Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Ollie Greeves

[kazzooka]

He's got the size and he's got the skills so those are two pretty big ticks already.

The question will be is he one of these players who struggles with fitness at a junior level but once he is an AFL environment quickly adapts and trains hard to get to the level.

Or is he someone like DGB who for whatever reason never gets that AFL base fitness?

What is reassuring is that DGB examples are pretty rare, generally players like Greeve's thrive in an AFL environment and he seems like he has a great attitude to working on it.

Clayton Oliver was one who carried a bit too much weight as a junior but became a real force when he was on a proper AFL diet and training program.

Greeves has many great traits for an AFL player, and despite areas to work on, it's worth remembering at the junior level he was the best player for and Captain of the Coates league premiers (Eastern Rangers), AND the best player for Vic Metro. At these levels he was still able to rack up 30+ disposal games so he's getting running at least as well us others. And he's able to run down players and run away from players.

The practice match was interecting as he got his time before hustwaite and while Hustwaite got more of the ball, Ollie used it better and was a more physical force in there. Would love to see how he can use his height too. As I get a bit frustrated that guys like Hustwaite and Nash don't use their height advantage and get in situations like Dan Curtain does where you can outmark players. Huss does a little bit in the centre bounces as he can reach obove everyone to receive the tap (Day also good at this) but Nash doesn' really do this often.

 

[HedgeFund]

Are you on acid? Clark ends up on his backside and Ollie ends up with the ball

No. Drugs are bad.

Anyone who watches footy objectively will tell you that wasn’t a “monstering”.

He arrived at the contest with momentum. Clark had none and was easily knocked over because he left himself open for the front on contact.

You describe it as akin to Weightman bouncing of Newcombe a few years ago. It was far from that.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Clayton Oliver was one who carried a bit too much weight as a junior but became a real force when he was on a proper AFL diet and training program.

Greeves has many great traits for an AFL player, and despite areas to work on, it's worth remembering at the junior level he was the best player for and Captain of the Coates league premiers (Eastern Rangers), AND the best player for Vic Metro. At these levels he was still able to rack up 30+ disposal games so he's getting running at least as well us others. And he's able to run down players and run away from players.

The practice match was interecting as he got his time before hustwaite and while Hustwaite got more of the ball, Ollie used it better and was a more physical force in there. Would love to see how he can use his height too. As I get a bit frustrated that guys like Hustwaite and Nash don't use their height advantage and get in situations like Dan Curtain does where you can outmark players. Huss does a little bit in the centre bounces as he can reach obove everyone to receive the tap (Day also good at this) but Nash doesn' really do this often.

My theory is that Nash is a 6 ft inside mid inside the body of a 6 foot 6 key forward.

All his strengths (defensive pressure, contested ball, tackling, etc) are not typically associated with a guy 198cm tall.

And conversely he's probably one of our worst overhead marks on the list which is weird considering he's so tall with long arms.

Oliver is an excellent example, very similar build to Greeve's.

 

[hawkmang]

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Good, Clark is a potato.

If we thought there was pressure on McKenzie for Clark it's worse and it's not looking good for him.

 

[hawkinoz]

OG was part of fwd group at 3qtr break. Got another pic of him with top lifted, posting that risks getting few hearts racing( even though I am told there are no grills on the interwebs )

 

[Beandip]

I liked Sam Hargreaves first comment re Ollie ……… “gee he’s a big unit”! At 192cm I reckon he would be pushing 90kg already

I liked Sam Hargreaves as a commentator generally actually - found he stuck to the game and peppered in a little flavour to pad out, didn't force in the one thing he knew about each player like his pay cheque depended on it.

 

[kazzooka]

I liked Sam Hargreaves as a commentator generally actually - found he stuck to the game and peppered in a little flavour to pad out, didn't force in the one thing he knew about each player like his pay cheque depended on it.

