New rookies (and one familiar face)

Post by **WhyPhilWhy?** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 1:12 pm

Round 1 / Pick 15 Zane Leonard, Dandenong Stingrays
Round 2 / Pick 31 David Fanning, Aberfeldie
Round 3 / Pick 46 Dean Benson, Oakleigh Chargers
Round 4 / Pick 60 Justin Crow, Collingwood

Anyone know anything about the new faces?

Post by **WhyPhilWhy?** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 1:29 pm

Very minimal research reveals:
- a Zane Leonard who ran under 12 secs in this year's Victorian U17 100m championship (conclusion: fast).
- a David Fanning that played basketball for Dandenong in the SEABL (conclusion: tall).
- a Dean Benson that played well enough for the Chargers to get a mention on the Port Melbourne website as "classy" (conclusion: skilled)

pies4ever · Post by **pies4ever** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 1:32 pm

i take it,we re-drafted justin crow??

cheers bryan..!!

Killbot · Post by **Killbot** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 2:04 pm

Fanning is shit - won't get a game with Williamstown 2nds, could hardly hold a spot in the that all powerful world beating Aberfeldie team

Just picking him cos "he is an athlete"

And yes we redrafted Crow

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 3:27 pm

Some comments from Colin Wisbey:

* Dean Benson:

178/74 very top age (22/1/85) smallish defender / midfeilder. Nice pace, evasion, traffic management. Sometimes tries to do too much. Kicking can let him down. Averaged 15 disposals (13 games). Injured rnd 13, didn't play again. Not picked for any trial games etc. On Oakleigh's list last year bur didn't play. I had heard just a couple of days ago that the Pies were definitely interested but his selection still surprised me a lot.

* David Fanning:

I know nothing.

* Zane Leonard

175cm, approx 68kg, 19yo right foot small defender / midfielder. Played U18s for Dandenong Stingrays '02. Very quick. Maybe best AFL chance might be as BP. Averaged 21 TD U18 '02 (8 games). Has been a consistent improver since early '02. Made VM trials '02 but cut after 2nd trial. Gets some nice clearances from stop plays. Doesn't tend to panic - holds onto ball while looking for options. Is nicely balanced, moves well around traffic (stop plays particularly). Good by hand but very iffy by foot (more re decision-making than kicking technique per se). Takes them on but sometimes doesn't have great awareness so is inclined to get himself into trouble. He has impressed everyone at Pies training so far this pre-season.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 3:30 pm

Apparently, David Fanning has been a bit of a basketballer, but I can't confirm. I've heard he is 203cm tall.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 4:32 pm

Some more info on David:

Apparently, he hasn't played football since U 16s (2000), and he didn't really set the world on fire because he was busy playing basketball with the Tigers (at what level I'm not sure), apprently, he has spent last year playing basketball in Carins, and spent this year playing with Dandenong (who don't play at NBL level). I've also heard that he was orignally at the Cannons underage squads (AFL) but didn't play, but he is a pretty talented sportsman. On top of that, his dad played a few games for Essendon in the 60s, and was a great player at Williamstown (picked up some of that info on Bigfooty from someone who apparently knew him)

Killbot · Post by **Killbot** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:04 pm

Being in a Cannons underage training squad is nothing to write home about, even a crap player like myself managed that along with 100's of other kids

I played against him in junior days and he hardly dominated

If he was 193cm instead of 203cm, we wouldn't even be talking about him in this thread

Good luck to him, but pisses me off a bit that the club goes for project players who haven't played footy in years with little real hope at making it instead of TAC Cup players who have worked their guts out and have 'football skils' but not the right body type

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:28 pm

Killbot, I would have to agree with that. There are some kids that probably deserve more of a chance than this bloke.

Daks · Post by **Daks** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:32 pm

geez, dont u guys think you're being a little harsh on the guy? we havnt seen him play AFL yet so really we cant judge. we will just have to wait and see.... who knows, he could be a champion!

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:55 am

Daks, the info I posted was from other people who have seen the bloke play.

Killbot played with the kid, I'm sure he is in a good position to judge Fanning's talent.

Having said that, I can't judge the player myself because I've never seen him play.

ScottyMac · Post by **ScottyMac** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:54 am

Not really keen on this idea of picking players that have hardly played the game, fanning, ohailpin etc. I personally know a couple of bloody good footballers who missed out this year that are devesatated and then they hear these sort of stories. It is players like this that have so much more pressure to perform. and the pressure is usually what kills them!!!

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:54 pm

TRELOS · Post by **TRELOS** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:06 pm

did WIll Gayfer get picked up??

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 9:52 pm

Nope. I think I posted a thread in here somewhere about that.

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New rookies (and one familiar face)

New rookies (and one familiar face)