List them -

Jones

Howe

Mcdonald

Morton

Bartram

Not a long list imo, although i think players such as Trengove, Grimes, Watts, Mckenzie, Frawley, Jamar, Rivers have been about as good as ever

Blease only played one game but looked great

So what does this say? are we heading in the right direction as a whole with these 12 or so core players? or have been going backwards from where we were completely?

With players such as Gysberts, Clarke, Magner, hard to compare to

this gives us around 16 core players, is this enough to build the team around, and will they be good enough?

Will Moloney, Sylvia, Garland to ect come back into contention/form?

What are everyone elses thoughts?

I think some players need to go backwards before they can go forward.

Kinda like how sometimes u need to put on a bit of weight to lose more.

It's a bit early to tell.

But Nasher pointed out something in another thread - those that you think of as consummate professional footy players are invarably the ones who are playing ok footy at the minute - they are dealing with the increased expectations of training better than others.

Jones has actually been improving at a pretty consistent rate for the past two and a bit seasons - I don't think he has suddenly made a big jump under Neeld, but rather, a few others have gone backwards and he is now having to carry the can for them so there is more focus on him.

It's a bit early to tell.

But Nasher pointed out something in another thread - those that you think of as consummate professional footy players are invarably the ones who are playing ok footy at the minute - they are dealing with the increased expectations of training better than others.

Since the whole list is PAID to play football, wouldn't that make the WHOLE LIST professional football players? Somewhat of an indictment on the rest of the list, one would think. And to think we HAVE to pay out 92.5 % of the cap.

Since the whole list is PAID to play football, wouldn't that make the WHOLE LIST professional football players? Somewhat of an indictment on the rest of the list, one would think. And to think we HAVE to pay out 92.5 % of the cap.

Every player is at a different stage of their career with their bodies at different stages of repair, and out of balance talent in areas of the ground.

That is to say - we have kids, bad mids, short pre-seasons, and there are your reasons.

Agree with the sentiment on Jones, being 24 he should and is coming into the prime of his career so to speak, and has been better nearly every year he has played which is exactly what we want. I think if we can get more players from the second group i mentioned, plus guys like Magner, Gysberts and Strauss, Tapscott to join this group then we have 15-18 players who will play Neelds plan really well. This leaves most likely Viney and 4-5 new recruits until we have a competitive 23.

edit also think Moloney can be handy, read somewhere he is recovering from some OP (missing 2 games earlier) maybe and is just a bit underdone, maybe we are all being a bit harsh on him, he still has the potential to be a big cog in our team i believe. Sylvia has never done enough, so holding out hope seems naive.

Edited May 23, 201213 yr by Jordie_tackles

Since the whole list is PAID to play football, wouldn't that make the WHOLE LIST professional football players? Somewhat of an indictment on the rest of the list, one would think. And to think we HAVE to pay out 92.5 % of the cap.

it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what he meant by 'professional football player', no need to over analyze wording by people here.

it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what he meant by 'professional football player', no need to over analyze wording by people here.

I'm simply saying we shouldn't have radically differing standards that players should be looking to attaining, accounting for variables such as body development and injuries.

Every player should be held to the same standard of EFFORT is simply what I'm trying to state. Sorry for the detour into semantics.

It's important to remember that we have a group of guys in their early 20's who should have played 50+ games each, but have been stalled by a constant stream of injuries. This leaves a pretty big gap in our list experience-wise. Strauss, Blease, Tapscott, Gysberts and Jetta are the ones that come to mind immediately, Grimes and Bail as well. All have been very highly rated as juniors and have had nothing but bad luck since arriving with us, mostly with random injuries that have nothing to do with fitness or preparation. If these guys can get themselves back on the parkand play some sustained footy (Dare I say it, a full season or two?) we should see a drastic improvement, not only from them but from the team as a whole as the imbalance in experience evens out.

Jones has actually been improving at a pretty consistent rate for the past two and a bit seasons - I don't think he has suddenly made a big jump under Neeld, but rather, a few others have gone backwards and he is now having to carry the can for them so there is more focus on him.

I think this is right. I was certainly one who thought that he would never be more than a 'trier' and that his natural ability was limited. He is absolute proof that a player's attitude plays a huge part in their on-field performance. He seems to have both improved his fitness and his decision-making ability (what a smart, elite player really needs) significantly and it was this latter element that concerned me. Given a bit more time and coaching, he might even be able to get to the point where he becomes an elite player. Fingers crossed because if it was just down to application & effort, he'd be there already.

I think this is right. I was certainly one who thought that he would never be more than a 'trier' and that his natural ability was limited. He is absolute proof that a player's attitude plays a huge part in their on-field performance. He seems to have both improved his fitness and his decision-making ability (what a smart, elite player really needs) significantly and it was this latter element that concerned me. Given a bit more time and coaching, he might even be able to get to the point where he becomes an elite player. Fingers crossed because if it was just down to application & effort, he'd be there already.

Nicely said.

It's important to remember that we have a group of guys in their early 20's who should have played 50+ games each, but have been stalled by a constant stream of injuries. This leaves a pretty big gap in our list experience-wise. Strauss, Blease, Tapscott, Gysberts and Jetta are the ones that come to mind immediately, Grimes and Bail as well. All have been very highly rated as juniors and have had nothing but bad luck since arriving with us, mostly with random injuries that have nothing to do with fitness or preparation. If these guys can get themselves back on the parkand play some sustained footy (Dare I say it, a full season or two?) we should see a drastic improvement, not only from them but from the team as a whole as the imbalance in experience evens out.

That would be right - I just started a thread on this and somebody else beat me to it!

Edited May 23, 201213 yr by Undeeterred

Jones, Morton and Bartram are the standouts so far IMO.

Jones , Howe .

Start this thread 12 months from now and you will have a dozen players added to the list.

IMO

Those who have impressed me more than i thought they would have; Rivers, Bartam, Jones, Mckenzie, Howe, Morton, Bate

Those who i thought would be playing better than they have; Grimes, Trengove, Frawley, Garland, Watts, Jamar, Davey

Those who are playing rubbish football compared to where they should be: Sylvia, Moloney

I think everyone's gone backwards except Jones and Howe. Maybe Davey too, he's played a little better and looks more likely to keep his spot.

I think Cale Morton's gone steadily backwards since his debut season, plus he was dreadful against Sydney. I still don't think he's in and ever will be in our best 22

Start this thread 12 months from now and you will have a dozen players added to the list.

Only if we work hard.