Training Preseason 22-23

[Dazb86]

One of my best friends supports the Dees and cracked up laughing that we'd picked up Baker FWIW. Think he was a bit of a whipping boy at the Dees

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

One of my best friends supports the Dees and cracked up laughing that we'd picked up Baker FWIW. Think he was a bit of a whipping boy at the Dees

A bit like Schache then?

 

[goodcop badcop]

Theres a type of player that gets the ball, sprints 20m and sprays a kick. Is Baker one of those?

Pretty much.

 

[St 07]

Pretty much.

Think he's the guy who causes a stoppage with an important tackle, good in the trenches, with a decent tank, and good disposal.

 

[bobs head soup]

I'm usually glass half full with recruits, but really struggling to get enthused with Baker.

His career at Melbourne:

2019 - 9 games as a 20yo.
2020 - 3 games at 21
2021 - 3 games at 22.
2022 - 0 games at 23.

Over those 15 games in 4 years he averaged 12 touches, 3 contested touches and 1.6 tackles.

Admittedly Melbourne had solid wing/flanker depth but that trajectory is pretty horrid.

Skills seem scrappy.

Not sure how anyone has him as a starting best 18 player on what has been displayed, depth at best for mine.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I'm usually glass half full with recruits, but really struggling to get enthused with Baker.

His career at Melbourne:

2019 - 9 games as a 20yo.
2020 - 3 games at 21
2021 - 3 games at 22.
2022 - 0 games at 23.

Over those 15 games in 4 years he averaged 12 touches, 3 contested touches and 1.6 tackles.

Admittedly Melbourne had solid wing/flanker depth but that trajectory is pretty horrid.

Skills seem scrappy.

Not sure how anyone has him as a starting best 18 player on what has been displayed, depth at best for mine.

Hope I'm wrong.

Especially when you compare his average stats to other starting wingers across the league. Of cause you have to take into consideration Baker has had significantly less time on ground in comparison. For all of Hunters weaknesses, Baker has some shoes to fill when you compare their stats side by side. And it is hard to replace Hunters game smarts and positioning.

Wingers need to be finding the ball way more than 12 times a game, and to be able to drive the ball cleanly inside 50s a few times. Hunter also went at almost 10% more efficiency with the ball than Baker. Bakers speed is the only thing that he beats Hunter in.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

My hope is he is just a break glass in emergency recruit.

 

[ScragCity]

The fact that most people are putting Baker in our round 1 best 22 scares the living shit out of me

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

Don’t recall Biggs setting the world on fire at the swans before we signed him. Point being, give the bloke a chance and you never know- plenty don’t get going until 22yo + and we need speed that is for sure.

Poulter was highly rated over here in SA before the pies got him. Another one that could thrive in a new environment.

Feeling optimistic for 23 tbh.

 

[BeMoreBont]

It all depends whether it was Bevo's idea to get Baker to the club.

If it was, then you just know he is playing the first 15 games of the year regardless of his form or the teams performance.

I'm joking... (Kinda)

 

[_Cerberus_]

I think Baker was bought in as cover for the position. Would not surprise me if we had wingers on the draft board, but the ones we wanted were not there. Elite wingers are hard to come by, as much as KPP and small forwards, hence many teams are bare in those departments. So no quality wingers were probably obtainable in the off season either. Even if you do not rate the move to bring him in, I'd rather the club have done something to address a gap than nothing at all. Sometimes players do excell at their second club.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

I think I'd rather watch a GWS game than watch the cricket. Shittest sport on earth

Ahh nope, that prize goes to American Gridiron and Soccer.

 

[Dazb86]

I think Baker was bought in as cover for the position. Would not surprise me if we had wingers on the draft board, but the ones we wanted were not there. Elite wingers are hard to come by, as much as KPP and small forwards, hence many teams are bare in those departments. So no quality wingers were probably obtainable in the off season either. Even if you do not rate the move to bring him in, I'd rather the club have done something to address a gap than nothing at all. Sometimes players do excell at their second club.

We have a winger playing at hbf. He just so happens to be our best hbf.

 

[Sharkey66]

Why would we not give JJ a go on the wing. Has all the attributes for the position.

