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The Adelaide v Melbourne thread seems to have evolved into a discussion of how well (or poorly) Adelaide have developed their youngsters in recent years.
The big question then, is what do we expect from our youngsters in 2007?
For this analysis I will only discuss players drafted in the last three years (ie under the Neil Craig regime). Players will be listed from youngest to oldest. I'm not going to ponder the prospects of our rookies either, though Archard & McIntyre both look like being elevated sooner rather than later.
James Sellar - I would expect him to spend the majority of the season learning his craft at Glenelg. I would hope that he would spend his entire year down at the Bay playing in the seniors, without dropping to the magoos. It would be nice if he were ready to debut late in the season, earning a handful of games (1-3 at best), but this would be a bonus.
David Mackay - Would be expected to spend much of the season running around for Souths. With the number of slightly older young midfielders ahead of him it would be a mild surprise if he made his debut this year.
Darren Pfeiffer - After an "interesting" 2006, Pfeiffer would be looking to make his debut in 2007 - probably playing off a HBF. I would hope that he would manage a small number of games this year (5 games maximum) to give him a taste.
Kurt Tippett - Although he's only played a total of 20 games of footy in his life, he's probably the second most likely to debut in 2007 (behind Griffin). He will probably play this year due to our seriously depleted list of tall forwards (Biglands, Hentschel, KMac all AWOL and Perrie yet to prove his fitness). Once again, a handful of games should suffice - but as his body is supposedly "AFL ready" already he should be encouraged to aim as high as possible if/when he does get the opportunity.
Richard Douglas - Debuted last year and played a ripper in our most recent Mickey Mouse Challenge outing. I would be hoping for him to play over half the season (around 15 games) this year, our best chance of earning a Rising Star nomination. It's too much to expect him to play the whole season, he still has a long way to mature physically, but he should be given every possible opportunity to show what he is capable of.
Chris Knights - Played 3 games in 2005 and 9 more in 2006. He is Adelaide's highest posession winner on a disposals-per-minute basis, top 10 in the whole of the AFL. The big question is what he does with those disposals. Knights should be looking to become a fixture in the team this year - one of the first 18 players selected each week.
John Meesen - His knee injury will prove to be a major setback. I would not expect to see him wearing the tricolours again until late in the season. However, in his third year on the list he MUST be tested at the highest level to see if he will make it. Big men take longer to mature, so it's not the end of the line if he doesn't show much at senior level this year, but it's important for him to know that he's still part of our plans.
John Hinge - Upgraded from the rookie list at the end of 2005, 2007 is probably a make or break year for Hinge. I would be very disappointed if he fails to force his way into the side at some stage this year - another player with 1-5 game expectations.
Nathan Van Berlo - Having played every game for which he was available in 2006 he is now an established player in our senior line-up. I would expect him to play every game in 2007, continuing to improve on his 2006 performances. I'm looking forward to him finally having his first 20-posession game.
Jonathon Griffin - Went into the pre-season ranked 4th, he is almost certain to debut in round 1 thanks to the injuries suffered by Maric & Meesen. I would expect him to hold down the position of backup ruckman for quite a while - probably the first half of the season, until Maric and/or Meesen can justify being selected in his place.
Ivan Maric - Was probably our #2 ruckman (excluding Biglands) until injured. His injury will keep him out of action for a while and he then has to work his way back to full match fitness. I would expect him to play most of the second half of the season in the seniors, though the position is now Griffin's to lose.
Bernie Vince - Was the first of the 2005 draftees to debut, doing so in R1 last year, but looked like he was badly out of his depth. Went back to the SANFL and performed well until injuring his knee late in the season. I'm really not sure what to expect from The Weekender this year. Help?
Jason Porplyzia - Played more games than any other debutant in 2006, but you'd expect that from a mature aged recruit. Needles should be looking to establish himself as a regular member of Adelaide's senior side this year.
Bryce Campbell - Drafted last year as a mature aged recruit, he's spent most of the pre-season injured. I'm not really sure what to expect from Campbell, but I would not be surprised if he spends the entire season with the Redlegs.
Nick Gill - Hardly a youngster (at 24 years of age), he is however a first year draftee. Sadly, things do not look good for Gill as his body does not appear to be capable of coping with training at an AFL level. IF he can get his body right, then I'd expect him to play a handful of games. IF not, then expect him to be delisted at the end of the year.
