It's fair to say it's been a diabolical last 18 months. As a club we should really be looking very hard at our list. This is what I see;
1. Hugh Greenwood - Can't run. I don't understand how he played basketball when he runs on his heels. Good in close, good in the air, but can't run. Will end up at Hawthorn and be a friggin superstar somehow.
2. Brad Crouch - Can't kick. Loves the tough stuff and is a warrior, but toe pokes 90% of his kicks. Doesn't chase. At all. Complete front runner. Loves to handball to peoples feet.
3. Riley Knight - one of those poor bastards that has to do the running the rest of the lazy arse players won't do. Was hoping he would take a step up but has been buried in one of the worst roles possible. Very fumbly early in 2019.
4. Josh Jenkins - dropped earlier in the year, basically for lack of effort. Responded well. Coaches should learn that Jenkins cannot play with an injury. At all. He's terrible. Must be fully fit before bringing in to the team.
5. Matt Crouch - Similar to Brad. Loves it tough and close. Completely screwed if the ball moves 2 m from the contest. Refuses to chase. Front runner. Likes to pad his stats by calling for the ball regardless of if he is open or not. Loves to spray teammates who don't give it to him.
6. Bryce Gibbs - In the first game of the year Gibbs varied between atrocious and completely disinterest. Nothing has improved. Lots of off field issues are rumoured. Looks done.
7. Jordan Gallucci - Was hoping for a big step up this year. Still not competitive enough. Buried in s**t roles. Should have played every game this year.
8. Jake Kelly - A limited footballer but he knows it and plays within it. One of the highlights of the year.
9. Rory Sloane - Still the heart and soul of the club. Try his hardest, but every team knows that you run with him and he struggles. Not a good year.
10. Myles Poholke - demonstrated that he is clearly too good for SANFL, but doesn't get enough opportunities to play AFL. Should have had a longer run in the middle at some stage.
11. Paul Seedsman - Started the year fantastically well. Injury hit and since then has been at about half his previous level. Suddenly super slow and unable to move.
12. Daniel Talia - Still a great one on one defender, but looks to be struggling with his back. Still super important to the team.
13. Taylor Walker - Slow. Struggling to move, has a huge turning circle and is having difficulty impacting contests. Why not move him to Full forward and have him lead out from the goal square as much as possible?
14. David Mackay - His career chart basically looks like a flatline. You get the same performance every week. Unfortunately it is an average to below average performance. Still is apparently completely essential to the team. I suspect the day he doesn't set foot in the clubrooms the world will end.
15. Kyle Hartigan - All over the place. Has great games, has average games. His bad games however are particularly horrendous. Playing because we don't have any alternatives other than 100 year old Otten.
16. Luke Brown - Mr Reliable has been struggling a bit. Doesn't seem as assured as normal.
17. Tyson Stengle - Has been in the AFL system for a number of years, but still doesn't have the fitness required. Got a great gift in his first game, then dropped because, you know....
18. Eddie Betts - Still has the ability to do the unbelievable, but looks to have lost a step. Is struggling to impact games. This might be more thanks to the shambles the forward line is than his own performance. Clock is ticking.
20. Chayce Jones - Looks a ripper. Runs hard, plays hard, tackles hard. Don't worry, we will teach that out of his game. Can't get a game because of superstars like Douglas.
21. Rory Atkins - I don't know what to say. Sometimes good, sometimes atrocious. Our version of Pittard. Incredibly soft.
22. Andy Otten - He's too old for this sh!t.
23. Shane McAdam - Has ability, but no idea if he has the ability to play at AFL level. Nowhere near the fitness level required.
24. Sam Jacobs - If he didn't get injured he would 100% still be our number 1 ruck. Would also still be unable to get off the ground. Is now on the "Andy Otten backup only" train.
25. Ned McHenry - Looks very promising. Infectious enthusiasm. Can't have that in an AFL team so has been stuck learning how to be a real professional.
26. Richard Douglas - Such a critical part of the team he must be rushed back at any opportunity. Is clearly the future of the club.
27. Tom Lynch - One of the most important players on the team. Critical link player. Also has the greatest differential between forward running speed and defensive running speed in the history of the AFL.
29. Rory Laird - Was the best small defender in the AFL. Now is a stat padder who is more interested in calling for the ball and building his stats regardless of if he is actually open or not.
30. Wayne Milera - Could become one of the best players in the league. Shoulder injury has rocked his confidence though. Club needs to find a position for him and leave him. Seems to get moved around to ensure superstar Mackay plays.
32. Darcy Fogarty - Unsighted. Stuck behind undroppable players. Hasn't found his feet in the SANFL. Is he a 'tweener that won't find a role?
