2 Rookie Promotion - Polak and Roberts it is

[Ramps]

Jon Ralph on SEN just said Polak will be promoted off the rookie list.

The winner of the Capt Obvious award for this week!!   

Yep totally agree MT and don't you think that allowed Riewoldt and Morton to play better as they (Cats) would have been focusing on Roberts as well... taking the pressure off the other two. He is a far better option than Polo in the forward line IMO. Polak will come off the Rookie list and people need to get used to that, but Roberts should really be considered too.

Yep agree and I reckon Roberts also took the focus off Nahas as well.

Polak will probably come off the rookie list as you say WAT as that seems to be the plan but he's not a long-term option for us up forward. It's incredible he's out there playing at all but sadly AFL isn't sentimental. Polly's not holding onto enough marks and once the ball spills he's out of the play. He's really only getting a game ahead of the cubs because he's got a mature and big solid body that can cope with getting crunched while our cubs need to bulk up.

Its clear that Polak is only playing until Griffiths and Astbury undergo the Hardwick development. When theyre ready Polak will be out. Its a shame because Gourdis and Roberts are better options from the rookies and one will miss out unless we cut someone from the list.

[mightytiges]

Jon Ralph on SEN just said Polak will be promoted off the rookie list.

The winner of the Capt Obvious award for this week!!   

Yep totally agree MT and don't you think that allowed Riewoldt and Morton to play better as they (Cats) would have been focusing on Roberts as well... taking the pressure off the other two. He is a far better option than Polo in the forward line IMO. Polak will come off the Rookie list and people need to get used to that, but Roberts should really be considered too.

Yep agree and I reckon Roberts also took the focus off Nahas as well.

Polak will probably come off the rookie list as you say WAT as that seems to be the plan but he's not a long-term option for us up forward. It's incredible he's out there playing at all but sadly AFL isn't sentimental. Polly's not holding onto enough marks and once the ball spills he's out of the play. He's really only getting a game ahead of the cubs because he's got a mature and big solid body that can cope with getting crunched while our cubs need to bulk up.

Its clear that Polak is only playing until Griffiths and Astbury undergo the Hardwick development. When theyre ready Polak will be out. Its a shame because Gourdis and Roberts are better options from the rookies and one will miss out unless we cut someone from the list.

Gourdis is still iffy for mine. He wasn't the worst by any means last week and one-on-one contested fairly well as a key defender (he's gone ahead of Rance that's for sure who had an absolute shocker). However Goo's footskills are still a major issue going forward IMO. McGuane, Thursty and Moore are still our first choice 3 tall defenders. Until Postie, Goo, Astbury or whoever can show more both defensively and offensively rebounding complete with decent footskills and awareness it'll stay that way for the time being IMO.

[Ramps]

Roberts should be promoted though- itll be good to see him play against Carlton.

[mightytiges]

Roberts should be promoted though- itll be good to see him play against Carlton.

Definitely 

[Penelope]

On goo's footskills, against the hawks was the first and only time i had even seen him, and i didn't see the problems people have talked about. Just how bad are they (worse /better than say rance?) and what is the issue - technique? decision making? pressure?

[Danog]

It might just be his awkward kicking action, Al.  That, or maybe he had flukishly good disposal against the Hawks.

[WA Tiger]

Roberts should be promoted though- itll be good to see him play against Carlton.

Yes agree, he could be our X factor in this game IMO.

[the claw]

i went with polak because its plain thats what they will do and roberts. who i believe at 23 had to be taken as a ready to go mature player as well. has to be given every opportunity at his age.

i am almost certain post will play chb  for most of the yr.  he will at the least be a regular tall defensive option in the team.

 lets not forget people this is a time of transition  those who have deficiency will only be tolerated for as long as it takes the kids to show they are ready for the rigours  of afl footy. well it had damn well better be this way or this little black duck will tell em all to shove it.

 i reckon most are now coming around to the idea of farmer being a regular or getting a regular go even though he has not played a senior game for us.  farmer and post straight away means two positions or players from last yr wont be playing in the backline this yr.
to me post and thursfield will play in the two key posts it means one of moore or mcguane will miss. to me the smalls will be farmer tambling and possibly newman but i have a feeling he will play thru the middle. will also add it seems dea did more than enough to be given games as well the sooner the kids take over from the underachievers the better.

this is what its about,  getting rid of players who clearly are not capable and have shown it to be the case over several seasons and replacing them with  young players with lots to learn still but who may have the attributes to take us to finals in time. if the kids then show they lack the tools needed to succeed we turn them over until in time we find what we need.
 i really hope there is plenty of  constant transition going on this yr.

 hmm forward. common sense says they want an experienced big bodied forward. clearly the only tall forward on the list with experience is polak. weather we like him as a player or not he is going to be it in the early part of the yr anyway.

 one only has to listen to what they have been saying to know we will structure up tall in the forward line this yr.this means we will go with three talls most games.
 atm i have no doubt  astbury will get games early along with riewoldt and polak.
i can see two possible  scenarios. 1. as astbury falls away griffiths will be bought in to replace him for a go. these two will likely rotate in and out of the team all yr. 2. both griffiths and astbury show enough to warrant  dropping polak.
remember this is not about underperforming players its about transition  where youngsters are to take over. i think the 1st scenario is the most likely but it would be nice to get a glimpse of the 3  younger talls showing enough to warrant a game together.
with 3 big targets you need plenty of pace and crumbing ability around them. nanas roberts would be montys. morton is established but i would like to see him heavily involved in midfield rotations giving perhaps taylor some games from the bench. the talls must be accountable to their opponents  and the smalls must be capable of applying forward pressure.what the forward line does lack is a big bodied quick mongrel which has the running defenders looking over the shoulder wondering if hes coming or not. percieved pressure is a wonderful thing.

anyway the end of another longwinded spiel viva the transition and quick  transition to..

[Stripes]

I am keen to see Roberts play from round one. In fact I think both our mature aged rookies will be promoted though I think Gourdis would have to be 3rd in line after these two now. Roberts is a ready made footballer possessing not only the skills but more importantly the experience/consistency we need. He knows how to find the goals and has the size, pace and smarts to create something out of nothing. When I watched him at training he just seems to read the play better than the others and could fire and handball out of congestion to a running player with pinpoint accuracy to break open the play.

For years we have lacked a genuine crumber (perhaps because Richo would squash them if they got in his way  ) but it seems like we are creating a plethora of them at the moment. As long as Roberts can work with the others and provide the defensive pressure needed to keep the ball in our F50 I couldn't see why you won't elevate him at the moment.

Lets hope he emulates the same game next week 

Stripes

[Infamy]

Hopefully we can put McMahon on the LTIL with a weak heart and that way we can elevate Polak, Gourdis & Roberts

[jackstar is back again]

Hopefully we can put McMahon on the LTIL with a weak heart and that way we can elevate Polak, Gourdis & Roberts

For once we agree

[Danog]

I thought you could only have 2 rookies promoted at any time?

[Infamy]

I thought you could only have 2 rookies promoted at any time?

Don't think so, as long as you have the places on the list from lack of veterans, long term injury or free spots on the list you can elevate as many as you want

[crannyvegas]

Hopefully we can put McMahon on the LTIL with a weak heart and that way we can elevate Polak, Gourdis & Roberts

Nice!
It would be a real shame if Relton or Gourdis missed this year because of a player like McMahon.

[camboon]

Don't be concerned, it would be a miracle if there are not a few long term injuries this year. Its not a bad thing to have a the boys competing for a spot but some will have to wait a little longer.