With Murphy out for the rest of the season , Davies as indefinite, Longmuir approx 5-7 weeks is it time to promote one of the rookies and see how they go?

Previously we had some players who may or may not be classed as LTI but with Murphy out there is now a definite opportunity. IMO I think it should be a choice between Smith and Jackson.

Of the rookies Jesse Smith is in his last year and must be either promoted or delisted at years end and now with one definite LTI on the list should we give him a chance? Smith is a hard in and under midfielder and with Bentick may give us a rotation option that continues to generate drive from the middle. He may also have better skills than some players currently in the team.

Don't have anything to lose and at least gives us the opportunity to see if we can find another player this season.

I would also like to see Ryan Jackson be given a chance as I think he may surprise a few people. He has played well in the Bullants reserves and now seems to be playing well in the Bullants seniors. IIRC he started playing on ball and wing and is now playing half back and has versatility. He may also be one of those players who just seems to get better as he is elevated.

Aisake seems to be benefitting from his rucking stint in the Bullants reserves and as an intenational rookie he has at least another two years available to go. I think it would help his development to continue to play full games in the ruck in the Bullant reserves rather than sit on the bench in the seniors.

Flint is only in his first season on the rookie list and could be promoted or left on the rookie list for another year. Started off well from all reports but seems to have gone off the boil lately. Also IMO I think it's more important that we try to find another midfielder more than a defender at this time. Might be nice to see Mitchell give Flint a chance on ball in the Bullants.

YES, FLINT & JACKSON.... DO IT NOW!!!

From the Brissie match i think 4 players who where in the best of the Lions where promoted rookies so certainly cant hurt and if it gives a rookie a chance to show some form i am all for it

Flint and Jackson i agree

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I would like to see Jackson but why would you want to when we have have depth like Teague and Chambers

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Is Batson worth elevating?

Nah, too broke

Jackson would be the logical replacement.
Midfielder for midfielder.
Runs hard, good by foot, smart around the packs.
Would be the perfect replacement for Murph.

Aisake needs to keep learning his craft and getting full games in the ones.
Batson needs to keep on keeping on, although I wouldn't mind seeing him elevated given it's his last year on the rookie list and the coaching staff need some sort of indication of whether he has what it takes to make the grade.

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Action Jackson is the man. Promote him or we must suffer watching Teague, Chambers or McGrath again.

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From what I saw on the weekend jackson should be promoted.Really like him .Has more strings to his bow than Smith.And Batson should be elevated and play in the Bullants ones.Really liked what I saw in the last quarter of the twos.His mobile and smart and has good skills.Give him a go in the ants ones to have a more definite opinion on whether he is retained at seasons end at least.

Might as well elevate one or two. One way to help develop them and find out more about them.

We are crying out for true midfielders,and Smith and Jackson fit the bill.Cruel on Flint coz he aint put a foot wrong,but he is a deadset backman and thats where he's gonna find his 'niche.
Was keen on Smith,but i got a feeling that Jackson shades him in the pace and mobility stakes.

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Elevate Batson.

He's 20 yrs old, and 2nd year rookie. He's 202cm and about 95kg.

We're crying out for a ruckman to feed the midfielders and support the defence and maybe kick a couple goals.

I'd like to see him thrown into the seniors for 5 min busts over a couple weeks to see what he's got. Throw him to the wolves. It's been done before, it wont hurt him.

To find out whether he's a ruckman or a forward. Reports suggest that he has been moving well lately, especially so given his size, and has kicked goals in virtually every game (maybe even a 4-5 haul albeit in the Ants'Ressies).

How the hell can anybody make a decision on this guy at the end of the year if we don't really know what he's got. Hey, he might show more than Setanta (198cm).

DeLuca 202, French 200 and McLaren 196. Surely French and McLaren are still disposable to demotion for a couple of games.

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Disposable to retirement in my books is French. For the time being through we need more mids so Jackson for Murphy would be the best bet, maybe Batson for Davies who is obviously not coming back anytime soon.

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shouldnt batson get at least a game in the bullants seniors first??? it doesnt really bode well for promotion that he cant get a game for the bullants.

In respect of jackson, he does look good, and it would be interesting to see him make the grade at afl, but it is a tough ask to push him up so quickly seeing as he has only played a few bullant senior games.

In regard to flint, from what i have seen, I think it would be way premature to promote him. I would think jackson is more ready than him.

