Discussion Rookie Discussion

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Can’t remember a season where there have been so many of the more expensive rookie priced players looking like must haves.

I reckon most seasons I start with one or two that are 140k or over. As it stands, I have seven!
5 for me - I was quite surprised I have that many, however a few of them are only in the $140’s
 
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Possibly. My line of thought was more aimed at guys like Bews and Kolodjashnij who I thought were vulnerable to replacement. Plus Geelong are not scared to play their rookies if they show enough. But lets see the JLT first.
From a few pages back, but Kolodjashnij finished 8th in the B&F so he is probably fairly safe. They like Bews as a pure lockdown small, but Henry and Stewart can play smaller also. With Thurlow and Murdoch gone there's probably a spot on the wing up for grabs.
 
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From a few pages back, but Kolodjashnij finished 8th in the B&F so he is probably fairly safe. They like Bews as a pure lockdown small, but Henry and Stewart can play smaller also. With Thurlow and Murdoch gone there's probably a spot on the wing up for grabs.
As a Geelong supporter you probably have a better idea of the set up down there but Clark did himself no harm with his JLT effort the other day. Needs to repeat it but I would not be surprised if he gets a run. Tuohy coming back may be an issue. Thurlow only played 7 games last year and was a fringe player while perhaps the rise of Kelly killed off the unreliable Murdoch. Round 1 tells the tale.
 

Bomber18

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Wondering if Burgess can be an onfield forward option early on. He did pretty well from limited game time and had an easy draw early on. I think he will be reliant on goals for his scoring but not many other targets fwd for the suns. Also had a good intraclub game with 2 or 3 goals I think.

Testing out if the 3 rookie on field fwd line might work. Setters and Drew look like good scorers. If Balta got up as the backup ruck option for the tigers, it would definitely work.
 

Ben's Beasts

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Wondering if Burgess can be an onfield forward option early on. He did pretty well from limited game time and had an easy draw early on. I think he will be reliant on goals for his scoring but not many other targets fwd for the suns. Also had a good intraclub game with 2 or 3 goals I think.

Testing out if the 3 rookie on field fwd line might work. Setters and Drew look like good scorers.
Reckon he’ll be a slow burn. Likely to need multiple goals to go 70+ any given round. Think he will put in a few sub 50 shockers.
 

Bomber18

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Reckon he’ll be a slow burn. Likely to need multiple goals to go 70+ any given round. Think he will put in a few sub 50 shockers.
Yeah pretty fair risk of a few shockers. Suns haven’t looked too bad in the preseason games surprisingly. I think they’ll be fairly competitive against the Saints, Freo, Doggies and Blues early on. Having Balta and Parker on the bench up fwd would give me more confidence to go 3 fwd rookies on field.

I might be tempted with a D/F FD.
 

Goodie's Guns

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Reckon he’ll be a slow burn. Likely to need multiple goals to go 70+ any given round. Think he will put in a few sub 50 shockers.
Are we going to have many more options? Let alone better options?

I'm starting to worry a bit about the forward rookies. As Bomber said, Drew and Setterfield look the goods. I think Moore from the Hawks will play, but not sold on his scoring. Carvarra didn't play for the Dogs yesterday so we can probably forget about him. Parker from the Saints played and scored reasonably by the looks of it, I didn't see any of that game so would love some insight into him if anyone was keeping an eye on it.
 

Bomber18

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Are we going to have many more options? Let alone better options?

I'm starting to worry a bit about the forward rookies. As Bomber said, Drew and Setterfield look the goods. I think Moore from the Hawks will play, but not sold on his scoring. Carvarra didn't play for the Dogs yesterday so we can probably forget about him. Parker from the Saints played and scored reasonably by the looks of it, I didn't see any of that game so would love some insight into him if anyone was keeping an eye on it.
Balta the main one who could be a “bolter” ;)

Tiges need a secondary ruck and TLynch surely doesn’t backup ruck with his knee troubles.
 

Goodie's Guns

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Balta the main one who could be a “bolter” ;)
It was interesting, watching yesterday Nank seemed to spend most of his time at full forward. Balta the second RUC with Soldo.
Assuming Lynch is there or thereabouts for Round 1, can the Tigers go with Riewoldt, Lynch and Balta all in the same FWD line?
 

