Allen

ben_fff · Post: # 470526Post **ben_fff** » Fri 05 Oct 2007 6:49pm

This kid excites me, I saw a bit of him in the practise games and he looked decent, I know it's a bit down the track but I'd like for us to give this kid and Watts a go up forward in the NAB cup game.

Has anyone seen much of him, if so how do you rate him?

carn_sainter · Fri 05 Oct 2007 6:52pm

i think brooks has more potential than watts as a forward, but obviously all 3 need to be tried in some capacity

allen was promising as a junior and it's a big step up

i'm confident he is developing well and we'll see where he ends up

my preference would definitely be to groom him as a defender and i think that will happen

Carl Mynott · Fri 05 Oct 2007 6:52pm

I saw him a few times for Casey but he'd missed a fair chunk of the season with his elbow injury.I remember 1 game where Allen and Watts were on the forward line for Casey and Allen played better than watts on that occasion.

Allen was pretty good overhead which is an asset for a forward.....

I hope he's a goodun,we need to keep finding them...

ben_fff · Post: # 470535Post **ben_fff** » Fri 05 Oct 2007 6:57pm

So did he play more defence for Casey?

He's definetly good over head, I can remember him taking some decent grabs.

I'd like him as a full forward or even a CHF, I'm not sure about his kicking but he's a decent speed and has the height to trouble teams.

Solar · Post: # 470539Post **Solar** » Fri 05 Oct 2007 7:01pm

will be a gun

has grown and can read the ball well.

Otiman · Post: # 470540Post **Otiman** » Fri 05 Oct 2007 7:03pm

I'd like to see him as our FF in 2009.

Carl Mynott · Fri 05 Oct 2007 7:05pm

Definitely forward line when i saw him.......

Who knows what the coaching staff have in mind for Allen as he progresses..

I hope they play him in the forward line,but the club needs to keep looking for a key backman.

Look how flukey Hawkthorn were in finding Gilham ,a ready made fullback who Port obviously didn't rate.....

ben_fff · Post: # 470544Post **ben_fff** » Fri 05 Oct 2007 7:06pm

The Hawks have done some quality recruiting in the past 3 - 4 years, I'm not so sure Gilham was a fluke.

skeptic · Post: # 470974Post **skeptic** » Sat 06 Oct 2007 2:54pm

got him marked for FB in years to come personally

plugger66 · Post: # 470978Post **plugger66** » Sat 06 Oct 2007 2:56pm

skeptic wrote:got him marked for FB in years to come personally

Can I ask why. Has played all his footy in the ruck or forward why will he make a FB.

Solar · Post: # 470980Post **Solar** » Sat 06 Oct 2007 2:58pm

skeptic wrote:got him marked for FB in years to come personally

Can understand but personally I think that would be a waste. IMO it will be harder and harder to find forwards into the future with the way the game is going. To be able to read the play and get on the end of balls in a crowded 50 will be a boon and this kid has it.

Personally I would rather develop a couple of less skilled players at FB, teach them to shut down players and develop their back skills.

skeptic · Post: # 471019Post **skeptic** » Sat 06 Oct 2007 3:36pm

fair question plugger

only basing my reports on what I've heard... haven't seen him myself.

The answers simple, we need a new quality FB... the cupboard is almost bare. Hudghtons on his last legs (really more suited to a BP now), Maguire is all over the place, Fisher x 2 aren't KPPs.

No obvious backline talent coming through.

Allan is strong, reasonably fast, good mark and by all reports an intelligent player. Could possibly play in the back pocket for the next year or 2, learn his craft from Max and take over. Have always thought it's much easier to break into the team from the backline while u adapt to the pace.

Being a more experienced player, Sam Fisher could possibly leave the backline and play on a HFF... have lost a wealth of experience down there

In terms of forwards, we have options a plenty. With the loss of Gehrig and Hamil, we still have Riewoldt and Kosi with Brooks, Watts and Ferguson desperate to make a spot for themselves down there... the latter 3 may not make it but are options to try with nonetheless

spiral2 · Post: # 471045Post **spiral2** » Sat 06 Oct 2007 4:59pm

plugger66 wrote:
skeptic wrote:got him marked for FB in years to come personally
Can I ask why. Has played all his footy in the ruck or forward why will he make a FB.

get the feeling he could play either end
saw him in the pre-season game when we got pumped by collingwood. cloke was towelling up jimmy gwilt and allen got moved onto him and did a good job. stuck to him and cloke didn't have the same impact.

he might get groomed through the backline, seems to be a ploy of many coaches to give future forwards a run down there to learn some backline tricks.

it'll be interesting to see where he ends up, reckon he could do well at either end.