Biglands

[sydney-dog]

Just wondering if their has been any further news on Biglands

If Biglands needs a knee reconstruction it will be interesting to see the clubs strategy, last year Clarke was talked out of retirement to cover the loss of Hudson, will the club do the same to cover the loss of Biglands

You would think after a full year of senior football and another pre-season Maric is perfectly placed to make an impact at AFL level.

So with some risk over Hudson's return and meesen is still an unknown quantity, what will the club do

1. Retain Clarke
2. Draft another young ruckman to support Hudson, Mric, Griffen and Meesen
3. Trade for a more experience ruckman, Spida, Gardiner or Keeting
4. Trade for a young ruckman like a Woods from Brisbane

[GWW]

Hes out for most or all of next season (ch 7 news).

[Dutchy]

TBD - pending further tests, which would suggest something more than just the medial

[NFC]

I still think Clarke will retire, which he should.

Hudson will resume as our No.1 ruckman, and Maric/Meesen to be the back-ups.

[sydney-dog]

Maric deserves the opportunity, he only signed a 1 year deal so it is a big year for the kid

[Booney]

All of a sudden Clarke's decision will not be based on his own feelings,but more of what the club would like him to do next season.If,as it appears,Biglands is out for a year,going in with Hudson,as we know ruckmen dont always bounce back from knee re-cons well(Primus,Rehn..) although he seems fine ATM things can change.Maric dropped right off with the Magpies in the last 4 or 5 weeks and seems at best to still be "raw".Meesen is untried and it would appear a long long way off a regular AFL berth.For mine,Clarke will play on and it might just be one year too many.

[stan]

All of a sudden Clarke's decision will not be based on his own feelings,but more of what the club would like him to do next season.If,as it appears,Biglands is out for a year,going in with Hudson,as we know ruckmen dont always bounce back from knee re-cons well(Primus,Rehn..) although he seems fine ATM things can change.Maric dropped right off with the Magpies in the last 4 or 5 weeks and seems at best to still be "raw".Meesen is untried and it would appear a long long way off a regular AFL berth.For mine,Clarke will play on and it might just be one year too many.

Clarke would need to play on. And start Hudson as his back up for this season. Use Maric as probably the 3rd. Meeson is a heck of a long way from being ready.

[sydney-dog]

stan

the big issue for the crows is succession planning, if Clarke stays on, and Huson is the back up, Maric will not get game time, this will restict his development

most importantly, Maric is a Vic boy, he has only signed a one year deal, if we starve him for opportunity he may walk away at the end of next year, then the crows will have two ruckman with bad knee's, one ruckman who has just retired and no developing young ruckman coming through

Clarke has been good this year but needs to step aside, Maric's apprentiship hus far has been well managed, he has played a lot of senior footy for the magpies, he has had a sniff at AFL level, this pre-season will be his third

I am expecting Big things from the kid next year

[GWW]

stan

the big issue for the crows is succession planning, if Clarke stays on, and Huson is the back up, Maric will not get game time, this will restict his development

most importantly, Maric is a Vic boy, he has only signed a one year deal, if we starve him for opportunity he may walk away at the end of next year, then the crows will have two ruckman with bad knee's, one ruckman who has just retired and no developing young ruckman coming through

Clarke has been good this year but needs to step aside, Maric's apprentiship hus far has been well managed, he has played a lot of senior footy for the magpies, he has had a sniff at AFL level, this pre-season will be his third

I am expecting Big things from the kid next year

SD, are you referring to Meesen in that second paragrah and not Maric? Maric goes out with an SA girl so chances are he'll stay here. Meesen is the one you could struggle to keep in Adelaide.

[sydney-dog]

GWW

Meesen's contract has expired, Maric just signed for 1 year only, I'm sure if the SA girl is keen on the young man she will follow where ever his football takes him

[GWW]

GWW

Meesen's contract has expired, Maric just signed for 1 year only, I'm sure if the SA girl is keen on the young man she will follow where ever his football takes him

I heard that Meesen recently re-signed for another year.

[heater31]

GWW

Meesen's contract has expired, Maric just signed for 1 year only, I'm sure if the SA girl is keen on the young man she will follow where ever his football takes him

That wont matter as she spends most of her time in the US nowdays

[Dutchy]

stan

the big issue for the crows is succession planning, if Clarke stays on, and Huson is the back up, Maric will not get game time, this will restict his development

most importantly, Maric is a Vic boy, he has only signed a one year deal, if we starve him for opportunity he may walk away at the end of next year, then the crows will have two ruckman with bad knee's, one ruckman who has just retired and no developing young ruckman coming through

Clarke has been good this year but needs to step aside, Maric's apprentiship hus far has been well managed, he has played a lot of senior footy for the magpies, he has had a sniff at AFL level, this pre-season will be his third

I am expecting Big things from the kid next year

Fantasia thinks Maric will develop into a Primus type...next year is his year...

[sydney-dog]

Dutchy

I'm going to by a lotto ticket, I agree with you

[Dutchy]

Dutchy

I'm going to by a lotto ticket, I agree with you

Fantasia also said (in Feb this year) that Maric has come on much quicker and better than Meesen yet Maric was the higher draft pick

[sydney-dog]

do you mean Meesen was the higher draft pick, the draft can be a lottery, it also comes down to desire to work had and achieve

in regards to Meesen, I have not seen this kid play but when he was drafted the belief was that the kid had the ability to play as a marking forward, he was rated highly and a lot of this was due to his marking ability

In regards to Maric, I think his games is more like Brogan's game, athletic and covers the ground well, by all reports Maric's form in the magpies final was pretty good so hopefully this will spring board the kid to having a wonderful pre-season

[Booney]

Fantasia thinks Maric will develop into a Primus type...next year is his year...

Just 10 kilo's lighter and 5 inches shorter.


" Maric's apprentiship hus far has been well managed "


So has Adelaides list.

[JK]

I think the Crows have no choice but to ask Clarke to play on ... As Booney mentioned earlier Hudson would still have significant doubt surrounding him after his recon, Maric looks a good prospect but expecting him to carry a significant load would catch up with him in the 2nd half of a season you'd imagine, Meese for mine doesn't look anywhere near ready to play a major role in the Ruck - has great hands but lacks pace and body strength on other AFL ruckmen (his leap is probably not as great either), so really you have 1 doubtful and 2 that are raw and require significant development still.

If per chance these 3 have boom years, then there's no reason why you'd have to play Clarke, but I still think having him on the list is an insurance policy the Crows cannot do without.

[NFC]

I think you people are being a bit too harsh on Meesen. He was very close to making the Crows side towards the end of this season. Give him another pre-season, lots of work in the gym, and he'll be pushing for selection in 2007.

I agree in regards to Maric, he is ready to ruck at AFL level. Was impressive in his 8 games for the Crows this year, and I have no doubts he will be ready by next season.

[sydney-dog]

I believe it has been confirmed that Biglands will require a full knee reconstruction, which is unfortunate

In regards to Clarke, If I was Craigy I would accept his retirement.

I personally would rate both players season as "fair", Biglands and Clarke finished 12th and 14th in hit-outs in the league, while Clarke had 4 games when he had 10 or more posessions while Biglands had 7 games with 10 or more possessions

Hudson if fit will provide some grunt at the stoppages and his second efforts creating clearances is remarkable for a big man, while hopefully Maric or Meesen can provide the crows that long sought after ruckman who can cover the ground and win some footy

It's time the crows invested in some of their young players