Toast Nathan Brown

[Maggie5]

I was so impressed in his game today, thought that he really stood up and although Presti has been a great servant of this club, I think that N Brown is ready to step up.

Was a great team win - I am so happy!

 

[Quicky]

Brown was huge today. Keeping Reiwoldt goalless really says a lot. I realise he didn't get his usual service but every opportunity he did get Brown was right there wit ha spoil or saving mark. He made massive strides the last two weeks and has put away many of the doubts I had about him long term.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Today and last week have made him as a player.

We've got two of the best young KP backmen in the league folks. This year in the finals, they've proven they can stand up to anything.

 

[DThomas]

I love this bloke, he is going to be a gun!

Fantastic work Browny!

 

[Knightmare]

Backing up his outstanding performance from grand final 1 with an even better performance in grand final 2 was big.
Just so good at beating his man and Riewoldt is no pushover. Doing that on the big stage twice is huge!

Really showed that even with Presti likely to retire that we don't need Tarrant.

 

[kevind]

Today and last week have made him as a player.

We've got two of the best young KP backmen in the league folks. This year in the finals, they've proven they can stand up to anything.

Kudos to Derek Hine. He declared after the REid/Brown/Dawes draft that he had recruited our spine for the next 10 years. It was a massive out on a limb call but boy,if they avoid injury, he will be spot on.

I will be very surprised if the 2 GFs are not the absolute making of Nathan Brown.

 

[kevind]

Backing up his outstanding performance from grand final 1 with an even better performance in grand final 2 was big.
Just so good at beating his man and Riewoldt is no pushover. Doing that on the big stage twice is huge!

Really showed that even with Presti likely to retire that we don't need Tarrant.

I am not so sure. Premierships are very hard to win and to win 2 in a row is well near impossible. I was never a fan of Tarrant when he was with us earlier in his career, but he has matured and could be a handy swingman. We only have to account for half his salary was well I believe.

If he really wants to come back, I'd try to make it happen.

 

[Quicky]

Kudos to Derek Hine. He declared after the REid/Brown/Dawes draft that he had recruited our spine for the next 10 years. It was a massive out on a limb call but boy,if they avoid injury, he will be spot on.

I will be very surprised if the 2 GFs are not the absolute making of Nathan Brown.

Feeling better than earlier today?

 

[kevind]

Feeling better than earlier today?

Hell , yeah!!!!!!! Go Pies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Markfs]

I must admit that I thought that Nathan might only be a solid player for us. But today he really put his stamp on those contests with Saint Nick.

A special thanks to Presti for his contribution this year and for all of them.

 

[Knightmare]

[/b]

I am not so sure. Premierships are very hard to win and to win 2 in a row is well near impossible. I was never a fan of Tarrant when he was with us earlier in his career, but he has matured and could be a handy swingman. We only have to account for half his salary was well I believe.

If he really wants to come back, I'd try to make it happen.

Not sure we have room for another tall with L.Brown already spending much of his time up forward and with many tall defenders.

But if we wanted to develop a swing man Jack Anthony would be my man of choice and is more than capable of playing that role if we wanted someone to develop into a player who could do that. Was down this season, but had a limited preseason and had some niggling injuries. But I have confidence with a full preseason that he can be as good of a swingman as any. Will put more than enough pressure on N.Brown and will be desperate for a spot in our best 22.

The only role I could even look at him as a late draft choice with would be as a long leading half forward flanker. But even then I don't think he really suits our style of play and structures.

I think Tarrant would be a great pickup for a Hawthorn who might be looking for a key position defender. But we have no such issues down back and are very settled.

 

[mysainters]

Has Max written all over him

 

[kevind]

Not sure we have room for another tall with L.Brown already spending much of his time up forward and with many tall defenders.


I think Tarrant would be a great pickup for a Hawthorn who might be looking for a key position defender. But we have no such issues down back and are very settled.

Tarrant would certainly be great for Hawthorn. But would we like to see him go to Hawthorn as I see them as a major challenger next year?

If we get injuries, we don't have that greater depth in tall KPs. McNamara and Keefe are long shots to make it and if they do it is hard to see that happening within 2 years. Beyond that we have no one. If Presti retires(likely) and we get just injuries to KPs it would put us behind the 8 ball.

As for Anthony. I'm not sure on JA. He appears to me to be not quite big enough for a KP and not agile enough to play elsewhere. I have also heard a rumour, stress the word rumour, that he will go to the GC. Doubtless we will find out next week.

