Traded #10: Aaron Francis - Traded to Sydney w. Pick 42 + Future fourth rounder for Pick 37. Thanks Frang!

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2022
Injury Status: n/a

My Boy Draft 2022: Pick 29, Mr Bultitude

 

[DERO]

He'd better finish before Woosha in the time trial.

 

[efcboy]

I think we are panicking for no reason here - Didn't he actually come back on after the groin complaint?
If he is injured again though after a week off prior, god help us....

Didn't look to be a soft tissue injury - he copped a heavy knock early in the last quarter from memory. He made it back on so was probably just a corkie

 

[hotkorma]

 

[Skipper_]

A tall in the his second year taking time to develop. Shocker........

 

[yodellinhank]

Strap a rope around his waist and make him drag a truck tyre around, or get him to run up the sand dunes. Or both at the same time.

 

[AngryLittle]

He is going to be awesome because all angry red heads are awesome (except Green who is the exception that proves the rule) he is just going to take some time.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[TheFrenchCut]

At first I was like

But then I was like

Had a brief moment where I got distracted and remembered that my life isn't where I'd like it to be

Then scrolled down a little further and immediately went back to

 

[yaco55]

Think Yoda's post is the most accurate summary of Francis - Anyway will watch him closely next month in the VFL.

 

[carnthedons]

He's got the tools, just needs fitness and attitude. As above, if it clicks he's gonna be beastly.

We've been spoilt with Heppell, Parish, Merrett, McGrath all coming in and making immediate impact and I think that's led to impatience. Y'all just need to chill

 

[Skipper_]

He's got the tools, just needs fitness and attitude. As above, if it clicks he's gonna be beastly.

We've been spoilt with Heppell, Parish, Merrett, McGrath all coming in and making immediate impact and I think that's led to impatience. Y'all just need to chill

This. Draftees don't normally come in and make the type of Impact those guys have. Heck even a tall in Daniher lead our goal-kicking in his second year. We haven't really had any first round picks really take their time and turn out good in the end. They've either started brilliantly and then rolled on or were either injury-prone or just plain shit (Kavanagh, Gumbleton, etc.). Patience is a must with this bloke and hopefully we will reep the rewards in future.

 

[citizen-erased]

This. Draftees don't normally come in and make the type of Impact those guys have. Heck even a tall in Daniher lead our goal-kicking in his second year. We haven't really had any first round picks really take their time and turn out good in the end. They've either started brilliantly and then rolled on or were either injury-prone or just plain shit (Kavanagh, Gumbleton, etc.). Patience is a must with this bloke and hopefully we will reep the rewards in future.

yep.
From that draft:
Schache is struggling with form.
Hopper hasn't set the world alight
Kennedy only just starting to make an impact and probably playing due to injuries
Weideman isn't playing while Hogan has been out.
Ah Chee is in and out
Curnow is only just starting to get into it

Parish and Weitering were the only ones to really make it in their first year
Milera has started the year well

 

[PhoenixBonez]

yep.
From that draft:
Schache is struggling with form.
Hopper hasn't set the world alight
Kennedy only just starting to make an impact and probably playing due to injuries
Weideman isn't playing while Hogan has been out.
Ah Chee is in and out
Curnow is only just starting to get into it

Parish and Weitering were the only ones to really make it in their first year
Milera has started the year well

Oliver's going alright
But yes I still have a lot of faith in Francis.

 

[westking]

This. Draftees don't normally come in and make the type of Impact those guys have. Heck even a tall in Daniher lead our goal-kicking in his second year. We haven't really had any first round picks really take their time and turn out good in the end. They've either started brilliantly and then rolled on or were either injury-prone or just plain shit (Kavanagh, Gumbleton, etc.). Patience is a must with this bloke and hopefully we will reep the rewards in future.

We have all been infected with Gumbleton-itis. Once bitten, twice shy and all that. I had many dreams of Gumby running from flank to flank dominating the game, and he should of. But only if he didn't have a dodgy hamstring or two.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

When does the VFL tribunal meet?

 

[eth-dog]

When does the VFL tribunal meet?

Tuesday

 

[Longjohnmire]

I'm being patient but not with too much confidence. Let's be honest, paying a top 5/6 pick for the lad I'd expect a little more output by now. Sure he shows a flash here and there but he's by no means a lock to make it like a lot on here would have you believe.
Too many people are just assuming the penny will drop. I reckon he's a 50/50 prospect at best and it's all kinda on the line next pre-season. If he can't get through a preseason and come in fit next year I'll be harbouring a more negative view.
People even suggesting midfield at this stage have absoloute rocks in their head, he's not even fit enough to be a consistent 1 way runner, let alone running defensively.
Just through interviews and things released by the club the boy just doesn't seem to have that confidence/arrogance most gun players have. I might be way off the mark there because as I said I'm only talking about things the club has released to the media.
So yeah I am a little worried..

