Matt Leuenberger

[Lady Lawrence]

over to you - lion_gooner & Grimreepah

[Grimreepah]

Lion's bio (http://lions.com.au/default.asp?pg=players&spg=playerprofile&personid=359271)
2006 AFL Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_AFL_Draft)

2006 All Australian Under 18 Team (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=27713)


Matthew Leuenberger - Western Australia, 202cm, 92kg, East Perth
Ruckman with excellent mobility and agility, Leuenberger had 61 hit outs - the most in the championships. His marking in extremely wet conditions in game three was impressive for his team.


AIS Profile (http://web.archive.org/web/20060821025614/www.ais.org.au/austrules/leuenberger.asp)

Matthew Leuenberger

Name: Matthew Leuenberger

Sport: Australian Rules Football

Position/event: Ruck

Date of birth / birthplace: 7 June 1988 - Perth, WA

Are you also a SIS / SAS scholarship holder, and if so what institute / academy?

What year did you begin your AIS scholarship? 2005

What is your most significant achievement in sport? Being awarded an AIS scholarship

What is your major sporting goal? To play AFL

Who are your idols, and why (not necessarily sporting)? Michael Jordan - failed to make the high school team but persisted and became the greatest

Who has most influenced your sporting career, and why? Parents - have always believed in me and encouraged me

Do you work or study while training - if so what? Study at Hale School - doing 5 TEE subjects

How do you hope to be remembered when you retire from your sport? He gave his all and to be respected

What are your career goals after sport? Become a surveyor

What do you regard as the most memorable sporting moment? 1995 AFL grand final when Carlton had their last win

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5766/leuenbergerhh2.jpg

Link (http://www.**********.net/10-reasons-why-carlton-need-matthew-leuenberger/)

10 Reasons Why Carlton Need Matthew Leuenberger
October 4th 2006 12:13

It is nearly a coin-flip for Carlton as they decide between Gibbs and Leuenberger. If the priority picks were ahead of the first round, instead of after it, there would not be a problem.

1: The huge need there is a ruckman, and there are not many quality ruckman to pick from in the draft.

2: With Barnaby French retired, Deluca is the only player on the senior list who is at least 200cm tall.

3: Leuenberger was the All-Australian ruckmen at the Under 18 titles.

4: Blues need to add a young ruckman who can develop alongside their young onballers like Murphy. McLaren does not fit this criteria.

5: Leuenberger has added 5 or 6 kilograms over the past season, at this rate it will take at most two seasons for him to be at his perfect playing weight.

6: Carlton have never drafted a young star ruckmen, this needs to change. Ricky Mott and Andrew Merrington were the best they did?

7: Leuenberger is a ruckman who can take an overhead mark, you might have to go back to Fitzpatrick for a ruckman who was reliable taking a mark.

8: O'hAilpin looks like a star backman in the making, if they try to convert him to the ruck it may not be as successful.

9: Leuenberger was the best on ground for the WAFL Colts Grand Final, nothing better than a Mel Whinnen Medallist.

10: He is a Carlton supporter.

Leuenberger a prime target (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20732172-23211,00.html?from=rss)


Leuenberger a prime target

By David Davutovic
November 10, 2006

MATTHEW Leuenberger is the type of recruit the AFL prides itself on these days.

Basketball and athletics were part of his sporting repertoire years ago, but the ruckman reached the fork in the road.

"I took athletics pretty seriously and I played a lot of basketball in my early teens and had to choose basketball or footy," the 203cm Leuenberger said.

"I always wanted to make it to the highest level in footy because the AFL looks so much more appealing than the NBL."

Recruiters are licking their lips at the prospect of snaring Leuenberger, who is regarded as the best national draft ruck prospect since Josh Fraser went to Collingwood in 1999.

He is said to be in the mould of West Coast ruckman Dean Cox.

Despite his enormous potential, the East Perth giant could slip as low as No.6 in the November 25 draft because of the way the cards have fallen.

Carlton has committed to St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland in the pre-season draft, and it is keen on Glenelg's readymade onballer Bryce Gibbs for its No.1 selection.

Essendon appears to be leaning towards Victorian Lachlan Hansen with the next selection, and the Kangaroos, with pick No.3, have two young ruckmen in David Hale and Hamish McIntosh.

Should Brisbane Lions pass up Leuenberger, Port Adelaide (No.5) or Hawthorn (N. 6) will take him.

Leading player manager Liam Pickering said Leuenberger could be the biggest steal in draft history.

"If he goes to five or six, he'll be the best fifth or sixth pick we've seen for a long time but it's just the way it's unfolded," Pickering said.

"If Carlton had picks one and two this year, I'm sure they'd take him.

"I still think he's as good a big man as I've seen in the draft and he was the best ruckman in the under-18 carnival. I just think he's an outstanding prospect."

Leuenberger's father migrated from Switzerland back in 1986.

The Leuenbergers settled in Perth, opened a French restaurant a drop punt from Subiaco Oval, and dad Jean-Francois ensured he and son Matthew made the short trek to watch visiting AFL teams train when possible.

"Dad would try and free up time in the afternoon because games were generally played on Sundays then, so the visiting club would train on Saturday so we'd watch them run around and get signatures," he said.

"I go for Carlton because they were the first ones I watched train back in 1995, and I spoke to a few of their players like Stephen Kernahan and Greg Williams and they seemed pretty nice."

Leuenberger almost slipped through the net a couple of years ago, when he was in line to join West Australian pair Cox and Aaron Sandilands, who entered the system via the rookie draft.

But he was spotted by Western Australia's under-16 coach playing for Hale School in Year 11, and an invitation to train with the state side was promptly followed by his inclusion in the East Perth Colts.

"I always wanted to play AFL but before I made the state side I never knew about the process of getting there, so I hadn't given AFL much consideration. I was playing for fun with my school mates," Leuenberger said.

As a result he does not regard himself as a "footy head".

"I wouldn't change anything at all. I'm happy with the way it's panned out," he said.

Leuenberger played six senior games in the Western Australian Football League after the national under-18 carnival last season, and averaged almost 15 hitouts.

He then won the Mel Whinnen medal as best-on-ground in the colts grand final at Subiaco before further impressing at the draft camp in Canberra.

Carlton, Essendon, the Kangaroos, Port Adelaide, the Lions, Hawthorn, Geelong and St Kilda have spoken to the athletic ruckman and, with West Coast and Fremantle enjoying stellar seasons, an interstate move is highly likely.

Paul Peos, East Perth coach in the latter part of this year, said Leuenberger was a similar player to Cox and had no doubt he would become a star.

"I wouldn't expect him to play every game next year, but he's developed enough to have some influence and he's the sort of guy that won't let the expectations get to him," the former West Coast and Brisbane player said.

"I was assistant coach when Dean Cox came through at East Perth and they're similarly sized and skilled, although Matt's a little more athletic than Dean was at the same time.

"He's a young man that they can really build their side around in the future with his ability to get first hands to the ball."

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8888/leuenbergerbj3.jpg

High hopes or tall order (http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/high-hopes-or-tall-order/2006/11/18/1163871470490.html)

High hopes or tall order?

Matthew Leuenberger expected to finish his first senior game with more questions than answers, thinking more about what would come next. Instead, he stopped wondering. "I thought I held my own," the young ruckman said. "I felt a bit more calm after that. It felt like I could start to compare myself against other guys who had played senior footy at my age.

"I had a better idea of how I was going, so I didn't feel so stressed. It might have been a bit different if I'd played really badly, but I just tried to let it happen, from there."

Leuenberger played six games for East Perth in the last part of last season and, by the end of them, had established himself at the very top end of a draft pool considered so promising clubs will happily pick up to six or seven players next Saturday.

Everyone agrees: he is quick, and nimble. He's already 203 centimetres and so, in contrast with the likes of last year's No. 7 pick Paddy Ryder, clubs won't have to cross their fingers and hope he grows.

He's flexible enough to scoop the low ball, his ruck skills are sound, he can cover the ground, and kick. Unlike many gangly, teenage ruck prospects, he has a bit of co-ordination, too. What's not known is how high he will be chosen.

