Toast Welcome to Fremantle Neil Erasmus (pick 10 2021 AFL Draft)
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King Tenz
Norm Smith Medallist
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Again, I'll reiterate. Not hating. It's just a top 10 pick that hasn't had any standout moments so far is a little bit concerning.
Played well against the Swans.
And maybe he never really will have standout moments. And still be a gun. That's how some players operate if they are blunt force objects. Look at Josh Dunkley, who is the best comparison I can think of. His first 6 games were pretty much the same as what we have seen from Erasmus, and even now it would be easy to not really notice what Dunkley does.
Pussinbootz
Headless Chook
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I find it interesting that if it was Banfield or Henry called a headless chook no one would bat an eye. But since it’s our great white hope in Neil Erasmus everyone piles on.
For the record, I haven’t put a line through him, I just think based on his (admittedly limited) exposed form, his potential projects closer to that of Mitch Robinson or Matt DeBoer than some of names being thrown around - Dunkley, Taranto etc.
There’s nothing wrong with that BTW. Every team needs solid role players & not all top 10 picks end up elite. James Aish is a great example.
I like the heuristic that someone threw up in an earlier thread - pretend Johnson was taken at 10 & Erasmus at 21. Optically those look like very astute picks.
(We’re probably overdue for a miss anyway. The past few years of top end drafting have been phenomenal.)
Purple Jesus
not jess
Neither had Brayshaw or Cerra after a handful of games.
Purple Jesus
not jess
If they're still ordinary by 23 as a mid, then you can put a line through them.
Fairly sure you won't find me using that term at all. Banfield gets stick because some think he is limited and has had 70 games to show us something different in contrast to Ras' 12. If Ras was playing like he is after 70 games you'd be right to be critical. Henry probably get's overs in general due to how quick his draft class (Serong especially) came on.
Also, calling a top 10 a Matt DeBoer after 12 games is 100% putting a line through him as a top level player. As hard as DeBoer tried, he was never more than B grade. Same with Robinson.
Piggy Smalls
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How many standout games did reigning AFLPA MVP Andy Brayshaw have in his first season? Didn’t get a RS nomination before Gaff ended his season.
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Not Erasmus related, but those highlights just emphasised to me how much we are missing Brodie this year! He dished out about 5 clearances in someone else’s highlights!
Pussinbootz
Headless Chook
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Both were best 22 players and solid contributors to two very competitive teams. One made the GF and the other has been a perennial contender.
Pussinbootz
Headless Chook
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Probably not many. Not really relevant though. I could name many more players who had average starts and ended up average players versus those who became MVP.
Statistically Erasmus much more likely to be an average player than a future MVP. Obviously there’s a range between but if you’re going to talk about Brayshaw, let’s also talk about Brett Bewley & Stef Giro who had equally underwhelming starts.
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Pussinbootz
Headless Chook
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What else are we going to talk about?
wakojako
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LDU?
Purple Jesus
not jess
What about him?
No team picks a bloke at 10 hoping to get Matt DeBoer. Your dreams are to get Fyfe but realistically hope to get Mundy (maybe sans the longevity).
MDB is probably a very interesting comparison.
Matt was AA Centre in the U18 & predicted to be a top 10-20 draft pick. He chose to spend a year studying & playing WAFL rather than enter the draft. During that year his severe limitations with kicking became apparent & he plummeted with recruiters all the way to the rookie draft.
Erasmus was a PSA star, still very young when drafted.
Let’s face it, if he was ripping it up on the track & at Peel he would have played a lot more games by now. I know the talk from the club has been about developing him as an inside mid but he was supposed to be a mid-forward (something which our coaches don’t appear to believe in as a concept). If he was good enough he would play in front of Banfield or Freddy.
I don’t know if he’s going to be any good but I think discussions about it are certainly valid at this point.
People have been ripping Henry to shreds practically since debut & others are happy writing off Sturt who has barely played 10 games but Erasmus is a sacred cow because?
Lately I’m probably one of the more pessimistic and reactionary posters on here.
But on Erasmus, I’m not worried. He’s basically almost a 2022 draftee with his age. Nick Daicos for example is nearly 12 months older than him despite being the same draft. Heath Chapman, who was drafted one year before Neil, is 23 months older than him.
So I wouldn’t panic yet. I want to see him play every single game from now to the end of the season. Let’s get him to 19 games by R1 2024.
A big pre season awaits him -
Then we should expect to see some positive signs in mid 2024 from Neil.
Good post. His body hasn’t developed as fast as MJ. He therefore gets knocked around more in contests. He has been heavily tagged at WAFL but I have noticed improved composure and ball use for Peel.
I remember that horrible WAFL game in the pouring rain with strong wind. His field kicking was very good in that game. Fluffed a kick at goal but around the ground used the ball well where most others were struggling to hit a target.
He is a running machine and noticed improvement form him in that last quarter v Carlton. Playing against the likes of Bont and Cripps he will learn a lot about positioning etc.
No way we make finals so we need to play Erasmus in the seniors. Our improvement for 2024 will come within from likes of Erasmus, Johnson and Brodie.
