There's good coverage in today's HUN with CLINT BIZZELL highlighted.

The Biz will be given his chance to make it back to the big time after an injury riddled 2006 and Michael Newton, Simon Buckley and rookie Shane Neaves "are among younger players to be blooded in the pre-season with Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson to share the ruck duties."

And Neale Daniher will give Nathan Jones "a bit more responsibility early in the year" by playing him on "some big name players."

And Neale Daniher will give Nathan Jones "a bit more responsibility early in the year" by playing him on "some big name players."

I like the sound of that.

The fact that Bartram will be missing from, at the very least, the NAB Cup games, means that we'll need a tagger (I assume Junior will not participate).

Jones can learn a lot by playing on some of the game's best inside midfielders.

Also very happy to hear that Neaves is going to get a game. Might give everyone who is down on our ruck-division, a more positive outlook.

As for Biz, I have serious doubts he'll be getting regular games in 2007, but good luck to him!

And Neale Daniher will give Nathan Jones "a bit more responsibility early in the year" by playing him on "some big name players."

Thrilled to hear all that, and particularly that last sentence. Hannabal will be as pleased as me. Clearly the Jones boy has been attracting the attention of his coach, and as H said, no self-respecting demon fan with the future in mind would omit this kid.

One thing though... If ND wants to play Neaves, how is he going to fit him in if he said he's going to play PJ and Jamar as our rucks? I'm ok with Jamar and Neaves sharing with PJ pinch-hitting and playing either forward or back, but I'd be surprised to see 3 ruckmen selected. Is it those extra 2 on the bench that allows ND to select all 3?

Also, on Biz, I said it before and I'll say it again. The way I see it, only Carroll and Rivers are definites in the demons 22. Any one of Bizzell, Ferguson, Frawley(unlikely), Holland and Warnock HAVE to step up and prove they deserve that 3rd tall spot. And that's assuming ND doesn't select a 4th tall defender on the bench through the year.

It's not like Clint's competing to play as a tall forward, where he'd have to compete with a slew of players who won't be dropped, like Neitz and Robbo (Not to mention guys like Dunn, Miller, PJ and Jamar who all will need time there).

Of those 5 defenders, Frawley will probably not play a KP role this year, certainly not for bulk time, and Holland is a specific kind of player for a specific job. You'd think on the taller forward lines Holland would get a go, but that other spot could go to any of Bizzell, Warnock or Ferguson. Ferguson is limited IMO, and while I'd love to see Warnock play 22, I have my doubts on him doing it this year. He'll certainly play 10+, but...

It's not like Bizzell only had 1 or 2 good years. He was a shining light since he was recruited, and it was only in late 2005 and last year that his fortunes faded. It would be one thing to select an average player who's over the hill, but as far as I'm concerned, Bizzell's reputation is sufficient that I'll be pleased if he's given a go, and I won't be surprised if he regains a spot in the backline, at least for 1 more year. Ward and Holland did it last year, and in order to be successful you need players from ALL age groups to play well, even the 30+s. Last year we had a couple of guys come back from the brink of oblivion. Bizzell's as good a candidate for this as there is at the club.

Very keen to see Neaves.

Agree with DD re fitting three into one side - I guess it will be decided by their form on the training track. If all 3 are in, I agree that PJ will probably play as a fixed forward and ruck that area, allowing Jamar and Neaves to rotate off the bench and play a kick behind.

Really looking forward to the footy now the real cricket is gone.

Very keen to see Neaves.

Be keen but don't expect to much. The kid is a WIP and is a long way behind Jamar and Johnson at this stage.

I'm more interested to see Newton. Having seen him do some freaky things at Sandy it will be interesting to see what he can do at senior level.

Buckley is my tip for big improver this year. Fast, clean hands and good on both sides of the body. Came on well last year and if he continues his improvement this year he may start to push for senior selection.

And it would seem that Heath Neville is the forgotten man.

And it would seem that Heath Neville is the forgotten man.

I was wondering when someone was going to point that out. Has anyone seen him on the training track? Talk about forgotten. He's never mentioned in dispatches.

By the way, what does WIP mean?

Work In Progress.

Has Hughes bulked up at all?

Clint Bizzell. We don't need him any more.

As has been said before he has passed his use by date.

There's not much more that could be gotten out of him.

