Sorry to clutter up the board. I left to go overseas just before he got his first run with the club, and I'm stunned to have heard mutterings in other threads that he's been ok, and that he's a monty to be promoted... I, like many others, had him written off, now it seems he's the rookie with the most...

Can someone fill me in on his progress in the last month or so?

As a follow up question, where does it leave the likes of our other 3 rookies? Hayes could be retained as it's only his first year, Neaves has been solid for 2 years now in the Sandy seniors, and Hughes has shown glimpses.

Thoughts?

He has settled ok, still a bit fumbly but his disposal has been decent and his decision making and running with the ball has been good, and he has kicked a few goals along the way, some on the run from the 50m area.

I think he will defiantly be on the list next year, wether he will be starting 22 not 100% sure, but he is in with a chance.

He has settled ok, still a bit fumbly but his disposal has been decent and his decision making and running with the ball has been good, and he has kicked a few goals along the way, some on the run from the 50m area.

I think he will defiantly be on the list next year, wether he will be starting 22 not 100% sure, but he is in with a chance.

He has improved week by week and is now kicking a goal. Has pace and a nice kick. Has got over his injuries and is a former All Australian. Needs more improvement but is a chance to become a regular.

He has improved week by week and is now kicking a goal. Has pace and a nice kick. Has got over his injuries and is a former All Australian. Needs more improvement but is a chance to become a regular.

Bode is proof that playing youngsters in the seniors regularly and with good playing time fast tracks their development.

we should have done a carlton this last 6 weeks and played guys like Buckley and Garland every week. now we have basically the same draft picks as Western Bulldog who are a far better and younger team than us.

we have f!ked up

What are you talking about? The Bulldogs are on the slide big time. Who are their far better and younger players? Coony? Everit? Higgins?... I'm struggling to think of too many others.

Despite how terrible this season has been for us, they only just pipped us the first time we played, and we thrashed them in the return game. In both games we had key injuries.

Jones, Mclean, Sylvia, Bate, Newton, Dunn, Maloney, Bell, Bartram and Buckley.... I still think our future's bright.

What are you talking about? The Bulldogs are on the slide big time. Who are their far better and younger players? Coony? Everit? Higgins?... I'm struggling to think of too many others.

Despite how terrible this season has been for us, they only just pipped us the first time we played, and we thrashed them in the return game. In both games we had key injuries.

Jones, Mclean, Sylvia, Bate, Newton, Dunn, Maloney, Bell, Bartram and Buckley.... I still think our future's bright.

Gibbs, Murphey, Walker, Simpson, Carrazo, Kennedy, Fischer, O'hAilpin, Kruiser, Cale Morton, pick 20

along with upncomers in Bower, Hampson, Jackson, Russel

as well as pretty young (under 25) quality players in Waite, Stevens, Houlihan and Fevola.

unfortunately Carlton have a far bigger upside than us.

the worst thing about winning this week is NOT what we lost (only pick 18 essentially), but Carlton are gonna be [censored] amazing is 2-3 years time.

They would have been strong even without the better draft picks this year.

It absolutely disgusts me how Carlton have cheated the competition. they are a dispicable team and they could easily have won 5 games this season if they wanted to. they deliberately field a team that is so young that it cannot win a game of afl football. They have rorted us and bc they dont mind being pathetic, they will benefit long term.

and to top it all off, however disgusted i am with Carlton's 2nd half of the season, ironically i wish riley would have had the brains to do the same thing.

why didnt he play our youngsters. fast tracked their development. long term gain for a little short term pain.

i wish riley would have had the brains to do the same thing.

why didnt he play our youngsters. fast tracked their development. long term gain for a little short term pain.

Unfortunately Riley was about Riley, wanted wins to bolster his chances of getting top job.

Carlton's biggest issue is not their young players, it's the fact that they haven't got any decent senior players. Their best 'senior' player is a Fevola the nutjob, who is hardly a good role model.

They also have no backline, very limited forward line outside Fevola and have already wasted early picks on the likes of Walker and Kennedy.

long term gain for a little short term pain.

Totally agree.

"short term pain" = 2 seconds

The real pain was watching Melbourne lose 17 games b4 it. The damage is done. The pain already exists. Winning one game doesn't make up for a miserable season. An extra draft pick doesn't either but it sure does help.

I think Bode will be promoted.

As for where it leaves the other rookies, I think Neaves could be a candidate for our one third year rookie.

I'm not sure about the other guys.

Carlton's biggest issue is not their young players, it's the fact that they haven't got any decent senior players. Their best 'senior' player is a Fevola the nutjob, who is hardly a good role model.

