Shane Kersten

[i_need_a_pencil]

Have watched him in the VFL a couple of times and just seems like a natural footballer. I (and many others) were calling out for a genuine medium, 3rd tall this year with SJ playing in the midfield... he was our answer.

SJ playing midfield is important for us considering our weakness in that area, and I'm happy for him to keep playing there (just look at his brownlow votes!), but if Kersen can step up, we are suddenly more balanced around the ground imo.

 

[AM]

I saw the game that was used here to show his highlights and they were good but then I watched him in the GF and he hardly touched the ball. That worries me a bit. Sure the ball did not come down all that often but you need to impose yourself when the team is down and needs you.

Has the body and height for a third tall forward - and just hope the GF was an aberration for him.

Agree that his GF performance wasn't flash and have commented along those lines here. But he had plenty of mates on the day. Everyone can put in a bad one but the thing that concerned me most was his lack of effort. That's a non negotiable - no matter how badly things are going for you. But it was only one game albeit an important one.

He was very good in the NAB Cup where he was competing against AFL level players and would have made the ones early on had it not been for injury in my view.

When the AFL (hopefully) restores the story tomorrow you will glean from the comments by Amos that the club recognises the talent it's his work ethic that needs attention.

 

[The rabbi]

From what I have read McCarthy is quick and a good small. Maybe he maybe used if over his stress fractures.

It was reported that he was back into training during the finals and should be ready to go next pre-season.

 

[The rabbi]

I fully believe he will make the Pods spot his own this year. Will never forget Pods, but you will talking about Kersten for a long time as another Wells special..

Give him 18-22 games and let him play.

GO Catters

I don't think so. I still see him as a third tall and on the flank. Hawkins plays Full forward with Vardy at CHF and Kersten on a flank.

 

[dazbroncos]

I don't think so. I still see him as a third tall and on the flank. Hawkins plays Full forward with Vardy at CHF and Kersten on a flank.

I should have been more specific but you are right. I mean Kersten will fill Pods list spot in the 22. Pods out Kersten in - positional adjustment accepted.

Go Catters

 

[Turbocat]

My mail is that this year is the year for him.
Got some outside attention late int he year but wants to be Cat - needs his time to be now however. Hence the 1 yr deal.

I fully believe he will make the Pods spot his own this year. Will never forget Pods, but you will talking about Kersten for a long time as another Wells special..

Give him 18-22 games and let him play.

GO Catters

I pressume you mean other clubs Daz? I hope he doesn't have unrealistic expectations.
He has hasn't made his debut yet. Yes he will play but to go from 0 to 18-22 is a big jump.

We will have a an unsettled setup next year and we will have to try to find our best setup , whether it includes Hamc , Simpson and Vardy in the same side. Whether it has other newbies around the ball , like GHS and a couple others which may push SJ forward. Then , fingers crossed , at some stage our long lost other great young forward hope may appear.

He has a lot going for him but to get 18-22 in debut year is lot when he is not flexible enough to play midfield. Imagine if he could do a Joel Corey role for 25% of the time. And his form will fluctuate. His game in the GF showed he is still young , he will have ups and downs.

Id expect him to have a couple of break out games , perhaps a nomination. Anything more than 15+ is a bonus.

 

[Partridge]

Too true. My opinion for while has been work rate. I want to see his stats. If he could run like Blitz..no thats unrealistic but if could up his work rate to play wing more he would fit AFL more. He is like Mackie , he is not at his best under the ball either end.

He doesn't need to run like Blitz, he needs to be a better footballer than him. And I'd say he is.

We're not going to find out unless he gets regular games in the seniors. That's all there is to it.

 

[bulletproof]

I have only seen bits and pieces of him, I am not as enamored by him as some. He is a very smart forward and will carve out a career but he is not a target man like a Pods or Hawkins. He actually plays a lot like Kent Kingsley (but is obviously a far better kick).

He needs to improve his ground level work, as the leading forward is dying art in the modern game with how little space you get.

