Injury Smedts - shoulder reconstruction (Jan 2016)

[Partridge]

I'm sure on here In the vfl report it has been written that he is a step above vfl

There was one game last year - televised for a change - where he definitely looked above VFL level. He was promoted the following week.

To say that's he's either never shown anything at VFL level (or even AFL level) is ridiculous. But I've learned people find reasons to ignore evidence so it will continue.

 

[Partridge]

Of those,
Varcoe>Brown=Smedts>>Tenace/Spriggs
would be my descending order.
Varcoe has not subsequently failed, far from it. Played in 2 premierships, and a significant player for a team on the rise.
Smedts has more class and polish than Tenace, Spriggs ever had; early on, Spriggs showed some spunk, but after that first year, his kicking if anything deteriorated, and Tenace also severely failed in the delivery department.
Smedts needs to deliver this year, but again, his chances are now significantly compromised. I would guess he will not play another senior game for us now, which disappoints me a lot. Unless his contract is beyond 2016.

It is. It's a 2 year deal. So the knives will be sharpened for all of this year in preparation.

I'd pretty much agree with your ranking too.

 

[Lana]

I think Smedts does have talent and certainly some good attributes that should have otherwise seen him become a good player by now. He seems to have poor concentration which means he does silly things in games which result in turnovers or free kicks. I think when he's given the opputunity at AFL level he tries to do to much rather than play his role he's been assigned.

I really hope he can work on those things and become a good player playging half forward/wing but time will tell he'd be more of a bonus as so many have gone past him.

There is no doubt extra pressure on him having been a first round draft pick, a pick we received as compo for Ablett and a player we were linked to pre draft but didn't take Isaac Smith has gone on to be a star. I'll admit the mind does wonder to what if when I see smith playing. I was really hoping we'd take him and his just the type of player we need and the Smedts has not been.

Have said it other years but he'd do well to find a mentor that has done it tough that he can learn from maybe Menzel or even Menegola to help him appreciate what he's got.

There was one game last year - televised for a change - where he definitely looked above VFL level. He was promoted the following week.

To say that's he's either never shown anything at VFL level (or even AFL level) is ridiculous. But I've learned people find reasons to ignore evidence so it will continue.

He was great that game, his work rate was so much better then anyone else on the ground it looked like every one else was on quicksand. He definitely runs like an AFL player now. On his disposals, I believe if he got more continuity at AFL level he'd adjust to the level, it doesn't bad at VFL level like Blease's disposal was. His main problem isn't concentration or attitude or effort, it is he just keeps getting injured, this is the third season in a row he's had a significant long term injury. It's ridiculous to say he hasn't done it touch given his injury history.

 

[Partridge]

He was great that game, his work rate was so much better then anyone else on the ground it looked like every one else was on quicksand. He definitely runs like an AFL player now. On his disposals, I believe if he got more continuity at AFL level he'd adjust to the level, it doesn't bad at VFL level like Blease's disposal was. His main problem isn't concentration or attitude or effort, it is he just keeps getting injured, this is the third season in a row he's had a significant long term injury. It's ridiculous to say he hasn't done it touch given his injury history.

Yeah, I'd be more than happy to call him out if he was taking on too many tacklers, or trying to do too much, but really I have hardly seen that from him (if at all) for at least the last two seasons. Unfortunately it's coincided with two serious injuries. The one saving grace of injuring his shoulder in early January at least, is that he may not miss too much footy before Round 1.

It would be interesting to hear if he trained on Monday and how much he did.

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

He was great that game, his work rate was so much better then anyone else on the ground it looked like every one else was on quicksand. He definitely runs like an AFL player now. On his disposals, I believe if he got more continuity at AFL level he'd adjust to the level, it doesn't bad at VFL level like Blease's disposal was. His main problem isn't concentration or attitude or effort, it is he just keeps getting injured, this is the third season in a row he's had a significant long term injury. It's ridiculous to say he hasn't done it touch given his injury history.

I agree it's injuries that have harmed his career to date and i do like him a and hope he makes it but I do think he suffers from concentration lapses in games.
In the VFL games I watched last year he was clearly better than the other players on the field even playing out of position. I think the coaches have played him in defense to get him to try and work on those things. I watched a couple of games over the summer that he played in at AFL level. And the concentration drop lead to suspensions, giving away free kicks or just letting his man get the ball or into an attacking position. With his age and development he can't continue to do those things no matter where he plays.

He should still have plenty of time this season to show he can get there hopefully Lang can push into the midfield and Smedts could find a spot forward.