Rookie watch on AFL.com.au

[Nate7]

NORTH MELBOURNE

Tim McGennis: The hard-running midfielder was a surprise packet in the VFL last season and continues to excel. Has been in Werribee's best in five of the Tigers' eight games this year. McGennis came to North in 2013 and has impressed with his aerobic ability.

Joel Tippett: Was elevated to the senior list for Tom Curren in March and played four games before being cruelled by a torn pectoral against Geelong in round 10. The 25-year-old key defender faces a battle to play again this season.

Kayne Turner: North's final pick in last year's rookie draft, Turner has quickly found his feet at VFL level. The former Murray Bushranger has speed, a competitive desire and the ability to play forward or back. Only 67kg at the start of the year, he needs to bulk up in the off-season.

Eric Wallace: In the final year of his two-year deal, the international rookie from North Carolina has played eight VFL games as a ruck/forward for North Ballarat and been named in the best once.

Max Warren: Now in his third and final season as a rookie, Warren needs a big season to prove his value at Arden Street. The small defender has been in North Ballarat's best in the past two games and will hope to build on that form in the second half of the year.

Summary: No rookie was promoted after Tippett's pectoral injury but Tim McGennis would be the clear frontrunner for any elevation. – Travis King

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

The hell is Tom Curren?

McGenniss hasn't been spelled properly either. But hey, the sports editor doesn't need to do no sports editing ...

 

[year of the roo]

So this Travis King guy has just gone and evaluated the "bests list"? Has he even seen any of these guys play?

Article = for the tip

 

[KillaKanga]

From what we know from YouTube and the VFL threads we have a very solid list there though.

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

Depends on who you ask.

 

[King Corey]

From what we know from YouTube and the VFL threads we have a very solid list there though.

Wouldn't have thought so tbh.

Noone there looks an assured AFL player.

I think Max Warren looks a potentially good player but doesn't appear to be in the club's plans.

McGenniss appears too vanilla but maybe he can become a Sam Gibson grade of player if given the right development and opportunity. Far from AFL atm.

Tippett is the best of the bunch thus far in proving some ok AFL output.

Turner has started positively but has a hell of a long way to go.

Wallace is a speculative project player.

 

[Daz]

Useless article.

 

[TwentyNine]

The decription of the article promised to make a verdict of upgrade, retain or delist on each player, then proceeded to do so on absolutely none of them. Hunk of junk. Turner will be a god.

 

[KillaKanga]

Wouldn't have thought so tbh.

Noone there looks an assured AFL player.

I think Max Warren looks a potentially good player but doesn't appear to be in the club's plans.

McGenniss appears too vanilla but maybe he can become a Sam Gibson grade of player if given the right development and opportunity. Far from AFL atm.

Tippett is the best of the bunch thus far in proving some ok AFL output.

Turner has started positively but has a hell of a long way to go.

Wallace is a speculative project player.

Do most other teams have a rookie list of stars ready to play? I admit to being ignorant to other clubs lists so if so I concede.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Other than Tippett and Wallace I can't see Any featuring in our afl plans (turner will down the track)

Mcgeiness and Warren have too many deficiencies to make it as AFL players!

I was really happy with the Turner as a rookie selection! But mcgeiness and Warren were very uninspiring selections! I hope we load up on project x factor talls this year!

 

[King Corey]

Do most other teams have a rookie list of stars ready to play? I admit to being ignorant to other clubs lists so if so I concede.

Fair question. I'm not across other club's rookie lists but would be saying that we have 2x players in Warren and McGenniss who don't appear to be offering much of a point of difference to the list and the former doesn't appear in the club's plans which is odd for someone you put 3 years of development into.

I hope we load up on project x factor talls this year!

That'd be good. Then ideally a few years VFL grounding before being savaged and focussed on by the media after their 9th game.

 

[Event Horizon]

I'd say the best X factor players to develop via the rookie system would be fast mids, who don't have the AFL body or the tank. They are the most likely to slip through the draft, but have enough natural talent to work with. Talls on the other hand, are often taken early in the draft if they are any good.