes it even harder for a young guy to get involved, seeing that we're always on the back foot.

Wonder what this guy thought of Sandilands, Cox, Glass, Bartel, Jamar etc early days....Or what he thinks of Watts now..........

 

[Eastern Rangers]

His problem is the eagles don't have the personnel around him to maximise his strengths and cover for his weaknesses.

Spot on. If we went after guys who like to run and carry more and kick long to a small more mobile forward line, then im sure id over look the problems Priddis has.

We went down a different and longer road in the draft, a road that will see Priddis replaced in the medium/ long term.

Watching Shuey, Swift and Shuey playing in the middle got me excited early on in the preseason. Come round 1 Masten and Shuey lined up in the forward line. Thats pretty much when the season went belly up.

 

[Mattman93]

Watching Shuey, Swift and Shuey playing in the middle got me excited early on in the preseason. Come round 1 Masten and Shuey lined up in the forward line. Thats pretty much when the season went belly up.

Ha, that's a brilliant summary of our self-destruction this season.