Buckley is my tip for big improver this year. Fast, clean hands and good on both sides of the body. Came on well last year and if he continues his improvement this year he may start to push for senior selection.

He didn't come on well enough for mine last year. He seemed to lose his way in mid season but it will be interesting to see how he goes with his stronger body in 2007.

Clint Bizzell. We don't need him any more.

As has been said before he has passed his use by date.

There's not much more that could be gotten out of him.

Very Confident The BIZ will make these words of wisdom seem premature during 2007

How quick we forget

Nathan Jones is a freak and I believe his early years will mirror those of Brocks

Having those 2 guys starting in the centre square for the next decade is a good feeling

Clint Bizzell. We don't need him any more.

As has been said before he has passed his use by date.

There's not much more that could be gotten out of him.

u woulda said the same thing about Mcdonald last season.

u woulda said the same thing about Mcdonald last season.

Correct.

u woulda said the same thing about Mcdonald last season.

I doubt it

Why would he have said the same thing about J Mac?

Buckley is my tip for big improver this year. Fast, clean hands and good on both sides of the body. Came on well last year and if he continues his improvement this year he may start to push for senior selection.

I've noticed you're 'on him' but I'm not buying. He'd need to make a quantum leap to even come into consideration. I've seen him at TBO and at Casey Fields in Sandy Two's, and whilst he has talent he just doesn't like traffic. I hope you're right but I'm a 'hold' on this one.

Will be closely looking at Buckley in the NAB Cup. Has a touch of class, can kick your 2 goals a game and does appear to have 'all the time in the world' when in possession. One for the future IMO.

No rush at all with Buckley

Can hardly expect him to become a regular senior player so soon, especially with the way guys like Bate, Bartram and Jones have all stated their case

Still, he looks a likely type

I look at him as being in the CJ mould. Chris only played 4 games in his first year, and didn't have an impact in any of them. We had to wait until '06 for him to play a solid match in the seniors. I don't reckon it's too much to expect Buckley to do the same or slightly better.

and whilst he has talent he just doesn't like traffic.

That was certainly the case H, and the reason he was playing in the 2s. Because he was so lightly built, he was easily pushed off the ball, and when that's consistently happening, you eventually shy away from the contest. The massive change in his body this year is what's getting me excited about him. He's already showing his willingness to put his body on the line at training and when your body can take the hit, the confidence is up. I'm on Fan's camp with Buckley and will be keeping a very close eye on him. He has ample talent and great speed, so when he starts attacking the footy and play around him, I think he'll slowly but surely become an long term contributor to the side.

I've noticed you're 'on him'

I'm "on him" as you say as the "big improver". I'm not expecting him to have an impact at senior level this year.

I saw him about half a dozen times last year. Like you I was under whelmed early but saw huge improvement as the year went on.

His problem is actually "finding the ball". IMO it's not a good problem to have. But he started to find it towards the end of last season and I recalled CAC saying that in the TAC competition he had come on late and his last few games were the one's where he'd shone. And he has been good at training although I don't go along with the major preseason misconception of "he's bulked up". Quite how players "bulk up" noticeably in the 6 weeks they have off between seasons still troubles me!

I'm also not predicting a stellar career for him, just that he'll play seniors at some point. That in itself for a player taken after pick 50 is an achievement. How much further he'll go is hard to tell.

Mind you, I'd rather you were on my side! Your left field pick of smoky Nathan Jones last year puts you in the guru class!! I was on much safer ground with Lynden Dunn and unlike Nathan he's yet to establish himself even though he has played more games. :D

Bizzell would be handy as a depth player but I can't see him playing the same role in defence he played three or four years ago.

Your left field pick of smoky Nathan Jones last year puts you in the guru class!!

Nah, lucky guess. It's just that he had what we lacked.

Btw, I'm not "selling" when it comes to Buckley, as he did some things at TBO that showed genuine talent and a player with 'time'.

i love the biz, always have and he will bounce back this year i have no doubt

u woulda said the same thing about Mcdonald last season.

Nah, not Macca, it was Wardy coping a hiding this time last year.

And didn't he make some people choke on their words.

Biz offers two things that will be very valuable to the team come Septmber.

1. The ability to find time and space in a tight spot when under pressure.

2. Experience and a cool head.

I like everyone want to see the younger blokes getting a game ASAP but realistically most haven't overtaken 'The General' yet.

Go Dees