If he can work on his ground level work and be a fanatic defensive pressure man, like a Chris Mayne, he will be very useful indeed. If he thinks he can lead, mark, kick goal, he will have a very short shelf life. Did lay a wonderful tackle in the Prelim Final, so I am hopeful.

It saddens me thinking about Dan Menzel when I think of the third forward....He had the game for that role ready made at age 20.

 

[AM]

Understand that it’s always harder when you have only seen bits and pieces of a player.

He’s not being put up as a replacement for the power forwards. Amos says in the piece the plan is a three-pronged forward half with presumably Vards and Hawk being the power forwards and Kersto bringing a different dimension.

Agree with much of what is said in the following quotes from the piece.

His pace, aerobic capacity and strong marking have allowed him to cover plenty of ground but also provide a strong contest when the ball is kicked in long.

"Shane is super-quick, so his speed enables him to be very effective on the lead, but also be dangerous running towards the goals when the ball is kicked over the back," Amos said.

He can provide a presence in the pack although many here haven’t noted that to date.

Has a fair way to go but has the makings if he puts his head down and rear up.

Feel much the same about the impact Cowan can have given a good pre-season and a reasonable injury free run.


Please don’t ever refer to him in the same breath as Kingsley.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I say that if his work rate and chasing is there, he gets the first eight or so games of the season to find his feet, then he needs to justify his selection through his performance. But give him an extended run. He's got a lot of talent.

 

[Turbocat]

He doesn't need to run like Blitz, he needs to be a better footballer than him. And I'd say he is.

We're not going to find out unless he gets regular games in the seniors. That's all there is to it.

Mitch Brown needs to add something to his game , imo its work rate. he need to get open , get to more positions to receive the ball. He is a better footballer in skill than the Ballroom but he will not get games on that alone. Work rate is part of being a footballer and in this area he is no superior to Blitz

 

[Jon Douglas]

We often over look Brown. Now he had a good VFL season and was not the worst on GF day.

He is natural forward and when Vardy gets rested or plays ruck Brown should get a go in the forward line.

At least then come the end of the season and if he gets cut then had a few opportunities to prove his worth.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

We often over look Brown. Now he had a good VFL season and was not the worst on GF day.

He is natural forward and when Vardy gets rested or plays ruck Brown should get a go in the forward line.

At least then come the end of the season and if he gets cut then had a few opportunities to prove his worth.

I wouldn't write him off at that end, but there's clearly more obvious competition for spots in the forward line, with players who are Brown's age or younger. I say keep him in the backline, but give him some freaking chances. Of course he's an option to pinch hit up forward, if required, but we've got Vardy, Kersten, Walker, even Hamling to do that. If the situation presented itself, I'd even be tempted to stick Mackie in as a third forward, to allow Brown to continue to develop as a defender. Just throwing him back and forward on a whim, when he hasn't yet established himself, isn't doing anyone any favours.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Maybe he can play as a backman - but is more a forward IMO. So before they cut or trade him at least give go at where he is likely to perform best.

Might surprise a few. I mean Vardy and Hawkins as the KPF and Kersten and Brown each have a turn as the third tall forward. Kersten cannot play all senior games when he is yet to play one - and Walker is more KPF and will replace Vardy when rested.

 

[Bobby_]

Mitch Brown needs to add something to his game

much more contested footy is what he needs to try and gather. I don't think I've seen a lesser strong bodied player as what Mitch is and understandable with all the injuries he has had but he's still over 90kg's and stands a good 6ft'5 which has him looking down over opponents more often than not.

Not sure he will survive past draft week but if he does, really hope he spends all pre season doing nothing but weights which will give him great confidence and certainly help his game in standing strong in tackles etc.

 

[kicksome]

much more contested footy is what he needs to try and gather. I don't think I've seen a lesser strong bodied player as what Mitch is and understandable with all the injuries he has had but he's still over 90kg's and stands a good 6ft'5 which has him looking down over opponents more often than not.

Not sure he will survive past draft week but if he does, really hope he spends all pre season doing nothing but weights which will give him great confidence and certainly help his game in standing strong in tackles etc.

