Player Watch #49 Kaleb Smith - Re-Signed for 2025

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From memory Bolton was similar in that regard
One of, if not the youngest drafted in his crop hence why it took a little longer before he established himself in the 22
Bolton was young in his draft year but To use him as a comparison is crazy. Bolton was expected to go first round but luckily fell to us. I watched him gun it in champs games, plus the all Aussie game played on GF eve at Punt road. He showed he was capable nearly straight away. The only reason it took time for him to get regular games was because he was a light weight, not his age.
 
Bolton was young in his draft year but To use him as a comparison is crazy. Bolton was expected to go first round but luckily fell to us. I watched him gun it in champs games, plus the all Aussie game played on GF eve at Punt road. He showed he was capable nearly straight away. The only reason it took time for him to get regular games was because he was a light weight, not his age.

You sure
 

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The Freighter, Fraser Turner, was also very young in his year and sadly never kicked on.

Was unlucky (along to a lesser degree with Luke English) that his rookie deal ran out the same time COVID hit and list sizes were reduced.

Not to say he would have made it if he was kept on the list, but would have had an extra 12-24 months of development within an AFL program.

Bolton was young in his draft year but To use him as a comparison is crazy. Bolton was expected to go first round but luckily fell to us. I watched him gun it in champs games, plus the all Aussie game played on GF eve at Punt road. He showed he was capable nearly straight away. The only reason it took time for him to get regular games was because he was a light weight, not his age.

Not sure he was expected to go round one. Had the talent for it but for memory there was a massive ‘go home’ factor associated with Bolton.

Also we had a pretty handy team in 2017 which probably didn’t help him breaking into the team…
 
I remember in Cal Twomey's draft wrap that he thought Bolton went about where he thought he would but with also stated that Botlon's upside was so high that he could be just about the best player of the draft. In that respect I guess he slid.
 
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Was unlucky (along to a lesser degree with Luke English) that his rookie deal ran out the same time COVID hit and list sizes were reduced.

Not to say he would have made it if he was kept on the list, but would have had an extra 12-24 months of development within an AFL program.



Not sure he was expected to go round one. Had the talent for it but for memory there was a massive ‘go home’ factor associated with Bolton.

Also we had a pretty handy team in 2017 which probably didn’t help him breaking into the team…

He was seen as top 10 for talent, but slight and fairly average in attitude. So Shai slid like many talented but perceived flaky players. Turns out we've done a good job on developing him.

You win some you lose some in taking those sliding types. E.g. RCD only starting to show the good stuff in the VFL as we pick up 2 top end GWS mids > Goodbye. If we can pick a slider type each year and get one in 3 right we get 3 or 4 A graders over a decade. Not enough to build a premiership around, but enough for the basis of some good trading and FAs, and hoping a later pick is a blockbuster and => premiership squad. That's how we stay up, in theory.
 
He was seen as top 10 for talent, but slight and fairly average in attitude. So Shai slid like many talented but perceived flaky players. Turns out we've done a good job on developing him.

You win some you lose some in taking those sliding types. E.g. RCD only starting to show the good stuff in the VFL as we pick up 2 top end GWS mids > Goodbye. If we can pick a slider type each year and get one in 3 right we get 3 or 4 A graders over a decade. Not enough to build a premiership around, but enough for the basis of some good trading and FAs, and hoping a later pick is a blockbuster and => premiership squad. That's how we stay up, in theory.

Afl website mock draft had him at 30, so didn't really slide
 
Afl website mock draft had him at 30, so didn't really slide

Yep, but the reason he was around 30 was his build and perceived attitude, not talent. When he came to us we made him earn the right to play AFL. Built his body and mentality really well.

Lots of very talented players who have the wrong attitude or physical traits. They slide because of the risk of failure.
 
Yep, but the reason he was around 30 was his build and perceived attitude, not talent. When he came to us we made him earn the right to play AFL. Built his body and mentality really well.

Lots of very talented players who have the wrong attitude or physical traits. They slide because of the risk of failure.
Bolton’s attitude was never in question. He was light but worked hard and was super talented. It was just the fact he was slight in build. After watching him at PRO, I was jumping round like an excited child. I knew we’d snagged a gun.
 

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Bolton’s attitude was never in question. He was light but worked hard and was super talented. It was just the fact he was slight in build. After watching him at PRO, I was jumping round like an excited child. I knew we’d snagged a gun.

This is the wrong thread.

But, when drafted Shai he was seen as not the most dedicated guy. in his early time at the club we worked hard on his maturity. So nothing evil about him, just that he was seen as immature and therefore risky. Put another way he was a more like a normal 18 year old than the top 10 guys.

Kaleb seems to be a dedicated person who will leave no stone unturned. So hope we've got a good one here
 
Not sure why but i get the Jordan Clark vibe about Kaleb
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Bolton was young in his draft year but To use him as a comparison is crazy. Bolton was expected to go first round but luckily fell to us. I watched him gun it in champs games, plus the all Aussie game played on GF eve at Punt road. He showed he was capable nearly straight away. The only reason it took time for him to get regular games was because he was a light weight, not his age.
I remember that game at Punt Road clearly. He was running down the wing like a gazelle i thought he looked magnificent albeit very skinny at the time.
 

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Player Watch #49 Kaleb Smith - Re-Signed for 2025

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