Most promising bunch of kids since...

[MrMahatma]

Inspired by "the positive thread" I've been looking on the bright side. Put what they've actually done partly to one side for a minute, have we ever had a more promising bunch of youngsters?

In no particular order:
Ward
Jones
Roughead
Wallis
Libba
Cordy
Wood
Howard
Markovic
Grant

Seems some genuine young talent on the books these days.

I guess there was possibly more superstar talent when we had Cooney & Griffen as true pups, but the crop above seem as good a "group" as I can recall.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Hopefully in the next 2-5 years we will have a raft of other young talent entering the club

Mark Hunter son
Simon Beasleys son
Libba's 2nd son
Peter Fosters son
Ayce Cordy's brother

Shame we didnt have another earlier draft pick to snap up Billy Smedts or his old man didnt play >100 games

Comparing the names MrMahatma mentioned, how does everyone feel we fit amoungst other clubs with regards to our <20 year old talent???

Gold Coast and Melbourne have both certainly benefited from low draft picks in the last 2 years.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

I think we have done well and thank god for the father and son rule, we have had good kids with poor draft options, time will tell if this crop is what we all hope, but it's been better than having to punt on kids we don't know.

After the attached I hope we have little Smiths, Jonno's, West's, Garlics & Romero's coming on.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

This article

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/picks-of-the-litter/story-fn53khop-1226046424487

What a future Western Bulldogs father-son team may look like
FB: Riley Morris (Dale), Cohen Lake (Brian), Mitchell Croft (Matthew)
HB: Lachlan Hunter (Mark), Luke Kennedy (Rick), Jayden Foster (Peter)
C: Ricky Hawkins (Doug), Mitch Wallis (Steve), Jacob Smith (Rohan)
HF: Jarvis Murphy (Bob), Oliver Grant (Chris), Josh Wallis (Steve)
FF: Tom Garlick (Simon), Will Beasley (Simon), Jack Johnson (C) (Brad)
R: Ayce Cordy (Brian), Tom Liberatore (Tony), Jaxon Cooney (Adam)
I/C: Sam Darcy (Luke), Kyan Eagleton (Nathan), Zaine Cordy (Brian), Harry Cameron (Leon)
EMG: Tyler Cross (Daniel), Cooper West (Scott), Rhylee West (Scott)

[Mantis]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Shame we didnt have another earlier draft pick to snap up Billy Smedts or his old man didnt play >100 games

The 2 Reid boys would look pretty good on our list too.

Comparing the names MrMahatma mentioned, how does everyone feel we fit amoungst other clubs with regards to our <20 year old talent???

Gold Coast and Melbourne have both certainly benefited from low draft picks in the last 2 years.

All supporters rate their kids highly.

We have quite a few players on MM'S list who will play 200 games for the club... the quality of those games is what counts.

[Bornadog]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Inspired by "the positive thread" I've been looking on the bright side. Put what they've actually done partly to one side for a minute, have we ever had a more promising bunch of youngsters?

In no particular order:
Ward
Jones
Roughead
Wallis
Libba
Cordy
Wood
Howard
Markovic
Grant

Seems some genuine young talent on the books these days.

I guess there was possibly more superstar talent when we had Cooney & Griffen as true pups, but the crop above seem as good a "group" as I can recall.

Not rated by many, but Stack has potential, Hill is still young.

Haven't played yet but looks like they may be ok, Dahilhaus, Tutt, Schofield. Potential big men, Mulligan, Prato and Panos.

DJ and Vez are also only 22

[Scorlibo]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

We have done well to procure such talent without leaving the top of the ladder.

