Analysis Collingwood Almanac 2015

[Saintly Viewed]

Ramsay is rated internally and will surely gain more opportunities next year. Just on talent I find he is much more limited and probably not someone I'd want to play when I have that group to select from. But that's just my personal preference. Though he did well this year to prove he can at least play at the level, so who knows what he can do with further hard work.

Ramsay if I'm picking a back 6, I wouldn't have room to fit him inside my best 10.

I'd very comfortably go with (as my starting 6):
B: Williams Brown Maynard
HB: Scharenberg Marsh Langdon

Marsh many will question as a key defender with people wondering whether he can be a key defender. Personally I think he'd really at CHB create a really nice balance to the back half and provide some otherwise missing run while also having enough strength to go with the key forwards. And Scharenberg also while many who haven't seen him as a junior is another who can play taller and play on key forwards as Marsh can. So I'd back that back six in.
With Toovey, Goldsack, Frost, Oxley those next in line ahead of Ramsay at this point. And Reid to be played forward, though another who could play back if Moore explodes next year.

Ramsay I have in the Toovey/Goldsack category where while smaller. He is similarly a role player. I'd say the same of Sinclair. Fine as a component to a back half. But the impact and completeness of game makes them second tier type options.

In any case. The names we're talking about just illustrates how incredibly deep we go down back if nothing else with cases for any of these guys possible with all of them possessing AFL relevant games.

Scarey my back 6 is the same.

I know you have addressed this but your take on Howe? Esp as it seems ben kenndy will be the swap?

 

[Knightmare]

Scarey my back 6 is the same.

I know you have addressed this but your take on Howe? Esp as it seems ben kenndy will be the swap?

Great minds think alike as they say.

It's just a great mix of youth, and if all those guys can continue to elevate their game. That group can be terrific.

On Howe. I have addressed him on page one. But I'm overall very open to making a move for him. If we get Howe in a trade for Kennedy, even if it's Howe for Kennedy and moving down our second round selection to Melbourne's third round selection. I am very open to that as an upgrade, basically gaining a best 22 player for a depth player.

Howe forward or back can be of usefulness. I'd probably use him up forward with our backline increasingly looking good, but front half probably more so needing another good option more so.

In the air particularly Howe is arguably the best in the competition at specifically that. And production is strong and has always been strong.

I'd class Howe as a best 15 player on our list today if on our list. So he is a worthwhile list addition.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Great minds think alike as they say.

It's just a great mix of youth, and if all those guys can continue to elevate their game. That group can be terrific.

On Howe. I have addressed him on page one. But I'm overall very open to making a move for him. If we get Howe in a trade for Kennedy, even if it's Howe for Kennedy and moving down our second round selection to Melbourne's third round selection. I am very open to that as an upgrade, basically gaining a best 22 player for a depth player.

Howe forward or back can be of usefulness. I'd probably use him up forward with our backline increasingly looking good, but front half probably more so needing another good option more so.

In the air particularly Howe is arguably the best in the competition at specifically that. And production is strong and has always been strong.

I'd class Howe as a best 15 player on our list today if on our list. So he is a worthwhile list addition.

Yes great minds.
Im super keen on march as CHB esp with his pace etc.
I am sold on the idea a fit Reid helps Clike big time!
And we know a fully fit Reid is as good a CHB as any but with our depth, Reid becomes the great support and other option to Cloke. He offers much kore than the smaller Kennedy

So your best 6 forwards would be! Assuming we gather Howe?

 

[Knightmare]

Yes great minds.
Im super keen on march as CHB esp with his pace etc.
I am sold on the idea a fit Reid helps Clike big time!
And we know a fully fit Reid is as good a CHB as any but with our depth, Reid becomes the great support and other option to Cloke. He offers much kore than the smaller Kennedy

So your best 6 forwards would be! Assuming we gather Howe?

