Will Ash Smith play 50 games?

[worstbloke]

I don't rate Brennan, he's an honest battler with some toe, Smith on the other hand has some real speed and if he can refine his kicking has the hallmarks of a 90 metre player.

Brennan panicks with ball in hand.

 

[Art OF war]

Yes I think he will become a very important player for us. He is already a good to great defender with exceptional closing speed. Needs to be a bit switched on but I'm sure that will come with confidence and time.

If he becomes the player he possibly can. Hurn, Waters and Smith is some decent run off the half back line xx

 

[placebo]

I actually quite like him.

The defensive skills he showed when he was in the side for an extended period were outstanding - extremely good one on one, would spoil then have the speed and size to win ball on the ground.

He needs to improve his awareness and lower his eyes when kicking and when he is confident he is much better. I think he is the kind of confidence player that needs to be in the side for an extended period, not well suited to coming in and out of the side from the WAFL unfortunately.

This. Was quality when he had extended periods in the team. He showed an ability to play on smalls and talls effectively and used his pace and disposal to good effect. He's low on confidence at the moment but I believe he'll bounce back. He'll play 50 games and I'm pretty certain they'll be with us.

 

[erbenz]

Don't know why people are so concerned about his game on the weekend.

Smith needs matches to gain confidence, he's not the sort of player that just walks in and plays well; he took 5 or 6 rounds to settle in last year prior to his injury.

Furthermore, he's not always one to approach pre-season and WAFL matches with the same intensity as he does AFL, and while that's probably hampered his ability to take create opportunities for himself, I wouldn't write him off over a NAB cup match.

FWIW he was solid one-on-one and the goals that Walters kicked were from situations he wasn't involved with. The kicking was a bit ordinary but the fact he was continually bombing it long suggested he might've been playing to instruction rather than just being poor in his decision making (I can't guarantee this as Smith has displayed poor on-field judgement in the past, but because it was the same, repetitive sort of error I imagine he was playing to instruction).

 

[WCE_phil]

I think Wilson if he can get the fitness level required will be better than both, hard like Brennan but not stupid and irresponsible. Aerially superior to both, both in terms of punching and marking. He's a better kick than both as well.
Knock would have been his speed but he was really covering the ground quickly on the weekend.

For both brennan and smith speed is one of their main strengths. For wilson its one of, if not his biggest weakness. Wilson's role long term if he can acquire one is more like that of brett jones.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

For both brennan and smith speed is one of their main strengths. For wilson its one of, if not his biggest weakness. Wilson's role long term if he can acquire one is more like that of brett jones.

It's being addressed in a big way if the week end was anything to go by. I think the comparison to Brett Jones is absurd.

 

[SpaceClef]

When you compare his intensity to that of Brennan, it's easy to see why he's not likely to make 50 games.

I think his best chances are playing on a wing/HFF.

I don't know why he hasn't been trialled on a HFF. I suggested it (and i keep bringing this up but...) on here about 1.5 years ago and not many agreed, but I just don't see how he's going to make it as a defender. I suggested he was similar to Nicoski in that he just seemed too sporadic to be reliable as a medium running defender.

Time to try something new, and I reckon having the ball kicked to him will yield better results than expecting him to be accountable and precise deep in defense.

 

[SpaceClef]

It's being addressed in a big way if the week end was anything to go by. I think the comparison to Brett Jones is absurd.

I would really like to see more of Wilson. Is he playing for Peel this year, or EP?

 

[WCE_phil]

I would really like to see more of Wilson. Is he playing for Peel this year, or EP?

east perth.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Was Plugger slow on the lead?

 

[Ian Dargie]

Yes I think he will become a very important player for us. He is already a good to great defender with exceptional closing speed. Needs to be a bit switched on but I'm sure that will come with confidence and time.

Are you talking about Smith?

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Was Plugger slow on the lead?

Can you remember the names of those players you wanted in front of Hurn that never played a game?

 

[Ian Dargie]

Can you remember the names of those players you wanted in front of Hurn that never played a game?

Let's focus on bogus statements rather than incorrect predictions.

Certainly, we did very well to draft Hurn at #13 and criticisms of that selection now, in hindsight, appear misguided. But any comment made immediately after any draft is obviously and acutely vulnerable to that.

We are all prone to inaccurately predicting the future. There's no sin in that. Some weeks, I tip only 7 out of 8 correctly. However, lying about the past and then refusing to acknowledge one's mistake is a different matter. That requires a certain kind of cowardice.

Was Plugger slow on the lead? Yes or no? Why don't you just take it on the chin? Why are you scared to admit you were mistaken?

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Coming from someone who has to post under different aliases.

Go and start another 50 threads so you have somebody you can argue with you oxygen thief.

 

[eaglespremiers]

For both brennan and smith speed is one of their main strengths. For wilson its one of, if not his biggest weakness. Wilson's role long term if he can acquire one is more like that of brett jones.

Jones was by no means slow.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Are you talking about Smith?

Maybe Schofield?

 

[TOA.]

Jones was by no means slow.

Jones was one of the quickest at the club, his state screening time was under 2.90 which is extremely quick. His pace was one of his best assets, especially because he was quite big.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Jones was one of the quickest at the club, his state screening time was under 2.90 which is extremely quick. His pace was one of his best assets, especially because he was quite big.

Which is why I find the comparison strange.

 

[Chris_6678]

I don't rate Brennan, he's an honest battler with some toe, Smith on the other hand has some real speed and if he can refine his kicking has the hallmarks of a 90 metre player.

Brennan panicks with ball in hand.

If only we could combine the 2.

 

[Shupe]

If only we could combine the 2.

LeCrassic...

 

[the harry]

Good thread

Brennan would have him completely covered if it wasn't his man that fairly regularly kicked goals. Despite his intensity, and agression, Brennan needs to play a bit tighter/not get seperated as much, but this will come with a bit more experience at the top level.

Where as Smith, who is meant to be a decent kick, causes issues with his delivery. Doesn't show his speed either. I do like that he is a bit taller than Brennan though, should be able to take the medium forwards in addition to the smaller ones.

The comparision arises as I feel that at this time if Smith is to be outside the 22 it is probably because of Brennan. Although, with Butler, Waters, Hurn, Glass, Schoey, and Emac as the first 6, maybe it's Smith/Brennan/A Selwood in a 3 way struggle for the 7th defender?

Regardless, I don't think Smith will play enough to get to 50 this season and by next year I feel Brennan will have either passed him enough to keep him out, or one of the other guys such as Wilson will have gone beyond both.

Back in mid 2011 Smith was kicking goals off the half back line (maybe against the Blues?) and looking good. No idea what happened since though.

 

[Chris_6678]

I think he is very underdone did not look right the other night, but i think he is the sort of player that would benefit from playing consecutive games and not just the odd game because of injury. In 2011 he started of a little slow but the more games he got the more confident he got the more he took the game on.

 

[The Dodger]

Well, he wouldn't be delisted, he'd demand a trade.

Demand seems a little strong of word for Ash Smith.
I would say he would get disinterested to the point where the Eagles might politely ask him if he wishes to be traded.

 

[LeCrassic]

 

[The Dodger]

Its good, but I have a feeling that Brennan's stronger personality would tell the Smith part of him that he is not getting a sleeve.