Seaford this morning

[gringo]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

[Rosco]

Thanks tony

Can't wait to see acres out there. Really sounds line the spirit is back down there and with spirit comes belief. Couple that with consistent effort and there is no doubt we will topple a few that we're not expected to.
As for west coast this week I reckon they will pip us in the 2nd half but I hope I'm proven wrong! Imagine the press should the saints win?!

I'd be shocked if the wce mids bomb in to their fwd line like gws did in the last 15 mins, that's basically why we held them off

[Rosco]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

[The OtherThommo]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

Current lists have Acres (at 18 yo- turns 19 in October) at the same height and 1 Keg lighter the Nathan Fyfe (at 22 yo).

Looking at Acres junior background, he played everywhere, incl as a key forward. While that's not particularly important, it's how he plays that had him all over the ground as a kid (incl a few senior level starts in the west).

Kennedy rarely marks above his navel, and struggles to get off the ground. He is a big, solid, mature, inside mid.

Fyfe has got it all.

I don't mind the odd big call.

Blake Acres = Nathan Fyfe.

[bergholt]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

Similar size to Fyfe, Pendlebury, Watson and Goddard. Let's hope he's half as good as those guys!

[HitTheBoundary]

Similar size to Fyfe, Pendlebury, Watson and Goddard. Let's hope he's half as good as those guys!

Let's hope he's better.

[gringo]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

Current lists have Acres (at 18 yo- turns 19 in October) at the same height and 1 Keg lighter the Nathan Fyfe (at 22 yo).

Looking at Acres junior background, he played everywhere, incl as a key forward. While that's not particularly important, it's how he plays that had him all over the ground as a kid (incl a few senior level starts in the west).

Kennedy rarely marks above his navel, and struggles to get off the ground. He is a big, solid, mature, inside mid.

Fyfe has got it all.

I don't mind the odd big call.

Blake Acres = Nathan Fyfe.

Well we have Spencer Buddy White, I've labelled Saunders as Joel Selwood, Eli Daisy- Aussie-etc. etc. Templeton, so why not have Fyfe as well.

[The OtherThommo]

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

Current lists have Acres (at 18 yo- turns 19 in October) at the same height and 1 Keg lighter the Nathan Fyfe (at 22 yo).

Looking at Acres junior background, he played everywhere, incl as a key forward. While that's not particularly important, it's how he plays that had him all over the ground as a kid (incl a few senior level starts in the west).

Kennedy rarely marks above his navel, and struggles to get off the ground. He is a big, solid, mature, inside mid.

Fyfe has got it all.

I don't mind the odd big call.

Blake Acres = Nathan Fyfe.

Well we have Spencer Buddy White, I've labelled Saunders as Joel Selwood, Eli Daisy- Aussie-etc. etc. Templeton, so why not have Fyfe as well.

Hey Gringo, I've even got a hybrid.

Jack Billings = 1/2 Steve Johnson + 1/2 Jimmy Bartel

[Bluthy]

I spoke to Acres at training the other week and he was a really nice kid. He seems pretty shy and level headed- doesn't look like he will be a trouble maker. He gave us a bit of insight into what coming half way across the country and then half way around the world was like. He's a very tall kid for what I imagine is a midfielder. Would be a Josh Kennedy from Sydney size mid.

He's listed at 190cm, which is a couple more than Kennedy. Would be great to have him come along, we need some mids of that size

I noticed on the saints website it says Acres has played back for a couple of years. I wonder if they will groom him to be a Goddard/Hodge sweeping back man type who can also be chucked in the middle. I know everyone is obsessed with mids these days but virtually all premiership teams have a backline general with quality skills who can read the play, make big interceptions, set up attacks, use penetrating clever kicks to pierce through zones etc. We've lost Goddard and Fisher, Gilbert, Gwilt, Dempster are heading towards the end of their AFL days. We need to build a quality back six as well as mids and forwards. Delaney seems ok so far but his kicking doesn't look great.

[Old Mate]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

[St Ick]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

Gee we are both pumping him up a lot arent we. I genuinely see the Pendlebury class about him, cant wait for him to get on the park! Mark my words, second best player behind Boyd, (Billings/Dunstan also top 10).

[Con Gorozidis]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

Thanks for posting that info OM.

Im loving the sound of him - 'much better skills' than Nat Fyfe sounds like a bit of a stretch. But if hes comparable to Nat then hes an absolute beauty - NF was also around a pick 20 (which makes me think how good is/was Anthony Morabito??)

Can anyone tell me how tall Blake is now? Seems he was 188cm but now might be listed as 189 or as tall as 191? Can anyone confirm his full height?

[Jacks Back]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

Thanks for posting that info OM.

Im loving the sound of him - 'much better skills' than Nat Fyfe sounds like a bit of a stretch. But if hes comparable to Nat then hes an absolute beauty - NF was also around a pick 20 (which makes me think how good is/was Anthony Morabito??)

Can anyone tell me how tall Blake is now? Seems he was 188cm but now might be listed as 189 or as tall as 191? Can anyone confirm his full height?

