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Academy Watch

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Judge said:
According to the AFLQ link above both Hammelmann and Dawson are only turning 17 this year, with Dawson being the older of the two.

Just on the video evidence so far they both look pretty excitcing prospects for the draft next year. Along with Tickner and Sam Michael we might soon have a surplus of good, young tall forwards - how good would that be compared to our present position?

Gotta love that Academy.......:thumbsu:
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I am a bit worried about the tall defenders for Qld this year. I would not be shocked if Tickner was used down back especially against the Div 1 teams. According to those measurements he has grown a couple of centimeters which bring him right into good KP size now. Doing a job on the Metro and SA tall forwards would help the Qld team out a lot and would make him an interesting prospect.
 
Wow, I wouldn't have picked Tickner as measuring up at 194, he looks an inch or two shorter in person.
 
Quigley said:
I am a bit worried about the tall defenders for Qld this year. I would not be shocked if Tickner was used down back especially against the Div 1 teams. According to those measurements he has grown a couple of centimeters which bring him right into good KP size now. Doing a job on the Metro and SA tall forwards would help the Qld team out a lot and would make him an interesting prospect.
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Agree, more forward options than defenders - probably going to have to create a defender or two from the potential forwards.
Suspect a couple will be trialled in defence in the practice games/ lead up NEAFL/TIS club games to see how they go

Not sure why Freeman gets the opportunity as an overage player this year, apart from idea that talls take longer to develop? Dont recall he was injured last year, which is usually reason for opportunity as overage player.Was in state squad all of last year, played a TAC cup game but couldn't break into team till end of series - maybe last game? Sure a few others from last years squad would like the same opportunity...
 

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footymaad said:
Not sure why Freeman gets the opportunity as an overage player this year, apart from idea that talls take longer to develop? Dont recall he was injured last year, which is usually reason for opportunity as overage player.Was in state squad all of last year, played a TAC cup game but couldn't break into team till end of series - maybe last game? Sure a few others from last years squad would like the same opportunity...
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Is he a convert from another sport? Could be a reason.
 
Reserves Wrap - Isaac Conway

Harding also praised the efforts of the Lions Academy top-up players, particularly scholarship holder Isaac Conway.

“Everyone knows that Isaac can play the inside mid role, but over the last month we’ve tried him across half back to help develop his game,” Harding said.

“He seems to be enjoying the challenge and was dominant down back last weekend. He reads the play really well, but also provides some offensive run. It’s also nice to know that he can rotate through the midfield if we need.”
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The more and more I hear about this kid, the more and more I can't wait for him to be officially drafted by us. Compared to most kids drafted, the transition for Isaac should be pretty much seamless, considering he knows the club, the lads, game plans and what the expectations are from the coaches. Keep tearing it up Isaac.:thumbsu:
 
Dylan12 said:
Compared to most kids drafted, the transition for Isaac should be pretty much seamless, considering he knows the club, the lads, game plans and what the expectations are from the coaches.
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One of the most physically developed pre-draft midfielders I've ever seen too. He is a built 18 year old.

Lace Out said:
Hopefully some smart arse club doesn't make a bid.
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Knightmare (one of the more astute draft watchers on BigFooty) rates Conway as a late first rounder. I would not be surprised to see a club bid a second round pick for him. Reckon he will cost us a third rounder, or a second if we are unlucky (or he dominates at the u18 champs).
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/knightmares-2013-phantom-draft.983436/
Link to Knightmare's mock draft.
 
Tickner sounds promising, but if, as reported, Conway has issues with pace and disposal we would presumably think long and hard before giving a second round pick for him if the draft has much depth.
 
Draft profiles often exaggerate weaknesses. You kinda need to do it when you are comparing 100 different players.

Conway has pace and disposal problems in the same way Matthew Boyd, Sam Mitchell and Matthew Priddis have pace and disposal problems.

i.e. he is a first possession inside mid that makes clearances happen and you can forgive him for not being able to deliver 50 metre spearing passes onto the chest of forwards.

For what it's worth (probably not much) I am way more bullish about Conway than Tickner.
 
Anyone know what Sam Lord meant in the quote above when he referred to Conway as a "scholarship holder"?

Does that mean he is the same status as Tickner now? I recall an article a while back about Tickner getting some sort of promotion/recognition, but I'm still fuzzy on the steps between being academy listed and getting onto the lions list.
 
