List Mgmt. 2024 Father Son watch MKIII. Operation Ashcroft jnr. Featuring various academy boys.

[Jivlain]

 

[p4p1]

Always figured half back or half forward would be his spot.

Going to put a real squeeze on the halfback spot.

Wilmot, Coleman and Fletcher all with speed and good ball users. Starcevich as that general defender.

Do we start thinking about Starce in the middle with these guys coming through? Starce is a great defender but if any of those guys can do a good enough job he could be part of the puzzle that we are missing in our midfield. He's big and fast and has IMO shown more consistency than Raynor or Cockatoo at this stage.

 

[mattsmob]

Do we start thinking about Starce in the middle with these guys coming through? Starce is a great defender but if any of those guys can do a good enough job he could be part of the puzzle that we are missing in our midfield. He's big and fast and has IMO shown more consistency than Raynor or Cockatoo at this stage.

The problem is he’s shown more consistency off half back than those guys. Not by winning a lot of the ball and being a big body in the midfield. None of the guys you’ve mentioned are pure mids and have never won big possession numbers through the middle. I think with Ashcroft hopefully being here next season he’d go ahead of a few guys in the middle by the end of his first season.

 

[briztoon]

Do we start thinking about Starce in the middle with these guys coming through? Starce is a great defender but if any of those guys can do a good enough job he could be part of the puzzle that we are missing in our midfield. He's big and fast and has IMO shown more consistency than Raynor or Cockatoo at this stage.

Starcevich has never been a big possession winner, even at junior level. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he would at AFL level.

 

[martinson]

The problem is he’s shown more consistency off half back than those guys. Not by winning a lot of the ball and being a big body in the midfield. None of the guys you’ve mentioned are pure mids and have never won big possession numbers through the middle. I think with Ashcroft hopefully being here next season he’d go ahead of a few guys in the middle by the end of his first season.

I know Fages said something along the lines of him moving to the M/F prior to the start of the year but I'm not sold on the idea myself.

He seems an out and out strong defensive player to me who's important to our back 6 and I'm not sure he's overly quick which is what we lack in the M/F at present.

 

[mattsmob]

I know Fages said something along the lines of him moving to the M/F prior to the start of the year but I'm not sold on the idea myself.

He seems an out and out strong defensive player to me who's important to our back 6 and I'm not sure he's overly quick which is what we lack in the M/F at present.

Agreed, I still think we've got multiple guys that are better options to get mid-time into at present.

 

[JasRulz63]

 

[briztoon]

First time I’ve seen him without his shoulder strapped.

 

[mattsmob]

First time I’ve seen him without his shoulder strapped.

Noticed that as well, ended up watching the first half and his hands in tight are a lot quicker and cleaner than I was thinking before that game.

 

[Nunez]

Noticed that as well, ended up watching the first half and his hands in tight are a lot quicker and cleaner than I was thinking before that game.

He will thrive learning alongside Neale.

 

[briztoon]

2022 NAB League Boys Player of the Week: Round 2

Sandringham Dragons skipper Will Ashcroft is our NAB League Player of the Week for Round 2. Lions fans, take note.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Gadzorks]

It will be a hard decision to nominate Brisbane. Every club will be offering the world to him. That might help us - too much pressure, and just wants to get on with winning his first Brownlow.

Just like his mentor Lachie Neale. And we know the club that had the system and culture to make that happen.

 

[CarterS]

Stating the obvious here, but it will be a massive disappointment if we don't get him!

 

[M Malice]

Even at this early stage it's almost certain Will Ashcroft will be one of the top few rated players come draft night, Will has said he feels like Victoria is a 2nd home for him, as others on here have suggested fingers crossed SA, WA and NSW teams dominate the lower reaches of the ladder come the end of the season.

18th Power
17th Eagles
16th Crows

 

[trikster]

Even at this early stage it's almost certain Will Ashcroft will be one of the top few rated players come draft night, Will has said he feels like Victoria is a 2nd home for him, as others on here have suggested fingers crossed SA, WA and NSW teams dominate the lower reaches of the ladder come the end of the season.