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

At the start of the year I was rapt the Pies went for experience (Jolly and Ball) as opposed to more youngsters mainly because we had a few guys who hadn't proven themselves yet and it was make or break for them. Chris Dawes, Ben Reid (is he now the steak knives?) and Nathan Brown stand up and accept your kudos.

Hats off to Mick, sometimes it's good to throw the youngsters to the wolves but sometimes it's certainly prudent to hold them back. In this case the latter is correct and the medals hanging around their neck proves it!

Well done boys, and well done Pies!

 

[didaka]

Was only beaten once this year.

 

[johnny_5]

He was fantastic, the job he did on reiwoldt was amazing. We definately do have our spine set up for the next ten years, GO PIES

 

[jimmy35]

I thought the only way the Saints would win today was with Riewoldt cutting loose and having a big game.
After doing well last week I wasn't sure if Browny could back up again today or not.
He was superb today

Feel for Presti though.

 

[Knightmare]

Tarrant would certainly be great for Hawthorn. But would we like to see him go to Hawthorn as I see them as a major challenger next year?

If we get injuries, we don't have that greater depth in tall KPs. McNamara and Keefe are long shots to make it and if they do it is hard to see that happening within 2 years. Beyond that we have no one. If Presti retires(likely) and we get just injuries to KPs it would put us behind the 8 ball.

As for Anthony. I'm not sure on JA. He appears to me to be not quite big enough for a KP and not agile enough to play elsewhere. I have also heard a rumour, stress the word rumour, that he will go to the GC. Doubtless we will find out next week.

I do understand your concern and I do feel Hawthorn will be our great challenger over the next couple of years actually but with that said Hawthorn are unlikely to be able to fit him into their salary cap. Maybe with C.Brown they might just.

With Tarrant I am confident he is only a 1-2 year rental who's body is starting to break down to some extent so I don't think Hawthorn could rely on him for 22+ games. It is dangerous to allow a team to arm themselves like this but their big need is outside speed to go with their inside mids. They have Shoenmakers developing, so Tarrant won't be a huge difference next year.

Anthony I have more confidence in and while height wise it is easy to think he could get exposed he has looked very good at VFL level and even against taller opponents has really judged the flight of the ball really well and spoiled well. So even if Reid/ Brown do get hit with injuries I am very confident in his ability to fill in.

He might want out (I hope not because I do see a future for him with this club) but it is certainly a possibility. In this scenario you would look into Tarrant, but no need still to make him a priority and I would instead look to if anything a more recycled option or a less immediately threatening player to N.Brown's position if anything.

Keeffe is also progressing really well and could also fit into a key position post down back if necessary. At VFL level he is now regularly beating his man and providing some nice rebound from defense so I have been very impressed with his development. I have him marked down as ready in 2011 to fill into a key position defense post if injury hits and in 2012 I expect he will break into our ruck rotation.


The real big thing I am very mindful of here in bringing Tarrant in is N.Brown. Had a great finish to this season with his grand final performances and by bringing in Tarrant that is directly challenging his position in this team. I feel this isn't the correct approach and with his contract running out at the end of 2011, it makes him a very serious target for GWS. If Tarrant gets a regular position over him I do think he might just leave. And Tarrant might only be around for the 1 season, so this would be a big loss! And probably almost immediately end our potential dynasty which could be devastating.

 

[danielnajdek]

Stitched up Crywoldt. Anyone think Crywoldt will get bagged in the media for having a shocker in a GF like some of our players did last week.

 

[kevind]

Keeffe is also progressing really well and could also[/B] fit into a key position post down back if necessary. At VFL level he is now regularly beating his man and providing some nice rebound from defense so I have been very impressed with his development. I have him marked down as ready in 2011 to fill into a key position defense post if injury hits and in 2012 I expect he will break into our ruck rotation.


The real big thing I am very mindful of here in bringing Tarrant in is N.Brown. Had a great finish to this season with his grand final performances and by bringing in Tarrant that is directly challenging his position in this team. I feel this isn't the correct approach and with his contract running out at the end of 2011, it makes him a very serious target for GWS. If Tarrant gets a regular position over him I do think he might just leave. And Tarrant might only be around for the 1 season, so this would be a big loss! And probably almost immediately end our potential dynasty which could be devastating.

I agree with you that Tarrant is a 2 year rental, but I think given the salary concession we get, he could be handy filling holes, not taking over from N Brown.

