It’s a shame, his size and skills are exactly what we need through there. There is definitely a role for him across halfback if he can stay healthy.
Ridley has the scope to play as more than just an intercepting 3rd, without McKenna I think he should be played as a tall HBF.
Hurley and Francis are the too that will struggle to play together
That bump Francis did on O’Meara is becoming the equivalent on here of people who were convinced Jason Ashby was going to be a 200 game player because he said fark off when a decision was paid against him.
5 Likes
Obvisouly Reid and Brand along with BZT are going to be developing over the next 2-3 years. They will be developing in the same squad as Ambrose & Hurls; Big Cox may also be developing down back (I doubt this), and then there is McBride. With Ridley also a lock in the back 6 to freewheel.
Should we be freeing up Franga to play a swing man / floating role? At 193cms he hasn’t really shown he is genuine KPD size and perhaps we have an opportunity to play him as a genuine impact utility?
1 Like
Getting to make or break stuff for Franga needs to have a really good season and cement a spot in the team
1 Like
Imo he’s not going to make it with us. Ive always had a degree of optimism with frang but with Ridley coming on so quickly and guys like Cox and Reid being drafted, imo it portends bad for Frang.
Strangely I still think he can make it somewhere else that can give him consistency and confidence in his position, despite not producing a heck of a lot.
4 Likes
Yep, it certainly isn’t looking good. Will likely end up a bust. And man oh man was I optimistic about this bloke.
I’m backing him in to perform and cement his role this year similar to what Ridley did last year. Has all the tools to be just as good.
Can play on mediums and to some extent KPF at a pinch.
I think a backline that contains Ridley, Francis and eventually Reid/Cox will be something special, there’s a lot of intercepting marking power there which is invaluable these days, not to mention they’re all very good by foot which once again is a great trait to have coming out of defence
7 Likes
I dont see him being best 22 next year
4 Likes
I do, I can’t see us going with a cooked Hooker, a nearly cooked Hurley and an always injured Ambrose ahead of him. I think he’ll definitely play from round 1
3 Likes
I reckon Hurley is on the decline but the exaggeration of how bad he is now is greatly exaggerated. he still played some pretty good footy last year. he will be best 22.
10 Likes
One of many who looked promising but in typical EFC fashion has gone backwards.
2 Likes
He’ll be best 22 no doubt, Ambrose and Hooker not so much. Francis will get plenty of game time and a chance to cement himself which I think he will
2 Likes
The only role he can play has been completely commandeered by Ridley.
He now has Zerk, Cox, Reid & Brand ahead of him as key defenders.
I don’t think it’s going to work for him.
3 Likes
Other than Zerk, all those kids are years off being AFL ready. I’d be surprised if Hurley/Hooker have 20 games left in them combined, and Hooker sits in the goalsquare at FF if he can get on the park. There is a 24 month window for Francis to cement himself as an AFL player. The likes of BZT, Gleeson & Redman should not be keeping him out of a spot in that back line, that’s just poor development.
Cox, Reid and Brand haven’t played a single game of footy, how on earth are they ahead of him? Cox and Reid are both twigs and won’t be playing much if it all next year. Could you imagine Cox against Dixon? Yikes.
I’d even argue he’s a safer option than Zerk, as he was selected ahead of him to play on some key talls throughout this year.
Francis will get plenty of game time this year
3 Likes
He’s a proper old school footballer is Franga… but the game can’t carry too many guys who don’t buy into doing the hard running/tackling disciplined one percenters all game.
I’m not sure he’s ever gonna make it - would’ve been a gun in a different era though
1 Like
That’s what we said at the beginning of this year.
Next year is his sixth season, and he still hasn’t cemented a spot.
1 Like
But he simply will play, theres not a chance that Hooker, Hurely and Ambrose will play anything close to 22 games. One would argue if Hooker will even play defence this year. Cox, Reid and Brand no where near ready. Zerk I think they don’t rate ahead of Francis otherwise he would’ve played more this year.
Negative. He is not playing well at all imo.
He has no confidence in his body and plays pretty soft footy these days.
He’s played the odd good game here and there but on the whole it’s been pretty poor
5 Likes