Parker and Wilkie

[stkfc1]

Kudos to the recruitment staff. We've dug a little and found some gold.

Parker will tear a game apart. Sooner rather than later.
Needs to work in consistantcy but we're only 2 games into his career. Ferocious at the ball and has sublime skills and pace. That hit on McGrath was huge.

Wilkie is a very smart footballer (must be those accounting skills) as he always seems to pick the right option. I watched him a bit from behind the goals tonight and he's very good at organising the troops. He was very extrovert and loud with getting guys to man up, get into spots etc. Kudos as players listened to the 2nd gamer and we were very good in defence. Its a big reason why we won.

[Otiman]

Good post, I think recruiting a few 20-23 year olds will become standard in the AFL from now on.

Certainly these two guys are above recent recruits from other clubs.

I think we will see a decline in rookie listing delisted players in favour of late bloomers through the VFL/WAFL/SANFL comps.

[bigred]

I think that recruiting the older player 20-22 odd year old will most definitely become more common. I dont think you will see many using a first or even second round pick on such things, but when you are looking at taking a punt on a mid 50's or later pick, then really this is a no brainer.

A lot of the bulltish development has already been done with them. Probably more importantly they have had a dose of real world which can be the ultimate motivator. I mean Wilkie captained North Adelaide and won their Best and fairest.

Imagine how much Matt Parkers world has been changed in the past six months! The thing is he looks grounded as all hell. The first thing he went for tonight as he got back into the rooms was his kid.

Good luck to them.

Need to get some exposure away from the wanker "inside experts" that just spruik up the same horse s*** every year at trade time. This is where a proper recruiting "department" comes into it.

[SaintPav]

[fugazi]

It is great having some genuine pace and hardbess up in the forwrd line to terrify the opposition defenders.

Wilkie looks like a Roberton clone. Cool and calculating.
Even a touch of Sam Fisher in the way he reads the play.

Good start.

[saintbob]

Parker is very exciting and Wilkie looks very comfortable at this level.

[Vazelos]

All excellent posts and I write a post about our success influencing the trend to mature aged recruits from the State leagues.

Parker would be a lot cheaper than a Devon Smith. He could be anything that player and he is genuinely hard and tough as well as talented.

Wilkie is a Roberton type no doubt his misfortune has given him a platform to establish his career and he has taken it with both hands.

I expect Nick Hind to play some games and I was disappointed in McKenzie yesterday so he will he breathing down his neck.

Robbie Young is doing the same to Lonie he has scored 6 goals in 2 games at the Zebras.
All 4 could be players and that would be an extraordinary result.

[skeptic]

Really like Wilkie...
Really glad he’s gotten an opportunity to prove himself and has run with it.

Good to mix things up a bit even if it fails more often than not.
The odd occasion were u find a guy like Wilkie who pbly wouldn’t have played at all without injuries regardless of how we were doing makes it completely worth it

[SaintPav]

All excellent posts and I write a post about our success influencing the trend to mature aged recruits from the State leagues.

Parker would be a lot cheaper than a Devon Smith. He could be anything that player and he is genuinely hard and tough as well as talented.

Wilkie is a Roberton type no doubt his misfortune has given him a platform to establish his career and he has taken it with both hands.

I expect Nick Hind to play some games and I was disappointed in McKenzie yesterday so he will he breathing down his neck.

Robbie Young is doing the same to Lonie he has scored 6 goals in 2 games at the Zebras.
All 4 could be players and that would be an extraordinary result.

Parker is tall, wiry, quick and very tough. He is going to be very hard to play on.

[evertonfc]

I'm very big on using late and rookie picks on recycled/late blooming talent for the reasons espoused above.

I also wouldn't underestimate how much hungrier you are to make it when you've been overlooked.

You know that regular life isn't nearly as rewarding as being an AFL player - and you'll do anything for a chance.

A lot of guys who get drafted get used to it, get comfortable and then quietly slip out of the system, only realising at 26-27 that they should have gone much harder.

I think the majority of guns do reside in the first two rounds of the draft, but after that, it will be your hunger and dedication to improving that determines whether you'll make it.

[thejiggingsaint]

Its VERY early days to be getting too carried away with individual performances........ BUT I'm LOVING the way that "Nosey" Parker goes about his footy, given the fact of where he's come from. Same story with Wilkie, could be a gold nugget! Time will tell of course. I am fairly optimistic about this side, particularly with Ratten being involved.

[damienc]

Good post.

I would add Kent to the mix.

The addition of Parker and Kent has added some bite to the forward line.

More importantly its given Billings and Gresham the freedom to play in the midfield which is where their true value lies.

Gresh is fast becoming the missing piece in the midfield jigsaw. The A grader we thought we might need to buy in from elsewhere but it could just be we had him all along and didn't know it.

He needs to build his tank but if yesterday was anything to go by Gresh is AA in the making. That is for sure.

Great to see Acres back in the side. Really rate him.

