Sorry for not replying to this thread sooner.
I was a bit late getting to the U18s at Leederville on Sunday - stayed to watch the 1st qtr of our game on tele before going around. I got there about 30 mins before bouncedown and was hoping to have a chat with Adam (before/after). But he wasn't having a good day, he set up a couple of goals in the first, kicked a couple of points and then jagged a goal or two in the second half. He didn't look good - never hunted the ball and rarely strayed far from the forward pocket. On balance I decided he wouldn't have much to say (and left when the game finished).
I wasn't privy to the stats or anything, but from my perspective the WA team's best were a much different group than those named afterwards. From my reading of the game:
Starcevich (WA #20) looks the real deal - built like Matty De Boer with speed and good attack on the ball. Great kick, got the opening goal and at least another during the game. I sure wouldn't be disappointed if we drafted him - smart footballer, great skills and drive.
Ian Hill (WA #2) - this is a quality small footballing talent. Oozes class with everything that he does, reads evolving play extremely well and can position himself to have the greatest impact going forward. In the second half Sumo plunked him forward of centre on the inner flank (which I didn't think served him/team well), but what do I know. Great prospect, blistering speed with the ball.
Sydney Stack (WA #8) - I thought was the best talent out there. Medium sized but crikey he's got some skills. Very (very) smart footballer, not afraid of anything, great speed and one of the best kicks in open play that I've seen in a while. This kid would be my focus on the local front at draft time (along with Hypen's mate) - almost as good as Harley was at his age.
Oliver Eastland (WA # 37) - a big fair-haired bloke playing off the halfback/defence. Showed heaps of skill, plenty of rebound but never seemed to get into the game until the second half. He's a good key position prospect I reckon, at 197cms he could be anything (yet hopefully not wasted in the ruck).
But if someone said to me: 'Polly, you gotta name the absolute best out on the park today' I would have to reply:
Brayden Crossley (Allies #39) - at 198cms and not quite 18 this bloke is a beast. He is fast - not for his size, but genuinely fast - he can take tremendous contested marks, great thinking, has lightning dexterity and a great kick for goal. All the crap going around about Tim English last year can be applied to this bloke except he's got 105 kgs of muscle on him. This is Wayne Carey v2 for sure (maybe better). This ain't no project player - this bloke is ready to rip up the AwFL in Round 1 next year.
Ok, I went to see Sambono and came outta there with a whole set of different ideas. I went around to the outer at the start of the game so I could move around a bit. Before the game I sat in front of a big family group (mostly blokes, but some women in there as well). They were talking everything footy when along comes Darren Glass with his little tacker (about 3 or 4 I reckon). One of the blokes behind me called out a hello - here's how the conversation went (verbatim, as best as I can recall - fair dinkum, no exaggeration):
G'day Glassey, how you going?
Yep, pretty good - not that the team are doing very well at the moment.
Yeah, they lost a bad one last night - should've won it from where they were.
Yep, sometimes I think I've got to get my jumper back on to lend a hand. It was a disappointing loss - some of the things they do are heartbreaking.
Really?
Yes, I hate to see them lose - especially like that.
Naw, I love it when your mob lose - absolutely love it (laughing), it makes my weekend when that mob drop a game (everyone around him are laughing pretty loudly, agreeing with him). What a bunch of #ankers those Eagles.
[Glass starts walking again - doesn't say anything]
The mob behind me keep laughing away - others around them move off when they start adding in some colourful language, which cleared the area of Slime supporters, it made the quarter even better.
Great stuff - I enjoyed the afternoon.
