Western Force 2011

[todd4]

I'd be having James Stannard on the bench for cover at 9/10.

I am really looking forward to seeing how he goes next year. Having watched him play for the sevens team he seems to have imroved his skill levels since he was last at the Force 2 years ago. He may be the surprise packet for the Force next season and it wouldn't surprise me to see him slip into the play-maker role, I read somewhere that he used to play fly-half.

 

[observer]

I think Stannard could snare the 9 jersey. As well as his great 7's form which attracted interest from France his form at 9 for the Woodies was great.

 

[RugbyReg]

Has he signed for the Force? He's still supposed to play for the Reds

why?

No he hasn't signed for the Force. I was suggesting they should sign him, because the Reds haven't.

 

[H...]

Stanford is playing for the Honda Heat, I suspect he's been released.

 

[todd4]

Stanford is playing for the Honda Heat, I suspect he's been released.

Yes. I believe Richard Stanford has been released.

 

[Lance Free]

The Emirates Western Force has bolstered their squad with Eastern Suburbs outside back Pat Dellit and Australian U20’s representatives Paul Alo-Emile and Phoenix Battye all joining the club for the 2011 season.

Alo-Emile and Battye were key members of Australia’s U20’s team that reached the final of the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina, playing alongside Perth young gun Justin Turner and Force Academy members Cruze Ah-Nau and Siliva Siliva.

Dellit meanwhile has been rewarded for his outstanding performances in the NSW 1st grade competition over the past two seasons. This season he has scored ten tries to date and helped elevate Easts to third on the Shute Shield ladder.

Name: Paul Alo-Emile
Position: Prop
Height: 180cm
Weight: 120kg
Date of Birth: 22/12/1991
Club: Sunnybank (Qld), Reds Academy (2010)
Honours: Australian Schoolboys (2009), Australian U20’s (2010)

Name: Phoenix Battye
Position: Second-Row
Height: 204cm
Weight: 115kg
Date of Birth: 28/9/1990
Club: Tuggeranong (ACT), Junior Waratahs (2009), Brumby Runners (2010)
Honours: ACT Schoolboys (2007-08), Australian U20’s (2010)

Name: Patrick Dellit
Position: Outside back
Height: 192cm
Weight: 100kg
Date of Birth: 21/08/1986
Club: Eastern Suburbs (NSW) 2007 - current

 

[RugbyReg]

they snagged Paul Alo-Emile? Bugger!

oh and they are all full contract holders?

from the web site:

Alo-Emile and Battye have signed rookie deals while Dellit is on a standard player contract.

great signings.

Anyone see a length of these contracts?

 

[en_force_er]

I thought with Pyle going off to the Rebels the Brumbies would be keen as to develop Battye.

 

[Slim 293]

Battye?!



Those poaching ****s...

 

[Lee Grant]

Well done to the Force for recruiting those 3 guys and especially PAE and Dellit.

The Reds must be ropeable to lose the big fella. Nobody outside of PAE's family will know the reason why PAE switched but perhaps he wasn't offered a rookie contract up north but was out west. Who can tell? It's also interesting that they are still using the "rookie contract" description - it must have some currency still.

Dellit looks good in Sydney club rugby and if Haig Sare can get on the park for these fellows so can Dellit. Big, strong, good fend, good step, break tackles; a dodgy hamstring maybe but whose perfect?

Sometimes the system doesn't work but it looks like it is working well for the Force this week.

 

[tranquility]

getting PAE is a massive coup. I am not only disappointed in losing him, but very curious to find out why.

 

[Tank]

For those more knowledgeable on Force related matters, with the recent rise of McCalman, what do we think the Force are looking to do with their backrow. Hodgson, Pocock, Brown and McCalman.

If all are fit, does Brown get benched? I know there are some Brown haters out there especially for Wallabies but for S15 he is a good option. I can't see any of them playing lock.

Granted the S15 will see more attrition but still.