They also have no backline, very limited forward line outside Fevola and have already wasted early picks on the likes of Walker and Kennedy.

Correct Jaded. Despite all the rumours of tanking and a few good picks in recent years, Carlton really is a crap team. Its an indictment on the senior players that Whitnall is captain and Gibbs was in the leadership group at such an early age. He may become a great player but he just travelled this year. Possibly will blossom in year 2.

I dont like Carlton and the draft penalties of 4 to 5 years ago are really starting to cut into their list badly. There are gaping hole of quality in that side in the 4 to 6 year experience category. FWIW, Walker has not IMO delivered on his No 1 ranking 4 years ago. Less so than McLean.

Bode is proof that playing youngsters in the seniors regularly and with good playing time fast tracks their development.

we should have done a carlton this last 6 weeks and played guys like Buckley and Garland every week. now we have basically the same draft picks as Western Bulldog who are a far better and younger team than us.

No it isnt proof at all. Bode is still a fringe player who would not be in our 22 if we had a full or near full list to choose from.

Frankly the Bulldogs are in a crap position and their last 5 to 6 weeks has been as poor as anything that MFC, Blues or Tigers have dished out. THey have not had any major injuries but their list is a problem. Too many light framed short players with no spine to speak of and their best players in West, Grant and Johnson are coming to the end of fantastic careers. Eade has some big big problems there.

Bode is proof that playing youngsters in the seniors regularly and with good playing time fast tracks their development.

we should have done a carlton this last 6 weeks and played guys like Buckley and Garland every week. now we have basically the same draft picks as Western Bulldog who are a far better and younger team than us.

we have fuked up

i wouldnt say he is proof. i would say he is a good example of someone who will rise to his level. a 2 months ago he was wallowing in sandy 2nds...injuries got him a go and he has shown promise...it will be back to sandy for him where he will learn to apply what he has learnt, and hopefully he can be a successful player.

I like the look of Bode, he should be promoted as this draft isn't that deep, I'd prefer to go with him than a gamble on a kid in the 6th or 6th round. My only issue with him at this stage is that he is very one sided, but that will come in time. As others have previously stated (RR?) he would be a depth player at this stage, but there is a bit of improvement in him though, especially if he gets his confidence going.

I like the look of Bode, he should be promoted

I thought he was promoted. Otherwise how did he get a game? We can't have a nominated rookie as we have two veterans.

I thought he was promoted. Otherwise how did he get a game? We can't have a nominated rookie as we have two veterans.

He was brought in to replace bartram who was on long term injurie list. Next season Bartram will take his spot back and Bode will be rookie listed again. Id expect him to be elvated somehow tho.

He was brought in to replace bartram who was on long term injury list. Next season Bartram will take his spot back and Bode will be rookie listed again. Id expect him to be elevated somehow tho.

OK, looking at the Record, so he's been our "nominated" rookie eligible for senior selection.

No way will he just be rookie listed again (this is his second year). He's got more potential than some late draft pick ... elevate him or lose him seems to be the choice.

I like the look of Bode, he should be promoted as this draft isn't that deep, I'd prefer to go with him than a gamble on a kid in the 6th or 6th round. My only issue with him at this stage is that he is very one sided, but that will come in time. As others have previously stated (RR?) he would be a depth player at this stage, but there is a bit of improvement in him though, especially if he gets his confidence going.

He's not you know. Yesterday he showed he has a decent right foot, much better than Yze, Green or others in recent memory.

He's not you know. Yesterday he showed he has a decent right foot, much better than Yze, Green or others in recent memory.

Ok, thanks, must have missed it. I have the game recorded on foxtel so i'll watch it again and pay more attention to him.

I must admit I do like the looks of him, but then again I think we should stick with CJ....

He's not you know. Yesterday he showed he has a decent right foot, much better than Yze, Green or others in recent memory.

I remember Dermott Brereton saying on SEN after the game that from what he saw tonight the major problem in Bodes' game is his abilty to use his other side. So maybe it isn't so far fetched. I hadn't noticed it but Dermie brought it up as soon as his name was mentioned.

Like 95% of left-footers, he's very 'one-sided'. This will be a problem, but most other left-footers tend to find ways around this shortcoming (have you ever seen Greg Tivendale kick right-footed? he runs angles that means he never has to even attempt his right foot).

To Bode's credit, he did get one kick away on his non-preferred foot, however it did go straight to the Carlton backmen inside our attacking 50...

I think he will be a good depth player next year, certainly nowhere near out best 22 but someone that we know can comfortably play at this level if need be....