Nathan Ablett

[The Hulkster]

Having watched all of the reserves game on Sunday i must say that i thought it was the best game i have seen Nathan play.

There have been questions over his perceived desire to play at the top level and his ability. Anyone who saw the game on the weekend should know the answers to those questions now.

I thought he dominated the game. When Geelong was down in the second quarter he was the one who kicked 3 goals to get us back in it.

He demanded the football with his leading and as opposed to AFL games his teammates kicked it to him, and he obliged by taking some fine grabs. But what also impressed me was his work ethic, he chased and worked hard in contested situations. He was a pleasure to watch.

And best of all he is a fantastic set shot and rarely misses. (hello Kent, Henry and McCarthy).

I am really looking forward to see him improve next year, i think he has what it takes ability wise and now most importantly i think the desire to do what is required to be successful at the top level.

 

[fugsy]

You can tell he's alot more comfortable now with the guys he plays with...and is enjoying his football. Alot more vocal too...seen him after a couple of his goals revving the guys up a bit...far cry from the shy kid who looked 'disinterested' this time last year. Can't wait for him to develop into a great player

 

[darren forssman]

and he can kick it further and straighter on his opposite foot than kent, henry and matty can on their preferred foot.

 

[The Hulkster]

and he can kick it further and straighter on his opposite foot than kent, henry and matty can on their preferred foot.

That is actually very correct. Not a joke but a truth. Just thinking if we traded Kelly for Tarrant our forward line would be.

HF Chapman Mooney S. Johnson

F G. Ablett Tarrant N.Ablett/Hawkins

Ottens and King floating down there.

 

[The Hulkster]

and he can kick it further and straighter on his opposite foot than kent, henry and matty can on their preferred foot.

That is actually very correct. Not a joke but a truth. Just thinking if we traded Kelly for Tarrant our forward line would be.

HF Chapman Mooney S. Johnson

F G. Ablett Tarrant N.Ablett/Hawkins

Ottens and King floating down there.

 

[thehoff]

That is actually very correct. Not a joke but a truth. Just thinking if we traded Kelly for Tarrant our forward line would be.

HF Chapman Mooney S. Johnson

F G. Ablett Tarrant N.Ablett/Hawkins

Ottens and King floating down there.

Hulk, What are you thinking? Tarrant? Please tell me you are joking. Geelong has struggled for forwards with kicking abilty for a number of years and now you want to trade for Tarrant. I'd rather Kelly.

HF Stokes ~ Mooney ~ G.Ablett

FF S.Johnson ~ N.Ablett ~ Hawkins.

Note: Our skipper (Chapman) should be in the centre commanding his troops.

 

[The Hulkster]

Hulk, What are you thinking? Tarrant? Please tell me you are joking. Geelong has struggled for forwards with kicking abilty for a number of years and now you want to trade for Tarrant. I'd rather Kelly.

HF Stokes ~ Mooney ~ G.Ablett

FF S.Johnson ~ N.Ablett ~ Hawkins.

Note: Our skipper (Chapman) should be in the centre commanding his troops.

Well maybe you have a point, but i actually think Tarrant would be of more value to our side than Kelly iregardless of his past performances. For starters he would probably get the best defender with Monney the second best giving Nath and Hawkins "easier" opponents.

I do agree with Chappy in the guts.

 

[Rosella]

Well maybe you have a point, but i actually think Tarrant would be of more value to our side than Kelly iregardless of his past performances. For starters he would probably get the best defender with Monney the second best giving Nath and Hawkins "easier" opponents.

I do agree with Chappy in the guts.

Tarrant's goal per game average is very poor. All you could say if we got him is he'd fit right in.

 

[Rosella]

You can tell he's alot more comfortable now with the guys he plays with...and is enjoying his football. Alot more vocal too...seen him after a couple of his goals revving the guys up a bit...far cry from the shy kid who looked 'disinterested' this time last year. Can't wait for him to develop into a great player

Was watching the end of one of the games at Telstra (on TV) Gaz and Nath were talking in the middle at the end. Well Gaz was talking - nonstop and gesticulating all over the place. Nathan was just standing hands on hips shaking his head looking around at the crowd. There's no way he uncomfortable. Gaz has also said a couple of times recently he has his own mates at the club now.

Skills are there, no doubt. Just needs a bit more time. Has only had 11 games as a KPP - if his name wasn't Ablett he wouldn't have as much expectation.

I think whatever else the club has done badly, they have handled him really well.

 

[Partridge]

Well maybe you have a point, but i actually think Tarrant would be of more value to our side than Kelly iregardless of his past performances. For starters he would probably get the best defender with Monney the second best giving Nath and Hawkins "easier" opponents.

You've got to be kidding. Along with Aaron Hamill he must be the most overrated player in the game. Despite me having a beer with him in Barcelona 3 years ago I wouldn't go near Tarrant for anything. Complete waste. Does not average 2 goals a game. For an alleged forward that is appalling.