He had to stick to the game as he was by himself most of the match. When the other commentator finally showed up the commentary went to crap with chit chat instead of calling the play and ruined the moment for Impy's goal.

 

[MasterSamurai]

He had to stick to the game as he was by himself most of the match. When the other commentator finally showed up the commentary went to crap with chit chat instead of calling the play and ruined the moment for Impy's goal.

That's Josh gabelich , very good reporter and never tried to add mayo to any story he breaks. Also, although, a pies man , he has real good Intel on all things Hawthorn. During that great Impey goal, he mistimed his comments on Hawks SSP selections coming up, a genuine bad timing thing more than anything else.

 

[ReturningHawk]

That's Josh gabelich , very good reporter and never tried to add mayo to any story he breaks. Also, although, a pies man , he has real good Intel on all things Hawthorn. During that great Impey goal, he mistimed his comments on Hawks SSP selections coming up, a genuine bad timing thing more than anything else.

Exactly, pretty sure Josh only stepped in to chat because the other commentator didn’t show up, and he happened to be there. He’s also an A+ contributor to the footy media, and someone who has gone out of his way to spend time at our club.

 

[Slainte]

My theory is that Nash is a 6 ft inside mid inside the body of a 6 foot 6 key forward.

All his strengths (defensive pressure, contested ball, tackling, etc) are not typically associated with a guy 198cm tall.

And conversely he's probably one of our worst overhead marks on the list which is weird considering he's so tall with long arms.

Oliver is an excellent example, very similar build to Greeve's.

It happens, Birchall had plenty of height but was hopeless overhead. He got a bit better towards the end of his playing career - that could be true of Nash as well. Franklin was better than Birchall or Nash but was below average for his size.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

It happens, Birchall had plenty of height but was hopeless overhead. He got a bit better towards the end of his playing career - that could be true of Nash as well. Franklin was better than Birchall or Nash but was below average for his size.

And also some smaller players (like Mark Williams or Paul Pouplolo) were much better overhead marks than their size would suggest.

Buddy actually got a lot better overhead when he went to Sydney.

Amazing to think he kicked all those goals for us without being a particularly strong mark, he was just so amazing quick and agile for a 198cm 100kg beast of a man.

 

[To the Hawk]

I don't think we will see him v the Dogs.

On-top of the expected mids, Hustwaite was injected into the middle sooner and more frequently yesterday. Greeves just the 4th really.

I think he'll debut this year, however.

I also thought Huss showed that time slows down when he has the ball yesterday, he just missed 2 handballs and is the odd whipping boy for some.

 

[unitedhawk2]

I don't think we will see him v the Dogs.

On-top of the expected mids, Hustwaite was injected into the middle sooner and more frequently yesterday. Greeves just the 4th really.

I think he'll debut this year, however.

I also thought Huss showed that time slows down when he has the ball yesterday, he just missed 2 handballs and is the odd whipping boy for some.

There was also the grubber kick out of the centre circle when he didn't really have much pressure on him.

I'm one of those who'd really love HH to become a Best 23 player for us but I don't think he advanced his cause much yesterday.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

There was also the grubber kick out of the centre circle when he didn't really have much pressure on him.

I'm one of those who'd really love HH to become a Best 23 player for us but I don't think he advanced his cause much yesterday.

Neither. But so many were sketchy early so got to cut him some slack.

 

[tommyk72]

My theory is that Nash is a 6 ft inside mid inside the body of a 6 foot 6 key forward.

All his strengths (defensive pressure, contested ball, tackling, etc) are not typically associated with a guy 198cm tall.

And conversely he's probably one of our worst overhead marks on the list which is weird considering he's so tall with long arms.

Oliver is an excellent example, very similar build to Greeve's.

I think there's something to be said for being trained in a skillset that reflects your body type. For example, if a kid grows up tall, he'll end up spending a lot of time in KPP positions during his junior years, and will end up getting more exposure to the skills needed to excel there (marking, spoiling, etc.). Conversely, people who grow up short are often around the ball and will have more time developing that skill set.

