Review Snakes and Ladders

[Dustin Credible]

At the start of the season we all knew it was a development year. We had players on our list who won’t be here come years end and some players who we had high hopes for going forward.

So the question is this, who over the last 11 rounds, has gone up in your estimation and who has gone down. I’ve ignored this years recruits. For ease I’ve put them into 4 categories (which should be self explanatory): Untouchable, Required player, Undecided and Delist.

Some may be contentious but I guess thats the idea.

Ladders:

Jack Reiwoldt: I tipped him to have a breakout year this season but he has gone way beyond my expectations. Preseason: Required Now: Untouchable

Chris Newman: I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t a big fan and felt he was a required player because there wasn’t really anyone else in that age group at the club who was servicable. How wrong I was. Preseason: Required Now: Untouchable

Dan Connors: Whilst he’s not played due to a club suspension, he has shown enough to be considered a required player. Looking forward to his return to the senior side. Preseason: Undecided Now: Required

Kelvin Moore: For me the most impressive of our 3 KPD so far. Yes he plays third tall, but IMO neither McGuane or Thursfield could play it as well as him. Preseason: Undecided Now: Required

Angus Graham: Our ruck stocks are weak, but he has come in and started to show something. This has meant the trading for a ruck, is much less of a priority. Preseason: Undecided Now: Required

Jake King: Whilst he has been our whipping boy, he has started to string together some OK games. If he continues to improve and maintains it we may have to eat our words. Preseason: Delist Now: Undecided

Matt White: I appreciate that this won’t be to everyones taste. He has occasionally done some good things (his goal against Hawthorn, his delivery to Reiwoldt in the goalsquare against Essendon), just not done it often enough, yet. Preseason: Delist Now: Undecided

Snakes:

Post: High hopes he could be the answer at CHB (a position I feel we’re really lacking in), looks confused and lost when playing in the first team. Though he has had a good game as a forward for coburg recently, not sure quite what to make of him. Preseason: Required Now: Undecided

Nahas: I don’t doubt his commitment but his physical limitations and lack of pure polish to compensate for these has seen him fall. Could be a depth player but not in our best 22 going forward. Preseason: Required Now: Undecided

Rance: I’m not keen to write off a Top 20 draft pick tall, who’s in his third season, which is all thats’ keeping him from the delist category. Is he a defender? a forward? Answers on a postcard. Preseason: Required Now: Undecided

Hislop: A poor poormans’ Daniel Jackson. Preseason: Undecided Now: Delist

Thomson: Slow, thought he might make it as an extractor but doesn’t get enough of it or use it well enough when he does get it. Unless there is a rapid change in form in the second half of the season his AFL career is done. Can’t see any club wanting to trade or pick him up in the PSD.Preseason: Undecided Now: Delist

 

[73tiger]

what would you do with benny, dc?

 

[Dustin Credible]

Benny Cousins?

Cousins: I'd do exactly what Dimma has said he'd do. Sit down after round 22 and talk about it. If Cousins thinks he has another year in him and Dimma feels he has something to offer, then new contract it is.

If either side isn't sure then it's goodbye and all the best.

 

[coke_zero]

Dont worry about Post he will get better. He should be one of richmonds main prioritys to fix out. We did something right with Connors next should be Post.

 

[SteveoTheTiger]

I have just gone through the whole list. Ive skipped first year players and players yet to debut in the seniors (and Browne).

Andrew Collins: Seems to be coming along ok, adds depth.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Daniel Connors: Great start to the season and hopefully has had an attitude adjustment.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Required (if he plays like he was earlier in the year)

Trent Cotchin: Having a good solid year so far.
Preseason: Untouchable. Now: Untouchable

Ben Cousins: A poor preseason has naturally been followed by a poor start to the season but he seems to be finding some form now. Worth keeping next year if he wants to go around again.
Preseason: Required. Now: Undecided but probably keep

Brett Deledio: Total gun, another B&F and probably his most deserved one yet.
Preseason: Untouchable. Now: If we got rid of him the new punt road oval buildings would be torn down by crazed fans.

Shane Edwards: Hit a good patch of form early but looks to have dropped of a bit again.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Required but needs to keep up the good form.

Nathan Foley: Slow start to the year, but i think its more good management than any major injuries. Get him fit for next year, but at the same time give him some games.
Preseason: Untouchable. Now: Untouchable

Angus Graham: Strange year to say the least. Went from a required player, to a delist, to undecided, to required again all in the space of 3 months.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Tom Hislop: Adds toughness but nothing else. Was worth a shot with a late draft pick, but didnt work out.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Delist

Daniel Jackson: Having a great year IMO, i know a lot wont agree with me but i think he has just about made it to an untouchable player.
Preseason: Required. Now: Untouchable

Jake King: Big heart, not enough talent.
Preseason: Delist. Now: Delist

Luke McGuane: Another whipping boy, but i think he does a great job. His disposal is sometimes questionable but at the end of the day he is a defender, his job is to not let his man kick goals.. how many bags have been kicked on him?
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Required

Jordan McMahon: Nothing to say really. I just hope someone out there is willing to give us a draft pick for him.
Preseason: Delist. Now: Delist

Kelvin Moore: Also having a great year all things considered.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Required

Mitch Morton: The biggest dissapointment this year IMO
Preseason: Required. Now: Still required at this point.