Plenty of clubs would pick Leuenberger with the No. 1 choice, but he may slip to pick five or six, depending, partly, on whether clubs decide that, while he's good, they already have a couple of ruckmen in the works.

Which raises the question: while clubs like to say they pick the next best player available at each of their selections, does this approach become more complicated when you're talking about a ruckman?

David Hale and Hamish McIntosh were both chosen inside the top 10 by the Kangaroos, in 2001 and 2002, while Essendon invested the No. 10 pick in Jason Laycock, and Adelaide chose John Meesen at No. 8 two years ago, with Brisbane's Cameron Wood a late first-round choice. In that time, Fremantle has got Aaron Sandilands up off its rookie list. Mark Jamar has come off the Melbourne rookie list, and done OK. The Crows got Ivan Maric in 2004 too, at No. 40, and he has made it to senior level more swiftly. In other words, some of the first-rounders are fine, but you can still find decent ruckmen in less-expensive places.

Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Scott Clayton said drafting a ruckman early was tricky. "Most of them are skinny kids who are going to have to play in a collision position," he said. "They take so long to develop. They might never get the body to do what you got them for."

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2747/leuenbergeror2.jpg

Carlton weighs up tall order (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20657003-2722,00.html)


Carlton weighs up tall order

* Chip Le Grand
* October 28, 2006

ON a hot January day in Perth this year, Dean Cox gave Matthew Leuenberger a valuable football lesson.
Leuenberger was 17 years old and yet to come to prominence as the most talented teenage ruckman in the country.

Cox, the previous year's All-Australian ruckman, had just announced himself as the best tap-man in the business. For 20 minutes, Leuenberger tried to keep up with Cox across the hard, dry expanses of Subiaco Oval. And for 20 minutes, he failed.

"I got to play a 20-minute practice game on him and I didn't stop running once," Leuenberger said yesterday.

"I had to chase him the whole time. It took me by surprise. I tried to take that back to my game but I have still got a long way to go to get to where he was then."

In this year's finals series, Cox gave another timely lesson; one not lost on Carlton's recruiting staff as they consider whether to use their prized No.1 pick in next month's national draft on Leuenberger.

In two finals against Sydney, Cox amassed 74 hit-outs. In one final against Adelaide, he recorded 27 disposals. If not for the brilliance of Andrew Embley he would have left the MCG on grand final day with both a Norm Smith and premiership medal around his neck.

If Cox and Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands did not cause a shift in thinking towards ruckmen in the modern game this season, they certainly confirmed what some clubs already knew: dominant ruckmen are critical ingredients in premiership success.

"If you look at (Dean) Brogan and (Brendon) Lade in 2004, Jason Ball's influence in 2005 and Cox this year, the last three years have emphasised the need for quality ruckmen," Hawthorn personnel manager Chris Pelchen said. "Hence Matthew Leuenberger is being spoken about in glowing terms." And Pelchen will pinch himself if he lands Leuenberger at No.6.

Within the Leuenberger household in Perth, the growing buzz about the biggest kid in the draft has created mixed feelings.

He grew up supporting Carlton, his favourite players were Stephen Kernahan and Craig Bradley and a part of him would love to play his AFL career in navy blue.

Another part appreciates the intense pressure that goes with being the first picked among equals in any national draft - especially one that includes the likes of star Glenelg midfielder Bryce Gibbs and fellow West Australian key forward Scott Gumbleton.

"I haven't spoken to Bryce but when I speak to Gumby and a few of the other guys, no-one wants to go that high," he said. "The lower you go the less pressure you are going to get."

His mother Cathy shares this view. The Leuenbergers have no history of elite sport in their family and are counting down to draft day with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

"Just say, hypothetically, he goes No.1," Cathy said. "By nature, ruckmen are not really developed to play in the first year but the average supporter expects a No.1 pick to play.

"That is the sort of pressure he wouldn't want. I don't think a lot of kids want that. Being No.1 brings a moment of joy and a whole lot of heartache."

Given Matthew was last measured at 203cm, you might expect the Leuenbergers to be a family of giants. Instead, Cathy Leuenberger is of average height and her husband Francois, a Swiss-born chef, stands at a tall but hardly imposing 187cm.

The remarkable thing is that unlike Cox and Sandilands at a similar age, Leuenberger moves with the grace and assuredness of an average-sized athlete. Before he emerged as a footballer, he excelled at athletics and basketball. His favourite sportsman was Michael Jordan and his pet event the high jump.

"He has never been lanky or gangly," Cathy Leuenberger said.

Leuenberger's combination of height, speed and ground-level skills has prompted comparisons with Cox and Collingwood's Josh Fraser, the last ruckman taken at No.1 in the national draft.

In recruiting terms, it also makes him an extraordinarily rare commodity; something Carlton's recruiter Wayne Hughes is having to weigh against the unquestioned midfield talents of Gibbs.

Given his experience at Subiaco in January, Leuenberger is humbled by any comparison with Cox. But in terms of how Leuenberger would like to play, both Fraser and Cox are good guides.

"I like the way a ruckman plays when he can get the footy a lot and play like an extra midfielder, like Cox and Fraser," Leuenberger said.

"Sandilands had a few games this year where he started to get high numbers with the footy but his main asset is just smashing the ball clear of the contest so players can run on to it. As a position, talk about rucking has progressed a lot just because of those two guys."

For now, Leuenberger's challenge is to keep his feet on the ground until November 25, the day of the national draft. Unlike most of this year's draftees, Leuenberger completed high school last year and doesn't have university studies to worry about.

The club recruiters and player managers have stopped calling for a while but he knows the phone will start ringing again as the draft draws near.

"I feel as though I have done everything I possibly can," he said. "I will probably meet a few more club officials and recruiting managers but there is not much more I can do. It has played on my mind lately; trying to figure out what club you will be at and where you will end up."

It is doubtful even Carlton knows the answer just yet. But rarely has a young ruckman stood so tall.


Link (http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/schoolies-in-for-footys-hottest-kid/2006/11/26/1164476069133.html)

Missed by that much

MOVING to Brisbane will mean big changes in the life of the Lions' new young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger but will also require some alterations to the bedroom of his parents' home in Perth. For not only is (make that was) he a Carlton fan but his walls are covered in photos of all his Blues heroes, in particular Anthony Koutoufides. And what wasn't lost on the Carlton hierarchy on Saturday was that had the old draft rules existed, they would have had third pick and would almost certainly have drafted him.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4254/leuenbergerqp0.jpg

Lions land Leuenberger (http://lions.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=307753)

Lions land Leuenberger
2:45:21 PM Sat 25 November, 2006
Jason Phelan
Sportal for afl.com.au

Brisbane added five brand-new Lion cubs to its pride at the NAB AFL National Draft on Saturday and football manager Graeme Allan was excited by the potential of the group headed by boom ruck prospect Matthew Leuenberger.

At just 18 years of age, the young Western Australian has already drawn comparisons to All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox and Allan said the Lions did not hesitate when he was still available at the fourth overall selection.

"We're really happy with how the draft went. Young Leuenberger is an outstanding ruckman and we rated him in the top-two picks in the draft, so we thought he was a great selection," Allan said from Telstra Dome at the conclusion of the draft.

"We've got an outstanding ruckman, we think we've got a couple of midfielders, we've got a tall defender, a couple of running backmen and we've got a bit of height - we're very happy with the draft."

For his part, Leuenberger was delighted to be heading to Queensland to make a start on what he hopes will be a long AFL career.

"I feel fantastic, it’s been a long year, waiting to see where you will go in the draft and just hearing your name called out is such a relief," he said.

"Brisbane is such a great club to go to, I didn’t really think about being the first ruckman taken, but pick four is obviously pretty high so I will have to do something.

"They've already got two good ruckmen with Jamie Charman and Cameron Wood, who is developing, so it will be great to work those boys and learn a lot from that.

"The flights home are going to be long, I'll just rack up the frequent flyer points."

The national draft invariably throws up some surprises with countless variables making it almost impossible to predict and Allan felt Lady Luck had smiled on the Lions this time around with some highly-rated youngsters falling to them after the first round.

"This time last year Albert Proud would have been a top-four pick, but he's just had a few injuries this year," he said of the second round selection.

"But medically he's fine now and we think he's going to be an outstanding player.

