This is a subject that hasn't sat well with us for quite a few years now, due to our horrible lack of quality talls. As our list currently stands, it's looking the best it has for years.
We now have Harris who is playing fantastic football, and was unlucky not to be included in the AA squad for mine. He'll continue to improve, and if not nailing down a key defensive post, could perhaps eventually become a key forward.
We also have Williams, who has lived up to the hype this year, once he's finally been able to get on the park and play some consecutive football matches for a good duration. He's tall, has a great frame, very athletic, and his skills which were his real question mark, have proven to be satisfactory at this stage, and will no doubt continue to improve.
Everitt had a fantastic first season, he now needs to back it up a few times and continue to build his strength and body size. He's arguably the most composed youngster I've seen since Griffen, and has a lot of similar attributes, whilst being a tall. He's got pace, excellent foot skills and penetration, and good football smarts. He attacks the contest and wins it more often than not too.
Between these three we have a combined, 20+ years of quality tall action, which is pleasing.
We also have a few others who should be aiming to get to the 'quality tall' level, rather than just serviceable.
Minson is the forgotten man here, the form he showed at such a young age was surely no fluke. If he can get his fitness right, and have a good run with injuries, he'll play a big part in our plans next season. He's aggressive and throws his weight around the clearance. As much as he's been disregarded as an option up forward to this stage, he has at times shown the ability to go forward string a few marks and kick a few goals. This needs to continue to improve as if he wishes to make the quality tall title as a ruck, he needs more strings to his bow than aggressive centre square ruck.
Wight is another who'll be looking to have another big pre-season in the gym, and expect him to again have a bigger impact. Not sure he'll be a best 22 player next year, but as long as he continues to improve and can play a role in the side when required and do it well. He's versatile too, showed some positive signs down back and up forward in his time, although had some ordinary performances as well. It's all on Cam and the coaching staff on whether he'll ever deliver, but he could do.
Tiller also showed some positive signs this past season. I had honestly not expected him to play at all this season, he'd had a few injuries and had mainly been playing in the Werribee reserves. He managed to come in and hold his own in a team starved of good delivery and opportunity. He has good pace, hands, good below his body and has good enthusiasm to the contest. He looks like he could add some serious weight to his frame too if he works hard and keeps drinking the mushasi. He could become an exciting player for us over the next few years if he does the hard yards and continues to build.
These guys are all more unsure, we can hope that they will come on, but it seems less likely they'll be able to meet the heights of the other 3, but at the same time, they could become as important to our team.
If we can snare someone like Hudson, that will also help us out a lot. I wouldn't go as far to say that Hudson is a quality ruck, but it was his first year off a knee injury, so who knows. I'm not expecting too much, but he could prove to be an excellent recruit given he could possibly play another 3-4 years if his body holds up.
I do think we are still crying out for another genuine star key forward though, unless one of our top 3 talls can become a forward and do it well. It's going to be an interesting summer for our tall players as we work out the best way to set them up and they battle it out for positions.
What are everyone's thoughts? Do we still need to chase more quality talls? Will our 'could make it' group come on? How confident are you with our current talls going into next season?