TOPIC:

Looking back on the 2013 season we did improve, winning ten games. This is the first time this has been done since 2004. However there are still some big holes in our squad that need to be filled before the start of the 2014 campaign.

Roughly this is how we lined up for majority of the season.

B: Sincalir, Risol, Tedesco

HB: Jacobs, Kane, Sketcher.

C: Florio, Hodge, Morton

HF: Reimers, Tunbridge, Leeson

F: Bevan, McInnes, Stack

R: Eyres, Moody, Bateman

INT: O’Sullivan, Ransted, White, Leyendekkers, Hunt, Boyle

Player losses for 2014

If they were to stay as they are then:

Simon Tunbridge (West Coast)
Fraser McInnes (West Coast)
Brant Colledge (West Coast)
Ash Smith (West Coast)
Sam Butler (West Coast)

What we need for 2014

In my opinion we need the following.

1. A tall key position forward capable of kicking 50 plus goals for the season and being able to provide a target other than Stack and Bevan.
2. A tall key position defender. Currently we have Risol and Kane performing in these roles. Risol has been a superb pick up however I think Kane is more suited to playing on a third tall. Every time we play teams with two or more dominant key tall’s like East Perth (Johnson, Smith, Lycett), Swan Districts (Geappen and Lammie and Hansen when they had them) and Claremont (Seaby, Andrews, Jones), one or two of those players always seem to dominant us and we appear to not have an answer. Another tall key back with WAFL experience would be nice and then this would allow Kane to play on either a third tall or in front of the opposition’s key forward.
3. A ruckman. I have been impressed with Eyres this season. After a solid start he really had a purple patch of about five games in the middle of the season were he showed that he can step up when needed. However he can’t do it all by himself. Leyendekkers is a promising young key position player. He stood up against East Fremantle when Eyres was out and had 31 hitouts. He is still young though and will continue to develop over the next 2-3 preseason’s while getting another 30-50 games under his belt. His athleticism for a big man surprised me this year. Sandilands if you speak to some of the players is regarded as a very good tap ruckman. Like Leyendekkers probably needs another 2-3 preseason’s in the gym and on track honing is skills and abilities. Is still young and I am looking forward to seeing how he progresses next season. Back to the topic and I think that we need another big bodied ruckman that can take the pressure of Eyres and give him a spell every now and then. Andrew Ruck would be lovely or even a Mark Seaby but players like that cost points and money. Can we get a decent back up ruckman that is playing at another WAFL club and maybe looking for more opportunities? Is there one out there?
4. Midfielders with either pace, clean skills or both. Our midfield lacks the polish of the teams above us, simple as that. We need to find some players who make better decisions and can use the ball better. The amount of times we butchered the ball this season. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH! Our midfield seems to be a little on the slow side as well. We didn’t seem to have anyone that can break the lines and get the ball in our forward 50 as quick as possible. I would like to see players like Boyle and Leeson play through there more often next season as I think they have a little bit of pace about them and could help us in that area.

Players Already at the Club

Besides the area’s in need of strengthening we have some players who have played some league football this year and look to be able to fill a role in the team when need be or look to be good young players trying to work their way into the senior side. Rather than try and make two categories I’ll just group them all together.

They are, Tyler Chrimes, Callum Collard, Joel Houghton, Kieran Hug, Jarrad Irons, David Johnston, Cameron Manuel and Joel Kalajzic.

Some players at colts level to keep an eye on are Scott Doncon, Brent Edmonds, Sam Garstone, Jordan Leeson, Karl Merson, Alex Moreno and Clem Smith.

It would be interesting to see what others think about whom the club should target and which positions need strengthening? Should we draft from interstate or are we able to get some players from other clubs?

Should make for an interesting discussion.

Gerald Ugle has been delisted by GWS. Turns 21 at the end of January and has spent the last two seasons on the Giants lists. According to some articles/draft profiles that were written about him he has pace and good kicking skills.

He's from Perth and would only cost 1 point so might be worth a look.

