Player Watch #22: Taylor Goad - #20 in '23 ND - the Unicorn

[Arthur Cloke]

I agree the likelihood is that Goad will take 3 or 4 years. However, that is by no means set in stone. If he’s talented enough, he has every chance to arrive earlier. We could do with a premature ejaculator for once.

I don't mind him.

 

[scottywiper]

I'd suggest we see how he looks in actual games before building the statue.
Hopefully the hype is justified but he averaged four touches a game in VFL last year and looked totally lost.
Would be an incredible leap forward in one off season for him to have morphed into the next McKernan

 

[JGreezy]

I don't expect anything this year from him, although not ruling it out.

The exciting thing for me is that there's clear evidence of him wanting to put in the work and get better and take on physicality. If you told me on day one that he had those attributes then I'd think that he would be a future star, because of his raw ability. It would just be a matter of time.

So, having actually seen it, I'm now confident that it is just a matter of time.

 

[pupstar]

I don't expect anything this year from him, although not ruling it out.

The exciting thing for me is that there's clear evidence of him wanting to put in the work and get better and take on physicality. If you told me on day one that he had those attributes then I'd think that he would be a future star, because of his raw ability. It would just be a matter of time.

So, having actually seen it, I'm now confident that it is just a matter of time.

Yeah good post and not really sure anyone is saying he is the next Cory well not yet anyway.

 

[bengrina]

Yeah good post and not really sure anyone is saying he is the next Cory well not yet anyway.

More of a cross between Polly farmer and Chris Judd from what I’m reading

 

[pupstar]

More of a cross between Polly farmer and Chris Judd from what I’m reading

Showing your age there with Polly there bengrina.

 

[ferball]

I don't expect anything this year from him, although not ruling it out.

The exciting thing for me is that there's clear evidence of him wanting to put in the work and get better and take on physicality. If you told me on day one that he had those attributes then I'd think that he would be a future star, because of his raw ability. It would just be a matter of time.

So, having actually seen it, I'm now confident that it is just a matter of time.

After watching him compete against Xerri and Chom recently I'm certainly not worried that he's another Edwards. He competes and he is an athletic specimen. If he gets a good run at it, free of injury etc, and starts nailing his marks then he will be a top quality player.

Sent from my CPH2069 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[shinboner magic]

When we drafted him, an instant ecstatic feeling came over me. Never had it happen before with anyone else we've drafted.

Don't if it was because I just desperately wanted us to draft a ruckman. Or I had sixth sense we'd drafted a future champion.

I wasn’t a big wrap for it as Rucks take time and a lot don’t make it and I wanted a small forward or kpf at that pick.

But I’m all in now - Judas like expectations of his future ceiling

 

[Sphynx]

I'd suggest we see how he looks in actual games before building the statue.
Hopefully the hype is justified but he averaged four touches a game in VFL last year and looked totally lost.
Would be an incredible leap forward in one off season for him to have morphed into the next McKernan

For sure, however ruck is one of the few positions where you can frank training form really.

He’s not exactly going up against Curtis Taylor, most of these reports are 1 on 1 with a player close to the best in the league for his position.

The counter argument is, he might look even better when he’s not having to battle Xerri and it’s Rhys Stanley instead…

 

[shinboner magic]

For sure, however ruck is one of the few positions where you can frank training form really.

He’s not exactly going up against Curtis Taylor, most of these reports are 1 on 1 with a player close to the best in the league for his position.

The counter argument is, he might look even better when he’s not having to battle Xerri and it’s Rhys Stanley instead…

Xerri is the exact type of ruck that would try to negate his actual strengths.
Training against him day in day out will improve him immensely- probably was Goldie’s Achilles heel

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

I'm trying to keep a lid on things with this guy but he's the most exciting prospect I've seen in years. Many years. Probably since I first saw Corey McKernan dominating in the VFL and wondered out loud (rather than on an internet forum which of course didn't exist then) why he wasn't in the seniors.

Goad is quicker, way quicker than Corey was and far more athletic but if he can continue to develop his kicking and his tap work and marking (that's a fair bit to go, of course) we could have a player like we've never seen before, perhaps since a certain 21yo was made captain in the early 90s.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

As you say, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The upswing in demonstrated potential by Goad is exciting.

But let’s hold off on the Corey comparisons until he starts yanking the ball one handed out of the ruck, rampaging to 60 metres out and dobbing goals at post height semi-regularly.

 

[shintemaster]

I think Corey did some part time ruck coaching at one stage a few years back. He might be happy to do a session or two but I don't think an ongoing commitment would fit into his lifestyle these days. He's living in QLD now or so I believe.

I was down near the beach in Noosa a few days ago and thought I saw a guy that looked like Corey…

As you say, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The upswing in demonstrated potential by Goad is exciting.

But let’s hold off on the Corey comparisons until he starts yanking the ball one handed out of the ruck, rampaging to 60 metres out and dobbing goals at post height semi-regularly.

Fair enough. I guess I can wait a couple of weeks.

