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Zuthrie, captain after Dangerfield.
Opinion Your 3 to watch - Season 2023
- Thread starter Art Vandelay_
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Zuthrie, captain after Dangerfield.
1. Mark O'Connor. He was back to near his best in the GF, and brought some physicality to the game. And I'd nearly forgotten how quick he is. If he can also add a little bit to his aerial game- he's the same height as Jack Henry- we've got a serious weapon.
2. Toby Conway. Stanley and Cegs aren't getting any younger, Neale is more of a forward, and Sav isn't up to it. We need this guy to come on or face a future without a decent ruckman.
3. Tom Hawkins. How long can he keep going? He seems ageless. Currently he sits 19th on the list of all-time goal kickers but the next four aren't that far ahead of him. Another two good seasons and he'd break Selwood's club games record and wind up passing Bernie Quinlan into 11th place for goals. I think that would be an amazing legacy.
2. Toby Conway. Stanley and Cegs aren't getting any younger, Neale is more of a forward, and Sav isn't up to it. We need this guy to come on or face a future without a decent ruckman.
3. Tom Hawkins. How long can he keep going? He seems ageless. Currently he sits 19th on the list of all-time goal kickers but the next four aren't that far ahead of him. Another two good seasons and he'd break Selwood's club games record and wind up passing Bernie Quinlan into 11th place for goals. I think that would be an amazing legacy.
CatToTheFuture
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4th thing to watch, the replay tonight
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I'm going to cheat and name 3 things to watch with 3 players under each category
#1 - Intent of the senior players. I think Dangerfield, Duncan and Cam Guthrie will be the barometers here. Keen to see whether they are still hungry to go B2B or whether they are now content with last years flag.
#2 - Performance of the new guys traded in. I think next year is more critical for their career trajectory than most people would care to admit. Yes Bruhn and Henry are young but heading into their 3rd season you really want to see those sort of players break out to confirm that they have a long term future at AFL level and not exit stage left like a Cooper Stephens. Bowes being a little older is in a different category, I would class him in a similar position to Parfitt, where he really needs to reinvent himself to break into / hold his place week to week within the 22.
#3 - Progression of the next wave of players. As far as future proofing the list goes we have 3 major concerns IMO. Elite midfielders post Selwood/Dangerfield, key forward post Hawkins and a new ruckman long term. Clark, Neale and Conway are the existing development pieces on the list that cover those areas so keen to see how they get on in 23.
#1 - Intent of the senior players. I think Dangerfield, Duncan and Cam Guthrie will be the barometers here. Keen to see whether they are still hungry to go B2B or whether they are now content with last years flag.
#2 - Performance of the new guys traded in. I think next year is more critical for their career trajectory than most people would care to admit. Yes Bruhn and Henry are young but heading into their 3rd season you really want to see those sort of players break out to confirm that they have a long term future at AFL level and not exit stage left like a Cooper Stephens. Bowes being a little older is in a different category, I would class him in a similar position to Parfitt, where he really needs to reinvent himself to break into / hold his place week to week within the 22.
#3 - Progression of the next wave of players. As far as future proofing the list goes we have 3 major concerns IMO. Elite midfielders post Selwood/Dangerfield, key forward post Hawkins and a new ruckman long term. Clark, Neale and Conway are the existing development pieces on the list that cover those areas so keen to see how they get on in 23.
Vdubs
Hall of Famer
I think the Hawkins question has been answered previously in this or another thread, but really, we won't know for a while. It does seem as if he will miss games, and will be managed next season, and 23 will be his last, but time will tell
Conway could turn out to be just average and he would probably be an upgrade on our rucks.
I think he will grow into a solid #1 tap ruck over the years (still a baby in rucking terms though).
Stanley got the job done this year (thank god)... but he truly had been a liability for many years in the past (and he was our best ruck option that wasn't our fullback/wingman).
1. Max Holmes / Brad Close - Really looking forward to see if these lads can stay on the same career trajectory. Constantly improving, they know that they not only belong at AFL level, but they can impact games. Sights set on the All Australian squad.
2. Tyson Stengoal - To have that kind of year coming from the SANFL (previous AFL I know) in just one preseason was incredible. Young, quick and highly skilled, Tyson's impact allows us to play the way we did last year and it wouldn't surprise to see us take the game.on in a more manic way in 2023. Can be an absolute gun small forward ala Eddie Betts & Charlie Cameron makes our forward line a scary proposition.
3. Jez Cameron - Hampered by injuries in year one, you can clearly see why we chased him so hard given the season just gone. Regarded as one of the best players in the comp, I'm looking forward to seeing him take that up a notch. Expecting a couple of double figure hauls along the way.
