What's going on with Charlie Edwards?

[Crowman32]

I know our AFL side has had a really good year but why hasn't Charlie Edwards been given an AFL debut or at least make the emergency list? It was obvious weeks ago that he wasn't going to be given an AFL game this year which I just don't understand.

Last year he finished off the year playing some really good football in the midfield playing in the sanfl and this year was asked to play across half back and has played extremely well.

To me Edwards is a future big bodied midfielder who has a booming kick, explodes away from the stoppage, tackles hard and knows how to find the footy. At the worst he can play across half back to the start his AFL career.

If by miracle NWM chooses us I really hope Edwards isn't one the players who is traded for him.

 

[RavensFever]

We have depth this year compared to previous years and Draper no 3 pick can't break into the side or sub when he was named

 

[cmndstab]

The following players are absolute locks when they are fit:

Keays, Curtin, Thilthorpe, Rachele, Dawson, Walker, Soligo, Michalanney, Hinge, Rankine, Worrell, Peatling, Neal-Bullen, Laird, Milera, Fogarty, O'Brien, Cumming, Keane.

Plus one of Butts/Murray (with Borlase as the third option). That's twenty players. So we have two available spots for everybody else, not counting the sub. Currently those last two spots are being taken by Berry and Taylor, and one of them may end up making way for Crouch. That just leaves the sub role for the likes of Smith, Cook, Bond, Jones, Nankervis, Pedlar, Draper, Dowling, etc... and Edwards.

Yes, injuries will open up spots, but right now we only have two of consequence (Rachele and Michalanney. Butts doesn't count because Murray is available). Just not a whole lot of space in our side right now, and for the first time since 2018 we are absolutely justified in selecting our best available side.

It's unfortunate, we gave up a lot for Edwards and Ryan and have left them languishing for two seasons. Should have given Edwards at least a debut earlier in the season. But right now, there's probably no space for in the side for him.

 

[StonesThrow]

You could argue he could have been given a game instead of Smith earlier in the year, but i would have Nank ahead of him anyway.

We like shiny new toys.

 

[Mostyn]

You could argue he could have been given a game instead of Smith earlier in the year, but i would have Nank ahead of him anyway.

We like shiny new toys.

I thought Edwards was a shiny new toy?

 

[Mostyn]

Edwards has been good, and if we were in an earlier stage of rebuilding he'd have been given a chance.

Now he's a part of our depth, who'll get his opportunity when circumstances and his own form align.

He needs to be ready and demand it when it comes.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Edwards has been good, and if we were in an earlier stage of rebuilding he'd have been given a chance.

Now he's a part of our depth, who'll get his opportunity when circumstances and his own form align.

He needs to be ready and demand it when it comes.

Should have been given a taste earlier in the season imo when be was in good sanfl form.

 

[FR0GGY]

I thought Edwards was a shiny new toy?

I think “we” is the big footy board in general.

 

[Geoffa32]

Very unlucky not to have played a game.

 

[davos44]

He went through a patch early in the year where he was almost there but has dropped away a bit.

He is playing solid SANFL footy but you have to really stand out / do everything the coaches ask to get a game for us at the moment.

 

[Mutineer]

I'd really like for a Journalist/Commentators ask Nick's what they see as Edwards preferred position going forward...my understanding was Hamish and his crew saw him as an AFL big bodied midfielder.

Has very good acceleration, top end speed and a very penetrating kick. Have to say I'm really not following the development path the club currently has him on.

 

[maxlilly]

Edwards has been good, and if we were in an earlier stage of rebuilding he'd have been given a chance.

Now he's a part of our depth, who'll get his opportunity when circumstances and his own form align.

He needs to be ready and demand it when it comes.

Edwards has been in good form all year.
The coaches have had opportunities to get him into the team but have instead gone with Smith.
Why wouldn't you have him a play a couple of earlier rounds when there was injury instead of Smith.
Give him the chance to show what he's got and if he isn't quite there, he can see the things he needs to work on, to get back into the team

 

[Banrock]

Could they be going down the Geelong path with their younger player development. Geelong have let a number of their recruits play 30 + games in the vfl, build strength and fitness and then when they do come in they can perform and maintain..

Letting Edwards / Ryan build and develop strength, fitness, games structures and probably more importantly the ups and downs of form in the SANFL and out of the media spotlight so when they do come in they can perform at a more consistent basis.