Robin Nahas: Not having the greatest year but has hit some form at times.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Chris Newman: Having his best season yet and is finally starting to look like an AFL captain.
Preseason: Required. Now: Untouchable

Graham Polak: Sorry but i dont really rate the bloke. Maybe a depth defender but thats it, doesnt cut it in the forward line at all.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Delist

Dean Polo: Probably worth keeping for depth, but i think we will delist him to make room for more kids.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Undecided, leaing towards delisting

Jayden Post: Our future CHB IMO, give him some time.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Alex Rance: Another bloke that needs to be given some time. He cant mark, but the rest of his game is excellent for his age. I would probably stick him on the wing.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Jack Riewoldt: Wow this kid is finally turning it on. Its almost like he was getting bored so he has decided to entertain himself by flogging anyone that plays on him.
Preseason: Required. Now: Untouchable

Richard Tambling: I really dont know about this guy. He can be a good solid player, but his form is so all over the shop its hard to decide what to do with him.
Preseason: Required. Now: Undecided/Trade bait??

Adam Thomson: Stupid trade, but i forget the exact details of the trade.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Delist

Will Thursfield: This guy hasnt impressed me like Moore and McGuane have this year. My feeling is that out of those 3, it will be Thursty who doesnt cut it, most likely replaced by Gourdis.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Undecided

Shane Tuck: Having yet another great year and i would not hesitate to give him a new contract.
Preseason: Required. Now: Required

Tyrone Vickery: I know everyone is whinging about Vickery at the moment but give the kid a chance FFS. If we let this kid go he will come back to bight us like nobody else has.
Preseason: Untouchable. Now: Untouchable

Matt White: IMO this is the only guy left on our list that really is playing for a new contract. He has been playing well lately and is the type of player that the coaching staff have come out and said we are looking for which is good news for him. Of course they could have said that because they know we are going to need to replace him too.
Preseason: Undecided. Now: Undecided (playing for a contract).

 

[santa claws]

hmm i would not include 2nd yr players and with talls 3rd yr. they are kids and very much development players and as such should be exempt.the only time i would include them is if they are terribly deficient in basic skill sets or smarts.

so players who are exempt are
astbury, browne, dea, griffiths, grimes, post rance, vickery,nason taylor, webberley.rookies westhoff, orielly, hicks, contin. add in the untouchables who imo are foley, martin, cotchin, riewoldt, and deledio.

it leaves 26 players to rate .

they are collins, connors, cousins, edwards, farmer, graham, hislop, jackson, king, mcguane, mcmahon, moore, morton, nahas, newman, polo, simmonds, tambling, thomson, thursfield, tuck, white, and rookies roberts polak gilligan and gourdis who i believe we have to make a decision on.
there are many very ordinary footballers among that lot only seven of whom i think required at least in the short term a few undecided and the rest delist or trade.

 

[Tigerland]

We should be aggressive and try and get some of GC picks. I'd look at trading a few of Morton, Tambling, Polo, Nahas and McGuanne.
Only if we got some value should we offload them.

Don't think we will get anything for Thompson, Hislop, Polak.

I don't rate Edwards or White.

Farmer has show enough to perservere with. Post is still young and KP take time - madness to get rid of him.

 

[TheProwler]

Ladders: EASY, I tipped him pre season to have a breakout year and if he struggles to get a kick for the second half then he still wins, JACK

Snakes: (1) Tough call but atm it would have to be BLING. Needs a big second half to show he has the skills to play Hardwicks game. Anyone can rack up some easy stats that Spud had him doing last year. It perhaps clouded my opinion of him a smidge??

Snakes: (2) Opportunistic forward with the unknown ability, MORTON. Gee this kid has the skill and ability but seems to lack the smarts or is it that he just has a really selfish streak to him?

 

[Dustin Credible]

Jack Riewoldt: Wow this kid is finally turning it on. Its almost like he was getting bored so he has decided to entertain himself by flogging anyone that plays on him.
Preseason: Required. Now: Untouchable

Love this quote.

I wouldn't have either Foley or Jackson as untouchables, but both are very much required players. I guess for me, the difference is; for a required player if a trade offer came in, I'd consider it, I wouldn't for an untouchable.

Don't get me wrong with Post I'm not saying we should delist him. It's just he seems to have gone backwards and I'm no longer sure as to what position he should be playing.

 

[Dustin Credible]

they are collins, connors, cousins, edwards, farmer, graham, hislop, jackson, king, mcguane, mcmahon, moore, morton, nahas, newman, polo, simmonds, tambling, thomson, thursfield, tuck, white, and rookies roberts polak gilligan and gourdis who i believe we have to make a decision on.
there are many very ordinary footballers among that lot only seven of whom i think required at least in the short term a few undecided and the rest delist or trade.

which seven?