"Likewise with young Chris Schmidt, we didn't think he'd get through to our third pick and we're really happy to have him. He's 188 centimetres, a really smart, intelligent runner who's a good user of the ball.

"Same with James Hawksley out of Perth, he's another 180-odd centimetre player, a good running player and a smart user."

The additions of North Ballarat tall defender Matthew Tyler and midfielder Sam Sheldon - the son of Carlton legend Ken - rounded out the club's draft day. Allan said the selection of Sheldon - who had been under consideration by the Blues as a father-son selection - was picked up with an eye on the future.

"Young Sheldon is a bottom-age player who's very smart and is a good footballer," he said.

"Our thinking is next year he could have been a first round selection, so you get a young age lad down at the end and we think it's a great selection."


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'Berger with the lot (http://lions.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=309204)

'Berger with the lot
1:27:12 PM Thu 7 December, 2006
lions.com.au

Matthew Leuenberger has all the ingredients to become a future star for the Brisbane Lions – height, flexibility, skill, speed, mobility and a smart football brain. He is widely considered a once-in-a-generation player and the Lions were thrilled to secure him with their first round selection (fourth overall) at the 2006 AFL National Draft.

The East Perth ruckman arrived in Brisbane earlier this week to commence what many are predicting will be an exceptional football career.

“Since I arrived here four days ago, there has been a really good atmosphere here at the Club. They are all a great bunch of guys,” Leuenberger said. “I’m already starting to learn a few things from (Jamie Charman) which is good.”

Together with Charman, Cameron Wood and Beau McDonald, Leuenberger will be part of the Lions young ruck brigade. But first, he is focusing on completing a full pre-season and staying injury free.

“I’m going to have to improve my endurance a fair bit and I also need to get much stronger,” he said.

Leuenberger took an interest in AFL from an early age, often taking a short stroll to the nearby Subiaco Oval with his father to watch visiting AFL teams train.

“Playing AFL footy has been a dream of mine since I was a young fella so I’m really happy to now be given the opportunity to play,” he said.

He was drafted from East Perth, where he dominated the ruck for the Colts and also provided a useful presence up forward. His form for the Colts warranted his elevation in the WAFL East Perth senior side where he played a total of 6 matches averaging almost 20 hit outs per match.

He represented Western Australia in Under 18 Championships and was selected as the All Australian ruckman

Leuenberger capped off a successful season when he was awarded the Mel Whinnen Medal as the best-on-ground for the Colts in their grand final at Subiaco.

As one of the country’s top prospects, Leuenberger was invited to attend the annual AFL Draft Camp in Canberra where he showcased his skill, mobility and agility. For a 203cm ruckman, he showed a fantastic burst of speed with a 20 metre sprint time of 3.02 seconds.

Leading player manager Liam Pickering was in awe of what he had seen in the young ruckman.

“If Carlton had picks one and two this year, I’m sure they’d take him,” Pickering said. “I still think he’s as good a big man as I have seen in the draft and he was the best ruckman in the under-18 carnival. I just think he’s an outstanding prospect.”

East Perth coach and former Brisbane Bears player Paul Peos similarly believes that Leuenberger has all the tools to eventually be one of the league’s premiere ruckmen.

“I was assistant coach when Dean Cox came through at East Perth and they’re similarly sized and skilled, although Matt’s a little more athletic than Dean was at the same time,” Peos said. “He’s a young man that (the Brisbane Lions) can really build their side around in the future with his ability to get first hands to the ball”.

“I wouldn’t expect him to play every game next year, but he’s developed enough to have some influence and he’s the sort of guy that won’t let the expectations get to him,” Peos said.

A modern-style ruckman, Leuenberger prides himself on being able to move with the poise and agility of an average-sized midfielder. “I like the way a ruckman plays when he can get a lot of the footy and play like an extra midfielder, like Cox and Fraser,” Leuenberger said.

Much of his athleticism and mobility can be attributed to his athletics and basketball background in which he excelled throughout his junior years.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1543/leuenbergerql2.jpg

Berger with the lot (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20532788-23211,00.html)


Berger with the lot

By Rebecca Williams
October 06, 2006

MATTHEW Leuenberger has been described as Dean Cox-like, and he is regarded as one of the best ruck prospects to come through the draft in years.

The West Australian ruckman Leuenberger has emerged as the No.1 big man among the crop of this year's AFL hopefuls, with the 202cm giant enhancing his reputation at the draft camp in Canberra.

The 18 year old's qualities are obvious. He boasts impressive mobility for his height, yesterday showing off his running ability during sprint testing.

He has already played senior football for East Perth in the Western Australian Football League and he won All-Australian honours at under-18 level this year.

"He would be one of the best I have seen in the last five years, I reckon," Melbourne list and recruiting manager Craig Cameron said.

"He's a bit Dean Cox-like. That's a bit unfair because he (Cox) is a star, but he's got those same attributes.

"I'm not sure who the last ruckman was to go No. 1, I'm not sure that he'll go No. 1, but he'd be up around the mark in the top five, for sure."

Carlton recruiting manager Wayne Hughes agreed it was hard to fault the big man.

"I actually saw his first senior game this year at East Perth and he was outstanding," Hughes said.

"He went back to the colts in the finals series and that's difficult to do, to readjust to that level, and he basically carried his team through the preliminary final to get them in the grand final and then won the medal on grand final day.

"You can't do much more than that. He's outstanding."

Leuenberger, however, said he had tried not to pay too much attention to talk of his draft prospects.

"I just try not to think about it all. I just try to go out there and play footy and do the training and still have fun," the AIS/AFL Academy graduate said.

"It's sort of only sunk in probably in the last two weeks seeing my name in the media a little bit.

"I'm pretty lucky because it did not affect me or my footy because I only found out after the footy season that it looked like I would be going relatively high. It hasn't really affected me too much."

Leuenberger, who overcame osteitis pubis early in the season, said he had accepted he would be moving interstate to begin his AFL career.

"You know that you won't be living in your home state any more," he said.

"It will probably take me a few months to settle in and then it will be fine."

Leuenberger rated Cox and Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser as his AFL role models.

"To be anywhere near as good as they are, I would be pretty happy."

Shifter's top 30 (http://carltonfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=306828)

Matthew Leuenberger
WA, 07-Jun-88, East Perth, Ruckman, 203.2, 92.9
Exciting prospect with the height, agility and mobility to play on ball. Excels with his work at stoppages and can push forward and kick goals. Debuted in the WAFL this year playing six matches, and won All-Australian U18 honours. AIS/AFL Academy Graduate. Tallest player attending the NAB AFL Draft Camp measuring in at 203.2cm. Showed fantastic speed for such a tall player with a 20m sprint time of 3.02sec.

At draft camp Leuenberger was the tallest and the 6th heaviest

Height
Matthew Leuenberger - 203.2cm
Sean Hampson - 200.8cm
Kurt Tippett - 200.6cm
Daniel Currie - 200.4cm
Brent Renouf - 200.3cm
Scott Gumbleton - 197.1cm
Lachlan Hansen - 196.7cm
Ben Reid - 196.4cm
Jesse White - 196.3cm
Eric McKenzie - 195.8cm

Mass (Weight)
Jesse White - 101.4kg
Justin Hardy - 97.3kg
Kurt Tippett - 95.9kg
Chris Dawes - 95.6kg
Sean Hampson - 93.1kg
Matthew Leuenberger - 92.9kg
Scott Gumbleton - 92.8kg
Brent Renouf - 92.5kg
Robert Tarrant - 91.9kg
Alex Lee - 91.8kg

Link (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20825379-2722,00.html)

"What Brent (Renouf) brings to the club is a player who can run 10.27 (minutes) for 3km, which puts him in the elite category for a player of 200cm," Pelchen said.
"To give you an example, Matthew Leuenberger runs 12.45. He also has a 93cm vertical leap, which is 11cm higher than Matthew Leuenberger jumps. Matthew has got genuine football talent, but this guy has got genuine athletic ability. I think his ability is untapped."

