Plan B: Malthouse Picks Maxwell Understudies

[KissmeRobbo]

''I went to the VFL for one reason, to come away with who do I believe, with three rounds to go, has got the characteristics of AFL finals-type football built into them,'' he said on SEN yesterday.

''That desperation, that run and chase until you drop and [winning] contested ball. I came away with one that hasn't played a league game [Young] and one that has played one league game [Sinclair].''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...nderstudies-20110814-1it4c.html#ixzz1V4NaazUe
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Can't tell if he is foxing on these kids or not but Young deserves a shot this week after his effort

 

[esc0bar]

jeez time to stop debuting the kids! i want to begin to see a steady team come finals.

I am happy to see kids get a chance but with 3 weeks to go, it seems like suicide. Last year the only kid that debuted was Jarrod Blair. Did Malthouse want to rest some of the players before finals? Surely one or two games come finals would not be enough to allow these kids to play in pressure cooker finals. Sinclair is a Jason Barham MKII, a real liability with his foot skills. Would not have been recruited at Hawthorn. Have not seen much of Tom Young though. From the VFL reports he has not been featured much?

Anyhow seems like an attempt to pump these kids up for next year.

 

[HFF]

He really rates Benny Sinclair.

Josh Thomas IMO, is performing far better.

 

[mattys123]

Sinclair is a Jason Barham MKII, a real liability with his foot skills. Would not have been recruited at Hawthorn. Have not seen much of Tom Young though. From the VFL reports he has not been featured much?

Really?

Tom Young won the award on Copeland night last year for best VFL player, not best first year player, not best first year VFL player, BUT THE VFL BEST AND FAIREST, and he would be damn close to winning again in 2011 (Sundberg and K.Pendles biggest threats).

As for Sinclair, he is highly rated by all within the club, and his disposal is not a massive issue, it's more his thought process when disposing of the ball, and that can easily be improved.

Both will make it as senior footballers, Sinclair has already debuted so far this season, and it seems Young is almost certain to debut this week.

As for the comment about "they wouldn't have been recruited at Hawthorn", you do know they took Xavier Ellis instead of Scott Pendlebury don't you, and that worked out well for the expert recruiters at the Hawks, didn't it?

 

[KissmeRobbo]

He really rates Benny Sinclair.

Josh Thomas IMO, is performing far better.

He had a blinder a week ago then he tapered off this week or he would have been right in line.. Young's numbers were good, a dozen tackles, top possession getter, need to look at him

 

[esc0bar]

Really?

Tom Young won the award on Copeland night last year for best VFL player, not best first year player, not best first year VFL player, BUT THE VFL BEST AND FAIREST, and he would be damn close to winning again in 2011 (Sundberg and K.Pendles biggest threats).

As for Sinclair, he is highly rated by all within the club, and his disposal is not a massive issue, it's more his thought process when disposing of the ball, and that can easily be improved.

Both will make it as senior footballers, Sinclair has already debuted so far this season, and it seems Young is almost certain to debut this week.

As for the comment about "they wouldn't have been recruited at Hawthorn", you do know they took Xavier Ellis instead of Scott Pendlebury don't you, and that worked out well for the expert recruiters at the Hawks, didn't it?

Yeah i knew that Tom Young won the VFL best and fairest but to be honest i hadnt really been paying attention to Tom or the VFL this year. Just read the 10th letter review of the VFL on the weekend and i guess for the VFL on-lookers gets the recognition.

To be fair all clubs make recruitment blunders and you dont have to rewind the clock to far for us either - even under Hine. But there are certain traits that clubs will look for, kicking is Hawthorns and ours (among other things) is more attitude. I would say that Ben's big issue is his kicking. Ben just doesn't seem to hit up targets regularly. In my opinion this will ensure he does not become a Collingwood 100+ game player. Pace and tenacity can only get you so far. You also mention decision making. Yes can be taught but i'm afraid his kicking needs to replicate his thought process. Unfortunately hitting a bloke 20 metres, lace out on his chest because it is the best option may not always come to fruition.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Both will make it as senior footballers, Sinclair has already debuted so far this season, and it seems Young is almost certain to debut this week.

I am enthused by your optimism on these two, Matty.

I don't think either will make it as senior footballers to be honest (especially at Collingwood), but that depends on the definition of "make it".

My real concern with Young is his kicking - it is among the worst at the club in my opinion. He seems solid in all other areas, but his kicking does not seem to be good enough in opinion. Regularly shanks / dribbles / makes the wrong decision. I really hope he can improve in this area, as I think it is the only think that will stop him from getting regular AFL game time.

