I’ve been looking back at a few of last seasons games and a player who often stood out was James Hermès. But he was inconsistent. When he was good he was very good but when he was bad he went missing. If Hermès can retain that good form for longer he will have a real breakout - best 22 - year.

Otherwise and for all of us who are in football terms “midgets” (178cm/5’10”) or under, I hope Charlie Spargo does well and bites the rest of you on the collective bum!

5 hours ago, Adzman said:

I say Salem every year and I'm always wrong. So, I'm going with a smokey and going Dion Johnstone. I think he is someone who could break into the team late in the year and become an x factor for us.

Footnote: I'm always wrong when picking break out players.

His body shape has completely changed over this preseason- he’s unrecognisable from last year.  I have no idea if he has the skill set and talent to ‘make it’, but he’s certainly starting to look the part.

4 hours ago, Dee Dee said:

I’ve been looking back at a few of last seasons games and a player who often stood out was James Hermès. But he was inconsistent. When he was good he was very good but when he was bad he went missing. If Hermès can retain that good form for longer he will have a real breakout - best 22 - year.

 

So he spoke, and, from heaven, Father Zeus himself
sealed the intent with his words, 
when your are good, your are good,
but when you are bad you go missing, 
and so consigned to Hermes,
command over birds of omen,
glad-eyed lions, white-tusked wild pigs, dogs, sheep,
and all the flocking beasts that the broad earth nourishes.

 

Maynard for me will play every game swapping with trac between mid and forward 

We need a few of our good players to become stars of the game - A grade no less.

Petracca seems the most likely to me,  Hogan is another. 

But a breakout year in the forward line for the entire season?  T-Mac.  50-60+ goals will do it and he's capable of achieving that.  One of his strengths is an innate ability to find time and room for himself.  And in the forward line,  that's invaluable.  And he is a very accurate kick for goal. 

Play him deep forward and get Hogan at CHF and up the ground.

47 minutes ago, Macca said:

We need a few of our good players to become stars of the game - A grade no less.

Petracca seems the most likely to me,  Hogan is another. 

I think Oliver is already there 'Macca'...opposition coaches already know it but it will take the hangers on in the media and AA committee this season to figure it out.

52 minutes ago, rjay said:

I think Oliver is already there 'Macca'...opposition coaches already know it but it will take the hangers on in the media and AA committee this season to figure it out.

I agree rjay ... should have said 'To add to Oliver'

However,  most can probably see that he is only going to get better & better. 

Trading up to pick 3 (later to become pick 4) to acquire Oliver has got to go down as one of the best recruiting coups in living memory.  Certainly for our club. 

The best bit is that we beat out the Dons who were reportedly going to draft him with one of their top-end picks (Essendon had picks 5 & 6 - directly after our pick)

Edited January 13, 20187 yr by Macca

2 hours ago, Skuit said:

So he spoke, and, from heaven, Father Zeus himself
sealed the intent with his words, 
when your are good, your are good,
but when you are bad you go missing, 
and so consigned to Hermes,
command over birds of omen,
glad-eyed lions, white-tusked wild pigs, dogs, sheep,
and all the flocking beasts that the broad earth nourishes.

 

Very good, damn autocorrect lead me into Ancient Greece mythology by mistake

 

James Harmes

Angus ‘Breakout’ Brayshaw. 

On 12/01/2018 at 11:42 AM, DemonAndrew said:

yeah, couldn't disagree more 

he can roost the ball but hitting targets - particularly short 20-30m kicks when under no pressure - off either side has been a major issue for mine for the last two seasons

biggest concern is that he shows no ability to win the ball in large quantities as you'd expect from a modern mid

The only time he's played decent midfield minutes was the backend of 2016 after 12 weeks of no AFL and his disposals were:

23, 20, 22, 16, 18, 18, 26 and even then that was rotating midfield and forward.

I've got no doubt he'd easily average good numbers with a good balance of contested and uncontested ball if used more in the midfield, but there's a lot of competition for spots and he can play well forward or back.

Pre Christmas from what I saw of Brayshaw he was looking fitter and stronger and was bobbing up in match simulation style drills very frequently, both in space and in tight. My concern was at times he's just a bit sloppy still in that he'll get the ball where it needs to go but it won't be clinical. He trains like a good player and I'd ride him to train like a great player. That said, it's never me out there sweating in the heat in long training sessions.

Mine is Salem. Always loved the way he goes about it and with a full season fit he will press for a all Australian spot of the wing. Calling it now.

3 hours ago, rjay said:

Maynard G. Krebs

5 hours ago, Skuit said:

So he spoke, and, from heaven, Father Zeus himself
sealed the intent with his words, 
when your are good, your are good,
but when you are bad you go missing, 
and so consigned to Hermes,
command over birds of omen,
glad-eyed lions, white-tusked wild pigs, dogs, sheep,
and all the flocking beasts that the broad earth nourishes.

