VFL under-23 game

[Weaver]

Before the main VFL-WAFL game there is an under-23 North v South game.

One initiative which is interesting is that the overage players from the TAC Cup (who can not play under-18 championships) have been made available for selection.

Deen Scheetz, John Shaw, Peter Roberston, Luke Webber, Steve Morris and James Saker have all been included. I haven't seen much of Webber but the others are all in pretty good form.

Interesting to see how Stefan Garruba goes. I am a little suprised he is not in the main game. He might yet play his way back onto an AFL list.

 

[FixterFan]

Ah, yes, Stefan Garubba - still remember his hot streak of form and improvement in skills in late 2005 that got him a second year on our rookie list. At that stage he looked like a real chance to work his way onto the main list. Unfortunately an elbow(?) injury ruined his start to 2006, and he never really recovered from the setback, and was subsequently delisted. I recall he trained with the Hawks before the 2006 rookie draft but wasn't picked up.

At his best he played in a similar fashion to Fosdike (or at a lesser level, Spriggs), an endurance runner who outran his opponents to accumulate a lot of loose ball possessions, but who you couldn't really call inside (can get to contests, but body work in contests and packs weren't good) or outside (footskills were decent but not great). Ran to the right positions in the latter half of 2005, but looked lost on the field in 2006, possibly due to the inability to string more than a few games together at the time. Also tended to vary a lot in intensity between quarter and quarter, let alone game to game.

How has he developed in the VFL? Does he still have the same weaknesses, or has he ironed some of them out? Any thoughts would be highly appreciated.

 

[Weaver]

How has he developed in the VFL? Does he still have the same weaknesses, or has he ironed some of them out? Any thoughts would be highly appreciated.

He has the same weaknesses but footy is changing to suit him. Being moved from the midfield to BP suits him. His random long runs and ball carrying are ideal for that role.

I'd agree with your call about intensity. Certainly was his problem in under-18s as well. I think that is a great call you've made.

 

[Snoop Dog]

I am looking fwd to seeing Dean Kelly play. Had him around 50 in my mock draft last year and still think it is one of the great disappointments of last years draft that he did not even get rookied!

 

[Coin_Toss]

VFL North vs. South Under 23 Results

North: 1.7 6.9 8.12 11.12 (78)
South: 5.1 8.3 12.5 16.8 (104)

Goals: North - Limbach 5, Anderson 2, Morgan, Colbert, Morris, Hardy.
South - Nahas 3, Wheelan 2, Rowe 2, Langford 2, Gilchrist, Johnston, Moles, Rosier, Whish-Wilson, Bonaddio, Scheetz.

Best: North - Limbach, Morris, Anderson, Iacobucci, Sewell, George.
South - Nahas, Rowe, Kelly, Johnson, Gilchrist, Garrubba.

Limbach - BOG. Really like the way he plays.

How did Scott Meyer play? The big ruckman attacks the ball, thumps the ball down and has footy smarts. He has a big future, will get drafted to Collingwood - hopefully, but I think other clubs will show interest.

 

[MRobbo]

Robin Nahas won the medal for best on ground

 

[Divado]

Limbach has been great this year, not sure why Richmond didnt hang onto him??

 

[Minka Beaver]

How did Scott Meyer play?

Got very little game time. Didn't do a lot.

Not a bad game in the end. I didn't see last year's game (I think played during GF week), but from what I heard it sounded very ordinary. This year was good though. For a game played primarily to promote the draft/rookie list ambitions of players, there was a real willingness by many players to do the team things (eg screen teammates in for marks, gang-tackle opponents etc), as opposed to just trying to attract the recruiters' attention.

That said, I doubt that AFL scouts would glean much from it. The best players were mostly the small types that are often rejected by clubs because of their size. Nahas and Tomi Johnston dominated, and I was very impressed by Langford - he did his rookie chances no harm at all.

For North U23s, Limbach lead strongly and was a safe mark. Kicked 5.2 and probably set another one or two up. He was too quick on the lead for Markovic and Carins. Lachie George was everywhere, and Ryan Anderson's dash and workrate were excellent.

 

[PLSC]

Limbach has been great this year, not sure why Richmond didnt hang onto him??

because he's a good player

cant have any of that down at richmond

 

[Kegs44]

How did Steve Morris and Cam Lockwood go?

 

[Minka Beaver]

How did Steve Morris and Cam Lockwood go?

Morris was tried in the guts for a bit, won some clearances and did OK. Lockwood got very little game time from what I saw. Once he was on the ground, he was a bit anonymous.