 

[answerman]

and he can kick it further and straighter on his opposite foot than kent, henry and matty can on their preferred foot.

It was earlier this year that I realized he was the best dual-sided player at the club. His left IS as good as his right and, importantly, he's very comfortable with using it.

What he really needs is to put on a few kilos (his arms are still pretty small despte having the frame to be an awesome build of a man) and keep working on his sprints. His outright speed is good but it's his acceleration that appears to be slow due to his loping style. When he has the ball in his hands, though, he really moves!

 

[CF]

Please, no Tarrant at our club. We don't need another tall forward who cant kick a goal, we already have a plethora of them.

 

[brett_go_cats]

Aren't Geelong meant to be after Bradshaw, thats what ive heard anyway.

Hope to see Ablett in a permanent spot in AFL side next year

 

[Asty]

Aren't Geelong meant to be after Bradshaw, thats what ive heard anyway.

Hope to see Ablett in a permanent spot in AFL side next year

I'm not sure the odds would be too good on us getting bradshaw but it would be awesome to have something like this ...

FF: Stokes, Bradshaw, S.Johnson
HF: NAblett/Hawkins, Mooney, Chapman/AblettJnr

chapman and jnr changing in the middle (some clearance winners)
stokes up forward to work at bradshaws feet and to apply forward pressure
s.johnson as crumber and as 3rd/4th leading option and also switching upto the 1/2 forward at times to allow nablett/hawkins a spot deep in attack.
nablett and hawkins taking the opposition 3rd tall forward and both into the team when mooney or bradshaw out (ablett into key position).

plus most of them are good set shots on goal with mooney and johnson probably being the only ones prone to missing the easy ones. For mooney though that is a confidence thing and for johnson well he will just snap the next one over his head from the boundry.

 

[Turkey Tom]

I wouldn't mind them checking out Rusling from Collingwood. He looks like he may turn into a good forward.

 

[winty]

If we can't land Bradshaw, should we go after a Staker or Jared Brennan?

 

[Rosella]

If we can't land Bradshaw, should we go after a Staker or Jared Brennan?

The latter is a little flaky - I'd give him a miss.

 

[winty]

The latter is a little flaky - I'd give him a miss.

Still be a step up from Kent

 

[catswhiskers]

Now that Nathan is showing his talent really does exist, Mooney has shown he can play at CHF (if not rubbed out) and we have Hawkins joining why do we need to trade/deal for another big forward? I assume also Grima, and probably Playfair will also be around. It makes more sense to pick a good kid. Ruck forward or mid - doesn't matter. Giving away good draft picks for a 27 year old does not makes sense.

Nathan is the key. If he continues to develop, the forward line will look a lot more potent than it did for most of this year.

Go Cats 07

 

[Bakes]

looking at it realistically, hawkins will not be ready for one, possibly two years and wont be huge (reach everyones expectations) for at least three years. nathan still needs one year (even two maybe) to hold down CHF with dominance. Mooney,in my opinion, was best across half back or as a ruckrover. Leaving the door open for an older KKP that has proven, to take the spot for a couple of years

 

[Catman]

If we can't land Bradshaw, should we go after a Staker or Jared Brennan?

No. Two talented but far too inconsistent players. Would be better off keeping Kent than going after either of these two.

 

[Partridge]

looking at it realistically, hawkins will not be ready for one, possibly two years and wont be huge (reach everyones expectations) for at least three years. nathan still needs one year (even two maybe) to hold down CHF with dominance. Mooney,in my opinion, was best across half back or as a ruckrover. Leaving the door open for an older KKP that has proven, to take the spot for a couple of years

I have to politely disagree here. In my opinion Mooney's year at CHF was by far his best football of his career. Obviously getting rubbed out 4 times makes him an absolute idiot but the footy he played was tremendous. Ablett may not be a superstar next year but he will play more senior football no question. Hawkins, well to be honest let's wait and see. His coach said he's at least the best he's seen since Judd, and Judd didn't exactly need 3 years of reserves footy to turn it on.

 

[Cattas2006]

I have to politely disagree here. In my opinion Mooney's year at CHF was by far his best football of his career. Obviously getting rubbed out 4 times makes him an absolute idiot but the footy he played was tremendous. Ablett may not be a superstar next year but he will play more senior football no question. Hawkins, well to be honest let's wait and see. His coach said he's at least the best he's seen since Judd, and Judd didn't exactly need 3 years of reserves footy to turn it on.

But you have to relise that judd and hawkins are VERY different players, and Hawkins being 20 cm taller than judd would not help either.

 

[Belly]

But you have to relise that judd and hawkins are VERY different players, and Hawkins being 20 cm taller than judd would not help either.

Hawkins is 210cm? ripper, it looks like he's grown since i last saw him.

 

[Partridge]

But you have to relise that judd and hawkins are VERY different players, and Hawkins being 20 cm taller than judd would not help either.

True. But equally, Hawkins is not exactly built like Andrew Mackie either, no defender in the competition will be able to intimidate him. He won't be knocked around.