2nds WAFL Watch '11 continued - Keep Watching

[Marlin01]

really only Jones is pushing for selection based on form.

I agree and I'm concerned that Jones hasn't had more opportunity. I really rate him. He's only been given two games, which is the least of any 21 yo on our list except Brennan. I think he's looked pretty disciplined and uses the ball quite well, when given the chance. I note reading somewhere that the Eagles have changed their instructions to Peel from playing him in the backline, to playing him where ever they see fit. I hope this isn't an indication that we are going to move him on at season's end. At 189cms, with good pace, skills and discipline, he's the type of player we need and would be a good replacement for Rosa for the next few weeks IMO.

 

[wceblog]

Weedon is better inside the contest (his vision/creativity in traffic is his best attribute IMO), but it seems as though we are trying to develop him into a utility player that can play forward or back ala Wirrpanda.

Also, McGinnity looks like he is being developed into a defensive player for nippy half forward types rather than an inside midfielder or defensive midfielder.

I think the recruiters vision was to build a vast midfield rotation like Geelong (who were the gold standard at the start of our rebuild in 2007) where they have a plethora of contested ball winning players that can rotate through the midfield (Ablett Jnr, Bartel, Corey, Kelly, Selwood, Chapman, Ling).

Sheppard is the only outside ball carrying type we have invested a top 30 pick since Rosa (pick 29 in 2004).

 

[BOND 007]

I agree and I'm concerned that Jones hasn't had more opportunity. I really rate him. He's only been given two games, which is the least of any 21 yo on our list except Brennan. I think he's looked pretty disciplined and uses the ball quite well, when given the chance. I note reading somewhere that the Eagles have changed their instructions to Peel from playing him in the backline, to playing him where ever they see fit. I hope this isn't an indication that we are going to move him on at season's end. At 189cms, with good pace, skills and discipline, he's the type of player we need and would be a good replacement for Rosa for the next few weeks IMO.

Might come as a surprise but I actually think he could be the best of the players drafted 07-08 bar Naitanui and Shuey. Obviously hierachy doesnt agree otherwise he would be playing by now. Would be bitterly disappointed should he leave.

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Liked what I saw of Jojo in the pre-season games, makes good decisions and skills while not elite are more than adequate.

 

[Tiff]

Might come as a surprise but I actually think he could be the best of the players drafted 07-08 bar Naitanui and Shuey. Obviously hierachy doesnt agree otherwise he would be playing by now. Would be bitterly disappointed should he leave.

I agree. What's going on there? Is there maybe an attitude problem or something? Because I can't get my head around it.

 

[paran]

Melbourne got pick 11 for Brock McLean, would people trade Priddis for similar?

I'd expect more than that. Priddis is in his physical prime, not injury prone and would be AA squad level. I'd expect Shaun Burgoyne type compensation for him, preferably Conniglio and O'Meara! ;p

 

[BOND 007]

I agree. What's going on there? Is there maybe an attitude problem or something? Because I can't get my head around it.

Definately NOT attitude - an absolute ripper of a kid. Problem is the perception hes good at everything but not elite in anything. Others who play in those poitions are faster (Smith) or are better kicks (butler) or are more valuable to team (waters)

With Wilson (who is clearly a better kick) & brennan being drafted, Jones had to find a new role & now his competition is Stevenson & Sheppard etc.

Pretty stiff to be a utility at this time

 

[tesseract]

Weedon is better inside the contest (his vision/creativity in traffic is his best attribute IMO), but it seems as though we are trying to develop him into a utility player that can play forward or back ala Wirrpanda.

Also, McGinnity looks like he is being developed into a defensive player for nippy half forward types rather than an inside midfielder or defensive midfielder.

I think the recruiters vision was to build a vast midfield rotation like Geelong (who were the gold standard at the start of our rebuild in 2007) where they have a plethora of contested ball winning players that can rotate through the midfield (Ablett Jnr, Bartel, Corey, Kelly, Selwood, Chapman, Ling).

Sheppard is the only outside ball carrying type we have invested a top 30 pick since Rosa (pick 29 in 2004).

If Sheppard is the only outside ball carrying type the WCE have invested a top 30 pick on since Rosa at pick 29 in 2004, how do you classify Gaff?

 

[wceblog]

If Sheppard is the only outside ball carrying type the WCE have invested a top 30 pick on since Rosa at pick 29 in 2004, how do you classify Gaff?

Woops!

 

[Bluey_McKenna]

Definately NOT attitude - an absolute ripper of a kid. Problem is the perception hes good at everything but not elite in anything. Others who play in those poitions are faster (Smith) or are better kicks (butler) or are more valuable to team (waters)

With Wilson (who is clearly a better kick) & brennan being drafted, Jones had to find a new role & now his competition is Stevenson & Sheppard etc.