My best 22 going into the trade period is:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Darcy Moore Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Jack Crisp Dane Swan
BENCH: Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts Tim Broomhead


Assuming we add Treloar and Howe I'd go with:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Jeremy Howe Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Adam Treloar Dane Swan
BENCH: Jack Crisp Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts

*Basically the additions of Howe and Treloar in the immediate pushes Darcy Moore and Tim Broomhead out. And with form that best group would change. But that's my preferred group. If we get Aish. I'd like Broomhead have him just outside that best 22 going into the year. And again, that can change with form or a big preseason.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

My best 22 going into the trade period is:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Darcy Moore Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Jack Crisp Dane Swan
BENCH: Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts Tim Broomhead


Assuming we add Treloar and Howe I'd go with:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Jeremy Howe Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Adam Treloar Dane Swan
BENCH: Jack Crisp Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts

*Basically the additions of Howe and Treloar in the immediate pushes Darcy Moore and Tim Broomhead out. And with form that best group would change. But that's my preferred group. If we get Aish. I'd like Broomhead have him just outside that best 22 going into the year. And again, that can change with form or a big preseason.

Thank you quite fascinating.
For me i have to have Darcy Moore in, as long as he is going ok, he's a big in for me, just get the games into him.
As always, someone has to be dropped in your 22, with probably (as much as i like him) Witts would be it.
Aishe also gets a gig so again id have to drop one being Fasolo, very unlucky but there you have it.

Nice to have these problems.

Assuming we add Treloar and Howe I'd go with:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom adam treloar Travis Varcoe
HF: Darcy Moore Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Jeremy Howe Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy scott pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: james Aishe Jack Crisp Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood

 

[Knightmare]

Thank you quite fascinating.
For me i have to have Darcy Moore in, as long as he is going ok, he's a big in for me, just get the games into him.
As always, someone has to be dropped in your 22, with probably (as much as i like him) Witts would be it.
Aishe also gets a gig so again id have to drop one being Fasolo, very unlucky but there you have it.

Nice to have these problems.

Assuming we add Treloar and Howe I'd go with:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom adam treloar Travis Varcoe
HF: Darcy Moore Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Jeremy Howe Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy scott pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: james Aishe Jack Crisp Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood

I could go either way on Witts and Moore. If Grundy and Witts can't both learn to play effectively as forwards that likely means Moore ahead of Witts. Moore while he isn't in my view best 22 with those list additions, he is someone who due to potential to improve I'd still look to pump as many games into as possible.

Fasolo is a possible out and maybe even Broomhead goes past him next year if he has a strong preseason. Though Fasolo I liked with his improving leadership last year and I can't help but be optimistic about his future as someone I see as much more mature than I would have a year ago.

That whole 22 I listed plus certainly Aish, Broomhead, Moore. And we'd go at least a further 10 deep on top of that with several others in the mix.

Preseason predictions or preseason preferences though are always going to change once the season proper starts and then progresses as certain guys improve and others stagnate.

 

[mike123]

My best 22 going into the trade period is:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Darcy Moore Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Jack Crisp Dane Swan
BENCH: Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts Tim Broomhead


Assuming we add Treloar and Howe I'd go with:
B: Brayden Maynard Nathan Brown Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon Jonathon Marsh Matthew Scharenberg
CEN: Steele Sidebottom Scott Pendlebury Travis Varcoe
HF: Alex Fasolo Travis Cloke Jordan De Goey
F: Jeremy Howe Ben Reid Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy Adam Treloar Dane Swan
BENCH: Jack Crisp Taylor Adams Levi Greenwood Jarrod Witts

*Basically the additions of Howe and Treloar in the immediate pushes Darcy Moore and Tim Broomhead out. And with form that best group would change. But that's my preferred group. If we get Aish. I'd like Broomhead have him just outside that best 22 going into the year. And again, that can change with form or a big preseason.

And if we add Aish would he fit into your best 22?

 

[Knightmare]

And if we add Aish would he fit into your best 22?

