Toast Welcome to St.Kilda - ISAAC KEELER!

[George]

Have to be careful to treat our North friends really nicely seeing as they “gave us” our currently highest ranking player

And Matthew Capuano, of course.

 

[BarkerFan]

You asked why he might not get the most out of himself and I just put forward a reason why, pretty crazy that a myth put out by Adelaide scared off 16 other clubs!

I'm not saying he isn't committed now that he is at the Saints, just a reason why he was drafted that late and why he might possibly not make it at the highest level.

And yeah maybe those other guys lacked commitment too in and around their draft year. Why else did Wilkie not get picked up until he was in his 20s? Prior to this year has Byrnes shown that he would be putting the work in to be anything other than a handy depth player?

I'm certainly not questioning these guys commitment right now but yeah when guys are 17-18 years old, it's not completely out of the question that the reason they aren't as highly sought after as the top handful of picks is they lack a certain professionalism or desire to be truly elite. Some don't get that mindset until they mature a bit (Wilkie) or until they are placed in an elite system (Bynres). Keeler has every chance to be an amazing player, it's up to him now to prove everyone wrong and become that! And I would love to see it.

Byrnes was captain at Sandy. Always veey committed. went latish because je was perceived to have a low cieling.. ie was already getting the most out of his.peecieved limited talent and attributes.

Wilkie was an undersized tall forward.. found his place down back in subsequent years .. after persisting.. never had knocks on commitment.

I have not seen anything by anyone vaguely official or with first hand knowledge that Keeler lacks commitment or ever did. All i see is people trying to guess a reason why a guy with such a highlight package could slide.. i dont know why he went so low, but i also dont know why Adam Goodes went so low after kicking a bag of 5 or 6 in the TAC cup grand final.

I hope he is half as good as Goodes... or more

 

[Sun Ra]

I hope he ends up a Derek Kickett / Paddy Ryder hybrid.

 

[Mav]

Have to be careful to treat our North friends really nicely seeing as they “gave us” our currently highest ranking player

Love seeing Mason do well. We always new he had the talent but just couldn't string it together. As he himself said yesterday, he'll always be a Shinboner.

 

[sammm]

Isaac Keeler

North Adelaide ruck-forward Isaac Keeler projects as a high upside tall, boasting rare athleticism and skill for a player his size.

central.rookieme.com

 

[sammm]

this one says he should he been drafted late first to second round

AFL Draft Profile: Isaac Keeler

Read up on the exciting South Australia talent who has great potential as a key-position player.

www.zerohanger.com

 

[gringo2011]

Byrnes was captain at Sandy. Always veey committed. went latish because je was perceived to have a low cieling.. ie was already getting the most out of his.peecieved limited talent and attributes.

Wilkie was an undersized tall forward.. found his place down back in subsequent years .. after persisting.. never had knocks on commitment.

I have not seen anything by anyone vaguely official or with first hand knowledge that Keeler lacks commitment or ever did. All i see is people trying to guess a reason why a guy with such a highlight package could slide.. i dont know why he went so low, but i also dont know why Adam Goodes went so low after kicking a bag of 5 or 6 in the TAC cup grand final.

I hope he is half as good as Goodes... or more

It was widely reported before the draft. He seemed to lift once he ended up playing SANFL with his coaches saying that they pushed him to do a lot more and saying that he could be the most talent player in the draft so went extra hard on him. He's got sublime skills and could be another Adam Goodes if he has the commitment. It doesn't really matter now because all your junior form does is get you drafted.

I feel confident that our environment is now one where they absolute best will be extracted, I couldn't honestly say that at any time in the last decade. I'm glad we took a few of these high reward types. If he pays off it will be huge. Hotton too. Both have talent to burn.

 

[Strahany]

I’ve no concerns about Keeler’s drive or commitment. He could have easily stayed with the Crows’ NGA, as that would likely be the easiest route into the AFL. Instead, he reportedly cut ties with the NGA, potentially jeopardising his ticket into the AFL, in order to obtain further self-development. That’s a massive risk to undertake as a teenager, and shows some maturity.

This isn’t someone who wants to play footy in the AFL. It’s someone who wants to be the best they can be, with performance in the AFL coming by proxy.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Love seeing Mason do well. We always new he had the talent but just couldn't string it together. As he himself said yesterday, he'll always be a Shinboner.

Total slip of the tongue…

 

[hayes]

Has Keeler been training or something lately? It’s one thing to randomly post something like that in a thread but he started one to tell everyone. Must be seeing things at training.

 

[gringo2011]

I’ve no concerns about Keeler’s drive or commitment. He could have easily stayed with the Crows’ NGA, as that would likely be the easiest route into the AFL. Instead, he reportedly cut ties with the NGA, potentially jeopardising his ticket into the AFL, in order to obtain further self-development. That’s a massive risk to undertake as a teenager, and shows some maturity.

This isn’t someone who wants to play footy in the AFL. It’s someone who wants to be the best they can be, with performance in the AFL coming by proxy.

It sounds like his move sorted out any issues he had and his SANFL form was very solid. Just have to hope he makes the jump now. He is a human highlight reel and if he makes it is going to be pretty mercurial.

 

[stfan]

I feel confident that our environment is now one where they absolute best will be extracted, I couldn't honestly say that at any time in the last decade.

Indeed we seemed to specialise in not developing players. We had a number of mercurial types in that period who went nowhere.

I'm glad we took a few of these high reward types. If he pays off it will be huge.

Yes the time is ripe. We have real coaches at last, and good player development now set up too.

Good teams are not accidental, and by all reports we were not doing many of the basics.

Good clubs do most things very well. We were not.

Hotton too. Both have talent to burn.

Yes Hotton I was very happy to get.

And add McLennan to that list. I think he will surprise.

 

[beside the seaside]

Just watching some of his highlights in the VFL, there is a lot to like with this kid! He's going into the ruck and looks decent in there and he's been hitting the scoreboard fairly regularly. He looks a really balanced big man with some fantastic skills. For a first-year player his output is really good. He could be special in the future. Would actually love to see him signed up on an extension soon and it'd be great to see a debut if not this year then early 2024.