3 hours ago, Nasher said:

I wonder what Jason Taylor would think of this analysis? What you have said sounds right to me, but all these attributes and shortcomings would have been known as an 18 year old, but we took him anyway, and with a non-trivial pick (late 20s). 

“He’s an AFL Academy member and from the Murray Bushrangers, up Albury way and is a border at Melbourne Grammar. Charlie’s got a rich history in the game, with his father playing for North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears. His great grandfather Bob played with the Bulldogs and a couple of games for Melbourne, so there is a nice connection there. He’s a small forward/midfielder, Charlie, and he’s got a really good athletic package. What we really like about his game is his intensity and aggression, and willingness and ability to cover the ground. We think he’ll be a good addition.”

Mix of draftees complete list

 

Charlie Spargo, the son of former North Melbourne midfielder Paul, was the Demons' first selection, at No.29.

Taylor said the 172cm small forward/midfielder would most likely start his career with Melbourne in attack, where his ability to hit the scoreboard and his deceptive strength overhead would add some potency.

But Taylor thought in time Spargo's ability to cover the ground would mean he was a more natural fit in the midfield.

Melbourne's 2017 Draft wrap

 

Melbourne recruiter Jason Taylor agreed there was something to the Boomer Harvey comparison.

“Yeah, there is a little bit of that when he’s up and going. Because of his running capacity he looks more of a midfielder but another asset is he can go up in the air as well.

“He is an AFL Academy member and Murray Bushranger and he really did have an outstanding Under 16 championships.

“His body hasn’t been right but he had a shoulder operation and missed a fair chunk of the second half of the year, but we are looking for that type of player, a small forward with aggression and Charlie has that in spades.

“He is an aggressive player and we think he can add some ground level potency to the forward line and go through the midfield.”

Melbourne recruit Charlie Spargo has drawn comparisons with AFL legend Brent Harvey

 

A clean sweep of the coaches votes again:

10  Christian Petracca (MELB)

8    Clayton Oliver (MELB)

6    Angus Brayshaw (MELB)

4   Jake Lever (MELB)

1   Sam Weideman (MELB)

1  Ed Langdon (MELB)

 

What a midfield!

 

Petracca a long way second to Neale on the leader board with a game in hand.  But round 11 not over yet so he could be overtaken.

2 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

A clean sweep of the coaches votes again:

10  Christian Petracca (MELB)

8    Clayton Oliver (MELB)

6    Angus Brayshaw (MELB)

4   Jake Lever (MELB)

1   Sam Weideman (MELB)

1  Ed Langdon (MELB)

 

What a midfield!

 

Petracca a long way second to Neale on the leader board with a game in hand.  But round 11 not over yet so he could be overtaken.

Oliver is into the top 20,  Gawny dropped out.  Means we are so close to having 4 players in the top 20.

Coaches agreed on the 5-4-3-2 and split the 1.    Good reward for Lever getting the 2 from both coaches.

1 hour ago, Axis of Bob said:

I agree generally with @Pollyanna though, as height is important and not many players of Spargo's height make it. If he was 180cm he'd be a lock, rather than still being speculated on. The problem with very small players is their ability to win the footy in contests because they get knocked off the ball easily (look at Daniel). Spargo doesn't really because he's still quite strong (and wins contested footy) and the role he plays doesn't require him to be a big ball winner but rather a clever facilitator.

Most of the really small players need a special trick. It's usually speed (Boomer Harvey, etc), but I'm really happy that the game has changed enough that there are roles for short players who are real, genuine footballers (like Spargo and Daniel .... who is probably my favourite non-Melbourne footballer).

Pickett is even shorter but has a trick or two .... speed, agility, power, vertical leap, skills, hands, game sense, work rate, dance moves, goal sense, toughness. I hope I'm not underselling him. 

Fair enough. I disagree. I don't think he'd a lock if he was 180cm. That seems nonsensical to me. If he's good enough he'd be a lock. And as it stands, if he continues to connect mids with deeper forwards (as he did throughout 2018) it doesn't really matter if he was 170cm or 180cm. As you point out, he has elite agility, is neat with the ball and clever (ie runs to the right positions). These traits could well make him succeed, particularly in our system, across half forward. We move the ball incredibly quickly and being able to turn on a dim as he's able to and keep it moving, makes him a very handy addition to our forwardline.

As @Nasher pointed out too, clearly Taylor saw something in this mixture of traits (agility, smarts and clean ball use) to use a relatively good second round pick on him. Of course, Taylor could be wrong, but I've always liked Charlie and I'd prefer to look at what he brings in-game rather than look at his profile that tells us he's closer to 170cm and seemingly make a judgement on that.