18th Power
17th Eagles
16th Crows

I would predict 18th crows, 17th Norf, 16th Hawks. So he could roll the dice, but I'd be disappointed if he didn't nominate us given how many free hits the vic clubs get of F/S's

 

[Tom14]

I feel pretty comfortable about things if North is bottom 3 - they look so so bad and are a very small club by victorian standards. Hopefully Hawks, Pies, bombers win enough games to be out of the bottom 4.

A bottom 4 of West Coast, Adelaide, North and one other (hopefully GC) makes things pretty clearcut.

 

[spotthedog1]

Daicos slipped last year as a father son. If I viewed both Vic and QLD as homes, and preferred to be at either, and your bottom 6 looks like:

Adelaide, North, Gold Coast, Hawks, West Coast, Collingwood

You can take Brisbane locked in, OR
You can have a 50/50 shot at Vic, a chance at GC, and a 1/3 chance at elsewhere...

Even if I liked the idea of the Pies and had a minor preference there, a 1/6 chance? Compared to a certainty of an acceptable option like Brisbane? Nup. Lock it in Eddie.

 

[Obeanie1]

I'd reckon the lions would have already spoken to young Ashcroft outlining his path into our best 22. Letting him know what expectations are, how the evolution of the midfield will go. He probably knows how and when he will fit in, and that it's probably not going to be in his first year (barring long term injuries and any unforeseen trade requests). So it's a question for him, whether he is happy to grow and learn for a year or two in the seconds, or, whether he wants to go to a weak side and get an instant start. Whether he wants to wait 5 or 6+ years for a shot at finals, longer for a flag, or, come to a club where long term success is already on the cards.

To be honest, I don't think it's the end of the world if he doesn't take the f/s option. It would be great that's for sure but not pivotal. We have Devrob n Tunstill in the wings and our drafting team will continue to do their job to the high standards they have already set. Plenty of good kids out there. I won't be losing any sleep over him that's for sure. Although I will be very excited should he Iand at the club.

Just on the timing on clubs challenging. That doesnt happen for more than 4 to 5 years before father time and the salary cap catching up with the squad.

How many years did Richmond dominate? 4 to 5.

Brisbane has been contending for the past two seasons. This is the 3rd. How many more years do you expect this Lions squad to stay top 4? Two years? Longer?

Good clubs refresh and rebuild quicker than others.

 

[martinson]

I feel pretty comfortable about things if North is bottom 3 - they look so so bad and are a very small club by victorian standards. Hopefully Hawks, Pies, bombers win enough games to be out of the bottom 4.

A bottom 4 of West Coast, Adelaide, North and one other (hopefully GC) makes things pretty clearcut.

I'd say his mind's already made up Tom. The only risk being a big Melbourne club gets in a position to take him and they throw the kitchen sink at him. He's lived in Qld and Vic. Can't see him wanting to go anywhere else but there . He's got a clear path into the M/F in our team because he's exactly what we need . Good coaching set up. Lots of young successful team mates to learn off.

It seems we're confident of him coming here. A lot can happen between now and then. So worry about it when the time comes.

 

[briztoon]

Just on the timing on clubs challenging. That doesnt happen for more than 4 to 5 years before father time and the salary cap catching up with the squad.

How many years did Richmond dominate? 4 to 5.

Brisbane has been contending for the past two seasons. This is the 3rd. How many more years do you expect this Lions squad to stay top 4? Two years? Longer?

Good clubs refresh and rebuild quicker than others.

Two years. Unless we have more Lachie Neale and Joe Daniher type deals lined up.

I believe we’ll struggle to rebuild our midfield and key forward stocks, unless we get lucky at the draft.

We were down the bottom for three years, and have only nailed one of those very top end picks, and hit on two others.

Our trading has certainly been just as important as our drafting.

 

[JasRulz63]

Just on the timing on clubs challenging. That doesnt happen for more than 4 to 5 years before father time and the salary cap catching up with the squad.

