Good news for Dream Team today with Darren Crocker answering a few questions about the recovery of Ben Cunnington (pick 5) from stress fractures in the foot. He is now back to full training and it was hinted that he will be given every chance to play round 1. The Roos want him to play the last round of NAB Challenge games and may also apply for an exception so that he can play during the bye weekend in the VFL. This would only be necessary if they wanted him available in round 1 and apparently he is keen to play as well.
The return of Cunnington back in to calculations poses a very difficult question for coaches trying to decide between him, Daniel Connors and Ryan Bastinac. Cunnington starts the season with maybe the best resume of all draftees this year. He averaged 81 points a game in the under-18 championships while playing for Vic Country and also averaged 98 over 13 games in the TAC Cup last year. On top of that, everyone at North loves him. Working against his is the fact that he has already aggravated his foot due to a heavy work-load.
On the other hand, you have Daniel Connors, who has come from no-where to score 98 and 64 in the first two challenge games for the Tiggers. I say he come from no-where because this is his fourth season in the AFL, he was picked up at number 58 in the 2006 draft and he’s done nothing since then. However, even Freako has jumped on board, as he has apparently been ear-marked for a sweeping half-back role and looks set to be one of Hardwick’s early projects. In his favor is age and the fact that he has (apparently) been locked in for a high-accumulation role.
I’m tipping many, many coaches had Connors locked in before Cunnington’s teammate Bastinac popped his head fully out of the water on the weekend. After winning time-trails all Summer, Bastinac scored 55 last weekend in 59% game time against the Dockers. His first possession was a glorious 50m pass that resulted in a much-needed goal when the Roos seemed out of it. It has been reported that the Roos are in need of an outside runner and Bastinac comes at a much cheaper price than the other two.
There are no right decisions on these three at the moment, but they are undoubtedly fighting for the same spot in many teams. Especially for the coaches that don’t trust Dean Bailey to play Sculgrove and Trenny all year, these boys should be considered very carefully. At this stage, I’m inclined to go with Connors age as he resembles a mature-age recruit. However, my monetary situation may leave me with Bastinac…
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