Academy Watch

[footymaad]

Same I have been very disappointed with the performances so far.

Agree, very disappointing overall this year. For whatever reason individuals haven't come together as a group, unlike last years squad who may have been lacking stars but played well together as a team. Question is why - just lack of quality, lack of depth in squad, individuals playing for themselves, of just can't bring together as a team

Unfortunately sounds like several players currently have injuries including Tickner, Freeman, Conway and Gribble - will be interesting to see who come up to play on Sat. Hopefully most of them - will likely struggle against NSW/ACT if a few of the better players missing.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Based on performance, I can't see the club committing to part with anything more than a 3rd-round pick for Conway and 4th-round for Tickner or Freeman. Not exactly setting the world on fire, although injuries may be playing a part.

 

[chopperduck]

I think the brains trust will weight up what players will likely be available in the draft at those picks and make the decision with if they think the academy player is the better option.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I think the brains trust will weight up what players will likely be available in the draft at those picks and make the decision with if they think the academy player is the better option.

"Committing" was probably the wrong word. Substitute "Using".

Edit: Actually that makes no sense whatsoever. Argh, you know what I mean...

 

[POBT]

The champs are probably not as relevant for our recruiters to assess the Academy guys. Sure, every game is a bit more intel but at the same time, these guys have been training with and playing for us for a fair while. We're going to be better positioned to assess their value than any other club. The champs are more relevant for what we have to pay (ie what other clubs bid) than whether we think they are worth committing a particular pick on.

To be honest, we've been so public with our connection to Conway and Tickner that I'd be highly surprised if we don't take them in the main draft, even if it is with our last two picks because no-one has put in a bid for them.

 

[chopperduck]

We've liked having picks inside the top 30, I think we will be keen to use any picks under 30 on the main draft, and over probably happy to use on academy kids.

 

[Quigley]

Liam Dawson has won the medal (tied with two Taswegians) for the best Div 2 player. Great effort from the bottom ager.

 

[SizeMatters]

He is a ripper and I had a privilege to play at the same club as he done and watched a few of his U12s,14s and some 16s games. Loves to take a mark and reads the play quite well. Seems a lot taller on field than his height suggests and if he continues his form and gets picked up will be hard to match up on at the next level. Only queries that I can remember was his pace and endurance, those would have been improved in the better facilities at Aspley and the Lions academy since the last time I have seen him train/play.

 

[Grimreepah]

To be honest, we've been so public with our connection to Conway and Tickner that I'd be highly surprised if we don't take them in the main draft, even if it is with our last two picks because no-one has put in a bid for them.

We've liked having picks inside the top 30, I think we will be keen to use any picks under 30 on the main draft, and over probably happy to use on academy kids.

I think you guys are reading too much into it. Come draft time it will simply be about taking the best option at each pick. If that means they are forced to use a top 30 pick, and Conway/Tickner is the best choice at that pick, there's no sense in overlooking them for a less good player. And if there are better options than Conway/Tickner at our last pick then Conway/Tickner will have to miss out. I suppose you could argue there will be a motivation to pick academy kids to promote that pathway into the system, but I think that would only become a factor if it is line ball decision between an academy player and a non-academy player. If it's not line ball then I would imagine the decision will be based purely on players' merits, not whether they are from the academy.

 

[dlanod]

I think you guys are reading too much into it. Come draft time it will simply be about taking the best option at each pick. If that means they are forced to use a top 30 pick, and Conway/Tickner is the best choice at that pick, there's no sense in overlooking them for a less good player. And if there are better options than Conway/Tickner at our last pick then Conway/Tickner will have to miss out. I suppose you could argue there will be a motivation to pick academy kids to promote that pathway into the system, but I think that would only become a factor if it is line ball decision between an academy player and a non-academy player. If it's not line ball then I would imagine the decision will be based purely on players' merits, not whether they are from the academy.

Grim, the problem is that the bidding for the academy kids is done at the beginning of trade week - well before we get to see who else will be available at our pick and even before we get to see concretely which teams are picking before us at each pick. So there's a fair bit of judgement so it won't come down to "Conway/Tickner versus non-academy player".

 

[Quigley]

Grim, the problem is that the bidding for the academy kids is done at the beginning of trade week - well before we get to see who else will be available at our pick and even before we get to see concretely which teams are picking before us at each pick. So there's a fair bit of judgement so it won't come down to "Conway/Tickner versus non-academy player".

Works the other way too. Other teams have to put in bids before they get to see who else is available and a couple of months before the draft and all the final assessments have been done. There has been a trend in the father sons of late for anyone who is not a clear cut round 1 pick to fall quite a bit. Expect that trend to continue and the Lions to get relative bargains.

 

[Ironmonger]

Works the other way too. Other teams have to put in bids before they get to see who else is available and a couple of months before the draft and all the final assessments have been done. There has been a trend in the father sons of late for anyone who is not a clear cut round 1 pick to fall quite a bit. Expect that trend to continue and the Lions to get relative bargains.

