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There are probably 8 players on our list who fit into the category of entirely raw young'uns.
Selwood, Staker, and Johnson have all got minimal game time this year.
Seaby, and the four rookie listed players, Rudeforth, Edwards, Beeck and Nicoski, haven't got a go in the big time yet.
What I'm wondering, is what order do you think the above will make their debut over the next few years? What positions will they serve their apprenticeships in, and what place do you see them occupying in our future list?
imo-
THE TALLS
Mark Seaby: Will play his first senior game pretty early next year, and maybe make somewhere between 5-10 appearances in 2004. I don't think he'll ruck at all- they'll play him as a key forward or third tall, to get him used to the pace and physical demands of afl footy. He'll probably have beefed up to a respectable size for a ruckman by the end of this year, and depending on how he develops, a tough decision will have to be made regarding either him or Cox either at the end of 2004/2005. At least one of these players will have to turn himself into a full time forward a la Ottens if they are both going to stay at the club. If Cox develops in his present role, I'd say there's no reason why Seaby's long term future might not see him as a full time FF- he's very quick and agile for a guy his size, and looks like he's going to be a strong lad.
Possible outcomes (maturing season 2005)
a.) Full forward, b.) backup ruckman c.) expensive trade bait
Brent Staker: Loved his debut this season- polished skills, great size, speed and agility, and seems to have the sort of attitude Woosha likes. There are two possible routes he could take, however. For the time being, his lack fo physical strength rules him out of the key positions, which means if he is the senior team, it will be as a flanker. He could pick up where he left off next year, but I get the impression Worsfold is not at all reluctant to send people back to the WAFL after getting their first taste of AFL footy-exhibit Lynch.
Long term, I think Staker shows great promise as a key defender. He was commonly played in defence at TAC cup level, and the off season he made some comments about wanting to be a FB/CHB in the long term.
If that is the case, bar a few HFF/HBF cameos as was the case this year, I think he may very well spend a solid year in the WAFL in 2004, getting used to the key defensive role. Long term, I have very very high hopes for Staker, and see him as being a versatile key defender in the mold of Steven Silvagni, making his first serious contribution in the new role in 2005, and becoming a regular in 2006.
Possible outcomes (maturing season 2005/06)
a.)'third tall' flanker, a la Mitchell White b.) Versatile key defender.
Paul Johnson: Our highest ranked draft pick has been something of a disappointment, I suppose, playing just one less than impressive game against Fremantle, and missing the second half of the WAFL year. Very raw at this stage, he's a sort of mobile big man, with potential at both full forward and as a ruckman.
Next year, like Seaby, if he gets any time at all, it will be in a static full forward role. If he wants to make his mark at the club, you'd think it would have to be in that role, since otherwise he fits in as the fourth or fifth ruckman. Barring a dramatic development as a key forward, I'm a bit skeptical about Johnson's long term future with the club. He might be given a couple of seasons of opportunities to make his mark as a full forward, but unless he leap frogs Cox or Seaby in the ruck pecking order then he may eventually be traded back to Victoria.
