- Mar 16, 2022
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- Collingwood
Whilst there’s still plenty of time for some to turn it around we’re starting to more of what McRae wants out of players and can clearly see his style play. Some players have fit this style like a glove whilst others look like they’ll struggle to adapt. Here’s my list:
Nathan Murphy - out of contract this year and hasn’t shown much since he was picked up in the 2017 draft. Some of that is due to injury, luck definitely hasn’t gone his way here but he’s been given opportunities and has taken them. He’s at that awkward spot where he’s too slow and not skilled enough to play as a flanker and not strong enough to play as a key position player. He’s been tried as a defender, winger and forward and hasn’t looked close to being AFL relevant in either of those. He’s best bet to make it was under Buck’s slower defensive game plan but his lack of overheard ability and injuries made it hard. Now that he’s injured and McRae has moved to faster game plan I can’t see him being retained beyond the end of the year. Delist.
Trent Bianco - Has shown a bit through his VFL and AFL form last season but has struggled this season. Whilst he has displayed good skills before they have seemed to have abandoned him his year. Another one who doesn’t seem to suit McRae’s faster game plan with lack of size and pace hurts him dearly. He still has time to turns things around and find the from that got him games at the back end of last year but even if he does I think there are other flankers that suit McRae better plus the obvious roles he could play are occupied buy the Daicos brother who can do everything he does but better. Delist.
Will Kelly - Has spent a fair bit of time on the list and played at both end grounds, whilst he’s been injured for large chunks of that he has also failed to show much promise during the time he’s on the field. Atm he looks like he’s trying to become the next Ben Reid with the skills of Jack Frost. Defensively hasn’t been solid and ball in hand his decision making has been downright horrible. He’ll have to turn it around very quickly but I think his time is done. Delist.
Callum Brown - he’s a great VFL mid but that form doesn’t translate to AFL. Doesn’t have the composure or the size to play inside at AFL level and the less said about his forward craft the better. Delist.
Tyler Brown - was touted as the brother with higher potential but has achieved even less at AFL level. Unlike Callum his VFL form does translate to AFL where he can barely find the ball at either level despite mainly playing on ball. He can occasionally fly high though so he has one trick Callum doesn’t have and did have a decent game in the VFL last week so maybe he’s turning it around but I think it too little too late now. Delist.
Isaac Chugg - haven’t seen much of him so it hard for me to make a call but he hasn’t been too great in the VFL this season. Looks to have a decent build and good pace so maybe he could nail down a pressure forward or lockdown defender role. Keep pending VFL form.
Jack Madgen - A name that will be on most people’s lists but I’ll give my verdict early and say we’ll keep him. He’s proven to be a solid option under two coaches and continually proves he’s a better option then the players trying to push him out. He has allot of weaknesses as player, not strong enough to play to tall and not quick enough to play short but seems to do alright playing on a medium playing off his man going for a third up spoil. Whilst he’s nothing special he seems to be a coaches favourite so unless he get pushed far down the pecking order by Ruscoe, McMahon and Dean I think he’ll be kept for depth at worst. Keep.
Tom Wilson - Has shown a bit at both end in VFL level but doesn’t seem to have sure enough hands, strength or pace to make it at the AFL level. As an inbetween type will be hard to find a role. Delist.
Will Hoskin-Elliott. A solid option who possesses pace, good marking and skill. His problem is he doesn’t get involved enough in games. Whilst he’s shown he can do that on a wing or at half back coaches have never trusted him to play that role for long so he gets relegated to a lead and mark and forward who doesn’t have the physicalilty to win one on ones and doesn’t get the delivery when on the lead. He probably stays but I’d look to trade him to club that can use him better to free up cap space and develop other players in his spot. Trade.
Mason Cox or Darcy Cameron - will give them the same spot since one will stay as ruck depth and I think enough has been said about them, I don’t have anything to add to the debate except Cox is more involved but stuffs up more involvements, Cameron drops less marks and converts better up forward. Pick your poison. I think Mason Cox will go home if he spend another year in the VFL. Keep Cameron, Retire Cox.
Steele Sidebottom - I think it will be time to give him the tap on the shoulder at year end. Premsierhsip player so he’ll always be a legend. Looked revitalised in the first couple of round under McRae but has regressed back to 2020-21 from in recent rounds. Plays on the wing but how long can he justify that spot when it’s potentially better served to develop either Poulter or Macrae in. He doesn’t some creative things to open up the game and can go forward and score but he put two many teammates under pressure trying to be too clever and get caught to much since he’s lost a yard. Retire.