As Worrell said, he needed that first few years to really get settled. Maybe these boys need the same. it is very rare to see first year players come in and stay in.

Yes, he could have got a game early on instead of Smith and i think West Coast would be a good opportunity for him to either be traveling emergency to experience being around the environment and maybe be a late change to come in.

I like that we dont need to rush these blokes any more. A few years ago we had spuds and any better talent was welcomed but we dont have to rush.

 

[Golumless]

I'd really like for a Journalist/Commentators ask Nick's what they see as Edwards preferred position going forward...my understanding was Hamish and his crew saw him as an AFL big bodied midfielder.

Has very good acceleration, top end speed and a very penetrating kick. Have to say I'm really not following the development path the club currently has him on.

Half back flank to midfield is a decently common pathway, seeing Dawson, Nick Daicos and Young are recent examples of players who took that pathway.

That said if Edwards can't transition due to lacking quality compared to our list (possible, our midfield is about to become a tough nut to crack), the next best spot for top end speed and a penetrating kick is half back.

 

[1970crow]

We have depth this year compared to previous years and Draper no 3 pick can't break into the side or sub when he was named

Opportunities arose, but we stupidly decided to play Smith. Does nothing for us in either the short, medium or long terms.

 

[Mutineer]

Half back flank to midfield is a decently common pathway, seeing Dawson, Nick Daicos and Young are recent examples of players who took that pathway.

Yeah

At AFL level!!!!!!!

 

[1970crow]

You could argue he could have been given a game instead of Smith earlier in the year, but i would have Nank ahead of him anyway.

We like shiny new toys.

I don't think Nank is in the defensive depth chart anymore. If he was, surely he'd be ahead of Smith.

 

[Golumless]

Yeah

At AFL level!!!!!!!

Yup, but it's only a matter of time before Edwards get his chance. Big preseason and getting Smith off the list would likely put him as the backup HBF come the start of 2026.

 

[Jarman3]

Currently those last two spots are being taken by Berry and Taylor, and one of them may end up making way for Crouch. That just leaves the sub role for the likes of Smith, Cook, Bond, Jones, Nankervis, Pedlar, Draper, Dowling, etc... and Edwards.

If we drop either Berry or Taylor for Crouch I'll set fire to the building.

 

[Mutineer]

Could they be going down the Geelong path with their younger player development. Geelong have let a number of their recruits play 30 + games in the vfl, build strength and fitness and then when they do come in they can perform and maintain..

Letting Edwards / Ryan build and develop strength, fitness, games structures and probably more importantly the ups and downs of form in the SANFL and out of the media spotlight so when they do come in they can perform at a more consistent basis.

As Worrell said, he needed that first few years to really get settled. Maybe these boys need the same. it is very rare to see first year players come in and stay in.

Yes, he could have got a game early on instead of Smith and i think West Coast would be a good opportunity for him to either be traveling emergency to experience being around the environment and maybe be a late change to come in.

I like that we dont need to rush these blokes any more. A few years ago we had spuds and any better talent was welcomed but we dont have to rush.

Like Geelong you say all these below had played AFL by their 2nd year, most of them in their 1st year.

Max Holmes
Connor O'Sullivan
Jhye Clark
Ted Clohesy
Ollie Dempsey
Jack Henry
Gryan Miers

and there's others like George Stevens, Shannon Neale etc.

It's becoming clear Edwards and Ryan will not even get an AFL taster in their 2nd year, both 1st round picks.

 

[Mostyn]

Should have been given a taste earlier in the season imo when be was in good sanfl form.

His form was fine, but he wasn't smashing the door down with BOG's. He looked good and promising. But the days of gifting spots in the side are over.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

His form was fine, but he wasn't smashing the door down with BOG's. He looked good and promising. But the days of gifting spots in the side are over.

Murph says hello.

 

[Mostyn]

It's becoming clear Edwards and Ryan will not even get an AFL taster in their 2nd year, both 1st round picks.

Edwards was pick 21 and Ryan pick 27. They're not exactly prime first round picks.

 

[Mostyn]

Murph says hello.

They have Murphy games because they knew he would immediately fit into the structure, because he was experienced and mature. And they stopped when they had someone who also could do that, but with more talent.

 

[Carmo]

We could play him against norf? By then the ladder will be pretty much known, if percentage isn't a huge need we could gift him a game (even if it is play our best side plus him since there's a weeks break after). That's what I'd do.