With the loss of Gaspar for a month, Schulz for 2-3 months, Thursfield for the year and with Stafford and Knobel due to come back any week now, I thought that I would have a quick look at our stocks.
203cm
Greg Stafford
* Last year for Greg, calf injuries are always harder to shake when you are at the wrong end of your career (eg. Hird) and at best will be up forward, with short bursts in the ruck/off the bench.
202cm
Trent Knobel
* Is a one dimensional ruckman who will be coming back from a broken leg. Not the worst bone in your leg to break (if there is such a thing) but the lay off will have an effect on his running capacity, and besides the crash & bash rucking technique, he is fairly limited, especially around the ground.
198cm
Adam Pattison
* It takes a little longer when you’re a big man to find your feet at AFL level, but in a few weeks, if/with the season as good as gone, it will be time (if not now) to throw him in at the deep end. When he has played so far, he really hasn't been able to get into the game. Benny Gale took awhile to find his feet, but the only way he got better was from being left on the field at AFL level, and I see Adam needing the same time and space to develop.
Angus Graham
* Rookie - Obviously needs time
196cm
Troy Simmonds
* Wants to be our number one ruckman, and as he has shown he is more than capable, but he needs a hand and this was clearly demonstrated against the Eagles on the weekend. Stafford in my opinion is a waste of time, so it is out of Knobel & Pattison to take up the number 2 spot. Knobel will be given a chance when he comes back, and if he doesn't show anything/much, then I'm almost certain that they will give Pattison a run at it for the remainder of the year.
Matthew Richardson
* I hear the calls for Richo to be given a go at CHB, but I think that it is way too late in his career for the move. We are stuck in the forward 50 roaming up to assist occasionally in the back half and up onto the wings, and that is about all we can do. His kicking is always going to be 50/50 at best and if we can get 50+ goals from the big fella per season, then so be it. How long will he go on? I think 2 more years (after this) at best, and depending on how the body holds up/injuries will be the other deciding factor.
Ray Hall
* What to do with Ray! Hasn't got the bulk/frame to be a ruckman, is hot and cold when he plays back (mainly lukewarm) and hasn't really ever been given much of a chance up forward... and I'm sure there is a reason for that! With the injuries to Gas, Schulz, Thursfield & to a lesser extent Moore, he will have to pick up one of the oppositions key forwards for a couple of weeks/months, which is a worry. He is better when he has the second or even third bets forward to cover, although he seems to do well on Barry Hall most times.
193cm
Darren Gaspar
* The hammy after coming off a serviceable year last year after the knee reconstruction. He has lost that yard (or two) of pace that had him all over the best forwards in the league during his prime, and the adjusted rules with regards to holding of jumpers and taking out of the hands/arms have done him no favours. Will be missing for the next 3-4 games, and then we will just have to wait and see. He turns 30 next month, and depending on how he plays out the year (and his contract) he may not be around for too much longer. At his best a required player and a great stopper, but the rules and his body have diminished his cat like ability and strengths.
Jay Schulz
* This was going to be his big year, coming off a solid pre season and as part of the secondary leadership group... but again injury strikes! Hasn't had the best of runs with injuries (or the police!) the ankle last year, and now the shoulder. This really needed to be the year where he stepped up, and with him missing for the next 2-3 months, it will be the second half of the season where he will really need to make his mark. Did stuff all in the first few games, and was given a new contract at the start of the year, but the time has come.
192cm
Cleve Hughes
* Looks like he could play a Matthew Lloyd type role for us in the future (without the diving) and will be in a battle with Jackson (see below) for the leading forward from the goal square role. Should get a go at sometime during the season, and I'm looking froward to that!
Dean Limbach
* I live more in hope than anything else for Dean, he was pick 52 in 2004 so some would say that we will not lose much if he doesn't come on, but I don't think that he will get too much more time after next year.
191cm
Patrick Bowden
* Has started off well, and obviously enjoys playing under Wallace and in the same team as his brother. The role of playing across half forward and up on the wings has suited him and he will hopefully develop into the role even further. Once Brown regains full fitness, and along with Pet, Richo and a combination of Lids, Bling, Cleve, Patto & Jacko... it should be a good mix.
Luke McGuane
* Like Limbach, will be given time (pick 36 in the same draft as Limbach) as he was a little younger than the others selected in 2004 and had the badly broken arm last year. Has a great attitude, but so do many players who don’t make it at this level.