Possible outcomes (maturing 2004/2005)
a.) Full Forward b.) Trade bait c.) backup ruckman
Zac Beeck: The clock is surely ticking for Beeck, who has been on the rookie list for quite some time. I like him a lot, because I'm convinced he's one of the few pseudo ruckmen we have who could carve out a career anywhere down the spine. Very very rangy and agile for his size, in an ideal world Beeck will end up as a CHB/CHF player of the sort we're crying out for. Really though, he needs to take the next step in 2004 to have much hope of hanging about. Both he and Rudeforth are probably first in line for delisting unless they can make an impression.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2005/06)
a.) delisted, b.) long term kpp development prospect c.) join the ruckman/trade bait queue
THE SMALLS
Adam Selwood: Certainly some quality about him, Selwood had an average couple of games in his debut season. Is quick, big for a midfielder, and has a pleasing amount of tenacity and guts about him. Like Staker, I can see Selwood maybe being sent back to the WAFL for a year of development. But I think they might want to get some more AFL games under his belt. For now, he's not going to break into our starting midfield combo, but might find currency as small defender/flanker or tagger. Long term, I think his size and attitude would make a wonderful all purpose tagger of the interchange bench, but thats a season away. Is physically a bit closer to maturity than some other rookies.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2004/2005)
a.)tagger b.)wingman/flanker
Mark Nicoski: Probably our single classiest rookie midfielder at WAFL level. Very quick, good long kick, poised when he has possession. Like Selwood, he's not going to break into our current midfield engine room, and we'll have to look for other ways to make his debut. I could see him playing a game or two next year in a small defender role purely to keep him hungry, but has a long way to go. Definitely a long term development prospect, though, and with more raw class than any of our other rookies- IMO, could very well be the next generation midfield leader when an arthritic, 4 time norm smith winner Ben Cousins has shuffled off the premiership stage for the last time.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2006)
a.) small defender b.) gun midfielder
Aaron Edwards: Aside from the fact he looks eerily like Ben Cousins, dunno much about Edwards, other than that on the few occasions I've seen him he seems to be a bit of a hard nut, prepared to get in and under? Could come good, or might not. Probably a year or so away from his first outing with the club though,
Future outcomes: (maturing 2005/06)
a.) midfielder b.) delisted
Clancy Rudeforth: Highly rated at lower levels, and with leadership credentials (u/18 captain). Like what i've seen of Rudeforth, but he needs a gun, injury free year in the WAFL next year, because he'd probably be up for delisting if he hasn't made any impact in the coach's mind by the end of next year. Could be part of our 'life after Cousins' midfield a fair way down the track, but needs to convince people that he has something to offer at AFL level soonish, otherwise he won't hang around. If his WAFL form is impeccable, he might scrape a debut towards the end of next year. Needs to take his chance when it comes, though
Future outcomes: (mature 2004/2005)
a.) Wingman b.)small defender c.)delisted.
Selwood, Staker, and Johnson have all got minimal game time this year.
Seaby, and the four rookie listed players, Rudeforth, Edwards, Beeck and Nicoski, haven't got a go in the big time yet.
What I'm wondering, is what order do you think the above will make their debut over the next few years? What positions will they serve their apprenticeships in, and what place do you see them occupying in our future list?
imo-
THE TALLS
Mark Seaby: Will play his first senior game pretty early next year, and maybe make somewhere between 5-10 appearances in 2004. I don't think he'll ruck at all- they'll play him as a key forward or third tall, to get him used to the pace and physical demands of afl footy. He'll probably have beefed up to a respectable size for a ruckman by the end of this year, and depending on how he develops, a tough decision will have to be made regarding either him or Cox either at the end of 2004/2005. At least one of these players will have to turn himself into a full time forward a la Ottens if they are both going to stay at the club. If Cox develops in his present role, I'd say there's no reason why Seaby's long term future might not see him as a full time FF- he's very quick and agile for a guy his size, and looks like he's going to be a strong lad.
Possible outcomes (maturing season 2005)
a.) Full forward, b.) backup ruckman c.) expensive trade bait
Brent Staker: Loved his debut this season- polished skills, great size, speed and agility, and seems to have the sort of attitude Woosha likes. There are two possible routes he could take, however. For the time being, his lack fo physical strength rules him out of the key positions, which means if he is the senior team, it will be as a flanker. He could pick up where he left off next year, but I get the impression Worsfold is not at all reluctant to send people back to the WAFL after getting their first taste of AFL footy-exhibit Lynch.
Long term, I think Staker shows great promise as a key defender. He was commonly played in defence at TAC cup level, and the off season he made some comments about wanting to be a FB/CHB in the long term.
If that is the case, bar a few HFF/HBF cameos as was the case this year, I think he may very well spend a solid year in the WAFL in 2004, getting used to the key defensive role. Long term, I have very very high hopes for Staker, and see him as being a versatile key defender in the mold of Steven Silvagni, making his first serious contribution in the new role in 2005, and becoming a regular in 2006.
