The Horne dialogue is fascinating. I share the concern on his current production, but I'm just not that sure it matters? Sometimes it's linear, sometimes it's not, but plenty of accumulators as juniors don't adjust to the next level and plenty of low possession/high impact kids grow into higher production, especially if they're coachable and from all reports Horne very much is. I agree that he's probably not a brownlow medal winner or SA's best export, but he ticks a lot of pick one boxes - high floor, perhaps lower ceiling, but a nailed on 150 game, what you see is what you get 3-6th best player on a list.
The other thing that probably needs to be given consideration is role. He's playing in the SANFL seniors, and very few 17->18 year olds are strong enough players to command a starting on-ball role at that age. You need only look at the AFL to see the disparity in numbers between some players playing on a wing/forward flank vs in the guts - Bailey Smith is one who clearly springs to mind. So it's natural for Horne, who's playing forward flank/defensive oriented mid rotation, to settle into a role that doesn't lend itself to production.
So given Horne's a strong enough player to play seniors, but not currently strong enough to be a top 2-3 onballer in the side, he's playing in a role that's naturally less conducive to accumulation. And he's only a kid, it's hard to switch into 'midfield accumulator' mode on and off whether he's playing for Souths or playing for the academy/state side. It's probably the knock on playing these blokes in the seniors - is it really best for their development to be playing in 'team' oriented roles in the seniors, or best to be learning to tear a game apart in the colts? I think especially in the SANFL it's probably not ideal with smaller grounds than the WAFL promoting more inside congestion and less importance on outside running patterns and accumulation.
I look at De Goey as someone who as a junior you wrote this about, KM
This was a sentiment backed up by others - at the same time, I wrote: Though he's a good inside ball winner and marking target around the ground he hasn't shown the ability to accumulate in volume yet which would be the next step for him.
I look at JDG now as someone who through the midfield probably wins too much cheap outside ball and accumulates quite prolifically when played in that on-ball role. Staggering to think we considered it a weakness. And his junior numbers certainly weren't prolific.
I think there was a similar knock on Steele from you at the time, and while he's by no means a prolific outside accumulator, he'd still get more uncontested ball now than most midfielders - and he's transitioned from a career 20-23 touch guy into a 30 touch guy in year 6-7. I look at Steele and see a similar style and trajectory to Horne. Horne perhaps a little more athletic and Steele a bit better in the stoppages. But that similar trajectory as a defensively tight mid with solid inside game, overhead ability and work rate who'll grow into an outside accumulator with targeted coaching.
He'll be fine. He'll grow. He'll develop. He'll learn. They're only kids and their current output/production is the sum of many factors, not just current ability.
The other thing that probably needs to be given consideration is role. He's playing in the SANFL seniors, and very few 17->18 year olds are strong enough players to command a starting on-ball role at that age. You need only look at the AFL to see the disparity in numbers between some players playing on a wing/forward flank vs in the guts - Bailey Smith is one who clearly springs to mind. So it's natural for Horne, who's playing forward flank/defensive oriented mid rotation, to settle into a role that doesn't lend itself to production.
So given Horne's a strong enough player to play seniors, but not currently strong enough to be a top 2-3 onballer in the side, he's playing in a role that's naturally less conducive to accumulation. And he's only a kid, it's hard to switch into 'midfield accumulator' mode on and off whether he's playing for Souths or playing for the academy/state side. It's probably the knock on playing these blokes in the seniors - is it really best for their development to be playing in 'team' oriented roles in the seniors, or best to be learning to tear a game apart in the colts? I think especially in the SANFL it's probably not ideal with smaller grounds than the WAFL promoting more inside congestion and less importance on outside running patterns and accumulation.
I look at De Goey as someone who as a junior you wrote this about, KM
Knightmare said:
This was a sentiment backed up by others - at the same time, I wrote: Though he's a good inside ball winner and marking target around the ground he hasn't shown the ability to accumulate in volume yet which would be the next step for him.
I look at JDG now as someone who through the midfield probably wins too much cheap outside ball and accumulates quite prolifically when played in that on-ball role. Staggering to think we considered it a weakness. And his junior numbers certainly weren't prolific.
I think there was a similar knock on Steele from you at the time, and while he's by no means a prolific outside accumulator, he'd still get more uncontested ball now than most midfielders - and he's transitioned from a career 20-23 touch guy into a 30 touch guy in year 6-7. I look at Steele and see a similar style and trajectory to Horne. Horne perhaps a little more athletic and Steele a bit better in the stoppages. But that similar trajectory as a defensively tight mid with solid inside game, overhead ability and work rate who'll grow into an outside accumulator with targeted coaching.
He'll be fine. He'll grow. He'll develop. He'll learn. They're only kids and their current output/production is the sum of many factors, not just current ability.