2 KPP's,1 forward in the mould of Josh Smith,tall,wont be pushed around,is a target and can mark and kick goals.
1 tall defender that can play on opposition tall forwards,has some mongrel in him.
A small forward that can play 20 games per year and consistantly hit the scoreboard.

Pacy midfielders (2) that can find and carry the ball.
Mature aged ruckman that can lead the ruck and get possesions all around the ground and can hold onto marks in pack situations.

Florio has to lift.
Houghton and Leyendeccers to add 2 to 4 kg.
Sandilands to be given another 2 years.

Retain Morton and get one of his brothers

Time For a Flag wrote: Florio has to lift.
Houghton and Leyendeccers to add 2 to 4 kg.
Sandilands to be given another 2 years.

Retain Morton and get one of his brothers

Thats not recruiting!!
Ruckmen as we all know take years to develop.
Houghton and Florio are as good as they are going to get,cant see either improving but this is off topic....recruiting is the title thread!!!

Time For a Flag wrote: Florio has to lift.
Houghton and Leyendeccers to add 2 to 4 kg.
Sandilands to be given another 2 years.

Retain Morton and get one of his brothers

Florio does need to lift. He is good but he could be better.

Houghton is about as big as he is going to get I think.

Leyendekkers to but on a bit more muscle whilst retaining his athletic ability would be lovely.

In regards to Morton's brothers either one would be good but I see other areas needing attention first. Both would be 10-11 points each which is a fair amount.

Look at it this way 10 points can get you Josh Smith. Spending 7 points can get you an Aaron Black, Jake Murphy or Aaron Sweet. Spending 5 points could get you a George Hampson or Shane Nelson.

Not saying that these players would leave their clubs but sometimes there are players at other WAFL clubs looking for a change for one reason or another that have WAFL experience and don't cost us much points and money relocating these blokes as interstaters and ex AFLer's do.

30plusyeardrought wrote: 2 KPP's,1 forward in the mould of Josh Smith,tall,wont be pushed around,is a target and can mark and kick goals.
1 tall defender that can play on opposition tall forwards,has some mongrel in him.
A small forward that can play 20 games per year and consistantly hit the scoreboard.

Pacy midfielders (2) that can find and carry the ball.
Mature aged ruckman that can lead the ruck and get possesions all around the ground and can hold onto marks in pack situations.

In regards to the midfielders what do you think about Boyle, Leeson and Morton spending more time in there next season with Collard playing more in the forward 50?

Mr AFL wrote:

30plusyeardrought wrote: 2 KPP's,1 forward in the mould of Josh Smith,tall,wont be pushed around,is a target and can mark and kick goals.
1 tall defender that can play on opposition tall forwards,has some mongrel in him.
A small forward that can play 20 games per year and consistantly hit the scoreboard.

Pacy midfielders (2) that can find and carry the ball.
Mature aged ruckman that can lead the ruck and get possesions all around the ground and can hold onto marks in pack situations.

In regards to the midfielders what do you think about Boyle, Leeson and Morton spending more time in there next season with Collard playing more in the forward 50?

Leeson for mine isnt a natural midfielder,Boyle hes ok but im thinking more mature aged with experience.
Morton no to midfield (pinch hit at best) but is a real handy swingmman forward and back.

Collard mmm jury is out imo,does he work hard enough to play 20 games and have an impact????

For mine our recruiting has to be select with players being bought in that are past "development" stage.
Walk straight in and play league ala Risol and Sketcher.

Agree that they have to be ready to play League football. Funny thing about Sketcher and Risol is that they both played under 30 odd games of VFL I think and in Risol's case was more of a VFL reserve player at Werribee.

In regards to Leeson and Boyle I was more thinking bout there pace through the midfield.

Apart from Josh Smith, is there anyone else you would target from the other WAFL clubs?

I wouldn't mind a couple of midfielders from East Perth that might get pushed down the pecking order when the full alignment kicks in next year.

Put it this way even if we don't turn over to many players, we still need 5 to 6 good recruits to play finals when it came to matching the top sides we fell way short.