Player Watch #16 Josh Smillie

[Dr Tigris]

In 3 years time magic will say we should have played Dusty as a Back flanker

We did, for a little while. Used his kicking for some time. Was an experiment that only lasted until he got some endurance, then midfield, then forward.

Damn good distributor off half back.

But a bit like using a Ferrari as a delivery truck.

 

[Muddiemoose]

We did, for a little while. Used his kicking for some time. Was an experiment that only lasted until he got some endurance, then midfield, then forward.

Damn good distributor off half back.

But a bit like using a Ferrari as a delivery truck.

Played a fair bit behind the ball in 2016 as well

No coincidence that statistically in terms of pure disposals it’s his best but also one of his lowest in terms of goals

 

[Moppey]

We’ve been crying out for an oversized bull of a mid. We get shredded by those bigger bodies Cripps Bont in particular always have day outs against us. This guy fits that bill. He’ll win inside but has outside class as well. HBF talk is silly. Get him in there cutting his teeth.

I think Lalor fits that bill as well.

Personally i dont have a problem with it if Smillie spends time across hb just as long as he also gets midfield time along the way.
The obvious mid who started across hb who comes to mind is Daicos. It didnt mean Daicos was going to remain a hb and he hasn't.

one good reason to start Smillie across hb would be to allow us to play say McAuliffe as a mid in the same team.
I think its important we get games into all three of the big young mids we now have.
McAuliffe unlike Smillie looks capable of only playing as a mid.

Lalor is another, if he is not ready or fit enough for midfield time, i see no reason why this would be the case. Then a way to get games into him would be more as a forward for now with some midfield time.
Hotton is a good mid a different type of player but if it means we start him forward who gives a shit he will be getting exposure at the level when fit. Exposed form and attributes suggests he is probably the best small forward on the list

Personally i think we should be doing all we can to get as many games as possible into all of the following 22 and unders.

Lalor, Smillie, Hotton when fit, Trainor, Gibcus when fit, Campbell, McAuliffe, Brown, Smith who i like heaps, a couple of the young tall forwards as well who ever shows the most. Banks, Clarke and i have probably missed a few.
Where possible all staring 22 with the majority of our older heads around them,
Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Lynch, Balta, Vlastuin, Broad, Ross, Nankervis, Mansell, Kossie are the sum of our experienced players excluding Short and McIntosh..

If it means Smillie to hb to allow McAuliffe some midfield games so be it. If Campbell plays wing to allow Alger game time as a forward im all for it.
Kids first and foremost with enough old heads around them to make sure there is enough know how and protection around them.
I hope we do everything possible to ensure we get as many games as we can into the players who are going to take us forward. I don't really care what roles they play just as long as they get plenty of exposure at the level.

We have just thirteen players aged 25 or older.
Young, Balta, Vlastuin, Hopper, Prestia, Miller, Taranto, Short, Lynch, Nankervis, McIntosh, Broad and Lefau.
Only about 9 of these imo are definate starters when all are fit.
This then means around thirteen players aged 24 and under should be considered for starting roles.
The questions to be answered are. Who in the 24 and under group gets picked ? and what roles are a priority?

 

[Lord of the Wings]

I think Lalor fits that bill as well.

Personally i dont have a problem with it if Smillie spends time across hb just as long as he also gets midfield time along the way.
The obvious mid who started across hb who comes to mind is Daicos. It didnt mean Daicos was going to remain a hb and he hasn't.

one good reason to start Smillie across hb would be to allow us to play say McAuliffe as a mid in the same team.
I think its important we get games into all three of the big young mids we now have.
McAuliffe unlike Smillie looks capable of only playing as a mid.

Lalor is another, if he is not ready or fit enough for midfield time, i see no reason why this would be the case. Then a way to get games into him would be more as a forward for now with some midfield time.
Hotton is a good mid a different type of player but if it means we start him forward who gives a shit he will be getting exposure at the level when fit. Exposed form and attributes suggests he is probably the best small forward on the list

Personally i think we should be doing all we can to get as many games as possible into all of the following 22 and unders.

Lalor, Smillie, Hotton when fit, Trainor, Gibcus when fit, Campbell, McAuliffe, Brown, Smith who i like heaps, a couple of the young tall forwards as well who ever shows the most. Banks, Clarke and i have probably missed a few.
Where possible all staring 22 with the majority of our older heads around them,
Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Lynch, Balta, Vlastuin, Broad, Ross, Nankervis, Mansell, Kossie are the sum of our experienced players excluding Short and McIntosh..

