Discussion Rookie Discussion

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I hope your optimism is not based on Townsend to transfer into midfield, when he could not do so at Richmond

Here are the statistics for when he last played midfield.
View attachment 15794
I was moreso referring to the poster referring to Marlion Pickett being a lock.

Townsend's 2017 Granny was a ripper and within a year or so was done at the Tigers.
 
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Article in yesterday's West Australian on Bailey Williams - WCE (DEF, $123,900)...


Teen's Ruck Bid

Uncapped second-year ruckman Bailey Williams is shaping as the surprise ruck partner to West Coast superstar Nic Naitanui after a strong showing for the ‘probables’ team in yesterday’s intra-club match at Mineral Resources Park.

Half-way through the more than two-hour session, the Eagles split the teams into what appeared to be the most likely line-up for round one and a team made up of the rest of the squad.

In the absence of key forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling, Williams lined up in the goal square alongside forwards Jake Waterman, Jamie Cripps and Liam Ryan.

The 19-year-old then spent time in the ruck, working alongside exciting recruit Tim Kelly, captain Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Jack Redden, Dom Sheed and Mark Hutchings in a preview of the Eagles’ star-studded midfield capabilities.

Williams was drafted from Victoria with pick 35 in 2018 and spent last season in the WAFL, where he averaged 10 disposals and 15 hit-outs in 20 games.

The bulked-up Williams’ most impressive moment was a chase-down tackle on defender Tom Barrass early in the game which led to an easy goal, while he also leapt over teammate Tom Hickey at stoppages.

Kelly got better as the session went on, with his slick skills in heavy traffic and his speed out of the contest standing out. At one stage, Naitanui fed Kelly from a centre clearance, allowing the All-Australian midfielder to sprint away.

Former Geelong forward Jamaine Jones impressed as he looks to win what could be one of two vacant spots on the Eagles’ list.

New captain Shuey was on managed minutes, while Sheed spent time at half-forward.
 
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And another in today's Sunday Times...


Is Bailey Williams ready to debut?

Summer Injuries to Allen, Vardy and Hickey have given untried youngster Bailey Williams a sniff and the pre-season series presents the 19-year-old with a huge opportunity to prove he's ready for senior footy.

The 199cm redhead was taken with pick 35 in the 2018 national draft and played 20 gamesfor the club's reserves outfit last year. Rated one of the best ruckmen of his draft class, Williams will hope to back-up Nic Naitanui in the ruck and offer a tall target in attack.

If Williams can show he's up to it he looms as a genuine chance of making his debut early in the season.


And in yesterday's West they listed Wiliams at 2 in their list of Top 10 standout's from fridays intra-club...

2. Bailey Williams
Started in a battle against Nic Naitanui before teaming up with the star for the "probables" in an impressive performance from the teenager.
 
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Snippet in today's Sunday Times on Jarrod Brander too...

Where does Jarrod Brander fit in?

Brander looks to have the AFL world at his feet. It's just a matter of where on the field those feet belong. The 21-year-old first round draft pick is 195cm and will almost certainly become a key-position player at either end of the ground in time.

With senior players ahead of him in both attack and defence for the time being, the pre-season games will give the Eagles the perfect opportnity to see if the athletic big man can fit in as a wingman.

Now bigger and stronger after his third pre-season, Brander will be grateful for any chance he can get after playing just three games in a patient first two years of development.



And in yesterday's West they listed Brander at 4 in their list of Top 10 standout's from fridays intra-club...

4. Jarrod Brander
Began his new life on a wing well, with the big-bodied midfielder doing a lot of work as the Eagles look to add an extra string to his bow. Was clean under pressure.
 

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This. I look at around 75 SC/100% TOG as an absolute minimum. There's only 10 that achieved that. A lot of them from low TOG too.
Exactly. In prior years, looking for a minimum level of TOG has arguably been as instructive as looking at SC/TOG, especially in game two.
 
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This. I look at around 75 SC/100% TOG as an absolute minimum. There's only 10 that achieved that. A lot of them from low TOG too.
That sort or makes sense .... in real game terms once the season starts looking for 60+ as the cut off ....

Also noting that only 9 first year players achieved that as a season average and played 6+ games in the first 7 rounds last year ...
- others may have but I wasn't tracking them ..
 

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That sort or makes sense .... in real game terms once the season starts looking for 60+ as the cut off ....

Also noting that only 9 first year players achieved that as a season average and played 6+ games in the first 7 rounds last year ...
- others may have but I wasn't tracking them ..
Yikes, this puts things in perspective!
 
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Yikes, this puts things in perspective!
FWIW I had them as:

Walsh, 87 (CAR)
Miers, 67 (COL)
Atkins, 60 (GEE)
Rozee, 78 (PTA)
Duursma, 74 (PTA)
Butters, 61 (PTA)
Drew, 72 (PTA)
Wilkie, 71 (STK)
Smith, 77 (WBU)

I don't have the starting price on hand for each of them though ...

- Also don't see PTA bringing in as many this year again ... they went very hard in the draft and played them for the future ...

- I might not like the coach but he at least adhered to the old mantra of getting 50 games into them ASAP !!
 

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FWIW I had them as:

Walsh, 87 (CAR)
Miers, 67 (COL)
Atkins, 60 (GEE)
Rozee, 78 (PTA)
Duursma, 74 (PTA)
Butters, 61 (PTA)
Drew, 72 (PTA)
Wilkie, 71 (STK)
Smith, 77 (WBU)

I don't have the starting price on hand for each of them though ...

- Also don't see PTA bringing in as many this year again ... they went very hard in the draft and played them for the future ...

- I might not like the coach but he at least adhered to the old mantra of getting 50 games into them ASAP !!
Yes, I was checking out your rookie tracker again earlier, and noted that Hinkley had certainly played the kids, as had Chris Scott. They are both frustrating in their own ways (eg Hinkley not playing players in position, Scott with his late outs). but you can't knock them when it comes to delivering rookies last year.

You may already have seen this, but if you ever need historical player prices they're available on Footywire:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pu-port-adelaide-power--connor-rozee
 
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