190cm
Andrew Kellaway
* With the players going down around him, he has been exposed once again. Another player who like Gaspar has been not helped by the new rules. His delivery by foot is average at best, and although he is a good mark for his size and has great courage, like Hall he needs to be playing on the 2nd or 3rd best medium/tall in the opposition side. Turns 31 at the end of this year, and with his skills being his weakness, might find himself in trouble at years end.
Will Thursfield
* What a shame, there is/was so much potential here! His first game against the Swans, and his last game against the Saints were beauties. We will have to wait and see how he goes coming back from his operation, unfortunately with a knee reconstruction it can swing massively either way.
Kelvin Moore
* Injured at the moment, has shown glimpses, but has not really been able to settle in one position. Will be interested to see where he gets used when he returns, but he will need to have a good run at the Burgers before playing AFL again. Mid season return at best, and it will be interesting to see how he goes.
188cm
Joel Bowden
* It's kind of interesting that one of our key defensive men is the same height as three of our midfielders (Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio & Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls). More of a sweeper than a key position player, he has often had to play on much larger opponents (Tredrea, Brown, etc) and has done okay. With Gas, Thirsty & Sargent all out of the side, it will mean that he will have to take a key forward for at least the next month. He will more than likely have to play on Brown next week, with Carlton he will get Waite, Essendon Lucas and Sydney Davis or O'Loughlin. Needs some help down back to free him up, although Raines has swept well so far this year. Newman needs to help out a bit more down back as well with the taller players out.
Daniel Jackson
* Like Joel, just scrapes into the key position post, mainly due to his full forward duties so far this year. He and Hughes have been primed for the leading forward from the goal square role. Jackson has done an alright job thus far, and unfortunately for him, was required to plug some holes in the back half last week. Not a natural defender (as with Schulz IMHO) and although not too many players love playing down back, you can see he hates it with a passion. I'm sure if asked publicly he would tow the party line with the 'I'm just happy to get a game, where ever they play me' but he looks uncomfortable down there. And added to the fact that he doesn’t have the delivery by foot required to do the job well either, its just not the right option, although he is not a bad shot at goal. Another who has to do something this year, or he may be shown the door.
And then we really start to hit out mediums...
187cm
Mark Coughlan
Greg Tivendale
Dean Polo
186cm
Kane Johnson
203cm
Greg Stafford
* Last year for Greg, calf injuries are always harder to shake when you are at the wrong end of your career (eg. Hird) and at best will be up forward, with short bursts in the ruck/off the bench.
202cm
Trent Knobel
* Is a one dimensional ruckman who will be coming back from a broken leg. Not the worst bone in your leg to break (if there is such a thing) but the lay off will have an effect on his running capacity, and besides the crash & bash rucking technique, he is fairly limited, especially around the ground.
198cm
Adam Pattison
* It takes a little longer when you’re a big man to find your feet at AFL level, but in a few weeks, if/with the season as good as gone, it will be time (if not now) to throw him in at the deep end. When he has played so far, he really hasn't been able to get into the game. Benny Gale took awhile to find his feet, but the only way he got better was from being left on the field at AFL level, and I see Adam needing the same time and space to develop.
Angus Graham
* Rookie - Obviously needs time
196cm
Troy Simmonds
* Wants to be our number one ruckman, and as he has shown he is more than capable, but he needs a hand and this was clearly demonstrated against the Eagles on the weekend. Stafford in my opinion is a waste of time, so it is out of Knobel & Pattison to take up the number 2 spot. Knobel will be given a chance when he comes back, and if he doesn't show anything/much, then I'm almost certain that they will give Pattison a run at it for the remainder of the year.
Matthew Richardson
* I hear the calls for Richo to be given a go at CHB, but I think that it is way too late in his career for the move. We are stuck in the forward 50 roaming up to assist occasionally in the back half and up onto the wings, and that is about all we can do. His kicking is always going to be 50/50 at best and if we can get 50+ goals from the big fella per season, then so be it. How long will he go on? I think 2 more years (after this) at best, and depending on how the body holds up/injuries will be the other deciding factor.
Ray Hall
* What to do with Ray! Hasn't got the bulk/frame to be a ruckman, is hot and cold when he plays back (mainly lukewarm) and hasn't really ever been given much of a chance up forward... and I'm sure there is a reason for that! With the injuries to Gas, Schulz, Thursfield & to a lesser extent Moore, he will have to pick up one of the oppositions key forwards for a couple of weeks/months, which is a worry. He is better when he has the second or even third bets forward to cover, although he seems to do well on Barry Hall most times.
