Player Watch #26: Tarryn Thomas - has mural

[ChoppyGun]

Where do you want him to play his career? As a defender? If he isnt getting his hands on the footy, would he not be best thrown back into the scoobies to work on his craft?

We need to recognise where we are at.

If the ball is not there then he is out of the game.

No the VFL is not where TT should be whatsoever.

 

[DuckYeah]

We need to recognise where we are at.

If the ball is not there then he is out of the game.

No the VFL is not where TT should be whatsoever.

Then he can win it from half forward at centre wing, the ball makes its way to centre wing 100 times in a match, he cant win the pill, then he can go back to the two until he learns to win the pill as a forward. He is not a defenders a-hole

 

[ChoppyGun]

Then he can win it from half forward at centre wing, the ball makes its way to centre wing 100 times in a match, he cant win the pill, then he can go back to the two until he learns to win the pill as a forward. He is not a defenders a-hole

He played defense for North Launceston and was extremely impressive.

He is now bigger and stronger and no reason he can't use his skills as an attacking hbflanker.

 

[archereleven]

Then he can win it from half forward at centre wing, the ball makes its way to centre wing 100 times in a match, he cant win the pill, then he can go back to the two until he learns to win the pill as a forward. He is not a defenders a-hole

Obviously you haven't watched our games this season?

Half forward is baron wasteland. We need players like TT off HB so they can run and carry and bypass it.

I'm all for TT getting an extended run down back, he is currently doing fu** all up forward and as a mid.

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[ChoppyGun]

Obviously you haven't watched our games this season?

Half forward is baron wasteland. We need players like TT off HB so they can run and carry and bypass it.

I'm all for TT getting an extended run down back, he is currently doing fu** all up forward and as a mid.

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His mature experience is actually as a backman not a forward.

People forget or don't know that.

 

[DesertRoo]

How would playing him back do anything for him or the team? Want him to be smashed and do a knee? Keep him forward or possibly flirt with him on the wing. He should be a lead up option at centre wing.

Depends on where you see his best position. Personally I see him as a utility, playing where he’s needed. So playing defence now when we’re under the pump is probably a good learning curve.

 

[ChoppyGun]

Depends on where you see his best position. Personally I see him as a utility, playing where he’s needed. So playing defence now when we’re under the pump is probably a good learning curve.

He doesn't need to learn anything.

He is a very capable backman hence why he's such a great tackler and doesn't shirk contact at all

 

[archereleven]

His mature experience is actually as a backman not a forward.

People forget or don't know that.

I think he can be a big impact player off HB.





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[ChoppyGun]

I think he can be a big impact player off HB.

Same. Think he could do some damage.

Does that mean I'm no longer a bell end as suggested? ; )

 

[archereleven]

Same. Think he could do some damage.

Does that mean I'm no longer a bell end as suggested? ; )

I like your posting in general, but anyone who doesn't see Cunners as elite - bell end.

In my opinion, Cunners is a top 5 handballer I've seen ever play the game. I'm 45.

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[ChoppyGun]

I like your posting in general, but anyone who doesn't see Cunners as elite - bell end.

In my opinion, Cunners is a top 5 handballer I've seen ever play the game. I'm 45.

I'm not even touching that discussion. Never again!! ha

Yeah I'm 40 and he is top 5 on that I agree.

 

[DesertRoo]

He doesn't need to learn anything.

He is a very capable backman hence why he's such a great tackler and doesn't shirk contact at all

You can always learn something..

 

[ChoppyGun]

You can always learn something..

Of course - just meaning backline is hardly foreign to him and DuckYeah is way off

 

[La Flama Blanca]

Thomas is too talented to play in defence. If he can't find the ball up the field where we can make use of his creative flair he should learn how to find it in the VFL, not in the backline.

 

[ChoppyGun]

Thomas is too talented to play in defence. If he can't find the ball up the field where we can make use of his creative flair he should learn how to find it in the VFL, not in the backline.

Was Andrew McLeod too talented to play back?

He *en destroyed us in many games in the high half back role.

 

[LB2Snake]

I too would put TT on the HB line......but that’s mainly as we are decimated down there. He’s a beautiful kick as well.

 

[archereleven]

Was Andrew McLeod too talented to play back?

He *en destroyed us in many games in the high half back role.

Too talented to play HB in this day and age is a ridiculous assertion. It's arguably one of the most important roles in present day football.

TT has all the requirements of the modern day attacking back flanker - Speed/agility, great kick, aggressive tackler, good size, doesn't fumble.

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[groo]

Give Tarryn the JZ role so that he can taste leather poisoning from the kick-ins. He may hit the odd target more than 25m from the goal line, he may run and carry the ball to 30m out from the goal line before disposing of the ball. If successful in either of these 'essentials' for a bloke kicking it in, then it will open up other areas of the ground. It's like the 3 pt shot in basketball. It opens up the whole court.
Let him know it is ok to stuff it up sometimes. Up to 5 times a game if necessary. It will be better than the long bomb to flank or the short kick ( sometimes adjudicated as less than 15m ) to Atley. Both scenarios are being permitted by the opposition. Both scenarios statistically flatter our current kick-in specialist.

