AFL Player #16: Archie Perkins - Re-signed for two more years - 3/6

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 9, sup3rfish

 

[cAsEy_18]

Needs to do 100 Pushups, 100 Sit Ups, 100 Squats and a 10KM Run everyday.

The lack of value placed on burpees disgusts me.

Although the sit ups should help in him working out where to stand at stoppages.

 

[ghostdog]

The lack of value placed on burpees disgusts me.

Although the sit ups should help in him working out where to stand at stoppages.

Ugh. I hate burpees.

 

[bombersim]

Yeah he has alot of great tools but I do think he shouldve been sent to the twos alot earlier to work on his craft/get some confidence, I don't understand why other young players were made to work on their craft in the two's but we continued to play archie in midfield in the ones where he looked lost at sea.
Hopefully we haven't broken him because he showed some glimpses of a rare talent.

This. Make him dominate vfl and then bring him back. Don’t allow players to play 10 bad games in a row. I’d even cap it at 5.

 

[ant555]

For me it is really simple. He is now at the stage of his career where he has to work out just how much he wants it. There is no more improvement in him development wise or ability wise or body wise. Totally up to attitude and and having a really hard look at himself. Do you want to be a top 60 player or do you just want to be a guy that made it to the AFL and play your 100 odd games. Will you leave nothing in the tank. We will know one way or the other at the end of 2025.

 

[P Money]

Maybe he's just not that good?

 

[Godzke]

Interesting how quickly Rosa name dropped Perkins when asked about filling the gap left by Stringer.

Rosa seems quite diplomatic and keeps his cards very close to the chest. Speaks like a true politician. But didn't shy away from putting the limelight on Perkins, which I thought was telling.

 

[Petrify]

Interesting how quickly Rosa name dropped Perkins when asked about filling the gap left by Stringer.

Rosa seems quite diplomatic and keeps his cards very close to the chest. Speaks like a true politician. But didn't shy away from putting the limelight on Perkins, which I thought was telling.

Thought the same.

I think Perkins is very, very bad as a mid. But I have always thought he was more than capable as a power forward like Stringer

 

[silk]

My main issue is he just seems so slow. Not sure if it's an effort or decision making thing.

 

[Blind Turn]

Interesting how quickly Rosa name dropped Perkins when asked about filling the gap left by Stringer.

Rosa seems quite diplomatic and keeps his cards very close to the chest. Speaks like a true politician. But didn't shy away from putting the limelight on Perkins, which I thought was telling.

Especially when Menzie is the obvious like-for-like replacement…

 

[faible]

My main issue is he just seems so slow. Not sure if it's an effort or decision making thing.

I like him as a high half forward, he tends to take the game forward and direct when he has the ball, and has solid skills to execute. Not one to chip sideways as a first option, and has that strength through the hips to stand up in tackles rather than go to ground or dish off a hospital hand pass.

 

[dank420_]

He looks way more comfortable pinging it at the goals than he does finding a target inside 50, coming in from the midfield.

 

[revival_mode]

i think i agree with having him as a half forward

lacks game sense and effort to be a mid

 

[blitzer]

I know this year was poor for him but I still think there's a lot to work with. One thing he has is good disposal going inside forward 50. So yeah its a no brainer for me to move him back to half forward. He never really knew how to find the ball consistently in other roles. His strength through the hips to break tackles is impactful up forward too.

I see no reason he can't be a consistent 10-15 disposal 1 to 1.5 goal a game forward type. I don't see superstar but solid AFL player in his future. I reckon he could be our version of Hayward from the Swans. For comparison Hayward has just completed his 8th year and he managed 41 goals from 26 games (1.57 goals per game) and the year before he only managed 25 goals from 23 games.

Looking at Perkins stats his 3rd year really was pretty respectable. 15.3 disposals per game and 0.8 goals per game when he was truly playing as a half forward. Its only when we tried to move him into the midfield he fell away to 15.4 disposals per game but only 0.3 goals per game. Which is a fair fall.

 

[Darealrath]

I think playing forward simplifies the game for him as he can play more on instinct. I'm not worried about him yet.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

The annoying thing is, it's been obvious for a while that he can't play mid and needs to play forward.

 

[naraku]

Assuming Archie takes Stringers spot up forward, I think he will be ok.

If not, he's probably just traded this time next year.

 

[King Patty]

Archie will play Stringers role.
can he kick 42 goals, likely not, but can he kick 20+ and run through the midfield at times, certainly.

 

[Vindicater]

Archie will play Stringers role.
can he kick 42 goals, likely not, but can he kick 20+ and run through the midfield at times, certainly.

Can he kick 20+ goals and run to cover space.

 

[bombreys]

Assuming Archie takes Stringers spot up forward, I think he will be ok.

If not, he's probably just traded this time next year.

He's a funny one, Archie. I don't know you'd find anyone who'd want to trade for him if his form from the second half of 2024 continued. Hopefully he pulls his finger out.

 

[MiguelM]

I do have hope. That Hawks game comes to mind.

He still possesses one of the better sidesteps in the game.

Coaches probably knew he was never a pure mid but hard to drop Stringer when he is kicking 42 goals. That put Perkins in no mans land in terms of position. Was clear the club (maybe Rosa influence) was looking past Stringer and was thinking longer term.

You don't just give up on talent like Perkins imo and having him focus on a set position that he is natrually talented for, plus clear backing from the club may just be the turning point we are hoping for.

Should hit the ground running with renewed enthusiasm during preseason. Exciting for mine.

 

[Vindicater]

Big hopes for him this year.

Again.

 

[crackers65]

Time will tell if he’s just another typical Essendon top ten pick.
Needs to pull his finger out because time is running out for him.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Time will tell if he’s just another typical Essendon top ten pick.
Needs to pull his finger out because time is running out for him.

How is time running out for a 22 year old

 

[crackers65]

How is time running out for a 22 year old

This will be his fifth year in the system. Time to pull his finger out and become a consistent top ten pick, or is he just happy to go with the flow and play 100 plus soft games?

 

[Call Me Cake]

This will be his fifth year in the system.

It was Shaun Mannagh's first year in the system and he's 27. It's hyperbole to suggest that "time is running out". Perkins has played four seasons by 22 and his first was pretty good.

In fact all of his stats except for i50's/Mi50 grew exponentially in his first three seasons. Yes he's had a down year this year but what 22 year old doesn't. He was dropped accordingly.

I get what you're saying to an extent but people are also judging him based on unrealistic expectations and ignoring his statistics entirely. Out of all of the draftees of 2020 he has shown the most yet faces the most scrutiny. It's just part in parcel of our supporter base in that we've gone so long without a finals win that they're guided away from realism in the face of much desired aspiration. I can sympathize with that, but it's unrealistic and pointed in the wrong direction.