show us the youth

[gosainters66]

i would like to see some of the kids played in the early part of next year

[Stillwaiting]

want to see steven given more game time

[Thinline]

Steven and Armitage for extra Ball-like grunt, McEvoy for ruck height and forward versatility, Geary for dash and spark and Gwilt, Lynch for the third tall are where its at.

As someone else said: these guys should be given every opportunity to become the kinds of guys that would be played in any other club's starting 22.

If we can somehow add or develop one 'dash' half back player, we'll be an extremely even and deep squad.

Pluys some X factor with Maguire (Who knows?) and X Clarke (I still believe if he is properly managed he can be an integral player and genune cinderella story - the kid is a magic guy with oodles of fantastic qualities)

[BringBackMadDog]

i would like to see some of the kids played in the early part of next year

WHY????? Did Geelong introduce a whole lot of young kids this year????
It's really quite simple, the best 22 get selected regardless of age. If someone is good enough then play him.

[Con Gorozidis]

i would like to see some of the kids played in the early part of next year

in order:

mcevoy
armo
steven
geary
heyne
lynch
simpkin

id like to see at least 5 senior games from each of the above players.

[degruch]

i would like to see some of the kids played in the early part of next year

Tanking so soon? Don't see the point in risking it...their time will come.

[Con Gorozidis]

i would like to see some of the kids played in the early part of next year

WHY????? Did Geelong introduce a whole lot of young kids this year????
It's really quite simple, the best 22 get selected regardless of age. If someone is good enough then play him.

not a lot. just some kids. they played gamble mumford and a few others.
need to have slection pressure. works both ways. introducing kisd places selection presure on those above them.

[ausfatcat]

Well we had gwilt, geary, eddy, stevens, armo, mcevoy all play this year, almost the same as geelong.

[samoht]

Stanley should be developed too - given some game time.

Pure pace and marking ability - he should be hard to match up.

Why not a half forward flank until he fills out and is ready for the ruck ?

[bigcarl]

in order:

mcevoy
armo
steven
geary
heyne
lynch
simpkin

no problem with the guys you mentioned if form warrants it, but i'd be moving rhys stanley up that list.

an extremely promising prospect as there is no-one in the competition with that combination of height and speed.

from what i've seen, he's a lot more than merely an athlete. has good ball skills and can kick and mark.

he's rhys lightning over 15 metres (or 100 metres) as you would have seen in the grand final sprint.

the conservative among us will say that his body's not ready yet, etc, etc. but there are examples of big guys who have made an impact early in their careers.

[degruch]

Stanley should be developed too - given some game time.

Pure pace and marking ability - he should be hard to match up.

Why not a half forward flank until he fills out and is ready for the ruck ?

With a good pre-season and a bit of bulk, I'd like to think Rhys Lightening might have a shot next year - by all accounts he's been great in the VFL at least. I'd be inclined to see these guys phased in, not thrown in at the start.

[BringBackMadDog]

A player should only get a game on merit, being young is not a good enough reason. We are a top team now, its not 2000 or 2001 when all of our draft picks automatically get a game. I'm sure no one in the starting 22 are just going to give up their spots. At this stage we really only need a genuine third marking forward (Lynch), and a quick midfielder (Steven or Armitage). All the other kids are going to have to wait their turn either through injury or form.
As this year showed we must start quickly and try and lock away a top 4 finish before we start experimenting with our lineup.

[SainterK]

I think the balance this year was perfect to be honest, much of the same next year would be great...

[samoht]

We have to improve our bottom 4 players, so we might as well see if we can develop better players from our youth - why not ?

I can't see how that will upset the balance - it might just improve our list .

[saintsRrising]

So in 2010 do you want to build for the future....or win the flag in 2010?


2010 is no time to be giving heaps of games to young players just because they are young.


Stabilty is a big key to GF success. The Cats got their preferred team back for the finals.


Now having said that:

*Armo is at the age and experience level where he can bloom...but be in no doubt that he needs to work on his defensive game. His offensive game is not enough.

* Geary: another pre-season will see him a big bigger and better suited to AFL. He playeda lot of games in 2009 and is avery good cance for more in 2010.

* Ben. I would expect more games...but he NEEDS to improve his ruckwork. Hopefully by seasons end he can by performance demanda spot in our best 22.

* Steven. Shows class..but is still young..but he is achance.

* Lynch: well one can hope, but realistically he is probably another seaons or two away from pushing for aregular place.


Our younger players will be given a chance to shimne in the pre-season...they need to put their hands up then because the best one or two will earn the right for an extended crack in the seniors.


Gwilt: Now he is not young BUT if there is one player that we need to step up in 2010..it is this guy. Give hima tape of Rooke and tell him to WORK hard constanatly like Rooke does. With Gwilt skills..an upping n performave Mini like would be most wellcome.

Gwilt was ok-ish in 2009..he just neeeded to get involved in the game more.

[Thinline]

So in 2010 do you want to build for the future....or win the flag in 2010?


2010 is no time to be giving heaps of games to young players just because they are young.


Stabilty is a big key to GF success. The Cats got their preferred team back for the finals.


