The Future

[Asty]

A bit premature maybe but I was just looking at the squad and I think we have a strong core of youngsters coming through (potentially anyway) that we wont have to bounce off the bottom to be challenging for a flag in 5-7 years (of course we should also be challenging now. but in 5-7 our core players are going to be pretty strong and around the 60-100 games again (if all goes well)

B: xxxx, Egan, Callan
HB: xxxx,Grima/Lonergan(??),xxxx (might need to pick up a CHB in a few years)
C: Varcoe, Selwood, Djerrkura
HF: Gamble, N.Ablett, Mackie
FF: Chapman/Bartel, Hawkins, Stokes

F: Blake, G.Ablett, B.Prismall

Others: owen, west, s.hunt,

Others may still be around but still if we can develop a backline mainly a CHB we will be a force for a while.

 

[Metallica_Man]

Yeah we really need to start looking at our backline for the future now that everywhere else seems good, another good ruckman too

 

[Stoney]

lol i couldnt help but notice that Mark Blake is listed as our dominant big man for the future ... we wont go far with him as our leading ruck option - he can cut it at VFL level on rare occasions!

Owen, West and Sam Hunt are all outsiders to be retained unless they play more than 5 senior games each in 2007, not really considered to be vital to our future.

And why isnt Kelly or Tenace who are two first round draft picks not even listed ... im pretty sure Kelly is better than the overrated Prismall and Ryan Gamble who has played 1 game ...

 

[Reg Hickey]

A couple of points for Stoney:

1. Blake has shown all the signs of being a very good ruckman. He may not be Dean Cox, but he's certainly good enough to cut it at AFL level in a couple of years.

2. Way off the mark with West. He was taken as a raw kid in the 2005 draft. He might not play any senior games in 2007, but that won't worry the club.

 

[WE Are Geelong]

I think Geelong's list is certainly competitive moving forward. We are a bit late in starting but we are trying to arrest issues of speed and endurance whilst still trying to recruit guys who have that necessary toughness at the elite level.

In the near future agreed the backline will be an issue and we will be looking for a class young ruck option in that not too distant future also.

The forward line and midfield are back on track after this draft.

 

[Stoney]

A couple of points for Stoney:

1. Blake has shown all the signs of being a very good ruckman. He may not be Dean Cox, but he's certainly good enough to cut it at AFL level in a couple of years.

2. Way off the mark with West. He was taken as a raw kid in the 2005 draft. He might not play any senior games in 2007, but that won't worry the club.

Disagree ... Mark Blake may have improved at VFL level, but like so many ruckman before him (Chambers, Street, Paul Lindsay, Brockman) he cannot cut it at AFL level.

Sure Street is now playing regular games due to injuries at his club, but he had due time on our list and couldnt do anything, and Blake is heading down the same path.

West is a raw kid and appears to be another who seems to lack the qualities that King and Ottens have in being able to enforce himself.

Our young ruck stocks are not far from abysmal, lets hope King and Otto can play 4 quarters between them each week otherwise we're looking in bad shape.

 

[mckinale]

lol
ottens and king never enforce themselves
thats part of our problem

 

[Conan Troutman]

Disagree ... Mark Blake may have improved at VFL level, but like so many ruckman before him (Chambers, Street, Paul Lindsay, Brockman) he cannot cut it at AFL level.

He's still very young though and I believe, in his AFL games, averaged the same number of hitouts as Josh Fraser this year, which was not a bad effort. As unco as he looks (like many young ruckmen), I reckon he's got a lot of potential.

 

[RememberMe]

He's still very young though and I believe, in his AFL games, averaged the same number of hitouts as Josh Fraser this year, which was not a bad effort. As unco as he looks (like many young ruckmen), I reckon he's got a lot of potential.

He does his job - tries his hardest. His fitness is pretty good also. I've seen him play a few times, and if you watch what he does, he actually does all that is asked of him. He runs to all the contests, wins a fair share, and does a fair bit round the ground.

Often when he gets the ball, he is too keen to give it up, and looks awkward. This is one of the main reasons young ruckman look so uncoordinated. With more game time, he will get more football smarts. By looking to give it off first thing, however, he is doing exactly what any coach would ask of a ruckman. Give him time and he will develop.

He may not be the next D.Cox or J.White (in years gone by), but at his height, if he fills out a bit, he will be quite handy at Geelong for years to come.