I'm worried about Garcia.

[BontlowSzn]

It's such a shame his decision making is showing zero signs of improving.

Because his ability to win the footy and get himself out of trouble is elite.

[jeemak]

I am happy to try it, but have no faith that it will work. He would get slaughtered on Greene.

Pretty established facts are:
-He has zero aerial game
-His disposal is typically sloppy and lacks depth. Slightly more time in defence may help this but even if he just long binbs it out he isnt great at that.
-No real defensive side to his game.
-Frequently gives away free kicks, whether form being over zealous in a contest or caught with the ball.

These are all pretty glaring weaknesses for a small general defender.

i think he has to perform better as a forward, and become that Harmes type who is a handy second rotation mid who can still impact the game as a forward or through the flanks.

This has to be his go, and he needs to be happy with that for the foreseeable future. He can then prove himself as a Libba replacement once he gets consistent games in the seniors.

How does he get there? Maintain the attack on the footy, bring his team mates into the game more quickly with hands rather than taking the up and under, work on his forward craft and set shot finishing, and ensure he's a tackling presence forward of centre and not just around the footy.

To get consistent games as a forward to begin with these are some of the things Rhylee West did that Garcia can do (which was called out by another poster above). And you just never know, he might have to keep at that to keep getting senior games and to put himself next in line for a genuine crack as a midfielder. Nobody's giving someone out of the twos a straight line into our midfield rotations if someone goes down, meaning Garcia has to do everything he can to stay in the side to get that opportunity.

[Go_Dogs]

A very smart and good looking poster made the West comparison.

[Mofra]

This has to be his go, and he needs to be happy with that for the foreseeable future. He can then prove himself as a Libba replacement once he gets consistent games in the seniors.

Libba was the best kick in his draft class, if we use that 'kicking test' from the combine that used to be done with the National kids. He also has opposition players describing him as 'the best phone box player in the competition'.
I'm not sure Garcia is going to step into Libba's role given we already have a more highly rated kid (Sanders) who has Libba's problem of not being particularly good anywhere but the centre.

I really want Garcia to make it - he's hard as a cat's head and will never take a backward step. He's never going to be a great kick but he really has to be able to bring his teammates into the game by hand and he's only ever really done that as a HF, problem being we have about 8 guys who can play there.

[jeemak]

Libba was the best kick in his draft class, if we use that 'kicking test' from the combine that used to be done with the National kids. He also has opposition players describing him as 'the best phone box player in the competition'.
I'm not sure Garcia is going to step into Libba's role given we already have a more highly rated kid (Sanders) who has Libba's problem of not being particularly good anywhere but the centre.

I really want Garcia to make it - he's hard as a cat's head and will never take a backward step. He's never going to be a great kick but he really has to be able to bring his teammates into the game by hand and he's only ever really done that as a HF, problem being we have about 8 guys who can play there.

Libba's kicking is elite, unfortunately he doesn't get to do it in space enough which is a shame.

If Garcia is wanting to replace somebody, then who is it if it's not Libba when Libba is injured/ done? I've got no issues with what you've stated, but what's the point of Garcia given I believe Sanders is more likely to play like a Treloar inside mid than a Libba inside mid, and we'd likely replace Bontempelli with another big bodied mid.

It could very well be a frustrating three more years at the Kennel for him, but you know what, not everyone gets an amazing career and he should consider himself privileged to be given that tenure to keep working on his craft. Our drafting this year suggests to me we might have figured out jamming midfielders into flanker roles might not be the best approach. Perhaps we all need to get used to Garcia being an almost depth player and be OK with it.

[Mofra]

Libba's kicking is elite, unfortunately he doesn't get to do it in space enough which is a shame.

If Garcia is wanting to replace somebody, then who is it if it's not Libba when Libba is injured/ done? I've got no issues with what you've stated, but what's the point of Garcia given I believe Sanders is more likely to play like a Treloar inside mid than a Libba inside mid, and we'd likely replace Bontempelli with another big bodied mid.

It could very well be a frustrating three more years at the Kennel for him, but you know what, not everyone gets an amazing career and he should consider himself privileged to be given that tenure to keep working on his craft. Our drafting this year suggests to me we might have figured out jamming midfielders into flanker roles might not be the best approach. Perhaps we all need to get used to Garcia being an almost depth player and be OK with it.

I think he's more a stopper/scrapper than ball winning difference maker, which means he's probably the guy you want to curb the influence of an opposition smaller rebounder. Problem is we have a log jam of a similar type - VDM, McNeill, and Davidson seems set to rotate forward when he's not getting wing minutes.
Matt Kennedy has probably killed a fair chunk of his gametime this year too as he's a big body, defensive minded mid who can mark and kick (so takes a HF role outside of the midfield).

