Player Watch #45: Hamish Free - re-signed until end of 2024

[DesertRoo]

You’d find a better ruckman in every league in Australia
Only skill is that he contests like a rabid dog

The most important skill for a big man protecting a bunch of kids.
It was a GwS Mummy play for the vfl and well worth it considering Xerri was looking at getting games in the afl.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Re-signed for another year, per Marc McGowan

Deal or no deal? Naming the nearly 200 AFL players who don’t have a contract for 2024

Across the league, there are almost 200 players yet to lock in a deal for 2024. Find out who your club is yet to sign.

www.theage.com.au

 

[King Corey]

Very interesting.

 

[Shinboner1]

Re-signed for another year, per Marc McGowan

Deal or no deal? Naming the nearly 200 AFL players who don’t have a contract for 2024

Across the league, there are almost 200 players yet to lock in a deal for 2024. Find out who your club is yet to sign.

www.theage.com.au

Interesting

 

[The Nostradamus]

Re-signed for another year, per Marc McGowan

Deal or no deal? Naming the nearly 200 AFL players who don’t have a contract for 2024

Across the league, there are almost 200 players yet to lock in a deal for 2024. Find out who your club is yet to sign.

www.theage.com.au

Surely not

Would you be able to post full article?

 

[giantroo]

 

[King Corey]

Somehow I get this feeling he has a more transferable game (as a ruckman) to AFL than CCJ or Xerri.

Free's game is very pure old school ruck - barrel chested hold your ground, deft tap to a small, go forward occasionally to get a pinch-hitter goal. But not a genuine classy forward option any day of the week.

Xerri at VFL level gets a bit of possession but not sure if he'll ever replicate that at AFL level. His ruckwork is more bash it rather than tap it but he doesn't have the athleticism of Corey McKernan

Corey Mckernan

Age

50

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

0.7

3star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.2

4star

or Nic Natanui to then follow up explosively and rush forward as a mismatch. Don't think he has much forward craft to speak of.

CCJ is more forward than ruck based on form to date based on the club's use of him.

The above is also why I'm a bit down that Edwards isn't in our plans because he does seem to have some agility and skill to work with.

 

[SonofSamsquanch]

View attachment 1782171

Free has been re-contracted for '24. Todd and Shiels maybe. McKay in the hands of the footy gods.

Bonar, Dawson, Edwards, Howe, Mahoney, Perez, Spicer, Turner and Young as well as Jack, Hall (but 2 less positions after the extended rookie list bonus from the AFL expires). This still means over 1/4 of the list will be turned over at the end of the off season, possibly more to come.

DYN-O-MITE!!!!

 

[giantroo]

Hamish Free – Shoulder
Expected return: Start of pre-season (non-contact)

"Hamish is tracking well, he is starting to build his strength loads in the gym and has been in running conditioning over the past two weeks.

"He will look to put a big off-season in to build his shoulder strength and look to further enhance his aerobic tank. We envisage that he will be modified from contact on his return.

 

[Horace]

I have this funny feeling in my bones that Hamish is eventually going to become our number 1 ruckman.

Yes, you heard it here first folks. Either that or you've all just had complete confirmation that I am indeed a lunatic.

 

[gokangas]

I have this funny feeling in my bones that Hamish is eventually going to become our number 1 ruckman.

Yes, you heard it here first folks. Either that or you've all just had complete confirmation that I am indeed a lunatic.

Situation present two possibilities...........

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I have this funny feeling in my bones that Hamish is eventually going to become our number 1 ruckman.

Yes, you heard it here first folks. Either that or you've all just had complete confirmation that I am indeed a lunatic.

One doesn’t rule out the other.

 

[Shermanator]

I have this funny feeling in my bones that Hamish is eventually going to become our number 1 ruckman.

Yes, you heard it here first folks. Either that or you've all just had complete confirmation that I am indeed a lunatic.

 

[The acurate one]

I remember watching his " highlights" and thinking

Good grief

But alas I'm a fan and hope he stays on.

 

[kool kangas]

I remember watching his " highlights" and thinking

Good grief

But alas I'm a fan and hope he stays on.

hearing the reports about his recovery and seeing this from the North injury list
Hamish Free – Shoulder
Expected return: Start of pre-season (non-contact)

l am of the belief that he will be around for another season..

 

[andana]

I have this funny feeling in my bones that Hamish is eventually going to become our number 1 ruckman.

Yes, you heard it here first folks. Either that or you've all just had complete confirmation that I am indeed a lunatic.

Free was back-up ruck to a guy who wasn't very tall but was wide. Not great at centre bounces but very good around the ground because no one could get into the correct space. Free kind of copied him.
A good ruck coach, Goldy?, could improve Free

 

[giantroo]

Locked in.

Rawlings said the club looked forward to seeing what Dawson, Drury and Free could achieve next season.

“We are equally excited to have Kallan, Blake and Hamish on board for 2024 to see what they can do with another AFL pre-season under their belt,” he said.

“Blake offers some versatility being used at both ends of the ground this year, and Kallan (defence) and Hamish (ruck) provide more tall options for us.

“All three players have impressed with their willingness to work hard and improve, and we know they will be eager to make the most of their opportunities next season.”

Veteran one of four Roos to sign on for 2024

North Melbourne veteran Liam Shiels will play on for a 16th AFL season after signing a one-year contract extension

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[zoomba23]

I wonder what we see in Hamish Free

 

[andana]

I wonder what we see in Hamish Free

I think he may surprise. Starts training with our starting mids, gets healthy.
Should press for best 22.

 

[zoomba23]

I think he may surprise. Starts training with our starting mids, gets healthy.
Should press for best 22.

Who's the most uncoordinated regular starting ruckman of the last two decades? Cos if Hamish starts, Hamish will give him a run for his money, whoever he is

 

[andana]

Who's the most uncoordinated regular starting ruckman of the last two decades? Cos if Hamish starts, Hamish will give him a run for his money, whoever he is

Mumford? Free is a similar type

 

[R00StaR]

Think its clear we're going to see what Xerri and CCJ have before potentially going ruck FA shopping next year. Free is back up/ VFL ruck for that year.

 

[Sticksphat]

I wonder what we see in Hamish Free

From what I saw before he got injured, his tap work was probably only second to Goldy at the club (maybe third behind Greenwood). He occasionally got his hands on the ball if it spilled in the stoppage, didn't see that much from X. Was aggressive and physical, just slow across the ground. He definitely needs to work on mobility around the ground. I still think he is 20 years too late to be a long term AFL ruck, but he would match up ok against some the more physical dinosaur types.

 

[SonofSamsquanch]

Would this mean no trade for Darcy? Hold out till next year...

 

[ferball]

Hamish Free = The Everybody's (to feel good.)