4 Likes
#We
##Already
###kNew
####where
#####babies come from, daddy!
3 Likes
I canāt do it
1 Like
Daddy gives a present to Mummy,ā¦
2 Likes
post of the year.
6 Likes
From the AFL website. Inside midfielder in the long-term, intercept backman in the medium term. Does that correlate at all with his VFL roles of late?
While he admitted the Bombers are in a hurry to get some run out of the backline, Worsfold called for patience with second-year defender Aaron Francis.
The intercept-mark specialist has only played five games in two seasons after being taken with pick six in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.
The premiership coach said the 19-year-old was developing ābrilliantlyā, and the Bomber faithful would see more of the South Australian at senior level later in the season.
āHeās going to be a very good player, and the fact heās not in (the senior team) and dominating games right at the moment is not a concern for us,ā Worsfold said.
"At VFL level, itās just his overall ability to compete with the size of the guys heās going to play on for the full 120 minutes.
"Weāre really keen to develop him as an inside midfielder, and weāre putting a lot of time (into him playing there in the VFL).
āHe can certainly impact the game as a forward, but as an intercept backman, that is most likely where weāll see him play a fair bit of footy in the next couple of years.ā
1 Like
no.
being that heās been playing as a key forward.
That extract does not āreadā correctly, I think.
The āinside midā bit is about Langford, not Francis.
2 Likes
thatās what I thoughtā¦ thus the confusion.
BRING HIM IN
6 Likes
Interesting Worsfold thinks he will play his best footy as a defender, Hurley / Francis combo will be great to see.
2 Likes
Yep midfield comment was about Langford.
AFL website canāt be arsed doing their own interviews so steal this direct from SEN. But then canāt even get it right.
1 Like
That makes a lot more sense. Silly me thinking a journalist would order things appropriately.
1 Like
Thatās a relief. I was all kinds of confused when I read that article saying āyeah weāre playing him forward in the VFL, weāll develop him as an inside mid but weāre most likely to see him down backā W T F?!?!? Anyway, glad that Langford is becoming the inside mid.
Hopefully it hasnāt been in there for 5 years just waiting for that special moment?
2 Likes
I like that Woosha explained the plan for both Francis and Langford.
It still wonāt stop Garry Lyon from asking the same question next time.
Very happy to see him marked down as a defender. Thatās where I see him making the most impact, with the occasional run on the ball. In my viewing of him he seems like a player best suited playing behind the ball and reading the play, or in the thick of it where heās a bit like a wrecking ball. Forward doesnāt suit his strengths or his temperament.
1 Like
Hereās a link to the original interview on SEN
Itās interesting that, when asked what was holding Francis back, Woosha doesnāt expressly mention Francisā endurance but focuses on his ability to compete with bigger/stronger players, ie:
- he is being held back by āhis overall ability to compete with the size of the guys heās going to play onā; and
- āhe hasnāt got the body strength yet to really wrestle and match-up on those bigger playersā.
It sounds like heās being groomed for a key back role, Perhaps Ambrose takes the high-endurance key forwards, Francis takes the more static key forwards and Hurls is the attacking 3rd defender???
If correct, itās not great news for fans of Hartley, Brown or āHooker backā.
1 Like
I think itās a fair way off.
Iād say he will be a genuine utility player. Swinging between forward, back and midfield. Depending on who we are playing and what we need. Similiar to Hird, just gets moved around depending on the game.
I have no issues with Francis learning his craft as a full forward, just to give him that string to his bow. As you said, naturally he looks comfortable sitting behind the ball. If heās playing AFL this season, he should be playing a defensive role. Let him learn the forward craft in the VFL, heāll get more of it and have a bigger impact.
because if theyre honest and just say hes nowhere near fit enough after a year and a half at a professional football club, then it just reflects poorly on both parties.
1 Like