Player Watch Esava Ratugolea

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Whilst I think the fella has potential I struggle to see where he gets more opportunity with us than the cats.
 
Coobk001 said:
But that is the going rate for player trades these days for fringe players like Esava who are a long way in the system and still struggling. He is only a slightly better prospect than Frampton who we gave away for a 4th.

Apart from the top tier, most players are moving with 2nd/3rd/4th rounders, and the 2nd and 3rd rounders are often moving with picks going back.
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Far more useful than Frampton ever will be which is why we were not the only club asking the question.
 
simmo_bc said:
Whilst I think the fella has potential I struggle to see where he gets more opportunity with us than the cats.
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Picked ahead of Tom Clurey at full back.
 

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RossFC said:
Picked ahead of Tom Clurey at full back.
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Tom clurey Is currently miles better than esava as a backman.

Like light years better.

Having said that, esava could be developable, and clurey could be on a decline.


There’s also a thought that while esava might not currently be better, that we could be better off fielding a lesser quality defender, whose size fits a need more and back ourselves into growing that guys game so that the whole esava might be well well behind clurey now, putting time into him he could close that gap and quickly pass a older player
 
philthy05 said:
Tom clurey Is currently miles better than esava as a backman.

Like light years better.

Having said that, esava could be developable, and clurey could be on a decline.


There’s also a thought that while esava might not currently be better, that we could be better off fielding a lesser quality defender, whose size fits a need more and back ourselves into growing that guys game so that the whole esava might be well well behind clurey now, putting time into him he could close that gap and quickly pass a older player
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He's tall and not slow the only reason people want him
 
I suspect rat is our stop gap.

Key defenders we draft now just aren’t going to be ready in time to take over from clurey and Jonas. Pasini had a setback and is just one player.

Esava is in an age bracket where we don’t need to wait for him physically, and could hopefully cover a need for us while we develop kpps.

Off the top of my head Jonas and McKenzie are well over their 30’s, and clurey will be 29/30 next year.

Getting a cheap guy to cover the few years between Jonas / clurey and our next pieces is a good idea for the list.
 
philthy05 said:
I suspect rat is our stop gap.

Key defenders we draft now just aren’t going to be ready in time to take over from clurey and Jonas. Pasini had a setback and is just one player.

Esava is in an age bracket where we don’t need to wait for him physically, and could hopefully cover a need for us while we develop kpps.

Off the top of my head Jonas and McKenzie are well over their 30’s, and clurey will be 29/30 next year.

Getting a cheap guy to cover the few years between Jonas / clurey and our next pieces is a good idea for the list.
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And it's a far better punt than a Brisbane discard with shot knees playing in SANFL.
 
philthy05 said:
Tom clurey Is currently miles better than esava as a backman.

Like light years better.

Having said that, esava could be developable, and clurey could be on a decline.


There’s also a thought that while esava might not currently be better, that we could be better off fielding a lesser quality defender, whose size fits a need more and back ourselves into growing that guys game so that the whole esava might be well well behind clurey now, putting time into him he could close that gap and quickly pass a older player
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Clurey is an injury prone C grader who is probably past his best.

I'm not sure if Sav is a lock to play round 1 but it will be a competitive battle to get that spot and he will be well in the race.

And as you said, Mckenzie is definitely out 2024 and Jonas probably also is. We need to continue to bring guys in who can play that role because we havent been able to develop many internally.
 
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JakeNeadeFan said:
Clurey is an injury prone C grader who is probably past his best.

I'm not sure if Sav is a lock to play round 1 but it will be a competitive battle to get that spot and he will be well in the race.

And as you said, Mckenzie is definately out 2024 and Jonas probably also is. We need to continue to bring guys in who can play that role because we havent been able to develop many internally.
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If clurey is a c grader, Sav is an f grader.

Again, as above that’s not knocking the decision to get him, I listed why it’s a decent list management move for our list.
 
JakeNeadeFan said:
Clurey is an injury prone C grader who is probably past his best.

I'm not sure if Sav is a lock to play round 1 but it will be a competitive battle to get that spot and he will be well in the race.

And as you said, Mckenzie is definitely out 2024 and Jonas probably also is. We need to continue to bring guys in who can play that role because we havent been able to develop many internally.
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We can safely rate how Clurey and McKenzie go on the big bodied forwards and that's a fail, time and time again they've been asked to 'punch above' their weight, they don't have the physical attributes to get the job done.

Jonas has a year left and Allir is better loose man.

Ratugolea is an unknown but at least he's tall, big bodied and agile which ticks a few boxes.

If I'm coming up against Geelong or Richmond tomorrow then I know who I don't want lining up on Hawkins, Cameron or Lynch respectively.
 
philthy05 said:
I hope those that have already pencilled him in for starting key defender post can actually say they’ve watched him.


He’s nothing more than a hope and a prayer. Legit.

Having said that I’m all in favour of taking longshot hope and prayer guys hoping they turn into a decent key defender. It’s exactly the thing we should be doing with the last spots on our list, not adding dime a dozen 178ish cm nobodies like mcintee.

But if he becomes a starting key defender it’s because a punt paid off, and he developed cause anyone who reckons he’s a monty to be a quality starting defender is full of s**t.

He makes every kpp we’ve had on our list in the past 20 years look like they were born to play. Seriously looks like he took up football 10 minutes ago and still doesn’t know sfa about it.

Does that mean he can’t make it?

Hell no it doesn’t. He’s got physical tools, key defender is a position that can be taught if only just to a limited see ball get ball type or lockdown type or some such and he’s young enough and our key defense is old enough that we have a need.

I just don’t buy the

“Will be a starting key defender” for us as anything other than misinformed and wishful thinking

I think ..

“Could be a left field pickup that becomes a starting key defender”

Is a more reasoned position to take.

And why the hell not take that punt. Go for it.. at the right price
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Where is all the Skinner fan fair from last year?

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Always looked pretty underwhelming on the occasions he got a senior game. Appears like a late arrival to the game and lacks football nous, not a great attribute for a defender...I think it'll be a while before we could expect him to hold down a key defensive post. A worthwhile punt though as long as we don't overpay.
 
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Ratugolea playing in the back pocket coming across as a 3rd man up spoiling would work just as though he doesn't get lost being dragged away from the contest. Not sure he takes over as full back instead of Clurey but more that he helps him if he has someone big.
 
Shaucob_Burjan said:
Getting JHF, Rioli, Ratugolea would be a strong trade period
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I'm not worried about him not making every game for Geelong. They just won the grand final by 87 points. Making 5 games at the Cats is like winning the B&F at a team like Norf.

Has size, has ruck experience, can swing back - its a win for me at the right price. If it gets Fivelayson back in to the forward line that's really good.

I'd be giving up 43 for him and if push comes to shove and we give up 33 I'm not crying either.

 
I'm not sure we are going to find much of value in the draft at pick 33, so if that what it takes to get Esava, I'd be more than happy to pay it.

Mind you, get the JHF deal done first, then work with the picks we have after.
 
Ratugolea has all the traits necessary to be a solid intercept defender:
  • Gets to the right positions to affect the play
  • Can take a contested mark
  • Quick for his size
  • Strong
And when Dixon retires, we can push him up forward. I don’t need him to perform miracles, just do a job.
 

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Player Watch Esava Ratugolea

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