Others that could retire are Howe and Roughead but I’d try and keep them, I think they can be AFL relevant for longer given their roles.
Nathan Murphy - out of contract this year and hasn’t shown much since he was picked up in the 2017 draft. Some of that is due to injury, luck definitely hasn’t gone his way here but he’s been given opportunities and has taken them. He’s at that awkward spot where he’s too slow and not skilled enough to play as a flanker and not strong enough to play as a key position player. He’s been tried as a defender, winger and forward and hasn’t looked close to being AFL relevant in either of those. He’s best bet to make it was under Buck’s slower defensive game plan but his lack of overheard ability and injuries made it hard. Now that he’s injured and McRae has moved to faster game plan I can’t see him being retained beyond the end of the year. Delist.
Trent Bianco - Has shown a bit through his VFL and AFL form last season but has struggled this season. Whilst he has displayed good skills before they have seemed to have abandoned him his year. Another one who doesn’t seem to suit McRae’s faster game plan with lack of size and pace hurts him dearly. He still has time to turns things around and find the from that got him games at the back end of last year but even if he does I think there are other flankers that suit McRae better plus the obvious roles he could play are occupied buy the Daicos brother who can do everything he does but better. Delist.
Will Kelly - Has spent a fair bit of time on the list and played at both end grounds, whilst he’s been injured for large chunks of that he has also failed to show much promise during the time he’s on the field. Atm he looks like he’s trying to become the next Ben Reid with the skills of Jack Frost. Defensively hasn’t been solid and ball in hand his decision making has been downright horrible. He’ll have to turn it around very quickly but I think his time is done. Delist.
Callum Brown - he’s a great VFL mid but that form doesn’t translate to AFL. Doesn’t have the composure or the size to play inside at AFL level and the less said about his forward craft the better. Delist.
Tyler Brown - was touted as the brother with higher potential but has achieved even less at AFL level. Unlike Callum his VFL form does translate to AFL where he can barely find the ball at either level despite mainly playing on ball. He can occasionally fly high though so he has one trick Callum doesn’t have and did have a decent game in the VFL last week so maybe he’s turning it around but I think it too little too late now. Delist.
Isaac Chugg - haven’t seen much of him so it hard for me to make a call but he hasn’t been too great in the VFL this season. Looks to have a decent build and good pace so maybe he could nail down a pressure forward or lockdown defender role. Keep pending VFL form.
Jack Madgen - A name that will be on most people’s lists but I’ll give my verdict early and say we’ll keep him. He’s proven to be a solid option under two coaches and continually proves he’s a better option then the players trying to push him out. He has allot of weaknesses as player, not strong enough to play to tall and not quick enough to play short but seems to do alright playing on a medium playing off his man going for a third up spoil. Whilst he’s nothing special he seems to be a coaches favourite so unless he get pushed far down the pecking order by Ruscoe, McMahon and Dean I think he’ll be kept for depth at worst. Keep.
Tom Wilson - Has shown a bit at both end in VFL level but doesn’t seem to have sure enough hands, strength or pace to make it at the AFL level. As an inbetween type will be hard to find a role. Delist.
Will Hoskin-Elliott. A solid option who possesses pace, good marking and skill. His problem is he doesn’t get involved enough in games. Whilst he’s shown he can do that on a wing or at half back coaches have never trusted him to play that role for long so he gets relegated to a lead and mark and forward who doesn’t have the physicalilty to win one on ones and doesn’t get the delivery when on the lead. He probably stays but I’d look to trade him to club that can use him better to free up cap space and develop other players in his spot. Trade.
Mason Cox or Darcy Cameron - will give them the same spot since one will stay as ruck depth and I think enough has been said about them, I don’t have anything to add to the debate except Cox is more involved but stuffs up more involvements, Cameron drops less marks and converts better up forward. Pick your poison. I think Mason Cox will go home if he spend another year in the VFL. Keep Cameron, Retire Cox.
Steele Sidebottom - I think it will be time to give him the tap on the shoulder at year end. Premsierhsip player so he’ll always be a legend. Looked revitalised in the first couple of round under McRae but has regressed back to 2020-21 from in recent rounds. Plays on the wing but how long can he justify that spot when it’s potentially better served to develop either Poulter or Macrae in. He doesn’t some creative things to open up the game and can go forward and score but he put two many teammates under pressure trying to be too clever and get caught to much since he’s lost a yard. Retire.
Others that could retire are Howe and Roughead but I’d try and keep them, I think they can be AFL relevant for longer given their roles.
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