Army the Wonderkid wrote:
Oh Lordy we need 10 of them to have a breakthrough year but in looking through the list, before those who haven't played yet and those we are yet to draft, we seem to have quite a high proportion of our list in sub 30 gamers who will be given opportunity next year(s):
- Boekhorst, 11 games, but recruited as mature age-ish
- Buckley, 27 games, now in system
- Cripps, 23 games & B&F!
- Dick, 6 games, recruited as DFA after 2 years in the Swans (so 3 year in)
- Graham, 16 games, a few years in
- Jaksch, 13 games, recruited from GWS
- Kerridge, 27 games with the Crows, now in system
- Lamb, 22 games with Swans and GWS, now in system
- Phillips, 14 games, now in system
- Plowman, 20 games, now in system
- Smith, 7 games, only in second year.... perhaps give a full second year before assessing
- Sumner, 12 games, great highlights reel
- Whiley, 20 games
- Byrne / Sheehan (sub 5 games) but expected to come in
That's 14 or 15 players to fill say 8-10 spots in each 22, barring injury.
I know we're last but with **DEVELOPMENT** and **GOOD COACHING** (*) that is giving me some form of hope for good competition amongst a bunch of 3-5 year players who should have the body and fitness to compete.
(*) Not traditional strengths
So I'd say;
- run from half back - Plowman will be given huge opportunities
- forward pressure and ability - Sumner
- perhaps Cripps (!)
- Buckley, Boeky and Graham
On deliberation:
BREAKTHROUGH:
Cripps, but arguably he'd already broken through in 2015
ABOVE AVERAGE (20 games+):
Kerridge
PASS:
Plowman
Lamb (15 games)
Phillips
Sumner
Buckley
Byrne
FAIL - NOWHERE NEAR BREAKING THROUGH:
Boekhorst
MASSIVE FAIL:
Dick - delisted
Graham - missed opportunity
Jaksch - player 40 on the list
Whiley
Smith - delisted
Sheehan - injury
Just not enough who came through and demanded ongoing senior selection.