TOPIC:

satan311 wrote:

So it sounds like we have close to the full picture now of recruits. For the “5 signed and 1 still possible” i take that to be the following with state league experience or higher
Charlie Constable - signed and listed
Blake Schlensog- signed and listed
Aaron Clarke - signed and listed
Jed Kemp - signed and listed
Joshua Edward’s - signed (not yet listed)
Sam Simpson - linked to PFC but not signed or listed

The others who are signed and on the list are
Gregor Taylor (PFL)
James Bratovich (PFL)
Riley Wills (Subi colts)
Ryan Newick (Subi colts/PFL)

The other one i mentioned a few weeks back is Joey Chaplin - ruck/fwd/onballer from TSL. Nothing official on him signing yet but my stalking points to him coming over in the new year.

I think we are still a gun midfielder or two short. Constable is the only known recruit in this area of need. Wills if he doesn't get drafted could be a good prospect but he's only 18.  Our undrafted colts the same. Hopefully Sam Simpson or another experienced top line midfielder is added.

Can add Manzone & Clarke to that list.
Don't be surprised if Jake Watson (19yrs) steps up, elite by foot, good reader of the play and has poise.
Probably won't make finals but I reckon we could be in for a fun year.

Head wrote:

I would disagree DD, if you look at our current midfield in Constable, Byrne, Cooley, Thompson, Dellamatta and potentially a few others. one of the stronger midfields, our defence seems to be extremely strong too. i feel we need one more key forward, a top line ruckman and a small forward and we could be very dangerous in 2024

How do you think we stack up against Brayshaw, Crowden, Shumacher, Randall, Robertson, Ramshaw, North etc at EP? 

Black, Meadows, Nelson, Johnson, Pierce, West at WP. Murdoch, English, Joyce, Marsh H, Gorringe, Bennett, Shoenfeld etc... at EF. Need I go on? We are coming from a long way back and one of our weakest areas last season was our midfield. Just couldn't win it out of there.  We need more than one new addition.

Maybe some of the young kids can step up but it's a big ask and they will get found out when the going gets tough and the big guns of the competition put the foot down. I say we need at least one more but given what is already signed maybe only room for one and that has to be a midfielder.

I reckon we should throw Avery in the middle and a also think Cooley will be better there this year. 

Head I agree the ball comes back out too easily.
With Aaron Clarke in there the pressure comes off Quartermaine, Stubbs, Cary etc.
We do need to hold it in more.
Hopefully if we have strengthened our ruck options we can even out the hit outs a bit it will make the clearances a bit easier to even up as well.
Definitely a better side with a chance of developing some very good youngsters.

I'm looking forward to Cooley stepping up a notch or two. Reports have been that he has beefed up a bit. I was impressed by his efforts last season even though his disposal was a bit sloppy at times. His stats at league level are impressive.
I believe he will add much needed grunt to the midfield which will look a lot better with Byrne and Clarke on the wings and Constable, Thompson and Cooley rotating through the centre.
I would leave Avery in defence. He will be an even better player with Schlensog at CHB. My concern is the fullback position. Can Johnston hold that down. He did show some improvement last season and may be a better player with Schlensog taking the first line of defence.

Definitely others need to step up and German will make that point loud and clear. Was a bit disappointing to see Lachie Paton just walking laps on Monday night with strapping around his knee. He is a potential midfielder high half forward. Hopefully he gets himself right and hopefully Ewing makes a successful comeback from a terrible leg injury. I am also hopeful Nyika John has an injury free run. He looked fit and completed all the drills on Monday.

DD, Paton 20yo has played one league game for 17 disposals. Stats in Ressies only modest. Seems to have a good physique for his size and appears to me as an outside mid with run. He would compete with Byrne, Clarke, Philip and Clark for a role midfield.
Perhaps a small forward? A bandaged knee is not a good sign.
 

Baxter Philip I'm told has been on a weights program as I imagine they all would be but obviously designed for him to put some meat on those bones.

Good to see Moods plying his trade up north in the off season