[Grimreepah]

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1166/leuenbergerxr6.jpg

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At draft camp

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Article (http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/news/091571news.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sportal.com.au/football.asp%3Fi%3Dnews%26id%3D91571&h=150&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=128&tbnid=X0GNEfYuMbMU3M:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLeuenberger%26start%3D120%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3 D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)

Brisbane added five brand-new Lion cubs to its pride at the NAB AFL National Draft on Saturday and football manager Graeme Allan was excited by the potential of the group headed by boom ruck prospect Matthew Leuenberger.

At just 18 years of age, the young Western Australian has already drawn comparisons to All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox and Allan said the Lions did not hesitate when he was still available at the fourth overall selection.

"We're really happy with how the draft went. Young Leuenberger is an outstanding ruckman and we rated him in the top-two picks in the draft, so we thought he was a great selection," Allan said from Telstra Dome at the conclusion of the draft.

"We've got an outstanding ruckman, we think we've got a couple of midfielders, we've got a tall defender, a couple of running backmen and we've got a bit of height - we're very happy with the draft."

For his part, Leuenberger was delighted to be heading to Queensland to make a start on what he hopes will be a long AFL career.

"I feel fantastic, it’s been a long year, waiting to see where you will go in the draft and just hearing your name called out is such a relief," he said.

"Brisbane is such a great club to go to, I didn’t really think about being the first ruckman taken, but pick four is obviously pretty high so I will have to do something.

"They've already got two good ruckmen with Jamie Charman and Cameron Wood, who is developing, so it will be great to work those boys and learn a lot from that.

"The flights home are going to be long, I'll just rack up the frequent flyer points."

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/826/leuenbergerqq5.jpg
Bryce Gibbs, Mitchell Thorp, Scott Gumbleton, Matthew Leuenberger, Lachlan Hansen, Brent Renouf

[Grimreepah]

BigFooty profile

Ruck

7/6/88
203ms and 89 kgs
East Perth

Giant youngster who is a legitimate ruck size. Is a natural ruckman who has a good leap and understands how to play the position very well for his age. Extremely mobile for his height and overall not to skinny for his age. Don’t envisage any problems with putting on weight and taking an eternity to be ready for AFL.
Dominates in the WAFL colts and beats just about everybody there (including Pat Ryder). Had a good U18s Championships but did not dominate. Improved after that in the WAFL and basically improves each game he plays.
Quite a good mark and really does involve himself in the game and has some presence around the ground and really is a commanding figure out on the field. Decent at ground level and is not lost when the ball hits the ground and more importantly has the work rate and desire to actually compete for the ball on the ground.
The reason for the rapid improvement is that he was playing basketball and only just devoted all his time to football in the last year. So I would expect a pretty large improvement in him this year.
Will be interesting to see how he goes up against Sellar in the U18s this year to judge both of them.

Tall, athletic and a big leap. Smart with what he does and wont take 5 years to be AFL ready. Can win the clearances from his own taps and adept at feeding out a handball. But its his ruckwork which really impresses and at 203cms (updated according to the AIS updated figure) he will dominate tap outs at the centre bounce in the AFL with his leap. Good with both hands and showed he could thump the ball forward (Clark Keating style) or palm then down (Everitt style) depending on what was needed. Good with both hands and can take off on either foot. Good at holding his own in the boundary throw ins and is much more advanced in his around the ground work than a 17 year old should be.
Plays like a 3rd year AFL ruckman at this early stage and has been mentioned with only just devoting himself full time to AFL and not Basketball he should continue to develop at a rapid rate.

TOA's Phantom Draft (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283011&highlight=Phantom)


Pick 4 – BRIS – Matthew LEUENBURGER (7/06/88) – 202cm/92kgs
Bottom-age athletic ruck who has really firmed in his standing this year after being rated roughly as a first rounder this time last year. Compared to Dean Cox because of his combination of height and athleticism, he is a rare bread of player. His ability to find the ball around the ground like a midfielder as Cox does is unproven but he has that potential. Impressive 20m sprint at the DC (3.02) and 12.8beep. Was interviewed by Carl, Ess, Brisbane, Geelong and St Kilda at the DC. Believed the Blues were tossing up between he and Gibbs at #1, and the Bombers are reportedly keen as well. The Roos probably won’t be in the market for a young ruckman (with Hale, McIntosh, Moran) which will leave the talented Leuenberger for the Lions are 4. If not taken now, he will be probably be taken by Port and almost certainly taken by Hawthorn if he gets that far. Brisbane has also shown an interest in Mitch Thorp and Gumbleton with Leigh Matthews having one-on-one interviews with both during and since the DC. Don’t rule out David Armitage who has been linked to the Lions at this selection.

Weaver's Phantom Draft (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279879&highlight=Phantom)

5. Matthew Leuenberger (Port Adelaide). Port pair Lade and Brogan are both 28+. By the time Leuenberger is 22 he will be ready to replace them as a genuine number 1 ruckmen in a team in which the ruckman plays an important role. He is tall, quick and agile with good skills and the ability to dominate games. His ruckwork is well developed for his age – he generally palms to advantage. Can be a bit hesitant to always throw himself at his opponent. Probably second only to Gibbs in terms on long-term potential – but ruckmen are always a gamble and long-term investment. Is the most likely candidate to be a spanner in the works and could go as high as 1.

Macca69's Phantom Draft (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283356&highlight=Phantom)

6. Hawthorn – Matthew Leuenberger
Hawks will be licking their lips if Leuenberger drops this far. Very promising Ruck prospect that will be exactly what Hawthorn will be after. Very mobile and quick for his size, also has very good skills for someone of 200+cms. His ruckwork is very good, especially considering he’s a recent basketball convert. Absolute steal at #6, given he wasn’t far off going at #1. Given the way Cox has revolutionized the ruck position, clubs will be on the lookout for a Cox protégé, and Hawthorn may well acquire one in Leuenberger, although he’ll have a ********load of development before he reaches Cox’s standard, he’s got all the right attributes.

Racing and Sports (http://www.racingandsports.com/sports/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=95955)

Pick 2 Essendon

Matthew Leuenberger
WA, East Perth, Ruckman, 203.2cms, 92.9kgs D.O.B 07-Jun-88

The fast moving, agile ruckman has been turning more than a few heads recently. With several best on ground performances in the Colts league (the Grand Final among them) as well as holding his own while playing in the WAFL, Leuenberger has shot up the rankings in recent times. It is the agility he has at his size that is turning heads. He should become the rare type of ruckman to dominate the ruck as well as become an additional midfielder. While Sheedy normally likes to play mind games he seems to have mentioned the Leuenberger name too often recently.

AFL Comparison:
Dean Cox comes to mind but Matthew is far ahead of Cox at the same age

[Grimreepah]

Article (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20961097-10389,00.html)

Matthew Leuenberger, who the Lions took at selection four in the national draft, already has stunned club officials.
Leuenberger, who is more than 203cm and 93kg, clocked a sizzling 2.83secs for a 20 metre speed test.
"Matthew was second fastest in the speed testing. That's freakish for someone over 200cm. It is a great sign of his athletic ability," the Lions coach said.
"But he's only 18 and needs to strengthen up. We believe he is a terrific prospect for the club."
If Leuenberger is regarded as a stong chance to play some senior football in his debvut season but his presence alone placxes pressure on the existing ruckmen Jamie Charman, Beau McDOnald and Cameron Wood.


Link (http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=915)

GET EXCITED ABOUT: MATTHEW LEUENBERGER
If you’re a Brisbane supporter, you want to get excited about this lad. Remember the name Matthew Leuenberger, because you’re going to see a lot of him in the future. Okay, to be fair, his last name will take a while to grip, but you’ll have it down to a tee once you see him play a couple of times.

Standing at 203 centimeters tall, Leuenberger was recruited from East Perth in WA and is unequivocally the Lions’ best draftee from 2006. His former WAFL club coach Paul Peos has compared him to West Coast ruckman Dean Cox and has no doubt he will become a star.

The man mountain, touted as the finest ruck draft selection since Josh Fraser in 1999, has an incredible athletic ability many players even close to his height can’t boast. Last December, Leuenberger ran an astonishing second at the club in a 20-metre speed test.

While the 18-year-old still has to extensively strengthen his upper body, he will apply pressure on Cameron Wood and Beau McDonald this year as Brisbane’s back-up ruckman to Jamie Charman.

