Jones new shadow

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,534]

Have u seen the kids quads?

Actually, up until now I've always thought his neck muscles were the ones which stood out. In comparison, made his quads seem like, well, mine. (And that is no compliment).

[monoccular 16,497]

The jury is well and truely still out for me.

I know he has had a bad run with injuries but I just don't see anything that suggests more than Average Player.

I have only ever seen a quarter here and there.

Where do you suggest is his position?

He will need to show a lot more in 2013 or could be following Morton and Gysberts IMO

Would be in our top 5 for disposal, top 5 for aggression, and has a lot of mongrel in him.has never had a pre season so had no fitness. I beleive could play hbf going through the middle. Should never ever be mentioned in the same

Breath as courageous cale! Has done more demon-like acts in 5 minutes then Cale

Did in his whole time at the club!

old dee - you seem to not be only one who sees the glass as half empty rather than half full, but maybe the three quarter full glass as.....aghast, quarter empty.

I hope the guys can get out and give us all a season to remember forthe right reasons,

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,534]

Back on topic, I recall Tapscott's first game where he must have been unlucky not to get a Rising Star nomination (I remember Caroline Wilson - shock, horror - being effusive in her praise, too). He played in the backline that day and took plenty of intercept marks. Perhaps it's where he belongs.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Disposal efficiency at MFC:

Watts is ranked #2 (80.94%)

Tapscott is ranked #19 (68.59%)

Disposal efficiency stats always favour defenders, but there appears to be a rather large gap between these two this year. I think Tapscott's kicking is currently over-rated but I hope it improves. As I wrote previously, I hope that he has an injury-free run so that he can show us what he is truly capable of.

It's a [censored] stat.

I prefer my eyes.

[Guest NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Like others I'm expecting a marked improvement from Tappy in 2013. He needs to go from fringe 22 to walk up in a set position.

How bad does he want it? How hard is he prepared to work? News of him tailing Jones over pre-season is heartening.

[Clintosaurus 6,729]

Back on topic, I recall Tapscott's first game where he must have been unlucky not to get a Rising Star nomination (I remember Caroline Wilson - shock, horror - being effusive in her praise, too). He played in the backline that day and took plenty of intercept marks. Perhaps it's where he belongs.

Didn't he also smash Rhyce Shaw with a rather solid bump? If he could end up like Chappy I would be more than pleased.

[old dee 23,094]

I think that we get a little bit blinded by his size and percieved aggression. He has a long, long way to go.

He definitely isn't in our top five for disposal at this stage (either in quantity or quality). He will have to improve his mobility dramatically to get more of the ball.

I really hope that he improves this year. Fingers crossed that he has an injury free run so that he can show us what he is capable of.

You have covered him fairly well for mine BW

Especially your first line.

[old dee 23,094]

old dee - you seem to not be only one who sees the glass as half empty rather than half full, but maybe the three quarter full glass as.....aghast, quarter empty.

I hope the guys can get out and give us all a season to remember forthe right reasons,

I don't think seeing every glass as half full changes much.

For too long too many at the MFC saw every player as half full

The result was the 2012 season.

Not every player makes it.

It is a handy excuse to just blame ever player assessment you don't agree with as a half empty glass analogy.

This year we have taken I think 12 players off our list.

These were clearly half empty players

In the case of Tapscott I started by simply saying I have seen little to suggest he will be more than an average player.

I await the 2013 season to see if I am wrong.

[Maldonboy38 6,047]

Not sure of your point here mate.

Chappy played very few games in his first few years. 2000 : 4 , 2001 : 9 for a total of 22 marks in two seasons.

Luke has played 29 games (2011 : 15, 2012 : 14) for 102 marks (source is footywire).

Now, granted I dont remember Chappies first 22 marks but unless they were half back with the flight and Tappy has been solely getting the loose ball, then I think you may well be generalising when looking solely at the first two years of there careers (which was your comparison). Given Chapman has been around a decade longer it may be too early for comparisons.

I may have been unclear - but the point I am trying to make is that Tappy and Chapman have a similar size, shape and physicality. The difference is in the marking. Chappy became an outstanding overhead mark for a bloke his height. If Tappy adds this to his game it would be great to have a Chappy-type player in our team.

[dtrinh 71]

So where do people think that Tappy's best position in our team is? This year he had very limited number of possessions and played majority of this football in the forward half. But I don't see him fitting down back as I see nicholson getting the small forward each week. From this season I rate Nicholson's 1v1 work, he works hard with second and third efforts, is tough and gives us some run. Questionable use of the ball but hopefully he can improve that slowly.

I think Tappy will have to play forward flank and rotate through the midfield. He has an accurate and big kick on him which I rekon the tall forwards would love! Nice quick delivery into the forward line from stoppages catching the defenders off guard.

[P-man 13,285]

Disposal efficiency at MFC:

Watts is ranked #2 (80.94%)

Tapscott is ranked #19 (68.59%)

Disposal efficiency stats always favour defenders, but there appears to be a rather large gap between these two this year. I think Tapscott's kicking is currently over-rated but I hope it improves. As I wrote previously, I hope that he has an injury-free run so that he can show us what he is truly capable of.

