Universal Love Not quite there yet...

[Beanstalk]

I watch a lot of AFL, but very little (none) VFL - and because of this I know very little about the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of many of our young up and comers. I thought a thread to discuss the more 'lesser known' players would be a good idea. Mainly focusing on but not exclusive to players yet to debut.

So Mitch Brown, Lincoln McCarthy, Jordan Schroder, Josh Cowan, Jed Bews, Brad Hartman, Jackson Sheringham, Jesse Stringer, George Burbury and Joel Hamling.

 

[Beanstalk]

First up - could a few of you have a go at ranking in order of how highly you rate - and provide some dotpoints for - our young key defenders?

 

[catswhiskers]

Defenders first in order from most to least games to play (assumes all players avoid long term injuries)

Next year : Brown, Thurlow, Hamling , Bews
Career: Thurlow, Hamling , Brown , Bews

Of the rest (I have added in Kersten and Walker and, as I haven't seen anything of McCarthy, I have left him out )

Next year : Walker, Kersten, Stringer , Cowan, Shroder, Burbury, Sheringham, (Hartmann=0)
Career: Walker, Cowan, Kersten, and not a lot of confidence the others will be around long term.



Overall: Thurlow, Hamling, Brown, Walker, Cowan, and perhaps Bews to be regulars in three years time.

 

[Partridge]

I watch a lot of AFL, but very little (none) VFL - and because of this I know very little about the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of many of our young up and comers. I thought a thread to discuss the more 'lesser known' players would be a good idea. Mainly focusing on but not exclusive to players yet to debut.

So Mitch Brown, Lincoln McCarthy, Jordan Schroder, Josh Cowan, Jed Bews, Brad Hartman, Jackson Sheringham, Jesse Stringer, George Burbury and Joel Hamling.

I know the club like him, but after the time he's missed and the fact there's a big queue ahead of him I'll be pleasantly surprised if Cowan makes it. From what I've seen of him in the VFL I'm not convinced he's got the skills. No doubt about the endeavour.

One pure football skills I'd have Thurlow and Brown as the pick in the VFL right now. Unless you count Smedts who could easily be in our senior team for Round 1.

 

[Beanstalk]

Defenders first in order from most to least games to play (assumes all players avoid long term injuries)

Next year : Brown, Thurlow, Hamling , Bews
Career: Thurlow, Hamling , Brown , Bews

Of the rest (I have added in Kersten and Walker and, as I haven't seen anything of McCarthy, I have left him out )

Next year : Walker, Kersten, Stringer , Cowan, Shroder, Burbury, Sheringham, (Hartmann=0)
Career: Walker, Cowan, Kersten, and not a lot of confidence the others will be around long term.

Overall: Thurlow, Hamling, Brown, Walker, Cowan, and perhaps Bews to be regulars in three years time.

Schroder? I got the impression he was one of our best youngsters?

 

[Beanstalk]

Bews I know absolutely nothing about. What are his strengths?

 

[Bobby_]

explosive pace, creative half back flanker with a strong body and aggressive side to his game. 2013 was disappointing though, injury played a part in that and his endurance still needs working on but if he puts in a solid pre season, he'll be one to watch in 2014.

 

[dazbroncos]

explosive pace, creative half back flanker with a strong body and aggressive side to his game. 2013 was disappointing though, injury played a part in that and his endurance still needs working on but if he puts in a solid pre season, he'll be one to watch in 2014.

This is a stretch but he reminds me of cross between Dasher and Guthrie. Got the anger and hardness that Dasher had as you'll never be left asking if he went hard enough and his creative ball use is Guthriesq. Probably a poor mans version of both currently but has a great deal of potential. He missed chunks last year with a food injury but I feel will press hard for senior games this year.

I have no issues with him on the list.

Go Catters

 

[James1970]

I know the club like him, but after the time he's missed and the fact there's a big queue ahead of him I'll be pleasantly surprised if Cowan makes it. From what I've seen of him in the VFL I'm not convinced he's got the skills. No doubt about the endeavour.

