Player Watch #10 Aaron Francis

[Shaq_01]

Has got better as the season has gone on. Good to see him on the scoreboard finally. He's limited but his strengths just about negate them. Be interesting to see how he gets going next year there is some more improvement to come hopefully.

If he can get his cardio and running up - he could be a genuine utility

Maybe even bang through the mid field a few minutes per quarter maybe the last two quarters

Big body coming in hard and fast

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Versatile bottom 6 player that mark when he outbodied 2 defenders and kicked it was exceptional.

Zero negatives all positives.

 

[S120]

I've been thinking about our pursuits of key defenders a lot since we bowed out of the finals. We've gone after Barrass, McKay, Himmelberg all to no avail. We need someone to step up next to McCartin who is sensational and I suspect will only continue to develop into a stud.

And then I basically remembered that Francis is already on our list and has shown he can actually defend. He's not big enough right now but when he arrived, I didn't even think he could defend as well as he did this year. I saw him as an intercept defender exclusively.

And then it struck me. I'd be giving him Ted Richards

Ted Richards

Age

41

Ht

193cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

153.4

2star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

' number, getting him in touch with our boy Teddy, and asking him exactly what he did to elevate himself from a bit-part, scrawny, ex-Essendon swingman to an AA full-back and 2nd place in a premiership Skilton count.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/sss/news-story/2f42907f410b9af942b8a258293d276d

Ted studied the best defenders (Scarlett, Glass, and Bock), noticed that they go for their marks (which Francis can do already) and he put on 4 kgs of muscle. That weight gain would take Francis to 96-97kgs and surely give him a better show at playing on the big forwards. Get him to study the best key defenders and how they defend and/or intercept - maybe Darcy Moore

30

Darcy Moore

Age

28

Ht

203cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

169.1

3star

D

13.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

0.7

1star

MG

182.0

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

87.4

2star

, Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

, Jacob Weitering

23

Jacob Weitering

Age

26

Ht

195cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

189.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

0.8

3star

MG

263.4

4star

.

Irrespective of whether we manage to find a tall defender in the trade period, I'd be instructing Francis to go down the Ted path ASAP and he might build from a promising first year at the club into a legit, strong key defender.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I've been thinking about our pursuits of key defenders a lot since we bowed out of the finals. We've gone after Barrass, McKay, Himmelberg all to no avail. We need someone to step up next to McCartin who is sensational and I suspect will only continue to develop into a stud.

And then I basically remembered that Francis is already on our list and has shown he can actually defend. He's not big enough right now but when he arrived, I didn't even think he could defend as well as he did this year. I saw him as an intercept defender exclusively.

And then it struck me. I'd be giving him Ted Richards' number, getting him in touch with our boy Teddy, and asking him exactly what he did to elevate himself from a bit-part, scrawny, ex-Essendon swingman to an AA full-back and 2nd place in a premiership Skilton count.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/sss/news-story/2f42907f410b9af942b8a258293d276d

Ted studied the best defenders (Scarlett, Glass, and Bock), noticed that they go for their marks (which Francis can do already) and he put on 4 kgs of muscle. That weight gain would take Francis to 96-97kgs and surely give him a better show at playing on the big forwards. Get him to study the best key defenders and how they defend and/or intercept - maybe Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews, Jacob Weitering.

Irrespective of whether we manage to find a tall defender in the trade period, I'd be instructing Francis to go down the Ted path ASAP and he might build from a promising first year at the club into a legit, strong key defender.

Good call. Great call. Take it further.
Get all four of them (Francis, Melican, Arnold and Edwards) into the same program. Get more powerful, if not heavier, and develop their defensive skills. Work against our big bodies in McLean, Amartey, McDonald and Buller who can be working on their one-on-one skills at the same time. Bring in specialist part-time coaches for both groups. Workshop it alongside normal fitness and line training.
Moore and Andrews are not huge bodies but are very strong. Weitering is a Hulk.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Good call. Great call. Take it further.
Get all four of them (Francis, Melican, Arnold and Edwards) into the same program. Get more powerful, if not heavier, and develop their defensive skills. Work against our big bodies in McLean, Amartey, McDonald and Buller who can be working on their one-on-one skills at the same time. Bring in specialist part-time coaches for both groups. Workshop it alongside normal fitness and line training.
Moore and Andrews are not huge bodies but are very strong. Weitering is a Hulk.

Thinking further, why leave out Tom?

 

[HighReeve]

Good call. Great call. Take it further.
Get all four of them (Francis, Melican, Arnold and Edwards) into the same program. Get more powerful, if not heavier, and develop their defensive skills. Work against our big bodies in McLean, Amartey, McDonald and Buller who can be working on their one-on-one skills at the same time. Bring in specialist part-time coaches for both groups. Workshop it alongside normal fitness and line training.
Moore and Andrews are not huge bodies but are very strong. Weitering is a Hulk.

Moore is 204cm?? Andrews is also >2m

Anyhow surely 'develop defensive skills' is a program they are already participating in?? like what else did they do this year if not that.

Francis has been in the league near a decade and is 26. Watching some good players isn't going to suddenly make him better. Surely he has already been doing that, given he has been a professional footballer since 2015 and has always been a defender first.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

My priority for him is to do some sprint training under a pro trainer. McLean is a very hard trainer and would be a great training partner for Aaron.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Moore is 204cm?? Andrews is also >2m

Anyhow surely 'develop defensive skills' is a program they are already participating in?? like what else did they do this year if not that.

