Will Minson

[Jabso]

Minson is somewhat overrated, but he is ok for our needs and certainly better than Jamar.

 

[Bonuspoints]

I don't think we're that desperate for in & under players. Yeah Burns, Lica and O'bree are on their way out with only 2-3 years left in each one, but we've got guys coming through. Stanley is likened to be the next Burns and I think Pendlebury will handle the traffic well. Remember that these two blokes are still very young. Plus theres a handful of other young midfielder types coming through. But our ruck stocks are almost non-existant. Other than Fraser we don't really have much. We've got Richards who is injury prone and not that good. A second stringer at best. Then we have Bryan who is going to be a second stringer and nothing more. I can't see him being around for more than 3 years to be honest. We really need to start developing some young rucks and whether thats through trade or draft will really depend on whats out there and whats realistically available to us.

 

[mdc]

We have a few coming through. Swans already there, as is Johnson. Iles Stanley Toovey and Clarke are the next generation. Pendelbury doesnt mind it in heavy traffic either.

Thomas too. He will become a midfielder. Heath Shaw possibly (if Cook works out for us, he may replace Heater of half back, moving Heath to the midfield).

Swan's not an in-and-under player, he's a run-onto-the-open-wing-and-magically-lose-your-opponent-every-time player . Neither is Ben Johnson, who is a run-past-the-man-who-marked-it-for-a-handball player. Iles is going to be a depth player at best. Stanley has yet to log any minutes in the MF. Toovey is a tagger. Clarke has a shot, but needs to put on weight and learn not to fall over all the time.
Dale is a fwd-flanker who's a good mark for his size and decent pace. A very good player but not a mf, you can't teach in-close ball-winning ability, as we've seen with Didak (a far more talented player).
Heath Shaw could well be a midfielder, but he'd be in the Swan mould, with more pace.

 

[mdc]

I don't think we're that desperate for in & under players. Yeah Burns, Lica and O'bree are on their way out with only 2-3 years left in each one.

If O'Bree or Lica survive another 3 years they're obviously blackmailing Mick Malthouse in some way. That will never happen. Ever. At least I pray it doesn't. Especially O'Bree. But especially Licuria.

On the topic of the OP btw, we shouldn't be touching Will Minson with a stick. No rejects please.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Swan's not an in-and-under player, he's a run-onto-the-open-wing-and-magically-lose-your-opponent-every-time player . Neither is Ben Johnson, who is a run-past-the-man-who-marked-it-for-a-handball player. Iles is going to be a depth player at best. Stanley has yet to log any minutes in the MF. Toovey is a tagger. Clarke has a shot, but needs to put on weight and learn not to fall over all the time.
Dale is a fwd-flanker who's a good mark for his size and decent pace. A very good player but not a mf, you can't teach in-close ball-winning ability, as we've seen with Didak (a far more talented player).
Heath Shaw could well be a midfielder, but he'd be in the Swan mould, with more pace.

Agree with much of this, but don't necesarily agree about Swan. He's may not be Brett Ratten, but he is leading the club in hardball-gets and has turned him self into a very effective stoppage player. Personally, I don't see any reason why Thomas can't be a mid. He needs greater size and stamina, but once he's got them he should be able to move into the middle.

 

[buckstheking]

Agree with much of this, but don't necesarily agree about Swan. He's may not be Brett Ratten, but he is leading the club in hardball-gets and has turned him self into a very effective stoppage player. Personally, I don't see any reason why Thomas can be a mid. He needs greater size and stamina, but once he's got them he should be able to move into the middle.

 

[mdc]

Agree with much of this, but don't necesarily agree about Swan. He's may not be Brett Ratten, but he is leading the club in hardball-gets and has turned him self into a very effective stoppage player. Personally, I don't see any reason why Thomas can't be a mid. He needs greater size and stamina, but once he's got them he should be able to move into the middle.

I love Swan, but if you made a chart of his hardball gets I'd bet most would not be in the centre. He's just a gun at winning 1 on 1 contests against players not named Cameron Ling. Re:Thomas I just don't think his strengths would be utilized in the midfield. I actually think his stamina is ok, but not really a ground-level player. I see him more as a guy to spell the main midfielders occasionally.