Now having said that:

*Armo is at the age and experience level where he can bloom...but be in no doubt that he needs to work on his defensive game. His offensive game is not enough.

* Geary: another pre-season will see him a big bigger and better suited to AFL. He playeda lot of games in 2009 and is avery good cance for more in 2010.

* Ben. I would expect more games...but he NEEDS to improve his ruckwork. Hopefully by seasons end he can by performance demanda spot in our best 22.

* Steven. Shows class..but is still young..but he is achance.

* Lynch: well one can hope, but realistically he is probably another seaons or two away from pushing for aregular place.


Our younger players will be given a chance to shimne in the pre-season...they need to put their hands up then because the best one or two will earn the right for an extended crack in the seniors.


Gwilt: Now he is not young BUT if there is one player that we need to step up in 2010..it is this guy. Give hima tape of Rooke and tell him to WORK hard constanatly like Rooke does. With Gwilt skills..an upping n performave Mini like would be most wellcome.

Gwilt was ok-ish in 2009..he just neeeded to get involved in the game more.

I hear you, but players grow and develop all the time. They aren't static. Young guys improve. Our young guys are no exception. When the improve they will force their way in. Evolution is improvement.

Milney ain't getting younger. I would expect a young, exciting kid to be pushing him - a Steven or a Geary or a Lynch. Equally the spots taken by the apparent weaker links - Raphael, Dempster for instance...young blokes need to sniff change and go nuts for the opportunity to make a difference.

Said it in another post. Armo needs a massive pre-season. He will play a full season if he is fit enough to run all day. Up to him.

Same for Gwilt. He is beautifully shaped and well-skilled. But fitter is better for him. And yes - model yourself on that caveman Rooke. You could do a lot worse...

[degruch]

Same for Gwilt. He is beautifully shaped and well-skilled. But fitter is better for him. And yes - model yourself on that caveman Rooke. You could do a lot worse...

I thought modelling himself on BJ might be more relevant.

[mad saint guy]

I'd like to see something like this team line up early next year

B: Gilbert, Dawson, Geary
HB: Gram, Blake, S.Fisher
C: Montagna, Hayes, Armitage
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Steven
F: Lynch, Koschitzke, McQualter

Foll: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Goddard
Int: Jones, Ball, McEvoy, R.Clarke

Have left out a few regulars but I'd like to see them earn their place over the kids who have slogged it out in the reserves all year rather than getting named because of their past.

[spert]

I think one small flaw in RL's plan this year was to put a defensive Eddy in the team in front of Gwilt or Geary on the half forward line..I just think Gwilt or Geary would have got their hands on the ball and slotted a few goals over the finals.

[bigcarl]

you are correct about stability being important, sRr, and i wouldn't expect wholesale changes.

however i would be surprised not to see a fair bit of tweaking take place in areas where we could have been better.

we were only 4th in scoring, for instance, and we should aim to be the best offensively as well as defensively.

i'm sure, also, that any weak links will be examined and strengthened.

pressure on all spots is important and i'd like to see it come from guys such as stanley, steven, lynch, armitage, mcevoy, geary and heyne.

[Thinline]

Same for Gwilt. He is beautifully shaped and well-skilled. But fitter is better for him. And yes - model yourself on that caveman Rooke. You could do a lot worse...

I thought modelling himself on BJ might be more relevant.

Well that would work too...I was using the poster's example...

[terry smith rules]

I'd like to see something like this team line up early next year

B: Gilbert, Dawson, Geary
HB: Gram, Blake, S.Fisher
C: Montagna, Hayes, Armitage
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Steven
F: Lynch, Koschitzke, McQualter

Foll: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Goddard
Int: Jones, Ball, McEvoy, R.Clarke

Have left out a few regulars but I'd like to see them earn their place over the kids who have slogged it out in the reserves all year rather than getting named because of their past.

so arguably our best player in the grand final can't get a game??!!

fyi S. Baker

mate go back and watch a bit more footy

[BringBackMadDog]

I'd like to see something like this team line up early next year

B: Gilbert, Dawson, Geary
HB: Gram, Blake, S.Fisher
C: Montagna, Hayes, Armitage
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Steven
F: Lynch, Koschitzke, McQualter

Foll: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Goddard
Int: Jones, Ball, McEvoy, R.Clarke

Have left out a few regulars but I'd like to see them earn their place over the kids who have slogged it out in the reserves all year rather than getting named because of their past.

So you left out Ray, Milne and Baker!!!! You have got to be kidding
I cannot believe some of the nonsense that has been posted on here. We lost a GF by 2 goals, a game we dominated for more than 80% of, and except for some poor goal kicking and sh1tty luck we would now be premiers. But so far on this site all I have read is half the team should be traded and we should play the kids. FFS talk about reactionary garbage.

[Thinline]

Baker's going nowhere. I agree. Outstanding last third of the year. Great finals series. Had my doubts early in 09, but was happy to be shown otherwise.

An actions speak leader.

Geary ain't a back pocket anyway...

[bigred]

From what I have heard, if we could get a real defensive side into Tungatalum, he will be a player.