Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

[TigerImposter]

If Reece disappeared off to the Pinjarra district FL nobody would know the wiser. He's just a C grader stock standard footballer which Australia is full of except he hasn't got the body to cope with the physical demands of the game. Only the RFC would have offered this Football Oxygen thief a two year deal. Still not bemused by it bc it's so common in our dealings over three decades and the results stack up in parallel with these operations.
You only have to look at the rookies that get picked up by clubs every year and notice that Reece is a joke in comparison.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Comparison
View attachment 327392

What this tells me is Reece is quite average, plodder almost and that heppel is very overrated

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Exactly and Reece's career figures which were upward trending pre injury have now also been affected negatively by the fact that he has managed 9 games in the last two seasons. It's hard to expect him to get any form continuity in that time.
When fit and uninjured Reece can play. Won't ever be our best, but is when firing is for mine definitely best 22 and a good player. The kid just needs some luck and to keep working hard.

FWIW I would have preferred Heppell at the time, but as everyone has already rehashed to death, there were rumours of draft manipulation with his father and Essendon claiming over exaggerated injuries that saw him slide to them who were his preferred choice. We got spooked as did others. Move on people.

Yeah looked super solid and playing well the day he stuffed his hammy...

 

[shaky]

If Reece disappeared off to the Pinjarra district FL nobody would know the wiser. He's just a C grader stock standard footballer which Australia is full of except he hasn't got the body to cope with the physical demands of the game. Only the RFC would have offered this Football Oxygen thief a two year deal. Still not bemused by it bc it's so common in our dealings over three decades and the results stack up in parallel with these operations.
You only have to look at the rookies that get picked up by clubs every year and notice that Reece is a joke in comparison.

I agree 2 years was too long, if they wanted to keep him with 1 year and a trigger for the second it may have been more palatable.
What I find is that a lot on here seem to expect us to have a list full of champion players.
While our list management and drafting has been pretty average, we now have to work with the list we have (and hope some recent changes start to improve the list management and recruitment).
There is room for a player like Reece while we continue to improve the overall list.

 

[mopsy]

Reece conca

Positives: high tackle numbers, speed, can find the ball

Negatives: injury prone, disposal, can panic under pressure.

I think he can be handy as a midfielder but don't think half back is his go

LOL
Is average pace,
Compared to the whole comp tackle numbers are about average if not a little low for the role. In saying that in a side of non tacklers his count would be considered good.
Disposal numbers are way down for a mid acknowledging the fact he has not always played mid. And okay for a defender. Has shown ability to find enough of the ball but just does not do it often enough.

Some negatives id add is a lack of awareness, total lack of consistency and dumb arse regular brain fades.
Mitigating factor in all this is injuries especially the last two yrs but injured or not his weaknesses will always be there.

All the numbers say borderline below standard/average.
I would say he is not a mid and his best chance would be as a defender with the play in front of him.

Unlike previous years he must be made to earn his spot, He is not currently best 22 He now has some competition for his place with the addition of Prestia and Caddy along with the big bodied Graham.

 

[mopsy]

Exactly and Reece's career figures which were upward trending pre injury have now also been affected negatively by the fact that he has managed 9 games in the last two seasons.

Not correct his career figures if anything had plateaued out prior to the last two seasons.
In fact his 6 games last yr averaged around what he has done.

 

[HumanMeatball]

LOL
Is average pace,
Compared to the whole comp tackle numbers are about average if not a little low for the role. In saying that in a side of non tacklers his count would be considered good.
Disposal numbers are way down for a mid acknowledging the fact he has not always played mid. And okay for a defender. Has shown ability to find enough of the ball but just does not do it often enough.

Some negatives id add is a lack of awareness, total lack of consistency and dumb arse regular brain fades.
Mitigating factor in all this is injuries especially the last two yrs but injured or not his weaknesses will always be there.

All the numbers say borderline below standard/average.
I would say he is not a mid and his best chance would be as a defender with the play in front of him.

Unlike previous years he must be made to earn his spot, He is not currently best 22 He now has some competition for his place with the addition of Prestia and Caddy along with the big bodied Graham.

Conca isn't average paced while not lighting fast he does have a certain break away speed/agility

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

I'll have reecey in my side this year...

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

I still have some hopes (not high) that he can be a best 22 but his body will let him down its almost a guarantee now.

 

[Tiger4Ever]

Not correct his career figures if anything had plateaued out prior to the last two seasons.
In fact his 6 games last yr averaged around what he has done.

I disagree with you. Looking at his career figures 2012 was his most consistent and productive season. There is a difference of +-1.0 for the next two seasons (prior to injury) in most categories from his own PB season and an upward trend in tackle output in both successive seasons. I personally don't think that's a plateau, still seems pretty consistent to his usual output to me.
In regard to his 6 games last year if he's averages are consistent (though a little lower) to what he's achieved so far in his career then let's hope for all of our sakes that with some continuity of injury free game time he can better those numbers again.

To be clear, I'm no great Conca supporter and also feel he is lucky to still be on the list, same with Morris and Elton. But the reality is he is for the next two seasons (shouldn't have got more than a one year contract with performance triggers for a second year, but did).
Hopefully now our improved depth means that he along with Morris and Hunt only get games if their form demands it. That is where we all hoped to be, not playing blokes because there are no other options.

I personally would like to see him get an injury free run and see what he can do because I believe he can be a good footballer. Not our best by any stretch, but certainly can see a role for a fit Reece Conca IF his form demands it.

