ThePsychologist wrote:
Big Kahuna Boot wrote:
^^^^^
..blown out knees before afl set him back a couple of years, plus in his 2.5 afl years to date the hammy issues shoulder and now knee issues..
....others don't believe me when I say it takes a few years to become afl fit, and that's from having some fitness, he came to us with nowhere near enough, he will take another year or two.. ..that's the timeline price for picking any player with no fitness at draft time.. ..because of the knee issues, it's easy to figure he could have some soreness, it's not just the chance the Lars will snap, but also ongoing soreness issues now and then due to the brutal sport and running demands.. ..its why a top five talent slips out of the top ten.. ..partly potential Lars snapping, partly zero fitness due to the Lars..
Has he had injuries to both knees? Whilst I agree injuries can hinder his fitness levels the issue is how unfit he is. Should still be a lot better than he is. My genuine concern is he just doesn't have the tank and agility. I have never seen a player blow up as quick as he does. Watch him live and it's very ordinary. You can actually see him trying but he is so far off the pace it isn't funny. It's not as simple with some players that it takes time to build an engine. I could train for 10 years everyday and still not run a marathon under 3 hours. I don't have that ability. There are a lot of footballers in lower leagues that have better skills or game awareness than a lot of AFL footballers but they simply don't have the running capability or agility. More so than ever it's a key component. Unfortunately for us and Menzel I think it's an area he will struggle and I can't see it improving.
The only real option, if injuries are causing him issues, is to rest him get him ready and then do a long pre season. Having him knocked around each week, if injured, isn't acheiving anything positive at all.
..i'm talking basic afl fitness for him, not the elite onballer running capacity of the top mids.. ..from memory his last couple of years predraft were stuffed by the knees, including the much documented Lars at 16.. ..he was playing seniors for his s.a club, but coming off such a low base he was miles off the pace.. ..is still a couple of long, running focused preseasons away from basic level afl fitness..
..agility wise I think he is fine, but we need him to be more than a flashy forward pocket type.... ..high hf, serious time through he middle.. ..if he can start running through the middle in a couple of years then we have a boost.. ..flashy forwards are cream, not cake.. ..i'm ok with him needing more time provided he can cut it in the middle.. ..if he can't play middle cos he doesn't have that ability, then waiting four or five years for a flashy forward to play four quarters consistently, is too long..