 

[Kegs44]

Morris was tried in the guts for a bit, won some clearances and did OK. Lockwood got very little game time from what I saw. Once he was on the ground, he was a bit anonymous.

hmmm ok thanks for that mate, thought Lockwood mita got some gametime, oh well

 

[mick4]

How did Lynch and Erickson play? Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't both both well over 200cm?

 

[amazonstud]

How did Iaccobucci go? I have seen his name amongst the best at the Bullants and think he may be worth a second look by an AFL side.

 

[FixterFan]

He has the same weaknesses but footy is changing to suit him. Being moved from the midfield to BP suits him. His random long runs and ball carrying are ideal for that role.

I'd agree with your call about intensity. Certainly was his problem in under-18s as well. I think that is a great call you've made.

Thanks Weaver; it is always interesting to hear about some of the ex-Swans players and how they're travelling, especially if they're a chance to end up back on a list somewhere. It sounds like the move to BP has worked out well for him, though I have some doubts about his (or any back in the lesser leagues) ability to impress the recruiters there - the mature players picked up tend to be mostly full-time midfielders, with a few FPs, rucks and FFs thrown in here and there.

How did Lynch and Erickson play? Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't both both well over 200cm?

Ericksen's about 205cm from memory. Without knowing how he'd played, it is unlikely that he'll have the physique to play AFL football before he turns 25 (which would be about 2011 I think) Has a good tap though, and has amazing ability below his knees, like a small stuck in a tall's body.

 

[foj1]

Dean Limbach didnt display the required intensity an AFL player should at Richmond. He was promised a rookie position and Richmond reneged really late. Collingwood contemplated Rookieing him but preferred others but invited him to Willy. To be fair to Richmond they probably figured that Richo, Schultz, Hughes, Reiwoldt and Peterson were enough yet Dean would probably be playing AFL if he was still on their list right now. He has a lot of talent and will be a better player the second time around. I think he will find his way onto a list next year either as a rookie or listed player.

 

[Snoop Dog]

Dean Limbach didnt display the required intensity an AFL player should at Richmond. He was promised a rookie position and Richmond reneged really late. Collingwood contemplated Rookieing him but preferred others but invited him to Willy. To be fair to Richmond they probably figured that Richo, Schultz, Hughes, Reiwoldt and Peterson were enough yet Dean would probably be playing AFL if he was still on their list right now. He has a lot of talent and will be a better player the second time around. I think he will find his way onto a list next year either as a rookie or listed player.

Yeah I am not so sure - he has been very up and down at Willy. The consistency hasnt been there over 4 qtrs in many games this year. In fact he has gone missing regularly.

Clearly has talent but also not sure what role he would play at Senior level. Pies have plenty of smaller - med fwds.

Would be surprised if we taken him, and it would surprise if someone else took the gamble.

Jason Cloke is doing everything Sheedy is asking of him. Suspect Cloke is hoping Sheedy is there next year! He busting his nut to prove to Sheedy he should make good on the promise that if he performs he'll get a spot in 08. Hope he does - MM ruined his career at Pies.

 

[Weaver]

Dean Limbach didnt display the required intensity an AFL player should at Richmond. .... To be fair to Richmond they probably figured that Richo, Schultz, Hughes, Reiwoldt and Peterson were enough yet Dean would probably be playing AFL if he was still on their list right now.

Limbach's problem was that he was / is a pure FF. He leads and marks - end of story. He doesn't get the ball at ground level, doesn't roam around, doesn't create chances for others.

If he was at Richmond he would not be getting a game. Richardson is FF for another 2 years and keeping Limbach around as an understudy didn't make sense. Richardson, Schulz, Hughes, Pattison, Reiwoldt, Polak sees enough choice.

Very few clubs can carry specialists in any position unless they are exceptional. Limbach needed to add more to his game and didn't show signs of doing that.

 

[mjp]

If he was at Richmond he would not be getting a game. Richardson is FF for another 2 years and keeping Limbach around as an understudy didn't make sense. Richardson, Schulz, Hughes, Pattison, Reiwoldt, Polak sees enough choice.

Don't forget Kingsley!

 

[Weaver]

Don't forget Kingsley!

Kingsley is being used in his natural position of HFF. Finally he gets to wander around and is no longer a FF. If Limbach had shown a similar ability to play away from the goalsquare he might have still been in the AFL.

 

[xav15]

how did gilchrist play? and how about john shaw? do you think either of them will play their way onto a rookie list?