6 minutes ago, TGR said:

His dad Shaun is apparent screening him from our medical department.  If the latter stay away, his a chance.

He's pretty open about his disdain for our medical department is Shaun. He randomly told my uncle who he'd never met before that he was disappointed with the club earlier this year.

1 minute ago, A F said:

He's pretty open about his disdain for our medical department is Shaun. He randomly told my uncle who he'd never met before that he was disappointed with the club earlier this year.

Joel developed OP, one of the few 'injuries' that takes a while to manifest itself fully 

If 2 posts on Instagram of him doing gym sessions is anything to go by Joel should be ready for Day 1 pre season

5 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Joel developed OP, one of the few 'injuries' that takes a while to manifest itself fully 

If 2 posts on Instagram of him doing gym sessions is anything to go by Joel should be ready for Day 1 pre season

I don't rate him anyway, but good luck to him.

Hope he has a full pre season and is ready for round 1. I like Smith and he could possibly play at full forward. Don't blame his old man either.

Super quick and a nice leap. Hopefully he can get some continuity and get back the in the ones. Not as  if we're stacked for speed.

2 hours ago, A F said:

I don't rate him anyway, but good luck to him.

Rare athleticism has to be given a little more leeway. 

We lack X factor so I hope he can get fit and create some excitement. 

4 hours ago, A F said:

I don't rate him anyway, but good luck to him.

You can count the games he played on my fingers and there was not much to be enthused about so far. l can't see what others see.in him.

I hope he proves me wrong . However he never earned  or deserved his spot in the preliminary  final in 2018.  

41 minutes ago, nosoupforme said:

You can count the games he played on my fingers and there was not much to be enthused about so far. l can't see what others see.in him.

I hope he proves me wrong . However he never earned  or deserved his spot in the preliminary  final in 2018.  

Yep, I don't know how many times it can be said, but you can have all the athleticism in the world, but if you don't have a football brain, you're not going very far. His kicking is very hit and miss too. But each to their own. 

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by A F

So some of you are writing off a guy who was drafted as a Category B rookie previously playing semi pro basketball. He was always a development project. Add that to the fact that he missed a large chunk of his first year with a groin injury, dislocated his shoulder the next year in his first game in the seniors wiping out his 2017 season. He was able to play as a third tall backman (alonside Oscar and Frost... yep) through the back end of 2018. Then gets ruled out for 2019 with the groin issues.

Talk about having an awful run at it. But feel free to write the 23 yr old off. Each to their own.

 

7 hours ago, dl4e said:

Hope he has a full pre season and is ready for round 1. I like Smith and he could possibly play at full forward. Don't blame his old man either.

Hopefully we don't see a repeat of injured players going back on the field for practice matches. He and his dad have every right to be angry at mfc's negligence. Will be an asset when fit !

Joel Smith is a player who has benefited from always being injured. A couple of goals in a practice match one year, a few VFL games the next year and half the supporter base sees him as the second coming of Ablett snr.

The reality is that he has been around for five years without actually doing anything of significance.

He is an awkward size and I don't think he has the football nous or skills to compensate for that - he is certainly not a better prospect than Fritsch, Melksham or Petracca in the forward line and he is not taking one of the key forward posts.

35 minutes ago, poita said:

Joel Smith is a player who has benefited from always being injured.

?

39 minutes ago, poita said:

Joel Smith is a player who has benefited from always being injured. A couple of goals in a practice match one year, a few VFL games the next year and half the supporter base sees him as the second coming of Ablett snr.

The reality is that he has been around for five years without actually doing anything of significance.

He is an awkward size and I don't think he has the football nous or skills to compensate for that - he is certainly not a better prospect than Fritsch, Melksham or Petracca in the forward line and he is not taking one of the key forward posts.

Harsh, but I have also moved him out of any kind of best 22 calculations. Even if he gets into the side he just doesn't last longer than a few weeks without breaking down. His athleticism is exciting but it just doesn't look like he'll make it.

Happy the club gave him another year but unless he has a close to injury free year (at either level) I'd be surprised if he continued past 2020. Sad reality is not many players make it after missing this much footy. AVB is in the same boat. 

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by ArtificialWisdom

I get the question marks but i really feel like smith could be a best 22 lock and potentially a real star. Has  x factor, is super athletic.

It goes without saying much depends on injury but fingers crossed he can put those woes behind him.

