Delisted Orren Stephenson (2012)

[SJ]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

As I was reading the posts - I was thinking the same.

GFC still sees that a Premiership is up for grabs in 2012 and we are truly in the mix to win it.

The pick makes complete sense to me - as we have seen how important it is to have a good ruckman in the finals thanks to Ottens.

It gives us choices come finals time - and hence a good selection - especially if this guy is as good/competitive as some have stated here.

Just have to ask - Did anyone pick any of Well's selections in the draft ?

It is so hard to judge who Wells will pick and I had heard of none on these guys. Excepting Smedts last year that seems to be the case for me and Well's selections.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=888660

Turbocat and you pick one both got Murdoch.

 

[Belisarius]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

In that case the guys deserve some kudos.

I gather then they rated Murdoch - good to hear.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

P.O. this is exactly the thought that came to my mind when we drafted him.

Although we have lost a lot of experience in Ling and Ottens (as well as Milburn and Mooney, who could not force their way into the GF side), the Club still believes that they have the personnel required to have another tilt at the premiership in 2012.

Agree, I know who Orren is from my VFL watching so as soon as I heard his name I knew exactly who we were picking and how old he was and I was like 'wow, what?'. But after sleeping on it, it dawned on me that it actually makes sense-we have a good well balanced list and there's no reason we can't contend again, but our one area of potential weakness could have been the ruck, hence why they tried and tried to talk Ottens into going on when he clearly didn't want to, therefore why not cover off that one weakness with the best player available to you (the one you rate as the best ruckman outside the AFL) at very little cost? Makes very good sense actually.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

In that case the guys deserve some kudos.

I gather then they rated Murdoch - good to hear.

I rated Murdoch, I just expected (well hoped) we'd go 2 talls straight up and the mail during the week seemed to indicate he wouldn't get to 48.

Bargain!

 

[AM]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald on Orren from Football Nation.

FitzGerald backed Stephenson to play for at least a few more
seasons and believes it is a “fantastic endorsement of the quality of the VFL.”

“He’s played for the state and he’s been in the VFL Team of
the Year and he’s been a terrific finals player,” FitzGerald said.

“His body’s very sound and I’ve said this for a long time.
He was a late starter in football. No serious injuries, a fantastic attitude
but I just think he’s continued to play really well. He’s continued to learn,
he’s very, very coachable and he’s an outstanding young man,” he said

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

Another article:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/adding-second-pea-to-pods-20111125-1nz8v.html

Particularly liked this comment

''I have had a bit to do with the old Pods. I played a bit of state footy with him a few years back now. I've certainly paid attention to him. He has been terrific with what he has done,'' Stephenson said.

Gerald Fitzgerald on his ruckman:

''Even though he is 29, he probably hasn't had an enormous amount of football and he hasn't had any significant injuries in his knees or his ankles, so his weight-bearing joints are very sound,'' FitzGerald said. ''Orren is also quite athletic for his size. He is mobile and is a very good learner and listener, so he will still think that he can be better next year than he is now. His resolve, his resilience, his determination will be a cornerstone to him giving it his best. And he can be an inspiration to a lot of local players.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/adding-second-pea-to-pods-20111125-1nz8v.html

 

[AM]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

Particularly liked this comment

''I have had a bit to do with the old Pods. I played a bit of state footy with him a few years back now. I've certainly paid attention to him. He has been terrific with what he has done,'' Stephenson said.

Maybe the real story behind Orren's selection is to give Pods someone around his 'old' age to relate to - with the exodus of oldies this year.

 

[Belisarius]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

Agree, I know who Orren is from my VFL watching so as soon as I heard his name I knew exactly who we were picking and how old he was and I was like 'wow, what?'. But after sleeping on it, it dawned on me that it actually makes sense-we have a good well balanced list and there's no reason we can't contend again, but our one area of potential weakness could have been the ruck, hence why they tried and tried to talk Ottens into going on when he clearly didn't want to, therefore why not cover off that one weakness with the best player available to you (the one you rate as the best ruckman outside the AFL) at very little cost? Makes very good sense actually.

Spot on. I think we have enough match winners, depth and and up and coming players - to win a Premiership next season IF we had a good ruck combination.

I expect most thought Otttens would do one more September - but now Dawson has to stand up and be competitive and do so for much of the season. A really big ask then for him to have a good finals campaign.

So this selection obviously seemed the best way for GFC to bolster its rucking in the very short term (1-2 years) - and so the Premiership window stays open.

Imagine if Orren or Dawson do do ok next season in the big league ? Either result would be a great result for the club and Wells. It unearth's our next long term ruckman (Simpson) or buys us 2-3 years (if Orren does well) to find another ruck project and get him up to speed.

Strategically maybe the best selection we made in this draft - as our rucks ARE inexperienced at AFL level - so to have one more possible choice AND to provide rest periods and rotations in the ruck by selecting Orren - could just minimise the loss of Ottens in September for us.

