Player Watch Aiden Begg (Delisted 2024)

[swoop42]

His secondary efforts and ground level work were fantastic for a young tall in his first game but as expected he was mauled in the ruck by a massive unit in Witts.

He did really well to finish with 15 disposals from only 55% TOG.

Now though as the season progresses and we come up against stronger opposition I want to see him gradually being used up forward for larger periods each week and we see that time on the pine lessen.

And why wouldn't we given we have entered games with all of Grundy, Cameron, Krueger and Mihocek in the 22?

Potentially Begg could fill a KP role up forward or back in coming seasons but for now we have a young player who has already shown he's not a liability when the ball hits the ground and one who appears to have a natural competitive streak that'll pressure defenders.

Hopefully McRae trials him deep forward at stages tomorrow, keeps the instructions simple and he can use that vertical leap to at least halve some aerial contests and keep the Richmond defenders honest.

 

[Jen2310]

55% TOG

McRae's comments highlighted this with his 15 disposals.

It felt like a very Hardwick-esque move to concede the hitouts but improve ground level competitiveness.

I think I need to change my perception of the role a bit to appreciate it.

Still I think if that's to be sustainable longer term he must be better in the hitouts to be accountable.

I agree with the idea of developing him as a key back though suspect he needs to improve overhead for that.

His hitouts will increase the more he physically develops. I'm not worried about that aspect. The more confidence he gets, he can use his leap.
Just will learn to time his jumps as he gets more exposure to different rucks.

 

[Mark W]

To have a 6'6 key position/ruck brilliant at ground level is amazing.

10 years of watching Josh Fraser tells me it’s only amazing if said key/position ruck is also brilliant at what key position/ rucks are meant to be good at: winning hit outs, splitting packs and taking big contested marks.

 

[Jen2310]

10 years of watching Josh Fraser tells me it’s only amazing if said key/position ruck is also brilliant at what key position/ rucks are meant to be good at: winning hit outs, splitting packs and taking big contested marks.

Footy has changed in that time. Some rucks pose as an extra midfielder, which is around the ground work is very important. As we know hit outs mean very little. Contested marking will definitely come as he develops physically.

 

[gouki88]

10 years of watching Josh Fraser tells me it’s only amazing if said key/position ruck is also brilliant at what key position/ rucks are meant to be good at: winning hit outs, splitting packs and taking big contested marks.

By that definition ruckmen such as Grundy, Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox weren't "amazing", given their lack of marking and/or pack splitting

 

[RonMcKeown]

To have a 6'6 key position/ruck brilliant at ground level is amazing.

From what you’ve seen could he potentially challenge for Madge’s spit in the backline?

 

[Jen2310]

From what you’ve seen could he potentially challenge for Madge’s spit in the backline?

Thats not the plan at this stage. We have McMahon training in that posiiton at the same height as Begg, as it stands.

 

[Bianconeri]

Thats not the plan at this stage. We have McMahon training in that posiiton at the same height as Begg, as it stands.

McMahon plays more like Moore and Howe at this stage. Begg has that little extra competitiveness that makes him a more viable lockdown defender.

 

[Jen2310]

McMahon plays more like Moore and Howe at this stage. Begg has that little extra competitiveness that makes him a more viable lockdown defender.

He does have an agression that not everyone has.

 

[Gone Critical]

Impressive first 2 games. Finding the ball is great. At 197cm it will probably be hard to have a real future in the ruck and he hasnt shown any forward ability yet, which is the biggest asset a tall can have and hardest to find so I hope they are giving some consideration to development as a tall back. It looks the role he is most likely to thrive in.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

From what you’ve seen could he potentially challenge for Madge’s spit in the backline?

I’ve heard many suggest that Madge offers very little, so I’d hate to think what Madge’s spit is worth.

On-topic, we should be hoping that Ruscoe can take over Madge’s spot, with Dean the medium term Roughead heir.

 

[rand corp]

His form so far has been encouraging and would expect incremental improvement throughout the year, whether that's in the AFL or the VFL.

 

[sideswipe]

I’ve heard many suggest that Madge offers very little, so I’d hate to think what Madge’s spit is worth.

On-topic, we should be hoping that Ruscoe can take over Madge’s spot, with Dean the medium term Roughead heir.

Would have to do the old, "you split, I pick" to ensure things are close to 50/50 as possible.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Would have to do the old, "you split, I pick" to ensure things are close to 50/50 as possible.

Solomon was a wise dude.

 

[Jen2310]

I’ve heard many suggest that Madge offers very little, so I’d hate to think what Madge’s spit is worth.

On-topic, we should be hoping that Ruscoe can take over Madge’s spot, with Dean the medium term Roughead heir.

Possible. Or even the Howe replacement.

 

[sr36]

Impressive first 2 games. Finding the ball is great. At 197cm it will probably be hard to have a real future in the ruck and he hasnt shown any forward ability yet, which is the biggest asset a tall can have and hardest to find so I hope they are giving some consideration to development as a tall back. It looks the role he is most likely to thrive in.

At the moment he's shown he's a good competitor with good small man skills for his height. He's not yet strong enough nor really shown he can read the ball flight well enough to be a kpp yet. Hopefully it comes.

 

[Gone Critical]

At the moment he's shown he's a good competitor with good small man skills for his height. He's not yet strong enough nor really shown he can read the ball flight well enough to be a kpp yet. Hopefully it comes.

Agree. He has shown some good traits but not really in the area that would help his as a forward follower. Still he was impressive enough overall. At best at 197 cm he could be a part time ruck and the chances of him being a good tall forward are much less than back. With his athleticism and ability to find the ball developing as a key back seems a chance.