 

Any chance of of a an English explanation for the rest of us !

I'll go left field and say Paddy Mac, provided he can get on the park.

3 hours ago, puntkick said:

Any chance of of a an English explanation for the rest of us !

The Oracle of Dee Dee as guided by the spirit of Hermes' brother Apollo is predicting that our new number 4 will tear it up against Hawthorn, Brisbane, the Bulldogs and what I interpret to be perhaps Collingwood and GWS.

Unless that is, Dee Dee was just suggesting he could do with a good spray . . .

Edited January 13, 20187 yr by Skuit

4 hours ago, Skuit said:

The Oracle of Dee Dee as guided by the spirit of Hermes' brother Apollo is predicting that our new number 4 will tear it up against Hawthorn, Brisbane, the Bulldogs and what I interpret to be perhaps Collingwood and GWS.

Unless that is, Dee Dee was just suggesting he could do with a good spray . . .

A forensic examination of James Harmes’ (got it this time) tats may be required for signs of godly powers!

13 hours ago, Macca said:

We need a few of our good players to become stars of the game - A grade no less.

Petracca seems the most likely to me,  Hogan is another. 

But a breakout year in the forward line for the entire season?  T-Mac.  50-60+ goals will do it and he's capable of achieving that.  One of his strengths is an innate ability to find time and room for himself.  And in the forward line,  that's invaluable.  And he is a very accurate kick for goal. 

Play him deep forward and get Hogan at CHF and up the ground.

It is a great idea. My only worry with Hogan is his inability to kick the distance in a set shot from 50m out. He needs to be mobile within that range and this may require him to further develop a kicking style, 'on the run'. His snaps from inside ranges have been very good, accurate and blindingly fast to execute, re-balance and/or take a step to balance. Just a thought. 

29 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

It is a great idea. My only worry with Hogan is his inability to kick the distance in a set shot from 50m out. He needs to be mobile within that range and this may require him to further develop a kicking style, 'on the run'. His snaps from inside ranges have been very good, accurate and blindingly fast to execute, re-balance and/or take a step to balance. Just a thought. 

Hogan doesn't have to kick a lot of goals to be a very effective player '56 ... even so,  over the course of the season he'd get his fair share of chances within his range anyway (if he played predominantly at CHF) 

The way footy is played these days the roles of the FF & CHF has changed a lot - and both positions aren't static.  Coaches often rotate their big forwards within their forward lines.

Hogan is a very creative player and has excellent hands in close - plus, he can occasionally play on the ball as can T-Mac (as a back-up ruckman)

Both players are quite versatile and we need to utilise the strengths of both players - T-Mac at CHF & Hogan at FF can still happen from time to time but the other way around has more appeal.

Bringing in Lever allows the team to have 2 versatile goal-kicking forwards.   And if Weideman comes on strong ...

14 hours ago, rjay said:

Gilligan on skins?

33 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Gilligan on skins?

Maynard...pre Gilligan

I hope our Maynard has a better work ethic...

2 hours ago, Macca said:

Hogan doesn't have to kick a lot of goals to be a very effective player '56 ... even so,  over the course of the season he'd get his fair share of chances within his range anyway (if he played predominantly at CHF) 

The way footy is played these days the roles of the FF & CHF has changed a lot - and both positions aren't static.  Coaches often rotate their big forwards within their forward lines.

Hogan is a very creative player and has excellent hands in close - plus, he can occasionally play on the ball as can T-Mac (as a back-up ruckman)

Both players are quite versatile and we need to utilise the strengths of both players - T-Mac at CHF & Hogan at FF can still happen from time to time but the other way around has more appeal.

Bringing in Lever allows the team to have 2 versatile goal-kicking forwards.   And if Weideman comes on strong ...

Yes, good discussion, Macca. Agree with you in general and the roles of CHF-FF players, these days. Thanks for your comments. Ideally, I'd reckon it is going to be a potent forward line, as well. I have visions of a new running game coming this year from the backline into offensively effective territory. Cheers!

1 minute ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Yes, good discussion, Macca. Agree with you in general and the roles of CHF-FF players, these days. Thanks for your comments. Ideally, I'd reckon it is going to be a potent forward line, as well. I have visions of a new running game coming this year from the backline into offensively effective territory. Cheers!

And wouldn't it be a nice problem to have if Weideman can advance his game?  The good news is that T-Mac & Hogan can play in a variety of positions. 

Back a few years ago a few people here made mention that Hogan could even hold down CHB ... with his reading of the play,  marking strength,  creativity and his ability to bring others into the play,  who would rule it out? 

In today's footy all things are possible - I see Hogan as a general utility who can float about and play just about anywhere.  He had a horrid run of luck last year and just needs a good run at it. 

Improvement from a player inside last years best 22 will be Salem.

Improvement from a player well outside last years best 22 will be Maynard.

Harmes, Smith and Spargo the other 3 watchpoints for me.