Nash is an interesting one, because most of what he does comes on natural talent and gaelic skill development, where marking is not a priority. He never trained on it in his junior years. Hence why his skill set is geared towards tackling and kicking around the corner.

From memory, Birch (mentioned earlier in the thread) is one of those who had a growth spurt in his later years, and hence hadn't spent a lot of time as a KPP in juniors, so hadn't had a lot of contested marking practice.

I can imagine some of the shorter guys (Watto, Poppy) getting their kicks out of launching themselves on the top of the big fellas in the playground and building this skill set over years. I love it!

 

[Randy Campbell]

My theory is that Nash is a 6 ft inside mid inside the body of a 6 foot 6 key forward.

All his strengths (defensive pressure, contested ball, tackling, etc) are not typically associated with a guy 198cm tall.

And conversely he's probably one of our worst overhead marks on the list which is weird considering he's so tall with long arms.

Oliver is an excellent example, very similar build to Greeve's.

I can see the Rugby influence on Nash.
The closer he can start to the contest the better.
Even though fullback should be a better mark.

His strengths allow him to be Elite, if he starts within 5 metres of the contest and then that level of Eliteness, slowly disappears the further he gets from the contest.

 

[The Chad and I]

OG was part of fwd group at 3qtr break. Got another pic of him with top lifted, posting that risks getting few hearts racing( even though I am told there are no grills on the interwebs )

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Greeves looks to be in good shape TBH.
Does not look overweight or oversized at all.

 

[Coathanger]

I liked Sam Hargreaves as a commentator generally actually - found he stuck to the game and peppered in a little flavour to pad out, didn't force in the one thing he knew about each player like his pay cheque depended on it.

Apart from the 25 times he carried on about origin……..

 

[kazzooka]

Exactly, pretty sure Josh only stepped in to chat because the other commentator didn’t show up, and he happened to be there. He’s also an A+ contributor to the footy media, and someone who has gone out of his way to spend time at our club.

Great, and it ruined the call. Perhaps not his fault as it sounds like he was dragged in to assist with the content.

But I have an old fashioned view on commentary that they should be calling the play, not having discussions. No matter how interesting or relevant. You've got the quarter breaks, half time, pre-game, post game, in between goals and all week to discuss SSP or Zach Merrett.

When the ball is moving, I want the commentators calling the play.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Great, and it ruined the call. Perhaps not his fault as it sounds like he was dragged in to assist with the content.

But I have an old fashioned view on commentary that they should be calling the play, not having discussions. No matter how interesting or relevant. You've got the quarter breaks, half time, pre-game, post game, in between goals and all week to discuss SSP or Zach Merrett.

When the ball is moving, I want the commentators calling the play.

Agree - it was positively refreshing. I actually enjoyed the call.

Everything that is old is new again....maybe one caller and a colour (who only talks in breaks or after goals)

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Know someone who lives a few doors down from Ollie and apparently he’s does 2 hours of running up and down the street every single day, kid is working hard.

 

[ppphawk]

Know someone who lives a few doors down from Ollie and apparently he’s does 2 hours of running up and down the street every single day, kid is working hard.

Hoping he shows up the recruiting community by becoming a beast coupled with decent running power.

Feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had a big bodied midfielder with top elite disposal.

 

[NicG]

Know someone who lives a few doors down from Ollie and apparently he’s does 2 hours of running up and down the street every single day, kid is working hard.

He's afraid of getting lost?

 

[noobermensch]

Know someone who lives a few doors down from Ollie and apparently he’s does 2 hours of running up and down the street every single day, kid is working hard.

I was massive on him all year, had him top 5, then felt a bit embarrassed when he slid at draft time. I think all the pieces are there if he gets the attitude and work rate right. I'm really hoping that his draft slide was a wake up call.