Paul Hunter. Does anyone know anything about him?

[The Billings Method]

I see it's being reported that ruckman Paul Hunter, formerly of the Crows, has been offered a two week trial with us. He spent 4 years on their list without playing a senior game before being cut at the end of 2019.

Spent last year at South Adelaide and made the SANFL team of the year. 27 years old and 200 cm tall. More insurance? I've never heard of him. Have any of you?

[B.M]

Know nothing about him?

Sounds very ‘Ryan Abbott’ to me

A pure back up option on the cheap

BTW
Meanwhile, Hawthorn has added youngsters Will Bravo and Jackson Callow to its training squad following Tom Scully's retirement last week.

I was told in no uncertain terms Callow was signed in the SANFL with no clubs interested in him. How’s those apples?!

[saynta]

Know nothing about him?

Sounds very ‘Ryan Abbott’ to me

A pure back up option on the cheap

BTW
Meanwhile, Hawthorn has added youngsters Will Bravo and Jackson Callow to its training squad following Tom Scully's retirement last week.

I was told in no uncertain terms Callow was signed in the SANFL with no clubs interested in him. How’s those apples?!

That you were mate. that you were. And that was pure bs, it now seems.

[kosifantutti]

Some old info on him here.

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/stor ... ith-crows/

And it’s his birthday tomorrow.

And some newer info
https://www.safc.com.au/blog/club-state ... aul-hunter

[The_Dud]

Is he any good at chopping up oranges?

[Impatient Sainter]

Says something about the clubs hopes for Alabakis - obviously think he is a long way off. Would rather see the spot go to a kid, but I guess none have exposed form to show they are AFL prospects.

[B.M]

Alabakis is a 4 year minimum prospect - long term investment

Not ready this season or next

So back up required I suppose

[Yorkeys]

Perth to Newcastle to Adelaide to Melbourne, plenty of tenacity there. Understudy to Jacobs and O'Rielly, both v. good at their prime. Lade and Gallagher would have good intelligence on the young man. Two weeks to impress, hope it goes well and he has kept himself playing fit, I like the idea of Marshall as a CH forward. Thanks for the background Kosi, Mr Hunter sounds a likely type.

[CQ SAINT]

This bloke ran a 14.9 beep test. That's fairly impressive. He should be able to hold down a VFL ruck position. The video available shows he can hold his ground, taps the ball in all directions at the height of his leap, takes a strong leaping mark and doesnt mind going below his knees and throwing his weight around in a stoppage. I hope he can impress. I get a sense he may be a Lazar Vidovic type strong, physical ruckman.

[Scollop]

This bloke ran a 14.9 beep test. That's fairly impressive. He should be able to hold down a VFL ruck position. The video available shows he can hold his ground, taps the ball in all directions at the height of his leap, takes a strong leaping mark and doesnt mind going below his knees and throwing his weight around in a stoppage. I hope he can impress. I get a sense he may be a Lazar Vidovic type strong, physical ruckman.

As long as he's not a Billy Longer type

As long as he's not addicted to those computer games he sounds like he may be another.....prospect

[Impatient Sainter]

Alabakis is a 4 year minimum prospect - long term investment

Not ready this season or next

So back up required I suppose

If he is not ready this year the club needs to pull the trigger IMO...

[Impatient Sainter]

This bloke ran a 14.9 beep test. That's fairly impressive. He should be able to hold down a VFL ruck position. The video available shows he can hold his ground, taps the ball in all directions at the height of his leap, takes a strong leaping mark and doesnt mind going below his knees and throwing his weight around in a stoppage. I hope he can impress. I get a sense he may be a Lazar Vidovic type strong, physical ruckman.

From his short highlights clip he reminds me of Kosi the way he attacks ball...

[Ghost Like]

Obviously an excellent work ethic. I would not have thought we need to select him right now.

