He's a fascinating player. It's hard to find a better kick, I wouldn't say he takes full value of his size like a Fyfe but he's still in the very top tier as a marking midfielder purely because of his size and because he has exceptional leading habits for a midfielder which other midfielders can't defend. He's a 105+ guy as a natural wingman. The concern is he's a 75-85 type guy as a forward so if he gets stuck there again it really hurts and to date his scoring has been temperamental and very role based.
I think he's got the tools inside. He's very good at the shifty movements to make space in tight areas, he definitely doesn't seek the contest (not his role with Sydney to be fair) but he also wins most one on one contests that's he in, he's got clean hands and he's pretty strong in the tackle generally though definitely leans towards the not getting tackled (think Pendles subtle movements to shake), I think part of it is he's the rare left footer who can and will go onto his right which definitely allows him to shake people who get locked onto the left. He tackles well when it's his turn, again role hasn't forced this often. Mostly though if he's getting 15+ kicks you're going to be hitting a target on 10 of those and he tends to kick a lot longer than most players who connect at the rate he does so the effective metres gained accumulates rapidly. I also think that as a more inside midfielder there's no reason he can't still provide that linking role he's so good at from the wing or sweep to defense, similar to Bont or Pendles again at their sides.
He's not in my side right now but that's mostly me throwing shade at spending money down back and that I think Lloyd and Hall are safer picks.
I also want to see how Adelaide are using him and how he looks in the role, his biggest negative at Sydney is he's very pouty, when he's played in unfavourable positions he basically just shuts down and stops trying, he's also to date been a really poor forward because all those things he does really well as a midfielder he's really just average at when compared to forwards. I can definitely see a scenario where he ends up kind of dogging it in a Crows side I think could be pretty ordinary this year after getting paid so I think I'm kind of happy to wait and see on him.
I think he's got the tools inside. He's very good at the shifty movements to make space in tight areas, he definitely doesn't seek the contest (not his role with Sydney to be fair) but he also wins most one on one contests that's he in, he's got clean hands and he's pretty strong in the tackle generally though definitely leans towards the not getting tackled (think Pendles subtle movements to shake), I think part of it is he's the rare left footer who can and will go onto his right which definitely allows him to shake people who get locked onto the left. He tackles well when it's his turn, again role hasn't forced this often. Mostly though if he's getting 15+ kicks you're going to be hitting a target on 10 of those and he tends to kick a lot longer than most players who connect at the rate he does so the effective metres gained accumulates rapidly. I also think that as a more inside midfielder there's no reason he can't still provide that linking role he's so good at from the wing or sweep to defense, similar to Bont or Pendles again at their sides.
He's not in my side right now but that's mostly me throwing shade at spending money down back and that I think Lloyd and Hall are safer picks.
I also want to see how Adelaide are using him and how he looks in the role, his biggest negative at Sydney is he's very pouty, when he's played in unfavourable positions he basically just shuts down and stops trying, he's also to date been a really poor forward because all those things he does really well as a midfielder he's really just average at when compared to forwards. I can definitely see a scenario where he ends up kind of dogging it in a Crows side I think could be pretty ordinary this year after getting paid so I think I'm kind of happy to wait and see on him.
