Good memory Gidge, but I think 'rubbishing' is a bit strong. My thoughts on Tabs three years ago:
Gidge, there are some things to like about Tabs, but there are two things that worry me about him: first, he doesn't seem to judge the ball in flight very well, which is a concern for a key forward (compare, for example, the way A Pearce seems to get to the right spot as a defender). Second, he isn't really elite at any one thing. Physically, he's neither big nor fast. He has good endurance, and he's tall, but being tall only helps you if you can read the ball in flight.
In a very limited sample, Apeness looked a more likely type. He got his hands to the ball at the peak of his jump, but was too skinny to guard space and really clang his marks. But the signs were there that a couple more summers in the gym will see him improve. I'm not sure Tabs, with his body shape and age (22) has too much physical development in him. Game sense and timing might improve, but physically I think he is what he is.
I think Tabs can be a solid contributor, and I absolutely agree he should be given every chance to grow and prove himself, but my feeling is that if he's playing on the best defender for the next 5 years he's going to get towelled, and by pinning our hopes on him to lead our attack will lead to a backlash against him if he's not up to it.
I don't think I was too far off. He still doesn't seem to clunk his marks - I think guys like A Pearce and Cox are still much better at reading the play and the ball in flight - but where he really has seemed to improve is his strength. It's a credit to him that he's been able to bulk up so much from years 22 to 25 without losing his running ability. Our fitness staff cop a pasting on here, but you'd have to say they've helped him get to a position where he can hold his ground.
Three years ago I thought he was most likely to be a good second option, but I didn't think he could anchor a forward line. He's outperformed my expectations this year, but I still think you need an elite tall next to him for him to really shine.
But I think we need to pump the breaks a little on Tabs. I think we've been starved for a decent option that people are getting a little ahead of themselves. To be an elite key forward, I'd say you need to be in the to 10 in your position. I don't think Tabs is that. In fact, I'm not even sure he's in the top 18.
Morgan's hastily put together (not-Tabs) key forward rankings.
1. Franklin
2. Kennedy
3. Brown
4. Riewoldt
5. Hogan
6. Hawkins
7. Lynch
8. Cameron
9. Roughead
10. Dixon
11. Gunstan*
12. Curnow
13. Walker
14. Patton
15. Westhoff*
16. Hipwood
17. Danniher
18. Darling
19. Jenkins
20. Lobb
21. Hooker
Where would you rank Tabs on that list? I think I'd have him somewhere in the 14-18 range. So yeah, he's good, but I still don't think he's elite.
As an aside, it looks like I was a fair bit off about Apeness - although injuries really didn't help there - and that it was obvious before his own injuries A Pearce was a gem.
