RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
After thinking about this for awhile and watching some of our pathetic efforts for many months now, I've come to the conclusion we should give Summo a 1 year rookie contract and risk 1/44th place of our list.
But this only is on the proviso that all our current rookie players are removed from the current rookie list. I would cut Sam Gray and Tommy Logan and put Krakouer on the main list. Personally I would delist Sam Russell based on what I have seen in 2 years but I am prepared to bow to those who have seen a lot more of him play and do realise he doesnt turn 20 until Christmas. But he doesnt get a 3rd year on the rookie list.
Bottom line, Gray and Russell have been on the rookie list 2 seasons, Logan is finished and Krakouer should be in the main squad - he is AFL quality skilled player but needs to get his fitness levels back so he can play a full season. Anyone who was drafted before 2012 doesnt get dropped back to the rookie list eg Redden or Butcher. They either stay on the main list or get cut.
If Gray doesnt meet the 23 year old requirement for the SANFL contract rules then he can be the Maggies leadership player, otherwise if he does, then Tommy Logan can get the leadership player gig.
So we pick 3 young players for the rookie list aged between 18 and 22 with the potential for someone like Sid Masters (turns 20 year in March) from a state league as well as an 18 year old from around the country. I would pick a 21-22 year old developing ruckman who is already 100kgs unless we trade away our first 2 or 3 round picks and are left with a pick 80 or 90 odd and pick another Billy Frampton type.
So Summo turns 28 next February. Week in week out he is a better player at SANFL level than all, or most of the guys on fringe of being selected for AFL. He is a ball magnet and has decent enough skills. If fact his skills are better than most of our fringe players.
The thing you know about Summo is that he will give it his all and not bloody slack off because he knows - to quote Paul Keating - he only has one shot in the locker to play AFL footy. You know his attitude will inspire a few players around the club as well as keep the heat on a few. A few might also be embarrassed into improving.
And what a great story it would be if he was able to string 5 or 10 games together along next years. Plenty of free PR for him and the club. Some of you may say I complain that we have too many short players on our list - well I'm scrapping 3 and only replacing them with 1. Delist Mitchell and that's 4 off, 1 on.
Yesterday I quoted the story of when Blight dropped Ken in 1990 to Geelong's B grade, played Ken across HBF and Ken racked up 50 disposals. Blight asked Ken what did he learn from his experience, Ken said he learnt he never wanted to play in the B's again. Blight said Ken's response on the field and to his question changed the way he coached. Summo sort of reminds me of that. He would bust his boiler to make the AFL side and if he made it, he would never want to play SANFL again, but more importantly you know he would empty the tank every week to make sure he didnt.
But this only is on the proviso that all our current rookie players are removed from the current rookie list. I would cut Sam Gray and Tommy Logan and put Krakouer on the main list. Personally I would delist Sam Russell based on what I have seen in 2 years but I am prepared to bow to those who have seen a lot more of him play and do realise he doesnt turn 20 until Christmas. But he doesnt get a 3rd year on the rookie list.
Bottom line, Gray and Russell have been on the rookie list 2 seasons, Logan is finished and Krakouer should be in the main squad - he is AFL quality skilled player but needs to get his fitness levels back so he can play a full season. Anyone who was drafted before 2012 doesnt get dropped back to the rookie list eg Redden or Butcher. They either stay on the main list or get cut.
If Gray doesnt meet the 23 year old requirement for the SANFL contract rules then he can be the Maggies leadership player, otherwise if he does, then Tommy Logan can get the leadership player gig.
So we pick 3 young players for the rookie list aged between 18 and 22 with the potential for someone like Sid Masters (turns 20 year in March) from a state league as well as an 18 year old from around the country. I would pick a 21-22 year old developing ruckman who is already 100kgs unless we trade away our first 2 or 3 round picks and are left with a pick 80 or 90 odd and pick another Billy Frampton type.
So Summo turns 28 next February. Week in week out he is a better player at SANFL level than all, or most of the guys on fringe of being selected for AFL. He is a ball magnet and has decent enough skills. If fact his skills are better than most of our fringe players.
The thing you know about Summo is that he will give it his all and not bloody slack off because he knows - to quote Paul Keating - he only has one shot in the locker to play AFL footy. You know his attitude will inspire a few players around the club as well as keep the heat on a few. A few might also be embarrassed into improving.
And what a great story it would be if he was able to string 5 or 10 games together along next years. Plenty of free PR for him and the club. Some of you may say I complain that we have too many short players on our list - well I'm scrapping 3 and only replacing them with 1. Delist Mitchell and that's 4 off, 1 on.
Yesterday I quoted the story of when Blight dropped Ken in 1990 to Geelong's B grade, played Ken across HBF and Ken racked up 50 disposals. Blight asked Ken what did he learn from his experience, Ken said he learnt he never wanted to play in the B's again. Blight said Ken's response on the field and to his question changed the way he coached. Summo sort of reminds me of that. He would bust his boiler to make the AFL side and if he made it, he would never want to play SANFL again, but more importantly you know he would empty the tank every week to make sure he didnt.
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