Player Watch #16 Josh Smillie

[Turka]

Smillie will be too good for VFL and pointless having him play VFL

He needs to be played AFL and learn exactly what it takes and whats expected
rated #1 most of 2024 and wanted to be selected at #1 so he is a mentally strong kid that will adapt quickly

2025 is a nothing year and just get games into the kids that have the talent

Correct me if I’m wrong - and freak Dusty aside - I can’t recall any first pre-season rookie having the impact this kid is having…He’s 195…
To hold your arms up in a tackle and get the hands off or spin around within it, that’s impressive…Would love to see it against Cripps, Round 1…

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

I’m Concerned about his longevity .

 

[Kambo]

I’m Concerned about his longevity .

He hasn’t played a game and been at the club for 3 months?

 

[lizard man]

I’m Concerned about his longevity .

Why?

 

[THE_GUN]

He hasn’t played a game and been at the club for 3 months?

2 months

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

He hasn’t played a game and been at the club for 3 months?

Why?

2 months

The expectations within this thread are extremely heavy , back stress fracture type heavy .

 

[Coach_Required]

The expectations within this thread are extremely heavy , back stress fracture type heavy .

Unlike the Blues who rely on just Cripps to carry them, we will have Smillie & Lalor sharing the carrying.

 

[Moppey]

I'm glass half full

Just a simple statement that is more likely to happen than not happen. Time waits for no man.

Simply because of age and talent it is very likely the majority core group 25 plus year olds will be gone in three years time or at best way past it.
Thats not being negative its being realistic. They cant help the new toys in three years if they aren't there.

It leaves the 22 - 24 age group to fill that void and have a look at them how would you rate them thus far.

Kossie 24 - most on here already want him gone. One of few who established himself to a degree.
Mansell 24 - established as a small defensive fwd another most are looking to upgrade.
Ross 24 - Solid average performer one of few who has established himself.
OH-B 24 - What are the expectations.
Ryan 24 - Done nothing at AFL and the clock is ticking
HRS 23 - Some will say established and to save argument i wil say barely and can still go either way.
Dow 23 - well most wanted him gone already without playing the newbies will likely play in front of him.
Blight 23 - shows good signs but has to still prove he belongs.
Rioli 22 - Most are saying he needs a big year to show he too belongs.
Trezise 22 - Shows good attributes but has yet to establish himself a poor year and he too could be in trouble.
Bauer 22 - Another who has shown only glimpses at the level.
Sonsie 22 - Go read the Sonsie thread

question where is the high end quality in all that? is there a likely A or B grader among all that.
At this point in time it is very hard to say yes. That leads to the next question how many will even be there in three years time?

It is atm mostly down to what juniors we have making it and being better than the group above and most of the core group.

What really must happen at some point is we go hard at mature types to help the kiddies.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Just a simple statement that is more likely to happen than not happen. Time waits for no man.

Simply because of age and talent it is very likely the majority core group 25 plus year olds will be gone in three years time or at best way past it.
Thats not being negative its being realistic. They cant help the new toys in three years if they aren't there.

It leaves the 22 - 24 age group to fill that void and have a look at them how would you rate them thus far.

Kossie 24 - most on here already want him gone. One of few who established himself to a degree.
Mansell 24 - established as a small defensive fwd another most are looking to upgrade.
Ross 24 - Solid average performer one of few who has established himself.
OH-B 24 - What are the expectations.
Ryan 24 - Done nothing at AFL and the clock is ticking
HRS 23 - Some will say established and to save argument i wil say barely and can still go either way.
Dow 23 - well most wanted him gone already without playing the newbies will likely play in front of him.
Blight 23 - shows good signs but has to still prove he belongs.
Rioli 22 - Most are saying he needs a big year to show he too belongs.
Trezise 22 - Shows good attributes but has yet to establish himself a poor year and he too could be in trouble.
Bauer 22 - Another who has shown only glimpses at the level.
Sonsie 22 - Go read the Sonsie thread

question where is the high end quality in all that? is there a likely A or B grader among all that.
At this point in time it is very hard to say yes. That leads to the next question how many will even be there in three years time?

It is atm mostly down to what juniors we have making it and being better than the group above and most of the core group.

What really must happen at some point is we go hard at mature types to help the kiddies.

You have left out a load of players who will likely be there in 3 years time.

Hopper, Taranto, Miller, Balta, just from the established players, and every chance Lefau is still there if his knees hold up. There are 3 x A & B Graders there.

And then you have partially answered your own question. We will have so much cap space it is almost certain we pick up 2-3 mature A or B grade recruits in trades or as Free Agents. After 2 more drafts we should be a very attractive club for players wanting to come to us. Even if that process is delayed beyond 2-3 years, it will only likely allow us to boost our player stocks further through the draft/s.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Just a simple statement that is more likely to happen than not happen. Time waits for no man.

Simply because of age and talent it is very likely the majority core group 25 plus year olds will be gone in three years time or at best way past it.
Thats not being negative its being realistic. They cant help the new toys in three years if they aren't there.

It leaves the 22 - 24 age group to fill that void and have a look at them how would you rate them thus far.

Kossie 24 - most on here already want him gone. One of few who established himself to a degree.
Mansell 24 - established as a small defensive fwd another most are looking to upgrade.
Ross 24 - Solid average performer one of few who has established himself.
OH-B 24 - What are the expectations.
Ryan 24 - Done nothing at AFL and the clock is ticking
HRS 23 - Some will say established and to save argument i wil say barely and can still go either way.
Dow 23 - well most wanted him gone already without playing the newbies will likely play in front of him.
Blight 23 - shows good signs but has to still prove he belongs.
Rioli 22 - Most are saying he needs a big year to show he too belongs.
Trezise 22 - Shows good attributes but has yet to establish himself a poor year and he too could be in trouble.
Bauer 22 - Another who has shown only glimpses at the level.
Sonsie 22 - Go read the Sonsie thread

question where is the high end quality in all that? is there a likely A or B grader among all that.
At this point in time it is very hard to say yes. That leads to the next question how many will even be there in three years time?

It is atm mostly down to what juniors we have making it and being better than the group above and most of the core group.

What really must happen at some point is we go hard at mature types to help the kiddies.

As much as I agree with much of what you say ... in 3 years guys who are 28 will only be 31. Players can play for longer these days. So I reckon we've got about 5 years of those mature guys already on our list. Slowly decreasing in numbers of course.

Yes we do need players in that 22 - 24 year old group. We have a huge amount fo $ spare to pick a player/s up over the next couple of years. So a worry, but not too much to me.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

As much as I agree with much of what you say ... in 3 years guys who are 28 will only be 31. Players can play for longer these days. So I reckon we've got about 5 years of those mature guys already on our list. Slowly decreasing in numbers of course.

Yes we do need players in that 22 - 24 year old group. We have a huge amount fo $ spare to pick a player/s up over the next couple of years. So a worry, but not too much to me.

A definite manageable 'worry'...not an insurmountable one!

 

[Dr Tigris]

A definite manageable 'worry'...not an insurmountable one!

Listening to the Tigercast it sounds like this worry is exactly what we are tackling the next couple of off seasons.

 

[Wavvey]

Non issue. Nearing the end of a rebuild, it’s very likely you’ll be thin in the 24-28 age bracket. Its why clubs recruit heavily in the latter stages of their rebuild ie. Eagles getting Graham, Bakes and Owies.

Don’t even need to think about it until the time comes, just keep stocking up on elite young talent (just like Smillie)

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

2026 is the right time too attack the FA market