Player Watch Harry DeMattia

[granniewolf]

I'm going out on a limb and say that he's going to be a regular next year. He's my big improver for next year. I am basing this on a hunch though. If he doesn't go up a level or 2 next year, then he's never going to make it.

I hope your hunch pays off, would love to see that.

 

[BillyElliott]

At least a new hair style without a headband.

Are we talking about Allan or HDM ? Or both?

 

[granniewolf]

Are we talking about Allan or HDM ? Or both?

Ed. Harry needs a headband to try and keep those curls tamed.

 

[Vicky Park]

I'm not sure either but I am looking forward to him getting games in the seniors to see how he goes.

Grannie, I don’t want Harry anywhere near the seniors unless his form in the twos demands it. We’ve had plenty of kids over the years who never played a senior game, or maybe a couple (TJ and Ryan currently examples of the latter).

It’s not even about ‘seeing how he goes’. If playing Harry in any way contributed to a loss then it would be a big mistake to pick him. With his apparent skill set, he seems a long way off. By comparison look at Roan Steele - he has effectively walked into the side.

 

[granniewolf]

Grannie, I don’t want Harry anywhere near the seniors unless his form in the twos demands it. We’ve had plenty of kids over the years who never played a senior game, or maybe a couple (TJ and Ryan currently examples of the latter).

It’s not even about ‘seeing how he goes’. If playing Harry in any way contributed to a loss then it would be a big mistake to pick him. With his apparent skill set, he seems a long way off. By comparison look at Noah Steele - he has effectively walked into the side.

You mean Roan Steele?
I don't think having Harry in the team would be the reason it loses if it did.
With 5 on the bench he can always get dragged if he's playing really badly.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Lets make his nickname logan

 

[Vicky Park]

You mean Roan Steele?
I don't think having Harry in the team would be the reason it loses if it did.
With 5 on the bench he can always get dragged if he's playing really badly.

Thanks for the Steele correction.

But otherwise no. Harry only gets a game if he deserves it, and there’s a place for him. So far he hasn’t deserved it, and there’s no obvious place for him.

 

[sr36]

You mean Roan Steele?
I don't think having Harry in the team would be the reason it loses if it did.
With 5 on the bench he can always get dragged if he's playing really badly.

The issue for Harry is that he looked completely invisible on a flank in the VFL. If you're a kid battling for an AFL game, you've got to be able to slot into a flank and not be midfield only.

 

[sr36]

By the looks of it, they've delayed it until the end of year 1. They went really early on HDM, Ryan and Allan. They might regret the first two. I think HDM was during his first preseason (as was Nick).

 

[Scodog10]

By the looks of it, they've delayed it until the end of year 1. They went really early on HDM, Ryan and Allan. They might regret the first two. I think HDM was during his first preseason (as was Nick).

I thought the same of HDM, but the article I shared suggested otherwise and his was a similar timeframe to West. I think Allan’s was the quickest.

Prindable’s recruitment was not a good outcome for HDM. I held out hope that there was a pathway to HDM making it as a senior player, but Prindable is now just a younger version…

 

[jmac70]

I thought the same of HDM, but the article I shared suggested otherwise and his was a similar timeframe to West. I think Allan’s was the quickest.

Prindable’s recruitment was not a good outcome for HDM. I held out hope that there was a pathway to HDM making it as a senior player, but Prindable is now just a younger version…

There is still a pathway for HDM, but he needs to walk it now.

 

[Scodog10]

There is still a pathway for HDM, but he needs to walk it now.

What do you see it being? I don’t think he’s any chance of breaking in as a mid now that he’s one more down the pecking order following Anderson’s recruitment. You then add Prindable who’s a similar size, style and possesses similar traits which tells me the club aren’t sure either.

Even if he does get a shot through the middle following a run of injuries I doubt we’d get more out of him than Macrae because he’s a small body with questionable skills at state league level (let alone the top level). From what I’ve seen he plays a straight line go ahead game so I thought that might be his avenue off HB, but that’s a hard road at Collingwood with our back half stacked at senior level with McInnes and Parker the next two in.

 

[Anzacday]

Is he a Marley Williams

2

Marley Williams

Age

32

Ht

181cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.7

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.4

4star

MG

276.2

4star

D

12.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

MG

195.3

3star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

type?
Put him in the backline to play on small forwards

 

[Chunky Steak]

Is he a Marley Williams type?
Put him in the backline to play on small forwards

Good grief, I genuinely forgot that Marley Williams existed.

Welcome onboard, dementia.

 

[WanderingDude]

Is he a Marley Williams type?
Put him in the backline to play on small forwards

Given people’s knocks on HDM I thought you were going to suggest trading him out for pick 105. I want HDM to workout, the VFL experts tend to be very positive but he seems further away after list changes. I hope this is the year.

 

[sr36]

Is he a Marley Williams type?
Put him in the backline to play on small forwards

I really liked Marley, but I don't think a Marley type gets a game in defence in the current game - ball use not up to it.

 

[sr36]

Given people’s knocks on HDM I thought you were going to suggest trading him out for pick 105. I want HDM to workout, the VFL experts tend to be very positive but he seems further away after list changes. I hope this is the year.

He's an inside mid who hasn't looked good in other roles. Inside mids usually take a few years to be up to AFL inside mid - who knows with HDM.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

He's an inside mid who hasn't looked good in other roles. Inside mids usually take a few years to be up to AFL inside mid - who knows with HDM.

Agree. I'm still (cautiously) optimistic about HDM.

I think I'm correct in saying he hasn't had a preseason training as an inside mid. Was forced to move to the middle during the season due to VFL injuries and players like Allan playing in the seniors. Disposal efficiency aside I thought he was fine? Got his hands on it a lot and his tackle numbers were good.

Let's see how he goes this season.

 

[WanderingDude]

I really liked Marley, but I don't think a Marley type gets a game in defence in the current game - ball use not up to it.

I liked that hard edge in Marley’s game.

 

[pablo disco bar]

I liked that hard edge in Marley’s game.

I used to live with the bloke who knocked him out in Perth

 

[WanderingDude]

I used to live with the bloke who knocked him out in Perth

Stand corrected, maybe not so hard.

 

[manicpie]

My eyes are old and weary and my timing is out of sinc but I saw enough last year to suggest that Harry is going to be a very good player next year. I'll leave it at that. There's always varying opinions but it's my prediction

 

[WanderingDude]

HDM has 2 more contracted years.

 

[manicpie]

HDM has 2 more contracted years.

Exactly

 

[WanderingDude]

In footy it is very easy to focus on what a player can’t do and not what they can do. HDMs delay in a senior debut increases that. During the trade/draft period my visits to rookieme for prospect investigations started with the cons. Strangely they were all no good.