Just outside the best 22 until he proves otherwise after the assumed additions of Treloar and Howe.

I'd have Aish positioned similarly on our list to Broomhead, though more a back/outside version rather than Broomhead who is more a forward/mid. Both have that ability to be best 22 without having quite proven that level of performance on the field to confirm that they should today.

 

[Bard]

Just outside the best 22 until he proves otherwise after the assumed additions of Treloar and Howe.

I'd have Aish positioned similarly on our list to Broomhead, though more a back/outside version rather than Broomhead who is more a forward/mid. Both have that ability to be best 22 without having quite proven that level of performance on the field to confirm that they should today.

Whose spots inside your 22 do you feel are the most vulnerable/likely to be replaced by Broomhead and Aish?

 

[Knightmare]

Whose spots inside your 22 do you feel are the most vulnerable/likely to be replaced by Broomhead and Aish?

In the world Treloar, Howe and Aish are added. It is tricky to say.

Aish may push Varcoe out of the senior team if he drops off. Last year was his best year, so it's not out of the question he falls away. Langdon/Scharenberg/Maynard all will be competing with Aish for a position in the senior side.

As for Broomhead. Probably Fasolo, though I'm encouraged by Fasolo's increased maturity so injuries permitting I feel he holds his spot. De Goey and Crisp are two others Broomhead will be competing with but Crisp if he replicates his form of this year will hold his spot, and De Goey with his rate of improvement I feel establishes himself in the best 22 in his own right.

So again in both cases. If all are healthy (not that that happens often) it's tricky to see who they on 2015 form push ahead of. But with a new year, different guys improve, others stagnate and some regress.

 

[Clokeydokey]

In the world Treloar, Howe and Aish are added. It is tricky to say.

Do you agree with Bucks the window opens in 2017?

And if so any chance it could fly open a year early like 2010?

 

[4#Didak#4]

Not sold on Howe but mainly because of his rumoured price tag. However, if he can play that lead up forward role in a Gunston manner I am open to the idea.

Howe actually is a fantastic runner he beat Lumumba in a lot of the pre season trials and he had often been at the top in the Collingwood trials. If he can use this to push up and down the ground he can be the player we are missing in that forward line. Obviously he has great hands and vertical leap but he needs more strings than to his bow than that. I believe in a diverse and dynamic forward line and he does help make for a different option, in the past we have been very square and predictable.

Once again though I am not sure if his impact on our salary cap and hence retention of current players is worth it.

 

[Knightmare]

Do you agree with Bucks the window opens in 2017?

And if so any chance it could fly open a year early like 2010?

2016 certainly even if we add Treloar, Aish and Howe this offseason, we're probably still too young and too inexperienced to win. Even with those additions we're more of a 5th/6th in the competition team than a top four team. And that's before thinking about contending.

2017 may be that first possible opportunity to contend and the year you expect with this group to finish inside the top four, but to be a true contending team we would require strong 2017 and 2018 off-seasons whereby appropriate immediate talents were added and further strong development of our younger guys continues without any real drop-off from our youth.

The AFL is in a strange and very open state at the moment. Hawthorn I don't see winning it next year. Lake is a big loss as a still best five in the game key defender. Then Suckling and Whitecross both are leaving. Hale has retired. Hodge, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Gibson. Those guys are going to age. Probably West Coast with a healthy group of key defenders and most importantly Eric McKenzie healthy and Lewis Jetta added will be in my view next year that team to beat. Even minus Scott Selwood and Callum Sinclair.
But then maybe a Geelong with Dangerfield, S.Selwood, Henderson and maybe Zac Smith if also added can get better. Or maybe a GWS who if Mumford is healthy can beat anyone.

