NAB Challenge: Carlton vs. Essendon Sunday 28th Feb

[ElwoodBlues1]

Phillips is an upgrade on Warnock, whether he can mark or not, he looks more likely too and his tapwork isn't half bad.
Gorringe is an upgrade on Watson. Uses his size a lot better and has more of an influence on the game given limited opportunites.....to this point.

I just dont want another couple of seasons trying to turn ruckman into forwards...Shaun Hampson was a Frankenstein experiment that went wrong
and I hope we have learned our lesson that we need specialist KP players and not manufactured ones...

[madbluboy]

I reckon we completely ruined Hampson's career.

[Robblues]

I agree , through our lack of forwards we took a ruckman , who showed plenty in that area and tried to manufacture a forward , and even though showed some highlights , was a doomed option unfortunately

[Thryleon]

Hammer was a soccer player turn afl footballer.  He only started showing a bit in the ruck and even then it was all potential.

[PassIt2Carrots]

I reckon we completely ruined Hampson's career.

Couldn't stand up to the rigours of AFL footy. Every time he seemed to gain some momentum he re-injured himself. I think his lack of durability ruined him more than anything else.

[Gointocarlton]

Hammer was a soccer player turn afl footballer.  He only started showing a bit in the ruck and even then it was all potential.

Should never have used him in the ruck.

[LP]

OK, whether it be Hampson, Kreuzer, Watson, etc., etc. it really doesn't matter. The real issue is trying to turn natural on-ballers or defenders into a lead up targets, it just doesn't work!

The real problem is that AFL coaches are generally megalomaniacs who think they could coach a slug to a Coleman Medal if they could get it to listen. All their failures are because the kid didn't listen, ask Mick Malthouse!

I see this at TAC Cup level every year, where athletes often get picked in preference to natural footballers because the lunatic coaches think if the kid has elite fitness they can be taught the rest. Last TAC season there was a kid roughly the same size as Lockett but with Reiwoldt like endurance, he made it into one of the final TAC squads without being able to kick 30m, he could handball farther than he could kick! :o

I'm afraid these American experiments are very much an example of this. The vast majority will be fails because they have no aptitude for the game beyond basic training drills, and we all know training drills mean nothing on game day, just ask Liam Jones!

[Gointocarlton]

OK, whether it be Hampson, Kreuzer, Watson, etc., etc. it really doesn't matter. The real issue is trying to turn natural on-ballers or defenders into a lead up targets, it just doesn't work!

The real problem is that AFL coaches are generally megalomaniacs who think they could coach a slug to a Coleman Medal if they could get it to listen. All their failures are because the kid didn't listen, ask Mick Malthouse!

I see this at TAC Cup level every year, where athletes often get picked in preference to natural footballers because the lunatic coaches think if the kid has elite fitness they can be taught the rest. Last TAC season there was a kid roughly the same size as Lockett but with Reiwoldt like endurance, he made it into one of the final TAC squads without being able to kick 30m, he could handball farther than he could kick! :o

I'm afraid these American experiments are very much an example of this. The vast majority will be fails because they have no aptitude for the game beyond basic training drills, and we all know training drills mean nothing on game day, just ask Liam Jones!

See I don't mind the Irish and American experiments. They come through the rookie system and you may unearth something special. I agree though that taking athletes over footballers on the main list is not desirable anymore. Old fashion footballers are now worth there weight in gold I reckon. It is preferable if they have some zip and mobility, just not necessarily athletic freaks though.

[cimm1979]

People said the Irish experiment was a waste of time.

The same clueless boneheads now say the US sourced players are a waste.

Just a matter of time. The US has more gifted athletes playing in high level/elite sport than any other county in the world and AFL has only just scratched the surface.

95% are finished as athletes when college finishes. It will be a tidal wave, particularly for tall talent.

Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.

[DJC]

People said the Irish experiment was a waste of time.

The same clueless boneheads now say the US sourced players are a waste.

Just a matter of time. The US has more gifted athletes playing in high level/elite sport than any other county in the world and AFL has only just scratched the surface.

95% are finished as athletes when college finishes. It will be a tidal wave, particularly for tall talent.

Mason Cox looks a terrific prospect and he's just the start.

I continue to be amazed at how well the Irish blokes pick up both the skills and nuances of the game.  It really goes against the belief that you have to grow up playing the game to excel at it.  I guess ruckmen like Goldstein and Martin are home grown examples although they could have had footies in their hands in between basketball commitments; kick to kick at school for example. 

Mike Pyke is another example of how top class sportspeople can pick up another code and, as you say, Cox seems to be heading in the same direction.  I think that the women's competition will also see sportswomen successfully changing codes.

There is a huge pool of US sportsmen and I have no doubt that many could make a successful transition to AFL.  Selecting those most likely to succeed is the challenge.  Now that the AFL has relaxed the rookie rules, we'll probably see more Americans taking up rookie spots and some going on to have AFL careers.