Tragic luck for Beau Dowler

[CyberKev]

Beau Dowler, one of the hottest prospects on offer for next months' NAB National AFL Draft, has suffered a triple-break to his pelvis following a car accident.

Dowler had been one of the best performed young KPP in the TAC cup this season, and had also impressed at the National Carnival. Common perception had him going either to Carlton with pick 4 or Richmond with pick 8. He will still end up going somewhere, but it remains to be seen how his injury affects his standing among the clubs.

The injury is expected to out him for at least 3 months, with likely complications set to rule him out of much important pre-season work. The bigger issue, of course, will be how medical opinion assesses any long term impact from the injury.

Good luck to the young fellow anyhow. I heard him speaking of his draft camp experiences and he was well spoken and down to earth. He came across as very likeable and genuine and will hopefully prove an asset to whichever club decides to pick him up.

 

[Stormin Norman]

yeah thats just such bad luck i really rated him when i saw him go around in the u/18's carnival

 

[CyberKev]

yeah thats just such bad luck i really rated him when i saw him go around in the u/18's carnival

Yeah, although I still expect he'll go in the top 11, possibly even top 8.

Similarly tough luck for hot young Sandgroper prospect Josh Kennedy, with reports circulating about him having just undergone a shoulder reconstruction.
I still suspect he will go top 6, regardless.

Disappointing for both lads to miss out on an all important preseason with their respective new clubs.

 

[Smartman]

Hey Cyber do you still think the hawks risk their pick 3 on Josh or go for Ryder and Hope Kennedy falls to number 6?

 

[CyberKev]

Hey Cyber do you still think the hawks risk their pick 3 on Josh or go for Ryder and Hope Kennedy falls to number 6?

That's a tough one.

Collingwood & Hawthorn would both have gained medical advice on the extent of Kennedy's injury, I'm sure. Carlton have been spoken of as a club that may take Kennedy @ 1, but I've always doubted that they'll take anyone other than Murphy with pick 1, and the word is stronger that they're still committed to Beau Dowler @ 4.

Chris Judd is the most famous example of a young player fighting back from teenage adversity to forge a strong AFL career. He'd had both of his shoulders reconstructed before being picked-up by West Coast. They're nasty injuries for both Kennedy & Dowler and they'll certainly keep both players from taking part in a full preseason. If medical advice, as is likely, suggests that neither injury carries overt long-term risk then it'll be well worth taking them with a long-term view, given that neither would be likely to have any great top side presence in 2006 anyway.

Most likely Hawthorn will take Ryder @ 3 knowing that Clark will still be there as back-up @ 6 should Collingwood take Kennedy @ 5.

At this stage, while Ryder is spoken of as the player with more upside, Kennedy has the profile, which would best appear to meet the needs of the shaping Hawthorn team structure. He is strong and hard at it, and would provide Hawthorn with the opportunity of rotating him and Roughead between the CHF & CHB posts.

That being said, Ryder & Clark are very good prospects also, and I'd be happy to have any of them at the club.

 

[meltiger]

*Edit* Didn't read Kev's last post - Said pretty much the same thing.

 

[Smartman]

Rumor has it Kennedy will be picked up by the pies at pick #2

 

[CyberKev]

Rumor has it Kennedy will be picked up by the pies at pick #2

More surprising things have happened, but I have my doubts on this one.

 

[chileman]

Geez that is tough luck, mind you 20 years ago that type of injury would have taken him out of the game for a year!

 

[meltiger]

More surprising things have happened, but I have my doubts on this one.

I actually agree, I seriously doubt he won't be available when Hawthorn have their first pick.

 

[CyberKev]

I doubt Hawthorn would baulk at taking Kennedy, given that he is expected to be medically fit again inside of 12 weeks, but Beau Muston may be another matter.


Hawthorn has been keen on Muston for sometime and there are judges out there willing to suggest that Muston would have been some chance at going number 1 in this draft, had he not busted his knee in June. It appears he won't be medically fit until May next year, which is a huge blow for him. The injury hasn't finished him, although it is likely that clubs would worry more about a knee reconstruction than a shoulder job. Muston has plenty of upside, but I'm not sure that Hawthorn would punt on both he and Kennedy. It will be fascinating to see what happens with Muston in the draft.

 

[meltiger]

What position would he play Kev? I'm assuming we are talking KPP here. The main concern would be regaining his speed. Anyone coming off a knee re-co is a big big risk anywhere in the top 20!

 

[CyberKev]

What position would he play Kev? I'm assuming we are talking KPP here. The main concern would be regaining his speed. Anyone coming off a knee re-co is a big big risk anywhere in the top 20!

Nah, mate.

Muston is a tall (188cm) goal kicking midfielder with pace and very nice kicking skills off both feet.

Would most likely get a run off a wing, but could be seen as a possible ruck rover type.

Hawthorn has definitely shown a strong interest, as has Collingwood.

Would be a punt, but if Collingwood hasn't snared him by pick 23, I would predict that he won't be around for them to take at 37.

 

[CyberKev]

Geez Louise!

The lads really are having a tough time of it!

Now Mitchell Clark has been struck down with meningococcal.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/11/22/1132421669599.html