How many years did Richmond dominate? 4 to 5.

Brisbane has been contending for the past two seasons. This is the 3rd. How many more years do you expect this Lions squad to stay top 4? Two years? Longer?

Good clubs refresh and rebuild quicker than others.

I think this year and next year (possibly the year after at a stretch depending on how some key players age) is probably the peak of where our list will be at before we drop back a bit.

Richmond dominated from 2017 onwards, but they did finish just outside the top 4 in 2013 and 2015 leading into that run.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Just on the timing on clubs challenging. That doesnt happen for more than 4 to 5 years before father time and the salary cap catching up with the squad.

How many years did Richmond dominate? 4 to 5.

Brisbane has been contending for the past two seasons. This is the 3rd. How many more years do you expect this Lions squad to stay top 4? Two years? Longer?

Good clubs refresh and rebuild quicker than others.

We're probably at the point the Tigers were in 2016/2017 contending but not yet dominating. So we could have another 3 or so years after this. Most teams contend for a few years before breaking through

 

[briztoon]

We're probably at the point the Tigers were in 2016/2017 contending but not yet dominating. So we could have another 3 or so years after this. Most teams contend for a few years before breaking through

Except we’ve run in to the juggernaut that will be Melbourne.

 

[Obeanie1]

We're probably at the point the Tigers were in 2016/2017 contending but not yet dominating. So we could have another 3 or so years after this. Most teams contend for a few years before breaking through

Richmond werent contending before 2017, they were close to a basket case. Picked up a couple of free agents and everything clicked.

Lions could have made the GF for the past two years. Another 3 years including this one I expect the Lions will be very close. Thats 5 years top 4 contending in a row.


Which Lions players will be retired or close to it in 2024? Zorko, Rich, Robinson any others?

Lions like Geelong do have anadvantge attracting free agents. That may help extending the window.

 

[briztoon]

Richmond werent contending before 2017, they were close to a basket case. Picked up a couple of free agents and everything clicked.

Lions could have made the GF for the past two years. Another 3 years including this one I expect the Lions will be very close. Thats 5 years top 4 contending in a row.


Which Lions players will be retired or close to it in 2024? Zorko, Rich, Robinson any others?

Lions like Geelong do have anadvantge attracting free agents. That may help extending the window.

I expect this is Robinson’s last year.

Injury is the key for Zorko, but I can see next year probably being his last.

Rich is a different scenario, as his game doesn’t relay on speed or athleticism, but rather skills and his boot. As long as he can still kick it 60m, I can see him in the team for another 2 or 3 year’s.

But we potentially already have replacements for all 3 on the list, or potentially arriving this draft.

It’s the next group of players that will turn 30 in two years time that may be harder to replace.

Lyons is 30 this year. Neale, McCarthy and Adams are 30 next year. With Daniher, Cameron and McInerney turning 30 in 2024.

Now 30 isn’t necessarily the age when players are phased out, but you start to look for signs that they are slowing down or unable to contribute at the same level.

 

[Tom14]

Richmond werent contending before 2017, they were close to a basket case. Picked up a couple of free agents and everything clicked.

Lions could have made the GF for the past two years. Another 3 years including this one I expect the Lions will be very close. Thats 5 years top 4 contending in a row.


Which Lions players will be retired or close to it in 2024? Zorko, Rich, Robinson any others?

Lions like Geelong do have anadvantge attracting free agents. That may help extending the window.

That is pretty much the list - Jarryd Lyons will be in his early 30s at that point and maybe he declines a bit, but otherwise by 2024 Neale (if we extend him/he stays) and McCarthy would be 30 at the start of the 2024 season and would have a few years left. The entire forward line would be 30 or younger. Rich will probably be the hardest one to replace.

Maybe a few teams overtake us in that time but I can't see us not contending for the 8, unless we have the usual bad run of injuries etc. briztoon is very focused on the fact that we didn't get a petracca or bont type when we had high picks, which is true, but I think we have enough depth and weapons to top up for a few years.