So how quick is Dempster????

[saintsRrising]

I have heard a few people refer to Dempster as being reasonably quick....including on the radio.

Now I have not really watched him play much...or more correctly was not really taking any specific note of him.


Has anyone seen enough of him to cast an opinion as to his relative speed.

Compared to other AFL players is he:

Very quick
Quick
About average
Slow
Very slow

[plugger66]

I have heard a few people refer to Dempster as being reasonably quick....including on the radio.

Now I have not really watched him play much...or more correctly was not really taking any specific note of him.


Has anyone seen enough of him to cast an opinion as to his relative speed.

Compared to other AFL players is he:

Very quick
Quick
About average
Slow
Very slow

Average when I have seen him play on TV but very fit and can run all day.

[ausfatcat]

whats with this obsession about speed over the last year.

Speed is overated it's not the be all and end all. And even if a players got it they have to know how to use it.

[saintsRrising]

whats with this obsession about speed over the last year.

Speed is overated it's not the be all and end all. And even if a players got it they have to know how to use it.

Agreed it is not the be all to end all....

But Demspter missed the NAB games and I curious about how quick..or not he is.

For example IF Dempster did have pace then it may have made him a good fill in option if Max stays out.


I have read lots of material indicating that he can run all day...so he has good stamina. But there seems mixed views on how quick he is.

[vacuous space]

He's faster than most of his opponents. IIRC he ran a sub-3 time at draft camp. The athletic ability is there, it's the footy skills that are lacking. He's no good in the air and he's useless at ground level. He's got a booming kick, but it's totally useless because he can't find the ball. He's been entirely focused on his opponents which, in the end, wasn't enough at Sydney and it won't be enough here. He needs to go down to Casey and find the ball.

[plugger66]

He's faster than most of his opponents. IIRC he ran a sub-3 time at draft camp. The athletic ability is there, it's the footy skills that are lacking. He's no good in the air and he's useless at ground level. He's got a booming kick, but it's totally useless because he can't find the ball. He's been entirely focused on his opponents which, in the end, wasn't enough at Sydney and it won't be enough here. He needs to go down to Casey and find the ball.

Sounds very promising then.

[mad saint guy]

The consensus from Swans fans seems to be that he can run very quickly but his mind can't keep up. Will sprint away from an opponent only to freeze with the ball and not know what to do with it.

[Eastern]

whats with this obsession about speed over the last year.

Speed is overated it's not the be all and end all. And even if a players got it they have to know how to use it.

Speed is wonderful at covering up a whole range of defincies, just ask Essendon !!

[Sainterone]

[quote="mad saint guy"]The consensus from Swans fans seems to be that he can run very quickly but his mind can't keep up. Will sprint away from an opponent only to freeze with the ball and not know what to do with it.[/quote]

That reminds me of Gram a few years back - I'm sure most of us can remember that time when Gram would run with the ball and then prop and then go sideways (or backwards)... look how he's come on.... maybe Gram can teach Dempster a few skills that he's learned. Maybe it's just a confidence thing....

He's yet another player that originates from Gippsland - we've got a few from down that way... including Gram

[saintsRrising]

He's faster than most of his opponents. IIRC he ran a sub-3 time at draft camp. The athletic ability is there, it's the footy skills that are lacking. He's no good in the air and he's useless at ground level. He's got a booming kick, but it's totally useless because he can't find the ball. He's been entirely focused on his opponents which, in the end, wasn't enough at Sydney and it won't be enough here. He needs to go down to Casey and find the ball.

Thanks.

I don't know how good or bad he will be....

But I am curious to see him play more than the cameo he had at the intraclub....and also most curious to see what role or roles that RL may have in mind for him.

Of our new recruits...only he and McEvoy I have not really much of....and I am curious about both.

However McEvoy is much morea future option whereas if Dempster is to be an option he will need to deliver fairly quickly.

