Toast Our 2013 bolter...

[ftmch]

OK, it may be a tad premature to toast a player when there hasn't even been a ball kicked in anger, but I am really looking forward to seeing our own Brodie Smith step out of the shadows this year - and I really think he will.

His performance over the year last year, but in particular in the finals series when several around him really struggled to step up at the right time, reaffirmed what alot of us probably thought for a while. This kid is going to be a star.

I don't want to jinx the kid, but I genuinely think he will take a lot of people - particularly outside of this forum - by surprise this year. He's been given the ideal preparation by the club imo, and that investment is about to be realised.

Do others agree, or is there someone else who will be a bigger mover for us?

 

[Smoooothy]

i've got a feeling lewis johnston will be a household name before the year is out. expecting big things from the lad

 

[Geoffa32]

Tambling..........

 

[ftmch]

Tambling..........

That's potentially a very good call.

 

[Skippy231]

Smith for sure, has the poise and a cool head under pressure. I expect him to be the next edwards, no frills does his job every week. Another id like to see do well is Lynch in a scott stevens role

 

[StonesThrow]

Smith (along with tex) are the ones im most interested in this year. Improved a hell of a lot on his defensive side, when it looked like that was not natural to him at the start. He is obviously a midfielder so i'm interested to know whther they are just trying to work on his weaknesses by placing him in defensive roles, to try and make him a complete player.

 

[Paladin]

Was going to say Tambling but i also think Kerridge will play a lot of games.

Does anyone remember the GWS recruiter bagging us for our drafting of Smith? Rubbished his kicking and basically said it was a failed pick. Well no better sight than when a stationary player lays off a handball to Smith and he nails it from 60. Will be mentioned in the same bracket of young star mids with Danger, Sloane and Crouch.

Keep these guys together and we are looking at some very successful years.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Matthew Wright

I feel he will go from being a good player the crows fan know to being a star player AFL fans across the nation will know. He will really step it up.

 

[ManInTheArena]

David Mackay
Rory Laird to play a few games and establish himself next year.

 

[Team DJ]

I think Tex Danger and Sloane will all have massive years and get even better, but i think their "Bolter" year was last year.

Either Smack or JJ will show how over paid Tippett truley was.
Smith will explode given more time in the middle
Lyons should be pushing Callinan out the team
Rickey Henderson might just click as well.

 

[Vader]

I'm not sure that a 1st round draftee, starting his 3rd season in the AFL (having played 22 of 25 games last year), qualifies as a "bolter". Whilst I too look forward to watching his evolution as a player, I wouldn't ever consider him to be a "bolter".

For me a bolter would be someone like Lewis Johnston, who was on he outer in 2012 (playing just one AFL game - despite kicking 57 goals in the SANFL), becoming a regular in the AFL team and kicking 30+ goals in the process. That would be a bolter.

Seeing Brown, who underwhelmed in his 2 previous games, step up and take Doughty's position for the duration of the season - that would qualify as a bolter.

Seeing Tambling do a passable impersonation of an AFL footballer, playing more than 3 or 4 AFL games. OK, now I'm just being snarky.

 

[King Elvis]

Hendo is a good call.

If he puts it all together, he could be very good.

SMcK probably the other one - same deal.

 

[amer]

Jaensch and Martin will battle it out for a spot, both very capable, winner will be a bolter.

 

[The_Answer3]

Jericho

 

[ftmch]

I'm not sure that a 1st round draftee, starting his 3rd season in the AFL (having played 22 of 25 games last year), qualifies as a "bolter". Whilst I too look forward to watching his evolution as a player, I wouldn't ever consider him to be a "bolter".

For me a bolter would be someone like Lewis Johnston, who was on he outer in 2012 (playing just one AFL game - despite kicking 57 goals in the SANFL), becoming a regular in the AFL team and kicking 30+ goals in the process. That would be a bolter.

Seeing Brown, who underwhelmed in his 2 previous games, step up and take Doughty's position for the duration of the season - that would qualify as a bolter.

Seeing Tambling do a passable impersonation of an AFL footballer, playing more than 3 or 4 AFL games. OK, now I'm just being snarky.

It's all relative.

