After reading the injury report today which says the above two players are getting close to playing again, I've been wondering if they make our side better once fit and in form.  Both have had such a poor run with injuries for such a long time, it's actually hard to recall what they were like at their best, but I have a sneaky suspicion they would indeed make us better.   Tough for the player/s who miss out, but another good "problem" to have.  They first have to regain full fitness and form of course.

7 minutes ago, S_T said:

After reading the injury report today which says the above two players are getting close to playing again, I've been wondering if they make our side better once fit and in form.  Both have had such a poor run with injuries for such a long time, it's actually hard to recall what they were like at their best, but I have a sneaky suspicion they would indeed make us better.   Tough for the player/s who miss out, but another good "problem" to have.  They first have to regain full fitness and form of course.

I was a big fan of vandenBerg when he was fit. He always bobbed up for a couple of goals. It's going to be tough to sneak back into the team but if he can keep fit and find his way in through form at Casey then I think he will offer something.

Having said that another injury would probably spell the end of his career. I hope he can stay fit.

Kent played well in his two appearances before doing his hammy.  He can break back in and I reckon he will. 

GarlettI I would have third in line for the small forward role behind Kent and Spargo.

Nothing better than having a close to full squad to chose from, meaning those at Casey have to perform to get in. Not only does it pressure the guys in the ones to play to their best level, but means when others get a go they are in top form, not trying to find it. Brayshaw being the classic example this year. 

I can wait until there's an active discussion on Vanders or Kent coming into the team, and hopefully its not due to injury, more them being in such fantastic form their too hard to ignore - even if they then have to wait until a spot opens up. 

6 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Kent played well in his two appearances before doing his hammy.  He can break back in and I reckon he will. 

GarlettI I would have third in line for the small forward role behind Kent and Spargo.

 At the moment I reckon Spaego & Kent will offer more but if Garlett starts applying himself they r all valuable.

Casey will be a bloody good side once Vanders and Kent come back.

I'll be interested to see how Vanders does once he is fit.  If he has a good second half of the season, is he worth another 1 year deal as a depth player?  He's shown that he can contribute well at AFL level, so he's not exactly an unknown.  

Hopefully he can still be a half decent player after all the injuries he's had.  

As for Kent, you could argue easily that he is surplus to requirements, but when he went down with injury he was in the AFL side.  Clearly the FD rate him, but have too many gone past him in the last 6 weeks for him to make it back in?  I reckon a WA side might have a look at him, although his injury history isn't great either.

I suspect the issue for VdB and similar mature age recruits is the lack of body conditioning when they physically mature.  A part time footballer, and part time worker, will be behind an age group peer with a full time commitment to fitness and football.  And that's exacerbated with a larger body.  I spoke with him at the Hall of Fame dinner last year and with a degree of sadness he said that he thought he was "cooked" back then. 

Kudos for the character in trying to get himself fit and live the dream but he looks on borrowed time.

As some have said, it is an unusual problem for us to have.

I would expect Kent to need at least 2 or 3 weeks of great form at Casey to come into the discussions, and VDB even longer.

IF Aaron does regain fitness I still suspect, barring a spate of injuries to 'like for like' players, he would probably be asked to see out most of the season at Casey:  if this happened and he looked like remaining fit then perhaps a one year extension and a real bid to break into the side next year.   But, sadly there are a lot of ifs.

3 minutes ago, Miles from Nowhere said:

I suspect the issue for VdB and similar mature age recruits is the lack of body conditioning when they physically mature.  A part time footballer, and part time worker, will be behind an age group peer with a full time commitment to fitness and football.  And that's exacerbated with a larger body.  I spoke with him at the Hall of Fame dinner last year and with a degree of sadness he said that he thought he was "cooked" back then. 

Kudos for the character in trying to get himself fit and live the dream but he looks on borrowed time.

I hope this is not suggesting that the likes of Tim Smith and Fritz are more likely than others to break down irreparably. 

3 minutes ago, monoccular said:

I hope this is not suggesting that the likes of Tim Smith and Fritz are more likely than others to break down irreparably. 

Fritsch is a couple of years younger than VdB was when he was drafted and a completely different body shape and playing style.  Smith is a risk.

I recall both as excellent players. Kent a livewire in the fwd line as least as good as Hannan.

10 minutes ago, monoccular said:

As some have said, it is an unusual problem for us to have.

I would expect Kent to need at least 2 or 3 weeks of great form at Casey to come into the discussions, and VDB even longer.

