Whilst disappointing to lose, the VFL finals have been very beneficial for us - lots of good info on who really has potential in our young players.
Nathan - Before I was a little worried whether Nathan would make it. The finals show he has good skills, hands and smarts. He is never going to be quick and is going to have to build huge stamina and more strength to compensate.
Slade - I had him out the door, but his performance in the GF shows that when he focuses he can dominate. Like lots of the Cats, he needs to work on disposal. I agree - promote him.
Kingsley - good (and showed leadership - don't rule him out as popping him up as a assistant coach or more in the future), but most of his marks were "outmuscling" the VFL standard full backs. At the AFL level the opposition coaches have worked out the match ups on him. Hopefully we'll get a high draft pick for him. Think he's dreaming about West Coast though !!
Gardner - agree, got to go. Doubt that he'll ever improve his kicking. Shame - his contested marking and pressure in the finals last couple of years were good.
Spencer - got a contract - this is a problem - too unco, slow with no apparent smarts. I beleive he was the Captain/CHB of the WA under 18 side - though I do wonder if this is all our recruiting department looked at.
McCarthy - had a reasonable GF and his kicking has improved. But doesn't have smarts, is not agile enough and not strong enough (for his height). Let go.
Playfair - has the agility and smarts that McCarthy lacks. Not a stand out but didn't get beaten - thought his work in the backline showed some promise. Would give him another year.
Callan - got to give him more chances, although I worry about his kicking and whether he is tall/strong enough.
Grima - looks good (liked his aggro as well) as a half back/half forward type. Give him games in the pre-season.
Gamble - always worry about the lanky loping types. Like Nathan, he's going to have to become a super fit runner to compensate for lack of pace. Hopefully has the smarts to go with the high marking and good footskills.
Hunt - also had this guy out the door before the finals. Always knew he was quick (certainly pacy for a tall) with a great kick. The finals indicated that he has at least basic smarts (which before that it looked like he was an athelete with no idea how to play other than hit guys). Although he is 24 (?) - persist with him. Have we tried him forward ???
Stokes - also had written this guy off (not quick enough for his height), however he has good skills, good smarts, good pressure, great mark for his size and can win the ball in the centre/close someone down. Could be a good 2nd tag behind Ling. Is also going to have to get super fit to make up for the lack of explosive pace.
Owen and Varcoe - still both very young, but a worry. Think both were too early in the draft. YOu really want your round one pick to play some AFL and be promising for the next year. Varcoe is nowhere near.
West - could see the potential. Mobile, potential to take a species (although only took a couple of marks in total) - but his limited tap work was good. Hopefully the club saw enough to judge whether they need to pick up another ruck with their number one pick (this is crucial, as King and Ottens will be gone by 2009 and rucks take 3-4 years minimum to develop).
Blake - has the tap work to make it at AFL, but is going to have to improve his kicking and marking contest.
Davenport - I hope we get him(his pace, kicking and smarts are good), but not too dear (at age 22?).
Batchelor - pace is good, but made lots of handling mistakes and didn't show smarts. Had enough time on the list.
For me -
Out - Kingsley, Gardner, Spencer, McCarthy, Batchelor and of course Ricco
A trade for Kelly, Mackie and/or a 3rd draft.
In - Slade, Davenport, Hawkins, first two picks - the best quick/skilled follower or mobile ruck/forward on offer . All other picks - please, please, please pick for pace and kicking skills (you are born with this stuff, you can develop the rest).
I'm glad they going to review the recruiting - too may early drafts spent on "development types" that should have been later (Mackie and Varcoe)
Enough for me - go Cats for 2007.
ps - we owe Costa/Cook our support for clearing a $10m debt and saving our club. We will suck as a club if we ditch these guys for supporting Thompson for one more year.
Nathan - Before I was a little worried whether Nathan would make it. The finals show he has good skills, hands and smarts. He is never going to be quick and is going to have to build huge stamina and more strength to compensate.
Slade - I had him out the door, but his performance in the GF shows that when he focuses he can dominate. Like lots of the Cats, he needs to work on disposal. I agree - promote him.
Kingsley - good (and showed leadership - don't rule him out as popping him up as a assistant coach or more in the future), but most of his marks were "outmuscling" the VFL standard full backs. At the AFL level the opposition coaches have worked out the match ups on him. Hopefully we'll get a high draft pick for him. Think he's dreaming about West Coast though !!
Gardner - agree, got to go. Doubt that he'll ever improve his kicking. Shame - his contested marking and pressure in the finals last couple of years were good.
Spencer - got a contract - this is a problem - too unco, slow with no apparent smarts. I beleive he was the Captain/CHB of the WA under 18 side - though I do wonder if this is all our recruiting department looked at.
McCarthy - had a reasonable GF and his kicking has improved. But doesn't have smarts, is not agile enough and not strong enough (for his height). Let go.
Playfair - has the agility and smarts that McCarthy lacks. Not a stand out but didn't get beaten - thought his work in the backline showed some promise. Would give him another year.
Callan - got to give him more chances, although I worry about his kicking and whether he is tall/strong enough.
Grima - looks good (liked his aggro as well) as a half back/half forward type. Give him games in the pre-season.
Gamble - always worry about the lanky loping types. Like Nathan, he's going to have to become a super fit runner to compensate for lack of pace. Hopefully has the smarts to go with the high marking and good footskills.
Hunt - also had this guy out the door before the finals. Always knew he was quick (certainly pacy for a tall) with a great kick. The finals indicated that he has at least basic smarts (which before that it looked like he was an athelete with no idea how to play other than hit guys). Although he is 24 (?) - persist with him. Have we tried him forward ???
Stokes - also had written this guy off (not quick enough for his height), however he has good skills, good smarts, good pressure, great mark for his size and can win the ball in the centre/close someone down. Could be a good 2nd tag behind Ling. Is also going to have to get super fit to make up for the lack of explosive pace.
Owen and Varcoe - still both very young, but a worry. Think both were too early in the draft. YOu really want your round one pick to play some AFL and be promising for the next year. Varcoe is nowhere near.
West - could see the potential. Mobile, potential to take a species (although only took a couple of marks in total) - but his limited tap work was good. Hopefully the club saw enough to judge whether they need to pick up another ruck with their number one pick (this is crucial, as King and Ottens will be gone by 2009 and rucks take 3-4 years minimum to develop).
Blake - has the tap work to make it at AFL, but is going to have to improve his kicking and marking contest.
Davenport - I hope we get him(his pace, kicking and smarts are good), but not too dear (at age 22?).
Batchelor - pace is good, but made lots of handling mistakes and didn't show smarts. Had enough time on the list.
For me -
Out - Kingsley, Gardner, Spencer, McCarthy, Batchelor and of course Ricco
A trade for Kelly, Mackie and/or a 3rd draft.
In - Slade, Davenport, Hawkins, first two picks - the best quick/skilled follower or mobile ruck/forward on offer . All other picks - please, please, please pick for pace and kicking skills (you are born with this stuff, you can develop the rest).
I'm glad they going to review the recruiting - too may early drafts spent on "development types" that should have been later (Mackie and Varcoe)
Enough for me - go Cats for 2007.
ps - we owe Costa/Cook our support for clearing a $10m debt and saving our club. We will suck as a club if we ditch these guys for supporting Thompson for one more year.