Each to their own there and all apart of a rigorous, interesting discussion. : )

Rewatching the game, a few additional thoughts.

North were terrible.  We could have smashed them off the park with accurate goal kicking.  It is lucky it didnt matter.

Tommo and Spargo really played their roles.  Tommo served as a cutout target, connected well and was solid defensively on the wing.  Best not playing as a permanent back, though.  Spargo worked hard and delivered the ball i50 with quality kicks.  He worked hard, got into good positions and I thought did a good job.

AVB - again, he was tough at the contest and got into good positions, his turnovers and brain fades are worrying.

Jones.  Spread really well.  Created width going forward on a number of occasions to good effect.  Got in the way in the middle a few times, but the spread was good.  has slowed down half a cog.

Kozzi =pencil him in for rising star nomination,  That was an impressive game.  

Jason Taylor - take a bow, Rivers, Kozzi and Jacko were outstanding for first year player

Good signs.  Nice to have two training runs in Adelaide before we face the Pies and get on with the rest of the season.

Umpires.  First quarter was a disgrace.  After that, they essentially put the Whistle away.  Hope they stay in Adelaide and away from us.

7 hours ago, Win4theAges said:

He took his chance last night Spargs.

As the great Dennis Commetti would say, he bobbed up like a cork in the ocean. He found space to be quite damaging. Maybe the North players didn't rate him, or he is a clever little chap.

5 hours ago, A F said:

I find this a strange argument. What has this got to do with whether Brayshaw can do it against the best? He's done it before. And this year, he hasn't been given the chance to do it against the best, instead he was played on a wing. As soon as he's been given the chance to go in the guts for regular TOG, he's done all that was asked of him. I feel like you're being pretty harsh on him, but anyway.

As for why a few of those players haven't recaptured form, let's break that down.

Tom McDonald's had injury interruptions; Spargo was a second year player last year (he was given a go last night and did well); Harmes (as it's well-documented) is being played out of position (not the same position as 2018); Jetts has slowed down considerably, that's just apart of football; ANB is a role player whose form has always been up and down (even in 2018); and Vandenberg has made us tougher this year but struggled with disposal just as he did in 2018. 

We've also had an injection of younger talent that has gone past these guys. I'd argue Weideman has gone past Tom now. It's clear Lockhart is Nev's heir. And ANB's been competing with the likes of Sparrow and Bennell.

Gus can do it against the best sides and if we have the right midfield combination, he will prove it again and agian.

Just because he played well in 2018 doesn't mean he's automatically going to play well again simply by starting some more bounces in the centre.

Brayshaw has spent plenty of time running through the middle of the ground despite not starting in centre bounces. And he's struggled. The fact he was capable of doing it in 2018 doesn't mean he's going to get back to that level the moment he is put back in the centre, and one game vs North doesn't convince me of that. As I said, I want to see him do it against a stronger opposition before declaring that the only reason he's been so poor for 18 months is positioning.

You might be right, and it might all be as simple as not playing him in the middle, but I don't accept that last night is proof of that given how bad North were. 

On 8/9/2020 at 8:25 PM, FarNorthernD said:

I’m a big Luke Jackson fan

Who isn't?

Keeps getting better every week, such a joy to watch.

15 hours ago, Axis of Bob said:

Spargo didn't test at draft camp that year due to injury but prior to injury he did a 7.83 second agility test. The draft record is Stephen Hill with 7.77s, and 7.83s would have been 5th best of all time. 

 

14 hours ago, Axis of Bob said:

I agree generally with @Pollyanna though, as height is important and not many players of Spargo's height make it. If he was 180cm he'd be a lock, rather than still being speculated on. The problem with very small players is their ability to win the footy in contests because they get knocked off the ball easily (look at Daniel). Spargo doesn't really because he's still quite strong (and wins contested footy) and the role he plays doesn't require him to be a big ball winner but rather a clever facilitator.

You've made some very good points in favour of Spargo.  I think he struggles in the deep forward role where he has played because that relies on winning the contest but as you say the link role up the field that he appeared to play against the Crows has less focus on the contest.  And if he genuinely is elite in agility then that will help keep him out of trouble out there. I'm revising sell to watch.

On 8/9/2020 at 10:03 PM, DeeZee said:

It’s the best crop of youngsters we’ve had in a while.

Kozzie, Jackson, Rivers, Sparrow,Lockhart, Spargo.

Gives the group real energy, and some potential stars amongst that lot.

Nothing against the other lads but Im certainly backing the first 3 in that list.