If it means Smillie to hb to allow McAuliffe some midfield games so be it. If Campbell plays wing to allow Alger game time as a forward im all for it.
Kids first and foremost with enough old heads around them to make sure there is enough know how and protection around them.
I hope we do everything possible to ensure we get as many games as we can into the players who are going to take us forward. I don't really care what roles they play just as long as they get plenty of exposure at the level.

We have just thirteen players aged 25 or older.
Young, Balta, Vlastuin, Hopper, Prestia, Miller, Taranto, Short, Lynch, Nankervis, McIntosh, Broad and Lefau.
Only about 9 of these imo are definate starters when all are fit.
This then means around thirteen players aged 24 and under should be considered for starting roles.
The questions to be answered are. Who in the 24 and under group gets picked ? and what roles are a priority?

12 players if Balta ends up in the slammer for a year or so.

 

[Coach_Required]

12 players if Balta ends up in the slammer for a year or so.

 

[Mr Magic]

Wowsers… and remind me, where did the Tigers finish the year he played wing?

He has kicked more goals on the MCG than any player in history. 800 career goals. Best contested mark I’ve ever seen - yes, that includes Carey and Lockett….

We didn’t win flags when he played KPF because our next best players during his career were Campbell, Knights, Gaspar and Bowden…. Richo was the only genuinely elite player we had in the team from the start of his career until around 2007-2009 when Jack, Cotchin, and Rance arrived…. none of whom were elite until 2010 when Richo was retired.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

what difference does it make???

I cannot reply.


keep on punching.


poor old Dusty where is the respect???


I wonder if Barlett and Hart get any respect? I mean, they are just premiership players.

3 Norm Smith's nah, means nothing to some

 

[Moppey]

Lalor, Smillie, McAuliffe, Taranto, Hopper. We went a few seasons ago from being almost totally bereft of big contested mids to those 5.

I would have thought from a need point of view that Sharp is not really needed.
For sure if he is rated as the best kid available then we take him but i would have thought we need a few classy quick inside out ball users to compliment the big blokes we now have.

Take those five big mids out of the equation and what do we have left?
32 Year old Prestia. This in all likelyhood is his lst season
22yo Sonsie big questions about him making it.
23yo Dow another with big questions about him.
19yo highly rated 1st year player.

Have i missed anyone? thats the sum of it i think at the end of this year we may only have one left.

So much work needs to be done still to balance out our mids.

 

[Mr Magic]

I think Lalor fits that bill as well.

Personally i dont have a problem with it if Smillie spends time across hb just as long as he also gets midfield time along the way.
The obvious mid who started across hb who comes to mind is Daicos. It didnt mean Daicos was going to remain a hb and he hasn't.

one good reason to start Smillie across hb would be to allow us to play say McAuliffe as a mid in the same team.
I think its important we get games into all three of the big young mids we now have.
McAuliffe unlike Smillie looks capable of only playing as a mid.

Lalor is another, if he is not ready or fit enough for midfield time, i see no reason why this would be the case. Then a way to get games into him would be more as a forward for now with some midfield time.
Hotton is a good mid a different type of player but if it means we start him forward who gives a shit he will be getting exposure at the level when fit. Exposed form and attributes suggests he is probably the best small forward on the list

Personally i think we should be doing all we can to get as many games as possible into all of the following 22 and unders.

Lalor, Smillie, Hotton when fit, Trainor, Gibcus when fit, Campbell, McAuliffe, Brown, Smith who i like heaps, a couple of the young tall forwards as well who ever shows the most. Banks, Clarke and i have probably missed a few.
Where possible all staring 22 with the majority of our older heads around them,
Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Lynch, Balta, Vlastuin, Broad, Ross, Nankervis, Mansell, Kossie are the sum of our experienced players excluding Short and McIntosh..

If it means Smillie to hb to allow McAuliffe some midfield games so be it. If Campbell plays wing to allow Alger game time as a forward im all for it.
Kids first and foremost with enough old heads around them to make sure there is enough know how and protection around them.
I hope we do everything possible to ensure we get as many games as we can into the players who are going to take us forward. I don't really care what roles they play just as long as they get plenty of exposure at the level.

We have just thirteen players aged 25 or older.
Young, Balta, Vlastuin, Hopper, Prestia, Miller, Taranto, Short, Lynch, Nankervis, McIntosh, Broad and Lefau.
Only about 9 of these imo are definate starters when all are fit.
This then means around thirteen players aged 24 and under should be considered for starting roles.
The questions to be answered are. Who in the 24 and under group gets picked ? and what roles are a priority?

in my book they players can play wherever they like provided our goals down the track are to win premierships.