One pure football skills I'd have Thurlow and Brown as the pick in the VFL right now. Unless you count Smedts who could easily be in our senior team for Round 1.

I'd be surprised too, but as Joel Corey's pick for the one to have a breakout year, I'm half-expecting him to lead the Brownlow count after Round 5.

 

[Catdog]

This is a stretch but he reminds me of cross between Dasher and Guthrie. Got the anger and hardness that Dasher had as you'll never be left asking if he went hard enough and his creative ball use is Guthriesq. Probably a poor mans version of both currently but has a great deal of potential. He missed chunks last year with a food injury but I feel will press hard for senior games this year.

I have no issues with him on the list.

Go Catters

Had a chuckle Daz, i know its just a typo (foot)

 

[Beanstalk]

I'm so glad I started this thread, my perception of our youngsters has been completely turned upside down.

I liked Cowan just because I wanted a big, shaggy mop of hair (does he still have that?) in the team somewhere - had no idea he was rated in the same bracket as (future captain?) Horlin-Smith.

Where does Schroder fit into all of this?

 

[Partridge]

yeh and Cowan is another one as Partridge mentioned. He's more likely to play seniors than Horlin-Smith because he has that silky polish to his game which we are lacking, would accommodate Duncan nicely on the outside even though he's very much a contested ball winning midfielder.
Obviously not even in the same ball park but Del Santo would have fitted in nicely at Geelong and Cowan can give us that kind of style next season.

He does? The games I saw in VFL, the one thing I thought that let him down was his disposal. No doubt at all about his efforts, or pace either. On what I've seen so far though, I'd say Horlin-Smith has much better disposal.

 

[thejester]

Think Cowan's disposal is tidy, although he's a booming kick - that goal on debut where he kicked it 55+ off a step wasn't a fluke.

 

[catswhiskers]

I'm so glad I started this thread, my perception of our youngsters has been completely turned upside down.

I liked Cowan just because I wanted a big, shaggy mop of hair (does he still have that?) in the team somewhere - had no idea he was rated in the same bracket as (future captain?) Horlin-Smith.

Where does Schroder fit into all of this?

I saw Cowan at Princes Park in a NAB cup game very early in his time at Catland. It was a full length game which saw Geelong come from a long way back to win. Cowan was in the revival up to his eyeballs against Carlton's best mids e.g Scotland, Murphy, Gibbs, Carazzo etc (no Judd). I left convinced we had real goer. A gut runner who could win own ball but who also made excellent position to receive the ball after the contest and link.
He hasn't had the time on the park to convince me that that impression was wrong ......... or right. But you have to back what you saw.

I have seen Shroder a few times only. Just (for mine anyway) he lacks a point of difference. Doesn't seem to hurt the opposition by weight of possessions , or kicking, or vision or running.


Horlin Smith I saw live at the SCG last year. Was very good. In other games on the telly (which is always in close) you can tell he has 360 degree vision,and the strength, to get the ball out of congestion to the best option. A pure inside mid.

Cowan v GHS ? GHS can get on the park so he gets first dibs on Corey's spot. Cowan has to put 4 or 5 good games together in the VFL before he gets a crack. If Cowan stays fit both he and GHS will stay and force out Shroder / Stringer /Sheringham / Burbury etc

GHS wasn't in the list above - I expect him to be best 22 in the years ahead.

 

[Beanstalk]

that goal on debut where he kicked it 55+ off a step wasn't a fluke.

I remember that one... Brilliant goal.

 

[Beanstalk]

GHS wasn't in the list above - I expect him to be best 22 in the years ahead.

I didn't list GHS because I - and most others - know most of what there is to know about him. He's one of the more 'higher profile' kids we have.

 

[Beanstalk]

Was just having a look for Cowan's 55 metre goal off a step - and I found it - but what a brilliant highlights package this is of ALL our talent! (Cowan's goal is right at the end)

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I think GHS will play more games next year than Cowan will play in his career, personally.

 

[The rabbi]

I still think that Hamling is a natural forward. Even if the club is forced to play in defense.

