Improvement

[Twodogs]

This time last year Jarrod Harbrow was a kid who'd just been promoted from the rookie list after a promising first year and performing well in a final. This time this year and he's had a gun season, a bit flat here and there maybe, but no-one could dispute that he was the most improved player on our list.

So who are the players that can improve enough next season grab a senior berth and play enough good footy to affect the course of games. I reckon we have a number of candidates and I'm going to choose five. If two can become regular players that's a good outcome, if three can then it's outstanding, with four new and fresh faces in the team we can give the flag a real shake.

So;

1/ Jarrad Boumann. Big solid lump of a kid who play in defence and play on the opposition's second best tall forward. We dont need to be so reliant on Tom Williams if Boumann is up and going

2/ Andrejs Everitt. The kid's got a foot rocket and if he can have a good preseason and get into the team then he could be an awesome weapon off the HBF/Wing. A confident Skinny in the team would be a dream for us.

3/ Sam Reid. Gee I like this kid. He's got that thing in him that allows him to pick up all his teammates and safely deposit them on the winning side of the ledger and that's a priceless asset. I really, really want him to improve.

4/ Brennan Stack. The human highlight reel! Another preseason under his belt and he might just be the pick of the 'brothers' draft. A few posters have said we need someone at Barry's feet picking up the crumbs-Stack is the man. Him and Barry could just be perfect for one another.

5/Ayce Cordy. What can you say that hasnt alreay been said? "Hey, you there-would you like a 210 cm kid with unbelievable agility in your team?" YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!



Who do you guys think can come into the team and do well next year?




Let's confine this thread to the kids on the list who havent played much senior footy and I'll start another about improvement in the guys already playing seniors.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

Ayce is at least another year away.

[Twodogs]

Re: Improvement

Ayce is at least another year away.

Is that from personal observation or from what SuperMario has told you?


I havent been to training nearly as much this year because of the building works.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Improvement

I'm hoping that Jarrad Grant can make some major improvement next year, my five would be:

1 - Andrejs Everitt
2 - Jarrad Grant
3 - Easton Wood
4 - Brennan Stack
5 - Jarrad Boumann

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

I'm hoping that Jarrad Grant can make some major improvement next year, my five would be:

1 - Andrejs Everitt
2 - Jarrad Grant
3 - Easton Wood
4 - Brennan Stack
5 - Jarrad Boumann

Same here. Grant hasn't shown much in his time at the Dogs, but he's a no.5 pick that we've pinned some great white hopes on, and if he even begins to marginally repay that faith, it would have a drastic impact on the Dogs overall improvement.

This pre-season is oh-so-important for Jarrad to get right.

[Bornadog]

Re: Improvement

Easton Wood will take the next step and start to play regular games.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

Is that from personal observation or from what SuperMario has told you?


I havent been to training nearly as much this year because of the building works.

The boss said that. and about Grant, you were there.

[The Underdog]

Re: Improvement

I think Reid and Wood are the two who could play in the midfield and the back half who are ready to step up. Unfortunately it's probably going to take some injuries to get them there. Love the way way both go about it although both have queries on their disposal.

Stack is an interesting one. Got a taste this year and was good in one game and poor in two. I'm not totally sold on him to be honest but there is the potential for him to find a spot in the forward line if he can force his way in and grab it with both hands.

Grant needs to step up for his own career as much as anything. It'll be interesting to see if Hall's appearance is a help or a hindrance to him.

As usual it seems as though we have more mid sized players ready to step in and contribute than talls. All of Grant, Boumann, Cordy & Roughhead seem to be at least a year away from being contributors, although Boumann's development may be the most crucial of the 3 if we lose a key back.

I'm not sure Everitt will ever be much more than a flanker/wing but could potentially challenege for Eagletons spot.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

Though he is a 3rd year player its Hill for me. Needs consistency. Having Hall there will make him walk taller but needs to work more on field.
Realstically if we get 1 game from Ayce and 5 games from Grants its a bonus. They just don't have the physique for AFL level yet. Grant can at least play HF if he builds his fitness.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Improvement

Good thread with some great observations. I'd agree with them all.