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I'm being patient but not with too much confidence. Let's be honest, paying a top 5/6 pick for the lad I'd expect a little more output by now. Sure he shows a flash here and there but he's by no means a lock to make it like a lot on here would have you believe.
Too many people are just assuming the penny will drop. I reckon he's a 50/50 prospect at best and it's all kinda on the line next pre-season. If he can't get through a preseason and come in fit next year I'll be harbouring a more negative view.
People even suggesting midfield at this stage have absoloute rocks in their head, he's not even fit enough to be a consistent 1 way runner, let alone running defensively.
Just through interviews and things released by the club the boy just doesn't seem to have that confidence/arrogance most gun players have. I might be way off the mark there because as I said I'm only talking about things the club has released to the media.
So yeah I am a little worried..

I still think he'll make it but yeah I'm slightly worried too.

 

[Lore]

He's just gotta get his shit together. Plenty of talented footballers fall off lists because they fail to do that. Sure, he has the talent to play midfield, but he'll never play there unless he gets mind and body to the right level, but I have faith in him.

It's only his second year and he's quite tall; the cliche there being that 'the tall guys take time' (that's plenty of good ones taking time too). He's come into a team where he actually needs to fight for a spot, which is why he hasn't been thrown in the deep-end the way other high picks sometimes are.

 

[eDPS]

 

[DERO]

Trade

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Got mad patience for him, injury interrupted preseasons, but still made decent progress. If he improves the same amount next year he'll be at the required fitness and we'll start to see him at his best. Also think he is the victim of high expectations, still averaging a goal or two a week and class in bursts.

 

[Killer_Mike]

I think he's progressing ok. He's not tearing games apart but what 19yo key position player does?

I'm not convinced that he will ever be a midfielder though and I'm not sure that he has to be but others have mentioned it so I was wondering why you believe he will?

He's tracking well in that he's building his fitness and is getting valuable match practice. He hasn't dominated by any stretch of the imagination yet he still has managed to hit the scoreboard. I personally believe that bodes well for his future.

In two more years he will still be young(21) for a key position prospect but I expect he will be a far better player.

I'm still very confident we have an extremely good player on our hands.

 

[donlav99]

I'm being patient but not with too much confidence. Let's be honest, paying a top 5/6 pick for the lad I'd expect a little more output by now. Sure he shows a flash here and there but he's by no means a lock to make it like a lot on here would have you believe.
Too many people are just assuming the penny will drop. I reckon he's a 50/50 prospect at best and it's all kinda on the line next pre-season. If he can't get through a preseason and come in fit next year I'll be harbouring a more negative view.
People even suggesting midfield at this stage have absoloute rocks in their head, he's not even fit enough to be a consistent 1 way runner, let alone running defensively.
Just through interviews and things released by the club the boy just doesn't seem to have that confidence/arrogance most gun players have. I might be way off the mark there because as I said I'm only talking about things the club has released to the media.
So yeah I am a little worried..

Johns, Bradley, Gumbleton, Francis. Lets keep the good times rolling.

 

[Phat Toni]

Went to the game on Saturday with the intent to watch the big Fanta.....

Firstly the positives;
He took 2 or 3 fantastic clunks with the one on the wing in front of the bench the highlight.
Outside his 50m+ set shot in the first 20 seconds of the game his shot for goal route was good(could teach a man with a bad moustache a thing or two)
When the ball was there to be won he went for it so there were no Morgan issues(he shirked about 3 times when it was his turn)

Couple of negatives;
He isn't even close to AFL grade fitness
Sadly i walked away with a similar view to a game i went to last year, he needs to sharpen up his mental side of the game. He drifted in and out at times and he let the opposition get into his head which resulted in 2 to 3 behind the play scuffles he had which resulted in one incident where the book came out.

Overall you can see a kid with a lot of talent that may have found it to be pretty easy going through the jnr ranks and now is finding out that just cruising doesn't translate to the pro's.

Have to say on a side note the VFL is still a fantastic experience for the little kids, my little man got to high five the players coming out of the race and kicking the ball on the oval etc is fantastic for the little fans.

 

[hotkorma]

Should be hung drawn and quartered IMO