In five years time, we can be reasonably confident of the players listed below succeeding as viable members of a successful best 22:

B - Wood - FB - Picken
HB - HB - Williams - HB
C - Ward - Liberatore - Griffen
HF - Sherman - Jones - Wallis
F - J.Hill - Grant - FP
Foll - Minson - Cooney - Higgins
I - Roughead - Addison - I - I

The remaining positions should eventually be filled by these remaining players:

Barlow, Cordy, Dahlhaus, Djerrkura, T.Hill, Hooper, Howard, Johannissen, Markovic, Moles, Mulligan, Panos, Prato, Reid, Schofield, Skinner, Stack, Tutt, Vezspremi

And until they do, players such as Morris, Murphy, Boyd and Cross are showing no signs of slowing down, and can fill some gaps.

FB - [Morris, Lake], Markovic, Mulligan. We look weak here. I don't have much faith in either of Markovic or Mulligan as premiership full backs.

HB - [Murphy, Boyd, Gilbee, Hargrave, Giansiracusa], Barlow, Djerrkura, Howard, Johannissen, Reid, Schofield, Stack, Tutt, Vezspremi. There are plenty of options here, the front runners moving forward will be Howard, Schofield and Stack one would think.

FP - [Murphy, Gilbee, Giansiracusa], Cordy, Djerrkura, Hooper, Moles, Panos, Schofield, Skinner, Stack, Vezspremi. Quite a few options, would fancy a Vezspremi type if he comes along, otherwise Cordy could provide a third tall option if he improves to become AFL standard.

There is plenty to look forward to, I am very confident in this group having great success over the next five years and beyond, but we must continue to play the core group of players listed in the 22 above.

[Mofra]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Gold Coast and Melbourne have both certainly benefited from low draft picks in the last 2 years.

Take out Scully from Melbourne (a likely prospect) and we have them. They have a yopung, well drilled back 6 which will make them competitive.

[Desipura]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Not rated by many, but Stack has potential, Hill is still young.

Haven't played yet but looks like they may be ok, Dahilhaus, Tutt, Schofield. Potential big men, Mulligan, Prato and Panos.

DJ and Vez are also only 22

I'm sure you are related to Stack. If he plays 50 games, I will buy a jumper with his signature

[LostDoggy]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

I'm sure you are related to Stack. If he plays 50 games, I will buy a jumper with his signature

Quoted so it isn't lost

I am with bornadog, Stack has potential.

[Bornadog]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

I'm sure you are related to Stack. If he plays 50 games, I will buy a jumper with his signature

Man someone has to stick up for him. I will book mark this post.

I do criticize him as well. I think his decision making is not the best which can cause him to hurry kicks or give off a bad handball. I will cut him some slack as he is like a first year player at this stage, with less than 20 games under his belt.

[chef]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Quoted so it isn't lost

I am with bornadog, Stack has potential.

Me too, he has a future in our team.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Me too, he has a future in our team.

Me three I think has something to offer

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Me too, he has a future in our team.

I agree, think he can make it. It's a bit of a shame some players just seem to cop it, because he's a young bloke with little league experience, who looks like he's worked very hard on his fitness and body shape, obviously found it a big adjustment moving to Melbourne, etc etc. He deserves a chance to continue to develop, and as supporters we should get behind the younger/inexperienced players and focus on what they can do, not what they can't.




Back on the OP, I tend to agree with the assessment. Despite our current plight, and our loss of experience this year (basically been without Lake, Cooney, Hall plus Johnson, Aker etc who have been our better/most important players over some of our previous campaigns.

We're experiencing a bit of hurt at the moment with a lot of inexperienced players who can't yet sustain consistent output, but we've got a lot of kids who look very good coming through.

Out of those in the OP, Ward and Libba look like they can become A grade mids, Grant/Jones/Roughy and now Cordy have all shown some signs and if they all make it our rucks/tall forwards look taken care of for the next 10 years, and Wood and Howard are hopefully our next generation half back flankers.

We still have a few areas that need quality reinforcement for the future, but we certainly have some good talent with strong chances of making it as long term options.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Most promising bunch of kids since...

Wow are we really going that bad to give Stack a wrap? He wouldnt get a game with Richmond for god sakes! Take a deep breath guys it isnt that bad.