 

[Old Spice]

I don't see a problem with blooding another player or giving Sinclair another crack. Keeps the efforts intense for inclusion and familiarises young players with our structure.

We're playing the Bears too, so no major catastrophe. I'm sure it will be used to rest some more senior / tired players.

 

[MarkT2]

From what I've seen of Sinclair in the 1s he's not ready for finals yet. Happy to give another kid a debut. We have a couple of winnable games coming and we don't have to win them all anyway. I'm not sure what we should do about the last game v Geelong to be honest but that might be the dress rehersal.

What I am concerned about is going into the finals with two key players down back underdone in Shaw & Maxwell.

 

[Old Spice]

If we're talking experiments, I'd like to see them try Keeffe down back and move Tarrant into the forward line. Scrum-diddily-umptious.

 

[KissmeRobbo]

I'm not sure what we should do about the last game v Geelong to be honest but that might be the dress rehersal.

Ling admitted the other day no player would want to get injured on the eve of a finals match in a dead rubber.. may as well put the witches hats out

 

[mattys123]

I think you also have to remember how young both Sinclair and Young are.

Young is a genuine first year player, despite having played the whole season as a NSW scholarship player in the VFL last year, while Sinclair is only in his second year, and has had plenty of setbacks due to injury.

I think it's pretty safe to say both will still be on our list next year, so with another pre season under their belts, they can only improve.

I think Mick is willing to try a Young or a Sinclair simply as backup for the finals, as if Maxy doesn't come up in time, and if we were to lose another half back, we may be down to the likes of Young/Sinclair/Thomas etc for our final 25.

 

[MarkT2]

If we're talking experiments, I'd like to see them try Keeffe down back and move Tarrant into the forward line. Scrum-diddily-umptious.

As with Sinclair - not yet ready. With Dawes comming back we can't play Tarrant forward unless we drop Brown and then we don't have an alterative ruckman.

 

[Number 10]

Could he mean Seedsman as the VFL player yet to debut? He's been great this year.

Probably Young though as he is a bigger bodied backman who could play a role negating a player.

 

[Old Spice]

As with Sinclair - not yet ready. With Dawes comming back we can't play Tarrant forward unless we drop Brown and then we don't have an alterative ruckman.

Yeah, just in the absence of Dawes. A bit of senior game time to check real game chemistry. Thought Keeffe handy there during NAB Cup.

 

[Jesus Baulks]

Wouldn't even be considering bringing in either of them at this stage personally, Young especially. Young struggles with his awareness at VFL level, there is no way he'd stand up in a final at the moment.

I think Josh Thomas is a chance to debut though.

 

[mwalker]

jeez time to stop debuting the kids! i want to begin to see a steady team come finals.

I am happy to see kids get a chance but with 3 weeks to go, it seems like suicide. Last year the only kid that debuted was Jarrod Blair. Did Malthouse want to rest some of the players before finals? Surely one or two games come finals would not be enough to allow these kids to play in pressure cooker finals. Sinclair is a Jason Barham MKII, a real liability with his foot skills. Would not have been recruited at Hawthorn. Have not seen much of Tom Young though. From the VFL reports he has not been featured much?

Anyhow seems like an attempt to pump these kids up for next year.

Then tell the final 22 to stop getting injured...

 

[alfio]

Surely his going to give Young the shot he has similar bulk to Maxwell hell he is even albino. Match made in heaven!

 

[Knightmare]

Have been happy with the way Young has been playing over the 2nd half of the season. Would pick him over Rounds myself.

Sinclair's tackling energy has been impressive. But wouldn't be playing him this season.

Either way both need games put into them at senior level if we are even considering giving them finals games.

 

[KissmeRobbo]

I'm surprised that we are giving game time to kids at all, you'd think a few weeks out from the finals you'd be getting games into your more experienced depth players like McCarthy and Buckley just in case

 

[MarkT2]

Thought Keeffe handy there during NAB Cup.

So did I but it's a step up to real games and then again to finals. IMO we rule a line through him for this year unless there is an emergency but at least he's had a go and we know what we can expect. He can clunk a mark which gives him a future.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

jeez time to stop debuting the kids!

Bollocks.

We have time for one more debutant before the year's out. Especially with the VFL season ending a week early due to the last round bye....we need as much choice as possible.

Happy for Young to get a game or two between now and September.