Been posting this here and there, thought a few LSDers might want a read.
~Training very well at the moment are Davis, Didak, O'Brien, Shaw, Maxwell, O'Bree, Goldsack, Cook, Dawes, Swan and Prestigiacomo (amongst others)
~Plenty of emphasis so far on ball movement
~Like the look of Wellingham. Think he may be one to produced a breakout season (they say to keep an eye on the third year types)
~Also note that Goldsack and Bryan are both completing their first full pre-season's (Goldsack was limited over the past two years, while Bryan had knee troubles in 2006/2007, and is now 12 months into the rhythm)
~Of the new players:
-Sidebottom: Good build for his age (still 17), seems almost a little stocky perhaps, excellent fitness base already (third in the time trial post-Arizona - here), his kicking appears to be excellent on both sides and always has a grin on his face.
-Beams: Pretty wiry build. Has completed most of the main training, and looks at home amongst the main group. Kicking has been on target todate. Not much to report on re the intensity/in-and-under work he was renowned for upon arrival.
-Blight: Can see why the club liked what they saw despite his age (another 17-year-old). Good pace and height, looks a real athlete. Very light at this stage, and I wouldn't expect seniors in 2009, but stranger things have happened. Kicking appears to be ok, and, on a few occasions in scratch matches, has put his body on the line, attacking the ball in the air despite the likes of Harry O'Brien and Travis Cloke acting as the oncoming traffic. Might be like Ben Reid, in that he may take a year or two to begin to reach his full potential as he adds muscle, but the early signs are promising.
-Rounds: Really like the look of this one. A little small in height, but all things considered, he's pretty well built, and there are no concerns on his pace. Kicking appears to be ok, and from the limited glimpses from scratch matches and YouTube highlights, he looks like he doesn't mind backing himself when he has the Sherrin in his hands. It might sound a bit hackneyed from what I've read, but he does appear to play a little bit like Damien Adkins, and he does look like him from afar and when on the run. Again, being an under aged selection, I'm not too sure as yet on his senior prospects for 2009, but he may surprise, as Malthouse wasn't hesitant to allow John McCarthy a run in the seniors late in the year (and, at the corresponding time last season, was not as big across the shoulders), and Jaxson Barham was quite close to a run late in the piece last season.
-L.Brown: A pretty good acquisition all things considered. It's been said a lot by now, but he is vital if Presti/N.Brown go down, and besides, against a Hawthorn (Franklin, Roughead, Boyle) or Essendon (Lloyd, Lucas, Hille when in attack), he may come into calculations anyhow. Has needed no surgery and is moving very well, his fitness base is good, and he's been pitted in a number of one-on-ones down back. Add to that the fact that he was pick five in 1999, and has shown form at both ends of the field (six goals against Adelaide in round one, 2004, IIRC), he isn't as left-field a pick up as many will suggest. He's cost next to nothing in terms of draft selections, and is only 26. May surprise.
-Corrie: To be honest, I was a tad bemused at his acquisition, as we, on the surface, have a plethora of players of a similar ilk (small, quickish small forward), but talk of playing him as a running defender has merit. His highlights show plenty of run though the centre, and whenever he has played, admittedly he has looked ok. Has had something of a chequered history with the Lions (2003-2008, a Rising Star nomination, knee surgery, delisted, re-rookied, moved back onto the senior list), but having done a Ben Davies (pick 93), we stand to lose nothing. Just not quite sure who he tips out of the senior side, and where he'll initially fit in, but his best, on a consistent basis, may add a fair bit to the table. Gets on very well with Cox and Davis, too, which is good to see, if he can learn a bit off Leon as to how to harness talent he'll go a long way. Looks to have settled in well, and with Voss being a first-year coach, maybe it was good to exploit him whilst his list-assessment is at its weakest?
Rookies:
-Francis: Haven't seen a whole lot, looks fairly well developed for his size (admittedly is an 'overage' player at 19, a la Goldsack and Barham).
-Blair: Tiny, but very well built, and comes across at training and on YouTube as a pretty determined kid. Good pace, and will hopefully give smaller kids some hope into the future. Should try to follow the Rodan copybook (Morrish Medallist, written off as too small, but stars at the elite level). Whether he makes it at AFL level or not, I suspect he'll be decent at VFL level regardless, just looks the ball-winning type. That'd have to be his trick to have come this far, you'd assume, but I'm a big fan on the limited stuff I've seen. Gippsland's been a fertile breeding ground in the Hine years, too (Thomas, Pendlebury, Goldsack, Macaffer, Francis, Blair).
-Reed: Saw a bit of him in the U18 Championships, ball winner, rangy type, and looks/kicks a bit like Goldsack. Has been at the club for three years now, and was snapped up early in the NSW/ACT Scholarship scheme, so he'd have to be a reasonable chance next season (all going well).
-Keefe: As you'd expect, extremely raw, and has only just finished school. Has already added a lot of muscle, has good speed for his height (taller than Josh and Wood), and has been used on the likes of Cloke and Dawes in one-on-one drills. Is on a three-year deal, so will have his game development accelerated in the VFL this year. He'll benefit from his three matches late in the 2008 season, too.
In terms of the likelihood of seniors in 2009, I'd have (of the untried players, remembering rookies can play post-round 11): Barham, Sidebottom, Beams, Rounds, Reed, Blight, Francis, Blair, Thoolen, Keefe).
