Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn, Denver Grainger-Barras (delisted 2024)

[HairyO]

Denver was a rock down back today. Didn't get much of the ball but when it came in he was there to repel.

I think this is the point. Essendon struggled all day, so its how you handle those moments when its your turn in defence.

 

[The Chad and I]

I believe , I really do.

I no longer believe, but id love him to fulfil his potential. Great to hear he played well.

I’m not a hater, I’ve just given up on him.

 

[Slaatybaadfaast]

Yes, Denver! Yes, yes, yes!

 

[Alite]

I no longer believe, but id love him to fulfil his potential. Great to hear he played well.

I’m not a hater, I’ve just given up on him.

The big Easy has changed everything with our tall defensive stocks at the Hawks. I think Easy’s defensive first, attack the mark 2nd and then careful distribution … has influenced the players that he could replace.

Frost has finally heeded the call to be a defensive defender and DGB seems (from his most recent VfL game) to be doing the same.

Whatever has happened, that was the best DGB game that I have seen for some time. He was not dominant… in fact he was near unseen. But he defended well and that is a good start.

 

[kazzooka]

The big Easy has changed everything with our tall defensive stocks at the Hawks. I think Easy’s defensive first, attack the mark 2nd and then careful distribution … has influenced the players that he could replace.

Frost has finally heeded the call to be a defensive defender and DGB seems (from his most recent VfL game) to be doing the same.

Whatever has happened, that was the best DGB game that I have seen for some time. He was not dominant… in fact he was near unseen. But he defended well and that is a good start.

I think with Frost is that last year he was playing as a 2nd tall to Blank and also offering rebound. It was pretty well known in pre-season that Sam Mitchell had told Frost that he and Blank were vying for the same spot. Last year Blank played lock down defender and rarely got the ball, Frosts biggest problem last year was that he kept getting the ball.

With Blank injured Frost is simply a lock down defender and doesn't need to get the ball, or run with it.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I think with Frost is that last year he was playing as a 2nd tall to Blank and also offering rebound. It was pretty well known in pre-season that Sam Mitchell had told Frost that he and Blank were vying for the same spot. Last year Blank played lock down defender and rarely got the ball, Frosts biggest problem last year was that he kept getting the ball.

With Blank injured Frost is simply a lock down defender and doesn't need to get the ball, or run with it.

Sam didn’t say Blanck and Frost were at all fighting for the same spot, they were in the same best 23 side all summer and the idea was to play them both.

 

[flinchfree]

 

[TFFM]

We need to hang in there with DGB, he has the talent and ability which we all know, sometime it takes time to click.

 

[HedgeFund]

The big Easy has changed everything with our tall defensive stocks at the Hawks.

Interesting perspective.

A guy placed on our rookie list 3.5 months ago, right at the end of preseason, who has played 6 VFL games, then one AFL game for 10 disposals, and been omitted. Hasn’t played for 3 weeks. Yet somehow he is transforming our key defenders?

Nothing to do with Scrimshaw and Frost heeding the coaches messages of the past 18 months. It’s all down to the guy added to our list as player 42 in February.

Incredible.

 

[Alite]

Interesting perspective.

A guy placed on our rookie list 3.5 months ago, right at the end of preseason, who has played 6 VFL games, then one AFL game for 10 disposals, and been omitted. Hasn’t played for 3 weeks. Yet somehow he is transforming our key defenders?

Nothing to do with Scrimshaw and Frost heeding the coaches messages of the past 18 months. It’s all down to the guy added to our list as player 42 in February.

Incredible.

I agree 100% with what you wrote. No single event alone changes anything… but with other events it also can change everything. Chaos theory proves that. It is not known why Frost gave up frost-ball after 10 years of playing… and I think it likely that he has been asked many MANY times to just defend… but is only now doing it.
Scrimma’s resurgence as an intercept defender who also defends may not be influence by seeing an effective interceptor come into the club that could usurp him, but it may.

Ethan Phillips is as honest a footballer as I have seen. He just does what he does best and nothing more. I may be overestimating his influence on our group, but that is my prerogative.

I love what he brings to the Club.

Fun fact: the image that is associated with chaos theory sort of looks like a flying hawk! OK, I’ll let myself out..

 

[marklar]

Fun fact: the image that is associated with chaos theory sort of looks like a flying hawk! OK, I’ll let myself out..

Looks like a fairly ordinary Lissajous curve with some pseudo-random harmonic noise applied to make it look purdy.

Ok, I'll follow you out...

 

[threesixpio]

This goes for a lot our players at Box Hill not just DGB.

Last week against good opposition=
All spuds. Delist!

