2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

I think we all form emotional attachments to the players we watch try their guts out in the red, white and blue. Crossy personifies that and Will has been a warrior too. Within the club's football department, though, they are just as attached to the next generation of youngsters who we are desperate to get game time into.

For every game Will missed last year, it was an extra game we got into TC. That may have cost us slightly last year but may be to our benefit ultimately.

Similarly, we undoubtedly lost something when letting Crossy go, but maybe that meant that a Wallis or a JJ or a Webb/Dale is 5-15 games more developed than he otherwise would be. It also, in my view, in no way diminishes Crossy's legacy as a champion of our club.

I don't know if either of these calls were right - not every one of these decisions will be, but they are being made by a group of experienced people who know the intricacies of the players better than we do and are weighing up a lot more variables than we are aware of.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Great depth but still short on A grade players and experience across the list. We might need to trade a couple of decent players to move up the draft order next year.

I think we're one explosive midfielder off the pace. Ironically a Griffen/Cooney type.
A big strong fast line breaking goal kicking midfielder with fancy footwork who can break tackles and light the game up.

Other than that I think we seem to be OK. Boyd and Collins are both very highly rated talents at either end. A lot depends on their development. If they both blossom into the A graders we think they can be. Add Libber, Bont, Stringer, Macrae, Wood, Murph, Dal, Mitch, Morris (and I'd like to suggest Hunter) I think these are all guys in the A grade zone, Plus maybe a level lower, but Crammers, Dickson, Boyd. Looking pretty strong

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

I think we're one explosive midfielder off the pace. Ironically a Griffen/Cooney type.
A big strong fast line breaking goal kicking midfielder with fancy footwork who can break tackles and light the game up

Marcus Bontempelli says g'day

[Mantis]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Marcus Bontempelli says g'day

The Bont waltzes out of clearances with skill and finesse rather than explosive power.

[Mofra]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Marcus Bontempelli says g'day

Bottom 10% in his draft year for pace over the first few metres. It's the only chink in his armour.

I do think we need a burst midfielder but Hunter seems quick enough and has elite agility.
Stringer, Dahlhaus & Jong have serious burst pace so any one of those three in the centre at one time will provide that, but next years' draft is meant to be a mids draft so we may have that missing piece in 12 months time developing on our list anyway.

[stefoid]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

I think we're one explosive midfielder off the pace. Ironically a Griffen/Cooney type.
A big strong fast line breaking goal kicking midfielder with fancy footwork who can break tackles and light the game up.

5:50s

[Greystache]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Bottom 10% in his draft year for pace over the first few metres. It's the only chink in his armour.

I do think we need a burst midfielder but Hunter seems quick enough and has elite agility.
Stringer, Dahlhaus & Jong have serious burst pace so any one of those three in the centre at one time will provide that, but next years' draft is meant to be a mids draft so we may have that missing piece in 12 months time developing on our list anyway.

Agree. Jong early in the season looked like he was going to fill that gap perfectly. Hopefully he can regain the form he showed before he broke his hand.

Stringer can certainly play that role too, but anymore than a couple of minute burst here and there and I think we're robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Agree. Jong early in the season looked like he was going to fill that gap perfectly. Hopefully he can regain the form he showed before he broke his hand.

Stringer can certainly play that role too, but anymore than a couple of minute burst here and there and I think we're robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Agree on both accounts.

Big year for Jong coming up. He's improved a lot since coming to the club, but competition for spots will be at an all time high in 2016 and it wouldn't take much to fall well behind. His start to the year was fantastic, he got injured and struggled thereafter until he dominated the VFL final and then played pretty well v Adelaide in the EF.

Have to say, I was pretty encouraged with how he performed on the big stage against Adelaide. He certainly has a knack for big games already. Still going to be a huge test for him next year.

[Sedat]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

A premiership - we've waited long enough

[KT31]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

A premiership - we've waited long enough

I'm with you Sedat, its been far, far to long between drinks and its all I want.

[Maddog37]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Bottom 10% in his draft year for pace over the first few metres. It's the only chink in his armour.

I do think we need a burst midfielder but Hunter seems quick enough and has elite agility.
Stringer, Dahlhaus & Jong have serious burst pace so any one of those three in the centre at one time will provide that, but next years' draft is meant to be a mids draft so we may have that missing piece in 12 months time developing on our list anyway.

Just out of interest, who is Hawthorns version of this player?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Have to agree to disagree with a few in here re:Bont (admittedly depending on definitions). Even if he is not especially quick over a few paces, it doesn't matter if you read the play, have evasive skills and a big enough body to break tackles. In terms of metres gained from stoppages, he is up there with the best - for mine that is ultimately what being an explosive mid is all about.

To me the best players in the comp at consistently winning contested balls, clearing congestion, breaking lines and covering metres quickly are Fyfe, Dangerfield, Ablett and Bont. I would rate them as the elite explosive midfielders.

[stefoid]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

yep, quality clearances count for a lot. Last couple of years our clearance numbers, while large, consist mainly of hot potato handballs and/or slamming it on the boot.

Bont will hold the ball and evade or wear tackles until he finds the best option. cool as you like.

Stringer considers himself the best option.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Backline:
- ideally we have a clear first choice key defender out of Roberts, Collins, Hamling, Cordy, Adams by the halfway point of the year. How many seasons in was Daniel Talia when he really announced himself? Debut season wasn't it? Hopefully Collins can replicate that.

Talia's breakout year was 2012 when he won the rising star award. He was drafted in 2009 and debuted in 2011. So he didn't have a real impact until his third year on the list at the age of 20/21.

If Collins was to have an impact in his first year at age 18 in a key defensive role it would be phenomenal. I think the expectations should be low for 2016. Simply playing well for Footscray would be fine, any AFL games will be a bonus.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: 2016 Hopes, Dreams etc

Marcus Bontempelli says g'day

Another one.