How does one go from bring a top 5 prospect for most of his draft year to now barely making an impact at vfl 2 years into the afl system?
Not tall or powerful enough for key forward/defence role and canāt run enough for 3rd tall / rebounding defenderā¦at this stage
He was so big and powerful as a junior he rarely had to āworkā. He just did as he wished.
Same with Jack Ziebel.
It could take another yet or two.
Does he have the Jobe desire to make it? We are about to find out.
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Jobe would have been perfect to mentor him
Or dare I say itā¦hirdy!
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He hasnāt shown an unwillingness to work hard (unless someone knows otherwise), itās just going to take him a few years to get up to speed. Imagine Francis clunking marks down back and our first round draft pick from this year doing a McGrath/Parish. Future looks good, man.
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The huge gulf in standard between VFL and AFL is why i generally find it hard to get excited by VFL form. OāMeara has hardly played in 4 years and he came back with 30 touches & 3 goals in <70% game time, and Parish dominated coming back from a calf injury. Laverde is too good for VFL but isnāt anywhere near it yet at AFL level, and even Stanton has had some monster games in the VFL this year yet his AFL days are clearly over. Thatās why i have a hard time understanding those who get very excited over Francisā AFL prospects based on the odd glimpse at VFL level.
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We should be putting him in the same category as McCartin, Weiderman, Scahche, McKay etc
It takes time for these boys to develop, but I love the club is pushing him and challenging him.
He will make his mark on the AFL next year, and easily romp in the rising star.
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Lay off the young man
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He is as frustrated as anyone if not more. He is happy at the club and looking forward to a injury free pre season. You will be unable to recognise him come round 1 next year
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From what I have heard, he is desperate to reach his potential at this club.
Would take a bullet for the club this kid and will do everything he can this off-season to get where he needs to be.
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For the club to make this public suggests they feel Francis isnāt working hard enough or he coulb be put up for trade.
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Thatās interesting yaco. What exactky was made public ? Or have the journos just been reading blitz?
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It was an article in a newspaper. One which was rather pointed. I forgot all news only comes from BB
I think this is the most pertinent observation in relation to Francis. So much can change āovernightā after a few years of development. I remember during the rd3 Melbourne game last year (I think it was rd3) channel 7 ran a poll about which emerging KP forward would fans want on their team. It had five players. If I recall correctly the voters placed JD third behind Hogan and Moore. I wonder who theyād have first now.
I still reflect on a passage of play on Anzac Day when Francis was 1 v 4 or 5 pies on the members wing. He made about 4 repeat efforts to break even in the moment. To me that said a lot about his desire. I also take heart from Aceman and BK above.
The kid.gave up his holidays last year and is apparently not going rest much this year either. Sounds to me like heās going to emerge as a player soon enough.
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Jonathon Patton has just started to play good consistent footballā¦ Heās 24.
Francis has literally turned 20, 9 days ago. Heās gets another years grace but we start putting realistic pressure on the kid. Hopefully next year he can aim to play a dozen games.
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Patton did 2 x ACLs. Irrelevant.
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Heāll be fine. I always said heād take 2 years.
Heāll come back next year fit as fark, and raring to go, and will blow us all away.
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Seriously worried
Plays better as a backman.