As for whether we can next year do as we did in 2010? Maybe from the perspective that more young pieces can improve. That's realistic. But an early premiership with our young group as we saw in 2010, until we prove it, I'm not seeing it, or really feeling it as I did in that 2010 offseason when we managed to pull off the impossible by adding Jolly and Ball who were more finishing pieces. While what we have no. We still need more top end pieces which I'm still not seeing.

Not sold on Howe but mainly because of his rumoured price tag. However, if he can play that lead up forward role in a Gunston manner I am open to the idea.

Howe actually is a fantastic runner he beat Lumumba in a lot of the pre season trials and he had often been at the top in the Collingwood trials. If he can use this to push up and down the ground he can be the player we are missing in that forward line. Obviously he has great hands and vertical leap but he needs more strings than to his bow than that. I believe in a diverse and dynamic forward line and he does help make for a different option, in the past we have been very square and predictable.

Once again though I am not sure if his impact on our salary cap and hence retention of current players is worth it.

I'm not a close salary cap follower. My speciality/interest is more so identifying talents.

I rate Howe a best 15 player on our list if added. And that's something we can use. He only impacts games in a limited number of ways. But he is a terrific athlete. Strong hands overhead. Rare aerial ability. When you have a trick that no one else in the competition can match. Sometimes that is enough. And Howe's numbers are more than sufficient as a 120 mark per year guy at either end.

As long as we're not paying for him like a top 10 on list standard player that's fine.

 

[Unknown Identity]

We apparently want to turn Howe into an Isaac Smith like wingman according to Herald Sun.

20+ touches and hits the scoreboard.

Thoughts Knightmare?

 

[Anzacday]

I'd take Howe and play him on the wing.
Imagine having him as a marking option for one Goldy's kick outs!

We apparently want to turn Howe into an Isaac Smith like wingman according to Herald Sun.
20+ touches and hits the scoreboard.
Thoughts Knightmare?

They've been reading BF again

 

[Knightmare]

We apparently want to turn Howe into an Isaac Smith like wingman according to Herald Sun.

Thoughts Knightmare?

Interesting vision. We need someone else to play on a wing. That's the position we most lack numbers. Howe is quick and can push down either end and take a grab which means he is someone when he pushes down either end can be a threat and opposition teams will need to be aware of him. If he has the endurance. I'm open to seeing it.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Interesting vision. We need someone else to play on a wing. That's the position we most lack numbers. Howe is quick and can push down either end and take a grab which means he is someone when he pushes down either end can be a threat and opposition teams will need to be aware of him. If he has the endurance. I'm open to seeing it.

He certainly has the running capacity to do this. I think in the past this ability has not been utilised by Melbourne (part of the reason he wanted out) as they have needed him more for his marking power at either end. He is actually a pretty unique type of player when you think about it, but this can actually be a disadvantage these days in structured robot footy. Paul Roos is probably one of the most structure conscious coaches in the league and probably has gone backwards since he started.

I think the question is how do you maximise his attributes best. I think the solution is as a high half forward. Someone who will run hard & deep both ways and hopefully at times get mismatches up forward on smaller defenders trying to cover his run.

 

[Knightmare]

He certainly has the running capacity to do this. I think in the past this ability has not been utilised by Melbourne (part of the reason he wanted out) as they have needed him more for his marking power at either end. He is actually a pretty unique type of player when you think about it, but this can actually be a disadvantage these days in structured robot footy. Paul Roos is probably one of the most structure conscious coaches in the league and probably has gone backwards since he started.

I think the question is how do you maximise his attributes best. I think the solution is as a high half forward. Someone who will run hard & deep both ways and hopefully at times get mismatches up forward on smaller defenders trying to cover his run.

Surely there will be that element of trial an error. Giving him a chance on a wing. Forward flank. Deeper in the front half. And just seeing which dynamic works best. I'm open minded and keen to see. But I'm probably largely with you on your vision of being more someone up the ground than deep in the front half. As a deep forward I want a 30+ goal a year forward. Howe hasn't done that. So up the ground is likely the better option.

