Travis Tuck

[Heropsychodreamer]

Trav for a lot of the season seemed to be the forgotten draftee. As a father son pick, a foregone conclusion, a lot of the focus was put onto the other 5 picks, all being in the top 20 (except for muston, who really could have commanded top 10 if not injured).

Then while a lot of focus was on Birchalls performances in the AFL (not taking anything from Birch - he has impressed me more than even Franklins/Lewis/Rougheads first yr)... focus was also on the recovery of Dowler, Muston and Ellis (foot)... and fascinated with Max Bailey.

In this time, Trav was biding his time in the VFL reserves, and slowly working his way from bench to performer to VFL seniors bench and is now consistantly in the best.

From all reports, he is one who can hold his head up high. It amazes me how much quality we have pulled into the club in just two drafts, and this 3rd one should also be a beauty... IM EXCITED!

I would love to see Tucky get a game next week... I dont expect it, and i dont think he necessarily needs it yet, but i think it would be a great way to cap off a great yr!

Hero

[philhawk]

Great post Hero. We have so much depth coming through in the midfield department and the recovery of Muston from injury might have a huge say in whether we opt for a pacy midfielder like Jetta in this draft or again go for a KPP.

By all accounts anyhow, i'm excited. ;)

[Adelaide Hawk]

He wouldn't be a Tuck if he didn't take time to develop.

[Unfulfilled Potential]

I agree, there is plenty of young talent ready to blossom, because of the Tuck family history as late developers, supporters have had less immediate expectation of Travis, but I have seen him at Box Hill 2-3 times and he seems very sure playing across HB and in the midfield.
2007 should be very exciting, in 2005 we saw our early picks straight away, this year we have had to be more patient (as we should be with all young players) - woth the exception of "The Birch" we have scene snippets of Dowler and Bailey and the others have been at Box hill or out for the season.
With the win yesterday it will be interesting to see who joins our list next year.
Josh Kennedy, through F/S then it will be a matter of fill the holes with key backmen a priority, what are our hopes for Pick 6? (depending on how the rest of the season falls).

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/GaryShadforth/welcome441.gif
Unfulfilled Potential

[mattyc2422]

Travis Tuck is going to be a tremendous, tremendous player. You can just tell with the way he plays. He's composed, he thinks about his footy, he runs to the right spots etc. He's still very raw but he's going to be suuuuuuuuuublime.

[Bennycoff]

Shane Tuck hasn't reached the heights of last season, struggled a bit.

However Trav Tuck looks a gem and hopefully we get to see him sometime next season.

Muston, Ellis, Tuck still to play and throw in Little as well and we've got some hidden talent waiting in the wings. Dowler has had a taste of AFL which is good for him and the club whilst Bailey has played 4 matches now and is learning from the best.

Next season has much promise, I just hope we get a clean bill of health, we need some luck with injuries because when we have our best team in we can match it against the best.

[The Kipster]

Loved to see his old man carve up and good to see that you blokes keep us interstaters up to speed......Great all round skills......:thumbsu:

[Nightwolf]

Im a huge fan. I also reckon he'll play senior footy next year and develop faster than his father/brother.

My word, we have the indside midfielder well and truly covered..

[Hawkk]

Tuck's have a tradition of being late bloomers, that's why he has gone under the radar IMO.

[MHDKA]

Tuck's have a tradition of being late bloomers, that's why he has gone under the radar IMO.

Its one of the biggest myths in football about M.Tuck being a late bloomer. When you look at the facts you will see this is quite false.

I think the reason is he played 79 games in night games and reserves - this seems a lot but he did play 505 games in total!

Actually as a 17 year old he managed to kick 17 goals in 2 successive reserves games in 71 and played 5 games in his first season 1972. He was then a regular player by 74 playing finals.

I have a feeling in the back of my mind he actually polled well in either the B&F or brownlow around 74 or 75.

It was really dipper & schwabby that took a very long time playing in the reserves before they became regular players, Tuck always seems to be thrown into this group.

[cschreuder61]

I reckon if Ellis was playing as well as Tuck as been he'd get a game next week, but we are gonna be patient with young Tucky.

Looks to be in front of where many thought he'd be. I think everyone just presumed he'd probably play this year in Box Hill reserves and maybe a few senior box hill games towards the end; but has already impacted senior Box Hill level.

[C.O.G.]

Quite happy to see Travis sit out the AFL this year and focus on a good preseason to get him on the park sometime next year.

Shane wasn't so much a late bloomer... he suffered a few injuries in his time on the Hawks list and never really gained a chance because of this.