I suppose it is all a balancing act of not throwing youngsters to the wolves vs letting youngsters experience elite football.

If I have to watch Teague, Prendergast & Chambers in the seniors for the rest of the year I'll scream!

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Originally I would have promoted Batson however after seeing Jackson I think he would make a better transition to the senior team...not much point promoting a player who is going to be Bullants material only.
Its a hard call to ignore Jess Smith but I think Jackson maybe has more polish about his play..I wouldnt be unhappy to see Smith promoted though..

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bozman wrote


Your opinion is the logical one and I agree with the logic:

Seniors first
Jackson front runner for promo
Balancing act

The reason for Batson is due to our dire need for ruckmen. That's what he's been selected for, and this is his final year as a rookie, with a decision to be made at the end of the year.

Our recruitment efforts in the draft through the draft do not make good reading.

Retreads/ Discards Mott, McLaren, French, and then there's Bryan and DeLuca selections to support French. Thiis is so critical now I say stuff the midfielders as neglecting the ruck position any longer does not bode well.

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I like Batson, he has size and co-ordination, and appears to have some good personal qualities, but if he can't get a game in the Bullants firsts there seems no way he would be (or should be) elevated. I think he is heading off the list which is a shame as I had high hopes for him, but he rarely plays in the ruck in the Ants ressies. I would have hoped they'd give him some game time in the Ones, but when Aisake gets promoted ahead of him (He's been going well but can be rookied again next year) then Batson is gone.

Jesse Smith is a great trier but very slow, can't see him fitting into a side that has AB and Blackwell. Really we should only elevate someone who is going to get a game. We have been conservative with our young players, which is not a bad thing, so I'd think Jackson and Flint would be rookied again with a good chance of elevation during next year, or possibly see how they go and maybe list them next year, or wait till towards the end of the season. With Murphy our for the season and Davies seemingly too, they can leave it late, as they did with Carazzo a few years back when he came onto the list for the last few games.

I would promote Jackson.

For those of you who know my posts you'll no doubt know that i have huge wraps on this kid and no shit, i was jumping for joy when we picked him up as a rookie last season.

Jackson remindes me of a young Craig Bradley and one that will have a long career with the Blues.

Bring him in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Anybody know if a rookie can earn a rising star nomination?

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I had my appointment arrive and rushed my last post, when I returned I wasn't allowed to edit, but the point I was making is based on our need for a ruckman/men for the present and the future.

We may have selections 2, 18, 20 and 35.
We have French and McLaren as a the 2 ruckmen
French is not the type of ruckman we need but necassary atm (no alternative)
French will retire 2006-7 leaving us with (he'll be no good in 2007)
McLaren who is 196cm is not tall enough, nor has spring to counter lack in height.
Bryan ditto McLaren
DeLuca is 202 and is developing for a forward role, not a ruck role

This leaves us with Batson and Aisake.
Aisake is a few years away if he makes it, maybe 2008-9
This leaves us Batson.

If as gerrry attric suggests that it looks as though Batson will be delisted, then that was a waste of time wasn't it?

I asssume that if Bryan doesn't hold a BP role he is gone too.

Where does that leave us?

Who are the potential draftee ruckmen at this year's draft?

Luenberger...? not many, and that's about it. The best 2 under age ruckmen are not available this year. If Luengerger is taken in the first round we have no ruckmen to target for picks 18 and 20, and that leaves us in the same position we've been in since we got Matthew Allan in the 90's, who was primed to take over from Madden.

We have no succession plan, and if Batson isn't tried and delisted we're in that same predicament of the past, in search of a ruckman. That means we are likely to go for a wildcard again, such as we did with Bryan, DeLuca, Mott, Matthews. It's not good.

Do we use our first round pick for a ruckman? If not, do we wait for next year for the other 2 ruckmen. What if we miss out on them too in the 2007 draft? Shit. We are not thinking right atm.

I want to find out if Batson is worth persevering with for the ruck position or shouldwe have a go for a ruckman in the first round. Remember ruckmen do take time to develop and I would hate to see this young team have all the ducks lined up for 2008-9, but lacking a ruckman. If Aisake makes it and is injured, who will be his back up?

Don't underestimate the team's need for an A grade ruckman to contest against genuine ruckman such as Cox, White, Brogan, Lade, Everitt....

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