193cm
Darren Gaspar
* The hammy after coming off a serviceable year last year after the knee reconstruction. He has lost that yard (or two) of pace that had him all over the best forwards in the league during his prime, and the adjusted rules with regards to holding of jumpers and taking out of the hands/arms have done him no favours. Will be missing for the next 3-4 games, and then we will just have to wait and see. He turns 30 next month, and depending on how he plays out the year (and his contract) he may not be around for too much longer. At his best a required player and a great stopper, but the rules and his body have diminished his cat like ability and strengths.
Jay Schulz
* This was going to be his big year, coming off a solid pre season and as part of the secondary leadership group... but again injury strikes! Hasn't had the best of runs with injuries (or the police!) the ankle last year, and now the shoulder. This really needed to be the year where he stepped up, and with him missing for the next 2-3 months, it will be the second half of the season where he will really need to make his mark. Did stuff all in the first few games, and was given a new contract at the start of the year, but the time has come.
192cm
Cleve Hughes
* Looks like he could play a Matthew Lloyd type role for us in the future (without the diving) and will be in a battle with Jackson (see below) for the leading forward from the goal square role. Should get a go at sometime during the season, and I'm looking froward to that!
Dean Limbach
* I live more in hope than anything else for Dean, he was pick 52 in 2004 so some would say that we will not lose much if he doesn't come on, but I don't think that he will get too much more time after next year.
191cm
Patrick Bowden
* Has started off well, and obviously enjoys playing under Wallace and in the same team as his brother. The role of playing across half forward and up on the wings has suited him and he will hopefully develop into the role even further. Once Brown regains full fitness, and along with Pet, Richo and a combination of Lids, Bling, Cleve, Patto & Jacko... it should be a good mix.
Luke McGuane
* Like Limbach, will be given time (pick 36 in the same draft as Limbach) as he was a little younger than the others selected in 2004 and had the badly broken arm last year. Has a great attitude, but so do many players who don’t make it at this level.
190cm
Andrew Kellaway
* With the players going down around him, he has been exposed once again. Another player who like Gaspar has been not helped by the new rules. His delivery by foot is average at best, and although he is a good mark for his size and has great courage, like Hall he needs to be playing on the 2nd or 3rd best medium/tall in the opposition side. Turns 31 at the end of this year, and with his skills being his weakness, might find himself in trouble at years end.
Will Thursfield
* What a shame, there is/was so much potential here! His first game against the Swans, and his last game against the Saints were beauties. We will have to wait and see how he goes coming back from his operation, unfortunately with a knee reconstruction it can swing massively either way.
Kelvin Moore
* Injured at the moment, has shown glimpses, but has not really been able to settle in one position. Will be interested to see where he gets used when he returns, but he will need to have a good run at the Burgers before playing AFL again. Mid season return at best, and it will be interesting to see how he goes.
188cm
Joel Bowden
* It's kind of interesting that one of our key defensive men is the same height as three of our midfielders (Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio & Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls). More of a sweeper than a key position player, he has often had to play on much larger opponents (Tredrea, Brown, etc) and has done okay. With Gas, Thirsty & Sargent all out of the side, it will mean that he will have to take a key forward for at least the next month. He will more than likely have to play on Brown next week, with Carlton he will get Waite, Essendon Lucas and Sydney Davis or O'Loughlin. Needs some help down back to free him up, although Raines has swept well so far this year. Newman needs to help out a bit more down back as well with the taller players out.
Daniel Jackson
* Like Joel, just scrapes into the key position post, mainly due to his full forward duties so far this year. He and Hughes have been primed for the leading forward from the goal square role. Jackson has done an alright job thus far, and unfortunately for him, was required to plug some holes in the back half last week. Not a natural defender (as with Schulz IMHO) and although not too many players love playing down back, you can see he hates it with a passion. I'm sure if asked publicly he would tow the party line with the 'I'm just happy to get a game, where ever they play me' but he looks uncomfortable down there. And added to the fact that he doesn’t have the delivery by foot required to do the job well either, its just not the right option, although he is not a bad shot at goal. Another who has to do something this year, or he may be shown the door.
And then we really start to hit out mediums...
187cm
Mark Coughlan
Greg Tivendale
Dean Polo
186cm
Kane Johnson
