MFC website has a great article on Sam Blease.

Link

Having seen some of the footage of his TAC cup footy, and then also seeing him live, it is clear that Melbourne were very pleased to get him at pick 17. Injury has waylaid him by one year, but like Watts he was 17 at the time of drafting and MFC are prepared to wait and give him time to develop. His delivery inside 50 is one of the main reasons he was drafted.

It looks like Blease has exactly the skill set we so desperately need: pace, and skill on both sides of his body. He is an elite run-and-carry player, and now we have to asses if he can bring those skills into AFL standard football. However, due to his great natural play, it looks like he hasn't done much work on the defensive side of his game and this is the major focus of his development at Casey.

I reckon both he and Strauss will be trialled in 2011, especially if it is clear come round 16 that we cannot make teh finals.

Thoughts?

Watts, Blease and Strauss

That draft is paying off massively

Pressure is on the 2008 draftees as they all come out of contract at this seasons end. Blease will get a run for the dees if he stays fit. There was plenty of noise about him around the club when he was drafted, and everyone I have spoken to about him says that he is a great kid.

Look forward to Sam's debut in the coming months. With some luck he can put the heat on our senior group to retain their spots.

  On 14/04/2011 at 02:02, Wrathchild said:

Pressure is on the 2008 draftees as they all come out of contract at this seasons end.

Actually Blease, Strauss, Bennell, Jetta, Bail and Jurrah are all contracted to the end of 2012 and Watts has an additional year on top of that.

One thing that comes to mind is that the club were aware of what they were doing - knowing there were some compromised drafts coming up, knowing that we had a few years before our 'window' opened. I think they may have been very smart in taking the risk that they did - take bottom age players with real potential, let them develop under the radar and have them 'in stock' so we can ease through the crappy drafts of GCS and GWS. Have a stacked rookie list to call from and elevate rookies in the same boat.

It looked like a strategy then - and it may or not pay off. Some of these kids have been injured, completing schooling, and simply transitioning from boys to men. If we get a good percentage of them to play to potential, then it will be an awesome list when the window opens.

So lets see.

  On 14/04/2011 at 01:45, Maldonboy38 said:

He is an elite run-and-carry player

biggest over-statement ever! He hasnt even played a senior home and away game, so im at a loss at how he can possibly be considered an elite player?!

  On 14/04/2011 at 02:16, Deemolition said:

Actually Blease, Strauss, Bennell, Jetta, Bail and Jurrah are all contracted to the end of 2012 and Watts has an additional year on top of that.

Hahaha. Owned him good.

If he is good enough to get a place in the team, his skill set will add a lot to the team's performance. Same with Strauss. But they've got to get into the team first.

  On 14/04/2011 at 01:45, Maldonboy38 said:

He is an elite run-and-carry player

Please tell me how he is an "elite" run and carry player (Elite). Ablett, Chapman, Bartel, Franklin, Goddard, these guys are elite, not a kid who is not even a senior player. Such BS, why do people write s@*t like this so much lately.

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:38, Kento80 said:

Please tell me how he is an "elite" run and carry player (Elite). Ablett, Chapman, Bartel, Franklin, Goddard, these guys are elite, not a kid who is not even a senior player. Such BS, why do people write s@*t like this so much lately.

MFCFS

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:43, daisycutter said:

MFCFS

Forgive my ignorance, but meaning??

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:48, Kento80 said:

Forgive my ignorance, but meaning??

My Football Club Friggin' Sucks

  On 14/04/2011 at 02:40, DemonWA said:

biggest over-statement ever! He hasnt even played a senior home and away game, so im at a loss at how he can possibly be considered an elite player?!

You don't have to be a genius to understand that is based on his TAC competition results, stats and standing...

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:43, daisycutter said:

MFCFS

sorry all, as i am new to all of this - but what exactly is MFCFS?

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:49, Curry & Beer said:

My Football Club Friggin' Sucks

Lol Nevermind...cheers for that

just because MFC picks him doesnt make him elite

Again many people way ahead of them selves ah la Jackie boy Watts!!