Brown going from being a nobody, to somebody who performs well and gets regular games, is no more of a bolter than Brodie Smith going from handy back pocket player who did well in the finals, to one of the gun midfielders of the comp. It's nothing to do with time in the system.

 

[Footypie32]

Henderson is my pick too. If he can stay healthy and cement a spot on say the Wing, he will have a big impact this year. I'm thinking he and Tex can rotate, so when Walker pushes up the ground, Hendo pushes forward into space to provide another marking option.

 

[Vader]

It's all relative.

Brown going from being a nobody, to somebody who performs well and gets regular games, is no more of a bolter than Brodie Smith going from handy back pocket player who did well in the finals, to one of the gun midfielders of the comp. It's nothing to do with time in the system.

I beg to differ. It's a much bigger proposition going from 2 unimpressive games to being an AFL regular (Brown) than it is from being a regular (22 of 25 games) who steps his game up to the next level.

The most likely "bolter" though is probably a player like Jaensch, Thompson, Riley or Martin - someone who has existed on the fringes for a while, without ever really establishing themselves in the best 22. It wouldn't surprise me if one of these four had a stand out season, forcing their way into the team with a strong MMC showing and holding their own once the H&A season begins.

2013 is probably a make or break year for all of these players, though Jaensch & Martin are both contracted for 2014 (through an act of unmitigated stupidity by our list manager). These players all have strengths which appeal to the BF masses - but they also have weaknesses which have limited their opportunities. They all have more talented young guns looking to move past them in the pecking order, so for any one of them to seize his chance and establish himself in the senior team would be a significant achievement. Perform well and they would definitely qualify as a "bolter", fail to perform and they could find themselves without an AFL team in 2014.

 

[PykeDream]

I think Smith has already bolted. Watching some of his games late in the year (not just finals, eg. Essendon) his output was just astounding given his inexperience and was probably only second to Bennell of his draft peers during that period. I'd even go so far to say that Smith was the reason Doughty was able to leave the game on a high; he made that defence such a tight ship that Mick was significantly relieved of pressure at a time when his form was sometimes patchy.

My pick for bolter this year is whoever takes their chance in our vacant role of small defender. Whether that be Tambling, Lyons or Brown I'm not sure.

 

[SydCrow]

I hope Brodie's massive weight gain has not been supplemented

 

[macca23]

OK, it may be a tad premature to toast a player when there hasn't even been a ball kicked in anger, but I am really looking forward to seeing our own Brodie Smith step out of the shadows this year - and I really think he will.

His performance over the year last year, but in particular in the finals series when several around him really struggled to step up at the right time, reaffirmed what alot of us probably thought for a while. This kid is going to be a star.

I don't want to jinx the kid, but I genuinely think he will take a lot of people - particularly outside of this forum - by surprise this year. He's been given the ideal preparation by the club imo, and that investment is about to be realised.

Do others agree, or is there someone else who will be a bigger mover for us?

Yeah, I'm in agreement re Smith. Genuinely has star potential, and IMO wants it enough to achieve it.

The player who I think will go from being a fringe player to a an important regular in the team with a significant influence is Josh Jenkins.

He only managed 11 games last year in his first year on a Senior list and only his 2nd year in the system. This year I expect him to not only play every game, but in doing so hold down a key forward post for us, mostly at CHF.

He has enormous desire to succeed, and by the end of the year I can see him being an important contributor to both our game plan and our performance.

He's got the weapons. IMO he's ready to use them.

 

[Bicks]

i've got a feeling lewis johnston will be a household name before the year is out. expecting big things from the lad

I genuinely hope your right though I reckon he'll be struggling to get a game personally.

Hendo and Mackay for me!!!

 

[thebirdman 24]

Brodie Martin, finally it is his time to get a run of successive games and establish himself as best 22.

 

[RippaRiley43]

I'm hoping Aidan Riley but definitely not expecting it

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

Brodie Smith, Ricky Henderson, Shaun McKernan.

 

[StonesThrow]

In light of vaders comments, someone from out of no where, Lyons has to be the number one prospect? Smart footballer who moves very well and has composure. I just can't see him not making it at afl level. Watch these highlights where he kicks the goals i think.