Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

[Cyberdoggie]

"The Western Bulldogs have moved to secure their list by signing youngsters Christian Howard and Fletcher Roberts to new contracts.


The club has confirmed to AFL.com.au the deals were done in-season, a boost for the team's future.


Roberts has agreed to a two-year deal, and the club hopes the 20-year old swingman can make the most of a big pre-season.


"We see him as an emerging key position player whether it be back or forward," Bulldogs list manger Jason McCartney told AFL.com.au.


"He had a really good year in 2012, predominately as a key defender at VFL level, with some good games in the finals up forward.


Obviously this year he was a bit restricted. He had a few soft tissue injury concerns, nothing major but we do think he's a very good prospect for us.


"It was really good to get him to commit again for another couple of years. He just needs to get his body right and get a good pre-season in."


McCartney believes Roberts has the raw talent to play AFL, but needs to build strength over the summer.


"His football is good enough, and obviously he'll keep making improvements on that. He just needs to have his body stand up and get that full pre-season.


"We think we've got a good quality player on our hands."


Howard signed a one-year contract, after playing just one senior game in 2013.


"He was troubled by some hip complaints towards the latter part of the season, probably did labour through the last third of the year," McCartney said.


"He's had a successful operation on that and will get back in time to get a really good pre-season in."


Dylan Addison remains out of contract, with the free agent's playing future yet to be resolved."

From the AFL website:
Bulldogs shore up list with new deals



Personally Roberts I can understand, he's got talent, but regardless of injury, Howard's decision making and huge bluders at VFL level should of been enough to move him on.
He was far worse than others that have been shown the door.

[F'scary]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Hope it works out for Howard but he is a long way behind a number of others now in the pecking order.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

2 years for Roberts is a really promising sign. Must mean we really rate him. Promising future with great potential for this kid

[SlimPickens]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Like Roberts, think he will develop into a player.

Howard would be wrapped to get another year.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

It's a cliche I know but talls do take a long time to develop. Roberts has talent and skill but obviously his body is still adjusting to the demands of AFL and he still has lots of physical development ahead of him. I think he's got a good understanding of the game and potential to become a good swing player in time. Club must rate him highly to give him another two years.

Howard is an interesting one. Captain obvious but this guy needs a big uninterrupted pre-season and then some solid improvement for Footscray. I think I remember hearing that Macca really likes this guy and sees a good scope for improvement??

[Greystache]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Roberts had a disappointing season, but showed a huge amount of promise in 2012. I like him in defence personally and would like to see him play there most of next year.

Howard, well I don't really understand other than we may want to load up on next year's draft. With Cross gone he could the worst kick at the club.

[Mofra]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

I can't understand how there was some concern in signing Grant for 2 years yet none at all for Roberts.

Now, Roberts has shown signs and "potential" - but he's struggling to get through a VFL season without pulling up sore. I can live with him getting two years (I assume he's on AFL base wages), bewildered at Howard getting another year, and staggered at the possibility we'll give Redpath another year even as a rookie.

Is this draft that bad that we're avoiding taking anyone past round 3?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

I can't understand how there was some concern in signing Grant for 2 years yet none at all for Roberts.

Now, Roberts has shown signs and "potential" - but he's struggling to get through a VFL season without pulling up sore. I can live with him getting two years (I assume he's on AFL base wages), bewildered at Howard getting another year, and staggered at the possibility we'll give Redpath another year even as a rookie.

Is this draft that bad that we're avoiding taking anyone past round 3?

Roberts has had 2 years while Grant has had 6.

Additionally Roberts was a late starter in his 1st year being taken PSD and injury interrupted a large slice of his 2nd year.

I am certainly comfortable with 2 years for Roberts at this point.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Macca must see a premiership in this list.

I don't, but I'm not coach.

[azabob]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Macca must see a premiership in this list.

I don't, but I'm not coach.

Or a list manager

If the draft is shallow, I am not sure of the point of delisting a whole bunch of players only to replace them with players who need to be signed to two year deals, especially when the indication is next years crop is better than this years.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Or a list manager

If the draft is shallow, I am not sure of the point of delisting a whole bunch of players only to replace them with players who need to be signed to two year deals, especially when the indication is next years crop is better than this years.

The easy answer is they see what I don't. Grant has to threaten to leave to get 2 years while Roberts is handed 2. Howard... Whatever, he must be a great guy and train hard because I not see anything. I hope we cut most rookies too.

Remember though, drafting is an inexact science. It would be foolhardy to say next years draft is better so we won't use picks this year. If you draft right you can pick up a Dahlhaus at effectively pick 100. Say the draft is weaker, say then pick 70. But as I say, Macca sees something in Howard many don't.

[azabob]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

The easy answer is they see what I don't. Grant has to threaten to leave to get 2 years while Roberts is handed 2. Howard... Whatever, he must be a great guy and train hard because I not see anything. I hope we cut most rookies too.

Remember though, drafting is an inexact science. It would be foolhardy to say next years draft is better so we won't use picks this year. If you draft right you can pick up a Dahlhaus at effectively pick 100. Say the draft is weaker, say then pick 70. But as I say, Macca sees something in Howard many don't.

It appears with the guys in charge now attitude has a lot to do with it all. Majority of posters have thought Howard is very lucky to get another year.

Roberts is the interesting one, a few posters who go to the VFL have high hopes for him, but it appears injuries have got the best of him to date.

I don't think the rookies will get cut, even though they perhaps should.

Will be very interesting indeed.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

Happy to lock in Roberts for 2. Hopefully he'll have an injury free 2014.

[Happy Days]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

I can't understand how there was some concern in signing Grant for 2 years yet none at all for Roberts.

Now, Roberts has shown signs and "potential" - but he's struggling to get through a VFL season without pulling up sore. I can live with him getting two years (I assume he's on AFL base wages), bewildered at Howard getting another year, and staggered at the possibility we'll give Redpath another year even as a rookie.

Is this draft that bad that we're avoiding taking anyone past round 3?

Yeah good call.

Is Roberts really that good that he'd scoff at one year and go out to an all out bidding war on the open market? Remember that all 18 clubs passed on him already at least 3 times and he hasn't really done much to make them regret it.

He's shown potential at VFL level but *if* he stagnates this year he would have been lucky to survive the 14-15 offseason.

Howard is just...damn.

[Ozza]

Re: Roberts and Howard Sign New Deals

The easy answer is they see what I don't. Grant has to threaten to leave to get 2 years while Roberts is handed 2. Howard... Whatever, he must be a great guy and train hard because I not see anything. I hope we cut most rookies too.

I guess the biggest differences are that Roberts is a 20 year old key position player, Grant is 24, and a bit more non-descript. Roberts would attract immediate interest from the likes of a St.Kilda, who depserately need to build some tall defender stocks for their future. GWS also.