I have seen some debate on this board about how we didn’t do enough during the trade/FA period to improve our list whilst others have put forward the counter argument that we have enough natural improvement left in a number of players already in our best 22 or sitting just outside to take us to another level. These players include Payne, Dev, Rayner, Ashcroft, Starcevich, Bailey and Fletcher.
It may be a debate of its own but I think it would be fair to say the most talented player on our list currently outside our best 22 is Kai Lohmann. Selected with pick 20, he has played 8 games in his first two years with injury playing its part in preventing him from playing more. Some of these games have been as a sub. Entering his third season next year having re-signed after many expected him to leave, could he have a Starcevich level rise in his third season? Starc played just the 5 games in his first two years at the club before having a big pre season and becoming one of our rising stars in his 3rd year playing almost every game and has been best 22 since.
I am hoping Lohmann can emulate this next year in his own way. I believe Doedee and Ashcroft will add a fair bit in the second half of next season but Lohmann has the potential to be our “recruit of the year” next season if he can force his way into the best 22. I don’t think Lohmann is far off Bailey talent wise in that forward/mid role. They aren’t exactly identical players style wise but Lohmann has a similar amount of x-factor to his game in that forward/mid role.
If we can see Lohmann start to fulfil his potential from next year it just adds another freakishly talented and dangerous player to our forward/midfield mix and will make it even harder to shut us down.
If he can get slightly fitter and stronger and make his defensive pressure role a focus of his pre season to compliment his natural skill and footy ability we could have another young star to add to our young core.
What is everyone’s thoughts on what Lohmann could add next year all going well? I for one rate him talent wise amongst all our high draft picks of the Fagan era who have cemented themselves as best 22 quality(Clug, Rayner, Bailey, Starc, Kiddy, Wilmot, Ashcroft, Fletcher) and if he can start to produce from Round 1 next year I believe the scales start to really shift towards us being overloaded with an unbelievable amount of talented young footballers which gives us a very bright outlook even beyond the Neale, Daniher and Cameron prime years.
It may be a debate of its own but I think it would be fair to say the most talented player on our list currently outside our best 22 is Kai Lohmann. Selected with pick 20, he has played 8 games in his first two years with injury playing its part in preventing him from playing more. Some of these games have been as a sub. Entering his third season next year having re-signed after many expected him to leave, could he have a Starcevich level rise in his third season? Starc played just the 5 games in his first two years at the club before having a big pre season and becoming one of our rising stars in his 3rd year playing almost every game and has been best 22 since.
I am hoping Lohmann can emulate this next year in his own way. I believe Doedee and Ashcroft will add a fair bit in the second half of next season but Lohmann has the potential to be our “recruit of the year” next season if he can force his way into the best 22. I don’t think Lohmann is far off Bailey talent wise in that forward/mid role. They aren’t exactly identical players style wise but Lohmann has a similar amount of x-factor to his game in that forward/mid role.
If we can see Lohmann start to fulfil his potential from next year it just adds another freakishly talented and dangerous player to our forward/midfield mix and will make it even harder to shut us down.
If he can get slightly fitter and stronger and make his defensive pressure role a focus of his pre season to compliment his natural skill and footy ability we could have another young star to add to our young core.
What is everyone’s thoughts on what Lohmann could add next year all going well? I for one rate him talent wise amongst all our high draft picks of the Fagan era who have cemented themselves as best 22 quality(Clug, Rayner, Bailey, Starc, Kiddy, Wilmot, Ashcroft, Fletcher) and if he can start to produce from Round 1 next year I believe the scales start to really shift towards us being overloaded with an unbelievable amount of talented young footballers which gives us a very bright outlook even beyond the Neale, Daniher and Cameron prime years.
Totally agree Nunez I see a spot available on the wing for either of these players to be trialled in this position. McLuggage will play more as an inside mid until Ashcroft starts to play again. This give us an opportunity to trail both McKenna or Wilmot in this role.