 

[TigerImposter]

I agree 2 years was too long, if they wanted to keep him with 1 year and a trigger for the second it may have been more palatable.
What I find is that a lot on here seem to expect us to have a list full of champion players.
While our list management and drafting has been pretty average, we now have to work with the list we have (and hope some recent changes start to improve the list management and recruitment).
There is room for a player like Reece while we continue to improve the overall list.

There is room only iff the list is not saturated with too many blokes like him that are barely EDFL level. I'd prefer to bite the bullet and rookie a VFL gun or go for late draft picks rather than keep the same blokes on . It's a cut throat industry and you just have to keep rotating the list until you hopefully strike some Kingy Jacko or Foley types. I cannot see the purpose of looking for water in the same dried up well.
Remember he's played two good games in six season which is just not good enough considering the size of his last contract. Even lambert in his short career has out performed him.

 

[shaky]

There is room only iff the list is not saturated with too many blokes like him that are barely EDFL level. I'd prefer to bite the bullet and rookie a VFL gun or go for late draft picks rather than keep the same blokes on . It's a cut throat industry and you just have to keep rotating the list until you hopefully strike some Kingy Jacko or Foley types. I cannot see the purpose of looking for water in the same dried up well.

Totally agree.
As I said for this reason I don't know why he got 2 years.
Will be interesting to see what happens at the end of the year. A lot of players are make or break this year (coach also).
Let's hope they are tough with a few.
2 first round picks gives a chance to turn over a few players also.

 

[tugga]

I'm at OG across the river... magnificent part of the world.

Big sporting rivallry between the two towns. I work in OG and it's a bit more key than BH. Enjoy.

 

[Madison]

Conca has never had high numbers, but if memory serves he has literally never had an uninterrupted pre-season.

So I am not surprised his numbers are a little low, I was actually surprised to see how many games a season he had played up until the last couple years. But that is all the more reason he should have only been given a year. He has always had injuries and (99%) always will.

When he is up and about he is handy midfield depth who is a great tackler, can do the inside stuff and but has average disposal and footy smarts (gives away a lot of stupid free kicks for eg).

Overall he is AFL quality, and is a decent player. I think the last two years of injuries have ruined his potential to be anything more than depth and prior to that injuries meant we never got to see him become a decent quality B grade mid.

That said he is very replaceable but over the next 12 months he will make good depth. Which is why a 24 months contract boggles my mind.

 

[Cevap_Roll]

To push top 4 we need many players to start improving and Conca is one of them. If he can stay on the park and get some contunity in his game I feel there is no reason he couldn't deliver. Hes no Martin, Cotchin or Prestia but if we can 20 to 25 possessions a game from him hes doing ok. From memory his disposal is actually decent and for this very reason I hope he does make it.

 

[guruisatiger]

I was a fan. Liked his attack at the footy and the man. Was the only player we had who did the one %ers around the packs. Good lateral movement through packs and very evasive. I have never been a great Heppell fan and remember plenty on this board backing Reece, although probably not the majority. People do forget that at the time Heppell was playing well it was whilst on Essendon's drug regime. Did that make him a better player, possibly, certainly worked for Watson. Conca occasionally turned it over, but was only 21 the last time he played footy pre injury. So until he has some footy continuity, I can't see how you can call him below average foot soldier (delistable). Why bag players out when they haven't played for about 3 seasons.

There is no chance in hell Dyson heppell is 189 cm.

 

[Dr Tigris]

If Reece stays fit he will be a very good player for us.

Unfortunately I can't realistically expect him to stay fit. Amazed he got 2 years. Just hoping that he gets and stays fit. Will be a huge in for us.

 

[mopsy]

There is no chance in hell Dyson heppell is 189 cm.

lol of course he is. Was 189cm when drafted a skinny runt barely 80kg when he started out.
Now the one i would question as being 185cm is Conca but hey he has always come in at that height as well.

 

[mopsy]

Conca isn't average paced while not lighting fast he does have a certain break away speed/agility

If you say so.

 

[TheProwler]

If he plays in the ones this year then what role? Can't really see where his spot is yo be honest. Used to think his smarts around goal may have made him a good HF but we have a plethora of those now and speedy too. Reckon HBF is his only role and he is vying for that with several others like Short, Markov, Hunt etc.

 

[HumanMeatball]

If you say so.

Again conca isn't average paced. This is a pre draft write up of him


The Swans need midfield speed and versatility and Conca has loads of it. Smart, creative type who remains composed and can play inside and outside. Loves to use his pace and run and carry but can play above his height.

 

[HumanMeatball]

If he plays in the ones this year then what role? Can't really see where his spot is yo be honest. Used to think his smarts around goal may have made him a good HF but we have a plethora of those now and speedy too. Reckon HBF is his only role and he is vying for that with several others like Short, Markov, Hunt etc.

Injury free I'd have him ahead of hunt

 

[Komrade_Tiger]

Injury free I'd have him ahead of hunt

by a country mile.

Hunt is supposed to be depth only in an area we were under manned in at the time of his drafting

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

If you say so.

He certainly did...

 

[TheProwler]

Injury free I'd have him ahead of hunt

Me too but Hunt gets games because the coach trusts him and knows he will get four honest quarters out of him. He has plenty of poor areas but the coach accepts that as he knows Hunt will play the role given to him. What role does or can Conca play?