Toby Bedford, Kade Chandler and Bailey Laurie…

[Paulo 285]

Which one of these 3 will make their move.

All 3 have similar stats for Casey this year , its time for one of them to step up? 

[Rhino 56]

Think Laurie has a huge upside!!!

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,132]

Bedford is good next up for Koz, ANB and Spargo but they have him covered at present. I dont rate Chandler highly. Laurie is playing more mid forward than forward. He shows some serious footy iQ and skill and will be a quality future player but needs a full season of development at Casey in 2022.  

[Neil Crompton 4,674]

It might be just me but after watching the Casey games, I cannot yet get too excited about our talent at Casey. Given the strength of our seniors, I don’t see anyone currently knocking down the door to get in. The difference in standards between AFL and VFL is huge, and to me, unless you are dominating at VFL you are unlikely to make in the AFL. No one is dominating that I can see. 

[The heart beats true 16,020]

I think Bedford is clearly doing a lot of things right in the eyes of the coaches. His intensity seems to have really lifted, which is a credit to him.

Im not sure I agree with the idea that you need to dominate at VFL level. Bowey looked handy and clean at that level, but certainly never dominated. Brown looked out of form last year   in the VFL and then came into the seniors and looked clean and assured. 

The system at VFL level is quite different because of the experience of the players, and that a 3rd of them aren’t able to be full time footballers. Forward of the ball you don’t get the pressure you would at AFL level, but also not the clean delivery and consistency of team structure. I think that works against all the boys mentioned here and the role they play.

Ultimately Laurie was rated highly in his draft year with skill and poise. On bigger grounds and with better system he’s got the most upside for mine.

[binman 37,784]

Watching live, Bedford looked a class above VFL level last night.

Quick, smart positioning, hard at it, clever ball use and brilliant lateral movement.

Played quite a few minutes in the middle, as did Laurie.

[D4Life 2,299]

I like seeing someone dominate in the VFL as the there is a big difference between it and the AFL. ANB dominated at VFL level but took another 3 years to be comfortable at AFL level.

Or a point of difference re skill, intensity, vision, running power, or just knack of getting the ball. Bowey as stated above kicking skills, etc.

Brown is in a different category, already proven at AFL over many years, just has to show his fitness!

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,132]

I agree not many there are showing clear form to push some one out but as others have mentioned a dominant VFL display does not always translate and vice versa. Some of that is quality of opposition and game, the grounds played at as well as likely playing a VFL primary role to elevating to AFL in a supporting position. You are looking for the key attributes, fitness and touch that will translate into the required role at AFL level more so than volume of touches and significant impact. Bowey as some have mentioned is a great case in point. 

What excites me is whilst getting low touches, our kids in Laurie, Howes, Woewodin, JVR and others are just doing some of those things that are AFL level attributes whether it is one touch moments, speed of decision making or defensive intercept that show that with development they will be quality up a level when their time comes. All going well that time wont need to be in 2022.

[D4Life 2,299]

16 minutes ago, binman said:

Watching live, Bedford looked a class above VFL level last night.

Quick, smart positioning, hard at it, clever ball use and brilliant lateral movement.

Played quite a few minutes in the middle, as did Laurie.

Thanks for your insights and commitment, adds an extra layer to my enjoyment on Demonland and in following the Demons!

Congrats to you, George and Andy on the podcasts, always informative.

[Redleg 37,474]

Players in good clubs who can't get games, but play ok, are seen as targets by other clubs. 

Some of our boys not making it into the 22, will be seen by the club as tradeable.

This improves ours draft position and helps add further layers of talent to the list, while giving the players the chance to play senior footy.

Edited April 10, 2022 by Redleg

[Paulo 285]

Do we have too many small forwards on our list, ANB, Kossie, spargo, bedford, chandler, Laurie, AMW ?  

 

 

 

 

[adonski 9,102]

3 minutes ago, Paulo said:

Do we have too many small forwards on our list, ANB, Kossie, spargo, bedford, chandler, Laurie, AMW ?  

 

 

 

 

Probably, 

I was surprised we re-contracted Chandler for a further two years

[one_demon 826]

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

... unless you are dominating at VFL you are unlikely to make in the AFL.

I don't think Bowey was dominating at VFL level

Edited April 10, 2022 by one_demon

[binman 37,784]

1 minute ago, Paulo said:

Do we have too many small forwards on our list, ANB, Kossie, spargo, bedford, chandler, Laurie, AMW ?  

 

 

 

 

No, would be my view.

Bedford and anb are not really small forwards as such - not in the traditional definition of a crumbing, goal kicking small forward.

Both play that high half forward role that involves running up and down the ground all game. Nibbler is only behind langdon in kms coveted each game.

Laurie is a mid or half back. I don't think he has ever played as a forward, either in his junior career or at Casey.

Spargo and kozzie also both do a fair bit of up and down the ground running  but are certainly more the traditional crumbing small forward.

But you need coverage for both, so two playing tbst role at casey

Chandler is a forward, but is also being trialled as a mid  But can cover them.

And AMW is the other.

[Ugottobekidding 913]

2 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

I think Bedford is clearly doing a lot of things right in the eyes of the coaches. His intensity seems to have really lifted, which is a credit to him.

Im not sure I agree with the idea that you need to dominate at VFL level. Bowey looked handy and clean at that level, but certainly never dominated. Brown looked out of form last year   in the VFL and then came into the seniors and looked clean and assured. 

