The (not so ) fab 4

Harrysz · Joined: 15 Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne

Pendlebury, Swan, Beams and Sidebottom are elite players.
Ball, Blair and Macaffer aren't elite but they're important, and aren't going to get dropped any time soon.
Heath Scotland played for us in 2 Grand Finals, so he must have been ok. But he couldn't get a regular game because of Buckley, Licuria and others. So he went to Carlton and played 200 games there and was a good player.
I'm thinking about Ben Kennedy, Josh Thomas, Sam Dwyer and Taylor Adams. None of them have really been given an extended run to get used to AFL pressure. This week it's Sam Dwyer who is unlucky.
He played well against Carlton, got an injury, was the sub against Adelaide, came on when we were playing poorly and now gets dropped.
I'm not necessarily critical of the decision to drop him; someone had to make way for Fasolo.
Taylor Adams's last outing was as a half back flanker against Carlton; he did ok but was then dropped.
I'm not critical of the match committee, but perhaps we have too many midfielders. I hope we don't lose any the way we lost Heath Scotland.

Dave The Man · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:16 pm

I would not Call Steele a Elite Player.

With him Kicking Helicopters and Floaters. I would not call him Elite.

Very Good but not Elite

Dave The Man · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:16 pm

Damien · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:42 pm

Distinct possibility one or more might seek opportunities elsewhere if they don't get them here but that's footy and if it happens you make a good trade. End of story.

themonk · Joined: 02 Mar 2004

Damien · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 7:32 pm

Member 7167 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 7:32 pm

AN_Inkling · Joined: 06 Oct 2007

I don't think our depth is extraordinary here. Throw in the half back flankers and you may have a point, but every club has some decent mids who aren't getting a regular game. If you don't, your're a dud team. There's nothing particularly special about ours.

Dwyer: decent player, would be on the edge of selection at most clubs.
Kennedy: only in his second year; will get more chances, but needs to show more as well
Adams: first year as a Pie; already given a few chances, hasn't really taken them. Drafted as Ball's replacement, and is expected to be a regular down the track
Thomas: not sure he'll be a regular in the first team; we'd need to change our mix if that were the case; but he will get games and will always be close to selection

Of those the one who may not have a future in our first team is Thomas. Maybe he decides to move on if he has greater ambitions.

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

With luck our 2 top 10 picks from last year will be permanent players from 2015, if so we're going to have a war chest of young mids unable to get a game, we're going to have to trade some of those guys for picks IMO.

jackcass · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: Bendigo

Need to manage the transition to life after Ball & Swan so need to be stockpiling a couple of future prospects.

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 12:12 am

jackcass · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: Bendigo

rand corp · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: south east asia

Mids

Elite: Pendles, Swan, Beams
A Grade: Ball, Caff as a tagger
Good Honest: Blair
Emerging: Josh Thomas but lacks fitness/matches this year
Still some way to go: Adams, Kennedy
Early Days: Freeman
Emerging as good pinch hitters in the mid: Elliot, Fasolo

Not mids for mine: Dwyer (like him but as a hff or wing)

Adams has a serious issue with disposal by foot, Kennedy struggles in this area also but Adams is a shocker and really needs to show he can start to hit a target or it will cost him his career.

Collingwood Crackerjack · Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Location: Canberra

Swannie on the way out, Ball even closer, Sidey at a crossroads, question mark over Caff in the middle over the long term.....

I'd say there will be plenty of opportunities for these young 'uns in the upcoming years

RudeBoy · Joined: 28 Nov 2005

I'd say Ball's time is up.

Adams should be playing in the midfield.