Here is a few names to start the list off. IAN CALLINHAN ADE 28 Rookie CAMERON RICHARDSON NTH 23 F PAUL PUOPOLO HAW 23 D TENDAI MZUNGU FREO 25 F/M MICHAEL COAD GCF 27 D ISAAC SMITH HAW 22 F/M The more inside info the better.
It's a great question- definitely the topic of some indepth discussion this pre-season. In short, Mzungu will be in every team. Looks the part and should play games early. Callinhan has been putting in a ripping pre-season and is looking like scoring the open rookie spot on the Adelaide list. Another one to look at is Michael Hibberd, scored himself the Fothergill-Round Medal last year (As Barlow did the year before) - and picked up 16 touches a game as a running defender. The key there though is that 51% of his touches were delicious contested possessions. Also, ran at a DT average of 65.
Being a Blue, I hope it is Duigan at Carlton Seriously though, I too would say Harris Popoulo,Mzungu and Callinan
2010 SANFL Stats for those in question... I'm also going to throw Nick Lower (age 23) into the mix for comparison. Ian Callinan: K:286 M:79 H:144 FF:31 FA:18 G:34 B:22 HO:4 T:85 Games:19 SC Average: 114.37 Paul Puopolo: K:165 M:70 H:245 FF:29 FA:16 G:2 B:3 HO:5 T:44 Games:20 SC Average: 72.50 Nicholas Duigan: K:169 M:83 H:138 FF:9 FA:16 G:2 B:5 HO:22 T:25 Games:20 SC Average: 58.10 Nick Lower: K:326 M:99 H:182 FF:30 FA:29 G:6 B:13 HO:70 T:86 Games:20 SC Average: 116.4
<blockquote>Quote from walesy on January 28, 2011, 07:51 It's a solid effort no doubt- why didn't he do that when he was at Port!? </blockquote> I'd ask the same question. I can only hazard a guess that perhaps he has had a bit of a reality check after being delisted and improved his game. I'll be pretty cheesed if Freo get another Barlow and we had dropped him two years earlier...
I followed Lower a few years back as he was in my team as a rookie. Did very well in the SANFL but struggled when stepping up. Could very easily step into an AFL team with his age, but with the amount of young Freo backs, I'm not convinced he will get a go. Really injury would need to strike for him to get onto the main list, then again for him to get a game. Competition should keep Lower out of it but as an end of year buy he might be OK. Watch out though, he could be at 180k or so given previous AFL experience.
As far as following the Barlow/Pods mould goes, I think Mzungu is a very good possibility. Based on WillS's SANFL stats, Callinan looks good, depending on whether he looks like playing round 1.
Comparing those same stats (& same scoring system), Mzungu comes out with: K:391 M:151 H:181 FF:22 FA:18 G:7 B:14 HO:9 T:76 Games:20 SC Average: 122.9 Looks like an absolute ball magnet.
Mzungu i think itll be Freo have a habit of being able to do it with examples such Broughton and obviously Barlow. Richardson would be my second choice Callinan is going to have to fight for his spot, hes likely to play but I doubt hell play every game.
Another thing to consider is that Lower, Duigan and Puopolo are from Norwood, who finished third in the league and made the grand final. Callinan is from Central District who finished top and won the grand final. Mzungu is from bottom ranked Perth in the WAFL.
Another player who wont reach the heights of the once previously named and most likly will be a POD is the mature richmond ruckman recruit Tom Derickx, if up and about may be a great R4.
I have very little faith in the Eagles mids - just waiting for Masten and Kerr to break down in a few weeks. In light of this Gaff might be a good smokey - apparently impressing all with his skill and work ethic in pre0season training.
Masten is having his first ever trouble free preseason. Kerr won't be up to playing in the mids when he returns anyway and will be forward more often. Either way, if Gaff impresses in the NAB he will be in the 22 come rnd 1. With his skill level, fitness, work ethic and weakness of our midfield, he is as close as they come to a lock for me for a rookie.
IMPO Daveo Kraks will go up and down. Will have great weeks and weeks where he does stuff all. That's life as a forward. So I think he will do well, and make money for his owners, but not the outstanding growth we have seen in previous years. If he does smash it like Pods/Barlow we have a borderline elite on our hands.
I reckon Harris. When you say "the next Barlow/Pods" do you mean the next break out mature aged rookie? Or just the next break out rookie (a la Rich of 09)?
I'd more say it should be who is going to give me 400k improvement on my investment. Swallow if he turns out to be a gun, or hits his straps early could do it. Harris would need to be very good to get it happening Personally I don't think there will be any Barlow/Pods and we will have to content ourselves with a few decent 250-300 improving rookies
I honestly don't think we'll see anyone this year who'll return 400k on investment - only possibility would be Swallow imo - as for 250k to 300k return, Mzungu should be a shoo-in to reap that much return, been very impressive so far in pre-season games!!! Callinan is a possibility, as is Harris - but i honestly think Barlow/Pods were exceptions to the norm last year, we can't realistically expect to see that happen very often - don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen again!