7. Matt Dea

[TOOs_Finest]

Matt Dea, hailing from Mildura in northern Victoria, was recruited from North Ballarat Rebels in the 2009 ND at pick number 44. He debuted for Richmond in round four 2010 against Melbourne. He played three games in total in 2010, before being sidelined by stress fractures in his foot. Was seen (by myself ) wearing a moon-boot after surgery in the latter part of the season.

The story behind the recruiting of Matt Dea

Love of the game lures hoops star to Punt Rd

Currently listed as 186cm tall with a weight of 83kg*, as of Dec 2010. Pre-season training for 2011 has been limited due to recovery from surgery, as stated below in the coaches report.

Coaches' View

Matt Dea
Missed a lot of last season with stress fractures in his feet, but has put on a couple of kilos and the couple of games he played last year showed some good signs. His basketball background means he's a good decision-maker, but we're really working on his skills.

Always worry a tad when a player has injuries involving the feet. I mean, lets face it, feet are pretty important in today's game. Here's hoping he recovers fully and can really start to develop the skills required to play at AFL level. Has a good body size, and is known to have developed a long way in a short space of time, since his late introduction to a serious level of football (having played basketball for most of his young life).

He seems to be one of many being groomed to play the HBF or BP role, with an ability to play somewhat taller than he stands, but still with pace and agility to get around the ground.

I will keep this thread uptodate with any news of Matt's progress through the 2011 pre-season and season proper.


_______________________________

* As of Dec 2011, now listed at 85kg

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

A bit disappointing in the pre-season openers, having minimal impact on either game. Not sure if he was assigned any particular lock-down style roles, but will have to wait a little longer to see if Matt is likely to progress much further this season. I would imagine that Batchelor has gone passed him already in the BP/HBF stakes.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

Richmond player injuries and suspensions (at 24 May):

Shane Edwards (cheek) Test
Will Thursfield (leg) 2 weeks
Matt Dea (leg) 2 weeks
Daniel Connors (quad) 3 weeks
Dylan Grimes (hamstring) TBA
Kel Moore (hip) TBA

 

[tugga]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

He is struggling with his shins at the moment. Hopes to be back playing for Coburg in three weeks. He spoke to our group in the Ryder Room before last week's game.
I hope he can get some decent footy in before the end of the year. There has to be question marks over him if he can't.
I found it interesting that his surname is prononced 'dee'.

 

[ize_]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

That is interesting!

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

My BF name would sound pretty silly if 'Dea' was pronounced 'Day'

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

[YOUTUBE]sIQbmRiVpms[/YOUTUBE]

 

[McGun]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

Seems a good kick hopefully he can have another good game for Coburg on the weekend and play out the season.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

Dea Back

Tough Tiger teenager Matt Dea will play his first AFL game this season, when he lines up against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco on Sunday.

Dea, who played three games for Richmond in his debut season last year, before suffering a broken foot, has been named on the half-back flank.

The 19-year-old has had an interrupted 2011 season due to shin splints, but has impressed in a couple of performances on the comeback trail with Coburg in the VFL.

 

[brett15]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

thought he did alright for his first game back. has a good head on his shoulders going by that vid.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

Matt interviewed after his first win for RFC (Rd 21 2011 v Sydney Swans):

[YOUTUBE]MHPYOhrOIyg[/YOUTUBE]

Played a good game against the Swans. Did a few real gutsy things, backing into packs. Starting to pick up the pace of the game, with a lot of his quick handballs in the back line starting to hit the mark, which was an issue in his first couple of games.

Hopefully he gets a good pre-season in to him, and we get to see him provide some good run and some confidence in his kicking out of the half back line.

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

Re: 43. Matt Dea

Had no idea who he was when I was watching the game, took me a while to find out too. He impressed me with his courage and composure though, looks a lively type from that game.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Matt re-signed with the club at the end of the 2011 season, for another two years.

New contracts for Tiger cubs Matt Dea, Jake Batchelor, Andrew Browne, Jeromey Webberley


Hardwick obviously has a soft spot for this guy...

Dea back for Tigers: Former local set for big season

“This will be a third year and he’s looked outstanding in the pre-season,” Hardwick told the Herald Sun from Tucson, Arizona, where the Tigers are taking part in a training camp.

“He’s a guy that injury-free we expect to play 22 games. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t play every game.”

He will be wearing the No.7 guernsey this season...

Dea, who was drafted to Richmond with pick 44 in the 2009 AFL National Draft, will take to the field in the number seven guernsey in 2012 after the Tigers recently announced a number of player number changes.

The number has been vacant for the past two years and was last worn by clever forward Nathan Brown from 2004-2009.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Dea confident he's in the mix

His form in the first two rounds of the NAB Cup games has been only reasonable, but such is his regard at Punt Road that he's favoured to play in the opening round and then play a large part in the Tigers' fortunes throughout the season.

Dea's aim in 2012 is to play every game. He acknowledged it's ambitious, but he gives himself every chance.

"I'm confident my body will hold up," he said. "It's just a matter of whether the form holds up."

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Copped a big hit whilst backing courageously into a pack in his first game for 2012 against the WC Eagles.

Dea force

Thanks to force-measuring accelerometers installed within Global Positioning System units, worn by the Richmond players each week, the G-Force of the hit on Dea was measured at a peak of more than 11G.

To put that in perspective, the force while standing is 1G, a space shuttle launch generates 3G, a rollercoaster 3.5G, cornering in a Formula One car creates 5G, and a NASA G-force simulator for astronaut training is measured at 10G.

 

[TOOs_Finest]

Good luck a_fighting_fury, big shoes to fill here

 

[TigerTime88]

Think this could be a make or break year for Dea.

Hasn't shown much to now other than hype on the training track. Really needs to improve his skills and decision making to ensure he makes the grade.