Eagles recruiting for season 2023

goddy11 wrote:Josh sounds good
Josh Mawson

One of the most electrifying players in the competition Mawson’s skill by foot and ability to find targets off halfback is brilliant. Having recovered from a broken jaw earlier in the season the prodigious talent will be a key player in the decider.

https://www.newsport.com.au/2022/september/resurgent-crocs-looking-for-further-grand-final-glory-under-afl-cairns-supercoach/

Jaw broken in two places.
He was originally from the Grampians and his father was on Geelong's AFL list but I don't think he played an AFL game.

Zane Montgomerie, Josh Mawson, Daniel Sladojovic, Sam Tilley and Carter Norman are already out training with the boys. Some already have been training for a fortnight.

With the youth of our recruits so far,, it appears that we are using season 2023 as a development year. Of course, that may change if we gain a few strong talls after the draft.
Dilemma with our new 19 year old 201cm ruckman is that, if he is good enough to match SANFL ruckman at 19 years of age, then the Eagles won't retain him. So I assume he is a project player, and therefore we have yet to address. 1. a readymade SANFL standard ruckman. 2. a tall key forward. 3. a tall key back. if we're serious about 2023. (might be good in 2024 though, haha!)

Well done Micky J

The Barton wrote:The Jury is out in regard to the recruitment of long term AFL players like Polec.
Once they hit 30 it's hit and miss. Recent successes would include Gibbs, Broadbent and McMahon going back a few years at Sturt. Puopolo was finished when he came back to Norwood and did very little and Richard Douglas was serviceable. Hartlett at West didn't seem interested last year. Personally I wouldn't be chasing Polec.

Dan Menzel can be added to the success stories. I agree though, more often than not it doesn’t work out. One, they still need to be committed (that would be questionable with Polec I imagine) and two, they need to be highly skilled above the usual AFL player - which Polec is.

So, if Polec showed any interest, he’d be very handy.

Ethan "Fish" Haylock has signed with Norwood.

Mickyj wrote:
Another signing
It’s been a big week for announcements and signings… and we’ve got one more for you to kick off your weekend!!!

The Woodville West Torrens Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Riley Collier-Dawkins, a 191cm big bodied midfielder that will be a welcome asset for coach Jade Sheedy.

Taken at pick 20 in the 2018 AFL draft, Collier-Dawkins has spent the previous four seasons at Richmond where in that time he played 11 AFL matches, and was a member of the Tigers 2019 VFL Premiership team.

Quality signing should dominate this comp

Collier-Dawkins, 191cm bigbodied midfielder with AFL experience, possibly the best signing yet (aside from James Rowe who we hope isn't drafted again).
He compliments the smaller bodies of Knight, Sinor and Beatie.

The Barton wrote:Ethan "Fish" Haylock has signed with Norwood.

I always rated Haylock. Just too many players similar he was competing with. He may have been a regular if he stayed last year.

hawke wrote:Collier-Dawkins, 191cm bigbodied midfielder with AFL experience, possibly the best signing yet (aside from James Rowe who we hope isn't drafted again).
He compliments the smaller bodies of Knight, Sinor and Beatie.

Sounds a really good signing.

Have we enough quality defenders?

Geez !! I've just been watching Collier-Dawkins highlight reel !
I thought our recruiting had been pretty ordinary till NOW. This guy can play, a big "Rolls- Royce". looks taller than 191cm, kicks well, good evasive skills, and ready to burn in SANFL.

Now for the tall Three ! (ruckman, 195cm forward, 195cm back)

Though I wouldn't mind another tall runner in Poulter

Although "Hawke" will disagree I think the club has done a fantastic job with their recruiting. All clubs would like to have the perfect squad, team and recruiting period but that never happens. It's the club who makes the best of what they have, generally succeeds. We are looking a lot better balanced, brought in some class, pace and forward skill and youthful exuberance.
A couple of the recruits were searching for higher honours and initiated talks that resulted in them choosing the Eagles. Our network of contacts has been fantastic. Ex-players living far and wide have been great referees for the club.