 

[wednesdaywarrior]

Hi Knighta. Haven't chatted for a while mate. Great to see you still keeping everyone informed with your Almanac notes!

I like the idea of uber versatility and think Hawthorn have taken that to a new level since Sheedy started the idea in the 80s. The concept of players that can play up down forward back etc. really gives the coach options and the opposition headaches. That's why I was keen on the idea of Tomlinson but now I'm warming to the idea of Howe. Initially I just thought he was a speccy machine but have since discovered he has this really good tank and wants to play that wing, fwd role. If he's really committed to it and can play anything like Gunston or Smith then great! Gunston is surely the prototype of the modern footballer, so versatile and dangerous and able to play so many positions. I guess at the end of the day anything that gives our forward line a different look is worth punting on, soooo stagnant and predictable for years now.

 

[Knightmare]

Given the players Collingwood are seen to be targeting (Treloar/Aish/Howe). And looking to ship Freeman (to St Kilda), Kennedy (to Melbourne) and Seedsman (to Adelaide)
My recommended trades include:

1st round picks (2015 and 2016) for Adam Treloar, Jeremy Finlayson and GWS 2nd round selection (2015).
Nathan Freeman for St Kilda 2nd round selection
Paul Seedsman for Geelong 2nd round selection (via Adelaide)
Ben Kennedy and Collingwood 2nd round selection (2015) for Jeremy Howe and Melbourne 3rd round selection (2015)
St Kilda 2nd round selection and Adam Oxley for James Aish

*There may be trades where we may need to trade 3rd/4th round selections or move one of our selections down a round. But this should be a general framework for the trades we should be able to achieve.
--
Jeremy Finlayson some may have spoken about is someone down the bottom of GWS' depth charts as a developing but promising key position player. GWS need to reduce their list size and I'd like him as a bonus in the Treloar trade if we're to give the first round selections for 2015+2016. He isn't a certainty to make it, but his form through the NEAFL, and continued improvement last year and through the second half of this year. I can't help but be interested to see whether he can develop into an AFL relevant tall.

Otherwise every other trade will be stock standard and likely as the media have in large part been presumably reporting.

 

[Knightmare]

Hi Knighta. Haven't chatted for a while mate. Great to see you still keeping everyone informed with your Almanac notes!

I like the idea of uber versatility and think Hawthorn have taken that to a new level since Sheedy started the idea in the 80s. The concept of players that can play up down forward back etc. really gives the coach options and the opposition headaches. That's why I was keen on the idea of Tomlinson but now I'm warming to the idea of Howe. Initially I just thought he was a speccy machine but have since discovered he has this really good tank and wants to play that wing, fwd role. If he's really committed to it and can play anything like Gunston or Smith then great! Gunston is surely the prototype of the modern footballer, so versatile and dangerous and able to play so many positions. I guess at the end of the day anything that gives our forward line a different look is worth punting on, soooo stagnant and predictable for years now.

Tomlinson is interesting. Definitely not someone I'd want as a key forward. But perhaps down back or pushing up into the midfield who could be intriguing with his endurance. I'm just not confident enough beyond doubt to feel he is someone I would be prepared to pull the trigger on.

Jeremy Howe definitely isn't Jack Gunston. He doesn't offer that same scoreboard impact or anything remotely like Gunston level reliability in front of goal. Howe can play deep and take a grab but I'd probably lean towards him spending more minutes up the field and pushing deeper to rest as required. He'll give us a new and different dynamic, forward or up the field.

