Which Rookie would you elevate first?

[Baker_for_PM]

With our backline being our main problem for years, Many believe that zac dawson will be a good replacement for maxy when he retires. But for now who would you elevate first. Do we go by who gets injured and where the play or the most talented or excitment and go for choo choo.

 

[StFly]

Whoever earns promotion.

We don't need any of them to, we want them to as if Goose comes back and plays well then there's an immediate replacement for Max on the list. So I'd hope we go by who earns promotion if we promote anybody.

 

[goodie23]

Obvious first options:
Dawson, Miles, Howard

Could surprise:
Gaertner, Haretaku, Simpkin

Probably not AFL ready yet:
McGrath, McGarry, Tungatalum

 

[Rough_Edges]

Who knows.

Pretty tough to predict isn't it?

Completely circumstantial

 

[sainter]

Considering it costs the club money to promote a rookie you are only going to do it if there's an injury crisis or the form of a rookie is so exceptional that they are deserving of a spot in our best 22. And even in those cases you can only do it by adding a listed player to the long term injury list.

Let's just enjoy the fact that we've got a full complement of rookies and we'll have the opportunity to follow them at the Zebras all season. In 2000 when we fielded our own VFL side my mate and I used to go every week and loved watching Milne and Wulf play. Both deservedly got their shot on the senior list and while one may have failed, we at least took some enjoyment from watching young players develop before getting their chance.

 

[ChrisFooty]

Impossible to predict, as I really do not know much about most of the rookies, and what their form is likely to be in 2009.

My prediction: Miles.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Which would I elevate?
First I would play the most promising Rookies in the NAB cup and see which ones are best.
Then assuming that one or more of our listed players is injured AND we are better off playing a rookie rather than another listed player, I would pick the best performing rookie that compliments the team stucture depending on who is injured.
But having said that , if it is anyone it is likely to be Miles or Dawson.

 

[Squizz]

From the games I've seen, Miles looks very likely. But will need to shake the soft tissue problems he had after the broken leg.

With a backline including Max, Baker, Begley, Raph, Goose, Gilbo, Ray, Eddy and support from Gram, Sam F, Blake and BJ (hopefully not too much needed) I can't see any of the rookies being elevated until the end of the season.

The only scenario for mine is several simultaneous injuries to the tall defenders, which is the reason Zac was picked up relatively early in the rookie draft.

 

[Kildonan]

2009 Rookie List in age order:

   Name              Games Age Birth Date Height Weight Origin          Position  
  Dawson, Zac (R)        14 22 22 Feb 1986 195cm  95kg Doutta Stars        Defence
  Miles, Luke (R)         0 22 30 Oct 1986 185.8cm 78.8kg Swan Districts     Defence
  Howard, Brad (R)        2 20 21 Dec 1987 182.0cm 80.0kg Redlands           Midfield    
  Haretuku, Khan (R)      0 19 19 Oct 1989 198.0cm 98.0kg NSW Scholarship    KPP
  Gaertner, Steven (R)    0 18 02 Jan 1990 199.0cm 87.0kg Dandenong Stingrays Defence
  McGarry,  Sam (R)       0 18 21 Apr 1990 186.0cm 77.0kg Sandringham Dragons Midfield
  McGrath, Blake (R)      0 18 24 Apr 1990 208.0cm 85.0kg Pennant Hill       Ruck
  Tungatulum, Ross (R)    0 18 05 Jun 1990 ???.?cm ??.?kg St Mary’s          Forward
  Simpkin, Tom (R)        0 18 07 Aug 1990 191.0cm 83.0kg Geelong Falcons    Defence

Zac Daws stands out simply because he is mature, has a nice size and has already played on the big stage. He is there for depth and a possible replacement for Max who now approaches his retirement, and this season is his job interview for that spot. If he can live up to the expectations of the recruiters and selectors he will most likely be promoted next year.

Luke Miles is also a mature player. He has shown some real positives in preseason matches but has yet to crack into a H&A senior squad. Let's hope he proves himself this year because I would say it is his last with the club if he does not. If he shows enough - he will be promoted next year.

Brad Howard has pace to burn, he is seriously quick. He will be the first one promoted if he can start to get into matches more. He needs to develop his skills and get his possessions and tackles - that will get him selected.

Of the others - all have their special qualities, and most have some areas that need work. How soon they develop depends on their natural skills and their dedication. The most complete of them at this stage might be Sam McGarry who is a busy midfielder type, he is not really special in any one quality, but is good at almost everything. He is the roughie to be promoted early - but that would most likely be a consequence of our midfield not firing this year - and I hope that wont be the case.

 

[Squizz]

According to another BigFooty thread, Zac sure has filled out :

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Some of the Hawks supporters rate Dawson as a better forward than defender. I can think of a couple of reasons the Hawks didn't play him there.
If that is the case it will be interesting to see if we try him as a forward in the VFL.