FOR NOTING.
24yo = Zane Montgomerie
23yo = Jimmy Rowe
22yo = Riley Collier-Dawkins, Zane Williams, Nathan Studham, Kai Pudney,
          Ryan Bruce.
21yo = Luke Beecken, Zak Buck, Josh Mawson, Daniel Sladojevic.
20yo = Max Litster, Carter Norman, Jordan Lukac.
19yo = David Brinker-Ritchie, Sam Tilley, Max Beattie, Will Pearce,
           Cormack O'Reilly, Lucas Cooke
17yo = Patrick Weckert.
16yo = Tyler Welsh.

The list is loaded with promising youngsters. Some will make it, some will get drafted, some will get re-drafted, some will drop by the wayside. The club has positioned itself for sustained success.
We will just have to wait for the draft to see what happens to Caleb Poulter and a couple of our recruits. Come on 2023.

Well said Wimpy. I'd much rather be in our position that Centrals who are getting excited about 16 average recruits. They'll have enough B grade players to field 2 teams in the Reserves next year!
I feel we are not looking for instant success or trying to buy a premiership that often doesn't work. Setting ourselves for 2024 and beyond. Whatever happens in 2023 will be a bonus and we might surprise ourselves. Bit like Godden in 2010 when we almost made the GF and we know what happened in 2011 - my heart has never been the same....

hawke wrote:With the youth of our recruits so far,, it appears that we are using season 2023 as a development year. Of course, that may change if we gain a few strong talls after the draft.
Dilemma with our new 19 year old 201cm ruckman is that, if he is good enough to match SANFL ruckman at 19 years of age, then the Eagles won't retain him. So I assume he is a project player, and therefore we have yet to address.   1. a readymade SANFL standard ruckman.  2. a tall key forward. 3. a tall key back.   if we're serious about 2023.  (might be good in 2024 though, haha!)

Wimpy,
I made the point that the Club appears to be setting itself for 2024 and beyond, not 2023. "..........and that may change if we gain a few strong talls".
Well it is changing - Collier-Dawkins is the first proven ready-made for 2023 (besides James Rowe)

Could Troy Menzel be considered a recruit for next year? Anyone know of his progress? He's a hard nut and only going to add to a seriously dangerous forwardline next year. It's obvious we are investing in our future. Full credit to the Club, bring on '23!

Depending on when he had his op for standard ACL but anticipate 12 months to return and guessing July 2023. Often need remainder of the season to restore self confidence in the knee. But if he could beat the odds and make it back with good form, a bonus of the 2 Menzels working together like 2021 GF - many of us thought that two of them in the forward line together wouldn't give the variety needed for a good forward line, but it worked then.

hawke wrote:Depending on when he had his op for standard ACL but anticipate 12 months to return and guessing July 2023. Often need remainder of the season to restore self confidence in the knee. But if he could beat the odds and make it back with good form, a bonus of the 2 Menzels working together like 2021 GF - many of us thought that two of them in the forward line together wouldn't give the variety needed for a good forward line, but it worked then.

Thanks Hawke!

Our recruiting has been very good of recent time and if we can keep Cameron, Mc Farlane and Lonergan and later in the season T Menzel out on the ground with the sprinkling of new talent we should give it a nudge.

If Ballenden can (hopefully) stay fit and play most of the games in 2023, that will also be a huge boost for our team. He is a class act, but had to miss so many games last year due to iinjury that unfortunately we did not get to see the best of him.

RCD will immediately be one of the topline midfielders in the the SANFL next season. It's one thing to recruit an ex-AFL midfielder in their mid-late 20s (or older) who is unlikely to ever be re-drafted and there might be a question mark over their commitment. It's another to recruit a former highly rated junior who is early 20s and is highly motivated to do whatever he takes to try and get another crack:

https://www.zerohanger.com/delisted-richmond-midfielder-riley-collier-dawkins-in-talks-with-a-fair-few-clubs-129614/

I still struggle to believe that someone like this won't get picked up in one of the drafts between now and the start of next AFL season. We will have our fingers crossed.

If somehow we managed to grab Poulter and Rowe doesn't get picked up then we are going to have a darn good starting midfield when you also include Knights.

The big unknowns is whether our new ruckman can stand up from Round 1 and be reasonably solid and stay injury free for the full year. This allows Ballenden to play 90% of the time as our big CHF. Menzel at FF supported by Weckert and/or Welsh. Might be a dangerous forward line.

Then there is the question of whether our new recruit Sladojevic can hold a key defensive position. If yes, then surrounded by Thompson, Lehmann and Cameron (for the odd game he is injury free) then that is our key positions filled.