 

[Kappa]

Given the players Collingwood are seen to be targeting (Treloar/Aish/Howe). And looking to ship Freeman (to St Kilda), Kennedy (to Melbourne) and Seedsman (to Adelaide)
My recommended trades include:

1st round picks (2015 and 2016) for Adam Treloar, Jeremy Finlayson and GWS 2nd round selection (2015).
Nathan Freeman for St Kilda 2nd round selection
Paul Seedsman for Geelong 2nd round selection (via Adelaide)
Ben Kennedy and Collingwood 2nd round selection (2015) for Jeremy Howe and Melbourne 3rd round selection (2015)
St Kilda 2nd round selection and Adam Oxley for James Aish

*There may be trades where we may need to trade 3rd/4th round selections or move one of our selections down a round. But this should be a general framework for the trades we should be able to achieve.
--
Jeremy Finlayson some may have spoken about is someone down the bottom of GWS' depth charts as a developing but promising key position player. GWS need to reduce their list size and I'd like him as a bonus in the Treloar trade if we're to give the first round selections for 2015+2016. He isn't a certainty to make it, but his form through the NEAFL, and continued improvement last year and through the second half of this year. I can't help but be interested to see whether he can develop into an AFL relevant tall.

Otherwise every other trade will be stock standard and likely as the media have in large part been presumably reporting.

How could Melbourne be happy with Kennedy and a slight pick upgrade for Howe?

Kennedy was woeful this year and probably won't be on an AFL list in a few years

 

[Knightmare]

How could Melbourne be happy with Kennedy and a slight pick upgrade for Howe?

Kennedy was woeful this year and probably won't be on an AFL list in a few years

In reading up it sounds like a three or four way trade will be completed to move Kennedy for Howe.

Melbourne in Kennedy's draft year would have taken Kennedy at pick 4 had Toumpas not been available. So they do like his talent.

Additionally after pick 30. Clubs will not want selections if they can avoid it. So Melbourne given Collingwood won't have a first round selection to offer will likely accept something along these lines, even if it means a few of Collingwood's later selections need to be downgraded to get a trade over the line.

The second round selection from Collingwood will also help Melbourne facilitate some other trades with the likes of Bugg an example of someone they could pretty easily collect with that pick.

 

[mike123]

Jeremy Finlayson some may have spoken about is someone down the bottom of GWS' depth charts as a developing but promising key position player. GWS need to reduce their list size and I'd like him as a bonus in the Treloar trade if we're to give the first round selections for 2015+2016. He isn't a certainty to make it, but his form through the NEAFL, and continued improvement last year and through the second half of this year. I can't help but be interested to see whether he can develop into an AFL relevant tall.

Can you outline his strengths and weaknesses?

 

[Knightmare]

Can you outline his strengths and weaknesses?

That's the question you should be asking.

Here is my profile for Finlayson from last year:

38. Jeremy Finlayson (GWS - Academy - NSW – KPD/KPF)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 02/09/1996
Recruited from: Hills Eage
Draft range: Last GWS pick.
Best position/role: Centre half back.
Strengths:
Ability to find the footy – Finlayson is an unusually high volume accumulator who consistently pushes up the ground, getting involved whether that be taking a mark up the field on a wing or after making a lead and getting overlooked to then work to get involved in a handballing chain sequence to then push forward hard again. His numbers through the U18 Championships and TAC Cup have been solid but through the NEAFL for GWS he has in many of his games found more of the ball than GWS’ other young key position players which speaks volumes about his production with his season high coming in round 19 with a 27 disposal, 13 mark, two goal performance which is terrific performance against more mature bodies.
Endurance – Finlayson is an elite endurance athlete by position and he is constantly moving, working his opponent over, going on multiple leads or making a lead and pushing back hard towards goal. He can go all day up forward and down back has the ability to go with the quicker and high motor key forwards.
Athleticism – Finlayson in addition to his endurance also has excellent pace and can on the lead create excellent separation or in the back half use his closing speed to stop the oppositions leading forwards.
Leading patterns – Finlayson’s leading patterns are terrific, leading to the open spaces and continually working into space up the ground or at times open spaces in the forward 50. In addition to his elite running ability it allows him to take so many uncontested marks.
Versatility – Finlayson while he has mostly played forward has the ability to play at both ends well. He is best suited in more of a high role whether that is at centre half back or centre half forward but he can at times also be played closer to goal. He has also at times pinch-hit through the ruck and shown that he gets involved around the ground but given he is only 195cm he is not likely to play any minutes through the ruck at AFL level.
Ability to read the play – Finlayson is terrific at reading the play for intercept marks and he does it routinely both in the front and back halves. Behind the play his ability to read the play and peel off his man other than his ability to for pace and endurance stay with most forwards is that other point of difference and if given a stretch of games in the back half I imagine his intercept mark numbers would be excellent.
Ground level ability – Finlayson is not freakish at ground level but certainly very clean and one grab with his pickups off the deck.
Weaknesses:
Contested marking – While Finlayson has relatively clean hands overhead and is a very effective uncontested mark and mark on the lead he is not a threat to take contested marks. He lacks that strength in the marking contest and is someone who more so sits back and waits for the ball to come to him for the mark rather than actively attacking the ball in the air or looking to crash packs or take commanding pack marks. It is just not his game at this stage.
Lack of physical edge – Finlayson at this point lacks a physical edge to his game and does not give the sense that he will crash a pack, or impact on opposition bodies in any way. He does not attack the contest or win much contested footy as a tall primarily getting his ball in uncontested situations.
1v1 ability – Finlayson at this stage lacks the ability in the 1v1 contest to consistently beat his opponent.
Strength – Finlayson at this point still is developing his frame and he is starting to put some weight onto his frame but that is still at this point a work in progress.
Tackling ability – Finlayson as the season has progressed has improved his tackling but at this stage he is not laying as many tackles as someone with his motor and movement should be and he also could with his lacking as a big guy be doing some more damage and really looking to bury guys in his tackles more.
Scoreboard impact – In the front half Finlayson can at times kick two or three goals but at this point he does not give the sense that he will go off and kick a bag of goals.
Skillset – Finlayson by hand is reliable and finds his targets. By foot he has a nice long 55m kick on him and his set shot conversion is fairly good. He also at times shows that he can find some really good leading targets long up the field or inside 50. In saying that his kicking while good in some respects is not up to the level it needs to get to. He is not a natural finisher from general play around goal at this stage and his kicking efficiency is also lower than it needs to be, too often he kicks long to a contest rather than lowering his eyes and finding a higher percentage option. And he can at times also shank some of his kicks, lacking some consistency at times at this point.
What I expect will improve:
I expect Finlayson to become stronger and develop his body to some extent and I imagine his skillset will to some extent improve but otherwise I imagine he will continue to improve upon his areas of strength at the next level.
Who he can become?
As a forward Finlayson has a feel not unlike a poor man’s Adam Tomlinson as a high production centre half forward who will find a lot of his ball up the field.
As a backman I feel Finlayson can develop into something like a poor man’s Lachlan Hansen as a tall intercept marking threat in the back half.
When will he be ready to play?
Finlayson will take time and likely will be hoping in season four to become a regular at AFL level.
How to best utilise him?
Finlayson while he has not played all that much in the back half I sense that will be his best opportunity to make the grade. Key forwards at AFL level need to be dominant and special talents and I do not see that with Finlayson. Down back though given his speed and endurance I feel he has an opportunity to develop into a very good centre half back and given his ability to read the play I sense he would in the back half have the ability to develop into a very good intercept marking backman.
Interpretation of his numbers:
Finlayson is well performed and is an elite accumulator by position finding lots of the ball around the ground and taking elite uncontested mark numbers but he does not win much contested ball or take many contested marks. His disposal efficiency is lower than ideally would be the case and his goal per game numbers are only average.


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Finlayson down back last season continued to improve and has been in the NEAFL highly productive down back. He has chances at CHB to develop and become a relatively more athletic and intercept and rebounding focused CHB which we would benefit from having one of with Brown and Frost both non-marking backmen who provide no rebound.