I started supporting RFC if the late 1970's

premiership tilts where the norm.

then for 35 plus years, what the f...ck? happened, no GR? complacency?? it was just going to happen?? a lack of observation of real quality????

finally in 2017 where surprised ourselves, and then we won it again.


please do not fc?? it up again!!!!


premierships always the goals!!!

 

[Mr Magic]

Lalor, Smillie, McAuliffe, Taranto, Hopper. We went a few seasons ago from being almost totally bereft of big contested mids to those 5.

I would have thought from a need point of view that Sharp is not really needed.
For sure if he is rated as the best kid available then we take him but i would have thought we need a few classy quick inside out ball users to compliment the big blokes we now have.

Take those five big mids out of the equation and what do we have left?
32 Year old Prestia. This in all likelyhood is his lst season
22yo Sonsie big questions about him making it.
23yo Dow another with big questions about him.
19yo highly rated 1st year player.

Have i missed anyone? thats the sum of it i think at the end of this year we may only have one left.

So much work needs to be done still to balance out our mids.

How are you not overrating our backline and other areas including forwards?

newsflash, Dusty has retired, are we going to throw him away like KB?

Smillie can play back forward, midfield, wherever, so can Lalor, anyone who thinks we do not have not have holes everywhere are on something fierce!!!

an emphasis on quality and merit is always a good start rather than makeup narrative

 

[tigerdan]

Psh stuff that

I’m just going to completly ignore it and somehow a week before the draft become an expert like last year

I like the cut of your jib.

 

[Noidnadroj]

what difference does it make???

I cannot reply.


keep on punching.


poor old Dusty where is the respect???


I wonder if Barlett and Hart get any respect? I mean, they are just premiership players.

3 Norm Smith's nah, means nothing to some

Richo retired in 2009. Martin’s first season was 2010. Why would I mention Martin when discussing elite players Richo played with?

Why oh why do I get sucked in to the Magic wormholes …. NY resolutions need editing.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[THE THIN MAN]

best player since aaron fiora

 

[Mr Magic]

Richo retired in 2009. Martin’s first season was 2010. Why would I mention Martin when discussing elite players Richo played with?

Why oh why do I get sucked in to the Magic wormholes …. NY resolutions need editing.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Richo never won a premierships, nor did the teams he was in.


Martin won 3 Norm Smiths so I guess Dusty drove the bus!!!


Your aspirations do not seem high enough, acceptance of mediocrity??

Sure you can have fun, but the goals are to win premierships, if you are not tracking to win premierships, your not going anywhere

Dusty three Norm Smiths, come on down, end of story.

If you wish to beat yourself up over semantics that is your prerogative.

Ideally Smillie plays in a way that helps us win as many premierships as we can and he obviously would be a part of it to do.

If you are satisfied not winning premierships, I cannot help you

 

[tora tora tora]

How to win a flag in 3 easy steps.... GR assembled a great list from round the country, tough as GR was he let a lot of talent out the door. 67 flag, 68 no finals, 69 flag 70 no finals. 72 ~ 74 Grand finals. the first ones I got to.


From mid 90s we could barely win a final. I attended losses in 95 vs North, 2002 up in Brizzy, 2015 vs North.. 2016 that rubbish I had zen like, zero expectations for 2017 or beyond.
COVID 2020 we win, cop $100k fine, lose asst coaches.
Gale lead the club well. BUT leaves Meehan in charge, got grandstands to construct whilst being head hunt for Tazzy. And we can barely win a game with new coach. Yze. We win the Spoon.
Flag talk? more chance of spoon 2.

IF we can get Gibcus playing, Lynch playing more than 4 games, Hopper more than 12, and half the 2024 gang of 8 kids make it then we will win more than 2 games in 2025. See what happens beyond that.
I watch no kids in their draft year, but it looks like no Ryan RCD, Dow skinny bodies. Lalor's like Ollie Wines, Smilz, Sims the other KPPs could play round 1.
Maybe Trainor channels Gramps Douggie.

 

[Mr Magic]

How to win a flag in 3 easy steps. GR assembled a great list, Tough as GR was he let a lot of talent out the door. 67 flag, 68 no finals, 69 flag 70 no finals. 72 ~ 74 Grand finals. the first ones I got to.


From mid 90s we could barely win a final. I attended losses in 95 vs North, 2002 up in Brizzy, 2015 vs North.. 2016 that rubbish I had zen like, zero expectations for 2017 or beyond.
COVID 2020 we win, cop $100k fine, lose asst coaches.
Gale lead the club well. BUT leaves Meehan in charge, got grandstands to construct whilst being head hunt for Tazzy. And we can barely win a game with new coach. Yze. We win the Spoon.
Flag talk? more chance of spoon 2.