2. Tyson Stengoal - To have that kind of year coming from the SANFL (previous AFL I know) in just one preseason was incredible. Young, quick and highly skilled, Tyson's impact allows us to play the way we did last year and it wouldn't surprise to see us take the game.on in a more manic way in 2023. Can be an absolute gun small forward ala Eddie Betts & Charlie Cameron makes our forward line a scary proposition.
3. Jez Cameron - Hampered by injuries in year one, you can clearly see why we chased him so hard given the season just gone. Regarded as one of the best players in the comp, I'm looking forward to seeing him take that up a notch. Expecting a couple of double figure hauls along the way.
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
Agree with point 1 for sure and to a certain degree on point 2. For eg if henry isnt best 22 every week this year thats ok so long as hes making progress as he likely will be best 22 in 2024 when hawk and/or rohan are gone.
On point 3 the elite mids bit dont worry me to a huge degree. I rate bruhn more than most and we have him holmes and clark coming through..if bowes can be a good mid thats a good start..yes we will need one or two more but good mids arent that hard to get in FA. Our spine worries me more-hawk stanley ceglar and sav will all be gone within 24mths, neale isnt signed yet. We need another key forward plus a key back (even if only as injury cover) and another ruck to support conway (every chance he is the only specialist ruck on the list in 2024) much more than another mid.
#1 Parfitt, really don’t know what to expect here, very lucky to play in the GF. Very hot and cold.
#2 Has to be Conway, our ruck stocks are dinosaurs just holding on.
#3 Ollie Henry, would love him to play round 1 and have a blinder but apart from maybe Rohan, I don’t know how he plays.
Players in trouble this year are Parfitt, Menegola, Rohan and I’ve got a bad feeling about Duncan falling of the cliff.
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#2 Has to be Conway, our ruck stocks are dinosaurs just holding on.
#3 Ollie Henry, would love him to play round 1 and have a blinder but apart from maybe Rohan, I don’t know how he plays.
Players in trouble this year are Parfitt, Menegola, Rohan and I’ve got a bad feeling about Duncan falling of the cliff.
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Really like the way Ollie goes about it. Needs to build his frame, but has the talent.
- Feb 9, 2015
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Young guys for me also.
Neale, Holmes and Mullin.
Neale is going to be a very good player, I just hope it’s at Geelong.
Neale, Holmes and Mullin.
Neale is going to be a very good player, I just hope it’s at Geelong.
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Players who's upside im watching...
Holmes- Want to see whether he can continue his development trajectory
Dempsey- Same as Holmes, Ideally he manages to earn a few games in the seniors this year.
O'connor- Needs to lift next year, was an average year for him overall and I think he can play much better next year.
Players who's downside im watching
Hawkins-Blicavs-Stanley. All structure critical, all elderly.
Holmes- Want to see whether he can continue his development trajectory
Dempsey- Same as Holmes, Ideally he manages to earn a few games in the seniors this year.
O'connor- Needs to lift next year, was an average year for him overall and I think he can play much better next year.
Players who's downside im watching
Hawkins-Blicavs-Stanley. All structure critical, all elderly.
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Just 3 players was so hard, I am looking forward to watching 19 players who have under 50 games, Be it in AFL or VFL...so much to see in 2023
standupand
Club Legend
For me it's Sam, Sam and Sav. (Simpson, Menegola and Ratugolea).
These are the three I think who in 2023 are really playing for their future at the cats.
It'll be fascinating to see the responses from each.
Can Menegola invent new strengths or develop new flexibility to his game that may see him get the nod ahead of Smith or Holmes on a wing?
Is Simpson able to get back to his best and really shake up the midfield pecking order?
Does Sav take his chance this time as a key defender, or perhaps in Hawkins absence, deep forward?
I'm hoping to be surprised by something from these three in 2023, because if not I worry that this year may very well be their last at the cats. I would hate to see any of them turning out in an opposition jersey in 2024.
These are the three I think who in 2023 are really playing for their future at the cats.
It'll be fascinating to see the responses from each.
Can Menegola invent new strengths or develop new flexibility to his game that may see him get the nod ahead of Smith or Holmes on a wing?
Is Simpson able to get back to his best and really shake up the midfield pecking order?
Does Sav take his chance this time as a key defender, or perhaps in Hawkins absence, deep forward?
I'm hoping to be surprised by something from these three in 2023, because if not I worry that this year may very well be their last at the cats. I would hate to see any of them turning out in an opposition jersey in 2024.
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I found it hard to pick 3 so have approached this a bit differently. If we are to win another flag then you would expect to see around 3-4 changes to the team that won it last year plus improvement from the others.
Players that could go to another level
Holmes - still has a heap of growth and development in him. Will need to learn to deal with a tag either this year or next
De Koning - good as he was last year could just keep going up each year. Could also have a flat year before rising but listening to him I don't think he will.