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4607/leuenbergerbc0.jpg

[Free Willy]

This guy is going to be FANTASTIC.

Arguably the best from 07, definitely in the top 2 - you guys would be esctatic.

[Grimreepah]

Article (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=310045)

Young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, the Brisbane Lions' first selection in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, will wear the No.23 guernsey in 2007, a number made famous by club icon and triple premiership player Justin Leppitsch.

Leuenberger wore No.23 when representing Western Australia in this year's NAB AFL under 18 championships while Leppitsch, who retired at the end of the 2006 season and is now an assistant coach at the Lions, wore the number with distinction in 227 matches.

Interestingly, Leuenberger and Leppitsch were both first round draft selections - and taken at No.4 - in their respective draft years. Leppitsch was claimed in 1992.

[danielcanberra]

That was a lot of work there Grim (cutting and pasting). Leuenberger's profile is fairly high and off to a good start.

[Sherminator.]

Hes more than 89 kilos now.

[irel]

Hes more than 89 kilos now.
He must have toned down as he was 92.9kg prior to draft. The club must be working on his agility rather than bulk at this early stage!

[Grimreepah]

Hes more than 89 kilos now.

The BigFooty profile would have been done about 9 months ago, and he's listed at 92.9kgs now. That surprises me a little because he looks fairly lanky, like a long distance runner, so maybe he has a high % of lean muscle (is that fast twitch fibres Warwick?) which might make him heavier than he looks. As a comparison Cameron Wood started out at 88kgs. Leuey still needs to add bulk, so if he's put on 4kgs in the last year or so that is a good sign that he will be able to do that.

The other interesting thing is how much more he grows. Already at 203.2 cm and with a big leap he is quite a prospect, but if he grew another 3 or 4 cms that might enhance his potential even further.

[Grimreepah]

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5295/leuenbergergz9.jpg

Article (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21182488-10389,00.html)

New recruit wants action

Andrew Hamilton
February 06, 2007 11:00pm

Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)



ARRIVING as an unproven 18-year old at a club that already has two premiership ruckmen and another apprentice waiting in the wings is a tall order – even for a 203cm All-Australian junior.
But giant West Aussie Matthew Leuenberger never gave the battle he'll face for a game a second thought when he was drafted at No. 4 by Brisbane with its top pick in last year's national draft. Nor did he flinch once at the prospect of having to leave home and traverse the country to pursue his AFL career.
His only concern was would anybody in Brisbane, other than his new teammates, know anything about footy.
"Brisbane isn't the same as Perth or Melbourne, but there's a lot more footy people here than I'd imagined which makes it easier," he said.
"I thought it would be all rugby league, it's better than I expected."
The fact is Leuenberger would have gone anywhere to play AFL – it has been his dream since he was five years old.
And humble as he may be, he'd have known there was no way he was going to West Coast and Fremantle, who finished the season in first and third positions and didn't qualify for a pick until No. 16.
The one area Brisbane is well stocked in is ruckmen, but when asked about the queue ahead of him that includes Jamie Charman, Beau McDonald and the emerging Cameron Wood, his response would have thrilled coach Leigh Matthews.
"What will happen is we'll all get better because there's competition," he said.
Leuenberger has been compared with West Coast's Dean Cox, the prototype of the modern mobile ruckman, and has also proved he can float forward and kick goals.
He has stunned the LIons coaching staff with his speed and endurance over the pre-season and the whispers are growing that he'll taste senior action in his first year, a rarity for ruckmen. But after a history of osteitis pubis, Leuenberger is more worried about building his fitness.

[John]

The draft as we all know is a lottery. Win some lose some but this boy does excite me. In about 2 - 3 years I expect him to be a gun. I love that comment about competition for places.

[Snuka]

Now the big question...if Charman, Beau & Wood all stay uninjured and in reasonable form, will the 'berger get a game in 2007? (or 2008 for that matter)

[TheBrownDog]

Now the big question...if Charman, Beau & Wood all stay uninjured and in reasonable form, will the 'berger get a game in 2007? (or 2008 for that matter)

Jamie has shown enormous potential that he could fill a key forward role (think back to Rnd 16 v Hawthorn).

With Leuenberger's athleticism, I'd suggest he may be capable of the same.

[Snuka]

Jamie has shown enormous potential that he could fill a key forward role (think back to Rnd 16 v Hawthorn).

With Leuenberger's athleticism, I'd suggest he may be capable of the same.

But will Charman fit into a forward line containing Brown, Bradshaw & Clark (probably)? All this is assuming that none of our big guys are injured (which maybe a little unrealistic anyway).

[Grimreepah]

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4784/matthewleuenberger2da2.jpg http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8476/matthewleuenberger3bj2.jpg http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8056/matthewleuenberger4nm1.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9785/matthewleuenberger5dv4.jpg http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3419/matthewleuenberger6oj3.jpg http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1236/matthewleuenberger7zu6.jpg

left - Hampson
right - Leuenberger

[Grimreepah]

Injuries hamper Lions



Andrew Hamilton February 21, 2007 11:00pm

Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)


BRISBANE will be without the services of two key big men with back injuries forcing Daniel Bradshaw and Matthew Leuenberger out of Saturday night's NAB Cup opener in Cairns.
The Lions had hoped to get a first-up look at gun draftee Leuenberger against St Kilda.
The 18-year-old ruckman cut a forlorn figure as he watched training last night, knowing he would have been guaranteed plenty of game time against the Saints had he not injured his back just days before his scheduled debut.
The Lions planned to take three ruckmen north and rotate them through the forward line to cover the absence of Jonathan Brown, who isn't scheduled to return until the third week of the pre-season tournament, and Bradshaw.
The Lions' leading goalkicker last season trained away from the main group with strength coach Alex Moore last night and will be another week off.
Leuenberger earned high praise from Lions coach Leigh Matthews after last week's intra-club scratch match, but he pulled up sore from his first major competitive hit-out and was unable to train.
"We'd hoped to have him, but I'm told he's just not going to be ready," Matthews said.
The West Australian ruckman, taken at pick No. 4 in the national draft, was set to spend major game time on the ball while No. 1 ruckman Jamie Charman was at full-forward.
The Lions won't be undersized with premiership ruckman Beau McDonald, who missed the intra-club game and was expected to have a delayed start to his season, forcing his way into the side with a strong session on the track.
McDonald will share the ruck duties with Cameron Wood allowing Matthews to stick to his plan of using Charman as a marking target.
Jared Brennan, another who missed last week's hit-out, and highly rated young defender Jed Adcock will also play.
Adcock was kneed in the back last Friday, but proved his fitness in a 30-minute scratch match last night.
Brennan, recovering from shoulder surgery, also took part in the competitive work and could provide the Lions with another marking option.
Although Leuenberger is out, Lions fans could get a chance to see fellow draftee Matthew Tyler and rookie Haydn Kiel.
The Saints are expected to be without veteran Brett Voss who sprained his ankle in training this week

[Grimreepah]

Article (http://lions.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=315790)

Matthew Leuenberger (No. 23): the 203cm mobile big man is a product of East Perth, the club that produced two of the best Western Australians to ever ruck in the VFL/AFL - Geelong legend Graham 'Polly' Farmer and current West Coast star Dean Cox. The 18-year-old, taken at No. 4 in last year's national draft, has already caught the eye in his short time at the Gabba, recording the second quickest 20m sprint in pre-season training (behind only noted speedster Scott Harding) and impressing in the forward line in last Friday's Coorparoo intra-club match. In additon to marking well that evening, Leuenberger pitted his skills in the ruck against emerging 2004 draftee Cameron Wood.

[S "Thinks He's Daicos" J]

G'day fellas,
Just want to know a few details on Leuenberger for my SuperCoach side:
a) When do you first expect him to play?
b) How many games do you expect him to play?
c) How much game time (%) do you expect him to play?

Cheers
Best of luck for the weekend

[Sherminator.]

G'day fellas,
Just want to know a few details on Leuenberger for my SuperCoach side:
a) When do you first expect him to play?
b) How many games do you expect him to play?
c) How much game time (%) do you expect him to play?