Comments? Thoughts?
The big question then, is what do we expect from our youngsters in 2007?
For this analysis I will only discuss players drafted in the last three years (ie under the Neil Craig regime). Players will be listed from youngest to oldest. I'm not going to ponder the prospects of our rookies either, though Archard & McIntyre both look like being elevated sooner rather than later.
James Sellar - I would expect him to spend the majority of the season learning his craft at Glenelg. I would hope that he would spend his entire year down at the Bay playing in the seniors, without dropping to the magoos. It would be nice if he were ready to debut late in the season, earning a handful of games (1-3 at best), but this would be a bonus.
David Mackay - Would be expected to spend much of the season running around for Souths. With the number of slightly older young midfielders ahead of him it would be a mild surprise if he made his debut this year.
Darren Pfeiffer - After an "interesting" 2006, Pfeiffer would be looking to make his debut in 2007 - probably playing off a HBF. I would hope that he would manage a small number of games this year (5 games maximum) to give him a taste.
Kurt Tippett - Although he's only played a total of 20 games of footy in his life, he's probably the second most likely to debut in 2007 (behind Griffin). He will probably play this year due to our seriously depleted list of tall forwards (Biglands, Hentschel, KMac all AWOL and Perrie yet to prove his fitness). Once again, a handful of games should suffice - but as his body is supposedly "AFL ready" already he should be encouraged to aim as high as possible if/when he does get the opportunity.
Richard Douglas - Debuted last year and played a ripper in our most recent Mickey Mouse Challenge outing. I would be hoping for him to play over half the season (around 15 games) this year, our best chance of earning a Rising Star nomination. It's too much to expect him to play the whole season, he still has a long way to mature physically, but he should be given every possible opportunity to show what he is capable of.
Chris Knights - Played 3 games in 2005 and 9 more in 2006. He is Adelaide's highest posession winner on a disposals-per-minute basis, top 10 in the whole of the AFL. The big question is what he does with those disposals. Knights should be looking to become a fixture in the team this year - one of the first 18 players selected each week.
John Meesen - His knee injury will prove to be a major setback. I would not expect to see him wearing the tricolours again until late in the season. However, in his third year on the list he MUST be tested at the highest level to see if he will make it. Big men take longer to mature, so it's not the end of the line if he doesn't show much at senior level this year, but it's important for him to know that he's still part of our plans.
John Hinge - Upgraded from the rookie list at the end of 2005, 2007 is probably a make or break year for Hinge. I would be very disappointed if he fails to force his way into the side at some stage this year - another player with 1-5 game expectations.
Nathan Van Berlo - Having played every game for which he was available in 2006 he is now an established player in our senior line-up. I would expect him to play every game in 2007, continuing to improve on his 2006 performances. I'm looking forward to him finally having his first 20-posession game.
Jonathon Griffin - Went into the pre-season ranked 4th, he is almost certain to debut in round 1 thanks to the injuries suffered by Maric & Meesen. I would expect him to hold down the position of backup ruckman for quite a while - probably the first half of the season, until Maric and/or Meesen can justify being selected in his place.
Ivan Maric - Was probably our #2 ruckman (excluding Biglands) until injured. His injury will keep him out of action for a while and he then has to work his way back to full match fitness. I would expect him to play most of the second half of the season in the seniors, though the position is now Griffin's to lose.
Bernie Vince - Was the first of the 2005 draftees to debut, doing so in R1 last year, but looked like he was badly out of his depth. Went back to the SANFL and performed well until injuring his knee late in the season. I'm really not sure what to expect from The Weekender this year. Help?
Jason Porplyzia - Played more games than any other debutant in 2006, but you'd expect that from a mature aged recruit. Needles should be looking to establish himself as a regular member of Adelaide's senior side this year.
Bryce Campbell - Drafted last year as a mature aged recruit, he's spent most of the pre-season injured. I'm not really sure what to expect from Campbell, but I would not be surprised if he spends the entire season with the Redlegs.
Nick Gill - Hardly a youngster (at 24 years of age), he is however a first year draftee. Sadly, things do not look good for Gill as his body does not appear to be capable of coping with training at an AFL level. IF he can get his body right, then I'd expect him to play a handful of games. IF not, then expect him to be delisted at the end of the year.
Comments? Thoughts?
