Toast Trent West

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Surprised this hasn't been started already, but deserves its own thread.

West has looked very solid over the last month and is actually adding a dimension to our structure and gameplan. Was very good against NicNat yesterday and i think it has got lost on a few people that he actually effected 19 hit outs himself and created some good opportunities with his taps.

His aggression is really making opposition defenses cautious on the long kick in (which we are doing a hell of a lot over the last two games), as they know he will drop in and fly for a mark - hence they have to cover all of Pods, Hawk and West - allowing more space in the forward line.

Am just loving his work so far and think he will get better next week. His ruck work is actually very good and he has a great leap tapping to the right areas. Imagine if we had given him a run at it last year instead of Hawkins!

 

[-Junior-]

West is the one who has single handidly ensured Mooney has played his last game barring injury. He has been terrific of late and im thrilled to see his hard work starting to pay off after years of being buried behind that spud Blake.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

If you hop on over to my toast thread he's getting some praise there

But yeah Westy's really good, he was very competitive in the ruck yesterday and his tapouts were quite good. Does a lot of blocking and 1 % ers and really covers the ground as evidence by that run forward that he got a goal from. And we know he can mark them too which will be critical, along with Otto and Pods and Hawk all really being able to clunk them, given that GF's are such contested games.

All the best to Trent, hopefully he can handle the nerves and handle the week mentally to be able to give his best, because he's definitely a capable player so long as he doesn't get daunted by the occasion. What he and Otto do could go a long way to us winning this.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Has gotten better with every single game.....his confidence is reaching a peak, I think he is capable of providing something special GF day.

 

[Big Fozza]

So glad he's getting a chance. Our ruck stocks post ottens are looking quite good at the moment.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

West, Vardy and Simpson between them look like they are going to form a pretty dynamic partnership over the next 5 years. With Vardy we are more than likely to be looking at a key forward as well. Exciting times.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Incredibly impressed with him this year. Pretty solid, knows how to take a big mark and kick goals.

 

[GoCattas]

Probably our most sound Ruck duo going into Finals since our run started in 07!

 

[Turbocat]

Am just loving his work so far and think he will get better next week. His ruck work is actually very good and he has a great leap tapping to the right areas. Imagine if we had given him a run at it last year instead of Hawkins!

There were some of us that wanted him in the side but its very difficult to argue with a winning structure.

I still believe the guy needed regular games. Some can come straight in and bang do their stuff. West is more someone that needs to feel they belong , that not every mistake will see them kicking dew off again. What he has added to our group is multi faceted.

He has given us is the ability to kick goals from both ruckmen ( as we had with Hawkins ). He also gives us a better #2 ruckman. He allows Ottens longer rests so he help his performance. He also has given us a key forward (with Hawk staying there). I seriously doubt Hawkins would be showing his current form without West in the side. Then the last thing he does is he is an insurance against Ottens going down and leaving our structure stuffed.

Yesterday was as hard as it gets. Natanui is a freak. Melbourne must be crying themselves to sleep watching him. But still , West did an admirable job and by the end had worked himself into some taps. We basically used him as our #1 yet he is an elite #2. I wonder what his value would be worth now? 10 games ago he was worth zip. Now he is probably an R1 pick. Put it this way , I wouldn't swap him for Mitch Clarke and Brisbane want more for him than that.

 

[Hoffy95]

Already has more better games under his belt than Mark Blake has.

Says it all really.

 

[J Squad]

I think mentally West should handle this week very well, and go on to rip apart whatever is left of Collingwood's ruck stock.

It's a credit to himself for sticking at it all these years, and watching his fellow senior players win premiership medals, he is going to give it absolutely everything this Saturday

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

There were some of us that wanted him in the side but its very difficult to argue with a winning structure.

I still believe the guy needed regular games. Some can come straight in and bang do their stuff. West is more someone that needs to feel they belong , that not every mistake will see them kicking dew off again. What he has added to our group is multi faceted.

He has given us is the ability to kick goals from both ruckmen ( as we had with Hawkins ). He also gives us a better #2 ruckman. He allows Ottens longer rests so he help his performance. He also has given us a key forward (with Hawk staying there). I seriously doubt Hawkins would be showing his current form without West in the side. Then the last thing he does is he is an insurance against Ottens going down and leaving our structure stuffed.

Yesterday was as hard as it gets. Natanui is a freak. Melbourne must be crying themselves to sleep watching him. But still , West did an admirable job and by the end had worked himself into some taps. We basically used him as our #1 yet he is an elite #2. I wonder what his value would be worth now? 10 games ago he was worth zip. Now he is probably an R1 pick. Put it this way , I wouldn't swap him for Mitch Clarke and Brisbane want more for him than that.

Just looks a competitor, which is exactly what you want. Being a good kick is also a huge plus after Blake....as his confidence builds, i'm sure his ability to attract the pill will build as well.