We don't have that many tall or tallish forwards :
Riewoldt, without him we are doomed.
Kosi , maybe , not proving reliable.
Gwilt, has serious limitations so far.
R Clarke , can he kick goals?
Allen , largely unproven and gone for most of season.
Macca unproven.
S Fisher and Goddard , unproven as a forward and needed as a defender/midfielder.
Dawson unproven.

If the unthinkable happens we are looking very wishy washy in front of the goals and Dawson could provide another option.

 

[AFLOnline]

I pray to god that image is fake..

I read somewhere a year or so ago that Brad Howard was one of the fastest players in the AFL? I've only seen him play 1-2 games and didn't see much of him, can anyone let me know if this is true or not?

I'd love to see Choo Choo in there I guess. We need an excitement player.

 

[MIDDO]

According to another BigFooty thread, Zac sure has filled out :

Might have got a laugh if you had taken Lance Armstrongs head of and put Zac's on ???

 

[tredrea16]

i think simpkin looks best out of the rookies...tall, and skills semm to be pretty good. i feel he could fit into the saints back easily and think he should be elevated

 

[Squizz]

I read somewhere a year or so ago that Brad Howard was one of the fastest players in the AFL?

He's not slow, but to be honest I haven't seen the "cat like" abilities that John Beveridge spoke about when he was recruited with a second round pick. Still finding his way at VFL level and I got a big shock when he got a 2 year contract (and then another shock when they subsequently delisted him).

Could be the sort who clicks and almost overnight becomes a much better player, but I'd like to see him dominate some games (not just contribute) before we considered him for the Saints team.

 

[gilbert the best]

can sean dempster and allen be put on the long term injury list now as they will probably miss the full season thus enabling the saints to elevate two rookies now

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Howard's coach in regional Queensland was an Ex-Saint ( forget his name ) and I still sort of suspect he may have gotten his old mate Bevo pissed at the pub before he convinced him to sign up Howard.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

can sean dempster and allen be put on the long term injury list now as they will probably miss the full season thus enabling the saints to elevate two rookies now

I guess - Allen will, I understand, definitely be out for more than eight weeks. I'd put my money on Dawson who, like Allen, can play on both ends and is basically 'ready to go'.

Not sure about Dempster - some say he should be okay around Rd 11, others say he'lll be out the entire year. And I am not convinced that I should trust 'official' news releases by the club regarding injuries...

 

[Squizz]

Howard's coach in regional Queensland was an Ex-Saint ( forget his name ) and I still sort of suspect he may have gotten his old mate Bevo pissed at the pub before he convinced him to sign up Howard.

25th Nov 2006 :
Toowomba’s Brad Howard has done everything he can to attract the attention of AFL clubs and some big names in the sport in Queensland don’t believe that will go un-noticed in today's AFL Draft.

If unsuccessful, Howard will pin his hopes on getting a start via the Rookie Draft in mid-December. "Last year there were six Queenslanders taken in the draft and that was a record, but they expect nine or 10 to go this year," Howard said. "I haven't got too many expectations. "It would be good to be picked up, but if not, there is probably a better chance through the Rookie Draft."

While the 18-year-old doesn t consider himself a big chance , there are some pretty big names in Queensland Australian Rules who believe otherwise. Howard has had AFL legends Michael Voss and Alastair Lynch in his corner, after he signed with their Velocity Sports management group. The pair has played a role in guiding Howard towards the draft. "We set up this company a year ago because when we were young we got no help or direction," Alastair Lynch said yesterday.

"If Brad is picked up in the draft, his life is going to change enormously and we hope we can help him come to terms with that. "We're certainly hopeful he'll feature in the draft, because there is no doubt he has the physical attributes to be an AFL footballer. Howard has been impressive in pre-draft testing, putting himself within the top 10% of aspirants. Had he been at the AFL Draft Camp, he would have ranked fifth best for the 20m sprint, fourth best for the beep test and the best for the vertical jump.

Another who believes Howard will be heading south after today's draft is former St Kilda player Gary "I love to have a drink with Bevo" Odgers, who stumbled across the Toowoomba youngster while coaching Redlands this season. Odgers has been singing the youngster's praises since. "We'd heard about Brad, but he really came to notice when he played for Queensland Country this year," he said. "Without wanting to be disrespectful to anyone else, he was the guy that really stood out and we encouraged him to test himself in the state league."

 

[CHBench]

Correct me if i'm wrong but don't we also get to elevate a rookie and the mid point of the season aswell? Due to GC17 concessions or something?

Dawson for Allen
Miles for possibly Dempster
Howard @ midpoint.

 

[MCG-Unit]

Very hard to predict - but maybe Dawson, Miles and Gaertner