A look at the recruits of 2006

[Aerie]

How have the recruits gone for your club this year? Taken off the Ins/Outs list on this website (minus Jarrod Cotton ) here are the players:

Central - Paul Thomas, Adrian Wilson, Chad O'Sullivan, Ben Brittain, Tom Clarke, Andrew Hayes, Reece Francis, Reece Woods

Glenelg - Jarrad Sundqvist, Tom Logan, Ruory Kirkby, Ryan Tutt, Justin McConnell

North - Steven Koops, Clinton Alleway, Owen Weatherly, Brett O'Hara, Kingsley Walker, Dean Howard, Shane Schubert, Simon Cox, Leigh Ryswyk

Norwood - Rob DeJongh, Heath Culpitt, Nick Jackman

Port - Mark Bullen, John Baird, Troy Butcher, Shane Morrison, Matthew Lokan

South - Josh Thewlis, David Clarke, Dale Ellis, Rhyce Archard, Damian Cupido

Sturt - Leigh Davies, Steve Perri, Scott Peterson, Shaun Childs, Mitch Andrews, Craig Taylor, Sean O'Keefe

West - Kyle Archibald, Marcus McMillan, Lance Oswald, Ben Haynes, Ben Newberry, Shannon Rusca, Ashley Wedding, Mark Miller, Jeremy Jaques, Brydon Morgan, Ryan O'Sullivan, Ben Hollands

Eagles - Brad Dabrowski, Matthew Cooper, Luke Jarrod, Izaac Thompson, Adam Grocke, Jason Earl, Jackson Bolton, Matthew Bolton, Chris Stacey, Travis Oakley

[Aerie]

Eagles - Brad Dabrowski, Matthew Cooper, Luke Jarrod, Izaac Thompson, Adam Grocke, Jason Earl, Jackson Bolton, Matthew Bolton, Chris Stacey, Travis Oakley

For the Eagles:

Grocke: Has been the surprise packet and has held down Centre Half Forward and getting better with each game. Played all games so far and is probably the most important recruit to the team this year. Arguably the most in form CHF in the competition since the State game.

Cooper: After an injury interrupted start has got better with time and has been the perfect on-ball replacement for Stokes. Classy player who is a goal-kicking midfielder.

Jarrad: Another recruit who had a slow start and has got better. A nice left foot kick who has played every game from the wing. Makes it difficult for other teams to stop both him and Treeby on the wings.

Earl: Back at the club after a year off and is better than ever. A mature league footballer now who can be relied to do his job well when picked. Hasn't become a certain selection each week yet, but will in the years to come.

Oakley: Started well and showed what he is capable of against Norwood earlier in the season. The good form of Passador, Grocke and Westbrook pushed him out of the team. Still performed well in reserves until a jaw injury has seen him out of action for a couple of months. Can hopefully get back to fitness as will be needed if Passador or Grocke get injured.

Dabrowski: Plagued by injury and has only played a couple of games. Luckily Lindsay has carried the workload and Jacobs has stepped up, but will need to perform when given the chance to back up Fuller's faith in him. Disappointing so far.

Stacey: Played the first league game of the season. Wasn't up to standard and has now gone back to the country.

Bolton twins: Matthew played well in the reserves early and Jackson (who was the AFL rookie and higher rated) was injured all the time. Neither played league and I think must have returned back to Geelong. Not sure if they'll be back next year, but disappointing for them not to make an impact.

[zipzap]

Sturt - Leigh Davies, Steve Perri, Scott Peterson, Shaun Childs, Mitch Andrews, Craig Taylor, Sean O'Keefe

For Sturt only Taylor has been an out and out boon for our club. He has been one of our better players most games he's played.
O'Keefe has shown he is a classy player and is improving all the time. Took him a while to adapt to SANFL I reakon. Needs to blitz higher teams like he has done with teams like Westies.
Jury is still out on Davies IMHO. Seems capable when he gets the ball but as a backman is often caught a few metres behind his man.
Perri looked to be a great recruit early in the year but had a season ending shoulder injury Boy we could have used him in the centre square.
Haven't seen much of the other boys, certainly not in the A's anyway.

[CENTURION]

Paul Thomas is getting better each week, great to see him kick out from full back yesterday & then receive the ball on the 1/2 forward line, then pass to leading forward, who marked & goaled! Paul Thomas of old. Adrian Wilson is brilliant. What a fool Sheedy must be, letting these two go. BUT O'Sullivan has been a revelation. It is as though Marco Bello is still playing for us. BOG yesterday by a mile. A great pickup & will probably win Best & Fairest, or tie with Sladey.