IF we can get Gibcus playing, Lynch playing more than 4 games, Hopper more than 12, and half the 2024 gang of 8 kids make it then we will win more than 2 games. 2025. See what happens beyond that.
I watch no kids in their draft year, but it looks like no Ryan RCD, Dow skinny bodies. Lalor's like Ollie Wines, Smilz, Sims the other KPPs could play round 1.

flag talk does not mean flag in 2025.

flag talk means Lalor, Smillie, Balta and others preparing and developing etc.., looking for synergies and growth etc.. as far as team output goes for flag tilts in the years ahead which does not mean straight away because there is a reality element to it including setting achievable goals

i never attended most of those games. I am not a fool, I knew we where not a hope in hell. I would rather attand games watching our players improve and have fun and succeed eventually knowing the path forward was realistic and achievable.

Someone can always try and sell a BS story, does not mean I will swallow it.

Sounds like if Peggy asked Dusty and Dusty gave the thumbs up, she had confidence. I suppose when you when a Norm Smith or to you get that gravity after you bring it on field and win important games over time after applying yourself, developing and improving as a team

 

[tigerdan]

I started supporting GWS in 2016

EFA

 

[Muddiemoose]

Thread is starting to derail into next years draft chat let’s bring it back to topic and use the appropriate threads

 

[SplintWhisky]

We did, for a little while. Used his kicking for some time. Was an experiment that only lasted until he got some endurance, then midfield, then forward.

Damn good distributor off half back.

But a bit like using a Ferrari as a delivery truck.

Pretty sure he was always a midfielder but spent most of his time getting the "cheap" disposals in the half back. Pretty sure Lloyd spoke about it on one of the shows he is on. I would be very surprised if you could find a team where Martin was named at anywhere further back than the Centre line.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Pretty sure he was always a midfielder but spent most of his time getting the "cheap" disposals in the half back. Pretty sure Lloyd spoke about it on one of the shows he is on. I would be very surprised if you could find a team where Martin was named at anywhere further back than the Centre line.

How sides are named means f all these days and aren’t really conclusive evidence of anything and never actually represents how a side lines up apart from listing the 22 players who will be playing

How many times over the last few years have we seen guys like Mansell named as CHF or FF

 

[Wooden Robot]

How sides are named means f all these days and aren’t really conclusive evidence of anything and never actually represents how a side lines up apart from listing the 22 players who will be playing

How many times over the last few years have we seen guys like Mansell named as CHF or FF

Well, Shane Edwards was named at CHF for 72 consecutive weeks.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Well, Shane Edwards was named at CHF for 72 consecutive weeks.

and no one picked up that his name is actually shaun.

 

[Boxo004]

How sides are named means f all these days and aren’t really conclusive evidence of anything and never actually represents how a side lines up apart from listing the 22 players who will be playing

How many times over the last few years have we seen guys like Mansell named as CHF or FF

It’s amazing how often on a Thursday night people lose their minds over what positions players are named in. Rather humorous

 

[Dr Tigris]

Pretty sure he was always a midfielder but spent most of his time getting the "cheap" disposals in the half back. Pretty sure Lloyd spoke about it on one of the shows he is on. I would be very surprised if you could find a team where Martin was named at anywhere further back than the Centre line.

He played some time off half back. From memory he was there because we basically didn't have any good ball distribution off defence. Wasn't a long period at half back. A tiny part of a long and brilliant career.

 

[Grrr]

I think the expectations on Smillie are a little high right now. It took players like Dusty and even more so Bolton a few years to build the tank necessary to play midfield, half forward or half back or wherever, and they are stars.

We all want Smillie to become that Cripps/Bont type, but he hasn't even played a game and slipped from 1 to 6 as he season went on. He is not an automatic selection. Of course we want to get games into the draftees, and we all love the 195cm mid idea, but they also have to show they deserve being promoted so some VFL time is not going to stunt their development. Lalor at no.1 might be the outlier to that, but throwing young players into the spotlight and pressure doesn't always come off.

We have more than enough young talent on the list that have not really had a crack at AFL level. McAuliffe, Smith, Green, Bauer, Blight, Fawcett, Trezise, Clarke, Gray and those just pressing or coming back from injury like Banks, Ross and Gibcus all need to be given a good go. They have done their time in the VFL and have all looked good bar Fawcett and Gray at AFL level. You can only play so many kids at once. Surely Sonsie deserves one more chance also.

Build those new draftees into a team in the VFL and promote them one or two at a time when they are ready or the side needs them or injuries open up spots.

 

[captain blood 17]

12 players if Balta ends up in the slammer for a year or so. Like i am hoping for.

EFA