33. Brodie Smith - Still a great player. Has returned from his knee injury well. Not at his best over the whole year, but still good.
34. Elliott Himmelberg - Cracked a few games in the place of Jenkins. Worked hard and competed well. Needs more games, but is stuck behind senior players. Has at least shown a bit.
35. Will Hamill - Looks like a great pick up. Playing well in SANFL. Just the sort of youth and enthusiasm you can't possibly play in the AFL.
36. Andrew McPherson - Looks good when he plays. When he plays....
38. Lachlan Sholl - Like Hamill has shown a lot of promise at SANFL.
39. Tom Doedee -
Off field - how good a bloke is this guy?? Champion.
40. Ben Davis - Has significantly improved his consistency at SANFL level. Finally cracked an AFL game. I mean if you want a debut game, it's definitely as a half forward against Geelong in Geelong. Then immediately dropped. Because, you know....
42. Alex Keath - A great step up this year and has shown a lot. One of the best intercept marks in the AFL. Has been exposed when having to defend one on one though.
43. Reilly O'Brien - Saved the best for last (of the main list). Incredible year. Competes at a high level and has claims on being in the top 3 ruckman in the AFL. Simply amazing season. If not for injury, would still be playing SANFL...
Special mentions (some Rookies):
Cam Ellis-Yoleman - Surprised all by playing really well and being a critical part of the team. Had a minor shin injury that it appears is in fact a car crash styled broken leg.
Patrick Wilson - Consistently dominating the SANFL, but too slow for AFL. Should not be in our plans at all.
Jordan Butts - Looks great. Hopefully a Hartigan/Talia replacement in the future.
Lachlan Murphy - A limited football player that gets the best out of himself through sheer determination.
I think if you look at this list it is pretty depressing. Another way to think about it (this is all in terms of 2019 form)
Players cooked
Gibbs
Walker
Mackay
Betts
Otten
Jacobs
Douglas
Players at/past their peak
Greenwood
Jenkins
Talia
Seedsman
Lynch
Below their best
Knight
M Crouch
Sloane
Hartigan
Brown
Atkins
Laird
Milera
Playing at (or close to) their best
B Crouch
Kelly
Smith
On the way up
Jones
Keath
Himmelberg
O'Brien
Want to know why we are struggling horribly? Because every week we pick a team that has a LOT more players that are cooked, past their peak or below their best than players playing well and on the way up.
I'm depressed.
1. Hugh Greenwood - Can't run. I don't understand how he played basketball when he runs on his heels. Good in close, good in the air, but can't run. Will end up at Hawthorn and be a friggin superstar somehow.
2. Brad Crouch - Can't kick. Loves the tough stuff and is a warrior, but toe pokes 90% of his kicks. Doesn't chase. At all. Complete front runner. Loves to handball to peoples feet.
3. Riley Knight - one of those poor bastards that has to do the running the rest of the lazy arse players won't do. Was hoping he would take a step up but has been buried in one of the worst roles possible. Very fumbly early in 2019.
4. Josh Jenkins - dropped earlier in the year, basically for lack of effort. Responded well. Coaches should learn that Jenkins cannot play with an injury. At all. He's terrible. Must be fully fit before bringing in to the team.
5. Matt Crouch - Similar to Brad. Loves it tough and close. Completely screwed if the ball moves 2 m from the contest. Refuses to chase. Front runner. Likes to pad his stats by calling for the ball regardless of if he is open or not. Loves to spray teammates who don't give it to him.
6. Bryce Gibbs - In the first game of the year Gibbs varied between atrocious and completely disinterest. Nothing has improved. Lots of off field issues are rumoured. Looks done.
7. Jordan Gallucci - Was hoping for a big step up this year. Still not competitive enough. Buried in s**t roles. Should have played every game this year.
8. Jake Kelly - A limited footballer but he knows it and plays within it. One of the highlights of the year.
9. Rory Sloane - Still the heart and soul of the club. Try his hardest, but every team knows that you run with him and he struggles. Not a good year.
10. Myles Poholke - demonstrated that he is clearly too good for SANFL, but doesn't get enough opportunities to play AFL. Should have had a longer run in the middle at some stage.
11. Paul Seedsman - Started the year fantastically well. Injury hit and since then has been at about half his previous level. Suddenly super slow and unable to move.
12. Daniel Talia - Still a great one on one defender, but looks to be struggling with his back. Still super important to the team.
13. Taylor Walker - Slow. Struggling to move, has a huge turning circle and is having difficulty impacting contests. Why not move him to Full forward and have him lead out from the goal square as much as possible?
