Player Watch SSP (2025) - Josh Lai

[The Hobo]

I disagree completely.

I look at guys like Starcevich and Lester at Brisbane and they're streets ahead of Jones and Sinn for dependability.

There's a reason only West Coast, North and Richmond conceded more than us this year and it's not because all of our defenders are amazing. We have to lift our standards across the board and look for players who are going to be able to win premierships not just be not totally terrible.

Starcevich is 26 and 128 games, Lester is 32 with 229 games. In comparison, Jones is 23 with 74 games of experience, and Sinn is 22 with 30 games of experience.

It's not really a fair comparison to expect the same level of consistency/dependability. Particularly as both Jones and Sinn have had their fair share of injury issues and have struggled to string games together.

 

[TeeKray]

Starcevich is 26 and 128 games, Lester is 32 with 229 games. In comparison, Jones is 23 with 74 games of experience, and Sinn is 22 with 30 games of experience.

It's not really a fair comparison to expect the same level of consistency/dependability. Particularly as both Jones and Sinn have had their fair share of injury issues and have struggled to string games together.

Maybe they will improve with experience, maybe they won't. At some point you have to make the call on whether you're better off giving opportunities to others.

I know the club are still red hot on Sinn. I don't see it and never have. And Jones' ball handling skills are unlikely to improve with experience. I'd look at giving others a go but that's just my opinion.

 

[ahneadearut]

Jones would be a gun if he was allowed to wear sticky gloves

 

[The Hobo]

Starcevich is 26 and 128 games, Lester is 32 with 229 games. In comparison, Jones is 23 with 74 games of experience, and Sinn is 22 with 30 games of experience.

It's not really a fair comparison to expect the same level of consistency/dependability. Particularly as both Jones and Sinn have had their fair share of injury issues and have struggled to string games together.

Just to add to this - Lachie Jones name thrown in here a few times just shows how good a season he's had.

Best Lockdown Small Defender in 2025 Season?

I have been constructing my AA team for 2025 and I want to have a position to reward the best lockdown small in the competition, I am less concerned with their offensive output. This is to reflect what a real AFL team looks like and not the AFL's version of 5 half backs and 12 inside...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[The Hobo]

Maybe they will improve with experience, maybe they won't. At some point you have to make the call on whether you're better off giving opportunities to others.

I know the club are still red hot on Sinn. I don't see it and never have. And Jones' ball handling skills are unlikely to improve with experience. I'd look at giving others a go but that's just my opinion.

Shouldn't judge players until they've played ~70 odd games (assuming of course they've shown enough to play that many games). We're only getting to that stage with Jones, and Sinn is miles off it.

Sinn has really impressed me this season as a shutdown defender, and we know he has an attacking edge that we're yet to see much of at AFL level.

Neither are at the stage of making that call.

 

[#Port Patriot#]

Maybe they will improve with experience, maybe they won't. At some point you have to make the call on whether you're better off giving opportunities to others.

I know the club are still red hot on Sinn. I don't see it and never have. And Jones' ball handling skills are unlikely to improve with experience. I'd look at giving others a go but that's just my opinion.

Maybe Sinn just has to play on ball to get the best out of him and he isn't the defender they are trying to achieve. Bergs took the defensive side good and now is moving into the guts moving forward. Heck, I'd probably throw Jones on ball to see if it gets his skills up. Probably would do good on ball to be honest with his brute force and maybe, just maybe, might make his skills go up a notch with footy smarts and actually holding the ball. who knows

 

[PJ Power]

Maybe they will improve with experience, maybe they won't. At some point you have to make the call on whether you're better off giving opportunities to others.

I know the club are still red hot on Sinn. I don't see it and never have. And Jones' ball handling skills are unlikely to improve with experience. I'd look at giving others a go but that's just my opinion.

I wonder what they envisage Sinn can become.

In 2025, he just got his body to hold up for nearly a full minor round season. Even then he copped short injuries preventing him playing all games. His form was solid but nowhere near exceptional. His best performances were shutdown games on the likes of Rachelle but there were other opponents he couldn't keep up with. We saw no flare, and very few memorable plays to showcase x-factor or brilliance.

Is he going to be any more than serviceable?
Is he at best going to be a lockdown small defender? I'd accept that at the moment, but it is disappointing compared to what we thought we had when he was drafted.

 

[RangaInTeal]

As soon as Bergman got moved into the midfield, and then Rozee got moved out the backline as well, he should have had 4-5 games under his belt this season.

Add it to the list, Lorenz, Jackson, etc. …

 

[RossFC]

 

[Scodges]

View attachment 2525361

CB could pass for Freddy Krueger

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

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Lai has a decent size on him

 

[StueyDaDew]

Hoping to see he gets some AFL time this season.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Braddles, wow! Good to see him back at the club.

Flex Bradley

 

[RossFC]

Was a nice surprise to see Bradley here considering I was actually down at Pooraka for a function the other day and saw his picture on the wall.

 

[Troncs10]

Anyone know what the knock is with Lai? He Should have played at the back end of last year. He hasn’t really been pumped up by any of the coaches throughout the pre season, and was also playing up forward in the last quarter against Sturt. I think he’s got some AFL traits but am I missing something?

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Anyone know what the knock is with Lai? He Should have played at the back end of last year. He hasn’t really been pumped up by any of the coaches throughout the pre season, and was also playing up forward in the last quarter against Sturt. I think he’s got some AFL traits but am I missing something?

Big fan.

Would've played AFL last year if he hadn't broken his hand.

I watched a fair bit of the preseason match sims and he is quality and most definitely has AFL traits. Hopefully he can put a dominant month together at SANFL level and get a look in.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

Anyone know what the knock is with Lai? He Should have played at the back end of last year. He hasn’t really been pumped up by any of the coaches throughout the pre season, and was also playing up forward in the last quarter against Sturt. I think he’s got some AFL traits but am I missing something?

His name got mentioned by Carr when he was with Garry and Tim on SEN earlier this year.

 

[Lefti93]

They moved him forward during the 4th quarter in the trial against Sturt on the weekend, I think as we were running out of gas and foot soldiers with cramp. He did some nice and composed things with the ball.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Has been named in Port's extended squad and with Lachie Jones out injured he could really debut!

Port have him listed as a Milestone - Debut.

Exciting times!

 

[Skindy]

Has been named in Port's extended squad and with Lachie Jones out injured he could really debut!

Port have him listed as a Milestone - Debut.

Exciting times!

Is exciting however I have noted in previous years that they do this every time a player who hasn't debuted is named in an extended squad.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Is exciting however I have noted in previous years that they do this every time a player who hasn't debuted is named in an extended squad.

Straight swap for Lachie makes sense.

Hope Josh gets his chance, he's been impressive in sanfl trials.

 

[Portmagpies36]

Straight swap for Lachie makes sense.

Hope Josh gets his chance, he's been impressive in sanfl trials.

I am going to be pissed if they don’t play him especially with our lack of run out of the backline.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

Josh Lai potentially debuting? This is surely a lie?

 

[Rash]

Yes it’s go time

 

[Duck Farmer]

Josh Lai potentially debuting? This is surely a lie?

Nah, they're just joshing.