Nathan Brown has just stamped himself as a KPB for a very long time after these 2 GFs. He won't be pushed out of the side for Tarrant. Or probably by Presti anymore for that matter. Tarrant for example could play the role of 3rd tall forward because of his agility and fill in as a KPB when there is an injury.

As for Keefe, I don't have a lot of confidence that he will make it within the next few years after watching some of the VFL games this year.

Probably more pressing is to ensure that we have a ruckman progressing to eventually take over from Jolly. Jolly is the first ruckman we have had since Monkhurst who has physical presence and IMO the major reason we went from challenger to flag this year.

Josh Fraser gave his all for us over the years, but you don't win Premierships IMO unless you have a ruckman with the hunger for the physical contest. Cam Wood is ,IMO, not going to be that ruckman with physical presence, so I would like to see us look for that physical type of ruck. Particularly as they can take years to develop.

Of course you can never have too many classy mids either, but....

 

[Zahki]

Nathan Brown deserves huuuuuuge props for keeping one of the leagues best key forwards quest not one but TWO games in a row. He is really one of the best young key defender prospects in the league and will be our full back for the next decade.

 

[the mighty T]

He was superb... imo Norm Smith medalist.

The most valuable player on their side was completely negated by this 50 game player and he deserves all the praise he gets

Weve found our next presti

 

[Knightmare]

I agree with you that Tarrant is a 2 year rental, but I think given the salary concession we get, he could be handy filling holes, not taking over from N Brown.

Nathan Brown has just stamped himself as a KPB for a very long time after these 2 GFs. He won't be pushed out of the side for Tarrant. Or probably by Presti anymore for that matter. Tarrant for example could play the role of 3rd tall forward because of his agility and fill in as a KPB when there is an injury.

As for Keefe, I don't have a lot of confidence that he will make it within the next few years after watching some of the VFL games this year.

Probably more pressing is to ensure that we have a ruckman progressing to eventually take over from Jolly. Jolly is the first ruckman we have had since Monkhurst who has physical presence and IMO the major reason we went from challenger to flag this year.

Josh Fraser gave his all for us over the years, but you don't win Premierships IMO unless you have a ruckman with the hunger for the physical contest. Cam Wood is ,IMO, not going to be that ruckman with physical presence, so I would like to see us look for that physical type of ruck. Particularly as they can take years to develop.

Of course you can never have too many classy mids either, but....

The salary concession is very attractive and about a month ago I was almost convinced that Tarrant would be a great pickup. But I just have immense confidence now in all of our young KPPs who will only get better.

I think Tarrant would come into the side expecting to become a key position defender. (So likely replaced Brown and he probably would since he has performed to a near AA standard over the past 2 seasons. So this worries me more than anything).

The reason why I'm not ever sure he is a great fit into our forwardline is that while he was a great leading forward I'm not sure whether he has the ability to case, tackle and pressure within the new structures we have. That would be the only role he could really play in our team and still fit into our structures, but I do feel this would still feel too top heavy with L.Brown + our x2 KPFs also even if Tarrant is of contrasting style and on a HFF would not effect their leading patterns.

As a mid size forward I would look more to a flanker with special athletic and goal scoring ability.

For ruckman I'd really like to see us draft a no.1 type ruckman and a forward/ruckman who could with time play the 75% forward, 25% ruck role of L.Brown. The power type ruckman I like in this draft class is Andrew Phillips of Tasmania. Very strong overhead, physically still a little raw, but with time I do see him developing into a strong power ruckman.
The other one I like is Tom Hickey who is more of a mobile ruckman. Would be comfortable with either but I do agree the big power ruckman are the way to go. Seem to have better durability than the mobile type ruckman.

Wood as a backup I am confident in, but his develop certainly is a mystery. Jolly hasn't missed a game since 2005, so with his durability I am confident he will be around for another 3-4 years by which time the project ruckman we have draft this year will be pretty ready to go if Wood hasn't developed.

 

[Helfarch]

Did he give away a single free kick?

What a great game, backed himself in and shut his man down. More effective inside 50s and he'd have had the perfect game. That's the worst thing that could be said, it was only 99% perfect.

 

[the mighty T]

Did he give away a single free kick?

What a great game, backed himself in and shut his man down. More effective inside 50s and he'd have had the perfect game. That's the worst thing that could be said, it was only 99% perfect.

nope, thats been my biggest knock on him, that he plays the body too much and gives away frees in the contest. There was none of that, not even a chop of the arms, it was bloody magnificent.