Player Watch #34: Jack Graham

[Hot tigers]

I guess the other knock is he ripped his quad off the bone late last year and has apparently strained it recently.

You could spin that though and say what an amazing year he had considering the off season he would have had last year.

Either way, barring no injuries I agree with all that it seems we got an absolute steal.

 

[DrMike]

Once a player is drafted the number they were taken at means nothing

 

[Sir_Loin]

Reality is most inside mids are average kicks at best, so his positives surely outweigh his negatives.

He is also a fantastic runner already which is another rarity for inside mids early on.

He's a good endurance runner but he ain't exactly quick. As long as he has good footy nous and can run to the right spots to contest the footy then he's good to go. I don't think there's ever been any questions on his ability to win the pill but he just needs to work out his kicking limitations and play within that. All things that can be coached which is good.

 

[NaturalDisaster]

Once a player is drafted the number they were taken at means nothing

that has me thinking... do you think the number someone was drafted as has an effect on their confidence? Worries me that a kid drafted at Grahams number might think that "well i musnt be that good then"

 

[Calcium Man]

that has me thinking... do you think the number someone was drafted as has an effect on their confidence? Worries me that a kid drafted at Grahams number might think that "well i musnt be that good then"

Reckon Graham is more the opposite and will want to stick it up the clubs that didn't draft him

 

[tunksy]

that has me thinking... do you think the number someone was drafted as has an effect on their confidence? Worries me that a kid drafted at Grahams number might think that "well i musnt be that good then"

Thered be some it hits harder than others no doubt

 

[THE_GUN]

Sam Mitchell was picked at #36

Graham looks and sounds like a bargain and a player, Should improve even more with a AFL club and players to learn off

Looks like a player that will make the most of his chances in life

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Early doors, but he could be a Sloane/Parker type slider. Hard two way runners who fell largely on a perceived lack of elite traits, other endurance and agression.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Yeah ripping the quad of the bone must have put a few clubs offside maybe...
Hence the slip to the 50's...

 

[pebblestone]

When did he do that?

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Read the posts up above...

 

[ItsTigerTime]

that has me thinking... do you think the number someone was drafted as has an effect on their confidence? Worries me that a kid drafted at Grahams number might think that "well i musnt be that good then"

Potentially for sure. Although I'm hoping theres a lot less pressure placed on him being drafted so late, less expectation from the footy fraternity. Seems like he has his head screwed on properly, heres to hoping he's a gem!

 

[THE_GUN]

Ripping his quad off the bone .......... wow thats a really strange injury

any other known players who have had this injury ?

 

[Roachy8]

Once a player is drafted the number they were taken at means nothing

Deep

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Tearing a muscle off the bone never happens at a good time for a draft prospect. When Jack Graham faced that scenario last November, he had reason to be worried.

A torn quad meant he could complete only two weeks of pre-season training. It threatened to limit the form that he could show recruiters.

"The pressure hit me early. Doing my quad in the pre-season and thinking 'I'm going into my draft year with a quad injury, with not much fitness leading into (the championships), there was a lot of pressure and nerves going into (the season)," Graham said.

He needn't have worried. The South Australian captain at the NAB AFL National Under-18 Championships averaged 25 disposals and six clearances per game to be awarded the Larke Medal for the best player at the carnival, despite his state finishing second behind Vic Metro.

Unfortunately for the inside midfielder, he hadn't seen the last of the injury. He tore his right quad again in early September while playing in North Adelaide's reserves' first final.

"The first (quad injury), because it's the first real injury I've ever done, I was a bit shocked," he said.

"When I did it the second time I thought 'Oh no, is this going to be a continued thing?'"

Clubs have been asking about the quad, as would be expected, and he couldn't do any testing at last week's NAB AFL Draft Combine.

However, Graham won't have to spend much longer on the sidelines. He expects to be kicking in a little more than a week's time and will have been running for about a month by the time he is presumably drafted.

It's a reasonably safe assumption, as he is expected to be picked up in the second or third round.

Assuming the tough nut finds himself at an AFL club, he figures there should be plenty of room for improvement.

"I'm happy with what I could do with the limited pre-season I had, so I'm thinking about what I can do with a full pre-season under my belt," he said.

His impressive form against the pick of the under-18s crop around the country came about because of his competitive attitude.

"I was due it really. I was just hungry to play football, having been out for so long," he said.

The 183cm onballer is known for his hardness, power and ability to win clearances. He wanted to improve his disposal by foot, running and contested marking.

"The short, 45 kick, I think I can bring that more into my game, as I've always gone for a longer kick," he said.

"My (endurance) can always get better, with the work rate and two-way running."

 

[DrMike]

that has me thinking... do you think the number someone was drafted as has an effect on their confidence? Worries me that a kid drafted at Grahams number might think that "well i musnt be that good then"

Probably depends on the person. I'd also argue a lot of kids are just happy to be selected

Famous study on Bronze Medalists being happier than Silver
https://blogs.scientificamerican.co...ze-medalists-are-happier-than-silver-winners/
Basically the Silver medalist is generally shitty they didn't win first while the Bronze is happy they got a medal and beat all those other people
In terms of the draft, maybe the top 5 are gold, 6 to 15 silver, the rest bronze (purely hypothetical)

But I go back to what I said originally, it doesn't matter what you were picked at, it's all about what you do once you're picked. Sure the top draft picks are more likely to have greater talent but that doesn't mean they're going to be successful

 

[TJTIGER]

Graham is a safe bet. Will play plenty of games and should be a good solid performer. At pick 53 what do we want.

Wasn't Chris Newman taken around mid 50's, was a good solid contributor ,then Captain......

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Once a player is drafted the number they were taken at means nothing

I think it's safe to say that the place you were drafted has a big say in how many chances you get. Conca and Lennon are only on the list still as they were first round picks.

 

[Lacustrus]

Hopefully JG follows footsteps of Former no. 17 P Broderick who improved his kicking out of sight. That would be unbelievable...

 

[TJTIGER]

Interestingly JG was listed in the draft combine as the same height & weight as Rory Sloane.......if only he was, dare we dream? (No pressure Jack)....

 

[UpTheTigs]

The kid rips his quad off the bone and panics about heading into his draft year with no fitness, injury concerns etc

Then destroys GPS numbers and wins the Larke Medal.

 

[THE_GUN]

Something very Joel like about Jack, I have a really good feeling about this kid

 

[TJTIGER]

Something very Joel like about Jack, I have a really good feeling about this kid

SNAP!!....

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

The kid rips his quad off the bone and panics about heading into his draft year with no fitness, injury concerns etc

Then destroys GPS numbers and wins the Larke Medal.

Does it twice too...

 

[Bobby Sands]

Has he ever been tackled?