ACL or not, Hunter was on the list. We absolutely entered the season with a full list.
Scrambling to find a player a few weeks before our first praccy game, unplanned, is not planning in November to leave a spot empty for 8 months.
Not the same thing.
I really hope he can get injury free. I just think a great kick - like, way better than AFL average - is a thing of beauty. And heās got it.
Have no idea how anymore other than this guys family and friends have an emotional attachment and desire for him to stay on our list.
this dudes body is as dependable as Joe Bidens brain. He canāt jump ffs and is as slow as a truck for a guy who isnāt KPP height.
Would never be anything other than a good ordinary player yet heās been gifted chances that make no sense when thereās so many other young men in state leagues whoās body are dependable that can play
Iād like to see him stay on the list.
Iād first like to see him stay on the field.
For those antsy about Baldwinās robustness, thereās a reason heās been delisted and is fighting for a PSS spot. If he falls apart, we will take someone else. But considering the club has left his number vacant, they clearly rate his talent and are keen for him to get his body right over the next 2-3 months.
The club has already taken an incredibly ruthless approach to manage the injury risk.
I agree but would add that he aint that good, shown by the fact that no other club is knocking his door down
My personal view is his kicking and marking skills are in the top handful in the club, but heās a tad too slow and a tad too short. If fit he would be an upgrade on Laverde, but on paper heās behind Reid and Hayes long term due to height.
I can see a role for him as a distributor from defence when thereās a suitable matchup. Iām very curious to see how heās developed his body during the time on the sidelines. End of the day heās likely out backup KPD, but we can do a hell of a lot worse in that role.
This is how his body was 1 year ago
Iād say the fact that those who are him every day have given him a chance to stay in, while they have shown others the door indicates that he brings something to the group that the coaches and football management think is beneficial. Time will tell if that is on field, but he must bring something.
Hope we give the spot to some one else what could the club possibly not know what they already know about Baldwin?
I think his kicking is overrated. It certainly looks good, and gets distance, but he is not great at getting it to one of our players.
What the club knows is that if heās fit they want him
Unit
I would keep Baldwin if he gets through the preseason.
and then Cat B list mason Fletcher if he comes home. good insurance for Reid/ Hayes.
If he isnāt training now with the group surely thatās alarm bells
Itās hardly about discovery. The reality is that neither Baldwin nor Lav have long left at the club. Theyāre both ok stop gaps until we can replace them. Theyāre also both temporary insurance against Reedās body breaking down again and if that happens all his talent wonāt save him either.
In evaluating between Lav and Baldwin, we know Lav gives as much as he can (and itās not enough really) but we donāt really know how much Baldwin will compete because heās had far less experience at AFL level to develop. Baldwinās got the frame to be more of a problem for a fwd than Lav does, but that doesnāt matter if he doesnāt have at least a similar level of doggedness as Lav.
If Baldwinās body holds up to preseason, and their is need to play him or Lav, Iād be aiming to play Lav in the twos until the bye and that way we force the issue of Baldwinās body holding up and we see if heās capable of bringing that level of effort. If his body breaks down we get an MSD pick and play Lav till the end of the year.
Simples!
Simples?
Yeah I like him but this.
Heād have to be running out of tarmac soon to be taking back a guy who is going to be in the ādidnāt get a pre-seasonā club where theyāre always chasing their tail throughout the year.
Heād want to be in full training first session back after Christmas or else Iād move on.
In these circumstances, where youāve already been on the list and been de-listed, you need to be ticking every box and making every post a winner to warrant being re-listed over taking on someone else who is fit and going if itās a close call.
Yes he is. What a weird thing to say.
He was expected to have a delayed pre-season.
Part of the reason for bringing him in is to help with his rehab. Rather than just kicking him to the kerb and saying goodbye.
That loyalty may bear fruit, it may not.
But itās not going to hurt the club giving him a pre-season and a final chance to make it on the list.
Regardless of whether itās a slim chance or not.
I donāt think he makes it. But this kind of āloyaltyā can help build relationships with player managers and give you a bit of brownie points when trying to chase a player.