 

[Dazb86]

Why would we not give JJ a go on the wing. Has all the attributes for the position.

JJ, Treloar and Bailey Dale seem like the 3 most suited for a wing. Pace with long raking kicks and can bomb goals from outside 50.

 

[bobs head soup]

Why would we not give JJ a go on the wing. Has all the attributes for the position.

We've tried JJ on a wing a few times over the years but he's just better suited for a role that requires short sharp bursts of acceleration, rather than the constant grind running of a Hunter.

 

[ScragCity]

JJ, Treloar and Bailey Dale seem like the 3 most suited for a wing. Pace with long raking kicks and can bomb goals from outside 50.

Aerobic capacity is the most important trait for wing. Hunter didn't have a long kick and wasn't able to "bomb goals" but his running made him one of the best wings in the comp when he was at his best. When you're imagining what a good wing looks like you're seeing some highlight reel, when in reality a good wing does a shitload of unrewarded running and presenting an option which is boring and not flashy but it goes a long way towards winning the game.

 

[Outback Footy]

Hunter is a quality afl player. Ex best and fairest with a great footy brain.

Good luck to him. Hope he goes well and he sorts his s**t out.

Agree 100%

It wasnt his footballing that saw him cut from the dogs. I suspect he'll get his shit together and be a long term regret. Or Melbourne wont care and he'll be a long term regret

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

We've tried JJ on a wing a few times over the years but he's just better suited for a role that requires short sharp bursts of acceleration, rather than the constant grind running of a Hunter.

He makes good choices up forward and is an accurate goal kicker.

 

[Mofra]

Don’t recall Biggs setting the world on fire at the swans before we signed him. Point being, give the bloke a chance and you never know- plenty don’t get going until 22yo + and we need speed that is for sure.

Poulter was highly rated over here in SA before the pies got him. Another one that could thrive in a new environment.

Feeling optimistic for 23 tbh.

Sydney offered Biggs a 1 year deal but rookie list only. He did play 1-2 finals for them too and looked decent.

Baker looks like he's behind Williams and Scott as the preferred wing options. He may have jumped ahead of Roarke in the pecking order. It's an area we need depth in though.

 

[Mofra]

JJ, Treloar and Bailey Dale seem like the 3 most suited for a wing. Pace with long raking kicks and can bomb goals from outside 50.

Nope from me. Treloar doesn't 'hold his width' well enough and JJ has been tried without success.

Dale is an AA defender who I want to keep there.

 

[dogwatch]

Sydney offered Biggs a 1 year deal but rookie list only. He did play 1-2 finals for them too and looked decent.

Baker looks like he's behind Williams and Scott as the preferred wing options. He may have jumped ahead of Roarke in the pecking order. It's an area we need depth in though.

Wow, how did he get ahead of Roarke?

Roarke didn't play seniors from Round 9 to 22 last year but when he did (Rd 23 and EF) he averaged 16 disposals, 2 goals and 9 CPs. He's unfashionable but he's got some ticker.

Baker has never got more than 6 CPs in his career. He must be flying on the track.

 

[Mofra]

Wow, how did he get ahead of Roarke?

Roarke didn't play seniors from Round 9 to 22 last year but when he did (Rd 23 and EF) he averaged 16 disposals, 2 goals and 9 CPs. He's unfashionable but he's got some ticker.

Baker has never got more than 6 CPs in his career. He must be flying on the track.

He has been training pretty well although was quiet during the intra club compared to his previous outings.
Sadly, Roarke seems to have had a couple of setbacks.

 

[immortalmike]

Wow, how did he get ahead of Roarke?

Roarke didn't play seniors from Round 9 to 22 last year but when he did (Rd 23 and EF) he averaged 16 disposals, 2 goals and 9 CPs. He's unfashionable but he's got some ticker.

Baker has never got more than 6 CPs in his career. He must be flying on the track.

Roarke is my first choice to replace Hunter.
Williams and Roarke are my preferred wing combination by miles.
Both can impact, are fit, and don't need to ball to be effective.
In the absence of an out and out gun they are the best we have.

 

[Ash1337]

Sucks about Gardner but that means Darcy gets to play the opening rounds.