Yes it is a roll of the dice - cross the Rubicon - type thing. It will work or it wont. But this drafting, more than probably any other, addresses a percieved weakness in our line up. So to keep the Premiership run going - I say throw caution to the wind with pick 78 ! Welcome Orren.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

I'm excited about our chances yet again next year

Collingwood will now need to manage Jolly like we did with Ottens but from what I have heard, he has a degenerate knee and he won't get any better going into his 30's.
Cameron Wood will be a very good player but he may be like Simpson...still a year or two away from establishing himself. They also have another big guy around 7ft in the VFL but seems to be more of a project player than anything.

Hawthorn have their issues in the rucks department but should be marginally better team with a couple of their stars back in particular Roughead.

We have lost 2 players who played a valuable part of our success in 2011 Ottens & Ling but we have now replaced Ottens but I still feel we cover Lingy just fine having given Christensen a good year to establish himself and has succeeded in big games so he's the likely new star on the block.

We play finals again, win that 1st and we are again in the box seat

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

Maybe the real story behind Orren's selection is to give Pods someone around his 'old' age to relate to - with the exodus of oldies this year.

Yep, the drafting is all about Pods of course

Nah, he has plenty of 'oldies' still on the list with him this year, he feels right at home.

Spot on. I think we have enough match winners, depth and and up and coming players - to win a Premiership next season IF we had a good ruck combination.

I expect most thought Otttens would do one more September - but now Dawson has to stand up and be competitive and do so for much of the season. A really big ask then for him to have a good finals campaign.

So this selection obviously seemed the best way for GFC to bolster its rucking in the very short term (1-2 years) - and so the Premiership window stays open.

Imagine if Orren or Dawson do do ok next season in the big league ? Either result would be a great result for the club and Wells. It unearth's our next long term ruckman (Simpson) or buys us 2-3 years (if Orren does well) to find another ruck project and get him up to speed.

Strategically maybe the best selection we made in this draft - as our rucks ARE inexperienced at AFL level - so to have one more possible choice AND to provide rest periods and rotations in the ruck by selecting Orren - could just minimise the loss of Ottens in September for us.

Yes it is a roll of the dice - cross the Rubicon - type thing. It will work or it wont. But this drafting, more than probably any other, addresses a percieved weakness in our line up. So to keep the Premiership run going - I say throw caution to the wind with pick 78 ! Welcome Orren.

Yeah that's a really good point, as I raised a few weeks ago, West is good, and Dawson might be, but to ask them to play 20 games or so each and then still have enough in the tank to be able to impact finals? Big ask. So really we have a big win if Orren shows he's a really capable AFL ruckman. But even if he's merely ok, and isn't there at the pointy end, he allows us to not overwork the other young ruckmen, ensuring if they are the ones there come finals time, they aren't already out of juice in the tank, which is something anyone else we picked at 78 probably couldn't have provided. That way, we still win, and we know how critical ruckmen playing well in finals can be.

Really we only lose if either Orren gets injured and doesn't play much, (which we couldn't have predicted given he's averaged about 18 games a year or so in his last 5 years at NB so has no real history of major injuries) or he plays and is an abject flop. In which case we only spent pick 78 anyway.

Seems like a fairly reasonable choice with more potential upside than downside.

 

[SouthSwans]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

Shit you lot are a clever bunch down there.

King, Mummy, Otto & Blake out and you pick up the perfect cover until Vardy, West & Simpson are ready.

Switched on Cattas!

 

[maxy87]

Re: 2011 National Draft selection No. 78 - Orren Stephenson

I'm excited about our chances yet again next year

Collingwood will now need to manage Jolly like we did with Ottens but from what I have heard, he has a degenerate knee and he won't get any better going into his 30's.
Cameron Wood will be a very good player but he may be like Simpson...still a year or two away from establishing himself. They also have another big guy around 7ft in the VFL but seems to be more of a project player than anything.

Hawthorn have their issues in the rucks department but should be marginally better team with a couple of their stars back in particular Roughead.

We have lost 2 players who played a valuable part of our success in 2011 Ottens & Ling but we have now replaced Ottens but I still feel we cover Lingy just fine having given Christensen a good year to establish himself and has succeeded in big games so he's the likely new star on the block.

We play finals again, win that 1st and we are again in the box seat

I tend to agree with you bobby on everything but the bolded. Ive seen nothing to suggest that Wood will be a good player, let alone a very good player. Hence the importance of Jolly.

Its an interesting scenario for next year as you have touched on. Most of the top four have at least one structural weakness; Geelong without Ottens look vulnerable, Collingwood without a fit and firing Jolly are gone, Hawthorn look OK with Bailey but by no means are they safe, especially with question marks over Gilham; Kruezer and Warnock are handy for Carlton but have a way to go yet and the blues lack quality at either end..

The drafting of stephenson highlights how bloody important a strong ruck combo is to go far. It also shows that we are serious about another tilt next year, which is fantastic and takes pressure off Dawson. A great decision. I dont think we'll be moving far from top spot next year all things being equal