Cheers
Best of luck for the weekend
G'day mate, I don't think Berger will play alot of games this season. I expect (and hope for) 3 games. :cool:

[thebadger]

G'day mate, I don't think Berger will play alot of games this season. I expect (and hope for) 3 games. :cool:
Can Beau, Charman and Wood fit into the one team? That is one forward, one in the ruck and one on the bench? Or will Wood and Beau be fighting for the second position? If Brown, Bradshaw and Clark are all fit, will we, more often than not, have two ruckmen rotating? Either way, I think it'll be tough for Berger to force his way into the side if all the talls are fit. Apologies If I've used too many commas.

[TheBrownDog]

I forsee Beau being traded...

[Quigley]

I will wait and see how we go with injuries this year before making any calls although I agree BD trading Beau would seem to be the most likely option. If he can stay fit you have to think a few of the teams that are a bit light on for rucks might come calling. We probably might want to have a look at Berger first though as well. Plenty of high prospects have washed out previously especially rucks so we should maybe keep our powder dry for a while. If young Tippett comes on it could also put further pressure on to clear up some room. Wouldn't it be a turn up for the books though if Tippett turned out to be the gun ruck from this draft. You couldn't have gotten a bigger dark horse. I hadn't heard the kid mentioned anywhere and I had done a lot of reading coming into last year's draft.

[TheBrownDog]

I will wait and see how we go with injuries this year before making any calls although I agree BD trading Beau would seem to be the most likely option. If he can stay fit you have to think a few of the teams that are a bit light on for rucks might come calling. We probably might want to have a look at Berger first though as well. Plenty of high prospects have washed out previously especially rucks so we should maybe keep our powder dry for a while. If young Tippett comes on it could also put further pressure on to clear up some room. Wouldn't it be a turn up for the books though if Tippett turned out to be the gun ruck from this draft. You couldn't have gotten a bigger dark horse. I hadn't heard the kid mentioned anywhere and I had done a lot of reading coming into last year's draft.

Being a Western Australian boy, Beau might be used as part of our trade to secure Chris Judd ;)

[Grimreepah]

Being a Western Australian boy, Beau might be used as part of our trade to secure Chris Judd ;)

We have enough captaincy dilemmas as it is.

[Quigley]

Surely we also have enough guys with bad shoulder and knees. He is a crock surely.

[BigCat2]

It's also not impossible that Ash McGrath and Moods may be traded West come end of year. We could have 3 boys heading that way....

[wellsy]

Currently back in Perth while he sorts out his groin injury

[BigCat2]

Currently back in Perth while he sorts out his groin injury

Not a bad idea IMO. Nothing like a bit of support and familiarity to help with the mindset & possibly the healing. Hopefully when he comes back he won't be homesick, but refreshed & ready to go.

[Loyal Lion]

Being a Western Australian boy, Beau might be used as part of our trade to secure Chris Judd ;)

Sounds good. The Eagles would obviously have to give us someone else apart from Judd, as a sweetener.

Maybe Ashley Hansen & Judd for McDonald & our pick number 66 ?

[BigCat2]

Sounds good. The Eagles would obviously have to give us someone else apart from Judd, as a sweetener.

Maybe Ashley Hansen & Judd for McDonald & our pick number 66 ?

We don't need Hansen. Just Judd & their first round pick sounds about fair. ;)

[Chasing the Dream]

No reports on the Berger for a while.

Was interested to note that the Herald Sun's injury list did not have him mentioned.

Is he close to resuming?

[BigCat2]

Still listed as 2-3 weeks, which I think is the same figure as last week.

Just hope it doesn't hang around like Mitch Clark's case last year.

[The Flying Belgian]

Still listed as 2-3 weeks, which I think is the same figure as last week.

Just hope it doesn't hang around like Mitch Clark's case last year.

Mitch's case never hung around. He had "groin soreness" for a few week before being described as OP. They decided than and there to give him the rest of the year off.

Leuey was moving pretty well at training last week, didn't do a full session, but I think he'll back on time, unless it flares again. I don't remember it being described as the same period last week. we've got a few player with similar time frames on their comeback - perhaps you were getting confused. I seem to remember 3-4 or 3-5 weeks being quoted last week. Could be wrong though on that.

[BigCat2]

Mitch's case never hung around. He had "groin soreness" for a few week before being described as OP. They decided than and there to give him the rest of the year off.

Leuey was moving pretty well at training last week, didn't do a full session, but I think he'll back on time, unless it flares again. I don't remember it being described as the same period last week. we've got a few player with similar time frames on their comeback - perhaps you were getting confused. I seem to remember 3-4 or 3-5 weeks being quoted last week. Could be wrong though on that.

Thanks for the clarification. That's good news. :thumbsu:

[Grimreepah]

I think it was first diagnosed as a 4-5 week injury at the start of the NAB Cup so it has dragged on a bit.

The injury updates over the last 3 weeks:

Round 2 (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=40463) (3rd April) - 2 weeks

Round 3 (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=40987) (11th April) - 2-3 weeks

Round 4 (http://www.footygoss.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=32727) (17th April) - 2-3 weeks

[Grimreepah]

link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21710099-5003410,00.html)

Matthew Leuenberger will line up for the Suncoast Lions against Zillmere at the Gabba in the curtain raiser to the Lions-Crows clash.
Leuenberger arrived in Brisbane with the lingering effects of the dreaded groin injury osteitis pubis.
As soon as Brisbane's medical staff identified the condition he was pulled out of full training and placed on a strictly controlled program.
He has been taking part in full training for the past three weeks and was given the green light to resume this weekend.
"Matty may take a fair bit of time because of the OP, but he's going to be a star," Allan said.


http://i1.tinypic.com/61tyywm.jpg

[Lingsface]

kicked 4 goals 4 behinds in 40 mins of footy thats a scoring shot every 5 minutes.

[JuddyisGod]

kicked 4 goals 4 behinds in 40 mins of footy thats a scoring shot every 5 minutes.
wow. Talk about a dt lock for next yr :thumbsu:

[xplo]

To be fair - very, very undermanned opposition.

[Raav]

Hopefully he gets at least one crack in the seniors this year.

[Quigley]

Leigh will give him at least one run this year he usually manages to do that. Look for a few of the draftees to get a game in the second half of the year to give them a feel for the big league and what they need to work on for next year. Notwithstanding that we are in the 8 at the moment I still think the coaching staff see this as a development year and will treat it as such.

[Raav]

It is a good development year so far. Almost all are going up.
Positive signs for the future.
Good drafting over the past few years.

[Lingsface]

do people think that he will be playing by round 17 because im going to melbourne then and would love to see the big man in action.

[BigCat2]

do people think that he will be playing by round 17 because im going to melbourne then and would love to see the big man in action.

At the moment it's not looking likely, although admittedly there's a way to go before round 17. All of Charman, McDonald and Wood are ahead of him. It's possible he gets a game late in the season for his development.

[Grimreepah]

do people think that he will be playing by round 17 because im going to melbourne then and would love to see the big man in action.

I thought Leigh's comment (http://www.sportal.com.au/football.asp?i=news&id=99046) this week was quite interesting:

"Next week you'd think they (Clark and fellow returnee Matthew Leuenberger) would pretty much be ready to play a full game but whether they're ready to play senior level … it's a very different level of tempo and conditioning required," Matthews wondered.

That sounds to me like they are thinking about it and he might not be too far away. However you'd think they would be pretty careful with a first year player coming back from OP.

At the moment it's not looking likely, although admittedly there's a way to go before round 17. All of Charman, McDonald and Wood are ahead of him. It's possible he gets a game late in the season for his development.

I think if he gets picked it will be as a forward rather than a ruckman.

[Sherminator.]

Berger will play a game soon, I believe he'll be in for McDonald in a few weeks, if not next week. Play him as a forward with short periods of time in the ruck to get him adapted to senior level.

We already know Clark is ready to play senior level, will only get better as he gets more game time, too.

[Quigley]

Interesting in the commentary of the Collingwood match Lynch made the comment that he thought Berger was probably 3 or 4 weeks away from getting a game. That will have given him 7 or 8 games in the reserves. I am looking forward to seeing him in action.

