Which players do we most need to improve?

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Which players' improvement do you think is most important to us in 2005?

Obviously Gardiner is a key, but he has already set a pretty high standard for himself.

2 players who I think would make a huge difference if they can really step up are Quinten Lynch and Mark Seaby.

If Lynch can hold down CHB then we're halfway to being a top 4 side.

Seaby had a great debut season, but if he can step up as a 2nd ruckmen rotating through a forward pocket, that would give us some serious firepower, and create some nightmares for opposition match-ups.

 

[Jabber]

Staker, McDougall, Hansen.

 

[sinepari]

I think if Doogs improves alot this year, we will become quite a handfull. I agree with you on seaby and Lynch. Would also like to see Hunter continue from where he left off and continue to improve this year.

 

[B-P-B]

McDougall, in order to take goalkicking pressure off Matera, and Staker to hold down a KP.

 

[Exeter]

Staker, McDougall, Hansen.

Correct.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Staker, McDougall, Hansen.

Obviously we'd love to have 6-7 guys capabale of playing CHB, CHF and FF, but where do you expect Staker and Hansen to fit in?

Assuming Gardiner plays at CHF and McDougall continues at FF, surely Lynch is the obvious choice for CHB.

I can't see Staker holding down CHB on more than a cameo basis, hence I nominated Lynch as the player we need improvement from.

I know Hansen showed signs in 2004, but is he really going to be an option in 2005? Surely Gardiner, McDougall, even Seaby and Brad Smith are ahead of him for KP spots. Where do you think Hansen would play?

I reckon Seaby could be huge for us. I see he as being similar to Luke Darcy. If he's half as good as Darcy, he'll be an extremely valuable player for us.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

McDougall, in order to take goalkicking pressure off Matera, and Staker to hold down a KP.

I guess I ignored McDougall as I consider his gradual improvement a given. If he can kick 50 goals next year I'll be happy.

We need a CHB - and it appears that Lynch is the man at this stage.

Seaby seems to be the best option as the 3rd tall up forward supporting Doogs and Gardiner.

Hence, Seaby and Lynch are the players I reckon we need improvement from the most.

 

[Jabber]

Obviously we'd love to have 6-7 guys capabale of playing CHB, CHF and FF, but where do you expect Staker and Hansen to fit in?

Assuming Gardiner plays at CHF and McDougall continues at FF, surely Lynch is the obvious choice for CHB.

I can't see Staker holding down CHB on more than a cameo basis, hence I nominated Lynch as the player we need improvement from.

I know Hansen showed signs in 2004, but is he really going to be an option in 2005? Surely Gardiner, McDougall, even Seaby and Brad Smith are ahead of him for KP spots. Where do you think Hansen would play?

I reckon Seaby could be huge for us. I see he as being similar to Luke Darcy. If he's half as good as Darcy, he'll be an extremely valuable player for us.

Well as a direct answer to your initial question, all 3 are underperforming IMO (McDougall to a lesser extent) hence they need to improve.

We have too many key forward prospects, without any that are demanding selection. Staker, McDougall & Hansen fall into that category. They are selected by default or as a result of injury to someone else. Drafting Smith and the return of Gardiner to CHF will force all 3 to lift their game.

Lynch IMO isn't going to get much better, he's pretty much fully developed ability wise but I'm happy with what he did in 2004 considering he was shuffled around between FB, CHB & CHF a fair bit. A defence of Glass, Lynch & Hunter isn't going to cost us any games.

Seaby will follow a similar path to Cox and most other young ruckmen. He won't improve significantly until he is forced to shoulder the load because of injury to the #1 ruckman.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Well as a direct answer to your initial question, all 3 are underperforming IMO (McDougall to a lesser extent) hence they need to improve.

We have too many key forward prospects, without any that are demanding selection. Staker, McDougall & Hansen fall into that category. They are selected by default or as a result of injury to someone else. Drafting Smith and the return of Gardiner to CHF will force all 3 to lift their game.

Lynch IMO isn't going to get much better, he's pretty much fully developed ability wise but I'm happy with what he did in 2004 considering he was shuffled around between FB, CHB & CHF a fair bit. A defence of Glass, Lynch & Hunter isn't going to cost us any games.

Seaby will follow a similar path to Cox and most other young ruckmen. He won't improve significantly until he is forced to shoulder the load because of injury to the #1 ruckman.

I don't think you can say Seaby is under-performing.

You didn't really answer anything either.

 

[Jabber]

I don't think you can say Seaby is under-performing.

You didn't really answer anything either.

I never said Seaby was underperforming, just commenting on your prediction that he would be 'huge for us'. Any improvement in his game will only be as a result of increased playing time.

As for not answering anything, wouldn't it make sense that if Staker, McDougall and Hansen improved then we would be better off in the positions they are trying to fill.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

I never said Seaby was underperforming, just commenting on your prediction that he would be 'huge for us'. Any improvement in his game will only be as a result of increased playing time.

As for not answering anything, wouldn't it make sense that if Staker, McDougall and Hansen improved then we would be better off in the positions they are trying to fill.

Sure it makes sense, but you didn't really argue that they were the players who, above all, we needed improvement from...

 

[Jabber]

Sure it makes sense, but you didn't really argue that they were the players who, above all, we needed improvement from...

Staker, McDougall & Hansen are the players above all who we need improvement from.

Is that better?

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Staker, McDougall & Hansen are the players above all who we need improvement from.

Is that better?

Better - but I disagree.

Even if Staker improved considerably he wouldn't be able to hold down CHB as well as Lynch, and that's what we really need.

 

[Jabber]

Better - but I disagree.

Even if Staker improved considerably he wouldn't be able to hold down CHB as well as Lynch, and that's what we really need.

Well as I mentioned earlier, I don't think we have a problem at CHB. Lynch is fine and Hunter can play on the smaller/quicker opponents anyway.

Staker is more likely to be a HF flanker. Ideally as close to possible the 1996 version of Mitchell White.

 

[franky_mojojo]

I would like to see Travis Gaspar stay injury free and improve enough to hold down CHB and move Lynch to the forwardline or play on a resting ruckman in the forwardline, like Lade.

 

[Belgarion]

I got the feeling that a player who is going to give a big leap forward next year is Hansen. I was quite impressed with his workrate and the way he moved in the few games he played last season. I think that with more game time he will improve vastly and he will become quite important for us.

The player we need not just gradual improvement, but a step up in performance and mainly in consistency is McDougall. I think we really need him to fullfil his talent and maybe 2005 will be his year.

Belgarion

 

[sinepari]

Yes i agree with u on Hansen, however i do think that unless there are injuries to some KP players, he will initially struggle for a place in the side

 

[The Passenger]

Seaby and McDougall are the two main guys i'd like to see improve next year.

 

[Streaker]

Sampi. We need players that are able to play 4 quarters of football week after week not play a blinder one week and then go missing for a week or 2 after that. I also think that Lynch needs to improve his consistency for us to become a better side.