As for Natanui....West held his own fairly well i though. NicNat can produce some great contests and seems to have some masterful taps, but i think he still has a long way to go to be a great football player....

 

[vivien]

playing really well, good future after ottens.... with vardy, simpson and west

 

[Zeroman]

Already has more better games under his belt than Mark Blake has.

Says it all really.

/quote

 

[Belisarius]

West for me is the new Lonergan. I never thought Lonergan would ever be in the first 22 without injuries creating a spot for him. Good honest player but not quite good enough. Proved me wrong didn't he !

And now perhaps West will be another. If he just continues to improve gradually over time - he will become quite a good player for us. Not a star - but will be competitive enough to provide us with a good second ruckman.

I thought Nic Nat was the best ruckman on the ground in the Eagles game - but West competed well and got enough hit outs to advantage for us and looks threatening down forward. Add in the 1 % ers - and that is enough for him to deserve his chance to play in a Premiership side.

I am really happy for the guy as he has been behind Blake for so long.

Once again Geelong FC has been patient and it has worked out. Rarely do they seem to fail (with the exception of Blake and Tenace). Well done.

How great would it be if he had a Premiership medallion around his neck come Saturday afternoon !

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Once again Geelong FC has been patient and it has worked out. Rarely do they seem to fail (with the exception of Blake and Tenace).

Actually I'd suggest it's West who has been patient in this instance - he could have been forgiven for asking to be traded after last year or even after '09, but stuck it out. To me that suggests either he's keen to break into THIS team, or that he had no value on the trade table - given that Adam Pattison and Cameron Cloke were able to be traded as ruckmen in that time I doubt that was the case.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Wests performances have definitely put him on the long term map, can't ignore what he has done in the last month. Scott actually mentioned at the start of the season that West was firmly within his plans....seems like he has taken his chance.

 

[Belisarius]

Reckon a fair bit of is about confidence with West. I remember his first game in the Seniors - duck eggs all round. I was very unconvinced.

But then he took that screamer against the Hawks and kicked the goal - what a turn around.

I used to read posters saying his performances in the twos was growing and getting better. And so it has been - he seems to get better each week in the Seniors.

If he could get a good number of taps to advantage over the Collingwood ruck duo - then go forward and take a grab or two - kick a goal - and then have a few tackles and 1 % ers - WOW - he would have earned his medal ! And the thing is - I reckon he could well do this in the GF.

And if he did it would make up for the loss of Menzel - another inexperienced and relatively young player making his mark.

Putting the GF aside - it is also a very good sign for the future of the club. Now all we need is Dawson to take the next step - as he has the size to take on Sandilands and Nic Nat in the future.

My heart skips when I think that this could happen - and Menzel, Duncan, Bundy and THunt continue their progress (very likely)- and the word out on Guthrie, Cowan, Bathie, Schroder, Vardy and Smedts suggests that they too may make it.

A win this week and then so much more to look forward to. How fantastic would that be ? Especially after the loss of Ablett - and many fans thought how could we replace such a gun and still be the best team in the league ?

The club has come a long way in the 21 st century.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Reckon a fair bit of is about confidence with West. I remember his first game in the Seniors - duck eggs all round. I was very unconvinced.

You might be thinking of the 1 game in 2009 when he was statless other than 16 hitouts, because his first game was against Port in 2008 Rd 1, and he was OK without standing out.

 

[mickwest]

been really good
provides a good option in the ruck and up foward aswell
hopefully he can be apart of a premiership side

 

[Belisarius]

Thanks LSV - I should have written - the first game I saw West play.

 

[Selective Retention]

Actually I'd suggest it's West who has been patient in this instance - he could have been forgiven for asking to be traded after last year or even after '09, but stuck it out. To me that suggests either he's keen to break into THIS team, or that he had no value on the trade table - given that Adam Pattison and Cameron Cloke were able to be traded as ruckmen in that time I doubt that was the case.

To bring up an old football chestnut, I think he supported Geelong before being drafted.

 

[TheYid]

Go West!

It seems that Westy is really doing a good job of second ruck!

"Champion Data analysis shows that West, 24, has this year generated as many stoppage wins against his direct opponent as West Coast ruck sensation Nic Naitanui. When West has contested the centre bounce, he has propelled the Cats to 26 more clearance victories than his direct opponent - the same number as Naitanui - and ranks third in the league.
West's hitout to advantage percentage (26.7 per cent) is considered above average for a ruckman, shading Geelong's No.1 big man Brad Ottens (22.1)."


From http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...for-darren-jolly/story-e6frf9jf-1226149973310


I knew he would come good!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Go West!

He's done so well and worked so hard to get here, well done Westy, you deserve this, and you are good enough. Believe in yourself, and I hope you have a great game.

Love this article:
http://www.geelongcats.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/124240/default.aspx

 

[TheYid]

Re: Go West!

Yeah...great article, and well deserved spot in the side!