PIus I like the fact that with two spots available we are positioned to select two young players mid season that did not have an opportunity to show their abilities and development in 2020.

Thlis is a double gift, that instead of hoping a player who slid down the order is any good, we get to have that confirmed in half a season.

[ace]

Suggests to me that the club is having second thoughts on McKernan as a ruck back up and Alabakis not being seen as a chance this year.

[bigcarl]

We need options should either Ryder or Marshall fall over.

We have McKernan and who?

Not being able to use Marshall forward cost us structurally n the semi against Richmond.

Being named in the SANFL team of the year suggests Hunter is at least useful and could be a good mature-age pick-up.

Worth a shot IMO, because I’m not convinced we are covered in the event of injury/suspension to Marshall and Ryder.

[B.M]

How is he different to Abbott???

Not against recruiting him, but if we needed a back up ruck

Why get rid of Abbott

[CQ SAINT]

How is he different to Abbott???

Not against recruiting him, but if we needed a back up ruck

Why get rid of Abbott

Going off the footage he is cleary a better ruckman than Abbott. He was a premier ruckman in the SANFL not a third string in the Geelong reserves, he takes a pretty strong grab, ran a 14.9 beep test, he leaps and he has played the game for 16 years, not 6.

[B.M]

Abbott was pretty dominant in the VFL for Geelong

Which is why we picked him up

Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was a waste of time, but back up ruckman are just that!!! Big blokes who can’t really play.

[Ghost Like]

Abbott was pretty dominant in the VFL for Geelong

Which is why we picked him up

Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was a waste of time, but back up ruckman are just that!!! Big blokes who can’t really play.

Exactly, this bloke is not a Dean Cox or Aaron Sandilands. His ceiling is apparent which is why he's running around in the SANFL. Two AFL clubs have cut him. He's Abbott MkII. Hold fire on listing him, I suspect better value to be found in the State Leagues with 18 & 19 year olds running around in 2021.

[bigcarl]

No idea why we delisted Abbott. I guess the powers that be didn’t rate him.

Meanwhile, we are lacking in ruck depth so Hunter may get a chance.

[CQ SAINT]

Abbott was pretty dominant in the VFL for Geelong

Which is why we picked him up

Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was a waste of time, but back up ruckman are just that!!! Big blokes who can’t really play.

Exactly, this bloke is not a Dean Cox or Aaron Sandilands. His ceiling is apparent which is why he's running around in the SANFL. Two AFL clubs have cut him. He's Abbott MkII. Hold fire on listing him, I suspect better value to be found in the State Leagues with 18 & 19 year olds running around in 2021.

I think length of term might be the big factor. Ill agree we are just putting band aid on a calf strain. But I'm happy to go along with the talent scouts we are using at the moment and hope we've found a late bloomer. We had a kid an dropped him without even a wink.

[cwrcyn]

Abbot had no physical presence, no strength and no leap. No disrespect for the guy, but it's not hard to do better. Jason Holmes was a better player

[minneapolis]

Suggests to me that the club is having second thoughts on McKernan as a ruck back up and Alabakis not being seen as a chance this year.

McKernan is a worry for me.

Go and have a look at last years win against Essendon. McKernan was very poor.

I think Gags is looking very carefully at covering any combination of injuries for this year.

[mad saint guy]

We absolutely need a readymade depth ruck and Hunter sounds like a solid option. McKernan is a forward who can pinch-hit. Probably more depth in case King gets injured. Big guys at the beginning and end of their careers tend to be injury prone, so we need cover for King and Ryder. I don't think Alabakis is a valid senior option this year.

Seniors

Ruck - Ryder (Marshall)
KF - Marshall, King, Membrey, Battle

Depth

Ruck - Hunter, (McKernan)
KF - Wood, McKernan, Allison

[NextYear]

People on this site supposedly follow the club. As was mentioned at the time Abbott was not offered a new contract because he informed the club that he didn't want to pursue his AFL career.