[jonesy]

I'm very big on using late and rookie picks on recycled/late blooming talent for the reasons espoused above.

I also wouldn't underestimate how much hungrier you are to make it when you've been overlooked.

You know that regular life isn't nearly as rewarding as being an AFL player - and you'll do anything for a chance.

A lot of guys who get drafted get used to it, get comfortable and then quietly slip out of the system, only realising at 26-27 that they should have gone much harder.

I think the majority of guns do reside in the first two rounds of the draft, but after that, it will be your hunger and dedication to improving that determines whether you'll make it.

Spot on. Mature age get a taste of the real world. They know how hard it is to make a $, the weekly grind of going to work . They're going to bust there arses to make it happen. Look at Parker, he cares, he wants it

[thejiggingsaint]

Good post.

I would add Kent to the mix.

The addition of Parker and Kent has added some bite to the forward line.

More importantly its given Billings and Gresham the freedom to play in the midfield which is where their true value lies.

Gresh is fast becoming the missing piece in the midfield jigsaw. The A grader we thought we might need to buy in from elsewhere but it could just be we had him all along and didn't know it.

He needs to build his tank but if yesterday was anything to go by Gresh is AA in the making. That is for sure.

Great to see Acres back in the side. Really rate him.

Yes Colleague, Dean Kent is also a welcome addition to the side. I'm loving Nosey Parker's attitude and feel that if he continues to develop this well, we could have a very very exciting for'ard line this year.

[Bruce G McAbee]

Been impressive so far. Looks like we may have picked 2 good ones.

[Spud]

Its VERY early days to be getting too carried away with individual performances........ BUT I'm LOVING the way that "Nosey" Parker goes about his footy, given the fact of where he's come from. Same story with Wilkie, could be a gold nugget! Time will tell of course. I am fairly optimistic about this side, particularly with Ratten being involved.

Loving the enthusiasm, energy and speed from this guy hope it continues, and Ratten has brought some real structure to the team. Our defensive zone was set up well and curtailed the drive from Essendon when they came at us.

[WellardSaint]

Its VERY early days to be getting too carried away with individual performances........ BUT I'm LOVING the way that "Nosey" Parker goes about his footy, given the fact of where he's come from. Same story with Wilkie, could be a gold nugget! Time will tell of course. I am fairly optimistic about this side, particularly with Ratten being involved.

Loving the enthusiasm, energy and speed from this guy hope it continues, and Ratten has brought some real structure to the team. Our defensive zone was set up well and curtailed the drive from Essendon when they came at us.

Ratten and Lade have come from strong environments and brought with them, another level of knowledge, work ethic, etc, is my belief.
The outgoing assistants needed to go. Hadn't done much good for us.

[Spud]

Yes, it appears as though the clean out has worked and a good thing for the club and Ritcho too. Sports journos have made mention of the new system and how we are benefiting from it.

[Joffa Burns]

Good post, I think recruiting a few 20-23 year olds will become standard in the AFL from now on.

Certainly these two guys are above recent recruits from other clubs.

I think we will see a decline in rookie listing delisted players in favour of late bloomers through the VFL/WAFL/SANFL comps.

Just watching 205cm Oscar McInerny carving up Nth Melbourne taking 3 contested marks in as many minutes for 2 goals and a poster.

Drafted from Casey Scorps aged 22 in 2018.

[damienc]

Really great to see Nicky and Parker embracing after the game.

I hope N. Winmar becomes a permanent fixture around the club.

If the players ever wanted inspiration they could do worse than look at the old tapes from Nicky's playing days.

He was bloody brilliant.

[GilsAuPair]

Very impressive.
And Hind and Kent as well.
Weve done ok with younger mature recruits.
More than ok when you throw in Membrey and Steele.

[kalsaint]

Kudos to the recruitment staff. We've dug a little and found some gold.

Parker will tear a game apart. Sooner rather than later.
Needs to work in consistantcy but we're only 2 games into his career. Ferocious at the ball and has sublime skills and pace. That hit on McGrath was huge.

Wilkie is a very smart footballer (must be those accounting skills) as he always seems to pick the right option. I watched him a bit from behind the goals tonight and he's very good at organising the troops. He was very extrovert and loud with getting guys to man up, get into spots etc. Kudos as players listened to the 2nd gamer and we were very good in defence. Its a big reason why we won.

I thought he was good but I wasn't aware of the talk he brings to the teams defensive set up. Thanks for that feedback.

I love the urgency Parker brings to the team. He sometimes needs to find another player in a better position for goal opportunities. I presume this occurs because of his focus and determination at the moment.

[tony74]

Matt had a bit to prove on Saturday. Essendon were interested in him and actually flew him across last year before not following up on him. Our gain.

[cwrcyn]

That's similar to what happened with Nicky Winmar. Bombers were interested. Sheedy said he'd give him a call. It never happened and we swooped

[cwrcyn]

I think Winmar was 21 years old at the time