Griffen#16
26-11-2007, 09:54 AM
It appears to me, that we really have a decent plan in play at the moment, both to slightly ease any short term sufferance, and to build a longer term plan also. Let me explain.
The selections of Hudson, Callan and now perhaps Welsh all are selections aimed on improving our list instantly. Hudson will give us perhaps 3+ years of good rucking, which will allow us time to continue to develop Minson, and whatever other rucks we take in the next 2 years. Callan adds some hardness and depth, whilst Welsh will give us another goal kicking option hopefully assisting a forward line that was very dysfunctional by seasons end. Welsh plays a lead up role to, so perhaps we will see some players leading into the space ahead of the ball carrier. Something that just wasn't happening enough for mine especially late in the season.
This all bodes us pretty well for next year, and barring injury, Johnson, West, Gilbee, Murphy, Cross, Cooney and Griffen should all have big impacts and hopefully the younger guys finding a bit more consistency once again.
As for the future, the drafts in 2006 and 2007 are very much drafts where we have been prepared to draft some guys who'll take perhaps a bit longer. It's a bit more of rolling the dice, but sometimes you can turn up great players as Harbrow showed last year. All of these other guys drafted over the last few years won't start hitting their straps until 2009/2010. This will be around the time guys like Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Everitt, Williams, Minson, etc will be in their prime. Hopefully Hudson will still be around too, plus perhaps an Ayce Cordy having an influence.
There certainly seems to me to be a bit of a plan to really build for a serious crack after the Johnson/West/Grant/Darcy/Smith era finally comes to a complete close.
At the same time, I think we are a decent chance to be much more competitive next year. We've added some good players, and hopefully a few young kids will surprise from the 2006/7 batch and play a role too.
It's certainly going to be interesting to see how the current list all unfolds imo, there is certainly an exciting mixture in place. Let's hope everyone can get it together and we can achieve success with the talent.
The selections of Hudson, Callan and now perhaps Welsh all are selections aimed on improving our list instantly. Hudson will give us perhaps 3+ years of good rucking, which will allow us time to continue to develop Minson, and whatever other rucks we take in the next 2 years. Callan adds some hardness and depth, whilst Welsh will give us another goal kicking option hopefully assisting a forward line that was very dysfunctional by seasons end. Welsh plays a lead up role to, so perhaps we will see some players leading into the space ahead of the ball carrier. Something that just wasn't happening enough for mine especially late in the season.
This all bodes us pretty well for next year, and barring injury, Johnson, West, Gilbee, Murphy, Cross, Cooney and Griffen should all have big impacts and hopefully the younger guys finding a bit more consistency once again.
As for the future, the drafts in 2006 and 2007 are very much drafts where we have been prepared to draft some guys who'll take perhaps a bit longer. It's a bit more of rolling the dice, but sometimes you can turn up great players as Harbrow showed last year. All of these other guys drafted over the last few years won't start hitting their straps until 2009/2010. This will be around the time guys like Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Everitt, Williams, Minson, etc will be in their prime. Hopefully Hudson will still be around too, plus perhaps an Ayce Cordy having an influence.
There certainly seems to me to be a bit of a plan to really build for a serious crack after the Johnson/West/Grant/Darcy/Smith era finally comes to a complete close.
At the same time, I think we are a decent chance to be much more competitive next year. We've added some good players, and hopefully a few young kids will surprise from the 2006/7 batch and play a role too.
It's certainly going to be interesting to see how the current list all unfolds imo, there is certainly an exciting mixture in place. Let's hope everyone can get it together and we can achieve success with the talent.