Past #27: Aaron Edwards - drafted w/ #82 in '06 ND - traded to Tiges for #74 in '12 ND - 100 goals @ WCE

[viccles]

I'm happy to give him a 12 month contract and challenge him to make a career for himself. It's not as if we don't have some dead wood on our list and I would put him ahead of 5 blokes already.

Should we really give a place to Perkins, McMahon, Chad Jones, Sansbury or Thurley at his expense? I don't think so.

Agreed!

 

[The Zebra]

100 goals in the VFL.

Plus he would be playing alongside Thommo.

I wouldn't mind getting him, but as with everyone it would have to be low cost.

 

[Z_K]

I would disapointed if we didn't talk to him. He flat out dominated the VFL this year. From what I have seen, his is not capable of playing as a small or tall AFL forward. He is lead and mark from the goalsquare. Mark Williams type. Excellent kick, too.

Would have to be a very, very late ND pick or pre-season draft.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

FWIW, at 22 he's the same age as Chad Jones. Not that old, really, is it?

On the drafts/trading board there are a few WCE people saying he was lazy and flaky and didn't deserve more chances there. I was getting a bad "Shane Harvey" feeling. But thinking about it, I reckon it says a lot for him that after being dropped from AFL he has made such a good fist of the next level of competition - if his main problems were mental, then maybe he's in better shape now than he was.

Worth a punt as a late pick or PSD - depending who else is available in the PSD at pick 3, of course.

 

[apollo_creed]

With Harding sitting in Aisle 18 watching on for this year, Thurley out the door, and Djars a long shot at best... how is this guy not worth a shot as a forward pocket? I can't see him costing us much more than a PSD pick.

yes, but it'd be good if we actually for once used our PSD pick for something decent.

 

[Shinboners]

On the drafts/trading board there are a few WCE people saying he was lazy and flaky and didn't deserve more chances there. I was getting a bad "Shane Harvey" feeling. But thinking about it, I reckon it says a lot for him that after being dropped from AFL he has made such a good fist of the next level of competition - if his main problems were mental, then maybe he's in better shape now than he was.

I think Aaron Davey once played for Port Adelaide Magpies, and a few people who followed that club said that Davey was a very lazy footballer in the SANFL.

Edwards has had once chance and wasted it. He seems to have worked hard to get a second chance, so the chances are that he'll make the most of a second go.

Worth a punt as a late pick or PSD - depending who else is available in the PSD at pick 3, of course.

I wouldn't lose too much sleep if we used a late pick or PSD pick on him.

 

[apollo_creed]

what is with Laidley, the West Coast Eagles and Western Australia?

There are other areas you know Laidley, and if we assess it, most of the players Laidley has picked up from that region have been failures (apart from the two obvious ones), and have wasted our time and list space.

It seems to me every year we're after another Western Australian.

It'd be pleasing if we actually sent our scouts to parts other than Western Australia, it hasn't worked yet so it's time for a change, eh?

 

[Arden]

what is with Laidley, the West Coast Eagles and Western Australia?

There are other areas you know Laidley, and if we assess it, most of the players Laidley has picked up from that region have been failures (apart from the two obvious ones), and have wasted our time and list space.

It seems to me every year we're after another Western Australian.

It'd be pleasing if we actually sent our scouts to parts other than Western Australia, it hasn't worked yet so it's time for a change, eh?

Didn't you support Fremantle last week?

 

[Hearts to hearts]

what is with Laidley, the West Coast Eagles and Western Australia?

There are other areas you know Laidley, and if we assess it, most of the players Laidley has picked up from that region have been failures (apart from the two obvious ones), and have wasted our time and list space.

It seems to me every year we're after another Western Australian.

It'd be pleasing if we actually sent our scouts to parts other than Western Australia, it hasn't worked yet so it's time for a change, eh?

This guy is playing in the Frankston area of WA, so the scouts didn't have to fly too far.

Last week or two there has been plenty of talk that the WCE get a great run with their drafting and rookies because no-one else is stuffed looking carefully enough at young WA talent. If we get more of it than our share through Laidley's contacts that's fine by me.

 

[apollo_creed]

This guy is playing in the Frankston area of WA, so the scouts didn't have to fly too far.

Last week or two there has been plenty of talk that the WCE get a great run with their drafting and rookies because no-one else is stuffed looking carefully enough at young WA talent. If we get more of it than our share through Laidley's contacts that's fine by me.

yeah but he was originally from the West Coast.

My point is we seem to recruit/go after alot of players with a Western Australian connection. Even Hay falls under that category.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

yeah but he was originally from the West Coast.

My point is we seem to recruit/go after alot of players with a Western Australian connection. Even Hay falls under that category.

I'm aware of that...

Long bow to say Hay shouldn't have been chosen because he was once from WA. Of all the reasons we could have used to overlook him, this would be the most pointless.

My point is that WA is a footy state and we'd be derelict not to choose players from there. Maybe Marstermind or someone can do the research when they have time, but I'd guess a) we have as many hits as misses getting in ex-WA guys, and b) our strike rate would be no worse there than for players from any other football state.

Case by case. I wouldn't knock Pavlich or Judd back, for instance. I woudn't recruit McManus but that's not because of where he comes from. If Edwards is under consideration, it's because he has just kicked 100 goals and been named the best player in the VFL. The Eagles/WA connection is now irrelevant.