Raising West as a starting point earlier makes sense. West seemed to 'want it too much' and make silly errors in 2023. He seemed to drop the 'frustrated mid' schtick and just concentrate on an actual forward role last year and it seemed like the penny dropped. I still feel like Sonny thinks he's a midfielder in waiting rather than a forward who chops out.

[jeemak]

I think he's more a stopper/scrapper than ball winning difference maker, which means he's probably the guy you want to curb the influence of an opposition smaller rebounder. Problem is we have a log jam of a similar type - VDM, McNeill, and Davidson seems set to rotate forward when he's not getting wing minutes.
Matt Kennedy has probably killed a fair chunk of his gametime this year too as he's a big body, defensive minded mid who can mark and kick (so takes a HF role outside of the midfield).

Raising West as a starting point earlier makes sense. West seemed to 'want it too much' and make silly errors in 2023. He seemed to drop the 'frustrated mid' schtick and just concentrate on an actual forward role last year and it seemed like the penny dropped. I still feel like Sonny thinks he's a midfielder in waiting rather than a forward who chops out.

Yeah that's where I'm coming from with the bide your time, make sure you're doing everything you can to be effective in the role you're playing, tackle and pressure forward and work on your forward craft and set shots bit.

It might be frustrating for him but not everyone gets the career they want or dreamed of for their entire lives. But, being paid a few hundred to work on career development, stay fit and lead a healthy lifestyle, have opportunities to set up your life with study and other vocations is a bloody amazing position for a 24 year old to be in. If at the end of his current contract he's out into the real world at the age of 27, he's miles ahead of most of his demographic anyway. It's all upside for him no matter what.

[Stevo]

Garcia has some limitations. the bigger question is around can he find some improvement?

[Happy Days]

I share the concerns but we need that one thing he can do (burst) worse than just about anything else right now. There’s no other player on the list (actually Richards I guess) capable of leaving a stoppage at pace having actually won the ball. I’m actually at the stage of frustration that I’m willing to wear the deficiencies to keep him in the side for this reason alone.

[Mofra]

I share the concerns but we need that one thing he can do (burst) worse than just about anything else right now. There’s no other player on the list (actually Richards I guess) capable of leaving a stoppage at pace having actually won the ball. I’m actually at the stage of frustration that I’m willing to wear the deficiencies to keep him in the side for this reason alone.

I imagine that's why Gags got so many opportunities last year - his power/weight ratio is off the charts. Gags is a terrible field kick though, went at 61% (4th last on our list) compared to Garcia at 66.7%

[Happy Days]

I thought Gags was an attempt at getting a defensive minded player in the middle. Which would’ve been fine if he didn’t get cooked every time he went in there.

[Bornadog]

Garcia has some limitations. the bigger question is around can he find some improvement.

Do you think he can improve? I am guessing if he can stay injury free and work on his deficiencies and played in his best role, he could improve.

[Mantis]

Not sure he is going to be a 1st rotation mid which is the role he was filling on the weekend.

Only saw bits and pieces, but he needs get rid of the ''dinky'' kicks like the one he attempted early on and drive to find open space and kick it long to advantage.

Has faults in his game and simply can't keep giving away free kicks from clumsy pressure acts but we desperately need his pace around the contest because we are ****ing slow.

[Critter]

I share the concerns but we need that one thing he can do (burst) worse than just about anything else right now. There’s no other player on the list (actually Richards I guess) capable of leaving a stoppage at pace having actually won the ball. I’m actually at the stage of frustration that I’m willing to wear the deficiencies to keep him in the side for this reason alone.

Could he swap roles with Weightman? Ever since the match sim at the beginning of 2024 season, where both Richards and Weightman had an extended run in the midfield that opened eyes, I've wanted to see Weightman also in that role permanently. His running, strength and kicking/handball skills are ideally suited to the midfield.

We are a side that usually plays 3 talls in our forward line. We need someone who can work in close, at the feet of these guys when the ball hits the ground. Someone with breakaway speed who can get clear quickly for a shot on goal. None of Weightman, McNeil, West or VDM is that type of player. Maybe it's Garcia. His kicking is OK over shorter distances, it's the fumbling that worries most. I think it's worth trying.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

In pressure moments, sometimes even at vfl level. he makes bad decisions or gives away silly free kicks. Hopefully he can iron this out of his game.

[Stevo]

Do you think he can improve? I am guessing if he can stay injury free and work on his deficiencies and played in his best role, he could improve.

I don't believe there is a lot of improvement to be had. It's his disposal skills that is his problem and he has been kicking a football for a long while now.