Opinion Elite Potential on our List

[Yoda_]

Are we going to see Langford and Redman jump to another level? Because, let’s face it, they haven’t reached elite level yet in their careers. They have each perhaps had one outstanding season. I’m thinking that those two and McGrath might’ve reached their ceilings. I hope I’m wrong.

The question was who has elite talent to be one of the best in there position, yes?

Andy McGrath as a small lock down defender could be
Mason Redman as a half back could be amongst the conversation. Ditto Jordan Ridley
Kyle Langford probably should be in the conversation as a medium forward


Talking youngsters and ones with potential then you probably need to look at these guys under 24;
Look no further then Zac Reid from all reports could be the one
I really like the look and sound of Saad El-Hawli, something about him that screams AFL footballer.
Sam Durham and Nic Martin are tracking incredibly well. Could they become Chris Heffernan and Justin Blumfield good or will they take the next step and become legitimate AA calibre players?
Elijah Tsatas could be anything and that includes a flop. Has everything you'd want from a big bodied inside/outside mid.
The rest are probably too young but I already like the way Archie Roberts carries himself. Seeing Isaac Kako play a few times this year and he could be anything. Archer Day-Wicks is reportedly a match winner so going to be exciting watching him develop.

 

[boncer34]

The question was who has elite talent to be one of the best in there position, yes?

Andy McGrath as a small lock down defender could be
Mason Redman as a half back could be amongst the conversation. Ditto Jordan Ridley
Kyle Langford probably should be in the conversation as a medium forward


Talking youngsters and ones with potential then you probably need to look at these guys under 24;
Look no further then Zac Reid from all reports could be the one
I really like the look and sound of Saad El-Hawli, something about him that screams AFL footballer.
Sam Durham and Nic Martin are tracking incredibly well. Could they become Chris Heffernan and Justin Blumfield good or will they take the next step and become legitimate AA calibre players?
Elijah Tsatas could be anything and that includes a flop. Has everything you'd want from a big bodied inside/outside mid.
The rest are probably too young but I already like the way Archie Roberts carries himself. Seeing Isaac Kako play a few times this year and he could be anything. Archer Day-Wicks is reportedly a match winner so going to be exciting watching him develop.

No. The question was who has the elite game changing ability. Andy McGrath ain't doing that as a small defender.

 

[Blind Turn]

The question was who has elite talent to be one of the best in there position, yes?

Andy McGrath as a small lock down defender could be
Mason Redman as a half back could be amongst the conversation. Ditto Jordan Ridley
Kyle Langford probably should be in the conversation as a medium forward


Talking youngsters and ones with potential then you probably need to look at these guys under 24;
Look no further then Zac Reid from all reports could be the one
I really like the look and sound of Saad El-Hawli, something about him that screams AFL footballer.
Sam Durham and Nic Martin are tracking incredibly well. Could they become Chris Heffernan and Justin Blumfield good or will they take the next step and become legitimate AA calibre players?
Elijah Tsatas could be anything and that includes a flop. Has everything you'd want from a big bodied inside/outside mid.
The rest are probably too young but I already like the way Archie Roberts carries himself. Seeing Isaac Kako play a few times this year and he could be anything. Archer Day-Wicks is reportedly a match winner so going to be exciting watching him develop.

As Bonce highlighted above, I’m talking about the lack of outright elite level superstars at our club since the days of Hird and Lloyd. Who do we have on our list who could maybe reach that level to drive us to ultimate success rather than wallowing in mediocrity? And who are most likely?

 

[Yoda_]

No. The question was who has the elite game changing ability. Andy McGrath ain't doing that as a small defender.

I would argue otherwise. He has the elite level to completely shut out Toby Greene, Charlie Cameron, Tom Papley. Just because he doesn't get it 30 times with 12 rebound 50's doesn't mean he isn't elite.

 

[Blind Turn]

Langford has more goals as a medium forward than anyone else over the last 2 years. Even busted up he was only outpointed by Waterman this year.

Does that make him elite? I'm not sure.

But a bit rough to say he's perhaps had one outstanding season. Definitely had at least one.

