Player Watch Harry DeMattia

[Vicky Park]

Tend to agree. Im big on game sense and think it's hard to develop and get the vibe that there's an over emphasis on attributes and attitude with our youngster's and an under emphasis on game sense.

Re game sense versus attributes and attitude - I guess this is where we have to trust the judgement of the development team at the Pies.

Extending HDM’s contract by two years - when it could have been one or none - is a big statement.

I’m surprised by it. But the club has gotten a lot right over the last three years, so…

 

[Gone Critical]

Agree VP club get a lot right but on the surface it seems hasty. I think 76 said it may be related to an expected big list turnover er in the next 3 years.

Still if that's the thinking I am not sure it's a good driver. Finn got 1 year a.little too early in 24. If Harry doesn't kick 3 more years is a while and may see us sacrifice someone else who has bypassed Harry. Dont understand why we have done this so early is my feeling

 

[Gone Critical]

They did the same with Ryan and Allan too. I don't really have an opinion either way on Ryan but some think he's no good and wouldn't be keen on him having another two years

Yeah Ryan was early and still has 2. He was one we went early on and my guess is it probably be too early. There is a general trend in think both at.the top end and with.kids to go with bigger contract lengths

 

[sr36]

Re game sense versus attributes and attitude - I guess this is where we have to trust the judgement of the development team at the Pies.

Extending HDM’s contract by two years - when it could have been one or none - is a big statement.

I’m surprised by it. But the club has gotten a lot right over the last three years, so…

I'm less surprised, as we did it with both Allan and Ryan recently. And don't think it's a big deal. Blokes we draft relatively early normally always get 4 years - even if it's a string of late shorter contracts.

 

[sr36]

Yeah Ryan was early and still has 2. He was one we went early on and my guess is it probably be too early. There is a general trend in think both at.the top end and with.kids to go with bigger contract lengths

We end up giving most of our draftees 4 years anyway and there's advantages in signing them up asap, so they may be happy to wear the occasional one getting a year more than they otherwise would.

 

[JuniorB]

Yeah Ryan was early and still has 2. He was one we went early on and my guess is it probably be too early. There is a general trend in think both at.the top end and with.kids to go with bigger contract lengths

I think with Ryan, he's still very young, and the footy team must see something in him - we will have to wait and see.
As for Allan, he has the pedigree - his dad was AA and the first Freo captain, and his uncle(?) Peter Mann was also a Freo captain.
We're just lucky that Ben only played 98 games for Hawthorn, otherwise Ed might be in the poo stripes.

 

[ClaytonM]

In terms of the oldies gone at the end of the year, a lot will depend on injuries, but I think Howe and Elliott will play on and one of the old mids. But my point is you don't sign extensions to young blokes just because other blokes will leave. If they're not going to be good enough, you can replace them really easily. Membrey won't be the last old freeby we add. We could have added Tomlinson, Patful or younger blokes who'd shown a bit but not quite enough. We'd be silly to re-sign blokes unless we see a future for them.

So we add a bunch of offloads from other clubs to replace a swag of retiring greats, All Australians, brownlow medallists, premiership players and go on to win a premiership.

'I'd like to see that'.

 

[sr36]

So we add a bunch of offloads from other clubs to replace a swag of retiring greats, All Australians, brownlow medallists, premiership players and go on to win a premiership.

'I'd like to see that'.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying we don't have to keep current kids due to retirees which seemed to be the suggestion. If they're not up to it, they're easy to replace. Our retirees doesn't make our kids more necessary to keep. It does mean that it's more important than they kick on, but the retirements won't make any kids on our list who are NQR more valuable.

 

[Horaceg]

It's a risk vs reward

I think they signed him and Harrison now because their values are pretty much at minimum.

HDM needs development, they see enough in him to give him enough time to invest in him, HH will most likely need some time to come back after his setback, big wraps on HH, he’ll be a player. IMHO