[Pseudo]

Glenelg - Jarrad Sundqvist, Tom Logan, Ruory Kirkby, Ryan Tutt, Justin McConnell

MHO:

Sunny - been hot and cold. Has spent some time out of the league side.
Logan - 100% for effort every week, he plays like he's on speed. Thanks for bringing him back to SA Port Power
Kirkby - took his time to break the league side, but impressed greatly in his first game, and has yet to have a bad one.
Tutt - not seen much of him yet.
McConnell - the Bays did damn well to pick this kid up. He has been nothing short of fantastic for the club. A real crowd favourite too.

[topsywaldron]

Norwood - Rob DeJongh, Heath Culpitt, Nick Jackman

DeJongh - talented but inconsistent. Could be anything but needs to apply himself.

Culpitt - exactly the kind of player we needed, hard at it, good disposal and gets the ball out to our plethora of runners.

Jackman - a revelation. His effort to reduce Perrie to a frustrated mass of stupidity summed up his season. How South deemed him surplus to requirements says a lot about the culture, or lack therof, at Norlunga.

[Wedgie]

I couldn't improve on Drebin's assessment of our recruits so here's a copy of it from The Roost:

I was going to add a poll to this topic but I thought it was too subjective as we all see the players differently and we all have our favourites. Now they have all fronted up in the Seniors what are your thoughts?

I will start from positions for no real reason:

Alleway: Showed a fair few glimpses why he was rated so highly A couple more games under his belt and he will really star. Huge pick up IMO.

Ryswyk: Class act - quick and damaging and has formed a great tandem act with Banger on the wings. Surely will get re-drafted?

Howard: Suprised a lot of people (now he is playing for us) how good he really is. Best pick up this year so far.

Walker: Cool, clam and collected and rated very highly by the coaching staff. His first two games for us in RDs 1 and 2 were very good and with today's game under his belt he will be a huge asset. Can play on talls and smalls - very versatile.

Koops: So far has been a tad disappointing but is starting to show glimpses. Could be important come finals - especially if we get Coulter back and we can release Koops up the ground.

Schubert: A great pick up (hate to say I told you so! ), played every game and has been the "glue" in the defence - especially when we had so many injuries. Just behind Howard in second spot.

O'Hara: Has been okay but tends only to win about 50 percent of his hitouts in the square and as a result we have been beaten in the rucks and the clearances to a degree which puts pressure on the defence to drive the ball into attack. He has improved his around the ground 1 percenters. He will get better.

Weatherley: Has shown glimpses each week until his injury. His best game was Rd 2 agaisnt South were he kicked 3 off the HF Flank and had 11 marks. Still finding his feet but with his size he should be busting blokes in half?. If he doesn't half kill someone when he comes back (if he gets back this year) we may have to re-think the "Daeth God" nickname? Still he looks good long term prospect.

Cox: Clearly not fit due to his off season knee operation and the on going swelling. He has great hands, great kick, good awareness and good AFL experience but he can't run or jump at this stage. He is looking fwd to a good pre-season and getting back to his AFL playing weight next year. He could well be a smokey for 2007 because I think in 4 weeks when he comes back he will play two's unless we get a run of injuries again.


All have helped us so far to be where we are!

[blueandwhite]

Our recruits this year:

1. Archard. a really good pick up has lightning speed and uses the ball well 8/10
2. Clarke. Has had difficulties with injury and suspension but has given some run off half back 7/10
3. Thewlis. took a while to settle in but has been very good, very hard and committed to the contest.7/10
4.Ellis. came to the club with concerns over injuries, these concerns have been justified.2/10
5.Cupido............ 1 excellent game.....needs a kick in the backside and a run in the magoos.4/10
6. Iljecson. a real surprise...has been a goalkicker, lightning quick but a little on the light side 6/10

[heater31]

5.Cupido............ 1 excellent game.....needs a kick in the backside and a run in the magoos.4/10

Just like his AFL Career

[Wedgie]

Just found out Cox is having his knee cleaned out again and will be out for the season.

[Rushby Hinds]

Cox: Clearly not fit due to his off season knee operation and the on going swelling. He has great hands, great kick, good awareness and good AFL experience but he can't run or jump at this stage. He is looking fwd to a good pre-season and getting back to his AFL playing weight next year. He could well be a smokey for 2007 because I think in 4 weeks when he comes back he will play two's unless we get a run of injuries again.


All have helped us so far to be where we are!

Yep, is he wearing Grenville's jumper?