I’m probably marking them harder because I have framed this discussion around players reaching a level of the very best in the comp. I, and most on here, are desperate to see players who can push for being the best in the whole competition. We’ve had nothing like that for far too long. Perhaps Jobe in his Brownlow year and Zach but then again, they are also not the naturally gifted player I am envisaging either.

Langford in 2023 showed us he could be in that conversation but, at 28, I’m not sure we should be holding out any hope that he’ll be the player we’re looking for.

 

[Yoda_]

As Bonce highlighted above, I’m talking about the lack of outright elite level superstars at our club since the days of Hird and Lloyd. Who do we have on our list who could maybe reach that level to drive us to ultimate success rather than wallowing in mediocrity? And who are most likely?

Replied to boncer34 above

Regarding elite level talent. Ive often said for years that we have completely wasted the rookie list. We should have been using it for elite traits. I think back to Lauchlan Dalgleish. He was gas. We have barely taken guys with outlandish traits but instead taken it safe.

 

[Blind Turn]

I would argue otherwise. He has the elite level to completely shut out Toby Greene, Charlie Cameron, Tom Papley. Just because he doesn't get it 30 times with 12 rebound 50's doesn't mean he isn't elite.

Yoda, read the OP again. I’m not looking for players who are positionally elite. I’m looking for our next superstars of the game.

 

[Yoda_]

Yoda, read the OP again. I’m not looking for players who are positionally elite. I’m looking for our next superstars of the game.

I think we have one, possibly two

Sam Durham and Zac Reid

 

[boncer34]

I would argue otherwise. He has the elite level to completely shut out Toby Greene, Charlie Cameron, Tom Papley. Just because he doesn't get it 30 times with 12 rebound 50's doesn't mean he isn't elite.

I'm not disagreeing. But you're not on topic

 

[Yoda_]

I'm not disagreeing. But you're not on topic

yep

re directed myself in my next reply

 

[Nifft]

As Bonce highlighted above, I’m talking about the lack of outright elite level superstars at our club since the days of Hird and Lloyd. Who do we have on our list who could maybe reach that level to drive us to ultimate success rather than wallowing in mediocrity? And who are most likely?

I think Merrett is the only one we have, and even then I'm not sure he's the best in his position. The other guys listed have potential, but none of them look like a Harley Reid type. Possibly Caddy could explode this year, but it's hard to tell until we see more of him.

 

[Squeaky]

Our next super star player of that ilk probably isn't even on the list yet. I think we have a lot to prove in terms of nurturing and educating players with talent even when we do identify/select them.

 

[ant555]

If you are really honest then you would say that only Caddy has game changing "potential" and even then he has to find several levels to get to it. Zack Reid may have but he simply gets injured every year.

 

[Blind Turn]

Our next super star player of that ilk probably isn't even on the list yet. I think we have a lot to prove in terms of nurturing and educating players with talent even when we do identify/select them.

Sad but true.

 

[Blind Turn]

I think that our pathetic mediocrity is based largely around us never having the emergence of a handful of superior talents lifting us up. The emergence of Jobe and Zach were because they were almost drawn to that void as motivated leaders. Watson, post Hird, and Zach post-saga, filled those voids but the poor development from within the club didn’t lift others to reach those levels (plus poor recruitment). Nearly every other player has been simply working toward proving themselves as AFL standard players. Whether it be those like Reid or Winderlich, trying to rise above injury. Whether it be players like Langford or Ryder trying to prove themselves in one position. Or whether it be players like Durham or Martin trying to prove themselves as equal to those drafted directly from junior footy. None of our players are being given the belief or direction to aspire for being the very best, beyond just being AFL standard players. Duz and Marto are proven AFL standard players now. The next step is being given belief that they have it in them to be the best player in the competition. And why not? Why not aspire to the highest level? We won’t win premierships unless a large number of our players have the belief that they can be the best and not just make it at the level.

