Delisted #26: Kaine Baldwin - Not offered a contract for 2025, thanks Kaine! 26/8

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 33, Zach Package

 

[fairbump_playon]

Key position debuts for young players are usually pretty poor.

If he kicked that set shot it would have been an even par. Showed a bit.

I will say though.. Doesn’t look very springy or agile which I guess is the expectation post two ACLs. But he’s also not massive enough to just stand like a Hawkins.

 

[eDPS]

Key position debuts for young players are usually pretty poor.

If he kicked that set shot it would have been an even par. Showed a bit.

I will say though.. Doesn’t look very springy or agile which I guess is the expectation post two ACLs. But he’s also not massive enough to just stand like a Hawkins.

Baldwin is a lead up type of player who will need players kicking to his advantage and trusting him to mark it on the lead. It’s going to take time and he will certainly spend more time on the VFL than AFL this year which isn’t a bad thing he just needs a lot of games in general pumped into him

 

[TheGrizz]

The guy just needs as many reps as possible at this point. Looked every bit the player that's played all of 2 practice matches in about 2 years.

Needs to figure out that set shot routine though, cause it wasn't pretty.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

All talk was he's a physical specimen. Looked undersized to half of Geelong's defence.

 

[citizen-erased]

Baldwin is a lead up type of player who will need players kicking to his advantage and trusting him to mark it on the lead. It’s going to take time and he will certainly spend more time on the VFL than AFL this year which isn’t a bad thing he just needs a lot of games in general pumped into him

Jones and Stringer fit and he likely debuts later.
We had zero alternatives but to throw him to the wolves today. hopefully the next few are good for him to understand the pace.

 

[MiguelM]

Jones and Stringer fit and he likely debuts later.
We had zero alternatives but to throw him to the wolves today. hopefully the next few are good for him to understand the pace.

Maybe we could have played Cox as the second target to help him out.

 

[yodellinhank]

All talk was he's a physical specimen. Looked undersized to half of Geelong's defence.

Rather than building his strength I think we need to put him on the rack. Played closer to 192cm than 194.

 

[Vander18]

Rather than building his strength I think we need to put him on the rack. Played closer to 192cm than 194.

Yes. Was surprised by this….looks like a big mid or flanker rather than a genuine KPP. And doesn’t have great reach or spring to compensate.

Early days but that was my first impression.

 

[eDPS]

Some very early crows here

 

[boncer34]

The problem is it was his first real full game in 2 and a bit years.

 

[yodellinhank]

Some very early crows here

Go hard, go early. That's my motto.

 

[yodellinhank]

Also Peter Somerville's ruck strategy.

 

[faible]

Actually thought he did OK for a bloke coming off 2 ACLs and 2 practice games in two years against one of the best defences in the comp.

Plenty to work on for the future, but he's also only playing because we've got 2 x KPF's out injured.

 

[citizen-erased]

Maybe we could have played Cox as the second target to help him out.

yeah, im warming to Wright at FF and relief ruck
Baldwin and Cox as tall targets.

At least until Jones is back.

 

[Ati Tude]

For a guy that has played as little footy as he has and given we were smashed, he did ok. Loved his tackle that led to Martin's 5th goal. Judge him when there is some better supply into the forward line and he has got some games under his belt. Pretty sure he is bigger than Dunstall was too.

 

[Ambrosia]

Obviously you’d expect him to improve still but I’m not sure he’s got the athleticism to be a forward given he isn’t overly tall.

 

[Foxx]

He looks and moves like a veteran that's at the end of his career.
Like others have mentioned. Lacks athleticism and undersized.
The hype from his junior days leads me to think he was big in that age bracket. His knee might has hindered his athleticism after juniors.

 

[boncer34]

He looks and moves like a veteran that's at the end of his career.
Like others have mentioned. Lacks athleticism and undersized.
The hype from his junior days leads me to think he was big in that age bracket. His knee might has hindered his athleticism after juniors.

Is to much to ask to wait for a bigger sample then one competitive hit out in 2 years?

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Tom Stewart is supposed to be 190 and from what I could tell he looked bigger, taller, wider, faster....

 

[Foxx]

Is to much to ask to wait for a bigger sample then one competitive hit out in 2 years?

For overall results no. For initial observations yes.

 

[andleanback]

All talk was he's a physical specimen. Looked undersized to half of Geelong's defence.

Physical specimen for a 20yo key forward.

 

[Duckworth]

Physical specimen for a 20yo key forward.

He should aim to become the big forward at the other end for Geelong. Also started his career as an oversized forward who could monster his opponents, then he started doing it at AFL level (but not in his first year game).

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

I liked what I saw when the ball was in his vicinity. The delivery he got was putrid and the Geelong defence is one of the best in the business so I'd be keen to see how he goes over a stretch of games. Could well have finished with 2 goals if he took his opportunities. Didn't look completely out of place IMO.

 

[Lore]

Debut game post-match interview

Rd 1 | Baldwin post-game

We speak to forward Kaine Baldwin following our round one match against Geelong.

www.essendonfc.com.au

(damn that background music is awful)

 

[ghostdog]

I liked what I saw when the ball was in his vicinity. The delivery he got was putrid and the Geelong defence is one of the best in the business so I'd be keen to see how he goes over a stretch of games. Could well have finished with 2 goals if he took his opportunities. Didn't look completely out of place IMO.

I thought he got better as the game went on. A couple of his tackles were great and showed he wants to be there. He didn't sulk it up because the service was crap. I'm not completely sold on either him or Francis, except that Frank has had a better preseason. Maybe Balls plays VFL this week and gets to kicking some goals.