About (Chris) Schmidt

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

While he may not be much to look at, Chris was a promising player who starred along side Bryce Gibbs for SA in the Champs of 06.

Good disposal, MASSIVE hand span, Good one take grab - but not overley quick - 189 cm, could play as a flanker (then again we do have plenty of these types already)

What say you?

.. invite him down to train with us? in the hope that he may impress enough to be picked up in the PSD if all else fails?

Was talked up in this article pre-draft 2006


http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20745544-21543,00.html

THE first thing you notice about Chris Schmidt is his hands.

They are big, very big.
So large that at testing at the AFL draft camp, he was the only player under 192cm to feature in the top 10 when it came to handspan.

Remarkably for a player of his size (187cm), Schmidt ranked fifth of the 72 players tested. His hands, which dwarf a football (pictured left), are even bigger than those of 201cm Mt Gravatt ruckman Shaun Hampson.

"I inherited them," the 17-year-old West Adelaide half-back/wingman said of his giant 25.2cm mitts.

"My dad (Micky) has got big hands and so have my brothers (Matt, 25, and Nick, 24). Being a country boy and growing up on a farm we're always using our hands for physical work and whether that has made them bigger, I don't know."

Schmidt, who lives and works on his family's pig, sheep and crop farm at Robertstown in the mid-North and is studying Year 12 at Eudunda High, is using his big hands to his advantage.

He said his dad had always encouraged him to attempt high marks and as kids he and his brothers used to kick the ball around in the backyard and try to take one-handed grabs. "It's an advantage having good-sized hands, no doubt," the highly-skilled Schmidt said.

"Especially in the wet, that's when you probably notice them more. I find I can handle a wet ball more easily than some players."

Bearing an amazing resemblance to Adelaide high-flier Brett Burton - "a few of my mates keep telling me I look like him," Schmidt said - the versatile Bloods teenager is in line to be a second or third-round selection when the 16 AFL clubs sit for the national draft on November 25. This is despite not being able to complete any physical testing at the draft camp because of ankle ligament damage suffered against South Adelaide in round 22.

A good decision-maker, Schmidt was a standout for SA at this year's AFL under-18 championships and was unlucky to miss All-Australian selection. He also played well in four league games with West.

A cousin of Sydney's Tim Schmidt, who he speaks to regularly about his footy, Chris has a big upside.

While already boasting a similar physique to the athletic Burton, Schmidt believes he still has plenty of growth in his 187cm, 81kg frame, noting that his powerfully-built brothers are 197cm and 192cm respectively.

"They didn't stop growing until they were about 21 so all indications are that I've still got some growing to do," he said.

And so, it appears, have his hands.

 

[Silvagnis]

If we get Schmidt, Five will have to take Kathy Bates.

 

[Kramer1]

Never mind the big hands...a quick glance at the first photo and I thought he was 'Boy with balls on chin' from Southpark.

 

[Quazza]

nice to capture his spit mid flight

 

[Kramer1]

Given his nasty case of chinballitis I just hope its spit....

 

[blue_boys]

You know what they say if you have big hands, big....

 

[johnsy14]

Never mind the big hands...a quick glance at the first photo and I thought he was 'Boy with balls on chin' from Southpark.

Thanks for that - cracked me up!!

 

[Where are you]

Looks pretty good.

 

[The_JUDDERNAUT]

bloke on the rights a dead ringer for nick stevens, minus the tips and about 10kg

 

[thylacine60]

bloke on the rights a dead ringer for nick stevens, minus the tips and about 10kg

Waiting for the receive?

 

[The_JUDDERNAUT]

Waiting for the receive?

yep hes hoping for the cheapie, classic stevo.