[Armoooo]

The consensus from Swans fans seems to be that he can run very quickly but his mind can't keep up. Will sprint away from an opponent only to freeze with the ball and not know what to do with it.

That reminds me of Gram a few years back - I'm sure most of us can remember that time when Gram would run with the ball and then prop and then go sideways (or backwards)... look how he's come on.... maybe Gram can teach Dempster a few skills that he's learned. Maybe it's just a confidence thing....

He's yet another player that originates from Gippsland - we've got a few from down that way... including Gram

Good point, But I think if he is going to crack into our 22 he needs to stay as far away as possible from the back flank, his best chance would be to become our next FB but still, it's very doubtful...

[saintsRrising]

Did a little trawling at BigFooty..

By Scott Wade 14 Dec

He came to the club as a wingman and I believe that is his natural position. I also probably rate him (potentially) a bit higher than most Swans' fans.

Dempster is an excellent athlete, running 2.91 for the 20m at the 2002 draft camp (4th quickest) and was the top rated tall in the beep test. He's 192cm and as everybody else has noted a good long kick. He's not particularly physical, but he doesn't lack courage, although his game is probably best suited to an outside/receiver's role.

Although playing in our premiership, he's not a Paul Roos dour type defender, so was in & out of the team. Roos lack of confidence was typified by the fact that Dempster had a career high 22 disposals, 11 marks and 4 tackles against West Coast in round 16 & was then dropped for 5 weeks.

If Lyon can build up his confidence and use Dempster's natural attributes I believe he is more than capable of playing very good football for the Saints. However if he is used as a spare parts player he will probably be in and out of your team.

Given your likely tall forward line, a player like Dempster running and carrying the ball and then delivering long could well be a very pleasing sight for Saints' fans.

By Rancidpants13

you'll have been told about his big kick, he's kicked a few goals from well beyond the 50m on the run, and his other big attribute is remarkable pace, i remember one day he simply ran around daniel wells and left him flatfooted, which was a real surprise
but his biggest problem was complete lack of confidence and shocking indecisiveness, often caught with the ball from behind
but if he's allowed to play and stay in the team, he'd be all right
and i have to say, looking at some of the blokes you have in your best 22 (x clarke, r clarke, james gwilt, mcqualter, fiora, milne, montagna, et al, who can all play but are hardly reliable and consistent) he's at least gonna have a crack


Originally Posted by J-swan
I think with Dempster, this trade will affect him in either one of two ways.

Become very determined to prove Roos wrong and become the champion that his ability says he could be.
OR
His confidence be so completely shot that his indecisiveness and self doubt become even worse.

I hope for his sake that it's the first option as I think he has the tools, he just needs the belief.

By Cass 79 replying to J-Swan
That’s a very good call.

Dempster has appeared to lack the belief in himself at the swans, particularly the belief he can beat his opponent, when playing a defensive role man on man he always seemed slow to react to his opponent rather than read the play and while a wonderful disposal getting his hands on the footy often enough was another problem.

Perhaps a new coach and environment may be the tonic needs, good luck to him.


Interesting.........wingman anyone???

However the strong form of Charlie playing as a mini-Roo up the ground may well have beaten him to the punch.

[Sainterone]

Based on the comments above, he sounds a bit like a cross between Gram and Fiora (maybe Gram before he came on so strongly in the last couple of years).

... a long booming kick (both F and G)
....not physical...outside receiver (could describe F certainly and to a lesser degree G)
.... has pace (yes describes both F and G well)
...lacks confidence (could be descriptive of both - less so G now)

I think Lyon might be able to get something out of Dempster - he has a few good skills to work with.

With the flooding scenario that has become more common, the call has often come for someone with pace who can take a run and then kick it long over the flood and to (or through) the goals.

[saintsRrising]

Could be that you end up with two ex-Swans as our Wingman

Schneider on one...and Dempster on the other.....



Anyway...it will be interesting to watch Dempster play when he emerges.....though at least initially this is going to be with Casey.