Who will play more games next year?

[Longy413]

Longy any reason why you don't rate Houli highly? Or is it more that you rate others very highly?

I do rate him, I just don't think he's as ready made as others are suggesting.

He'll play near on every game in 2009, I'm just not expecting a big year from him in 2008.

Without doing the whole, look at me, I was right thing, he was expected to be in our best side in 2007 but it was evident that he still had a lot to learn.

People are forgetting Lonergan, he'll play more games than quite a few on that list this year.

 

[silk]

Why do people thingk Gumby will play so much more game time then neagle?

I suspect we will see more from him, if he can have some luck with injuries.

 

[boms]

1. Jetta
2. Hocking
3. Dempsey
4. Lonergan
5. Dyson
6. Houli
7. Gumbleton

 

[NathanS]

1. Leroy Jetta: Has already shown he can become a game changer at AFL level. From all reports he's in the right frame of mind, and is fitter then ever.
2. Ricky Dyson: Knight's has stated he'll give Dyson plenty of opportunity to prove himself. Experienced at AFL level.
3. Bachar Houli: Super fit, and a professional in his training. Knight's said he'll reward fitness.
4. Courtney Dempsey: In my opinion the best of the bunch, but I'm not convinced his body can hold up for a whole season.
5. Heath Hocking: Hard working, but IMHO a little behind in the system.
6. Tom Hislop: Will be a good player, but has had an interupted pre-season.
7. David Myers: Being new to the system, he'll have to prove his trade in Bendigo first. The only player Knight's wouldn't be familar with.

 

[The_Young_Gun]

1. Jetta
2. Hocking
3. Dempsey
4. Lonergan
5. Dyson
6. Houli
7. Gumbleton

Yeh Lonergan is one I left out, he should get a lot more time next year.

 

[King Patty]

Out of Dempsey, Houli, Dyson, Hislop, Jetta, Hocking, Myers based on form and team balance.

1. Jetta
2. Dempsey
3. Houli
4. Lonergan
5. Dyson
6. Gumbleton
7. Hislop

 

[King Patty]

1. Jetta
2. Dempsey
3. Houli
4. Dyson
5. Gumbleton
6. Hocking
7. Hislop
8. Myers

 

[TheDon35]

Injuries aside

1, Gumby, Jetta, Houli, Dempsey will all be part of our best side next year and therefore should play the majority of the year.

2, Myers

3, Hislop

4, Dyson - A few games early but I hope I don't see a heap of him as I don't think he's up to it.

5, Hocking - Will struggle to be a quality AFL footballer and don't want to see him before Hislop or Houli.

6, Lonergan - Won't make AFL standard

 

[TheDon35]

Jetta
Hocking
Houli
Hislop
Dyson
Dempsey
Myers
Gumbleton[/quote]

Interesting.... All being fit if Gumby played the least of this group then the coaching staff would need a kick up the arse.

I'm assuming you think Gumby will be injured?

 

[Not a Wellman]

I think gumby will strugle also, reason been hille and laycock resting up forward is far more dangerous then gumby at this point in time. And obviously he aint taking Lloyd or lucas spots.

And dyson will play the most games and will actually get a chance to prove himself unlike the last few years.

 

[MilhouseVanJohn]

not to be critical, but can someone tell me what they've seen in Hocking other than hearing he's tearing up the track?

i heard the same last year and he still was a long way from translating that into becoming a good afl player...if fitness is all it takes then mark fraser and (not nuts about) Bolts would have been superstars...not duds!

 

[Bombs Away]

Think you are right there Milhouse.

Gumby, Hislop, Jetta and Houli will all get time. They had injuries and other issues to work out last season. Neagle again if he is fit will get games but not with gumby, hille and laycock in the side. One of them need to be out for team balance. Ryder will play in the ruck a little more and gumby will play bits on the half back line to get his confidence up. Slattery is one who will play more if fit.

Dyson, well I would love to be proven wrong in my opinion of him, with a different coach you never know. At this stage I have full faith in knights, just wish he would stay out of the media and concentrate on coaching.

 

[TheDon35]

not to be critical, but can someone tell me what they've seen in Hocking other than hearing he's tearing up the track?

i heard the same last year and he still was a long way from translating that into becoming a good afl player...if fitness is all it takes then mark fraser and (not nuts about) Bolts would have been superstars...not duds!

I would agree with this. His stocks seem to have gone through the roof since he won the 3km time trial on the first session back. I would think he's still a long way off becoming the class act many in here make him out to already be.

 

[TheDon35]

I think gumby will strugle also, reason been hille and laycock resting up forward is far more dangerous then gumby at this point in time. And obviously he aint taking Lloyd or lucas spots.

And dyson will play the most games and will actually get a chance to prove himself unlike the last few years.

I don't have the stats on hand but I would think that other than stretching oppositions from a structural perspective, Hille and Laycock have offered very little up forward over the past few years. Both have shown glimpses but rarely delivered in that role. No Gumby won't take lloyd or lucas spots but there are various set ups and rotations that are possible which ensure there is a spot for Gumby

I would absolutely think that Gumby is the best bet to play the 3rd tall fwd role and definately has the ability to kick a couple of big bags next year. He will no doubt have his ups and downs but we need to develop him.