Agreed, and saying it's a [censored] stat is a cop out. Tappy's kicking is overrated, period. However I feel he has a heap of improvement left in him in all facets of his game.

Regardless, I will love him forever for the aggression he has brought to the side the past couple of years when we were crying out for someone to stand up and show we weren't going to be pushovers.

[Guest NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

So where do people think that Tappy's best position in our team is? This year he had very limited number of possessions and played majority of this football in the forward half. But I don't see him fitting down back as I see nicholson getting the small forward each week. From this season I rate Nicholson's 1v1 work, he works hard with second and third efforts, is tough and gives us some run. Questionable use of the ball but hopefully he can improve that slowly.

I think Tappy will have to play forward flank and rotate through the midfield. He has an accurate and big kick on him which I rekon the tall forwards would love! Nice quick delivery into the forward line from stoppages catching the defenders off guard.

Agree. Half forward flank wit bursts on the ball.

Needs to really up his tank and work rate.

[Brian Wilson 331]

It's a [censored] stat.

I prefer my eyes.

Out of interest, do you rate Tapscott ahead of Watts?

[old dee 23,094]

Out of interest, do you rate Tapscott ahead of Watts?

Not a contest BW.

Watts is so far ahead he cannot hear the band.

[monoccular 16,497]

Out of interest, do you rate Tapscott ahead of Watts?

Not a contest BW.

Watts is so far ahead he cannot hear the band.

Absolutely, totally, completely (check your Thesaurus for further descriptors) different players and roles so hard to compare in terms of current value to the team; in terms of total class though Watts is well ahead.

[whatwhat say what 19,861]

I see him more as Josh Hunt than Paul Chapman.

Chappy is a star; would be thrilled if Tapacott got to his level.

[monoccular 16,497]

Agree. Half forward flank wit bursts on the ball.

Needs to really up his tank and work rate.

(shhhh, Caro is waiting with her poisoned pen ... we don't use that word anymore, if we ever did)

[DemonWA 3,571]

Tapscott has a nice long kick, but he's yet to use it in games. Same goes for James 'the Elite kick' Strauss.......

Both lads need to find more of the footy so their field kicking can shine

[Goodvibes 3,596]

I disagree with the previous poster. Tapscott is the best kick at the club along with Watts.

He needs to get more of the ball, but that comes with games and confidence. I like him as a prospect. That said, we've invested heavily in Blease, Strauss and Tapscott for a very poor return. We need to develop these guys into seriously good players. It's very important to the club's fortunes.

I remember saying something very similar about Bate, Newton and Dunn about five years ago.

You're right though. Their progress and development is critical. They all possess an asset that sets them apart from your run of the mill good average player. Now they need to work on their deficiencies, settle in a position and play some consistent week in week out footy in a well structured, well coached team.

[deeko 937]

I see him more as Josh Hunt than Paul Chapman.

Chappy is a star; would be thrilled if Tapacott got to his level.

Perfectly summed up here. If Tappy became a Chappy then wow Id be happy but plays more like Josh Hunt does this little... ball of muscle. Forgive my very ordinary humour, very dull evening at work.

He played U/18s as a forward flank though I believe but you would think with this years recruits there will be little place for him up forward.

I recall early on playing in the back pocket he took a number of overhead intercepting grabs and got crunched in a few to just get up and shake it off. He has a lovely penetrating kick that will is a real weapon coming out of the backline. I think he will be used there this season.

[Tassie Devil 28]

I haven't seen him in many marking contests.

I recall one this year against the maggots where he was several seconds late to the contest - but it was still a contest. Maggots will forever hate him.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Where do you suggest is his position?

I love the bloke, but that is the big question for me. Chappy has twice the agility and zip that Tappy has.

I just don't know where he fits..

[rolly 149]

From the sounds of the training reports and his time spent with jones one would have to think he will be spending alot more time in the midfield, certainly has the size and strength to be a hell of an inside mid.

He may not be the most accurate kick but there cant be any denying he can kick it along way.

A quick clearing snap from the centre could be 20m out from goal in seconds with a couple of strong talls ready to mark, and a dual premiership winning small to gobble up crumbs.

Valid question marks on his engine and his speed however in my opinion would limit his prospects as a rebounding defender, however he could well end up "resting" deeper on a small fwd as i see nicholson playing alot more on a flank/wing

[Hannibal 5,814]

Out of interest, do you rate Tapscott ahead of Watts?

Do a search and you'll quickly find every post I've made on Watts and you'll have your answer.

But quickly - very different players, but Watts more valuable. Watts will play over 200 games and will most likely become a good to very good player, but he's a mistake at pick one and a major disappointment thus far.

*kicking efficiency stats are probably the most useless out of all AFL stats. Go to training and watch drills, or watch Tapscott at windy Casey Fields when he was lining up for the Scorpions to get an idea of his kicking ability. Technically there's no better kick at Melbourne. But even great kicks make mistakes while they're new to AFL footy as a young player. It's the tempo of the game they need to get used to.

[whatwhat say what 19,861]

Ben-hur, you've just nailed my feelings about Watts to a tee.

Tapscott I hope will play a lot of football for the Dees, but I have very little faith.