Thanks Soap, very good reading as always.
Wilson is a player I see playing games this season. There are some super impressive traits about him. Speed is the main one and the other is that he uses it. Runs from behind the ball, follows up, he kicks then runs hard to get it back and get back in the game. He also loves to carry the ball. His awareness of space is good, he receives handball a lot because he holds his shape really well at contests but when it's his turn to go he goes. All traits we lack in the middle and traits that suit the modern game. He's got a very strong body and he looks one touch as well. Being also able to play defence gives him a different perspective as a mid with that skillset. He's inside and outside with those defensive traits. I can see Wilson coming in and playing a defensive role in the centre for us. Listening to Austin, he really rates him and sees him as a mid with the fall back or second position of a defender. Either way I am super impressed with his style of game and his athletic attributes. If he's in the side round 1 it won't be a huge surprise, IMO he is just the type we need in the middle of the ground. Love seeing him dropping back inside D50 getting the ball and next thing he's in the centre and at half forward. That is the sort of thing we need from our onballers.
I can see Wilson playing opening round and spending time in the middle and in defence. He and Docherty working in tandem would be a really good rotation for us.
Lemmy and Akuei look like players who should have had another couple of seasons of junior footy. They just look like under developed kids playing against men. Sometimes juniors ends too soon for some and they get drafted too early. Does not mean they won't make it as AFL players. Just means you take no notice of their first 3 or 4 seasons. I am expecting nothing from Lemmy this season apart from some very minor improvement. He's clearly a slow burn. Akuei is as well although he may need to show a bit with the options we have coming in next season. Some players are ready at 18 and some are ready at 21. These two are the latter.
I'm still not sure on Mirkov. I think you still need to recruit Athletes from a sport where they are proficient in catching a ball. If he makes it, it's going to be after a long development period. Patience will need to be taken here. When he bulks up he may start influencing marking contests so let's wait and see.
Fantasia fit is something that really adds to our side. The small forward job isn't as easy and straightforward as it used to be. Sometimes you play on a guy who can get 25-35 possessions as a rebounder and take games away from your side (see our prelim game, small forward got torched) so you need the fitness and experience. Knowing how to position and crumb to the forwards. Applying elite pressure. I think he could add a lot.
Elaborating more on what I sad about Fantasia, Moir is probably going to be a slow burn and maybe as he gets fitter will play a few games later in the year. Throw him to the wolves early, you could imagine what a player with the rebounding capabilities of Saad would do to him. Not expecting much early. A fitness based program and some VFL form and we will see. I think he has the talent but I don't think at this stage he would be fit enough for AFL. At least he is training and chipping away at it now.
Wilson is a player I see playing games this season. There are some super impressive traits about him. Speed is the main one and the other is that he uses it. Runs from behind the ball, follows up, he kicks then runs hard to get it back and get back in the game. He also loves to carry the ball. His awareness of space is good, he receives handball a lot because he holds his shape really well at contests but when it's his turn to go he goes. All traits we lack in the middle and traits that suit the modern game. He's got a very strong body and he looks one touch as well. Being also able to play defence gives him a different perspective as a mid with that skillset. He's inside and outside with those defensive traits. I can see Wilson coming in and playing a defensive role in the centre for us. Listening to Austin, he really rates him and sees him as a mid with the fall back or second position of a defender. Either way I am super impressed with his style of game and his athletic attributes. If he's in the side round 1 it won't be a huge surprise, IMO he is just the type we need in the middle of the ground. Love seeing him dropping back inside D50 getting the ball and next thing he's in the centre and at half forward. That is the sort of thing we need from our onballers.
I can see Wilson playing opening round and spending time in the middle and in defence. He and Docherty working in tandem would be a really good rotation for us.
Lemmy and Akuei look like players who should have had another couple of seasons of junior footy. They just look like under developed kids playing against men. Sometimes juniors ends too soon for some and they get drafted too early. Does not mean they won't make it as AFL players. Just means you take no notice of their first 3 or 4 seasons. I am expecting nothing from Lemmy this season apart from some very minor improvement. He's clearly a slow burn. Akuei is as well although he may need to show a bit with the options we have coming in next season. Some players are ready at 18 and some are ready at 21. These two are the latter.
I'm still not sure on Mirkov. I think you still need to recruit Athletes from a sport where they are proficient in catching a ball. If he makes it, it's going to be after a long development period. Patience will need to be taken here. When he bulks up he may start influencing marking contests so let's wait and see.
Fantasia fit is something that really adds to our side. The small forward job isn't as easy and straightforward as it used to be. Sometimes you play on a guy who can get 25-35 possessions as a rebounder and take games away from your side (see our prelim game, small forward got torched) so you need the fitness and experience. Knowing how to position and crumb to the forwards. Applying elite pressure. I think he could add a lot.
Elaborating more on what I sad about Fantasia, Moir is probably going to be a slow burn and maybe as he gets fitter will play a few games later in the year. Throw him to the wolves early, you could imagine what a player with the rebounding capabilities of Saad would do to him. Not expecting much early. A fitness based program and some VFL form and we will see. I think he has the talent but I don't think at this stage he would be fit enough for AFL. At least he is training and chipping away at it now.