14. David Mackay - His career chart basically looks like a flatline. You get the same performance every week. Unfortunately it is an average to below average performance. Still is apparently completely essential to the team. I suspect the day he doesn't set foot in the clubrooms the world will end.
15. Kyle Hartigan - All over the place. Has great games, has average games. His bad games however are particularly horrendous. Playing because we don't have any alternatives other than 100 year old Otten.
16. Luke Brown - Mr Reliable has been struggling a bit. Doesn't seem as assured as normal.
17. Tyson Stengle - Has been in the AFL system for a number of years, but still doesn't have the fitness required. Got a great gift in his first game, then dropped because, you know....
18. Eddie Betts - Still has the ability to do the unbelievable, but looks to have lost a step. Is struggling to impact games. This might be more thanks to the shambles the forward line is than his own performance. Clock is ticking.
20. Chayce Jones - Looks a ripper. Runs hard, plays hard, tackles hard. Don't worry, we will teach that out of his game. Can't get a game because of superstars like Douglas.
21. Rory Atkins - I don't know what to say. Sometimes good, sometimes atrocious. Our version of Pittard. Incredibly soft.
22. Andy Otten - He's too old for this sh!t.
23. Shane McAdam - Has ability, but no idea if he has the ability to play at AFL level. Nowhere near the fitness level required.
24. Sam Jacobs - If he didn't get injured he would 100% still be our number 1 ruck. Would also still be unable to get off the ground. Is now on the "Andy Otten backup only" train.
25. Ned McHenry - Looks very promising. Infectious enthusiasm. Can't have that in an AFL team so has been stuck learning how to be a real professional.
26. Richard Douglas - Such a critical part of the team he must be rushed back at any opportunity. Is clearly the future of the club.
27. Tom Lynch - One of the most important players on the team. Critical link player. Also has the greatest differential between forward running speed and defensive running speed in the history of the AFL.
29. Rory Laird - Was the best small defender in the AFL. Now is a stat padder who is more interested in calling for the ball and building his stats regardless of if he is actually open or not.
30. Wayne Milera - Could become one of the best players in the league. Shoulder injury has rocked his confidence though. Club needs to find a position for him and leave him. Seems to get moved around to ensure superstar Mackay plays.
32. Darcy Fogarty - Unsighted. Stuck behind undroppable players. Hasn't found his feet in the SANFL. Is he a 'tweener that won't find a role?
33. Brodie Smith - Still a great player. Has returned from his knee injury well. Not at his best over the whole year, but still good.
34. Elliott Himmelberg - Cracked a few games in the place of Jenkins. Worked hard and competed well. Needs more games, but is stuck behind senior players. Has at least shown a bit.
35. Will Hamill - Looks like a great pick up. Playing well in SANFL. Just the sort of youth and enthusiasm you can't possibly play in the AFL.
36. Andrew McPherson - Looks good when he plays. When he plays....
38. Lachlan Sholl - Like Hamill has shown a lot of promise at SANFL.
39. Tom Doedee -
Off field - how good a bloke is this guy?? Champion.40. Ben Davis - Has significantly improved his consistency at SANFL level. Finally cracked an AFL game. I mean if you want a debut game, it's definitely as a half forward against Geelong in Geelong. Then immediately dropped. Because, you know....
42. Alex Keath - A great step up this year and has shown a lot. One of the best intercept marks in the AFL. Has been exposed when having to defend one on one though.
43. Reilly O'Brien - Saved the best for last (of the main list). Incredible year. Competes at a high level and has claims on being in the top 3 ruckman in the AFL. Simply amazing season. If not for injury, would still be playing SANFL...
Special mentions (some Rookies):
Cam Ellis-Yoleman - Surprised all by playing really well and being a critical part of the team. Had a minor shin injury that it appears is in fact a car crash styled broken leg.
Patrick Wilson - Consistently dominating the SANFL, but too slow for AFL. Should not be in our plans at all.
Jordan Butts - Looks great. Hopefully a Hartigan/Talia replacement in the future.
Lachlan Murphy - A limited football player that gets the best out of himself through sheer determination.
I think if you look at this list it is pretty depressing. Another way to think about it (this is all in terms of 2019 form)
Players cooked
Gibbs
Walker
Mackay
Betts
Otten
Jacobs
Douglas
Players at/past their peak
Greenwood
Jenkins
Talia
Seedsman
Lynch
Below their best
Knight
M Crouch
Sloane
Hartigan
Brown
Atkins
Laird
Milera
Playing at (or close to) their best
B Crouch
Kelly
Smith
On the way up
Jones
Keath
Himmelberg
O'Brien
Want to know why we are struggling horribly? Because every week we pick a team that has a LOT more players that are cooked, past their peak or below their best than players playing well and on the way up.
I'm depressed.