 

[sr36]

Agree. He has shown some good traits but not really in the area that would help his as a forward follower. Still he was impressive enough overall. At best at 197 cm he could be a part time ruck and the chances of him being a good tall forward are much less than back. With his athleticism and ability to find the ball developing as a key back seems a chance.

Don't disagree. He's a good prospect, who should develop the body and skills, but who knows if he'll develop the reading of the game and the ball flight. Like most talls his career probably lives or dies on that. Although with his leap, it's not out of the question that he does become a genuine ruck whose extra string is follow up work. He's the same height as Ryder.

 

[Markfs]

One thing that I like about Aiden that I never saw with the irishmen or will kelly

20

Will Kelly

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.0

1star

K

4.0

2star

HB

1.0

1star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

MG

108.0

2star

D

5.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

1.0

1star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

MG

108.0

2star

D

5.0

1star

K

4.0

2star

HB

1.0

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

108.0

2star

, is that he's fast thinking in a footy sense. There's been quite a few occasions when he has given or received handballs in the centre square and he has done pretty well. THe other thing is that he seems to have good hands. He doesnt seem to fumble when he gets the ball - from what i've seen. I'm sort of "over it" seeing "developing" pie players who dont show much talent in these areas.

 

[Mark W]

By that definition ruckmen such as Grundy, Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox weren't "amazing", given their lack of marking and/or pack splitting

Im not quite sure what Cox is doing on that list. He had a good all round ruck game and was a decent contested mark as well as being competitive in the whiteouts, but I think you are over interpreting what I said. Im not saying they need to have all 3 in the locker, but they at least need some big man traits and Grundy and NicNat are great at a ruck mans primary role, winning tap outs

 

[Mark W]

Footy has changed in that time. Some rucks pose as an extra midfielder, which is around the ground work is very important. As we know hit outs mean very little. Contested marking will definitely come as he develops physically.

I disagree with this quite strongly. I think its lovely to have a ruck capable of playing as an extra midfielder - but only if he is also good at big man things, like rucking. NicNat doesn't play as an extra midfielder, neither does Nankervis, neither does Wittsy - its nice to have, but its not necessary to be a good AFL ruckman - being good in the ruck is necessary though... This aspect of the game hasn't changed. indeed we saw this on Saturday. Richmond are not a great clearance team. Minus 32 in clearances, ranked a lowly 17th in clearances, and yet they were able to beat us, a higher ranked team, in clearances, largely cause they dominated the ruck. Im not saying winning the ruck is the be all and end all and of course there are examples where ruck dominance doesn't correlate with clearances. But lets put it this way, roving to a losing ruck is kind of like running up a 1% gradient....Its much easier to run downhill

As for Beggy, yes plenty of time for him, but I reiterate, its lovely that he is showing some good small man stuff, winning the ball at ground level etc, it would be even more lovely and exciting when he starts showing the big man stuff

 

[Jen2310]

I disagree with this quite strongly. I think its lovely to have a ruck capable of playing as an extra midfielder - but only if he is also good at big man things, like rucking. NicNat doesn't play as an extra midfielder, neither does Nankervis, neither does Wittsy - its nice to have, but its not necessary to be a good AFL ruckman - being good in the ruck is necessary though... This aspect of the game hasn't changed. indeed we saw this on Saturday. Richmond are not a great clearance team. Minus 32 in clearances, ranked a lowly 17th in clearances, and yet they were able to beat us, a higher ranked team, in clearances, largely cause they dominated the ruck. Im not saying winning the ruck is the be all and end all and of course there are examples where ruck dominance doesn't correlate with clearances. But lets put it this way, roving to a losing ruck is kind of like running up a 1% gradient....Its much easier to run downhill

As for Beggy, yes plenty of time for him, but I reiterate, its lovely that he is showing some good small man stuff, winning the ball at ground level etc, it would be even more lovely and exciting when he starts showing the big man stuff

He is 19. Not sure how you are expecting him to dominate men tbh. So he is playing to his strengths; his aggression, compeitiveness and athleticism for the time being until he gets stronger, which will take a couple seasons.

 

[TradeDraft]

Impressive first 2 games. Finding the ball is great. At 197cm it will probably be hard to have a real future in the ruck and he hasnt shown any forward ability yet, which is the biggest asset a tall can have and hardest to find so I hope they are giving some consideration to development as a tall back. It looks the role he is most likely to thrive in.

Bit hard to get good up Forward when they just play him in the Ruck - Though should play at least sometime Forward

 

[Mark W]

He is 19. Not sure how you are expecting him to dominate men tbh.

Now you are putting words into my mouth I dont expect him to dominate men at all, the difference in our opinions is I dont get excited by big men who show great small man traits unless they also show great big man traits. I quite agree his small man traits look exceptional for a big man, I just dont think its all that important. I learnt my lesson from Josh Fraser who also showed terrific small man traits, great recovery, terrific below the knees, elite athleticism and footy smarts. Circa 2002 I thought he was going to be an out and out star. The problem is he never ever developed great big man traits

So he is playing to his strengths; his aggression, compeitiveness and athleticism for the time being until he gets stronger, which will take a couple seasons.

Agreed, he is doing remarkably well for a raw skinny kid who in my opinion was elevated before he was ready. He definitely has potential, and lets hope 2 or 3 years down the track he is showing some good big man traits, competitive in the hitouts and clunking some big marks

 

[Mark W]

Bit hard to get good up Forward when they just play him in the Ruck - Though should play at least sometime Forward

Agree. FWIW, I thought he showed a bit up forward in his brief stints on Saturday