I know nothing about this kid but is he just another Nathan Gordon type?
To be totally honest from the little bit I have read about him, I think he is.
No real weapon by the sound of it. Tackling isn't even close to enough at this level.
"Big bodied mid" at 186cm he isn't big. Take a look at Cripps, Barlow, Mundy, Fyfe......
We need guys that are going to push players like Grigg, Houli, Chaplin, Hunt out of the side. Not players that might be simular to these types.
I'd rather take an unknown kid in the draft that potentially may become an upgrade of those "recycled" players I mention. They have all played a roll but it's time to upgrade everyone of them....and some.
Townsend 186/89
Cripps 193/90
Barlow 189/91
Mundy 192/89
Fyfe 190/85
He's a touch shorter than that bunch, but a very similar weight. So he's probably the same size or bigger if there's any difference due to being shorter.
We need blokes who will tackle and take the inside pressure off Cotchin. Have never seen anybody on our list tackle a bloke like Townsend did on Ryan Griffin. So if he's cheap he's worth a crack. Could be a hidden gem like Miles...
if we get him on the cheap then sure get him into the side. But why are we going for these 'tough big bodied' types? we have a few of these types in the team already. what we need is a classy speedster that kicks goals. I thought the lack of firepower we have when lids goes down would mean we would need another classy goalkicker
Who are these 'few' in the team already? Arnot - never really played inside mid. Thomas never really played but should have been. That's it?
Absolutely agree. We have one of the biggest bodied players in the AFL in Thomas and we hardly played him. What's with the club? When Thomas played he actually played well and got the pill. I'm not a fan of his, but if the club really felt we were deficient in that area, surely they would have played him in the final ahead of Conca or Griffiths, or at least played him a lot more!
This reeks of pushing the panic button as a result of one game - the elimination final. We lost that game because Maric got mauled and none of our stars turned up to play. The only guy with any outside run at all that day was McIntosh. I doubt a guy who cannot get a game with the GWS would have made the difference, as good an inside player as he might be.
Thomas is listed at 186/87. Smaller than Townsend. And by your own admission we should have played him in the EF - a sentiment I have also echoed recently.
Just remember Miles didn't get many games at GWS at all and he was IMHO the only bloke who really stood up in the EF. McIntosh tried too. If Townsend comes cheap and has the potential to be the next Miles why shouldn't we have a crack? God knows we need big bodies in the midfield. Look at the North mids - they smashed us due to their size. Higgins, Ziebell, Swallow, Cunnington etc. Bigger/tougher men.
