I think we'll find some players really coming on under King. The belief of players like Kolt, Sharp and JVR and the confidence they will develop to really show us their abilities may be the reason we will become a top 8 side. King looks like a real mentoring type coach in the Fagan mould. We've yet to see his angry side, I've got a feeling it will take a bit to come out. But it's silly to write any player off under a new game plan and coach. Kolt was good on the weekend, I hope and also think he won't be developed just as a tagger but to set him a task obviously agreed with him, as King said. To get the trust of the coach and feel he belongs and can contribute will be fantastic for Kolt. I have high hopes.

2 hours ago, deespicable me said:

I think we'll find some players really coming on under King. The belief of players like Kolt, Sharp and JVR and the confidence they will develop to really show us their abilities may be the reason we will become a top 8 side. King looks like a real mentoring type coach in the Fagan mould. We've yet to see his angry side, I've got a feeling it will take a bit to come out. But it's silly to write any player off under a new game plan and coach. Kolt was good on the weekend, I hope and also think he won't be developed just as a tagger but to set him a task obviously agreed with him, as King said. To get the trust of the coach and feel he belongs and can contribute will be fantastic for Kolt. I have high hopes.

Two things stood out for me with King so far:

When Paddy Cross was announced, he said “great that you’re humble, but now go own your place on the list” - I thought that was excellent.

And how unapologetic he was that he told the media we were backing our team system against NAS, then post game says he set Kolt for the task weeks ago.

Love it all and can’t wait to see how the team evolves under a different type of leader, particularly the young guys

It's important to note that Kolt re-signed (an extension) on July 26 2024

This thread has been re-booted from that time. So it hasn't happened (the extension) as a result from Sunday's game

Did a great job on Saturday. Give him at least 6 games as a tagger its working.

5 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

Did a great job on Saturday. Give him at least 6 games as a tagger its working.

I think he’s finally found a role, I think he was likely to struggle to get game time with his roles he played in the past.

Hopefully playing on the best gives him some great insight and fast tracks his development.

We really need our young midfielders to come on quicker than expected.

I don't see Tholstrup being explosive enough to play as a midfielder at AFL level. I still think his best chance is as a high half forward. I think tagging makes sense for clearance players at the stoppages and for players who can drift forward and kick a goal, but I don't think a hard tag at all times makes sense.

I think there is a role for the hard tagger. However, agree with the high half forward role. Kolt is going to have to find something that we haven't seen from him if he is to succeed at the top level.

32 minutes ago, VoiceOfReason said:

I think there is a role for the hard tagger. However, agree with the high half forward role. Kolt is going to have to find something that we haven't seen from him if he is to succeed at the top level.

True ViiceofReason but the coach has acknowledged that Kolt has elite aerobic fitness levels and the coaches need to utilise these skills. Hard tagging is a great way of getting him into the action and understanding how to position effectively in the midfield, he doesn’t lack courage, his disposal is pretty sound so hopefully the tagging role may lead to something more permanent. Remember when Harmsey started out as a tagger he added a few strings to his bow like hard two way running and kicking a few goals that made him a valuable addition to the team. Kolt could do the same.

I'm not sure how useful he's going to be if we decide not to tag

What could possibly go wrong?

10 hours ago, lorn said:

I'm not sure how useful he's going to be if we decide not to tag

I don’t know lorn I would match him up against their best mid each week, he will come on in leaps and bounds could end up being a weapon for us.

I felt that last year Kolt ran about like a headless chook. Running from contest to contest but not having much of an impact once he got there by either failing to stick a tackle or making a poor decision with the ball if he did win it.

The effort and work rate were there but no end product. A full preseason will have helped him with this I think.

Also having a simple clearly defines role that he has a skill set for is also to his advantage.

I’m confident his role will change with experience. He may end up with a variation of what Nibbler used to do for us

I thought he looked pretty decent after the Serong tag was dropped and he was moved to defence.

Brought every ball to ground and defended decently. I think there’s enough to play with here now

22 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Hopefully playing on the best gives him some great insight and fast tracks his development.

We really need our young midfielders to come on quicker than expected.

This.

I think running with some of the game's best will really help his own game develop. Whether as a tagger or not.

Very impressed so far.

I think the defensive/tagger role works well for Kolt because of his strong work ethic and athleticism. This role may not mean he is a world-beater, like what some people think he should be, but he can have a defined role that is important to the team and hurts our opposition.

The Messiah had to go into the forward line to have an impact for the saints, only 18 touches (yet 3 goals) Serong had only 16 touches, last year he averaged 27.

We can see that better midfields (like Freo's) are able to adapt to this and have their other guns fire (Brayshaw 39 touches, Bolton, 32 touches) But against other teams more around our skill level it gives us an advantage (St Kilda victory as an example.)

A masterstroke from King that gives a promising young player a defined role to improve his football craft and hopefully become a Neal-Bullen style player who we so desperately missed last year.