I'll throw up another name though, that of our forgotten man, Tiller. He was on the very edges of cementing a spot in our side, and hopefully (although he'll be having a slow build up this pre-season) we can see the best of him this year. He could really be our 6"3 Picken. He's tough, his skills and decision making have been good enough in a finals environment, and he can potentially play forward and back. I really hope he has a break out year.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

For me - there are 3 main guys who look the most capable of improving alot in 2010:

1) Easton Wood looks like he will be able to take the next step if the opportunity arises. An injection of pace and a huge leap to our HB line would be great to see!

2) I firmly believe that Andrejs Everitt will have a breakout year next year as a wing / half forward. If he puts in the hard work over the off-season he will be the big improver.

3) Brennan Stack - could he become our Micky O equivalent working with Big Bad Bazza?

Sam Reid is quality now and i think we will see more of the same next year - i dont see huge improvement as such....

Jarrad Grant / Boumann - I live in hope!

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Improvement

I haven't seen much of Boumann. If he keeps improving but can't quite hold down a KP in the senior side, with his agility could he play off a wing?

1) Everitt - If he doesn't fire now he probably never will. Impressive first season and really poor the next two. He's only young but 2010 is very much a defining year for Andrejs. He doesn't need to be a world beater, but he's got to start putting in performances that warranted his draft selection. His game v Collingwood was very good - that needs to be his bar. Needs to lift his intensity and fitness.

2) Reid - It's a shame that he's having invasive surgery because it'll probably set him back a bit. However, I really rate Sam. Played through injury all year, forced his way into the side, and was improving by the week at AFL level. Big, fierce body with great hands in close. If he can have a reasonable pre-season before getting back into action, expect him to be a regular.

3) Wood - Physically ready. He's come a long way in two years as he wasn't expected to play senior footy this early. He was touted as a smokey, but he's improved a lot already. After earning selection for a couple AFL games this year, I have no doubt he'll build on that in 2010. He's a powerful athlete who loves to take them on and can fly for a mark. Played very well in Willy's last final. Again - a shoulder reco isn't ideal, but hopefully he can push for a big second half of the year.

* Stack is an interesting one. I really hope he comes on. He has obvious talent, but not sure he's improved a lot since he first came to the club. Still relies on flashes of magic but undoes some of his good work and needs to work much harder on his intensity for the contest and fitness. I'd love to see him take the next step though because he was rated higher than both Hill and Harbrow.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Improvement

Good thread with some great observations. I'd agree with them all.

I'll throw up another name though, that of our forgotten man, Tiller. He was on the very edges of cementing a spot in our side, and hopefully (although he'll be having a slow build up this pre-season) we can see the best of him this year. He could really be our 6"3 Picken. He's tough, his skills and decision making have been good enough in a finals environment, and he can potentially play forward and back. I really hope he has a break out year.

I agree with Tiller and abviously the powers to be think the same. I thought he went missing this year, but on learning he has had the major groin surgery postr season that explains why. Hopefully 2010 is his big year, He was one of our best players in the 2008 final series.

[Dazza]

Re: Improvement

Call me crazy but I think Hill could provide real value playing on the wing/half forward line. Having a good contested mark in the middle of the ground can be pretty vital especially with all these zones being implemented. We know he is a good user of the ball going into the f50 so I could see it really work if he was prepared to do the hard running that it would take to work well.
Could just be hopeful thinking as I really rate his talent.

Others that I think could come in and make an impact...

Sam Reid - You can see it in the few games that he has played that he should be able to make it in the higher level. Alot to like about this kid.

Easton? Wood - Has the physical attributes to be something pretty exciting. Just needs to work on disposal and could be a permanent player in the side.

Everitt - Needs to work on his intensity and it should click together. Don't really like him as a backman but I think he could be good on a wing/half forward.

[comrade]

Re: Improvement

Call me crazy but I think Hill could provide real value playing on the wing/half forward line.

Why would we call you crazy - plenty of WOOFers have been wanting Hill to play on the wing for some time now.

Hopefully he gets that opportunity in 2010.