1 minute ago, Seraph said:

There's a difference between writing someone off and having doubts over whether they're ready to play AFL...  

Based on his NAB Challenge form he doesn't look ready, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

Exactly we all want to be proven wrong that he is ready because at the end of the day what we saw during the Nab challange wasn't flattering. 

But thats too hard for Saty to grasp.. Always gotta stick up his 'mates'

I thought Wagner looked good in NAB games, with the exception of first part of Etihad v Saints. By the way, he rebounded very well in that game. He gets his hands on it and looks courageous. He was drafted on the back of size, endeavour and foot skills. Not timid on the field and I expect him to do well when given the opportunity. At this stage we do not know for sure that he is in the 22.

5 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

I thought Wagner looked good in NAB games, with the exception of first part of Etihad v Saints. By the way, he rebounded very well in that game. He gets his hands on it and looks courageous. He was drafted on the back of size, endeavour and foot skills. Not timid on the field and I expect him to do well when given the opportunity. At this stage we do not know for sure that he is in the 22.

Can't think of an occasion when the club announced a rookie elevation/selection, and then used the player as an emergency.

 

Left field. Good luck to the boy. 

Wonder if the 100 possies last week will get ANB a game. 

Congratulations Josh and good luck this week

Good luck to him. He was ordinary in the first half of that third NAB Challenge game, but got better as the game went on. Happy to put it down to nerves.

Disappointed that Mitch White seems to have gone backwards this year after a promising debut.

Mitch White looked good at training this week. I think we should be celebrating the fact that the list has depth in many areas (not all), rather than bemoaning the fact that we can't play them all!

Just now, waynewussell said:

Mitch White looked good at training this week. I think we should be celebrating the fact that the list has depth in many areas (not all), rather than bemoaning the fact that we can't play them all!

White, Omac and Wagner could be best 22 in the near future. All have shown promise but probably aren't up to it just yet.

Club clearly see a future for Wags and it is the right time to blood him. Good luck to the guy and I hope he has a solid start to his a AFL career with steady hands, sure decisions and good disposal. 

Hope he strings many games together ☺

2 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Mitch White looked good at training this week. I think we should be celebrating the fact that the list has depth in many areas (not all), rather than bemoaning the fact that we can't play them all!

I haven't heard much positive talk around White this pre-season, so that is good to hear.

I thought (and said as much) that he was a smoky for a debut early this year. Partly because of the form he showed in the NAB, with his creativity being his standout trait along with courage. But the main reason I thought he was very close was because he kept getting picked during the NAB ahead of many other more widely fancied and established players. It was clear the coaches were very impressed with what he had done during the pre-season and that he was well and truly in their calculations.

 

Good luck to him. It's going to be a tough game and you would think he'll get plenty of chance to get involved on the half back line.

hope he runs rings around the Kangaroo pretenders

Christ he was turnover king in NAB cup. Can already see the pressure of Boomer and Wells getting to him. 

are we failing at the section table again?

33 minutes ago, olisik said:

Christ he was turnover king in NAB cup. Can already see the pressure of Boomer and Wells getting to him. 

are we failing at the section table again?

It could be argued we're taking a gamble.

3 hours ago, Redleg said:

Left field. Good luck to the boy. 

Wonder if the 100 possies last week will get ANB a game. 

It didn't.

Not sure about this selection this week. I'm not saying he won't make it as an AFL player, but I don't think he's ready yet. I can only go off his NAB cup, but he was woeful. All I saw was a guy who was lost with where to run, didn't offer any rebound and had surprisingly poor agility. I remember in the St Kilda game someone ran a literal circle around him while they worked out who to kick to. He just had no idea. I thought he'd need need a lot more time in the VFL to get up to speed and develop more.

If he is getting a game ahead of Dunn, ANB, Brayshaw, Garland, Grimes, Stretch, Hunt etc then he has to have done something right...but I haven't seen anything yet and hope it's not another dud selection call.

Is it pronounced Waahgner or Vaahgner?

4 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Congratulations Josh and good luck this week

Wag-nar

12 minutes ago, Giles said:

Is it pronounced Waahgner or Vaahgner?

The latter, as its German, however due to being Austrayanised it will be Wagnuh.

Or Wagnar as Daz pointed out. 

20 minutes ago, Giles said:

Is it pronounced Waahgner or Vaahgner?

Wagsy.

54 minutes ago, Giles said:

Is it pronounced Waahgner or Vaahgner?

hmmn,  northerner

33 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

Wagsy.

hah,  the outer limits,  you  beeauuutee !

 

.

Two ways to read this.  I think he showed steady improvement over the NAB cup and looked like he was starting to get the hang of it towards the end of the game vs. the Saints.  So:

1.  He's continued to improve to the point where he is a legitimate option for HBF and will fit in nicely and contribute.

2. We're going to get smashed anyway, so he can't really make things worse and maybe it will help speed his development. 

Regardless, congratulations to Mr Wagner and all the best on his debut.  I hope it's option no. 1. 

Was wondering I I hope not) if the coaching panel has written this game of and is using it to experiment a little? I really think Dunn is key down back - I feel really nervous without him there, more than Tmac, Garland needs a reset button he's becoming a bit too relaxed, like Howe was/is so happy he's in the magoos. the other I need to see is Jetta, very nervous without him playing. BTW Silly me out of loyalty I traded him into my fantasy side and he's an emergency... d'oh

15 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

He didn't say that at all and you know it.

I'm in the same boat about not being sure - not because I've written him off, but because I'm not totally sold on the fact that he's ready. I hope like hell that I'm wrong, but it's certainly an interesting selection. 

And all the best to him on his elevation. Let's hope he can make a positive contribution on Sunday. 

Exactly - what happened to making the kids earn their spots? Just more throwing in those who aren't ready to the wolves.

Good luck to the guy and congrats to him but as far as the club goes this is a disgraceful decision.

Wagner will be 22 in June, almost Frost's age, not a kid... recruited to be able to step straight in.