I think we need a mature option with 5-8 years of footy left in him who can fill the gap for nank if required.
Sims too young, Ryan too soft.
As for the names above:
- most weren't established/career basketballers
- most started AFL young
- the ones that were basketballers took multiple years to develop for AFL and most were modest at best after that
For some reason people think winning a flag makes you a good player but despite contributing in 2019 and 2020 Soldo was serviceable most of that era.
Blicavs is a freak indeed. And a steeplechaser before AFL. He also took several years to reach those heights and I tip my hat to him.
Jenkins I thought was quite decent. Took him a few years to convert.
Cox was also serviceable at best most of the time as a late convert.
Martin a very good player, started at 19 and was an established player by 22-24yo. Probably the best example.
Gawn played AFL as a kid also, no basketball career.
Goldy also played footy as a kid, no basketball career.
Agree on Soldo imo was ordinary most of the time we had him.
He went to P/A to get a regular game and was pushed out by another battler in Sweet.
Your correct it seems the vast majority of those who come from a pure basketball background fail. Its a rookie pick and a long shot as it is so why lengthen the odds we have a cat B list for that.
As far as list goes we currently need two more ruckmen on the list. That is if the concensus is
1/ OH-B is not ready and doesnt look likely to make it at this point in time.
2/ Ryan to this point still seriously lacks in key areas for a ruckman and also atm looks unlikely to make it.
If its a list management thing then we just cannot put all of our ruck eggs in this basket.
We have both for another year two in Ryans case. We need a mature back up atm for Nankervis and we need another actual junior ruck to develop. It doesn't have to be both this year.
I think because we actually have two mature ruckmen in the ressies in Ryan and OH-B we maybe need to get another kid in given where we are at with these two and Nankervis age. One more season of the same and its likely both will have to go.
Then there is next years draft there is supposedly a good crop of rucks in it. Do we wait until that draft to grab a young ruckman.
Personally i think another two or three mids and a couple of good running players for the wings h/b is the real need.
Harry Scott is a lovely size, decent pace and had a great season in the vfl for us. He is only 20 or 21 ? and looks very likely. Imo the ssp and psd msd should be where possible aimed at these youngish blokes with good exposure and performance against men.
Some absolute gems have come out of the state leagues and continues to do so.
The thing is yes we are in the early stages of rebuild but 100% of everything we do does not have to be aimed at 2030 or when ever it is we think we can challenge again. We should be targeting some mature players from here on in.
A small percentage can be aimed at helping our many kids develop with some more maturity around them. Lets not forget we have a reserves team and if we go heavily to the draft well for another two years as i think we need to then we are going to need some maturity coming in.
Remember by the time we start to challenge the likes of Taranto Hopper and Prestia will likely be gone Nankervis will be gone some maturity while we also continue to bring in youth is a phase we are fast approaching.
