Sam Blease

[Arrow 1,257]

Lobster I dont have other teams however ours is 22 years 182 days.

Comparable to the Bulldogs, who are 24 years 313 days. They have 2 and a half years on our list.

Not getting forward, I do think we're a chance tomorrow but this does make aware the issues Western Bulldogs will have in the future. 2 and a half years they have and we're still in better form and a better team. Scary!

To further than only Gold Coast and Richmond are younger than us. Gold Coast by only 1 year and Richmond by some 10 days. Richmond have blooded 4 players with minimal age this week and dropped Brad Miller though, so last week we were in fact the younger team..

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

We can all see that Blease will be very good but I honestly don't think he's ready for the big time just yet. I'm worried about this selection.

Pro: If you assume that Blease is a silky outside mover, then the WORST time to put him in is when we haven't got hard inside players to feed him the ball. Consider that our rise in form, and the commonplace explosive goals we're seeing have EVERYTHING to do with the fact that McKenzie and Scully are back in the side, along with Jamar, with Moloney who's worth 2 clearance players... and the hard ball gets are more-or-less taken care of. In this respect the timing couldn't be better for a game or two from this type of player.

Con: Going back the other way. Not sure if he'd have the engine to shut down a sneaky forward if one got loose. When on, WB are a punishing rebound team. McDonald is a player you tell to stand and nullify one of those 190cm medium forwards, or third forwards. I'm not sure that that style of defence is something Sam is known for. He's little, too... which means he might get smacked around a bit. Not only that, but on this kind of ground, there's not a huge amount of space for him to run into.

All up: It's a fifty-fifty call. With matchups being what they are, and the style of footy the dogs play, Blease could be a MASSIVE weapon. If he drifts forward, even a 4-goal weapon potentially. Or he could get smashed going the other way. In a development year, you play him to get games into the kid. In a serious flag-contender year you maybe opt for an experienced player to get the 4 points on the board. I think all in all this is a gutsy decision from Bailey. He's STILL choosing development at a time when he could assure himself of a contract next year if he snaffles a win and gets his team THAT MUCH CLOSER to September action... And he's chosen the future, over the now. Colour me impressed. Potentially risky call that shows Bailey's STILL not wavering from developing his team first, instead of winning H&A games in what is not going to be a premiership year.

[w00dy 146]

not sure about this one, look forward to watching him play...

but are there others that deserve a game ahead of him? The three emergencies along with Michael Evans strike me as names who perhaps deserve a game ahead of Blease... looking forward to him hopefully proving me wrong tomorrow night...

[13thflag 0]

All the best for your first game in the red and blue Sam.

[Jaded No More 67,643]

Like it or not, we are still largely in development mode. We lost MacDonald to injury and chose to bring in a new exciting player in Blease, who has worked very hard to get himself back onto the field after a horrific injury. Given the choice between a Blease debut or a Warnock/Bate/Dunn replacement, I'm glad we went with Blease.

Wish him all the best tomorrow. Hope he has a great game!

[Bleasey as that 98]

I'll put my hand up here, I said I didn't think he would play a game for us but here we are. I am rapt to be proven wrong I'll be there tomorrow night to cheer him on. Go Sammy and Go the mighty Dees!!!!!!

Steamin Demon - correct me if i'm wrong, but you previously said something about cutting of your left one if blease debuted this year??

[Bleasey as that 98]

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.

Found it!!!!! bring on the left one!!!

[hells bells 2,023]

Best of luck Sammy.

Take em on son...

[hells bells 2,023]

We can all see that Blease will be very good but I honestly don't think he's ready for the big time just yet. I'm worried about this selection.

btdemon just a question, why do you think he's not ready?

Did you think Nicholson was ready?

Did you think Evans was ready?

Did you think Howe was ready?

Did you think Strauss was ready?

It could be argued that Blease's form has been as good and as consistent as these 4 players prior to them getting their chance. All have come in and shown a lot in a few games, surprised most of us how well they've gone I would have thought.

Why the concern?

Good luck to the lad.

[Steamin Demon 392]

Steamin Demon - correct me if i'm wrong, but you previously said something about cutting of your left one if blease debuted this year??

It's already gone along with the holiday house and umpteen cases of beer.

[DeeSpencer 24,752]

Surely he'll be the sub, and I think he'll make a good go of it.

I'm more worried about stopping their midfield and who will take Gia. He's a dangerous player up forward and we are short on lock down defenders. The 3 talls will take Hall, Grant and Jones but someone like Strauss will have to take Gia.

[Axis of Bob 11,170]

Well done Sam.

If he ends up being a really good AFL player ..... boy are we going to have some fun!

Edited June 30, 2011 by Axis of Bob

[Bobby McKenzie 2,322]

It's already gone along with the holiday house and umpteen cases of beer.

Did it hurt very much? Go Sam make my Bluey Adams prediction come true in the next year or so. Show them a clean pair of heels.

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

so excited!

probably be the sub though

Edited June 30, 2011 by Mad_Melbourne

[PartyTimeJohnny 533]

so excited!

probably be the sub though

man that Vic Metro side was beastly

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

man that Vic Metro side was beastly

yeh a good year for the highlight videos too, and a superb draft year for the mfc

[MadAsHell 4,209]

Surely he'll be the sub, and I think he'll make a good go of it.

I'm more worried about stopping their midfield and who will take Gia. He's a dangerous player up forward and we are short on lock down defenders. The 3 talls will take Hall, Grant and Jones but someone like Strauss will have to take Gia.

I reckon Morton will go to Gia, he might be of some use in a lock down role.

I'm really excited about Sam's debut tonight.

It's time to unleash the Blease!

[Striker475 696]

That video makes him look like such a jet.

Blease down one flank, Nicho down the other...makes my mouth water

[DemonWA 3,884]

That video makes him look like such a jet.

Blease down one flank, Nicho down the other...makes my mouth water

i agree, if he shows that kinda influence at AFL level it'll be great for us!

[Dee-licious 1,947]

Anyone else hear 'handpass from Scully' =)

[tez 6]

Good luck tonight Sam, looking forward watching your career unfold

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,644]

We will know by 10pm tomorrow night.

Or around 11.15pm if watching on TV in Melbourne (insert teeth nashing sound here)

[H_T 3,032]

Found it!!!!! bring on the left one!!!

Ha. Good get.

When that draft came around I was keen on both Blease and Zaharakis. I leaned towards Zaharakis at the time, only because I thought Blease would go early to mid teens and not get to pick 17. Was over the moon when we selected him. I likened to him at the time to a very young David King (former North Melbourne player). If he is anything as good as David King, with that dash, the arched back with blistering speed, with plenty of games, we'll be happy supporters.

Best of luck.

[Little Goffy 14,001]

Nicholson, Scully, Bennell, Blease... I feel the need... the need for speed.

[Little Goffy 14,001]

Also, I remember a site called 'The drafter' previewing various players, with quite in-depth profiles.

They also tried to summarise with 'a player the kid would be like if they turn out right'.

For Tom Scully they had 'a zippier Simon Black'

For Sam Blease they had 'Peter Matera'.

The first call seems reasonable. I would probably vomit fairy dust of happy-joyness if the second call was good too!

Anyway, go speedster!