Ashley Watson

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C

Cam Crognale

Draftee
Jan 29, 2003
13
0
Other Teams
Kangaroos
Goes along quietly at training, doesn't say much. However he hasn't gone unnoticed to me. This kid has some real potential. l know Brisbane were very keen on the kid. Is still only 18, but is a very smart operater. Has a beautiful long kick, knows how to assess a situation and deliver the right option most times. He surprised me last year with how cleanly he handled the ball. Has a very quick handball in pack situations. Has excellent endurance and speed, not to mention a very strong mark. Grew in confidence as season went on last year. Seems to learn quickly. We will see more of this kids potential this year.
Has definately grown 1-2 centimetres (should be roughly 186cm now) and has put a little weight on. However this will still be a learning season in the V.F.L, but would'nt be surprised if played in 2 or 3 games this season. Overall is doing well, just needs to physical mature and harden up.
 
hmmmmmm i've been hearing a couple of reports like this, but when i saw a game he played (which i must admit was the only one i saw so it's a bit harsh to judge) but what I gathered from that game was that he lacked intensity and couldn't get near the ball....could just be me tho
 

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All this kid needs is a body that can handle AFL footy and he will be special. Oozes class, and is a very nice mover. Saw him display alot of nice qualities last year. Will probably never be a hard-at-it Adam Simpson type, but he still knows how to get a ball in traffic and use it quickly and cleanly.

Last year he showed a knack to be able to find that link spot between the center and CHF and be on the end of a Harris or Smith dish off after they'd won the contested hard ball, and he'd gather it amongst opposition heat, take a step sideways which looked very natural and then feed off very smartly by hand to a running player, or kick around his body and almost always put it to one of our forwards' advantage.

He also has a suprisingly penetrating kick for one built so slithe and converted more than a few nice goals on the run from around 50.

On the negative, i often saw him easily pushed off the contest and lose his feet, but its worth considering that he was 17 and built like pubic hair! With the necessary body development (he already has filled out noticeably compared to last year - still isnt huge though) he looks to have everything else to suggest no reason he cant be a very good wingman. The Scott Camporeale comparisons are very valid from what i've seen.
 
Agreed. Pace, skill, excellent disposal, just needs to bulk up a bit. I was very keen to see this bloke after King Corey's intitial assessment that he had a running style of a "three legged lesbian rabbit".
Sorry KC, but I don't think I'll ever forget that comment. ***** funny.:D
 
thanks for the report,
I saw him in a couple of mks games and other than the tiny body shape was quite impressed.
obviously highly rated due to his early drafting i am looking forward to his development.
with majority focus on wells hale d motlop harris and smith ect if this kid can step up over the next 2 years i see it as a major bonus for the roos
 
Originally posted by Passmore
I was very keen to see this bloke after King Corey's intitial assessment that he had a running style of a "three legged lesbian rabbit".
Sorry KC, but I don't think I'll ever forget that comment. ***** funny.:D
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Ah yes, King Corey and his bitter and twisted view of the world (or our recruiting staff at least!! ;) )

Far be it for me to speak on his behalf, but from memory he was just dark because we passed over Brent Harvey's brother Shane. Apart from the fact that there might be a possibility he might end up even half as good as his brother (and the bond/loyalty etc factor would have been nice considering our recent history at that stage of dud recruits who last 2 or 3 years before heading home), at that stage he seemed to offer our squad a very different type of player (tallish, quick, skillful etc etc) and he (and i) just couldnt understand why we'd go for a kid who looked like he was going to take 3 or more years before even being close to playing senior footy (admittedly based on body shape more than anything) and didnt seem to offer too much different to what we had.

I'm more than happy to admit i was wrong on this kid (so far).
 
The first game I saw him play he looked very timid. He moved well, and his kicking action was flawless, but he was easily intimidated and pushed off the footy.

Although his body shape didn't change all that much during the year, he was a differen't player come finals. He was no psychotic crazy pr1ck by any means, but there was a resiliance there. It is impressive to see a 70 kilo 17yo drag Scott Cummings of Rod Crowe in a final, and give him a spray. He would have urinated in his pants in his first few games.

Apart from all that, he is is probably the best field kick at the club. A skinny little bugger shouldn't get that much depth by foot, and he is one to look forward to simply because he can provide an option in the middle you actually want to get the footy going forward. His skill in traffic is also good. Although he is never getting his head bashed in at the bottom of a pack (and never will) he has a knack of getting amongst bodies, and while having excellent feet, has the ability to make excellent decisions in close. I have never seen him actually duck his head or cower from a contest, he is the type of player who will be labelled soft when he carves out a career at North.

In short, I was impressed, more by his change in demeanor and attitude that footy skills, which were there from the start. Will play senior footy, and I would much prefer him in the roles filled by Cochrane and Rawlings last year.
 
Personally i think on the HFF to begin with. Keep him on the "outside" areas until he has a body that could take the harder hits in the "corridor" in senior footy.

Apparently he played alot of junior footy as a half back flanker, but i think we are pretty right for those in our squad ATM.

He will evolve into a wingman who could also play in the middle at times, and down forward. In his first intraclub last year i remember he kicked 4 goals as a forward pocket. All of them were receiver's goals, but he still looked good doing it, and was only 17.
 
Originally posted by tashibatts
Hope he debuts early this season (if he debuts this season at all).. if he played against Essendon I would be very happy.. could see him.. would be sweet.
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I've got a feeling we will see alot of new and not so familiar faces in the Roos guernsey this pre-season. As much as JYD will want to get off to a successful start to his career, i think he has the integrity and confidence to stand by his word of wanting to bring on the young blokes ASAP. No better opportunity than the pre-season comp.
 

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Ashley Watson

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