This week against poor opposition=
All guns. Stars in the making.

Consistency is the key.

Good thing to raise. Our BH coaching must be pretty awesome for this turn around. “That shit’s unacceptable”

 

[cryptor]

The big Easy has changed everything with our tall defensive stocks at the Hawks. I think Easy’s defensive first, attack the mark 2nd and then careful distribution … has influenced the players that he could replace.

Frost has finally heeded the call to be a defensive defender and DGB seems (from his most recent VfL game) to be doing the same.

Whatever has happened, that was the best DGB game that I have seen for some time. He was not dominant… in fact he was near unseen. But he defended well and that is a good start.

As I always tell my dog after he finishes a long nap... Ooh that's a big stretch!

 

[KermitJagger]

Denver Grainger-Barras (Eight disposals, five intercept possessions, four marks)​

“Only low numbers for Denver and it’ll sound funny when I say this but it’s the best game he’s played since he’s returned. He defended really, really well. He got his job done first and foremost and that’s a credit to the other backs who were out there with him that allowed him to do that but credit to Denver as well, he’s worked really hard to simplify his focus and his game. Ultimately, the challenge is for him is to now continue that and we as supporters and coaches be really patient with him in that space to defend really well and let his game grow off the back of that. What we were able to do with Denver was get his match-ups right this week which enabled him to play on players that suit him and he ultimately got that job done.”

By far the longest write up from the VFL, and the most intriguing. It seems like the coaches are really trying to stress patience with Denver - not the tact they'd be taking with someone they don't see having a future at the club. I can certainly see how Denver could be the type of player who tries to do too much, coming off his man, intercepting, and leaking goals because of that. I'm glad to see it's back to basics for him.

 

[SSSSSS]

Denver Grainger-Barras (Eight disposals, five intercept possessions, four marks)​

“Only low numbers for Denver and it’ll sound funny when I say this but it’s the best game he’s played since he’s returned. He defended really, really well. He got his job done first and foremost and that’s a credit to the other backs who were out there with him that allowed him to do that but credit to Denver as well, he’s worked really hard to simplify his focus and his game. Ultimately, the challenge is for him is to now continue that and we as supporters and coaches be really patient with him in that space to defend really well and let his game grow off the back of that. What we were able to do with Denver was get his match-ups right this week which enabled him to play on players that suit him and he ultimately got that job done.”

By far the longest write up from the VFL, and the most intriguing. It seems like the coaches are really trying to stress patience with Denver - not the tact they'd be taking with someone they don't see having a future at the club. I can certainly see how Denver could be the type of player who tries to do too much, coming off his man, intercepting, and leaking goals because of that. I'm glad to see it's back to basics for him.

They will be patient and it comes from the top. Sam sees Denver as having a big future at the club.

 

[eldorado]

Sam sees Denver as having a big future at the club.

Pffft...Sam needs to read Bigfooty to get the real picture!

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Pffft...Sam needs to read Bigfooty to get the real picture!

Considering this thread delisted him a few months ago, Sam better get with the times

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Considering this thread delisted him a few months ago, Sam better get with the times

Don’t count your chickens before the eggs hatch. List spots are tight now and at least 3 have to go.

If we bring in Two F/A and B.Smith, then we then need 3 spots for the draft I believe. So thats 6 spots needed for 2024-25.

 

[NICE1]

From what I saw today, he still has the potential to be a very good player. Hold!

He always did. People are just quick to write him off.

 

[tommyk72]

I’m happy to invest another year given the injury interruption this year and the slow development of KPP. While we can’t afford luxuries, we also can’t short change ourselves.

 

[parsons nose]

I get the feeling DGB’s fortunes will be tied to the progress of McCabe. If McCabe has Dear-like start to his career, DGB’s head may well be on the chopping block.

 

[KermitJagger]

I get the feeling DGB’s fortunes will be tied to the progress of McCabe. If McCabe has Dear-like start to his career, DGB’s head may well be on the chopping block.

DGB's fortunes are tied to nothing but his performance tbh

 

[The Chad and I]

He always did. People are just quick to write him off.

He regressed last season, his 3rd.
Injured this season.
4 seasons is hardly being trigger happy on a player's prospects.

He always had the talent, but he simply has not produced, or progressed.

 

[burger09]

KPPs take a minimum of 7 years to be AFL ready.
Unless they are good.

 

[Iceman!]

KPPs take a minimum of 7 years to be AFL ready.
Unless they are good.

This is not true, like at all. I would suggest most are AFL ready by year 4-5 if they are going to make it as anything more than fringe guys. Obviously always exceptions but you generally know well before year 7.