 

[DaSawx]

not to be critical, but can someone tell me what they've seen in Hocking other than hearing he's tearing up the track?

i heard the same last year and he still was a long way from translating that into becoming a good afl player...if fitness is all it takes then mark fraser and (not nuts about) Bolts would have been superstars...not duds!

Hocking showed in the VFL he can find his own footy and influence results and also has the running capacity to be a good tagger.

He has a good footy brain, Bolts and Fraser did not.

 

[TheDon35]

Hocking showed in the VFL he can find his own footy and influence results and also has the running capacity to be a good tagger.

He has a good footy brain, Bolts and Fraser did not.

In todays footy, I think it would be a mistake to play slattery and Hocking in the same team. Both pffer much of the same thing. Hocking may win a bit more of the ball but at league level, they will primarily be taggers. If Hocking plays then Slattery would have to be out in my view

 

[DaSawx]

In todays footy, I think it would be a mistake to play slattery and Hocking in the same team. Both pffer much of the same thing. Hocking may win a bit more of the ball but at league level, they will primarily be taggers. If Hocking plays then Slattery would have to be out in my view

might need Slattery down back more often, especially if McVeigh is gonna move up the field

 

[Longy413]

I hope Matthew Knights has learnt something from the Bomber Thompson school of player development.

 

[ant555]

Jetta
Hocking
Houli
Hislop
Dyson
Dempsey
Myers
Gumbleton[/quote]

Interesting.... All being fit if Gumby played the least of this group then the coaching staff would need a kick up the arse.

I'm assuming you think Gumby will be injured?

No i just dont hink he is ready. I would think he will play some senior footy but it wont surprise me if he only plays 7 or 8 games. His body is not ready to take on key roles yet. If he is to be a star CHF he will have to spend some time at Bendigo playing that position . He is still very raw and needs development. I dont think his body is ready for a full season at AFL level.
The coaching staff will need a kick in the arse if they push him too hard too early while we still have Lloyd and Lucas playing.
And you will be proven wrong with Hocking. He wont be a super star but he will be more than handy in the midfield

 

[ant555]

not to be critical, but can someone tell me what they've seen in Hocking other than hearing he's tearing up the track?

i heard the same last year and he still was a long way from translating that into becoming a good afl player...if fitness is all it takes then mark fraser and (not nuts about) Bolts would have been superstars...not duds!

He was on the rookie list last year so he couldnt get a spot in the seniors early , he had to wait until there was a long term injury which came late in the year. But he averaged 23 possessions in the VFL, had the most tackles per game than any of the young mids. Was given more run with roles than any of the other young blokes and did them well. Despite several people saying his kicking was ordinary his kicking eff was actually higher than any of the other young blokes last season and he finished the year off with a sensational game in the VFL Elim final.

 

[ant555]

I would agree with this. His stocks seem to have gone through the roof since he won the 3km time trial on the first session back. I would think he's still a long way off becoming the class act many in here make him out to already be.

I dont think may people are calling him a class act or a rising star. I rate him but in saying that he isnt a genuine super star mid. He is a hard runing inside mid who is strong at the footy and a great team player. Something we have had missing in our midfield for a while. And he isnt just a tagger as you seem to have pegged him as. He can win the footy and is good at it. Always has been.

 

[Slattery_20]

I hope Matthew Knights has learnt something from the Bomber Thompson school of player development.

If Knights showed the same patience as Bomber Thompson has he'd be lambasted from pillar to post

 

[Slattery_20]

I dont think may people are calling him a class act or a rising star. I rate him but in saying that he isnt a genuine super star mid. He is a hard runing inside mid who is strong at the footy and a great team player. Something we have had missing in our midfield for a while. And he isnt just a tagger as you seem to have pegged him as. He can win the footy and is good at it. Always has been.

Was very unlucky to get dropped from the 1st last year IMHO after his 1st game - 10 touches IIRC?

Although it's likely they only played him to show off what he could do & he satisfied them from that game alone

Certainly is physically ready for AFL footy, could slot straight in unlike most of our younguns

 

[TheDon35]

No i just dont hink he is ready. I would think he will play some senior footy but it wont surprise me if he only plays 7 or 8 games. His body is not ready to take on key roles yet. If he is to be a star CHF he will have to spend some time at Bendigo playing that position . He is still very raw and needs development. I dont think his body is ready for a full season at AFL level.
The coaching staff will need a kick in the arse if they push him too hard too early while we still have Lloyd and Lucas playing.
And you will be proven wrong with Hocking. He wont be a super star but he will be more than handy in the midfield

Given that he played 5 or 6 games this year I think it's safe to suggest that if his body holds up, he'll play at least half the games.

I don't think i'll be proven wrong with Hocking at all. I don't think he's got enough tools to make it as a consistently good AFL footballer. I've seen nothing yet to suggest otherwise.

 

[Burzum]

I dont think may people are calling him a class act or a rising star. I rate him but in saying that he isnt a genuine super star mid. He is a hard runing inside mid who is strong at the footy and a great team player. Something we have had missing in our midfield for a while. And he isnt just a tagger as you seem to have pegged him as. He can win the footy and is good at it. Always has been.

Who would you compare Hocking to in the AFL currently?