Do you mean on his tippy toes?

[gringo]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

Thanks for posting that info OM.

Im loving the sound of him - 'much better skills' than Nat Fyfe sounds like a bit of a stretch. But if hes comparable to Nat then hes an absolute beauty - NF was also around a pick 20 (which makes me think how good is/was Anthony Morabito??)

Can anyone tell me how tall Blake is now? Seems he was 188cm but now might be listed as 189 or as tall as 191? Can anyone confirm his full height?

Fyfe's greatest asset is his will power. Like Harvey or Rooey he just keeps digging in to go again and again. There are hundred of guys with better skills than Lenny but the determination is what will make Acres a super star. I hope he is the package because it sounds like he's got the tools.

[Old Mate]

Fyfe's a star however his kicking skills are average for AFL standard. That height measurement I posted was from early last year. He measured 190cm at the combine late last year so looks like he grew a couple cms over the course of the year.

[Old Mate]

Acres has played a lot on a back flank but I see him being a midfielder when he fully develops. He's an endurance beast and comes from athletic pedigree. His old man was an 800m runner, his uncle a distance runner and his aunt a bronze medalist in swimming at the commonwealth games.

Here's his combine testing results in WA (note this was pre injury last year, his results post injury were significantly worse):

20m sprint 2.94 sec
Agility 8.28 sec
Standing vertical 69 cm
Running vertical jump (r) 80cm
Running vertical jump (l) 92cm
Repeat sprint 21.51 sec
Beep test 15.2
No 3 km was tested
188cm
83.7 kg
Result from ECU

The 20m sprint, repeats sprints and beep test results are elite.

And he doesn't only rely on his athleticism. He's a natural footballer. Very good skills, extremely duel sided, clean hands and a powerful overhead mark. I've heard he's basically Nat Fyfe with much better skills.

If it weren't for his injury interrupted year he would have likely been a top 10 pick. Many WA draft observers had him clearly the best WA talent from the draft. We definitely got a steal with this pick. He could easily become the best player from last years draft. The talent and pedigree is certainly there.

Gee we are both pumping him up a lot arent we. I genuinely see the Pendlebury class about him, cant wait for him to get on the park! Mark my words, second best player behind Boyd, (Billings/Dunstan also top 10).

I can't wait to see him on the park, even playing for Sandy.

[BigMart]

Has anyone actually seen Blake play?

Don't forget
Dustin 'the next big thing' Stanley
Nathan 'Chris Judd' Wright
And
BJ Siposs

[remboy]

Seeing him actually play a game will probably only destroy the fantasy many of us are building in our minds.
So far, he's a cross between Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Trevor Barker, Doc Baldock and plugger and from what I can tell from the above is quite tall in high heels.

[Con Gorozidis]

Seeing him actually play a game will probably only destroy the fantasy many of us are building in our minds.
So far, he's a cross between Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Trevor Barker, Doc Baldock and plugger and from what I can tell from the above is quite tall in high heels.

[Old Mate]

Has anyone actually seen Blake play?

Don't forget
Dustin 'the next big thing' Stanley
Nathan 'Chris Judd' Wright
And
BJ Siposs

Only on TV and small sample clips but I have read and spoke to others that have seen him regularly play.

Player comparisons just help us understand what type of player they are, and their attributes. I'm not saying he will be another Nat Fyfe just saying he's extremely talented and shares similar attributes at a young age.

[supersaints]

Seeing him actually play a game will probably only destroy the fantasy many of us are building in our minds.
So far, he's a cross between Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Trevor Barker, Doc Baldock and plugger and from what I can tell from the above is quite tall in high heels.

If that's the case you'd better add Ian Stewart!

[spert]

Possibly Milan Faletic?

[The OtherThommo]

Possibly Milan Faletic?

Haven't seen Acres in an Andy Capp style cap, so, so far, so good.

[joffaboy]

Has anyone actually seen Blake play?

Don't forget
Dustin 'the next big thing' Stanley
Nathan 'Chris Judd' Wright
And
BJ Siposs

I've seen him play and he is better than everyone mentioned. Makes Fyfe look like Robert Eddy, and Judd in his prime look like Luke Ball with OP.

Satisfied?

Oh BTW why bag Stanley and Wright? Wright looks like he could be a good player and Stanley is going in fits and starts,

I also mentioned how Hickey looked a bit like Gardiner in style so fire both barrels at me for trying to give some context Someone on radio said Dunstan played like Deisal Williams.

As someone above said comparisions are just indications on aspects of a new players game, but if you want to be all literal and Aspergers about it, nobody can ever use a compariosion on here again.

As for us v WCE, I will be absolutely shocked if we win. Depending on how we go about it, a 5-6 goal loss would not be an embarrassment. Would like to see the intensity at the ball and man continue.

We are not after miracles after all.

[Rosco]

Number one for me is winning the tackle count, I would live with an 8-10 goal loss if we did that. Anything better is a bonus.