Francis has been in the league near a decade and is 26. Watching some good players isn't going to suddenly make him better. Surely he has already been doing that, given he has been a professional footballer since 2015 and has always been a defender first.

If they're already participating then it's a good idea and we're just a bit late to the party.
If not, they should.

 

[Kiama Chris]

My priority for him is to do some sprint training under a pro trainer. McLean is a very hard trainer and would be a great training partner for Aaron.

Buller did a lot of work in WA and I'll bet he has hooked up with someone here.

 

[MF]

Moore is 204cm?? Andrews is also >2m

Anyhow surely 'develop defensive skills' is a program they are already participating in?? like what else did they do this year if not that.

Francis has been in the league near a decade and is 26. Watching some good players isn't going to suddenly make him better. Surely he has already been doing that, given he has been a professional footballer since 2015 and has always been a defender first.

I wouldn't make too many assumptions about Essendon's player development program.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Buller did a lot of work in WA and I'll bet he has hooked up with someone here.

He obviously had put some work in as he was running out games very well, albeit in the twos. He also struck me as being as fast as Logan. Amartey and his twitch might get Jack over 5-10 metres but not beyond.

Suspect everyone on the list has a tailored program to fulfill in prep for pre season.

 

[dosser]

I think if he has a full Swans pre-season then we may see a marked increase in his output this year.

 

[Superstar swan]

I think he exceeded expectations and for thr most part did his job. However in reality he is a 23-25 range player rather than best 22.

 

[Millky95]

I think he exceeded expectations and for thr most part did his job. However in reality he is a 23-25 range player rather than best 22.

Will replace Rampe if he can tidy up some disposal by end of 2024

 

[The King!]

Defence is his spot, buggered around positions a bit,keep it simple

 

[Swannie0307]

If he can get his cardio and running up - he could be a genuine utility

Maybe even bang through the mid field a few minutes per quarter maybe the last two quarters

Big body coming in hard and fast

Agree, needs to have a big off season, trim down, get fitter and faster. If he does that, he could easily be top 22 … excellent mark!

 

[the hypnotoad]

I've been thinking about our pursuits of key defenders a lot since we bowed out of the finals. We've gone after Barrass, McKay, Himmelberg all to no avail. We need someone to step up next to McCartin who is sensational and I suspect will only continue to develop into a stud.

And then I basically remembered that Francis is already on our list and has shown he can actually defend. He's not big enough right now but when he arrived, I didn't even think he could defend as well as he did this year. I saw him as an intercept defender exclusively.

And then it struck me. I'd be giving him Ted Richards' number, getting him in touch with our boy Teddy, and asking him exactly what he did to elevate himself from a bit-part, scrawny, ex-Essendon swingman to an AA full-back and 2nd place in a premiership Skilton count.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/sss/news-story/2f42907f410b9af942b8a258293d276d

Ted studied the best defenders (Scarlett, Glass, and Bock), noticed that they go for their marks (which Francis can do already) and he put on 4 kgs of muscle. That weight gain would take Francis to 96-97kgs and surely give him a better show at playing on the big forwards. Get him to study the best key defenders and how they defend and/or intercept - maybe Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews, Jacob Weitering.

Irrespective of whether we manage to find a tall defender in the trade period, I'd be instructing Francis to go down the Ted path ASAP and he might build from a promising first year at the club into a legit, strong key defender.

i'm certainly on francis's side, i rated him the year he was drafted and i think he's shown good, steady improvement with sydney
he will continue to improve as a regular member of the team, as he feels more secure in his role in defence ...
with mccartin, francis, hamling (if reports are true) and maybe one more genuine big key defender, along with melican if he can stay healthy, we'd have a good core defence ... with blakey and florent the creative element (and maybe mcinerney)

 

[rustycrate]

Moore is 204cm?? Andrews is also >2m

Anyhow surely 'develop defensive skills' is a program they are already participating in?? like what else did they do this year if not that.

Francis has been in the league near a decade and is 26. Watching some good players isn't going to suddenly make him better. Surely he has already been doing that, given he has been a professional footballer since 2015 and has always been a defender first.

He can still learn something.

 

[Shaq_01]

My priority for him is to do some sprint training under a pro trainer. McLean is a very hard trainer and would be a great training partner for Aaron.

McLean was one the first to train Francis and show him the ropes

Someone mentioned follow Teddys program etc
Good idea but
Moore Andrews etc are all 200cm +

U can’t train or teach height

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Any news on Aaron ? With all the hype over the new recruits does anyone see AF making an impact this year ? Be good to have him pushing for selection given his versatility

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Any news on Aaron ? With all the hype over the new recruits does anyone see AF making an impact this year ? Be good to have him pushing for selection given his versatility

From the match sim summary:

With a healthy list, Aaron Francis might find himself out of the side. But he caught the eye on Wednesday playing as a key defender and taking strong overhead marks.

 

[SSwans2011]

Got better with every game he played last year. Great depth at worst.

 

[Crust]

I don't like the double fist
If you can do that then you can take the mark.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I don't like the double fist
If you can do that then you can take the mark.

Pretty sure they're being coached to do it in most cases but I agree with you. If the opposition forward spoils you're no worse off.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

I don't like the double fist
If you can do that then you can take the mark.

I definitely don’t like the double fist. Not too keen on Mark either. Much prefer Margot.