Close - just keeps improving
Stengle - had an amazing year but players coming from other clubs normally take a year to learn the game plan and come to understand their teammates.
Scary as it sounds if Tyson follows that rule then this year could be awesome.
Outside the Team
Neale - needs to play minimum of 8-10 games this year
Dempsey - if he could put on 5-10 kilos and retain pace and leap would be a lock. Could be anything.
The glove
Clarke - something about the kid says he could be like Joel and come straight in and fit like a glove.
Juries out
O. Henry - as much as I wanted him with the Cats unless he can find a defensive side to his game then it is hard to see him getting too many games. Will be quickly offside with the MC and teammates. The natural spot for him is Rohan's but unless he brings a defensive side to his game he will not replace him.
Bruhn - from what I saw of him at the Giants he is an outside mid. Did not see any evidence of the inside mid people here have talked about. Hard to see where he fits.
Bowes
Players that could go to another level
Holmes - still has a heap of growth and development in him. Will need to learn to deal with a tag either this year or next
De Koning - good as he was last year could just keep going up each year. Could also have a flat year before rising but listening to him I don't think he will.
Close - just keeps improving
Stengle - had an amazing year but players coming from other clubs normally take a year to learn the game plan and come to understand their teammates.
Scary as it sounds if Tyson follows that rule then this year could be awesome.
Outside the Team
Neale - needs to play minimum of 8-10 games this year
Dempsey - if he could put on 5-10 kilos and retain pace and leap would be a lock. Could be anything.
The glove
Clarke - something about the kid says he could be like Joel and come straight in and fit like a glove.
Juries out
O. Henry - as much as I wanted him with the Cats unless he can find a defensive side to his game then it is hard to see him getting too many games. Will be quickly offside with the MC and teammates. The natural spot for him is Rohan's but unless he brings a defensive side to his game he will not replace him.
Bruhn - from what I saw of him at the Giants he is an outside mid. Did not see any evidence of the inside mid people here have talked about. Hard to see where he fits.
Bowes
1 - Neale
2 - O Henry
3 - Bruhn
All three above could go either way for mine long term... If we could fast forward 3 or 4 years and see that all of them were good AFL players then it would be very good for our future.
As much as I look forward to seeing natural improvement and continued good form from SDK, Holmes, Close, Stengle + seeing guys like Conway & Clark start their AFL careers, I'm already convinced that these lads will do what we expect them to do and be good (hopefully very good) long term players.
Neale, Henry & Bruhn are important to our future and are less "sure things IMO" & I'm not as confident in them as the above players... So they are the ones I have my fingers crossed for the most and for those reasons I'm probably most interested in seeing them play over all others.
Bowes, Dempsey, Willis, Knevitt & Mullin are also similar. The more of them that make it long term the better.
2 - O Henry
3 - Bruhn
All three above could go either way for mine long term... If we could fast forward 3 or 4 years and see that all of them were good AFL players then it would be very good for our future.
As much as I look forward to seeing natural improvement and continued good form from SDK, Holmes, Close, Stengle + seeing guys like Conway & Clark start their AFL careers, I'm already convinced that these lads will do what we expect them to do and be good (hopefully very good) long term players.
Neale, Henry & Bruhn are important to our future and are less "sure things IMO" & I'm not as confident in them as the above players... So they are the ones I have my fingers crossed for the most and for those reasons I'm probably most interested in seeing them play over all others.
Bowes, Dempsey, Willis, Knevitt & Mullin are also similar. The more of them that make it long term the better.
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Really interested to see if Close can get some midfield minutes
He was excellent last year. Could develop into a very good player
He was excellent last year. Could develop into a very good player
I share your reservations about Parfitt.
Three or so years ago I had hoped he was going to improve to be one of our best mids.
His career trajectory seems to have stalled
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
Injuries havent helped but hes one of a number of players who are now on the fringe and who i could see seeking a trade in a year or two if they havent solidified their spot.
Parfitt is 25 in April, so hopefully he is coming into his prime.
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Not worried about Duncan at all he had a terrific 2022 season a much under rated link up player.
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Especially considering it was a new role that required an adjustment to his normal game, I thought he had an outstanding and consistent season.
I kinda feel that role and the way we are now playing actually suit Duncan better than previous seasons.
Id say Parfitt has a strong opportunity with no Joel but its true, there are others coming for his spot. Yes he was lucky but there is usually a lucky players or two and an unlucky one or two. Id say his time has come and its time to step up. 25 and over 100 games. He should be in his prime. Contracted till 2024. The next two years should be career defining.
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I'd say he will. Got back in the system the hard way, will appreciate where he's ended up. I don't want to jinx it but I think we get a fair few more quality years from our AA forward pocket.
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Dont think he's got the size or strength to work inside the stoppage, but thats ok, he's a gun on the outside.