Bomber18

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It was interesting, watching yesterday Nank seemed to spend most of his time at full forward. Balta the second RUC with Soldo.
Assuming Lynch is there or thereabouts for Round 1, can the Tigers go with Riewoldt, Lynch and Balta all in the same FWD line?
Balta seemed pretty mobile and quick for a tall. I think they could all play together, given 6-6-6 changes.
 

Ben's Beasts

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I’m thinking the FWD line is weakest for rookies with good scoring potential.

Any more than two on field could be dangerous.
 

Bomber18

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I’m thinking the FWD line is weakest for rookies with good scoring potential.

Any more than two on field could be dangerous.
I agree with this general principle. But am gonna play the exception card for this year as two guys in Setterfield and Drew will actually play midfield and look better than most mid rookie options. I think 3 on field could work but it’s still early days. Would need another solid one like Balta or Cavara to get up. Another factor is that all of these guys are mature aged.
 

Ben's Beasts

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I agree with this general principle. But am gonna play the exception card for this year as two guys in Setterfield and Drew will actually play midfield and look better than most mid rookie options. I think 3 on field could work but it’s still early days. Would need another solid one like Balta or Cavara to get up. Another factor is that all of these guys are mature aged.
Yeah if Balta plays round 1 then he, Setters and Drew on field is feasible. Doubt Cavarra plays round 1 after not getting a game in JLT1.
 

Bomber18

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Yeah if Balta plays round 1 then he, Setters and Drew on field is feasible. Doubt Cavarra plays round 1 after not getting a game in JLT1.
Yeah doubtful on Cavarra for sure. If Hore or Watson don’t get named I might run an FD D/F in defence.
 
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Forward rookies look like tough ground and traditionally score pretty poor, thinking I might need to downgrade my F3 of Gray to someone cheaper to bolster my forward rookies.
 

Bomber18

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I can already see the story on Balta though. Named round one but TLynch not named. Risk of being dropped for fear of being too tall up fwd but needs a good game to stay in the side. Similar story to guys like Otten and Papley in years gone by
 
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A few paragraphs from AFL Draft Central on Balta

For the Calder Cannons, Balta was utilised in the ruck and up forward – but at Vic Metro level it was pushed for him to play as a key defender, an area where clubs suggested the athletic tall might be best suited. His attacking nature was eyecatching throughout the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, where he averaged nine disposals and three marks.

Balta is a versatile footballer, with some even predicting he could move into an inside midfielders role down the track. While he is likely to play as a key position player, there isn’t a position on the ground that he hasn’t been tried in. While his height will likely be a put off for a club using him in the ruck, Balta leaps high and can get up and above even the tallest of ruckman. While he has played most the year up forward, clubs are looking at Balta to play as a key defender – a role at which he can mould into at the next level.

Athletic tall Noah Balta has plenty of potential and if he can develop & mould into the tall defender role that clubs will attempt to groom him into, he could be a steal of the draft if he goes in the second round. With a mix of X-Factor and a long right foot kick, Balta could be anything and if he continues to develop as a footballer, there’s no doubting he will be one of the better talls from this draft pool.
 

Bomber18

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A few paragraphs from AFL Draft Central on Balta

For the Calder Cannons, Balta was utilised in the ruck and up forward – but at Vic Metro level it was pushed for him to play as a key defender, an area where clubs suggested the athletic tall might be best suited. His attacking nature was eyecatching throughout the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, where he averaged nine disposals and three marks.

Balta is a versatile footballer, with some even predicting he could move into an inside midfielders role down the track. While he is likely to play as a key position player, there isn’t a position on the ground that he hasn’t been tried in. While his height will likely be a put off for a club using him in the ruck, Balta leaps high and can get up and above even the tallest of ruckman. While he has played most the year up forward, clubs are looking at Balta to play as a key defender – a role at which he can mould into at the next level.

Athletic tall Noah Balta has plenty of potential and if he can develop & mould into the tall defender role that clubs will attempt to groom him into, he could be a steal of the draft if he goes in the second round. With a mix of X-Factor and a long right foot kick, Balta could be anything and if he continues to develop as a footballer, there’s no doubting he will be one of the better talls from this draft pool.
I think he was able to out run a fast Dees player at one point to kick the ball forward. Think it was Hunt but now that I say that, might’ve been someone else.

He is definitely athletic!
 
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