[BigCat2]

Interesting in the commentary of the Collingwood match Lynch made the comment that he thought Berger was probably 3 or 4 weeks away from getting a game. That will have given him 7 or 8 games in the reserves. I am looking forward to seeing him in action.

Not sure whether Lynchy has been chatting to Leigh & Co or it was just his own opinion.

[Grimreepah]

Interesting in the commentary of the Collingwood match Lynch made the comment that he thought Berger was probably 3 or 4 weeks away from getting a game. That will have given him 7 or 8 games in the reserves. I am looking forward to seeing him in action.

I took that to mean that he won't even be considered for another 3 or 4 weeks.

[Grimreepah]

Mat Leuenberger played in the half back line for long periods (against Redlands) and that I would suggest is part of the education process of this athletic lad. A lot to like in his run and kick.

Cheers John:thumbsu:

[TheBrownDog]

Cheers Browndog:thumbsu:

That was John's quote, not mine.

[BigCat2]

Could he potentially play at CHB in a few years? If things go according to plan, Charman, Wood and Berger will all play for us in a couple of years - it just seems a waste to have someone so good cooling their heels in the reserves.

I remember from the 'Leuenberger - to draft or not to draft?' thread from last year, and the opposition was based on the fact that we already had very good ruck stocks. The supporters claimed that Berger is more than just a ruckman - well, that will certainly be the case if he can hold a KP spot.

If the Berger was 10cm shorter and possessed the same abilities, we'd have no hesitations calling him a KPP. The fact that he's 203cm but can still do all these things despite being theoretically too tall, doesn't mean that he's prevented from being considered a KPP.

[Grimreepah]

I've been thinking the same thing BigCat, and when people say we have too many ruckmen, I think would you still say that if you didn't think of Burger as a ruckman? CHB is probably our major weakness at the moment, and it's worth having a look at him to see how he goes.

[Lingsface]

get him in what have u got to lose? he has had 4 games now I think its time.

[xplo]

get him in what have u got to lose? he has had 4 games now I think its time.

Apparently he played CHB for Suncoast on the weekend so it might not be such a leftfield idea.

[TheBrownDog]

Apparently he played CHB for Suncoast on the weekend so it might not be such a leftfield idea.

Not a left field idea at all.

He's spent relatively little time in the ruck at Suncoast thus far. Has played mainly in key positions, both forward and back.

[BigCat2]

Not a left field idea at all.

He's spent relatively little time in the ruck at Suncoast thus far. Has played mainly in key positions, both forward and back.

If it wasn't for Browny, he could potentially turn into a nightmare CHF. Too tall for most guys and too fast for ruckmen/CHBs. Has good kick and smart brain. Once he bulks up he'd be very hard to stop.

I was originally opposed to getting another ruckman with our early pick, now I've come around. Whoever said he was just a ruckman?

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22012550-10389,00.html)

THE Lions will consider giving draftee Matthew Leuenberger football's toughest initiation against West Coast on Saturday.
And speedy forward Rhan Hooper, best on ground in the Suncoast Lions' thrashing of Mount Gravatt last weekend, is poised to earn a senior recall – perhaps at the expense of Albert Proud – for the Subiaco Oval battle.
The fact the match is being played at Subiaco will assist both Leuenberger and Hooper.
The ground's large dimensions will work in Hooper's favour, while ruckman Leuenberger's West Australian heritage could influence the match committee.
"It shouldn't, but the one thing is he's played at Subiaco a few times," Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews said.
"We usually like to give guys their first game at the Gabba so if they're going to be out there for the first time they'll have the support of a familiar environment.
"The fact he's a West Australian is a slight step towards giving him a first game there."
Leuenberger, the club's top draft pick last year at No. 4, has been eased into action via the Suncoast Lions after arriving with osteitis pubis.
But having successfully rucked in the reserves for the past few weeks, the 19-year-old East Perth recruit is set to be given the tough task of containing premier big man Dean Cox.
"He's a very impressive kid and a very impressive athlete," Matthews said of the 203cm giant. "He hasn't been considered to this point because we've been trying to coax his body through."

[BigCat2]

Hmm, if he's selected, would it be as a ruckman? That'd be tough on Woody, who I thought did plenty of good work around the ground and provided a presence last weekend.

Hopefully he's there to play as a KPP, if Mitch Clark doesn't come up.

[notting18]

Hmm, if he's selected, would it be as a ruckman? That'd be tough on Woody, who I thought did plenty of good work around the ground and provided a presence last weekend.

Hopefully he's there to play as a KPP, if Mitch Clark doesn't come up.

It would have to be in Clark' role....Wood has a little extra muscle to try and deal with Seaby/Cox. Berger would struggle to ruck well around the ground i feel when it is such a one sided physical contest.

Also, Wood has not played brilliant football but has been servicable.

[Lingsface]

he is playing

[TheBrownDog]

he is playing

I'm starting to suspect you are a good mate of his. ;)

[Lingsface]

someone said they saw him at the airport ;)

[TheBrownDog]

someone said they saw him at the airport ;)

Ahh... could just be a travelling emergency getting a free trip home? I hope he plays though.

[Lingsface]

Ahh... could just be a travelling emergency getting a free trip home? I hope he plays though.

he will play.

[lionsrock9]

He should play, He's playing against his home crowd after all.

[notting18]

he will play.

I think i trust you......you never know this could be berger's "friend";) haha

[Grimreepah]

Link
(http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22027277-23211,00.html)
Leuenberger to make debut

By Andrew Hamilton
July 06, 2007
BRISBANE Lions has selected gun youngster Matthew Leuenberger to make his AFL debut in his home state against West Coast tomorrow night.
The 18-year old ruckman-forward was one of six new faces who arrived in Perth last night for the toughest away assignment in league footy.

"I've got a fair few mixed emotions at the moment. I'm feeling a bit nervous and excited at the same time so we'll see how we go," Leuenberger said. "I'll be playing against guys like Dean Cox and Mark Seaby who are a couple of the quality ruckmen of the competition. I suppose I've just got to get the experience of what senior AFL football is all about."

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/556/leuenbergerzj6.jpg

Channel 10 interview (http://ten.com.au/ten/ten_video.html?channel=AFL&clipid=1427_afl_leuenbergerm_060707_iv&format=flash&bitrate=300)

[TheBrownDog]

I don't know if anyone here watched AFL Teams on Foxtel last night, but Liam Pickering raved about Leuenberger.

He said that he has never seen a player of that size with so much athleticism and skills and that he is a great bloke to boot. Pickering said if he was in charge of the number one pick last year he would have taken Leuenberger.... no contest.

[lionsrock9]

No doubt Leuenberger is the most promising draft pick we had in years.

[notting18]

I don't know if anyone here watched AFL Teams on Foxtel last night, but Liam Pickering raved about Leuenberger.

He said that he has never seen a player of that size with so much athleticism and skills and that he is a great bloke to boot. Pickering said if he was in charge of the number one pick last year he would have taken Leuenberger.... no contest.
Pickers wouldn't be Berger's manager would he? (Legit question, i would assume leuenberger would be a Conners man if i would guess) - it is a fair rap from a man who makes a lot of cash from picking who will be the talented players.....especially if he isn't in Liam's stable.

[TheBrownDog]

Pickers wouldn't be Berger's manager would he? (Legit question, i would assume leuenberger would be a Conners man if i would guess) - it is a fair rap from a man who makes a lot of cash from picking who will be the talented players.....especially if he isn't in Liam's stable.

Haha, no, Pickers actually made the point that he doesn't manage him.

[TheBrownDog]

Here is a picture of Leuey taken back home in Perth before he was drafted.

http://i16.tinypic.com/660juk9.jpg

Bet he's banged his head on that door frame a few times over the years.

[notting18]

Haha, no, Pickers actually made the point that he doesn't manage him.

Then.... :) i can't wait to see how he goes against WCE - 20 touches, 10 marks, 3 goals and 25 hitouts? (too much to ask...yep - but would love to watch my carlton mate's face if it happened!)

[Warwick]

Here is a picture of Leuey taken back home in Perth before he was drafted.

http://i16.tinypic.com/660juk9.jpg

Bet he's banged his head on that door frame a few times over the years.
That light in the background is just asking for trouble.

