Delisted Tom Gillies (2009-2012)

[FONT=&quot]NAME: THOMAS GILLIES
ORIGINAL CLUB: DANDENONG STINGRAYS
DOB: 07/03/1990
HEIGHT: 192.3
WEIGHT: 86.5


BIO
Key position defender with good acceleration. Reads the play well, makes good decisions and is very good in a one-on-one situation. Had an outstanding 2008 season playing full-back for the Dandenong Stingrays and was rewarded with selection in the TAC Cup team of the year. His consistency saw him win the Stingrays best and fairest award in 2008. Recorded 2.94sec for the 20m test at the 2008 Victorian NAB AFL state screening session. This ranked him in the 84th percentile for this test.
STATS
Kicks: 8, Handballs: 5, Disposals: 13, Marks: 3, Goals: 0 (Averages from TAC Cup)[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]88 Carlton - Tom Gillies (Dandenong / 192 / 85)

Developing young tall from Dandenong who offers much potential. Writing this one on the run but think he is bottom age. Takes a nice contested mark and skills aren’t going to [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]require any work either. Looms as a nice bloke to have developing for a pretty cheap pick.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]
[FONT=&quot]46 – COLLINGWOOD – TOM GILLIES[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dandenong Stingrays, VIC, Tall defender, March 7, 1990, 192.3cm, 86.5kg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](Draft range: 29-50)[/FONT]

With St Kilda (47 and 48) and Hawthorn (50) very interested in Gillies, the Pies are likely to swoop on the full-back before them. That's unless the Hawks fly under the radar at No.34. He has certainly come up the pecking order in recent weeks. Stanley, Mangan and DeBoer will again be strongly considered here if not taken at No.45.

[FONT=&quot]Profile[/FONT][FONT=&quot]io:[/FONT] Gillies is a tall defender who had an outstanding season for the Dandenong Stingrays, taking out their best and fairest. He reads the play well and makes good decisions when rebounding from defence.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Played on top players[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Gillies looks a no-nonsense player. Good ground skills and from the video it appears repeatedly backs himself to mark the ball instead of going the spoil, something which will have endeared him to Wells and the coaching staff.
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Outlook
Gillies is a tall defender who had an outstanding season for the Dandenong Stingrays, taking out their best and fairest. He reads the play well and makes good decisions when rebounding from defence.

SEASON BY SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

2008
Played for Dandenong in TAC Cup
Played in TAC Cup grand final
Won Dandenong’s best & fairest
Named in TAC Cup team of the year

2007
Played TAC Cup with Dandenong

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

VFL Practice Match 1/3/09 V Bedigo....Comment by Shake & Bake

Tom Gillies - Wore number 23, dominated his opponent, seemed to play 10 metres in front alot of the game and he got a lot of marks from it so it worked, opposition couldnt get the ball over him, had some great spoils too. Was also very attacking and got a bit of the ball, looks a good type

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

I reckon this guy good could be another really good piece of recruiting. Seems he is at that stage where he could make real progress over the 2009 VFL season, do a good second pre-season and be ready for Senior service and appearances in 2010, before the likes of Mitch Brown and other newbies, who need more time to build up physically (and perhaps psychologically).

With Egan either down and out, or at best on the long term injury list (please, please, please), I will watch with interest his work down back in the twos. Sounds like he backs himself in one on one contests - as all really good backman do. No one in the league is better than Scarlett in this department, so he has a good mentor and model available to him.

If it works out, there is nothing much better than seeing a young player develop into a consistent performer and representative in your best side over a couple of good seasons. 'I remember when they drafted this guy and I said - he just might be something'. Not that you had anything to do with any success the lad might have, but it just allows you to sort of go thru the same journey the club does with players - and you consequently feel somewhat closer to the club for this process.

It, for example, has been a very good journey for all Geelong supporters with Gary Ablett Jnr. since his drafting in 2001, but he and Selwood have set the bar a little too high for new draftees since to follow.

Kerry Packer said - 'You only ever get one Bond in a lifetime'. Who would ever had thought Geelong FC would get two Abletts in one lifetime ? A great player does not replace winning premierships (just ask Hawthorn if they would trade their premierships for Gary Snr. and see what they say) - but they make the suffering between premierships bearable and worthwhile.

It is a double edged sword however - just look at the thread on Tenace at present. Those who do not live up to expectation can have a hard training track to hoe. All that said - I'll take the punt and say - Go Gillies ! (no pressure mate).