 

[The Zebra]

yeah but he was originally from the West Coast.

My point is we seem to recruit/go after alot of players with a Western Australian connection. Even Hay falls under that category.

Is this a joke??

If it isn't - we have Wells, Swallow, Riggio, Le Cras, Jones, Green and Hay who originally hail from WA on our list.

7 out of 40. One is our best player, the other was a steal in last year's draft and a young gun.

One has yet to be tried but is very young and looks OK.

Le Cras is gone, Jones is teetering but still could make it and Green gave solid performances in his first year.

Hay is Hay

If for every 7 guys we get from WA we get a Wells, Swallow, Green and Riggio - i would be pretty happy.

If you are talking about the WA connection, then Brown, Sinclair and McConnell get added to the list. Makes it even stronger.

 

[Wild Kangaroo]

Acording to the Herald Sun this morning the Kangas have already contacted Edwards. I thought we would have learned our lesson on mature age recruits.
I must say, however, I haven't seen much of him.
I wonder what pick would be needed to take him in the draft? Might be worth a risk if its a fourth or fifth rounder?

Id take him in a heart beat.
Strong, can take a grab, good kick, kicked the ton for Frankston this year.
Him and Muscles Thommo in the forward line together, might be something to look forward to.
Always sort of hoped in the back of mind if this guy goes into the darft, North get him.
He's originally from Seaford near Frankston.

 

[windsock]

what is with Laidley, the West Coast Eagles and Western Australia?

There are other areas you know Laidley, and if we assess it, most of the players Laidley has picked up from that region have been failures (apart from the two obvious ones), and have wasted our time and list space.

It seems to me every year we're after another Western Australian.

It'd be pleasing if we actually sent our scouts to parts other than Western Australia, it hasn't worked yet so it's time for a change, eh?

Someone call our travel agent and get them to block Nev's flights to Perth. Think of the savings!

 

[micky_11]

I think this guy is worth a punt, at 22 and kicking 100 goals in VFL which is still a high standard of football, what have we got to loose, harding is out for a year, he could come straight into the team and play his role, or we can just sit him in the goal square and he can kick goals from there from when it misses thommos hands, i would use a late National draft pick on him, because anyone we got late would be younger and not as strong and would be out of the side from maybe a year and a half, so why not give this guy a go, and put him in. He looks the goods

 

[giantroo]

Get him. Could be useful to our forward now that Thurley and Harding are gone. Ill only get him either through a very late draft pick or PSD.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Originally Posted by Wild Kangaroo
Id take him in a heart beat.
Strong, can take a grab, good kick, kicked the ton for Frankston this year.
Him and Muscles Thommo in the forward line together, might be something to look forward to.
Always sort of hoped in the back of mind if this guy goes into the darft, North get him.
He's originally from Seaford near Frankston.

I agree. I was actually surprised we didn't take him 12 months ago. He's obviously wised up and is no longer the immature bloke West Coast saw him to be.

Anyone who saw his first quarter he played last year against the Tigers at "the 'G" would've been impressed.

You beat me to it on the "he's originally from Seaford" front too WK. He's a Victorian, just like McConnell, Brown and Sinkers and, whilst it's well known that Laids has a love for all things Eagle raised, he's back home now.

Very happy to hear that we may shoot him a life line

At the very least he's another from the West Coast weights program who has massive arms. He could show a few others how he got them to be so ripped. I sometimes wonder if the Weagles have an East German heading their strength and conditioning program because they're always looking much stronger physically than our players generally speaking.

T'toes

 

[MAD-ROO]

I sometimes wonder if the Weagles have an East German heading their strength and conditioning program because they're always looking much stronger physically than our players generally speaking.

T'toes

Nah,just a few vile's and needles

 

[Twinkletoes]

Originally Posted by MAD-ROO
Nah,just a few vile's and needles

Which is exactly what my East German reference was inferring M-R.

Seriously, they make our players look like schoolboy footballers.

T'toes

 

[sbdan]

GET HIM! I've watched a few Frankston game & this bloke is v. good.

He'd be great, just what we need. One of these smaller types that plays tall & very hard to stop in the forward line.

I'm an Urch fan & I think they would play similar roles. But if Urch doesn't make the cut, Edwards would be in.

and this is the only "mature age" (he's still quite young) we should consider!!!

 

[mark73]

I'm aware of that...

I wasn't.Edwards is a Victorian.Was recruited to the Eagles from Dandenong U/18 and grew up in Seaford.Playing for Frankston this year was just a case of him going home.Would have to be THE last pick for me.

 

[RoyalBlue]

yes, but it'd be good if we actually for once used our PSD pick for something decent.

Like cupido or woewodin?

Pot Thurley all you like, but I can't see us finishing any higher this year with either of those two.

 

[The Zebra]

Does anyone know how tall he is?

He is 184cm.

As a comparison,

Matthew Robbins 178cm
Mark Williams 180cm
Russel Robertson 187cm
Brad Johnson 182cm

 

[giantroo]

He is 184cm.

As a comparison,

Matthew Robbins 178cm
Mark Williams 180cm
Russel Robertson 187cm
Brad Johnson 182cm

I hope we take a punt on him!

 

[Z_K]

My only hope is that if we do want him, we set clear boundaries re his worth and don't freak out if we hear a rumour that another club is interested, blink and pay over the odds.

If he is available at a reasonable cost, fine. If not, deal with it and move on. Laids blinks too early.