Recruited as a tall forward, Cook had to play a support role to other tall forwards at Casey and showed only flashes of the form that made him All Australian centre half forward in the Under 18s.

Finished the season in the reserves and missed the last few games through injury.

Games CSFC 2011 14 Goals CSFC 2011 11

Games CSFC Reserves 2011 2 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 2

Needs time.

Yep, set 'n' forget for a few years.

Yep, set 'n' forget for a few years.

I know where you are coming from Nasher

But I hate this crap.

How many years? I am running out of them.

Will he be good before I am back in Nappies?

I know where you are coming from Nasher

But I hate this crap.

How many years? I am running out of them.

Will he be good before I am back in Nappies?

Put Sylvia's feet to the fire, or Martin's, or Jamar's, or Davey's.

Cook is a kid key position player.

Just move along.

Waah, waah, waah! Why didn't we get that Darling kid? Now we're screwed!

Another tall skinny Melbourne kid who needs time. Boy do we need a Protein supplement sponsor.

Can't wait to see this kid crack the team he's going to be a ripper! Screams class!

Can't wait to see this kid crack the team he's going to be a ripper! Screams class!

This is not meant to be a smart question

but what is the basis for your comment?

His under age games?

I saw him three times this year at Casey.

And before everyone jumps down my throat yes it was only 3 games.

But in those games I was underwhelmed.

His positioning and reading of the play, he has a beautiful kicking action and a good set of mits. His under-developed body is what's holding him back in my eyes.

He will be a ripper and people will be saying WhoTF is Darling in a couple of seasons time.

His positioning and reading of the play, he has a beautiful kicking action and a good set of mits. His under-developed body is what's holding him back in my eyes.

He will be a ripper and people will be saying WhoTF is Darling in a couple of seasons time.

I doubt the last line.

Darling will have 30 games including 2 finals matches and 35 goals before Cook hits the "G"

Edited October 13, 201114 yr by old dee

Be that as it may Darling is physically ready to play now, and Cook isn't.. so it is kind of hard to judge Cook at all right now. Will have to re-visit in a few years.

FWIW I rate Darling, but Cook could be so much more. Time will tell.

And with that I feel this thread will die.

I saw Cooky play a couple of games for Casey. He showed some encouraging signs whenever he got near the ball (clean hands and a beautiful kick) but he didn't get near it nearly often enough. In the few glimpses he showed, I could see why he was u18s CHF, but he has a long way to go to be AFL ready (which we knew from day one). Building an AFL body and engine over the next 2 or 3 years will be a good start. From the very little I've seen, I'd say he is a sound prospect, with lots and lots of work ahead of him.

Edit: can't spell

Edited October 13, 201114 yr by Deeoldfart

His positioning and reading of the play, he has a beautiful kicking action and a good set of mits. His under-developed body is what's holding him back in my eyes.

He will be a ripper and people will be saying WhoTF is Darling in a couple of seasons time.

He is a one grab specialist sticky mits, needs some more size, and had to deal with Fev, Bate, Dunn and Howe which is an AFL forward line during his first year

edit - even if its a poor one

Edited October 13, 201114 yr by Jordie_tackles

Where's RobbieF to stick his boots into Cook?

Never seen him miss an opportunity yet.

Tall skinny 1st year KPF who had season-ending surgery?

Get a game & dominate you hack!

Why aren't you like Carey at his peak? WHY??!!

Where's RobbieF to stick his boots into Cook? Never seen him miss an opportunity yet. Tall skinny 1st year KPF who had season-ending surgery? Get a game & dominate you hack! Why aren't you like Carey at his peak? WHY??!!

You type that with both hands on the deck?

I've gone past Cook, if he comes good that's great, I'd prefer to concentrate on those players that are playing now or are about to join the club, move on and wait for a few years to revisit this.

You still haven't answered my question from the other thread I guess it's simpler to just go on a rant about me than to actually come up with an answer.

We have a few tall players that are well advanced and are going to lay claim to a spot in the side over the next couple of years and some of them are going to be ok.

What question..?

Saw him a few times at Casey. His contested marking and field kicking really stood out.

However, each time I saw him, he was absolutely cooked by half-time. A big pre-season will definitely help and hopefully he can come in and play 10-15 games next year.

As was the case with Watts, a lot of time and patience is required.

.

But in those games I was underwhelmed.

Yes He is a dud.

Just like Garland and Frawley were duds in their first year.

And Tom Hawkins. He's a dud and has been a dud in his early years.

But then he almost won a NSM a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe he is not a dud and that bigger players take time to mature.

I'd much rather persist with Cook than Fitzpatrick. Neither of them look to be that aggressive, physical player that can sit in the forward line and bust open packs all day. Cook however appears to have class and skill.

Yes He is a dud.

Just like Garland and Frawley were duds in their first year.

And Tom Hawkins. He's a dud and has been a dud in his early years.

But then he almost won a NSM a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe he is not a dud and that bigger players take time to mature.

RR I can only report what I saw, he was ordinary in those games.

He may end up the greatest CHF since Royce Hart.

You may be right he will take time to develop.

But surely we are allowed to comment on what we see.

Or do we have to say nothing till 2015 if it is anything but complimentary?

Sure but dont write him off yet. What credence should we take on the 3 games you saw? You sound like you have already cashed your chips. And there have been plenty of recent examples to suggest that sort of judgement is folly.

Sure but dont write him off yet. What credence should we take on the 3 games you saw? You sound like you have already cashed your chips. And there have been plenty of recent examples to suggest that sort of judgement is folly.

RR I don't believe I have.

I asked in relation to below, what was the basis of his belief.

"SloonieMcFloonieloone, on 13 October 2011 - 04:04 PM, said:

Can't wait to see this kid crack the team he's going to be a ripper! Screams class! "

My comment was

"This is not meant to be a smart question

but what is the basis for your comment?

His under age games?

I saw him three times this year at Casey.

And before everyone jumps down my throat yes it was only 3 games.

But in those games I was underwhelmed.

Now I don't think that is writing him off.

Any way I look forward to improvement in 2012.

I watched him in a few games this year, and think he has a real future. Darling, who has a mature body and is 5cm shorter, has played on the 3rd and 4th best defenders. Let's compare them in 4 years time, and then we'll know who was the better get.

I watched him in a few games this year, and think he has a real future. Darling, who has a mature body and is 5cm shorter, has played on the 3rd and 4th best defenders. Let's compare them in 4 years time, and then we'll know who was the better get.

It's interesting that nearly everyone on here seems to think that Darling will play well for a year and then gradually disappear in to the ether. Have any actually considered the possibility that he may get better?

If he was playing with us the same ones would say this was his first year wait until he hits his straps he will only get better with a couple of pre seasons under his belt.

But he doesn't play for us so he's a dud who will probably struggle to get a game next year; how old is he again?

It's interesting that nearly everyone on here seems to think that Darling will play well for a year and then gradually disappear in to the ether. Have any actually considered the possibility that he may get better?

Nearly everyone Robbie F?? Really?? Not like you to make things up.

I dont think I have read that any one here has said he would drop away.

I am sure if you started a thread I believe that most would be predicting a strong future for a player who has been impressive in his first year.

Its stands to reason even if it clashes with your well researched straw poll.