IF Aaron does regain fitness I still suspect, barring a spate of injuries to 'like for like' players, he would probably be asked to see out most of the season at Casey:  if this happened and he looked like remaining fit then perhaps a one year extension and a real bid to break into the side next year.   But, sadly there are a lot of ifs.

It will be interesting. I think players like garlett and bugg will be lucky to get back in.

While I like them both, with the state of the team, they are depth players. Unfortunately for them, I reckon that they are both only one injury away from being delisted or traded at the end of the year.

17 minutes ago, emblem for me said:

It will be interesting. I think players like garlett and bugg will be lucky to get back in.

 

11 minutes ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

While I like them both, with the state of the team, they are depth players. Unfortunately for them, I reckon that they are both only one injury away from being delisted or traded at the end of the year.

So we've got two differing opinions here. Very interesting times ahead on the small forward front and what we do in trade week too. Who is selected this week may be a sign of who's out the door. Bugg or Garlett? Who has currency to get a pick for a package deal? Age vs potential. Or will we be hesitant on them with Kent & VDB sustaining persistent injuries? Will Kent & Garlett be given games to prove their worth for next year?

If Kent comes back, does he overtake Garlett and Bugg for selection? 

I had always hoped that AVB would develop into a bullocking inside mid, in the mould of Jobe Watson or Josh Kennedy.  It's hard to see his body allowing him to do this as it breaks down so regularly and hopefully the game, team and gameplan haven't moved on without him.

If he is able to get back to AFL fitness and remain injury free, it'd be a huge credit to our fitness crew.

9 minutes ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

While I like them both, with the state of the team, they are depth players. Unfortunately for them, I reckon that they are both only one injury away from being delisted or traded at the end of the year.

shame realy when men try as they can

28 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

I had always hoped that AVB would develop into a bullocking inside mid, in the mould of Jobe Watson or Josh Kennedy. 

Yes, I'm hoping the same. Fingers crossed he gets a good run without injury, because if - big if - he can stay fit he'll be an asset. Plus, he's faster than Jobe and Josh. Inside grunt, with size and outside speed is a rare quality. Reading between Goody's lines this morning - actually, extrapolating with extreme prejudice - I suspect he rates Aaron.

Kent has shown good for as recently as this earlier this season, but injuries are stalling his momentum and development. He now has competition for his position and isn’t entrenched in the best 22. I’d expect his next contract will be a short one, or he’ll be traded to a WA club for a late pick so he can return home. 

VdB will likely be delisted at the end of the season. He hasn’t made a meaningful contribution on field for over two years now and will be 27 next season, so hardly a spring chicken. Even when he was fit, he wasn’t entrenched in our best 22 and we’ve only gotten stronger since then. If he’s lucky he’ll get a one year contract as a depth player, but unfortunately injuries seem to have ended his career.

Kent showed a lot of improvement at the start of this year. Wasn't falling over, was holding his marks and kicking his set shots. I don't think he's the pure pressure forward we need - Garlett's the best chance of that on the list - but he's good enough to be an option. If he gets back fit I think he can push out Hannan - who has to kick his goals and hold a few more marks and tackles to really cement a spot.

Vanders I rate really highly and I think the footy department do to. Yeah his kicking is scratchy but his size/speed/hardness combination is suited to our game plan and to finals. At this stage he's not much more than a prospect to come back, play some VFL, stay healthy and get ready for next year but things can change quickly.

Spargo and Hannan`s 2nd efforts and pressure acts already surpass Kent, he`ll have his work cut out to get back in the team.

AVB was a solid citizen 2 or 3 seasons ago when we had a pretty ordinary midfield. I`m not sure if any of Clarrie, ANB, Harmes or even Trac would have played in the same midfield as him I`d have thought and all are a long way ahead of him now. I`d love to see him get back in but IMO I reckon he`ll only get back in if injury requires it.

Great problem to have and hope they both have an injury free season from here on in.

1 hour ago, emblem for me said:

I recall both as excellent players. Kent a livewire in the fwd line as least as good as Hannan.

Agree with this, Kent can be very impressive. Let us hope that now were a delivering a lower ball with eyes up, Kenty gets fit enough to resume his fine game with these patterns. He would blend in well with Melksham in such delivery and goal sense.

 

I think both these blokes have the types of attributes required to be an important part of the list make up - particularly where we’re at right now and moving forward.

Delist these two and start from scratch again?

No.

 

I can’t see Vanders playing seniors this year but deserves another year after his horror run of injuries. 

When was the last time he actually played?

Kent can still break into the side.

Can't see Vanders making it back.