Go_Dogs
30-01-2014, 10:30 AM
Macca has long advocated that in the modern game players don't become consistent, AFL performers until they have spent some time in the system and often the 50 game mark is deemed the point where players have reached the maturity required.
Having a quick look over our list, we have quite a number of players who are now falling into that bracket and those who will over the course of this season too.
1. Grant - 58 games - injury
2. Wallis - 43 games
3. Dahlhaus - 50 games
4. Crameri - 57 games
5. Wood - 47 games
6. Williams - 78 games
7. Jones - 56 games
8. Libba - 55 games
9. Roughead - 57 games
Out of the above group, Libba has already seemingly reached the point where he is a consistent performer, but still has a couple of levels to get to as his body, fitness and craft continues to improve.
Crameri appears to be a reasonably consistent performer already, having been a consistent goal kicker at Essendon, and whilst he may take a little time to adjust to playing the Bulldogs way, he should be a good addition and capable of blossoming in 2014.
Grant, Wood and Williams are all players that have been around for a while now but due to injury and form have not been able to string together consistent seasons of football over the past couple of years.
Grant is behind the 8-ball a bit now with his injury, but (fingers crossed) will be a player who can get on the park and continue on from his late 2013 season during the middle part of this season.
I'm still pretty confident on Wood becoming a solid player, but query where is best position ultimately is, and whether he can improve quickly enough to ensure he is named in the team sheet each week. He adds something a bit different to our other players.
Williams as always is a great unknown. We know he's a big, strong player but concerns over his body holding up and him having some luck mean we can't bank on him.
Of the others, Wallis had a great finish to the season and is such a good kid I'm confident he can take that next step. Roughead is in the same boat, as a player who has shown quite a bit in a changed role and should become a high level, consistent performer across this season.
Dahlhaus had a few quieter weeks during 2013, but looks another who is ready to really step it up and spend more minutes in the midfield. I'm hopeful he can take that next step and become a consistent performer who offers us some pace and defensive pressure to go with his goal scoring further up field.
Jones has also struggled for consistency, but as has been often mentioned, the addition of Crameri and Campbell should help him find a lesser opponent and whilst his fitness to be a consistent mover further up field to create a target remains a concern, with his pace and leap he can create headaches for opposition coaches as a deeper target.
Stevens, Smith and Dickson are all on the 30 game mark, but have the bodies and ability to also step up and be more consistent contributors too.
I'm going to be looking for all of the above guys to drive our improvement this year and become the backbone of our young side - guys who can lead their younger team mates and really take the brunt of the workload.
It looks good list wise, having a number of players in this group, all coming through together, and many with the talent and ability to become high quality AFL players.
Go Dogs!
Having a quick look over our list, we have quite a number of players who are now falling into that bracket and those who will over the course of this season too.
1. Grant - 58 games - injury
2. Wallis - 43 games
3. Dahlhaus - 50 games
4. Crameri - 57 games
5. Wood - 47 games
6. Williams - 78 games
7. Jones - 56 games
8. Libba - 55 games
9. Roughead - 57 games
Out of the above group, Libba has already seemingly reached the point where he is a consistent performer, but still has a couple of levels to get to as his body, fitness and craft continues to improve.
Crameri appears to be a reasonably consistent performer already, having been a consistent goal kicker at Essendon, and whilst he may take a little time to adjust to playing the Bulldogs way, he should be a good addition and capable of blossoming in 2014.
Grant, Wood and Williams are all players that have been around for a while now but due to injury and form have not been able to string together consistent seasons of football over the past couple of years.
Grant is behind the 8-ball a bit now with his injury, but (fingers crossed) will be a player who can get on the park and continue on from his late 2013 season during the middle part of this season.
I'm still pretty confident on Wood becoming a solid player, but query where is best position ultimately is, and whether he can improve quickly enough to ensure he is named in the team sheet each week. He adds something a bit different to our other players.
Williams as always is a great unknown. We know he's a big, strong player but concerns over his body holding up and him having some luck mean we can't bank on him.
Of the others, Wallis had a great finish to the season and is such a good kid I'm confident he can take that next step. Roughead is in the same boat, as a player who has shown quite a bit in a changed role and should become a high level, consistent performer across this season.
Dahlhaus had a few quieter weeks during 2013, but looks another who is ready to really step it up and spend more minutes in the midfield. I'm hopeful he can take that next step and become a consistent performer who offers us some pace and defensive pressure to go with his goal scoring further up field.
Jones has also struggled for consistency, but as has been often mentioned, the addition of Crameri and Campbell should help him find a lesser opponent and whilst his fitness to be a consistent mover further up field to create a target remains a concern, with his pace and leap he can create headaches for opposition coaches as a deeper target.
Stevens, Smith and Dickson are all on the 30 game mark, but have the bodies and ability to also step up and be more consistent contributors too.
I'm going to be looking for all of the above guys to drive our improvement this year and become the backbone of our young side - guys who can lead their younger team mates and really take the brunt of the workload.
It looks good list wise, having a number of players in this group, all coming through together, and many with the talent and ability to become high quality AFL players.
Go Dogs!