 

[King Corey]

Was Andrew McLeod too talented to play back?

He *en destroyed us in many games in the high half back role.

Choppy, David King, Chris Johnston etc etc. Bit of talent playing in backlines over the years.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Bo

Bonar is a good kick.

Cant agree ferball, sorry. Seems to be good stopper bit insanely limited.

 

[ferball]

Cant agree ferball, sorry. Seems to be good stopper bit insanely limited.

All good.

Sometimes his kicking is unbelievable. I've seen him accurate 50-60m low fast passes diagonally across the centre square to open up play on the forward line (last year) and this year he hit LDU with a pinpoint bullet pass 15 or 20m. It was a very dangerous kick inside the opposition 50, but it was perfect. LDU was standing between two opposition defenders who were within 2 metres of him and they didn't have a chance to stop the kick. I was flabbergasted that he tried it, it was very low percentage, but he nailed it.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

All good.

Sometimes his kicking is unbelievable. I've seen him accurate 50-60m low fast passes diagonally across the centre square to open up play on the forward line (last year) and this year he hit LDU with a pinpoint bullet pass 15 or 20m. It was a very dangerous kick inside the opposition 50, but it was perfect. LDU was standing between two opposition defenders who were within 2 metres of him and they didn't have a chance to stop the kick. I was flabbergasted that he tried it, it was very low percentage, but he nailed it.

Hopefully he can provide this in a more consistent manner. With our back 6, they seem to work well as a defensive unit (considering the bombardment they cop), but bringing the ball out of the back half is a huge challenge. Ziebell aside, there is no one back there who seems to have the dare to pull the money kick off half back. Maybe a shot of confidence to Bonar will bring it? i have my doubts, lets see how we go this week.

I'd love to see them whack Thomas there, he has the skills to do so. Im not a massive fan of watching the worlds slowest burn with him, lets get this guy involved.

 

[ChoppyGun]

Choppy, David King, Chris Johnston etc etc. Bit of talent playing in backlines over the years.

There has been very many over my time watching.

Burgoyne is one of the silkiest players I've ever seen play AFL.

He has played a lot off Half Back and behind the ball for the Hawks.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

All good.

Sometimes his kicking is unbelievable. I've seen him accurate 50-60m low fast passes diagonally across the centre square to open up play on the forward line (last year) and this year he hit LDU with a pinpoint bullet pass 15 or 20m. It was a very dangerous kick inside the opposition 50, but it was perfect. LDU was standing between two opposition defenders who were within 2 metres of him and they didn't have a chance to stop the kick. I was flabbergasted that he tried it, it was very low percentage, but he nailed it.

Good long kick, not as good at short kicking was his draft profile.


STRENGTHS

• Kicking
• Acceleration
• X-factor
• Versatility

Bonar is a player that many have asked about in the recent months such has been his rise up the ranks since returning from injury. He oozes X-factor, has elite acceleration and topped the charts with his vertical leap at the National Combine. He has all the raw traits to becoming a sensation and cult hero at the next level. It was hard for football followers not to get excited when a 189cm player who plays taller than he is, can run and jump like Bonar can. His kicking despite efficiency being poor in the TAC Cup, is rated as high as they come over long distances. His short kicking can sometimes miss targets, but as a whole, his kicking is a strength.

Based on his athletic traits alone, it is hard seeing him slip out of the second round, and some rumours have St Kilda considering him with one of their top 10 picks – a remarkable transformation from forgotten man to potential top 10 draftee. The other strength of Bonar’s that is often forgotten is his versatility. He played at both ends and through the middle at times in the TAC Cup, but seems to have the most impact as a half-forward. In the All Stars game he impressed through the midfield and will be much better for the run. At AFL level, expect him to play up forward before progressing into the midfield with time. While he was okay in defence, he did not have the same influence as when he was further down the ground.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Endurance
• Consistency

The two knocks for me are his endurance and his consistency. For all his exciting factors, he has to build his consistency. This of course will come with time and once his endurance base grows. One can hardly blame him given he has spent two years out of the game, but despite the obvious appeal towards Bonar it is worth remembering he still has areas he needs to develop. The other improvement Bonar needs to make is building his tank. It is no surprise again given he has missed two years out of the game, but his endurance is quite poor as it stands, which is why he mostly stayed forward or back in his matches with the Stingrays. His endurance results at the National Combine were in the bottom 12 across both the 2km time trial and yo-yo test. Again, it is an improvement which will come with time, but a reason why he is unlikely to play AFL football in the near future.

DRAFT PROJECTION: 7-20

SUMMARY

Aidan Bonar is a draft prospect that is hard not to get excited about. He fits the resurrection tag of coming from the forgotten lands of back-to-back knee reconstructions to impress recruiters in the second half of the season. He still has a long way to go in regards to playing senior AFL football, but he certainly has an athletic base which very few have. If he can buy in to the club that selects him’s program, then Bonar could become anything and could well be one of the better prospects out of this draft crop if he develops the way that many hope he can in the future.

 

[shinboner magic]

Yeah add me to starting Thomas at half back
It’s one of the most important positions on the ground and we’ve got atley stinking it up there

Tarryn can play the quarterback role and he can clear zones with his kicking.