Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

If we nominate Grant as a flanker (and with his pace he was just about our best crumber last year, never mind his sticky hands) we still have Jones and either Roughead or Cordy up forward - if either of them play as a pure resting ruckman we will have room for one geniune big leading FF, but they'd want to have a bit of toe because defensive rebound seems to be the way teams plan their set plays in modern football.

Given a Hill or Zephi could well kick on and they can both take a grab, the question will be whether we need another big forward or would be better served by a quick mid-sized forward.

oh yes. I remember quite a few times, crumbing from Barry and darting into the square; leaving the op in his dust. One way of perhaps justifying keeping Grant in the f50 is his defensive effort. Capacity to lay a chase down tackle is elite. Modern teams just lock it in the arc. The best teams all have forwards who can tackle like machines. Disagree?

[KT31]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Tom is supposed to be able to switch seamlessly between defence and attack. Panos is a forward if he is to make it.

Maybe in a lower league, but at AFL level will be a big ask.
Not to many can achieve this and from memory Chris Grant was the last bloke we had that was more than capable at each end.

[Mofra]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Maybe in a lower league, but at AFL level will be a big ask.
Not to many can achieve this and from memory Chris Grant was the last bloke we had that was more than capable at each end.

Lake arguably, but nowhere as adept as a forward.
It would be preferable to let the kid find a position rather than just trying to be the jack of all trades.

[boydogs]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Maybe in a lower league, but at AFL level will be a big ask.
Not to many can achieve this and from memory Chris Grant was the last bloke we had that was more than capable at each end.

Robert Murphy does it well

[azabob]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Robert Murphy does it well

Yes he does and in a different way to Grant but almost if not as effective as Grant.

[stefoid]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Maybe in a lower league, but at AFL level will be a big ask.
Not to many can achieve this and from memory Chris Grant was the last bloke we had that was more than capable at each end.

Yep, but it does mean he could be developed as a forward or a back, unlike Panos who could not be developed as a back.

[Dazza]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Jones has the capabilities IMO.

He'll soon have the body for full back. He's got the height and the speed + the competitive edge. His defensive efforts in the F50 were top notch in the few games he played for us this year.

The question is does this rob Peter to pay Paul?

[Topdog]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Robert Murphy does it well

But not as a KP player. That is the big difference. There are a heap of small players that play both ends but not many as well as Bob.

[Desipura]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

Jones has the capabilities IMO.

He'll soon have the body for full back. He's got the height and the speed + the competitive edge. His defensive efforts in the F50 were top notch in the few games he played for us this year.

The question is does this rob Peter to pay Paul?

Jones is a very good reader of the play and will develop into a reliable mark. His kicking is quiet good and his ability to chase and lay a tackle is a highlight.

We can potentially build a team around Jones at centre half forward which would makes us a more formidable unit up front.

[Sedat]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

FWIW, comment below from a rival club staff member in relation to Tom Hill:

"Hill is certainly coming from along way back. Big ask to get him up to play AFL. I would have thought Marchbank or Cope were better prospects but I have to admit I haven't seen Hill play for over 12 months. He has had some terrible injuries and his body has been very, very fragile in the past."

Doesn't inspire me with a great deal of confidence. I'd have thought some mid sized defensive cover was a higher priority on our list than a (very speculative) ruck/tall forward prospect. Pretty comfortable on the surface with the Schofield and Skinner selections but quite unsure with this one on face value, considering the more pressing needs on our list. Hopefully he turns out to be an inspired choice.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

FWIW, comment below from a rival club staff member in relation to Tom Hill:

"Hill is certainly coming from along way back. Big ask to get him up to play AFL. I would have thought Marchbank or Cope were better prospects but I have to admit I haven't seen Hill play for over 12 months. He has had some terrible injuries and his body has been very, very fragile in the past."

Doesn't inspire me with a great deal of confidence. I'd have thought some mid sized defensive cover was a higher priority on our list than a (very speculative) ruck/tall forward prospect. Pretty comfortable on the surface with the Schofield and Skinner selections but quite unsure with this one on face value, considering the more pressing needs on our list. Hopefully he turns out to be an inspired choice.

Hey, if there's any team with experience fixing long-term injured big guys, it would be us. Tom Williams' medical records alone would fill a good-sized filing cabinet, but he seems to be over the worst of it now so maybe we figure that we can rehab these guys into serviceable players that fill out the structure.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

I was surprised that Leif Cope didn't go in the draft from what i read about him and the footage i saw. Looked like a good 2nd ruck/KP forward option potentially. I'm interested to see if he goes in the rookie draft. Be keeping an eye on him wherever he goes.

[boydogs]

Re: Welcome to the Dogs Tom Hill

All the talk of needing a swingman, having too many tall forwards etc. ignores how tough it is to get a quality tall forward. How quickly we forget.

If he develops into a player, and Panos, Grant, Jones & Roughead fire as well, then there will be significant currency for a quality KPF in a trade.