Pretty stiff to be a utility at this time

Thanks for the insight

 

[Tiff]

Definately NOT attitude - an absolute ripper of a kid. Problem is the perception hes good at everything but not elite in anything. Others who play in those poitions are faster (Smith) or are better kicks (butler) or are more valuable to team (waters)

With Wilson (who is clearly a better kick) & brennan being drafted, Jones had to find a new role & now his competition is Stevenson & Sheppard etc.

Pretty stiff to be a utility at this time

Hmm very interesting

 

[dajesmac]

I rate Jones too and hope we keep him but surely 2 games in 3 seasons and little chance of a recall the way the squad looks atm is writing on the wall?

Will be a very interesting post-season.

 

[Suma Magic]

I rate Jones, but he's just not good enough at the moment to get a game. I would like to keep him on the list for next year, and am worried we'll lose him for nothing.

 

[swannies]

Definately NOT attitude - an absolute ripper of a kid. Problem is the perception hes good at everything but not elite in anything. Others who play in those poitions are faster (Smith) or are better kicks (butler) or are more valuable to team (waters)

With Wilson (who is clearly a better kick) & brennan being drafted, Jones had to find a new role & now his competition is Stevenson & Sheppard etc.

Pretty stiff to be a utility at this time

Although, when drafted 3 years ago he was mainly into basketball, IIRC, so they expected he might take some time to develop his football skills. Some considered the Eagles to take him too high, but they were pretty buoyant about getting him, I recall.

 

[dajesmac]

Stevens is best suited to a team that holds and picks like WC did 5-6 years ago having Cousins and Judd run into space. It seems Worsfold has discarded this plan and if so I believe Stevens has little use at WC as his footskills whilst OK are not elite and he lacks leg speed both immediate and terminal. If I was him I would look towards Carlton or Richmond.

While I rate your opinion Bond I think this evaluation is a little unfair, Stevens was hampered by OP when he first joined us and is yet to have a full AFL preseason yet, which would hinder things like leg speed and potentially even footskills.

Prior to the draft Stevens was rated one of the few 'elite' midfielders of his draft class, before sliding due to OP. He was lumped with company such as Scully, Trengove, Martin, Cunnington etc. I know he hasn't done much at AFL level but the guy has buckets of potential. Being 20, preseasonless and already one of the best players in the WAFL, there's not much he has done wrong.

I know you weren't suggesting he's a dud or anything by any means but I think he is one we should be persevering with. His playing style is far more dynamic than that of say Priddis' and yet he goes alright in our set up.

 

[BOND 007]

While I rate your opinion Bond I think this evaluation is a little unfair, Stevens was hampered by OP when he first joined us and is yet to have a full AFL preseason yet, which would hinder things like leg speed and potentially even footskills.

Prior to the draft Stevens was rated one of the few 'elite' midfielders of his draft class, before sliding due to OP. He was lumped with company such as Scully, Trengove, Martin, Cunnington etc. I know he hasn't done much at AFL level but the guy has buckets of potential. Being 20, preseasonless and already one of the best players in the WAFL, there's not much he has done wrong.

I know you weren't suggesting he's a dud or anything by any means but I think he is one we should be persevering with. His playing style is far more dynamic than that of say Priddis' and yet he goes alright in our set up.

Far from saying he's a dud - I actually rate Stevens and I accept the issues he has had and that you quite rightly raised.

My evaluation came from a question Swannies asked me about him. I do point out however that part of the reason he performed so well at an under age level was because of his size and ferocity at the ball. With other kids maturing and with exposure to AFL training, this advantage he had 4 years ago, is disappearing a little.

I see him as a slightly bigger framed version of Priddis which creates the problem becuase Priddis is quite durable, is only 25 and has 5-6 years left. I doubt him and Stevens will play too many games together.

No doubt WC would like to keep him but I am not sure he's going to want to play second fiddle much longer.

 

[WCE_phil]

While I rate your opinion Bond I think this evaluation is a little unfair, Stevens was hampered by OP when he first joined us and is yet to have a full AFL preseason yet, which would hinder things like leg speed and potentially even footskills.

Prior to the draft Stevens was rated one of the few 'elite' midfielders of his draft class, before sliding due to OP. He was lumped with company such as Scully, Trengove, Martin, Cunnington etc. I know he hasn't done much at AFL level but the guy has buckets of potential. Being 20, preseasonless and already one of the best players in the WAFL, there's not much he has done wrong.

I know you weren't suggesting he's a dud or anything by any means but I think he is one we should be persevering with. His playing style is far more dynamic than that of say Priddis' and yet he goes alright in our set up.

While he is more dynamic than priddis, stevens in his draft pool and even discounting his op was still only the second or third best clearance midfielder of his draft class in what was an average draft class. Priddis is probably in the top 3 clearance mids (just this aspect) within the comp and while stevens has a much longer kick and his attack on the ball is ruthless there are only so many spots and with his talent if he sees the eagles having 3-4 guys ahead of him for his position it may be better for both parties for him to be traded. If we look forward and assume that players reach the peak of their abilities then masten and swift would be our two main clearance mids, shuey would be our in and out superstar, scooter is our main hard man stopper who can also play offensively and ebert our utility mid.

