Ridley is made for the backline. He is composed. Rarely gets worried. Exactly what is needed.
wish you guyās would stick to comments about our brilliant young footballers not those wiesel comentatores
Would make a sensational winger.
6 Likes
Iād be shocked if that were the case.
When he was drafted he was Lever verging on Hooker.
To me heās turned into Ambrose but with far better disposal, which has shocked the hell out of me, but midfield would be Twilight Zone stuff.
Not saying he canāt, although I doubt it, but seeing that at 17ā¦more nah than yeah in my yeah-nah.
āHeās 192, he can play forward. Last year as a bottom ager he kicked 6 in a game, we thought he looks alright. Then heās played across half back and we think he can develop into a tall mid.ā
They can always develop into midfielders. Always.
Edit: from http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2016-11-25/draft-wrap
2 Likes
192cm 17 year-olds kicking six goals in a game screams midfielder to me.
Iām taking that with the tiniest pinch of salt.
Oh, for sure, Iād just never doubt that Dodoro said somewhere that a draftee could develop into a midfielder.
1 Like
Got to do the Essendon apprenticeship on the HBF first.
Outside of pure talls, why would you draft anyone with a second rounder who didnāt have the skills/potential to be a mid, regardless of what their best position is?
Pretty much anyone with a limited skill set is going to get pushed to the back end of the draft
He was right with Myers.
Given itās functionally impossible to disagree with that, I guess I agree.
Where he ends up playing will depend on how much he adds to his frame. Regardless of position, heāll be playing in the AFL before too long.
Inside mid attributes are ability to take possession cleanly in traffic, be strong in body on body contests around stoppages, stand up in the tackle and keep your hands free, quick accurate disposal by hand in close, vision in congestion. Anything else like good foot skills or pace are a bonus. Clarke has these attributes. Ridley is a completely different player.
He reads it well, is balanced, quick, composed, a very good kick. He is suited to, and good at the role he is playing. However given Gleeson and Francis are similar, if we want him to play elsewhere, we should have a look at him as a forward. A running wingmen would suit. Inside mid - not for mine.
7 Likes
Whatās his tank and speed like?
Tank not bad, speed not too shabby for a guy of 191cm.
Heās good and getting gooder.
6 Likes
When do you think he will be goodest?
3 Likes
Donāt know when he will be goodest. Maybe around the same time when he is best.
Runs a 3.13 20m (solid but not express), and is a top quartile endurance athlete from memory.
1 Like
He is perfect on hbf, but I could certainly see him playing wing or high half forward. With Francis, Redman, and gleeson, we have plenty of good depth at half back. But if they are all fit to play it makes for an interesting conversation because all are afl level and best 22 in my eyes.
2 Likes
No comment on Ridley, but the presentation of sprint times has certainly changed over the years.
Back in the day that would have been considered āslowā and ālacking the acceleration neededā.
I can happily say that when Hurls was measured at 3.11 that I thought it was too slow for the role weād be asking him to play.
After a decade or so, I think I can say I was wrā¦wrā¦I was wrong.
1 Like