 

[Pivo]

I still think that Hamling is a natural forward. Even if the club is forced to play in defense.

Not if we draft a defender.

Then Hamling will be footloose and fancy free.

 

[Spemonie]

On his profile on the site they mentioned he did his best work down back. Even though he had 4 weeks where he kicked like 15 goals and one of those weeks where he kicked none (against box hill hawks) coz lake was down back. Also watching him in that freo game in the NAB cup. Did well, I was impressed. Read the play well. However I see him a lot like Harry Taylor. If Taylor is anything to go by, then Hamling has one more year as he is 20 and Taylor was 21 when he was drafted. Also Taylor was rushed because Egan went down. So he has time. Would love to know what his actual weight is now. The site is always horrible to follow.

 

[Turbocat]

Mitch Brown - unless something changes a good VFL player. The only way forward is for him to learn to run like a mid. I see Blitz taking his role in the backline , and when that happens he becomes a good looking , well polished wrong size boot . He looks good but where is he going to fit.

Hamling - thought he was drafted for 2018 the first time I saw him. But he has worked hard. He could be pressing for a spot by the end of 2014. Unlike Brown , I think his talent/skillset is more transferable to AFL

Lincoln McCarthy - haven't seen enough but the wraps are good but the days a FP only are just about done unless you are very special. Is he? Not over in love with small guys that try and take species so hopefully he has more than that to offer. Another that has injury issues.

Jordan Schroder - some would say "Journey Man / VFL player" , I like him but he need to own it more when he plays AFL. He has a huge chance. We need inside players , we need mids. We have had three retirements/ move-ons. He should train all summer like he is a best 22 player demand a spot. If cant then it may be bye/bye by 2015.

Josh Cowan - I rate hm. If he had a body that could stay fit , he would be best 22 now. But does he. Like several on our list , has failed to be a 22 game a year player.Thats crux of it. Talent and skill mean nothing on crutches. He either must stay fit or he will be moved on.

Jed Bews - progressing slowly. At time has shown some aggressive Wojo like run , shrug a tackle type stuff but needs to be damaging to be noticed. Decision making still a work in progress. Good long term prospect.

Brad Hartman - No comment

Jackson Sheringham - Another JM. At times he looks like he could be an option but there are only so many spots for spakfilla type players

Jesse Stringer - Yet again , Spakfilla. Can show ability but can also be doormouse dumb. Does he have enough skill to endure his little brain glitches? Needs to do something in 2014

George Burbury - Under rated by many . Has the talent/skill set to become a very handy AFL player. He has shown he can play FP , must now develop the tank to run in the middle. If he can could be a hard player to match up on.

 

[dazbroncos]

Think Cowan's disposal is tidy, although he's a booming kick - that goal on debut where he kicked it 55+ off a step wasn't a fluke.

Cowan is currently over the achilles issues. He did hid hammy in his second game back in August after the coaching staff ran his game time well over the 60% that was medically recommended. You could see Snelling pissed off about it in the NIB Medical report the nest week. He came back from that and hurt it further in junk time i think 1 or 2 weeks before the finals.

The hammy was not really his fault i feel and with a clean preseason will be pushing hard. i have no doubt that he needs to get out there - but I'm sure when he does his presence will be noticed - for all the right reasons...

Go Catters

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Nobody rates Hartman, but I saw glimpses this year that he could be a real asset as a mid-sized forward. He needs a LOT of work on his fitness to get a shot though.

 

[dazbroncos]

Nobody rates Hartman, but I saw glimpses this year that he could be a real asset as a mid-sized forward. He needs a LOT of work on his fitness to get a shot though.

Agreed. You would think however that by definition a pick 77 would be exactly that. A massive project that is probably 3-4 years away.

Hammer has gotten 3 years to grow. And he was our 1st pick in 2011.

Also, Im pretty sure i read that Hartman could shave stayed in the junior system another year before being picked up and would have probably gone 30 picks higher with the extra junior development time.

As such, Im happy to have seen the glimpses and hope ( and it is hope) that they mature well given time and space to do so.

Go Catters