Thompson backs Burns trade
6:08:56 PM Tue 5 November, 2002
Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=66364
Geelong coach Mark Thompson believes that Ronnie Burns’ move to Adelaide will be a win/win for both clubs, as it will provide greater opportunities for several youngsters on the Cats’ list to play up forward.
Thompson said there was no backlash after Geelong traded Burns – unlike Melbourne’s trading of Shane Woewodin and Essendon’s off-loading of Blake Caracella, Justin Blumfield and Chris Heffernan – while he said that none of the Cats highly-rated youngsters were up for trade.
“Ronnie wanted to go to another club and I think he’ll play good footy with Adelaide...and it will be a good opportunity for us to use (Gary) Ablett and (Paul) Chapman up forward more often,” Thompson said.
“Not a lot has been said about us trading Burns…I think people realise youth is important to us.”
“We’ve worked hard to get good young players…and they’re developing nicely and we’re training them up…but none of them wanted to leave Geelong and they were all keen to stay at the club.”
Thompson said he hoped the expectations for the likes of Ablett, James Bartel and James Kelly would be realistic, as they were still youngsters with long-term futures.
“They all had pretty good first-up seasons, but we don’t want their goals to be too high, as they still have so much to learn and they have to become fitter and stronger. But they certainly showed encouraging signs,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he expected three players – Josh Hunt, Peter Street and Will Slade – to be ones to watch out for next season, while he said the return of David Spriggs would be an enormous boost for the club after his season lay off with a knee injury.
And he also backed former Melbourne forward/defender Brent Grgic, who played just five games with the Cats in his first season at the club.
“He’s doing very well…he’s already started his own training and looking for a strong year…he knows it’s a pretty big year for him,” Thompson said of Grgic.
Meanwhile, Thompson said the Cats were likely to sound out several Geelong Falcons’ players in the National draft and rookie draft in December.
“We’ll certainly look at a few of their players…they’ve got a rich history of producing players and up to eight guys could be drafted from the club this year,” Thompson said.
6:08:56 PM Tue 5 November, 2002
Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=66364
Geelong coach Mark Thompson believes that Ronnie Burns’ move to Adelaide will be a win/win for both clubs, as it will provide greater opportunities for several youngsters on the Cats’ list to play up forward.
Thompson said there was no backlash after Geelong traded Burns – unlike Melbourne’s trading of Shane Woewodin and Essendon’s off-loading of Blake Caracella, Justin Blumfield and Chris Heffernan – while he said that none of the Cats highly-rated youngsters were up for trade.
“Ronnie wanted to go to another club and I think he’ll play good footy with Adelaide...and it will be a good opportunity for us to use (Gary) Ablett and (Paul) Chapman up forward more often,” Thompson said.
“Not a lot has been said about us trading Burns…I think people realise youth is important to us.”
“We’ve worked hard to get good young players…and they’re developing nicely and we’re training them up…but none of them wanted to leave Geelong and they were all keen to stay at the club.”
Thompson said he hoped the expectations for the likes of Ablett, James Bartel and James Kelly would be realistic, as they were still youngsters with long-term futures.
“They all had pretty good first-up seasons, but we don’t want their goals to be too high, as they still have so much to learn and they have to become fitter and stronger. But they certainly showed encouraging signs,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he expected three players – Josh Hunt, Peter Street and Will Slade – to be ones to watch out for next season, while he said the return of David Spriggs would be an enormous boost for the club after his season lay off with a knee injury.
And he also backed former Melbourne forward/defender Brent Grgic, who played just five games with the Cats in his first season at the club.
“He’s doing very well…he’s already started his own training and looking for a strong year…he knows it’s a pretty big year for him,” Thompson said of Grgic.
Meanwhile, Thompson said the Cats were likely to sound out several Geelong Falcons’ players in the National draft and rookie draft in December.
“We’ll certainly look at a few of their players…they’ve got a rich history of producing players and up to eight guys could be drafted from the club this year,” Thompson said.