 

[The Talent Scout]

For sure, however ruck is one of the few positions where you can frank training form really.

He’s not exactly going up against Curtis Taylor, most of these reports are 1 on 1 with a player close to the best in the league for his position.

The counter argument is, he might look even better when he’s not having to battle Xerri and it’s Rhys Stanley instead…

Great post Sphynx, I've always maintained in sport, the best ways to improve oneself is to play against the best, now at first this can have a counteract side to things, what I mean to say is while in time your getting better and improving and learning things, you may be getting beaten or if playing in a team sport your confidence might not be on "Mount Wellington", so its a gradual climb. More game time, more learning, slowly get that endurance up to speed, and when he realises what he can do {it might be one or two games in the reserves} his confidence will skyrocket and that will only be the start.

 

[Sphynx]

Kingy doesn't really go hard one some of our youngsters outside of Sheez etc.

 

[GoRoos2023]

You reckon he could be the answer to our KPF issues?

 

[The Nostradamus]

You reckon he could be the answer to our KPF issues?

He could challenge for that second ruck/third tall forward spot later in the year

 

[Sphynx]

You reckon he could be the answer to our KPF issues?

No.

But he's going to be a very intriguing point of difference as a second ruck/forward possibly.

He's developing in a way that he will be too good/big for second rucks and he's going to be a hard matchup up forward simply due to size. If he can learn to use his pace on the lead (which it sounds like he is..), look out....


Just as important for his development is Xerri working on his deep forward work, if we are to move to a 2 ruck model. As someone like Goad will be in the ruck far more regularly than Teakle. Who had his pants pulled down when in the ruck for most of the year.

 

[blackshadow]

When we drafted him, an instant ecstatic feeling came over me. Never had it happen before with anyone else we've drafted.

Don't if it was because I just desperately wanted us to draft a ruckman. Or I had sixth sense we'd drafted a future champion.

That happens when you have a crank.

 

[backtothedraft]

Looked a mile off it last year. Reports of improvement sound positive.

 

[shintemaster]

No.

But he's going to be a very intriguing point of difference as a second ruck/forward possibly.

He's developing in a way that he will be too good/big for second rucks and he's going to be a hard matchup up forward simply due to size. If he can learn to use his pace on the lead (which it sounds like he is..), look out....


Just as important for his development is Xerri working on his deep forward work, if we are to move to a 2 ruck model. As someone like Goad will be in the ruck far more regularly than Teakle. Who had his pants pulled down when in the ruck for most of the year.

Xerri was also an incremental step up forward last year (with a hugely increased ruck load). Proportionally mostly on par with his injury interrupted year in 2023 (8.3 from 23 games vs 3.0 from 9 games) but to my eye much more reliable. Clunked some big marks, kicked at least 2 absolute clutch goals and all whilst carrying the entire ruck division for the first time ever. Bodes well.

BTW that will be an interesting situation. I agree it might be a stretch for him to be a full time KPF but if he can continue his rate of improvement and play a good 4-5+ years as a 1-2 with Xerri we might be able to genuinely run that type of structure forward for a few years. Probably only further highlights the need for a much improved smalls contingent around the forward line though.

Feels a bit like we are playing with a few options and Darling is a bit of stopgap to give us room to explore them: 2 genuine rucks and one regularly forward, Comben time to rotate forward, Maley a wildcard really, Whitlock could likely play either end. For the first time in few years we have some real options over the medium term and fingers crossed some time to play with the combinations rather than just play the only tall players we have.

 

[franjon]

Yea mate he was probably ordered to do so from the Carlton crew. Bandt won’t even stand next to an Australian flag.

The Carlton crew? I thought they went to St Kilda?

 

[franjon]

Nothin against Monkhurst at all…….but Corey was a sensational contested grab, IMO , as well as a freak athlete. Think he’d be ideal to work with Goad.

But either way it's a moot point he lives on the Gold Coast. It could only be a when he's in town situation where as Monkhorst already has the job, is local and technically was a better ruckman than Corey. Not a better player, but definitely a better ruckman.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Will be an interesting watch with regards to how the club handles this guy and his contract/s. If he becomes the best player he could be based on potential, does the club pay big dollars for a ruck and potentially make the same mistake as Collingwood, Melbourne and Fremantle or do we trade him and get a couple of first round picks for him. Obviously if he shows he can play forward we fork out big dollars for him but if he can only ruck what will the club do?

 

[LB2Snake]

But either way it's a moot point he lives on the Gold Coast. It could only be a when he's in town situation where as Monkhorst already has the job, is local and technically was a better ruckman than Corey. Not a better player, but definitely a better ruckman.

I purely threw Corey out there as he was our somewhat unicorn at the time. He was pretty unstoppable. Robbed of a Brownlow, was pretty bloody great in both grannies, great footballer.

 

[franjon]

I purely threw Corey out there as he was our somewhat unicorn at the time. He was pretty unstoppable. Robbed of a Brownlow, was pretty bloody great in both grannies, great footballer.

No argument. He was fantastic at the time, they all were.