 

[Happyskeret]

I think that our pathetic mediocrity is based largely around us never having the emergence of a handful of superior talents lifting us up. The emergence of Jobe and Zach were because they were almost drawn to that void as motivated leaders. Watson, post Hird, and Zach post-saga, filled those voids but the poor development from within the club didn’t lift others to reach those levels (plus poor recruitment). Nearly every other player has been simply working toward proving themselves as AFL standard players. Whether it be those like Reid or Winderlich, trying to rise above injury. Whether it be players like Langford or Ryder trying to prove themselves in one position. Or whether it be players like Durham or Martin trying to prove themselves as equal to those drafted directly from junior footy. None of our players are being given the belief or direction to aspire for being the very best, beyond just being AFL standard players. Duz and Marto are proven AFL standard players now. The next step is being given belief that they have it in them to be the best player in the competition. And why not? Why not aspire to the highest level? We won’t win premierships unless a large number of our players have the belief that they can be the best and not just make it at the level.

It seems like that’s what they were trying to do with Durham this year., install that belief in him and give him the opportunity which I thought he took. They gave Perkins a lot of opportunity as well but in the end he had a fairly poor year.

 

[Yoda_]

I think Merrett is the only one we have, and even then I'm not sure he's the best in his position. The other guys listed have potential, but none of them look like a Harley Reid type. Possibly Caddy could explode this year, but it's hard to tell until we see more of him.

this is where us not completely bottoming out and picking genuine top 5 talent is biting us in the arse.. We (under Dodoro & Co.) have been so desperate to be competitive Han have a long term goal

 

[Yoda_]

grim reading when this very forum has questioned development for 15 years consistently

 

[MiguelM]

I'd have Parish in there at his absolute best!

 

[Blind Turn]

I'd have Parish in there at his absolute best!

We can only hope.

Im thinking he might’ve missed his chance at reaching the level that Neale has (for example).

You’re right though, he’s still only 27 so technically, injury-free, he might still give us that type of influence.

 

[Blind Turn]

It seems like that’s what they were trying to do with Durham this year., install that belief in him and give him the opportunity which I thought he took. They gave Perkins a lot of opportunity as well but in the end he had a fairly poor year.

It was a noticeable step in the right direction to put faith in Duz as a first choice mid. It’s largely why I have him listed second here because he already has the grounding and the attributes. They identified it early and tapped into the potential.

I’m hoping that they give Marto a similar pivotal responsibility this year because I really see those two as having a much higher ceiling than they have managed despite an already high AFL level.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

I would say if we are going by game breaking x factor you would say draper and Martin have shown it already (but draper too infrequently) and you would think caddy and kako were drafted for this quality.
I hope tsatas' will become an explosive line breaking mid like shiel was in his prime too.

 

[TheFrenchCut]

I'd probably just have Merrett (who already is elite), Ridley if we let him play as a general defender rather than key, Martin if he is moved up the ground, and maybe Caddy.

Some of our other names (Langford, Redman, Durham, Caldwell, Draper) are capable of being good to very good but won't ever be A-Graders/elite.

 

[faible]

Are we going to see Langford and Redman jump to another level? Because, let’s face it, they haven’t reached elite level yet in their careers. They have each perhaps had one outstanding season. I’m thinking that those two and McGrath might’ve reached their ceilings. I hope I’m wrong.

As @boncer reigning poster of the year said, I think Langford is already there. 2 goals / game or so over the last two season is about as good as any other medium forward.

Redman has shown glimpses of having a bit more to give, I think sending Martin down back this year meant Redman wasn’t running offensively as much, but I think he’s got the potential to be one of the better (perhaps not the best) half backs.

 

[Blind Turn]

As @boncer reigning poster of the year said, I think Langford is already there. 2 goals / game or so over the last two season is about as good as any other medium forward.

Redman has shown glimpses of having a bit more to give, I think sending Martin down back this year meant Redman wasn’t running offensively as much, but I think he’s got the potential to be one of the better (perhaps not the best) half backs.

But again, Langford’s best year is still not to the level I am speaking of. I’m talking about champions of the game status. We haven’t had them since Hird and Lloyd. Where’s the next one coming from? I don’t think it’s Langford or Redman. We need to set our sights higher. Sure, at their best they are guns in their position. We will accept that as good enough in a chalkenging team. But we need a handful of players reaching higher than that around them. A Bont, a Neale, a Curnow, and a Harris Andrews and suddenly you’re a premiership team.