As a Reds supporter, I would love to get Pocock or Hodgo for a year whilst Liam Gill builds into the player we all hope!

 

[Lee Grant]

McCalman isn't the tallest but he plays in the 2nd row for Sydney Uni and he could play there in some S15 games. Normally you would like a tall 6 to balance such a scheme but that won't be the case.

Can't say that I have been overjoyed at the progression of Tom Hockings and the 7cms difference in height may not signify a lot especially if McCalman's reach is big.

You there Brucie??

On Gill: we started pontificating about this over 12 months ago and we said then we will have to wait and see. That proviso prevails.

 

[Newb]

hodgson is signed through 2011, but if i were him i'd be looking overseas at greener pastures unless he has a strong reason to stay aussie side. it's pretty clear that as long as deans is around he's not on the short list for higher honors and will always be a stop gap for the wallabies. if he were to move on, it would open up a spot for mccalman.

 

[farva]

McCalman has been used as lock in a few games last year. Coupling him with Sharpe is working.
However, Sharpe is not young anymore, and has maybe 2 seasons left in him. The Force (and Australia) need a lineout general to take over from him. That man is not McCalman.
The Force have Battye and Hocking who could do the job, but one needs to step up to take over the other lock spot. Hocking has not done that yet, and Battye is young.

 

[Red Rooster]

getting PAE is a massive coup. I am not only disappointed in losing him, but very curious to find out why.

I think you will find they have Dunning and Fairbrother (Both 30+) coming off contract next year and the Reds have had Daley and Slipper become Wallabies, who are both only 21 so it would suggest they have sold him the opportunity - Its a long way from his family so it will be interesting to see if he is ready and whether it lasts

 

[Lee Grant]

farva

I forgot Battye but lets not fly that kite until we see something from him as a senior player. No, McCalman won't be your lineout general but I was just answering a question about how all four Force backrowers in the Wallabies could fit into a S15 team.

Newb

Disagree with your contention that Hodgson isn't on the radar. He was picked on the 2009 EOYT and in every team on the bench this year up until the time of his groin injury. Why he hasn't been utilised properly is a separate issue.

He made everybody sit up after his performance against the Tahs in a test-like atmosphere earlier in the year and it was as the 7 when Pocock was out injured. I think that Deans, like myself, considers him to be the logical short term back up for Pocock on the open side and is the reason why Waugh has not been included in any squad.

In hindsight it's ironic: the Tahs wouldn't have won that game without Waugh but Hodgson was the MOTM - and more importantly showed all of us, including Deans, what a top 7 he was. I had no clue until then as I thought he was just a big engine all-rounder backrower.

 

[Bruce Ross]

McCalman isn't the tallest but he plays in the 2nd row for Sydney Uni and he could play there in some S15 games. Normally you would like a tall 6 to balance such a scheme but that won't be the case.

Can't say that I have been overjoyed at the progression of Tom Hockings and the 7cms difference in height may not signify a lot especially if McCalman's reach is big.

You there Brucie??

To the best of my knowledge Ben doesn't have an abnormal wing span, LG. The only reason for using him as a 2nd rower at Uni this season would have been because the club is so well endowed with quality back rowers.

6 or 8 is his go.

 

[Bruce Ross]

hodgson is signed through 2011, but if i were him i'd be looking overseas at greener pastures unless he has a strong reason to stay aussie side. it's pretty clear that as long as deans is around he's not on the short list for higher honors and will always be a stop gap for the wallabies. if he were to move on, it would open up a spot for mccalman.

Newb, I doubt that McCalman will have to wait for anyone to move on in order to get "a spot".

 

[TOCC]

lets not forget that Brown is very effective at S14 level, more so then anything McCalman is yet to display, to suggest McCalman will beat out Brown is premature..

In fact, if anyone should be nervous, it should be Hodgson, IMO a backline of Pocock-Brown-McCalman is a better combination, provides better balance.