Digging for gold - Targetting Under-achievers

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

What do you reckon about Cam Guthrie from Geelong? Get's a game every week, is a quality tagger and would certainly be an improve from Miskick Mckenzie . Thoughts?

If he is getting game with them why the hell would he come to us?

Rose coloured glasses peoples.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Not quite... Buntine played 7 games this year

What do you know about Smedts, have heard some less than favourable things about him as a bloke.

[rjay 25,093]

Buntine took Dawes to the cleaners.

No that was Tomlinson, Buntine was playing more the floating HB role.

[Fat Tony 5,272]

No that was Tomlinson, Buntine was playing more the floating HB role.

Sorry it was Buntine

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/116424/Matt-BUNTINE

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

Look at Jordan Schroder from the Cats.

Behind Selwood, Bartel, Caddy, Kelly etc in midfield and behind Christensen, Motlop and Stokes as small fwd.

Best player in VFL ... at 21, ready to shine.

Remember the name ...

[rjay 25,093]

Sorry it was Buntine

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/116424/Matt-BUNTINE

Not how I remember it. Tomlinson ran off Dawes time and again in that game.

...but getting away from the point, I remember a couple of posters were pretty keen on him (Buntine) last year and I would think for good reason.

Edited September 20, 2014 by rjay

[rjay 25,093]

Look at Jordan Schroder from the Cats.

Behind Selwood, Bartel, Caddy, Kelly etc in midfield and behind Christensen, Motlop and Stokes as small fwd.

Best player in VFL ... at 21, ready to shine.

Remember the name ...

Not so impressive in his AFL games though. I'm sure the Roos crew will know if he's right or not.

[P-man 13,366]

Brandon Jack could be a star IMO

I'm guessing we'd have to pry him out of their cold dead hands.

Smedts is an interesting one. Natural talent but would want to be wary of a player who stagnates in an environment like Geelong.

In saying that, we need to have faith in the new coaching staff.

[Fat Tony 5,272]

I'm guessing we'd have to pry him out of their cold dead hands.

Smedts is an interesting one. Natural talent but would want to be wary of a player who stagnates in an environment like Geelong.

In saying that, we need to have faith in the new coaching staff.

Yes Brandon Jack is contracted for next year.

[jacey 333]

Liam Sumner from GWS.

Played 15 games in 3 years. Top ten pick who has had injury interrupted career.

Hard running mid with decent skill. Contracted but will be on the cheap

Liked Nathan Wilson game when he played against us. Great speed and decent skills. Has done 0 v everyone else though.

Jesse Lonergan has had injury interrupted 2 years. Contracted but may need a new start with omeara, ablett, swallow, prestia, martin etc

[Little Goffy 14,645]

Buntine was someone I was really keen on all the way back in that draft.

The bio was along the lines of "composed, smart defender, sensible and reliable on rebounds, reasonably tall, excellent character and leadership (Ben Mitchell medal), not any single outstanding physical trait but at least acceptable in all aspects.

Hasn't seemed to have stepped up much in the transition to AFL yet, though has played the role as expected.

Would be very happy to get him.

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

Liam Sumner from GWS.

Played 15 games in 3 years. Top ten pick who has had injury interrupted career.

Hard running mid with decent skill. Contracted but will be on the cheap

Liked Nathan Wilson game when he played against us. Great speed and decent skills. Has done 0 v everyone else though.

Jesse Lonergan has had injury interrupted 2 years. Contracted but may need a new start with omeara, ablett, swallow, prestia, martin etc

Good call with Liam Sumner. Pick 40 may get it done. Could be option if we have to use #22 on Stretch.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Any chance we can develop our own underachievers, rather than trying to recruit some more?

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Any chance we can develop our own underachievers, rather than trying to recruit some more?

No if past form is any indicator jumbo.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

No if past form is any indicator jumbo.

True...so there's no point in recruiting some more....

[Akum 2,660]

No if past form is any indicator jumbo.

With our present coaching & development team, if past form is an indicator, we're well & truly stuffed!

[Pirlo 813]

Mark Whiley

[McQueen 17,867]

Toumpas, Trengove.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

Aaron Mullett from North. In and out of the side. Seems to be behind Atley, Macmillan, McDonald and Wright in the pecking order there.

Could provide a bit of dash and decent kicking off a back flank.

If we got Mullett, I would be stunned.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

Seriously though, there is a large number of players throughout the competition who haven't advanced as well as thought throughout their junior careers and this is where having good resources at a club is important - you need to thoroughly research the players in question and find out what's gone wrong.

I think that process should also take place internally. Why have so many of our own early picks gone pear shaped? Were they the wrong choices to start with? Did they go off the rails because of deficiencies within our own environment? Were there social factors outside our knowledge and/or control? Was it development?

There must be reasons why the Swans seem to have such a high success rate with their recruiting despite not having early picks. If we combine that sort of approach with the fact that we should go into the next month with at least two top ten picks then our chances of dramatically improving our list gets enhanced immeasurably.

[Nasher 33,617]

Any chance we can develop our own underachievers, rather than trying to recruit some more?

Roos at Sydney showed that there are plenty of players looking ordinary that can be helped to thrive in the right environment. Ted Richards and Josh Kennedy are the two that stick out in my mind.

Doesn't mean we need to look at every struggler in the game, but we should at least be on the lookout. You're right in that there's always a risk that they'll be rubbish here if they're rubbish there, doesn't mean we shouldn't look though.

And developing underachievers from outside doesn't mean we can't develop our own at the same time as we have with Neville Jetta. I reckon most of ours are lost causes though.

[rjay 25,093]

Mark Whiley

Good get 'Pirlo'. I would be very surprised if he's not on our radar.

[Machsy 2,858]

What do you know about Smedts, have heard some less than favourable things about him as a bloke.

Not particularly smart bloke, makes dumb decisions, in & outside of footy.

I think meatheads like him don't normally do great things in football.

Like Sylvia, will always have great attributes to play the game, but probably won't put it together mentally.

As for Schroder, he won the cats vfl b&f, but will likely get delisted or traded.

Without name dropping, word from those at the club who should know are that he's a poor handballer and he has a nice kick but it rarely hits a target. Also, winning the b&f is actually seen as negative rather than a positive thing by those blokes, because it means you've simply been playing far too much footy in the 2s, and even consistent form in the 2s hasn't got you elevated because there are serious flaws in your game.

[demon-4-life 467]

Whats Butcher up to these days?

[FireInTheBennelly 4,099]

Whats Butcher up to these days?

McKenzie?

Oh you mean John Butcher, not 'The Butcher'. Apologies, Carry on.