Possible outcomes (maturing season 2005/06)
a.)'third tall' flanker, a la Mitchell White b.) Versatile key defender.
Paul Johnson: Our highest ranked draft pick has been something of a disappointment, I suppose, playing just one less than impressive game against Fremantle, and missing the second half of the WAFL year. Very raw at this stage, he's a sort of mobile big man, with potential at both full forward and as a ruckman.
Next year, like Seaby, if he gets any time at all, it will be in a static full forward role. If he wants to make his mark at the club, you'd think it would have to be in that role, since otherwise he fits in as the fourth or fifth ruckman. Barring a dramatic development as a key forward, I'm a bit skeptical about Johnson's long term future with the club. He might be given a couple of seasons of opportunities to make his mark as a full forward, but unless he leap frogs Cox or Seaby in the ruck pecking order then he may eventually be traded back to Victoria.
Possible outcomes (maturing 2004/2005)
a.) Full Forward b.) Trade bait c.) backup ruckman
Zac Beeck: The clock is surely ticking for Beeck, who has been on the rookie list for quite some time. I like him a lot, because I'm convinced he's one of the few pseudo ruckmen we have who could carve out a career anywhere down the spine. Very very rangy and agile for his size, in an ideal world Beeck will end up as a CHB/CHF player of the sort we're crying out for. Really though, he needs to take the next step in 2004 to have much hope of hanging about. Both he and Rudeforth are probably first in line for delisting unless they can make an impression.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2005/06)
a.) delisted, b.) long term kpp development prospect c.) join the ruckman/trade bait queue
THE SMALLS
Adam Selwood: Certainly some quality about him, Selwood had an average couple of games in his debut season. Is quick, big for a midfielder, and has a pleasing amount of tenacity and guts about him. Like Staker, I can see Selwood maybe being sent back to the WAFL for a year of development. But I think they might want to get some more AFL games under his belt. For now, he's not going to break into our starting midfield combo, but might find currency as small defender/flanker or tagger. Long term, I think his size and attitude would make a wonderful all purpose tagger of the interchange bench, but thats a season away. Is physically a bit closer to maturity than some other rookies.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2004/2005)
a.)tagger b.)wingman/flanker
Mark Nicoski: Probably our single classiest rookie midfielder at WAFL level. Very quick, good long kick, poised when he has possession. Like Selwood, he's not going to break into our current midfield engine room, and we'll have to look for other ways to make his debut. I could see him playing a game or two next year in a small defender role purely to keep him hungry, but has a long way to go. Definitely a long term development prospect, though, and with more raw class than any of our other rookies- IMO, could very well be the next generation midfield leader when an arthritic, 4 time norm smith winner Ben Cousins has shuffled off the premiership stage for the last time.
Future outcomes: (maturing 2006)
a.) small defender b.) gun midfielder
Aaron Edwards: Aside from the fact he looks eerily like Ben Cousins, dunno much about Edwards, other than that on the few occasions I've seen him he seems to be a bit of a hard nut, prepared to get in and under? Could come good, or might not. Probably a year or so away from his first outing with the club though,
Future outcomes: (maturing 2005/06)
a.) midfielder b.) delisted
Clancy Rudeforth: Highly rated at lower levels, and with leadership credentials (u/18 captain). Like what i've seen of Rudeforth, but he needs a gun, injury free year in the WAFL next year, because he'd probably be up for delisting if he hasn't made any impact in the coach's mind by the end of next year. Could be part of our 'life after Cousins' midfield a fair way down the track, but needs to convince people that he has something to offer at AFL level soonish, otherwise he won't hang around. If his WAFL form is impeccable, he might scrape a debut towards the end of next year. Needs to take his chance when it comes, though
Future outcomes: (mature 2004/2005)
a.) Wingman b.)small defender c.)delisted.
