Welcome Hugo Ralphsmith

[T-Shirt Tommy]

Via the AFL website:

TIGER TO STAY​

HUGO Ralphsmith is set to remain at Punt Road in 2024.

The 21-year-old has been forced to wait while the Tigers work through their contracts post-season, but the club is finalising a one-year extension.

Ralphsmith played nine games straight in the first half of the season but only added four more appearances after round 12, starting all four games as the sub.



Lucky, lucky boy. Got a prove-it 1 year deal.

 

[craig]

Meh

 

[gold1]

Reckon this is smart as the new coach may give him a new game plan to work to.

 

[year of the tiger]

Reckon this is smart as the new coach may give him a new game plan to work to.

Or we trade him but yes luck lucky man.

 

[TigerForce]

Reckon this is smart as the new coach may give him a new game plan to work to.

Yep. I'd give Hugo a chance under new coaches before throwing him away.

 

[tigertim]

He’s a got a summer to work on his kicking, good luck.

 

[RoarEmotion]

He’s a got a summer to work on his kicking, good luck.

Needs to hang out with shorty’s dad.

 

[Sintiger]

I’m ok with one more year. It seems to me that our new coach is backing in his ability to develop footballers. I am happy with that because I am of the view we have talent on our list.

Ralphsmith has talent and his key strength has always been get the ball and run. I watched him a few times this year and he wasn’t using it, trying to play too much inside. Whether that was by instruction I am not sure. To me he is a winger rather than a halfback so he will be fighting with the likes of Banks to challenge for a senior spot.

Kicking is an issue I agree and that’s where Banks is better.

I reckon there will be a player or two who will surprise us and come good under Yze, there usually is with a new coach. Not sure it will be Ralphy

 

[Tigers of Old]

Would much rather have tried another face.
Anyway he’s on the list. Can only hope he turns it around somehow.

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

Would much rather have tried another face.
Anyway he’s on the list. Can only hope he turns it around somehow.

Agree.
I reckon they would've tried to off load him but the return would've been low so we keep him.
He has too many flaws in his game.
Side stepper, shiit kick, panic merchant.
That is delist material but because we have torched sooo many picks since 17, he moat likely gets to stay.

 

[Tigers2011]

Only staying because of shallow draft perception. Needs a miracle to fix kicking, under pressure decision making and greater courage in contests.

Wing is his only position and plenty of others in front of him now.

 

[CarnTheTiges]

Only staying because of shallow draft perception. Needs a miracle to fix kicking, under pressure decision making and greater courage in contests.

Wing is his only position and plenty of others in front of him now.

With his pace, could he play the Castagna role in the forward line?

 

[TigerFurious]

Agree that kicking is an issue but it’s not his biggest issue. For me it’s his involvement level, he just doesn’t get involved enough. Averages 11.9 disposals over 4 years and barely a tackle a game at AFL level. He is also not much better at VFL level either. Also for someone who is supposedly a good runner he rarely shows it. Rarely if ever does his name appear in the either the fastest players on the ground or in the most kms covered.

Another that is very lucky to still be on an AFL list.

 

[waiting]

Agree that kicking is an issue but it’s not his biggest issue. For me it’s his involvement level, he just doesn’t get involved enough. Averages 11.9 disposals over 4 years and barely a tackle a game at AFL level. He is also not much better at VFL level either. Also for someone who is supposedly a good runner he rarely shows it. Rarely if ever does his name appear in the either the fastest players on the ground or in the most kms covered.

Another that is very lucky to still be on an AFL list.

He is and I hope he can turn it around in 24 and Yze sees a position for him.

Has areas he needs to work on and improve over the pre season.

On watch !

 

[Tigers2011]

With his pace, could he play the Castagna role in the forward line?

I’d say unlikely as he just doesn’t seem to have the goal sense that a natural forward needs. Does he have enough defensive intent or tackling ability as well? Probably not and even so, as we see with Maurice Jnr, that’s not enough anyway.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Forward line? Wing? A very noticeable thing about Ralphsmith is he doesn't even stand out at VFL level after 4 years on the list.
If he can start to dominate in those roles at the lower levels then maybe he gets another crack at the seniors.
He worked his backside off last preseason to establish his spot but he couldn't. I can't see him improving further.

 

[wigglyworm]

Would much rather have tried another face.
Anyway he’s on the list. Can only hope he turns it around somehow.

I reckon he is lucky that we only have very low picks in a shallow draft. Yze values kicking so he is up against it

 

[Tigers of Old]

I reckon he is lucky that we only have very low picks in a shallow draft.

No matter how 'weak' the jnr draft is there's always players out there. Coulthard, Trezise, Young, Pickett etc. I'd rather leave the list spot open tbh.

 

[The_General]

Forward line? Wing? A very noticeable thing about Ralphsmith is he doesn't even stand out at VFL level after 4 years on the list.
If he can start to dominate in those roles at the lower levels then maybe he gets another crack at the seniors.
He worked his backside off last preseason to establish his spot but he couldn't. I can't see him improving further.

So, none of our wing's stand out.

Is it the players or our system?
I think Hugo will be lucky, very lucky. But is part of the problem how we use our wings?

 

[Tigers of Old]

So, none of our wing's stand out.

Is it the players or our system?
I think Hugo will be lucky, very lucky. But is part of the problem how we use our wings?

I'd much rather look at Brown & Banks on the wings ahead of Hugo already if we're looking to develop players on the wing. That position requires good ball users sending it i50. Hugo is not a crisp kick. For an outside player now that is imperative.