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

VFL Practice Match 7/3/09 at Skilled Stadium........comments by Shake & Bake

Tom Gillies - wore number 23 again, he was named in the squad for tonight's (nab Cup Semi Final V Carlton) game and i can understand why, is very determined and takes alot of marks playing in front and he really backs himself coming out of defense, tough nut. played on Ace Cordy most of the game and kept him real quiet, real good prospect here so watch for him.

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

This guy is another Wells gem. Unbelievably talented young player who doesn't give his opponent an inch. Working with Scarlett and Harley will only help him. He is not one dimensional and did provide some options up the ground today.

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

Josh Hunt just revealed on K-Rock that Gillies' nickname is "Homicide" - because of his really stony-faced exterior, and that if you tell him off you don't know whether he'll shoot you or stab you. Apparently Scarlett loves him.

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

LifeSpan-Void said:

Josh Hunt just revealed on K-Rock that Gillies' nickname is "Homicide" - because of his really stony-faced exterior, and that if you tell him off you don't know whether he'll shoot you or stab you. Apparently Scarlett loves him.

Click to expand...

Ha! That's awesome.

Re: No. 25: Tom Gillies

[youtube]VIEVuSMp_JQ[/youtube]

Re: 2011 Geelong Board player review - THREE senior players remain!

Joel Selwood
Joel strutted –not arrogantly as such, but in a ‘let’s get on with it, no fuss’manner- into our club in 2007 and I have been a fan ever since. He was picked at number 7 in the draft but there was a question mark over his knee-yet he clicked straight into playing football at Geelong. It was clear almost immediately that he would be a key player for us. I read once how he sometimes goes to Corio Bay after a match at night and walks in the water to ensure his body stays strong-I thought –good –such attention to detail-such willingness to do the hard yards.
I like how he puts his body on the line in contests, how he puts his head over the ball--and so he came to be injured in the first game of 2011-not flinching in his endeavour to get that ball. I was there and I thought he was a goner for a minute. He missed a game after that but came back and played good, solid football epitomised by his game against Hawthorn in round 12. The usual instruction from the Hawthorn bench-‘take Selwood out of the game by fair means or foul’, must have been given- but his application to the task didn’t waiver, particularly in that willing last half when he got to so many contests and turned the ball our way with such deft skills.
Then he missed four games and I thought that when he returned, although he got plenty of the ball, it took him a while to regain his real form --it was a long time out and we lost 2 games in that time-for several reasons- and I am not saying we would have won them, but I am happier when he is in the team. He will always compete and keep us in the contest. His skills have been lovely-he could kick for goal better, but what else could he do better-not much?
He led from the front again this year-cool and calm and made sensible decisions, showed good vision, all the time really. He ran himself back into lively form at the business end of the season and was instrumental in the finals. I enjoyed reading the quote from Darren Glass? after the West Coast final when he said at the stoppages you’d look around and Joel and Scott Selwood would be lying on the ground after a clash of heads, going in for that ball.
What about that Grand Final when Joel and Jimmy were everywhere in the last part of that second quarter when something had to be done-so the tough got going?
A terrific year from a natural footballer, a tough and determined competitor and a resolute, consistent player who refuses to yield when it matters.

Re: 2011 Geelong Board player review - THREE senior players remain!

Tom Gillies ..NO 25
21 Years of age
Last recorded height 192cm weight 88kgs.
Taken pick no 33 in the 2008 National Draft.
Junior club Narre Warren.
Recruited from Dandenong U18s

Year 1
After a solid VFL first half of the 2009 season,his chance to debut came in rd 15 against Brisbane with Scarlett and Milburn missing through injury, and went on to play six of the last eight games. And win the Cats best first year player.


2010
After playing NAB Cup, Tom suffering groin problems found it difficult to break back into the AFL side due to fitness ( lets face it who wouldn't,)and he spent the year honing his skills in the VFL playing 18 games and being named 5 times in the best players despite carrying the injury.


2011
Tom hard work earned him another couple of games in the first 22 under new coach Chris Scott and in the game against Adelaide rd 14 we got a glimpse of what the kid has to offer, the following week he was given the Sub job.
He finished the season with 15 games in the VFL and running 7th in their B/F.


I've been some times critical of this kid and it has been good for me to do this review,it reminds me of what a magnificent and solid back half we have had the last few years and how unrealistic it would be to think a first or second year player could just walk in and take a spot with out there be Injuries or retirements.
I'm sure Hawthorn recognized this and is why they made a play for him in trade week this year.


Who knows a big preseason and good NAB cup may see him grab Milburns old spot he has a bit of pace and would add much needed depth for the inevitably rotations.


The balls in his court.
The time is now for Tom Gillies and I hope he makes it and more importantly as a Cat.