The kids

[pauld]

I hope that the young brigade get a lot of game time this upcoming season.
As we are still the youngest side in the comp (I think we still are) we can use that in terms of having greater endurance and energy than the "older" sides.
I look at teams like Essendon and they seem to have a few old players who are very important to their structure, but they lack endurance, last qtr fade outs last season an example of this.
If we can throw in players like Murphy, Bentick, Simpson, Betts, Walker, Edwards, Raso, Davies, etc etc then why not ?
I personally do not see much point of putting players in the Bullants side, what do they learn there ?
Coming from a high standard of junior footy the kids really do not need to go and play in the seconds. If they are good enough, put them in the seniors.
There is a history of young kids stepping straight in and doing very well (Whitnall/Silvagni), why waste their time and expose them to injury in the seconds ?
That mistake was made last season when we played the Johnsons, Morrells, etc instead of the kids we could have.
Bite the bullet and baptise the kids straight away, it can only be good for them.

 

[Blue70]

I hope that the young brigade get a lot of game time this upcoming season.
As we are still the youngest side in the comp (I think we still are) we can use that in terms of having greater endurance and energy than the "older" sides.
I look at teams like Essendon and they seem to have a few old players who are very important to their structure, but they lack endurance, last qtr fade outs last season an example of this.
If we can throw in players like Murphy, Bentick, Simpson, Betts, Walker, Edwards, Raso, Davies, etc etc then why not ?
I personally do not see much point of putting players in the Bullants side, what do they learn there ?
Coming from a high standard of junior footy the kids really do not need to go and play in the seconds. If they are good enough, put them in the seniors.
There is a history of young kids stepping straight in and doing very well (Whitnall/Silvagni), why waste their time and expose them to injury in the seconds ?
That mistake was made last season when we played the Johnsons, Morrells, etc instead of the kids we could have.
Bite the bullet and baptise the kids straight away, it can only be good for them.

I think there is some validity to what you are saying however the primary focus is to win games of football - as a result there will always be a mix of veterans and young kids.

I know there has been alot of comments over the past couple of years about Pagan not playing the young kids but you have to understand his reasons. We have struggled to be competitive at the best of times with experienced players in the team, if we played all the young kids at the same time the losses would have been greater, potentially causing more damage to the development of the younger players.

In saying this though I think we are now in a position we we will field a much younger and different team in 06 due to the development of our list and the younger players we have drafted. Next year I can see the following being regular's in the seniors:

Walker - Already a regular but will have more impact
Russell - Looks like he could be a bonus this year
Murphy - Will be a certainty
Livingston - still only 23 and has had 4 years behind him
Simpson - Blossomed in the second half of 05
McLaren - Still only 23 and will be a handy back-up to Barnaby
Fisher - Quality & proven player
Betts - Excitement machine
Hartlett - 05 ruined by injury but all reports point to him making an impact
Waite - Still only 23 and ready to be a star
Thornton - Only 22 and our best key defender
Houlihan - Make or break year, will be given the opportunity early to prove himself as a midfielder. Is only 23 and could be part of the midfield.
Wiggins - Not the most polished but no one gives more and he has heaps of courage and toughness.
Sporn - A steady player but will need to go to the next level this year or will be gone.
Edwards - Sounds as though he could play some senior footy at some point in 06
Bentick - showed some good form in 05 but will need to go to the next level to retain his place on the list. Will be given every opportunity.
Carrazzo - Has really impressed me in 05 and I think could step into the midfield.

Thats 17 players I have listed above without mentioning O'Hailpin. I have also left out Davies as I think he needs to prove himself although he definately has the talent. I have also left out Blackwell as I think he needs another year to develop.

Our team will be alot more competitive next year.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I think there is some validity to what you are saying however the primary focus is to win games of football - as a result there will always be a mix of veterans and young kids.

I know there has been alot of comments over the past couple of years about Pagan not playing the young kids but you have to understand his reasons. We have struggled to be competitive at the best of times with experienced players in the team, if we played all the young kids at the same time the losses would have been greater, potentially causing more damage to the development of the younger players.

In saying this though I think we are now in a position we we will field a much younger and different team in 06 due to the development of our list and the younger players we have drafted. Next year I can see the following being regular's in the seniors:

Walker - Already a regular but will have more impact
Russell - Looks like he could be a bonus this year
Murphy - Will be a certainty
Livingston - still only 23 and has had 4 years behind him
Simpson - Blossomed in the second half of 05
McLaren - Still only 23 and will be a handy back-up to Barnaby
Fisher - Quality & proven player
Betts - Excitement machine
Hartlett - 05 ruined by injury but all reports point to him making an impact
Waite - Still only 23 and ready to be a star
Thornton - Only 22 and our best key defender
Houlihan - Make or break year, will be given the opportunity early to prove himself as a midfielder. Is only 23 and could be part of the midfield.
Wiggins - Not the most polished but no one gives more and he has heaps of courage and toughness.
Sporn - A steady player but will need to go to the next level this year or will be gone.
Edwards - Sounds as though he could play some senior footy at some point in 06
Bentick - showed some good form in 05 but will need to go to the next level to retain his place on the list. Will be given every opportunity.
Carrazzo - Has really impressed me in 05 and I think could step into the midfield.

Thats 17 players I have listed above without mentioning O'Hailpin. I have also left out Davies as I think he needs to prove himself although he definately has the talent. I have also left out Blackwell as I think he needs another year to develop.

Our team will be alot more competitive next year.

u also forgot about Kennedy .. our future CHF

 

[Blue70]

u also forgot about Kennedy .. our future CHF

Yeah I left him out C4 as I dont think he will have much of an impact this year due to him missing most of the preseason with the shoulder injury. Hope I am wrong though as he will be a good player in the future.

I also left Bower out as I think he will need a year to develop.

 

[Silvagnis]

Kennedy's shoulders and legs are already as big as Waite's except Jarred's upper body and chest show the benefits of four seasons of AFL football.

At training today Josh was nearly tripped by Jarred running on to have a shot at goal whilst they were jogging laps.Kennedy didn't like it and didn't even hesitate to give a senior player shove to get him out of the way.

I don't want to put the cart before the horse but god helps anyone that gets in his way when he reaches J.Brown's weight.

 

[audas]

saddington ? Bryan ?

 

[Silvagnis]

Saddington pulled out halfway to join the recovery group and given the height of the playing list, it was actually pretty hard to tell Bryan apart from the rest of the players.

 

[Pivot]

The kids we have I rate highly not just becuase of their obvious talent but rather their attitude.

Walker, Russell, Blackwell, Hartlett, Simpson, Fisher, Waite, Thornton, Bentick, Carrazzo, Wiggins, Sporn, Livingston, etc have been through a tough period. We aren't out of it yet but with young fella's that have great attitudes like the ones mentioned then we will at least be competitive and tough.

The players we recruited recently in Murphy, Kennedy, Bower, Edwards, Jackson and Flint all have excellent attitudes amd are tough campaigners. We need these types!

McLaren and Saddington also have very good attitudes and work ethics. They have the added bonus of experience and seasoned bodies to add to our senior team.

Next year I think we may take kids who are pure class. The recent bunch are definitely talented no doubts at all but their attitude stands out and is super impressive IMO. Leaders are what we've recruited and Pagan and co. should be given credit for their decisions in the National, Rookie and Pre-season Drafts.