[drebin]

Cox: Clearly not fit due to his off season knee operation and the on going swelling. He has great hands, great kick, good awareness and good AFL experience but he can't run or jump at this stage. He is looking fwd to a good pre-season and getting back to his AFL playing weight next year. He could well be a smokey for 2007 because I think in 4 weeks when he comes back he will play two's unless we get a run of injuries again.


All have helped us so far to be where we are!

Yep, is he wearing Grenville's jumper?

Nup couldn't give him Grenville's jumper - too many homeless would have been forced out into the cold?

[Macca19]

Port - Mark Bullen, John Baird, Troy Butcher, Shane Morrison, Matthew Lokan

Bullen - Was a solid performer until he left. Played in numerous roles all around the ground and generally played well each week. Only a couple of quiet weeks and a few stand out bests as well. We miss his versatility greatly

Baird - One of the best recruits weve had in years. Amazing he isnt in the AFL system. Outstanding mark, great set up play from defence and has been thrown into the middle with success a few times.

Butcher - Didnt think much of him last year but my opinion of him has improved greatly. Performed a number of different roles mixing from key forward, wing, rover and key defender and has performed well each time. Barely had a bad game at all.

Morrison - Was warned by Richmond fans about him and their thoughts have come true. Started well in the pre season and opening games but since about Round 4 has not done a single thing. If it wasnt for the fact we simply have no backup I would have dropped him 3-4 weeks ago.

Lokan - Up and down. Done well in defence but hasnt been consistent.

[Stevie_K]

You really can't say enough good things about Glenelgs McConnell, probably the perfect player to compliment Fisher and Backwell, a joy to watch, especially considering how i felt when Culpitt and Neely left the club.

[saintal]

1. Archard. Great find. Smart, mature and works his guts out. 9/10
2. Clarke. early dominance curbed by injury/suspension. Puts mates under pressure too often with handball 7/10
3. Thewlis. Tough, hard, kicks it long. Like him. 8/10
4.Ellis. Havent seen much of him. 1/10
5.Cupido. Touches are quality but really needs a big 6 weeks to justify price tag 5/10
6. Iljecson. works hard up the ground. Surprise packet. Good to see him kick 4 at the weekend 6.5/10

[drebin]

Baird - One of the best recruits weve had in years. Amazing he isnt in the AFL system. Outstanding mark, great set up play from defence and has been thrown into the middle with success a few times.

Your joking surely Macca??? Baird is lazy and "sucks" easy possessions off the backs of the packs, doesn't man up and now doesn't look interested! Since Morrison has had to go up forward along with Achee most weeks and with no Eichner mopping up for him he has been exposed. Good in a side where he can collect stats and just flow along on the backs of other players who work twice as hard.

Over paid and over rated and that's why he is not in the AFL.

Other than that he's probably a nice bloke though!

[Aerie]

Baird - One of the best recruits weve had in years. Amazing he isnt in the AFL system. Outstanding mark, great set up play from defence and has been thrown into the middle with success a few times.

Your joking surely Macca??? Baird is lazy and "sucks" easy possessions off the backs of the packs, doesn't man up and now doesn't look interested! Since Morrison has had to go up forward along with Achee most weeks and with no Eichner mopping up for him he has been exposed. Good in a side where he can collect stats and just flow along on the backs of other players who work twice as hard.

Over paid and over rated and that's why he is not in the AFL.

Other than that he's probably a nice bloke though!

Are you talking about Ladhams or Baird?

[RustyCage]

Baird - One of the best recruits weve had in years. Amazing he isnt in the AFL system. Outstanding mark, great set up play from defence and has been thrown into the middle with success a few times.

Your joking surely Macca??? Baird is lazy and "sucks" easy possessions off the backs of the packs, doesn't man up and now doesn't look interested! Since Morrison has had to go up forward along with Achee most weeks and with no Eichner mopping up for him he has been exposed. Good in a side where he can collect stats and just flow along on the backs of other players who work twice as hard.

Over paid and over rated and that's why he is not in the AFL.

Other than that he's probably a nice bloke though!

You had wanna be joking drebin! He has been a brilliant pick up.

[drebin]

No suprise that the Port fans don't agree with my assessment of Baird!

[Pseudo]

Morrison - Was warned by Richmond fans about him and their thoughts have come true. Started well in the pre season and opening games but since about Round 4 has not done a single thing. If it wasnt for the fact we simply have no backup I would have dropped him 3-4 weeks ago.

At least he can stand behind the bar and wipe dirty glasses.