Where does that leave stevens? He really isn't suited to an outside game, he doesn't have great goal sense, he's a decent mark but certainly not a great mark for his size like say ebert or waters, his kicking isn't up to the level of say a hurn or wilson and he's not fast enough to play the butler or smith role. For a team like essendon or carlton he could be a real asset going forward and while he hasnt done much at afl level i still think his worth is an early second round draft pick.

 

[BOND 007]

While he is more dynamic than priddis, stevens in his draft pool and even discounting his op was still only the second or third best clearance midfielder of his draft class in what was an average draft class. Priddis is probably in the top 3 clearance mids (just this aspect) within the comp and while stevens has a much longer kick and his attack on the ball is ruthless there are only so many spots and with his talent if he sees the eagles having 3-4 guys ahead of him for his position it may be better for both parties for him to be traded. If we look forward and assume that players reach the peak of their abilities then masten and swift would be our two main clearance mids, shuey would be our in and out superstar, scooter is our main hard man stopper who can also play offensively and ebert our utility mid.

Where does that leave stevens? He really isn't suited to an outside game, he doesn't have great goal sense, he's a decent mark but certainly not a great mark for his size like say ebert or waters, his kicking isn't up to the level of say a hurn or wilson and he's not fast enough to play the butler or smith role. For a team like essendon or carlton he could be a real asset going forward and while he hasnt done much at afl level i still think his worth is an early second round draft pick.

My assessment also

 

[paran]

My assessment also

While he is more dynamic than priddis, stevens in his draft pool and even discounting his op was still only the second or third best clearance midfielder of his draft class in what was an average draft class. Priddis is probably in the top 3 clearance mids (just this aspect) within the comp and while stevens has a much longer kick and his attack on the ball is ruthless there are only so many spots and with his talent if he sees the eagles having 3-4 guys ahead of him for his position it may be better for both parties for him to be traded. If we look forward and assume that players reach the peak of their abilities then masten and swift would be our two main clearance mids, shuey would be our in and out superstar, scooter is our main hard man stopper who can also play offensively and ebert our utility mid.

Where does that leave stevens? He really isn't suited to an outside game, he doesn't have great goal sense, he's a decent mark but certainly not a great mark for his size like say ebert or waters, his kicking isn't up to the level of say a hurn or wilson and he's not fast enough to play the butler or smith role. For a team like essendon or carlton he could be a real asset going forward and while he hasnt done much at afl level i still think his worth is an early second round draft pick.

Agreed. Love the kid but I don't see the versatility that allows him to play anywhere but in the guts, where we're pretty well stocked.

 

[dajesmac]

My evaluation came from a question Swannies asked me about him. I do point out however that part of the reason he performed so well at an under age level was because of his size and ferocity at the ball. With other kids maturing and with exposure to AFL training, this advantage he had 4 years ago, is disappearing a little.

I see him as a slightly bigger framed version of Priddis which creates the problem becuase Priddis is quite durable, is only 25 and has 5-6 years left. I doubt him and Stevens will play too many games together.

While he is more dynamic than priddis, stevens in his draft pool and even discounting his op was still only the second or third best clearance midfielder of his draft class in what was an average draft class. Priddis is probably in the top 3 clearance mids (just this aspect) within the comp and while stevens has a much longer kick and his attack on the ball is ruthless there are only so many spots and with his talent if he sees the eagles having 3-4 guys ahead of him for his position it may be better for both parties for him to be traded. If we look forward and assume that players reach the peak of their abilities then masten and swift would be our two main clearance mids, shuey would be our in and out superstar, scooter is our main hard man stopper who can also play offensively and ebert our utility mid.

Yep, fair enough points made by both. I suppose Stevens could consider himself unlucky being drafted to a team that probably had no real need for him. I think it's a shame though, with a few preseasons under his belt the guy could be a gun. That's footy though I suppose.

 

[paran]

I remember that draft. My read was that we had 22 tabbed for Bastinac and 23 for Weedon, so when North took Bastinac that sent us into a bit of spin and we spent the full allocated time before strategically gaining more time by drafting Weedon 22 and then using the full time for pick 23 before taking Stevens. 5-10 mins of brain storming there, would be curious who the other option were.

 

[Prem87]

Imagine we got Ward instead of Notte and Bastinac instead of Stevens (will be a gun anyway!).

 

[BOND 007]

Imagine we got Ward instead of Notte and Bastinac instead of Stevens (will be a gun anyway!).

And took Ballantyne instead of Swift

 

[wce1989]

Imagine if Richmond had won one more match in 2007, then Carlton would have had to give us pick number 2 for Judd and we could have picked Cotchin instead of Masten.

 

[dajesmac]

Imagine if Leo Barry had've gone down with a twisted ankle 30 seconds before the final siren in the 2005 grand final...