~Training very well at the moment are Davis, Didak, O'Brien, Shaw, Maxwell, O'Bree, Goldsack, Cook, Dawes, Swan and Prestigiacomo (amongst others)
~Plenty of emphasis so far on ball movement
~Like the look of Wellingham. Think he may be one to produced a breakout season (they say to keep an eye on the third year types)
~Also note that Goldsack and Bryan are both completing their first full pre-season's (Goldsack was limited over the past two years, while Bryan had knee troubles in 2006/2007, and is now 12 months into the rhythm)
~Of the new players:
-Sidebottom: Good build for his age (still 17), seems almost a little stocky perhaps, excellent fitness base already (third in the time trial post-Arizona - here), his kicking appears to be excellent on both sides and always has a grin on his face.
-Beams: Pretty wiry build. Has completed most of the main training, and looks at home amongst the main group. Kicking has been on target todate. Not much to report on re the intensity/in-and-under work he was renowned for upon arrival.
-Blight: Can see why the club liked what they saw despite his age (another 17-year-old). Good pace and height, looks a real athlete. Very light at this stage, and I wouldn't expect seniors in 2009, but stranger things have happened. Kicking appears to be ok, and, on a few occasions in scratch matches, has put his body on the line, attacking the ball in the air despite the likes of Harry O'Brien and Travis Cloke acting as the oncoming traffic. Might be like Ben Reid, in that he may take a year or two to begin to reach his full potential as he adds muscle, but the early signs are promising.
-Rounds: Really like the look of this one. A little small in height, but all things considered, he's pretty well built, and there are no concerns on his pace. Kicking appears to be ok, and from the limited glimpses from scratch matches and YouTube highlights, he looks like he doesn't mind backing himself when he has the Sherrin in his hands. It might sound a bit hackneyed from what I've read, but he does appear to play a little bit like Damien Adkins, and he does look like him from afar and when on the run. Again, being an under aged selection, I'm not too sure as yet on his senior prospects for 2009, but he may surprise, as Malthouse wasn't hesitant to allow John McCarthy a run in the seniors late in the year (and, at the corresponding time last season, was not as big across the shoulders), and Jaxson Barham was quite close to a run late in the piece last season.
-L.Brown: A pretty good acquisition all things considered. It's been said a lot by now, but he is vital if Presti/N.Brown go down, and besides, against a Hawthorn (Franklin, Roughead, Boyle) or Essendon (Lloyd, Lucas, Hille when in attack), he may come into calculations anyhow. Has needed no surgery and is moving very well, his fitness base is good, and he's been pitted in a number of one-on-ones down back. Add to that the fact that he was pick five in 1999, and has shown form at both ends of the field (six goals against Adelaide in round one, 2004, IIRC), he isn't as left-field a pick up as many will suggest. He's cost next to nothing in terms of draft selections, and is only 26. May surprise.
-Corrie: To be honest, I was a tad bemused at his acquisition, as we, on the surface, have a plethora of players of a similar ilk (small, quickish small forward), but talk of playing him as a running defender has merit. His highlights show plenty of run though the centre, and whenever he has played, admittedly he has looked ok. Has had something of a chequered history with the Lions (2003-2008, a Rising Star nomination, knee surgery, delisted, re-rookied, moved back onto the senior list), but having done a Ben Davies (pick 93), we stand to lose nothing. Just not quite sure who he tips out of the senior side, and where he'll initially fit in, but his best, on a consistent basis, may add a fair bit to the table. Gets on very well with Cox and Davis, too, which is good to see, if he can learn a bit off Leon as to how to harness talent he'll go a long way. Looks to have settled in well, and with Voss being a first-year coach, maybe it was good to exploit him whilst his list-assessment is at its weakest?
Rookies:
-Francis: Haven't seen a whole lot, looks fairly well developed for his size (admittedly is an 'overage' player at 19, a la Goldsack and Barham).
-Blair: Tiny, but very well built, and comes across at training and on YouTube as a pretty determined kid. Good pace, and will hopefully give smaller kids some hope into the future. Should try to follow the Rodan copybook (Morrish Medallist, written off as too small, but stars at the elite level). Whether he makes it at AFL level or not, I suspect he'll be decent at VFL level regardless, just looks the ball-winning type. That'd have to be his trick to have come this far, you'd assume, but I'm a big fan on the limited stuff I've seen. Gippsland's been a fertile breeding ground in the Hine years, too (Thomas, Pendlebury, Goldsack, Macaffer, Francis, Blair).
-Reed: Saw a bit of him in the U18 Championships, ball winner, rangy type, and looks/kicks a bit like Goldsack. Has been at the club for three years now, and was snapped up early in the NSW/ACT Scholarship scheme, so he'd have to be a reasonable chance next season (all going well).
-Keefe: As you'd expect, extremely raw, and has only just finished school. Has already added a lot of muscle, has good speed for his height (taller than Josh and Wood), and has been used on the likes of Cloke and Dawes in one-on-one drills. Is on a three-year deal, so will have his game development accelerated in the VFL this year. He'll benefit from his three matches late in the 2008 season, too.
In terms of the likelihood of seniors in 2009, I'd have (of the untried players, remembering rookies can play post-round 11): Barham, Sidebottom, Beams, Rounds, Reed, Blight, Francis, Blair, Thoolen, Keefe).
