Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Ollie Greeves

[Buckemenico]

Still early in the season. I think pace will drop off and experience and strength will come to fore in second half of season and September as always

I'm not here to compare generations, just making an observation on how the way the game is currently being played is going to be an uphill battle for Ollie.

 

[Sixpence]

If Ned Long can be best 22 then I’m confident that Ollie can

You want to send him to Collingwood? There's Best 23 and and there's Best 23 in a team contending.

 

[Ka Norkers]

the kid will need to improve his aerobic capacity by 100% to be considered.
after two serious games, he clearly is a talent, but it is also equally clear why he went into the rookie draft.
watching the replay, even players like Worps, no aerobic beast, just waltzed past him on the rebound.

still, I'd be hopeful with dedication and hard work, he can bridge that gap within two years.

 

[H00t]

If Ned Long can be best 22 then I’m confident that Ollie can

Long isn’t fast but he can run all day. If Greeves could get to Long’s level of fitness he’d be in the frame for a game.

Even then Long’s lack of pace is definitely holding him back

 

[ahhhhhh]

Long isn’t fast but he can run all day. If Greeves could get to Long’s level of fitness he’d be in the frame for a game.

Even then Long’s lack of pace is definitely holding him back

I think people need to stop find excuses why Ollie can't make it. Fitness is something that can be improved.

 

[MrPremiership]

I think people need to stop find excuses why Ollie can't make it. Fitness is something that can be improved.

Agree to a degree, but some players just never get there.

DGB the most recent example.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Agree to a degree, but some players just never get there.

DGB the most recent example.

DGB had to bulk up AND get fit at the same time. In the end, he could achieve neither. I'm not a track watcher or anything. So I can't comment on why he didn't seem to improve in any of them.

edit: i have just seen that DGB is only playing in the Ballarat Football League. Clearly not that interested in AFL football if that is the case.

 

[unitedhawk2]

His lack of pace is definitely overstated. The way he moves around the ground just looks laconic.

Are you suggesting he's not vocal enough on the field?

 

[MasterSamurai]

Happy to see Ned long making a career at the pies but I don't rate it him at all.

 

[VandoHawk]

Happy to see Ned long making a career at the pies but I don't rate it him at all.

Greeves has much, much better skills than Long does. However, Long has a much, much better tank.

I think Greeves can follow a similar path of slimming down to gain some extra leg speed/acceleration without losing too much power, and become a very damaging bull midfielder that rests forward.

His work-rate hasn't been an issue at Box Hill, he just needs to learn defensive running patterns and continue applying himself.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Add to that , Ollie is not simliar in any way as a player to Ned. Wins more of the ball, he is a excellent 30-40 metre kick , likes to receive handballls on the outside providing sup0ort plus he is a genuine crafty inside 50 inside 50 player. Just build the Tank over the next twelve months and then we can worry about a debut or not.

 

[Dewnior]

And injuries will come. Outside Day, we've been kissed on the dick by the injury gods so far, but they will come. It's inevitable. And it will create opportunity.

View attachment Image to video 丨 I want the head to shake back and forth.mp4

 

[hawkinoz]

Last pics is OG and parents

 

[ReturningHawk]

Cripps is borderline unplayable anymore so I'm not sure that's the best comparison, in my opinion I don't believe the speed thing is overblown, that's just the way the game is played.

Unplayable is going way too far. The game no longer favours contested players, so he’s not flavour of the month but Cripps is still a top 50 player in the league.

As for Ollie we should just judge him on his own merits and influence on the game. First week was good, next week was ok. Looking for him to just work towards that 25 disposals, 5 clearances that he was finding through his junior career

 

[tommyk72]

Unplayable is going way too far. The game no longer favours contested players, so he’s not flavour of the month but Cripps is still a top 50 player in the league.

As for Ollie we should just judge him on his own merits and influence on the game. First week was good, next week was ok. Looking for him to just work towards that 25 disposals, 5 clearances that he was finding through his junior career

If he can do that consistently this year, with his disposal, he moves beyond HH.

 

[hawkinoz]

Will be interesting to see the parallels btw Josh Smilie and OG as they progress

Video of JS play in VFL in 4rth slide


I bet OG will be far better

 

[BigTonkaTroy]

Will be interesting to see the parallels btw Josh Smilie and OG as they progress

Video of JS play in VFL in 4rth slide


I bet OG will be far better

Smilie might not even play 50 games with how injury prone he is. And him still having growth spurts won’t do him any favours.

 

[offtherails9]

Cripps is borderline unplayable anymore so I'm not sure that's the best comparison, in my opinion I don't believe the speed thing is overblown, that's just the way the game is played.

I need to find when I said this last year at some point and got hounded for it. Nothing to add just saying I was right.

 

[kazzooka]

Will be interesting to see the parallels btw Josh Smilie and OG as they progress

Video of JS play in VFL in 4rth slide


I bet OG will be far better

Conor Nash sized.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Will be interesting to see the parallels btw Josh Smilie and OG as they progress

Video of JS play in VFL in 4rth slide


I bet OG will be far better

Watching all those clips you could see why he might struggle in the AFL. Does a lot of his work by disentangling himself from the lettuce-leaf tackles at U18 level. Compare it to Harley at that age who was exploding away from people, or straight through them. AFL midfields are moving away from the contest-to-contest, phone box operators to those who have high work-rate, can get separation, and use it well. Smillie will have to adapt a bit, or maybe the game will change.

Ollie Greeves has good contest and stoppage craft, but it's the footskills that he can build his career around.

 

[Coach Killer]

the kid will need to improve his aerobic capacity by 100% to be considered.

With hard work he’ll improve in that area.

Speed kills and lack of speed also kills.

His speed of mind is elite - hand to foot, decision making speed is A+ and skills are AFL level. So what he lacks in leg speed he can make up a yard here - he also needs to make a yard or two in actually leg speed.

Definitely worthy of a list spot - he’s got plenty to work with and work on.

 

[CD Xbow]

......His speed of mind is elite - hand to foot, decision making speed is A+ and skills are AFL level. So what he lacks in leg speed he can make up a yard here - he also needs to make a yard or two in actually leg speed.

There is a certain AFL coach we know and love who wasn't fast but had all those attributes you describe. He went allright.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Agree to a degree, but some players just never get there.

DGB the most recent example.

I reckon Ollie is quite a bit ahead of where DGB was in terms of fitness at the same age.

DGB was pretty unusual in that he didn't seem to improve his fitness base even after three full pre season at an AFL club. He almost went backwards!

Id be surprised if Ollie is the same. The question is will be be able to improve his aerobic base enough to counteract his lack of speed.

Those foot skills are pretty pure though. I reckon that just like being a good 3 point shooter gets you a gig in the NBA these days being an elite kick is a good way to make a career in the AFL as well.

 

[Beandip]

I'm still yet to see a player run faster than a kick... if you can get it and use it, has to count for something...

 

[MrPremiership]

I'm still yet to see a player run faster than a kick... if you can get it and use it, has to count for something...

That's a big problem when you don't have the ball.....you're not getting to where the support is needed and your oppo is