1 minute ago, binman said:

I get the question marks but i really feel like smith could be a best 22 lock and potentially a real star. Has  x factor, is super athletic.

It goes without saying much depends on injury but fingers crossed he can put those woes behind him.

looked much better up forward than down back. Could be a difficult match up as a third tall.

12 hours ago, Yung Blood said:

So some of you are writing off a guy who was drafted as a Category B rookie previously playing semi pro basketball. He was always a development project. Add that to the fact that he missed a large chunk of his first year with a groin injury, dislocated his shoulder the next year in his first game in the seniors wiping out his 2017 season. He was able to play as a third tall backman (alonside Oscar and Frost... yep) through the back end of 2018. Then gets ruled out for 2019 with the groin issues.

Talk about having an awful run at it. But feel free to write the 23 yr old off. Each to their own.

I agree that he was a development project - and I remember being very excited about what he could offer during his first game against the Saints before he went down with a shoulder.  The problem is that as a development project/player, you need to get games into him to build his AFL knowledge and capability, and unfortunately his injuries mean that we haven't been able to do that.  Desperately needs a good run at it this year.

21 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

looked much better up forward than down back. Could be a difficult match up as a third tall.

Agree. I think forward is his go with his ability to impart aerial contest and bring the ball to ground and speed to be a defensive forward threat. Can also be swung back in defence if there was a match up problem (eg an opposition playing a small forward line - in that instance May and Smith might swap)

1 hour ago, poita said:

Joel Smith is a player who has benefited from always being injured. A couple of goals in a practice match one year, a few VFL games the next year and half the supporter base sees him as the second coming of Ablett snr.

The reality is that he has been around for five years without actually doing anything of significance.

He is an awkward size and I don't think he has the football nous or skills to compensate for that - he is certainly not a better prospect than Fritsch, Melksham or Petracca in the forward line and he is not taking one of the key forward posts.

I agree. I like the 'prospect' of Joel Smith but, A, he's never actually done anything of note, B, when he shows some signs he gets injured, C, he flies for too many marks which he doesn't take. I wish him all the best, hope he gets his body right so he can actually live out his potential.

 

18 hours ago, A F said:

He's pretty open about his disdain for our medical department is Shaun. He randomly told my uncle who he'd never met before that he was disappointed with the club earlier this year.

The Shaun Smith concussion article in the other thread may give a clue as to why he is spontaneous in thought and action.

“I’ve had a couple of blues with friends, punched on — I’m not a fighter. It’s cost me a friendship just recently. I’m ashamed of it, I just can’t control my anger. You become very impulsive, make some very poor decisions.”

Seriously, has our list got that bad that we are looking forward to Joel Smith returning from injury?  If so, 2020 is going to be another long year.

1 hour ago, The Chazz said:

Seriously, has our list got that bad that we are looking forward to Joel Smith returning from injury?  If so, 2020 is going to be another long year.

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense. Or at least doesn't to me.

I am very much looking forward to Joel Smith returning from injury. I think he will be come a very good addition to our side if he can stay fit.

But i (and i assume others who share that sentiment) am not suggesting Smith's availability is a prerequisite for success in 2020. I think it will help but that's just hunch.

Smith may not even end up being in our best 22, might do or may not shake the injury curse. Whatever the situation ends up being with Smith, i'm still confident of making finals in 2020. 

Edited October 9, 20196 yr by binman

I rate him.

If fit, he improves our forward line a lot.

Hope he fully recovers. He’s been so unlucky not to get a run of games to prove himself, but I think the sign are there. Injury and a basketball background says he needs time to perform. I’m happy to give him that as I believe he has the potential to develop into a great asset for us, either forward, or I’d actually prefer him to Tomlinson on the wing. He certainly has the athleticism of Frost, but far more natural ability, and a far higher ceiling IMO.

Given the time he’s had off the field, and assuming he is fit, i’d allow him till at least mid season next year to prove himself before throwing any barbs his way.

8 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

The Shaun Smith concussion article in the other thread may give a clue as to why he is spontaneous in thought and action.

“I’ve had a couple of blues with friends, punched on — I’m not a fighter. It’s cost me a friendship just recently. I’m ashamed of it, I just can’t control my anger. You become very impulsive, make some very poor decisions.”
 

Plenty of blokes fight with friends. Its not a symptom of concussion unless its a very complicated case

4 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

Plenty of blokes fight with friends. Its not a symptom of concussion unless its a very complicated case

my you are provactive....