Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Reply #174 –
I've said previously that we'll miss Docherty more than the other three but it's a long time since he was an A-grader. Charlie's best is almost A-grade and his inability to have an impact in big games is his weakness. He was a C-grader in 2025 and there are ongoing doubts about his knee. Tom has potential and may become an A-grader at the Saints, or he may continue to flash in an out of games. Jack has a crack but, apart from not being able to stay on the park, is just a good ordinary footballer who showed some promise as a KPD.
I've mentioned it before but Florent and Hayward have been in the system 12 months less than Curnow and Silvagni and have both played 184 games to Curnow's 149 and Silvagni's 128. Florent played 130 consecutive games that included every game in Sydney’s last two Grand Final seasons. In other words, he was a lock in Sydney's best 22 until the struggling Dean Cox took over as coach. Hayward kicked 29.10 last season and 41.16 in 2024. Both signed five year contracts with Sydney in 2024, sparking this response from then coach John Longmire: "We're absolutely thrilled [that Hayward has re-signed]. We were always confident but until you get the deal done, you're not 100 per cent certain. Not only as a player but importantly as a person. He's a high-quality person. From the moment he and Ollie were drafted, to see them come into the club as 18-year-olds and then see them both commit long term to the club is one of the real thrills as a coach."
Ainsworth was pick 4 in the 2016 National Draft and has played 158 high quality games. He has been a fixture Gold Coast's best 22 since 2022 and signed a four year contract extension in 2024.
Chesser is a bit of an unkown quantity after being taken at pick 14 in the 2021 draft and missing most of last season with injury. He played the last four games and showed that he hasn't lost his blistering pace.
Then there's Harry Dean, who is universally acknowledged as one of the best KPP prospects in years, and Jack Ison, who looks to be a dynamic general forward with elite foot skills. Time will tell of course for Harry and Jack, but Blind Freddy could see that our 2026 list is stronger and has greater depth.