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Date Posted: 23:45 19/05/24 Sun
Author: Colin Wisbey
Author Host/IP: n175-39-135-218.meb4.vic.optusnet.com.au / 175.39.135.218
Subject: Definitely not for short term but, subject to commitment, worth a punt, albeit he's a bit short
In reply to: Crimson Mask 's message, "All good and well Col, and I understand but do you think he's somebody" on 21:09 19/05/24 Sun

He played some promising AFL games (as "FP"/ 2nd ruck to Witts) before even turning 19yo so he has demonstrated AFL ability. And he's only 24yo.

He's a lion-hearted, physical Mumford type, who like early Mummy, was seriously in need of serious conditioning and serious commitment to same. That was years ago. These days, although only 24, he looks like a 40yo life member of Macca's, as if in training for when the Olympic games introduces a 400m hamburger-eating event.

And that's *the* issue. And it begs the question: If he really, really wants an AFL career, how come he let himself get in such terrible physical conditioning?

He's never been heralded as a finely-tuned physical specimen or an endurance athlete and nor was early Mumford but Mummy is an extremely rare success story among such types. And Crossley's best condition in recent times is worse than Mummy's worst.

Crossley's very poor condition / endurance (including abysmal testing) has given clubs very sound reason for overlooking him.

If (if!!!!!) you could get the (helluva lot of) pre-season conditioning work into him and he could improve his tank to a serious run-all-game AFL level, he *might* furnish into a Grundy *type* (and I'm a huge rap for Grundy). That would also require a huge improvement in agility but it's hard to estimate how much his agility might improve if he got into top AFL condition.

Bottom line, if(!!) he ever got into AFL-standard physical condition, you'd be getting a lion-hearted physical beast ruck who, although "just" 198cm, relishes physical contest (I look for that in a ruck and it's an underrated requirement IMO), leads from the front, is a decent kick, would have at least "OK" pace for a ruck, reads the play well, usually makes the right decisions, is unselfish and brings other players into the game. His marking is not elite but he's no slouch overhead, especially deep forward.

His VFL club appointed him captain, and at a relatively young age, so that speaks well of his character, heart and team-spirit.

Frankly, I've struggled to comprehend how a player with such impressive on-field work ethic has let himself down so badly and for so long re commitment to off-field conditioning.

Back to your question ("worth looking at in the MSD window?"), Crimmo, he'd have to *convince* a club that he would sustain commitment to intense conditioning and the club would have to be highly confident it could engineer that.

Chiselled down and built back up, he'd be a decent chance of sustaining a (rejuvenated) AFL career ... but he's no hope whatsoever of being AFL-ready for the current season. Right now, AFL opponents would run off him with ease. And jump over him. And he'd be gassed early in a game.

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