Reality hits home when you actually see them playing elite football right?

  On 14/04/2011 at 05:03, BLWNBA said:

You don't have to be a genius to understand that is based on his TAC competition results, stats and standing...

you also dont need to be a genius to write a sentance that acuratly describes his talent.

Elite is a term which gets used far too regularly IMO. Blease is "talented" & "promising", but Elite? not for me

Blease is still not 100% happy with his leg imho. I was at the Port v Casey game sitting near the interchange and he was shaking his head at what I assume was a club physio, and doing foot raises on his leg as he walked the boundary. As far as I could tell he still played the game out, but it appeared he didn't think he was able to get the 'spring' on his leg that he wanted. (this is just my interpretation of seeing him interact with the trainer/physio). Didn't stop him doing some nice things through the centre of the ground though....

  On 14/04/2011 at 04:38, Kento80 said:

Please tell me how he is an "elite" run and carry player (Elite). Ablett, Chapman, Bartel, Franklin, Goddard, these guys are elite, not a kid who is not even a senior player. Such BS, why do people write s@*t like this so much lately.

Haha, good one.

Gee, there's been some idiotic posts in this thread.

  Quote

In finishing, the selection of Sam Blease is like baking a cake. He is a very important ingredient to get right to make it taste good. If you leave the ingredients out he brings to the mix, then the rest of the ingredients better be bloody good.

- BP.

Very good.

  On 14/04/2011 at 05:08, RedLegs23 said:

sorry all, as i am new to all of this - but what exactly is MFCFS?

ok

= MFC Fantasy Syndrome

its the opposite to MFCSS

but I don't want to argue the toss. You know if you are so afflicted

  On 14/04/2011 at 02:40, DemonWA said:

biggest over-statement ever! He hasnt even played a senior home and away game, so im at a loss at how he can possibly be considered an elite player?!

If you actually read my piece, you will see I follow that statement with the words "we now have to see if he can do it at AFL level". DemonWA, I suggest you don't start typing until you have finished reading - it might help your comprehension.

He has shown elite pace and skills on both side of his body at TAC level. I stand by that comment, especially when it is agreed upon by the MFC recruitment team.

IMO, I reckon he will bring this skill nad pace to AFL level but he has a bit of work to do at Casey first.

Any other basic comprehension mistakes need clearing up?

.

  On 14/04/2011 at 08:17, Maldonboy38 said:

If you actually read my piece, you will see I follow that statement with the words "we now have to see if he can do it at AFL level". DemonWA, I suggest you don't start typing until you have finished reading - it might help your comprehension.

He has shown elite pace and skills on both side of his body at TAC level. I stand by that comment, especially when it bis agreed upon by the MFC recruitment team.

IMO, I reckon he will bring this skill nad pace to AFL level but he has a bit of work to do at Caey first.

Any other basic comprehension mistakes need clearing up?

.

I enjoy that you call it a "piece" haha

i stand by my comment, based on the fact that the term "elite" shouldn’t be used so broadly. IMO elite is a term reserved for the absolute best, not the best in a certain group.

If a child kicked a bag of goals each week playing Aus-Kick you'd probably say "he's an Elite forward"

I've been shouted down about this before and probably will again but I fear this kid will miss his chance. A player with his main assets being pace and kicking breaking your leg will obviously hamper ones development. I know he was bottom age when drafted but how long do you persist 4-5 years ? I will bet my left one he won't debut this year. Shout at will.

  On 14/04/2011 at 08:34, Steamin Demon said:

I've been shouted down about this before and probably will again but I fear this kid will miss his chance. A player with his main assets being pace and kicking breaking your leg will obviously hamper ones development. I know he was bottom age when drafted but how long do you persist 4-5 years ? I will bet my left one he won't debut this year. Shout at will.

That's hardly going out on a limb at this stage of his development IMO. I'm certainly not shouting.