WhiteLionFeva said:
Tickner sounds promising, but if, as reported, Conway has issues with pace and disposal we would presumably think long and hard before giving a second round pick for him if the draft has much depth.
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It would be fair to say Redden sometimes has Pace and Disposal issues, particuarly his kicking early on, yet we took a chance with a second rounder on him. You cant always field a team of 22 players who are the complete packages.
 
TheBrownDog said:
Draft profiles often exaggerate weaknesses. You kinda need to do it when you are comparing 100 different players.

Conway has pace and disposal problems in the same way Matthew Boyd, Sam Mitchell and Matthew Priddis have pace and disposal problems.

i.e. he is a first possession inside mid that makes clearances happen and you can forgive him for not being able to deliver 50 metre spearing passes onto the chest of forwards.

For what it's worth (probably not much) I am way more bullish about Conway than Tickner.
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I'm a firm believer that, with good coaching and constant practice, a draftee can dramatically improve his kicking, particularly once he becomes a full-time professional.

Jobe Watson is a great example, and I'm sure Hanley's kicking skills were pretty ordinary (despite his obvious aptitude) when he first came to us.

As long as we think Conway has the right dedication and willingness to learn we would be mad not to pick him up.
 

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I accept all of that except that the players mentioned have pace issues at senior level and are elite in other areas (ball winning, awareness, footy smarts), Conway has them at Reserves and u18 level which is another thing entirely. Not saying he won't make it because I don't know, just that with our list issues we need to maximise our early draft picks by taking the best available and we could start by looking at the people who do have elite skills imo.
 
We have been adding a few good kicks over the last few years. It is time we added a few elite ball winners and Conway should be that. His kicking needs work but it is pretty consistent with most junior inside mids. With greater focus on his kicking I think he should improve and I wouldn't mind better the whole idea of playing him behind the ball is to improve his outside play and kicking. From what little I have seen of him so far this year I think his kicking has improved although he is still a bit inconsistent. I am going to be interested to see how he goes at under 18 level this year.

Pace wise he doesn't worry me. He is never going to be a Judd or Dangerfield who will burst from packs with his pace but he should be pretty middle of the pack. I would expect him to time in the very low 3.0s over 20m. In regards to pace Tickner worries me much more and his burst over the first 5m is really poor.
 
Judge said:
I'm a firm believer that, with good coaching and constant practice, a draftee can dramatically improve his kicking, particularly once he becomes a full-time professional.

Jobe Watson is a great example, and I'm sure Hanley's kicking skills were pretty ordinary (despite his obvious aptitude) when he first came to us.

As long as we think Conway has the right dedication and willingness to learn we would be mad not to pick him up.
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We have a pretty good record of fixing kicking actions, i.e. Mitch Clark. Raines is also decidedly better these days. It seems to be a case of moving a player from either bad set shot to good set shot, or bad field kicking to average field kicking.
 
dlanod said:
We have a pretty good record of fixing kicking actions, i.e. Mitch Clark. Raines is also decidedly better these days. It seems to be a case of moving a player from either bad set shot to good set shot, or bad field kicking to average field kicking.
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You have missed the biggest improver of the lot dlanod - Merrett. He has improved out of sight over the last year.
 
No doubt can improve kicking once in the AFL environment, and I guess for an inside mid getting to "reliable" is reasonable if other attributes are very good.

Elite kicking skills do really stand out from "reliable" (as does elite pace I guess) - under 18 from last year Josh Smith who is now playing for Morningside is what I would class as elite for a 19yo - guess his size counted against him at draft time last year - but I'm sure he's still being watched given his kicking skills are so good.

I guess To be drafted cant just be "reasonable" in all areas - need something extra / exceptional in one or two areas as well. Conway and Tickner lucky to have the opportunity to work with lions coaching staff for 12 months and demonstrated while playing with them and at state level they have that something extra.
 

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Did Browny ever play back as an under age player? I'm beginning to think there are no permanent forwards any more. No wonder the goal kicking standards are where they're at.
 
Quigley said:
I think he played down back on the AIS tour as well.
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With the AIS squad full of mids and forwards, playing back doesn't necessarily mean its your best position, but maybe just that you drew the short straw on the plane over and missed out on your preferred forward spot!

Realistically, given his time out with injury, probably has to play deep forward or back at the moment, but as gets match fit would expect him to play quite differents roles for Qld 18's and then Lions reserves later in season once state program over (assuming he can remain fit for the rest of the season)
 
Wow Calder Cannons certainly blasted the U18 Queensland team of the field. What went wrong?
 

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