Would he have to sleep diagonal on a king-sized bed? I can't see how he would fit any other way.

Anyway, so excited to see the Big Berger debut. Get stuck into them mate! :thumbsu:

[BigCat2]

Would he have to sleep diagonal on a king-sized bed? I can't see how he would fit any other way.

Find a couch that's the same height as the bed, leave it at the foot as an extension.

[TheBrownDog]

Find a couch that's the same height as the bed, leave it at the foot as an extension.

Maybe he sleeps standing up, like a horse.

[BigCat2]

Maybe he sleeps standing up, like a horse.

Some might take that as a compliment. ;)

But yeah would actually be a good question to ask AFL ruckmen if you get the chance, "how do you sleep on a bed?"

But back on subject, I'm pretty excited about Leuey's debut this weekend. I'm hoping for a good game from him, but more than stats (although that would be handy), I would like to see him display attributes that will have us licking our lips over his future.

Best of luck young man.

[TheBrownDog]

but more than stats (although that would be handy), I would like to see him display attributes that will have us licking our lips over his future.

Would you consider scooping the ball off the ground at full trot, taking contested marks by crashing packs from behind and making bursting runs up the wing good signs for the future?

If so, we've already seen some glimpses of this at reserve level. :D

[Quigley]

None of our debutants this year has really lit it up stat wise in any of their games. As a first year ruckman you wouldn't expect it to be big Berger but we can always hope.

Hope he has a good game. He is up against the best so it is a great challenge even just to hold his own.

Good luck Matt.

[Grimreepah]

Didn't get a lot of game time but was pretty impressive. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict this guy will be a very good player. You heard it here first.

[TheBrownDog]

Didn't get a lot of game time but was pretty impressive. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict this guy will be a very good player. You heard it here first.

Yup, did more than you could expect from a 18 year old ruckman going up agains't Cox on debut.

Looked pretty thrilled with the win too.

I think he's a Lion for life after that win.

[Grimreepah]

Give him another game Browndog? Charman's doing almost all the rucking and Leuenberger might be the better option up forward.

[acuguy]

On what i saw i have a 10 year contract already made up for him. What about that sliding mark on the wing, the way he drops the ball onto his boot when he kicks and when he won a couple of taps how he tried to direct it to one of our players. This bloke is SPECIAL

[BigCat2]

Didn't manage to see the game. :(

But good to hear the Berger did well. He seems to have all the physical attributes there, I see the other things that will determine how far he goes will be his footy smarts and his hardness/physical side. How are those?

[Grimreepah]

He seems to have all the physical attributes there, I see the other things that will determine how far he goes will be his footy smarts and his hardness/physical side. How are those?

Probably didn't get the opportunity to display either of these traits so hard to say BigCat. He looked good in the ruck despite being outsized. He also took a sensational diving mark which was a good demonstration of his skills and athleticism. I use the word 'impressive' in relation to his potential rather than his impact on the game.

The commentators made mention a number of times how highly he is regarded at Brisbane. It was good just to see him in action. He looks fairly skinny, but he doesn't look gangly at all.

[4th Tier]

Only got 25 minutes game time, 3 touches, great mark near the boundary line

Good to see Matthews giving him and Proud a chance, you'd expect him to keep his spot for the next week or two, especially considering they're only playing Melbourne next weekend

Now nearly 100kgs, so isnt that far off Charman and has 7cm's over him in height

[lion_gooner]

LOVED his double hitout down to power :D:D:D

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=46843)

Bench butterflies for young ruckman

2:15 PM Sun 8 July, 2007
By Matt Brown

MATTHEW Leuenberger waited 19 years to make his AFL debut but it was the final 12 minutes that were the hardest.
The highly-rated young ruckman returned to his home town of Perth to play a part in the Lions' stunning upset win over the West Coast Eagles on Saturday night.
Leuenberger was taken by the Lions with their first pick (mumber four) in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft but was expected to spend most of this season developing in the Queensland competition.
Selected for the West Coast game along with fellow debutant Will Hamill, Leuenberger started on the bench, watching on as All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox stamped his authority on the game for the Eagles.
Leuenberger only had to wait until the 12-minute mark of the first quarter for his first taste of action, but to him it seemed like a lifetime.
"It was pretty nerve wracking," he said.
"I had a whole lot of different thoughts running through my head. But once I got out on the field everything was fine. Everything just went back to normal as though I was playing a normal game," he said.
Leuenberger made an emphatic start. Squaring off against Cox, Leuenberger was disadvantaged by a bad bounce but chose to run directly at Cox, knocking his more experienced opponent out of the contest.
Leuenberger laughed off the incident after the game saying it was not pre-meditated.
"No, not at all. It was sort of heat of the moment," he said.
"I was sitting on bench and I could see him racking up a few touches.
"I thought he might be getting his confidence up so I sort of had that in the back of my mind."
Used a back-up to Jamie Charman, Leuenberger spent long stints on the bench but was thrilled with being a part of a win which coach Leigh Matthews rated as being as good as a Grand Final victory
"t’s fantastic, just to be able to come back against such quality opposition as the underdogs and get a win in front of all my family and friends, it’s great,"Leuenberger said.
Leuenberger impressed with his work-rate and competitive spirit as he took the game up to both Cox and Mark Seaby.
Despite only recording three touches and four hit-outs, Matthews saw enough in Leuenberger’s debut to confirm the Lions had made a wise long-term investment.
"He’s only a boy but I think he’s a very talented boy," the Brisbane coach said.
And against Seaby and Cox, you know they’re established ruckmen and they pushed him around a little bit but he’ll be good," Matthews said.
"He got out there a bit, he got his hands on the ball a couple of times in the flow and I think he’s a talented young player.
"He’s going to have to strengthen up obviously against the big fellas."
Standing at 203 centimetres and listed at 95 kilos, Leuenberger knows his coach is right.
"I am working on that. I think he’s pretty spot on too.
"I’ve probably got a few more kilos to put on in my upper body and legs so it’s a work in progress,” Leuenberger said.
He's keeping his feet firmly on the ground, understanding that the next stage in his development could be a return to the Sun Coast Lions.
“For me this year all I really want to do is improve and become twice as good a player as I was when I first got to the club.
"Hopefully whether it’s playing in the QAFL or playing in the seniors it can help get me to where I want to be," he said.


http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6849/leuenbergerao9.jpg

[dmac_55]

Impressed by how Matt spoke in that interview.

Seems like a level-headed guy. Could be a huge part of our future.

[TheBrownDog]

Geez, sounds pretty switched on... sitting on the bench working out how he could try and obtain a mental advantage over Cox.

:thumbsu:

[Kochie 16]

I was pretty pleases with Berger agianst the No.1 ruckman in the AFL. Give him another game!

[notting18]

It is official after tonights game, i have a man-crush on Leuenberger. He is such a skillful player, 203cm tall and as a first year player he is no way being "bullied" by opposition rucks!

The more i see of him, the more i think Wood has a lot of work to do to keep/get back to the #2 ruck spot!

[acuguy]

GUN/FREAK, watched Selwood today at the Father in law's house and said that Luey must be good for us to pick him ahead of Selwood. I don't have an issue with this decision, Luey is the most exciting talent to debut this year!

[Grimreepah]

Leuey doesn't have the bulk yet, but he makes up for it with nous. It's also good to hear that he was covering a lot of territory. His ability to cover a heap of ground will be what sets him apart from Wood. I also love the way he handballs and is immediately off running to link up or lay a shepard. And of course a great pack mark and goal.:thumbsu:

I thought he might have been lucky to get the nod for this game, but now it would be a tough call to drop him.

[acuguy]

There is nothing Robotic about Luey below his knees, similar to Cox. I loved the way he tackled tonight. Keep playing him!

[TheBrownDog]

It is official after tonights game, i have a man-crush on Leuenberger. He is such a skillful player, 203cm tall and as a first year player he is no way being "bullied" by opposition rucks!

The more i see of him, the more i think Wood has a lot of work to do to keep/get back to the #2 ruck spot!

I had a man-crush on him first! (http://users.boardnation.com/~thepride/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=98;start=0)

[Kochie 16]

How good was Leuy in the taps?