Toast Nathan Brown

[Dundalis]

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.

Is Keefe a genuine KPD prospect at 204cm? I understand at VFL level he might look good, but at that height, at AFL level I would think speed and mobility would be an issue. I know mobility is apparently a big strength of his, but at his height he would still have issues agility wise compared to standard 6'5 key position players. I would think his future position if he makes it would be as a ruckman.

Just on Nathan Brown, while I am happy with his defensive game on Riewoldt and see him drawing a lot of confidence from this and improving it further, I did not like his attacking game whatsoever today. Thought when he got the ball showed tunnel vision in his constant want to kick long to contests and completely ignored some very good shorter options. When I'm sitting watching the game, I'm always having a good look upfield to see what options are available when we have the ball, and he was the only player for us who constantly frustrated me with his decision making when he had it. Perhaps might seem like a minor criticism given his overall performance on a great player and the fact we won, but I think it's relevant in terms of his future development.

 

[Zahki]

Holy moly Dundalis, give it a break. We just won the freaking premiership and Brown keeping Riewoldt quiet was pivotal to that victory. Trying to nitpick any flaws in his game is just stupidity. Brown was expemplary today, give him the credit he deserves and enjoy the win.

 

[kevind]

Just on Nathan Brown, while I am happy with his defensive game on Riewoldt and see him drawing a lot of confidence from this and improving it further, I did not like his attacking game whatsoever today. Thought when he got the ball showed tunnel vision in his constant want to kick long to contests and completely ignored some very good shorter options. When I'm sitting watching the game, I'm always having a good look upfield to see what options are available when we have the ball, and he was the only player for us who constantly frustrated me with his decision making when he had it. Perhaps might seem like a minor criticism given his overall performance on a great player and the fact we won, but I think it's relevant in terms of his future development.

Interesting call.

I actually think our conversion to kicking the ball longer from the holding onto the ball to spot up players with short passes has made us a better side. We get the ball in quicker, score more heavily, and have reduced the number of shots at goal from difficult angles. Taking it inside 50 deeper also helps our forward press.

Sure there may be the missed opportunities with the short passes, but overall, I think it has improved us greatly.

What annoys me is when we kick short to a contest. Something we now have happily almost completely eradicated from our game

 

[mckenna6575]

my only concern is how Brown performs against Franklin - in fact any of our blokes. how does Tarrant do against Franklin.

To be honest I think Tarrant will have seen Brown's performance and will be wondering how he'll get a game with us - don't think he'll want to spend his 2-3 years in the VFL

 

[NavyBlue85]

Looks to be a very good 10 year defender, Absoulotly SMASHED SAINT NICK.

Rekon his brother will be as good if carlton can Nab him?

 

[HollyLovesWCE]

Nathan played an excellent game

Brown was huge today. Keeping Reiwoldt goalless really says a lot.

With small mention to Heath Shaw. That smother was insanely awesome!

 

[HFF]

Browny was awesome. Everyone had "doubts" about how he would perform, particularly on the best key forward in the comp and he pantsed him.

One-on-one, Brown beat Riewoldt at every contest. Was too strong. Brown's spoiling was top notch, his ability to back himself and take some incredible contested marks in pressure situations over the two GFs was superb, his closing speed is very good and he is still only 21! He is the only player ever to keep Riewoldt goalless in a final.

Having said all that, whilst I love Brown as much as anyone, I still think we should get Tarrant, especially if he wants us. Simply put, Presti is bound to retire. I cannot see him going on next season. Therefore, we will really only have Brown and Reid as key backs with possibly Jack as back-up but he may be needed in attack too with Rus retiring also. Definitely need the added depth and competition for spots in the key position spots. It is not a lack of faith being shown to young Brown if we get Tarrant, rather it is very good list management to keep re-inventing ourselves and give ourselves every opportunity for more success such as this.

 

[shawthing09]

Was only beaten once this year.

This. Brown has done his job every time he has been given the chance, he has had an outstanding year despite having been in and out of the side for a lot of it.

I had doubts over how he would go backing up against Riewoldt, I thought last week Riewoldt "got of the leash" a bit in the second half and partly thought that was because he had blown Brown up. Brown really learnt well and today was much more willing to let Riewoldt go futher up the ground where he wasn't going to be dangerous and his spoiling and strength in the contests was great, he is a brilliant talent and was always going to be.

 

[Knightmare]

Is Keefe a genuine KPD prospect at 204cm? I understand at VFL level he might look good, but at that height, at AFL level I would think speed and mobility would be an issue. I know mobility is apparently a big strength of his, but at his height he would still have issues agility wise compared to standard 6'5 key position players. I would think his future position if he makes it would be as a ruckman.

Just on Nathan Brown, while I am happy with his defensive game on Riewoldt and see him drawing a lot of confidence from this and improving it further, I did not like his attacking game whatsoever today. Thought when he got the ball showed tunnel vision in his constant want to kick long to contests and completely ignored some very good shorter options. When I'm sitting watching the game, I'm always having a good look upfield to see what options are available when we have the ball, and he was the only player for us who constantly frustrated me with his decision making when he had it. Perhaps might seem like a minor criticism given his overall performance on a great player and the fact we won, but I think it's relevant in terms of his future development.

Keeffe is very mobile and if anything the only thing is that he might if anything get out muscled by the bigger forwards. Long term once he does add the size I agree, we will see him as a ruckman, but more than serviceable as a key position defender and 4th in line.

N.Brown's offensive game is a work in progress and has looked quite good at VFL level. I expect over the break it will be a focus of his. I don't think it is a huge flaw and probably a fair bit better than Presti's offensive side (which wasn't ever bad, just he never showed it).. I agree the offensive side wasn't great today, but I have seen him put together that side of his game so it is not really a great concern for mine anyway.
I don't see Brown a weak link don't have any great concerns for him. Will continue to get better and deserves the faith in his ability.

 

[Bonuspoints]

I get the feeling that Keefe is being shaped as Leigh Browns successor. I think he'll be good at that given his mobility and flexibility. I like the way the club is developing him with stints at both ends of the ground as well as in the ruck.

Brown surely has Presti's spot when he retires. I can only see us grabbing Tarrant if Presti retires and he's cheap - acquisition wise and salary cap wise. He's got a good motor on him so I wonder if the club would look at him as a tall wingman Matty Richardson style? What do people think about that?

 

[Suspense]

absolute gun. just love his selflessness too:

He accepted the events of last week [being dropped] as being part of footy. "Its just part of being in a team sport, elite sport," he said. "If decisions don't go your way you've got to keep preparing, keep your head up and be ready for your team because if the call comes - which it did for me - you've got to be ready."

 

[pauly_moss]

Great final series by Brown.

I wonder if people forget the job he did on J.Brown in his first season.

This kid is very very good and has beaten some star players. Will be a very solid defender Brown and Reid a very good mix especially when you throw in Harry and Maxy down back.

All this talk of getting Tarrant, I'd take him but not as a defender, I know he has reinvented himself down back but I'd recruit him as a player that can play forward or back and have him starting most games up forward