The system at VFL level is quite different because of the experience of the players, and that a 3rd of them aren’t able to be full time footballers. Forward of the ball you don’t get the pressure you would at AFL level, but also not the clean delivery and consistency of team structure. I think that works against all the boys mentioned here and the role they play.

Ultimately Laurie was rated highly in his draft year with skill and poise. On bigger grounds and with better system he’s got the most upside for mine.

Laurie hasn't played much footy since arriving due to injury and covid.

[Neil Crompton 4,674]

2 minutes ago, one_demon said:

I don't think Bowey was dominating at VFL level

Picket Fence was raving about Bowey for weeks, saving he was ready for AFL, and he was correct. At this stage no one is raving that any of our current VFL players are ready for AFL yet. I think there is some future potential, but in my opinion, no one now ready to replace our main guys.

[Sir Why You Little 34,414]

Let them all play 50-60 games at Casey. 
We all know what happens when kids are played to early. 
 

Jake Bowey is the exception 

[58er 5,593]

3 hours ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Bedford is good next up for Koz, ANB and Spargo but they have him covered at present. I dont rate Chandler highly. Laurie is playing more mid forward than forward. He shows some serious footy iQ and skill and will be a quality future player but needs a full season of development at Casey in 2022.  

That's what we said of Bowser last year but was incorrect that he needed a full season at Casey. 

FWIW I think Laurie is the best chance of a long term career of the 3 and I don't Think  your dismissal of him being  MID forward is going to have any relevance at all. Actually it will give him more of a chance. That's like saying ANB NOW because he is a genuine on baller also he has less chance of being selected at half forward. It's in fact a real advantage.

Bedford needs a real breakout succession of games with some goals attached plus good disposal.

Chandler similar but has he enough tricks when you compare him to the others  ie pace ? skill ? kicks both feet? Enough goals? Marking ?

I Don't question Kade's or any of the three ( or the encumbants  for that matter) determination or courage to be selected. 

Time will tell and injury might be the only chance in the short term for a regular chance to grab the spot! 

Agsin we have a couple or 3 or more chances of depth but I will be sad if we are without Kossie any time soon. But he needs to start hitting the scoreboard more regularly like last year to be the classy player we know and love. 

[Winners at last 4,688]

I haven't seen anything from Bedford or Chandler to suggest that either will make the grade.

FWIW Lockhart showed more than these guys, but was shown the door. (I know he played a different position.)

Haven't seen anything of Laurie at all. 

 

[rjay 23,866]

17 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Let them all play 50-60 games at Casey. 
We all know what happens when kids are played to early. 
 

Jake Bowey is the exception 

Kossy, Jackson, Rivers...

[DeeSpencer 23,058]

Bedford: seems to have taken a step forward this year. Has genuine pace which is handy both in attack and to defend. But he’s slight, fumbly, lacks a fluent kicking action so struggles to weight kicks and lacks smarts IMO. The kind of depth that can help win you games but not the kind of depth you want to end up playing consistently.

Chandler: stronger and smarter, with a cleaner boot. But still short and so far his VFL trick bag hasn’t worked at afl level where he can’t take marks or break out of traffic. Lacks top end pace to be a weapon both in attack and defensively. Think he’d be better suited at a spread them out and use the ball team like the Crows. Our afl game plan just doesn’t play to his strengths currently. If he finds a yard of pace or his tricks start coming off at afl level he could be handy, but he hasn’t had that consistent run to find out.

Laurie: had a luckless year last year but frankly he’s looking a bit like the dangers of drafting for need and drafting in a compromised draft. Had a great under 17 year as a flanker in a dominant side but the gamble was he would be faster, stronger and a good mid in his under 18 year. He’s looked slow and unable to win consistent ball as a midfielder. The skills and tricks are there but if you’re small and slow you’ll battle as a forward, and you can’t play mid if you can’t win the ball. I’m sure the hope is for some kind of mix of at least a Spargo type forward and ideally a Shuey type midfielder, but that seems a mile away. 10 touch games playing decent midfield minutes are a big worry. 

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,132]

25 minutes ago, 58er said:

 

FWIW I think Laurie is the best chance of a long term career of the 3 and I don't Think  your dismissal of him being  MID forward is going to have any relevance at all. Actually it will give him more of a chance. That's like saying ANB NOW because he is a genuine on baller also he has less chance of being selected at half forward. It's in fact a real advantage.

Bedford needs a real breakout succession of games with some goals attached plus good disposal.

Not dimissing him at all. I just think if he is playing mid forward they will want to see him get to more contests, work harder defensively and attract more than single figure possessions before he is considered in what is an area of the ground we have kept most stable over the last 18 months. He has some serious tools but I suggest they are playing him in that role at VFL as this is best for ours and his development for when he is ready. I just dont see it being this season. Another pre season and a year playing mid against mature bodies and he will be well tooled to play high half forward at AFL level. 

Edited April 10, 2022 by Lil_red_fire_engine

[Sir Why You Little 34,414]

2 minutes ago, rjay said:

Kossy, Jackson, Rivers...

Were always a lot further advanced than Bedford, Laurie and Chandler. 
Don’t play kids to early. The rewards are huge if Patience is applied 

[rjay 23,866]

 

44 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Jake Bowey is the exception 

 

21 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Were always a lot further advanced than Bedford, Laurie and Chandler. 
Don’t play kids to early. The rewards are huge if Patience is applied 

Just saying that Bowey was not the only exception...

[Sir Why You Little 34,414]

1 minute ago, rjay said:

 

 

Just saying that Bowey was not the only exception...

Bowey is a freak

Has he made an error yet?