I think Mirkov would get smashed by Witts, and if we are setting Mirkov to have a long career an event like that can derail progress and confidence for years and years.
I think when assessing these things you've got to look past the highlights and see the grunt, Mirkov is a way off. At VFL level you get away with little hesitations while you stop/pause to think about what to do next, at AFL level which is 24x7 preparation and practice, it has to be reflex or else you're 10m behind the play.
Mirkov is learning what to do quite quickly, I can see SpecialK's influence, and he might be ahead of the curve, but he's a way off AFL standard, he's in the Ben Silvagni zone at the moment showing he can be good enough to compete but not yet at the standard.
I think fans are too obsessed with playing these guys early, more often than not for every one you find that stands up and is made by that experience, you break a dozen or two others!
I think when assessing these things you've got to look past the highlights and see the grunt, Mirkov is a way off. At VFL level you get away with little hesitations while you stop/pause to think about what to do next, at AFL level which is 24x7 preparation and practice, it has to be reflex or else you're 10m behind the play.
Mirkov is learning what to do quite quickly, I can see SpecialK's influence, and he might be ahead of the curve, but he's a way off AFL standard, he's in the Ben Silvagni zone at the moment showing he can be good enough to compete but not yet at the standard.
I think fans are too obsessed with playing these guys early, more often than not for every one you find that stands up and is made by that experience, you break a dozen or two others!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"