Someone posted height and weight stats of a few players, and it showed that walker and brown are like the same height and weight. I seriously cant get my head around that, walker looks massive compared to brown

 

[Partridge]

I know, his official profile says 92 kg's, that's not much for someone his height but you look at his chest and his arms and he's fairly undefined.
Would honestly have guessed his weight to be much closer to 85 because he still gets bundled away from the ball a little easily while Walker was competing with ruckman who are usually over 15 stone and he at least did an honorable job against them

Sorry, I must have missed something. When was Walker even honourable as a ruckman? The one obvious game in that role against West Coast last year he got annihilated in every respect. He hasn't come close to being honourable as a ruckman.

Back to their statistics, it's just a difference in body shape. Brown doesn't "look" as strong - and it's perception rules to most footy fans. Especially on BigFooty. I bet he's far stronger than he looks though.

 

[vinum coupe]

Walker just seems to have bigger legs, that's about it.

Browns shoulders have definitely spread this year. I'm actually not sure he needs anymore weight at all. Maybe a few % more muscle and then I reckon his body shape is spot on.

Then it's up to him to see if he is good enough. I honestly think he is.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Seriously this has to be Brown's year or he is finished at the club. No doubt about it.

I hope he makes it but he has to put his body on the line a bit more and show some real intent/aggression. Looks good when we are winning the VFL games but not so good when we were under the pump (from the few matches I saw).

Lovely kick, good mark but does not use his body well to hold position and when he ball hits the ground he seems a bit ordinary.

But would like to see him get a few senior games to give him a last chance.

 

[AM]

Not sure how the thread morphed into being about Mitch Brown. But following is Dale Amos’s take on Mitch’s year and prospects from our website:

Due to the form of our key position guys, he got starved of opportunities in the AFL. But he performed as well as any key defender in the VFL. He finished runner-up in our VFL best and fairest, and I thought he acquitted himself really well in the few AFL games that he did play. He played quite well down here at Simonds Stadium against St Kilda. He's certainly starting to develop an ability to play on much bigger opponents. He did quite a good job on some big forwards in the VFL. If he can get bigger and stronger and build up his confidence over the pre-season, he will get the chance to establish himself a bit more as a regular AFL player.

Thought the bit about him doing “...quite a good job on some forwards....” at VFL level was damning with faint praise.

My abridged view: Agree with the need for him to improve his physique. Then settle him as a forward where he’s best suited.

 

[SleazySimon]

Someone posted height and weight stats of a few players, and it showed that walker and brown are like the same height and weight. I seriously cant get my head around that, walker looks massive compared to brown

For some reason everyone things bigger means stronger. It doesn't.
There are 3 different types of bone structures (or body shape) and 2 types of muscle (mass and density).
Brown could put on 5 kilos and no one would notice because of his frame. He might look skinny but he's defiantly strong.

 

[manboob]

He might look skinny but he's defiantly strong.

Well why doesn't he show it in contests like Shane?!

 

[SleazySimon]

Well why doesn't he show it in contests like Shane?!

He just doesn't have as much confidence as we would like. Few people would understand how injuries can affect that.
We saw how Hawkins lacked confidence to back himself in a contest early in his career. And he turned it around. It's not too late for Mitch to do the same.
Mitch does have a private schoolboy look about him though which is what makes people think he's timid (which he isnt).

 

[sk8er_in_town]

bit stronger than Menzel as he has a similar frame to that of Hawkins, big chest and wide shoulders keeping defenders at bay when on the lead.

I didn't think he was that quick until I re-watched that video and the chase down tackle.

its amazing how quick forwards become when they can get a cheap goal.

 

[manboob]

He just doesn't have as much confidence as we would like. Few people would understand how injuries can affect that.
We saw how Hawkins lacked confidence to back himself in a contest early in his career. And he turned it around. It's not too late for Mitch to do the same.
Mitch does have a private schoolboy look about him though which is what makes people think he's timid (which he isnt).

Sorry I really have to disagree with the last point he is timid. Injuries or not.