I reckon this factor will apply even more so with the academy players.

There's something of a catch 22 when it comes to rival clubs bidding for academy players; the only way your bid can be successful is if the academy club decides that that player isn't worth the pick you've bid for it.

Academy clubs see a great deal more of that player than anyone else, so if they don't think they're worth the pick you've bid, what is it they know that you don't? Better off saving your second and third round picks and taking someone else you've got your eye on.

If one of the academies produces a standout prospect like a Joe Daniher or a Jack Viney I'm sure rival clubs won't have a problem bidding on those, but in the scheme of things Conway, Tickner and players like them would be likely to slip, if they get bidded on at all.

 

[chopperduck]

I tend to agree, I think it would be likely we could get Conway and Tickner with our last two picks. It will only be the top elite talent that are definite top 10 picks that other clubs would bother with, and we won't get many of them via the academy. The program is designed to bring in talent from any and all sports, not to just get the top QLD talent for AFL. It's likely most players will be late picks.

 

[Grimreepah]

Grim, the problem is that the bidding for the academy kids is done at the beginning of trade week - well before we get to see who else will be available at our pick and even before we get to see concretely which teams are picking before us at each pick. So there's a fair bit of judgement so it won't come down to "Conway/Tickner versus non-academy player".

Yeah true. That being the case means there is a bit more guess work involved, but it doesn't change my point about the decision making criteria.

 

[Dylan12]

Teen is caught between two loves
5 July 2013
Emma Quayle

Everyone Archie Smith knows has always thought the same thing: that he would become a professional basketballer one day. That's what happens when your father is Andre Moore, a Brisbane Bullet back when the NBL was big, and it was what Archie wanted too.

As a basketballer, Smith is going places. Possibly to the US, where he has offers from 10 colleges, and is taking three of them seriously. He needs to decide soon whether to accept one, decline them all, or wait another year.

But the decision has become a lot more complicated than it was at the end of last year. That's when talent spotters from the Brisbane Lions academy watched him play basketball and asked him if he would like to do some pre-season training. The 17-year-old said yes, figuring it would make him a bigger and stronger basketballer. Then something happened: he started to really like football.

''It's such a hard call to make. It's the most stressful thing ever,'' Smith said. ''There's so many reasons to go [ to the US] - the education, the experience - but I keep thinking, what if I can improve to the point where I could get on an AFL list? There's a lot of good reasons to stay here and try to do that as well. I've been absolutely obsessed with basketball my whole life. But AFL's become that new obsession.''

Smith is raw, almost as raw as they come. But he's learning reasonably quickly. He played his first game at the start of the season, having only seen one live AFL game, and not learnt any of the rules. He played his fourth for the Brisbane reserves, in the same side as Simon Black, and still didn't really know where to run to or what to do there. He played for the 12th time on Thursday, for Queensland's under-18 team, and knows he has lots to learn. ''They still keep it pretty simple with me,'' he said. ''They don't want me over-thinking it. I still feel a bit like a basketballer, like I'm relating most things I learn back to basketball.''

Smith recently watched some vision of his first training session. He couldn't kick, couldn't handball and he couldn't run too far, though he could jump. Dunking is the thing he has missed most about basketball, but jumping up on the ruck bags has helped satisfy that urge. ''I love taking hangers. Who doesn't,'' said the teenager who, watching more recent footage, saw a more skilful, much fitter player. He feels like he is picking up something new each time he plays, and his coaches are seeing it too.

 

[Haso]

Geez he's a big boy. I thought he was skinnier than that.

 

[chopperduck]

He could give AFL a crack for a couple of years, and still head over to the USA for bball at 21/22 if AFL doesn't work out.

 

[Quigley]

I reckon if he goes to the US he would be a pretty fair chance to become a TE.

 

[HereIam86]

Is Matt Hammelmann in the Lions academy?

 

[Hollow Knight]

Is Matt Hammelmann in the Lions academy?

You betcha.

 

[Quigley]

I can't see it mentioned here.

Big congratulations to Liam Dawson. Joint winner of the medal for the best Division 2 player at the championships this year and selected in the All Australian side.

I don't remember a Qlder doing this before as a bottom ager and he should certainly be someone for us to get excited about for next year.

 

[dlanod]

I can't see it mentioned here.

Big congratulations to Liam Dawson. Joint winner of the medal for the best Division 2 player at the championships this year and selected in the All Australian side.

I don't remember a Qlder doing this before as a bottom ager and he should certainly be someone for us to get excited about for next year.

Someone posted it a bit earlier...

Liam Dawson has won the medal (tied with two Taswegians) for the best Div 2 player. Great effort from the bottom ager.

 

[Quigley]

I had actually meant the All Australian nomination but that bloke who mentioned the medal stuff certainly is on the ball.

 

[Voss the boss]

I had actually meant the All Australian nomination but that bloke who mentioned the medal stuff certainly is on the ball.

Great news.
What type of player is Liam quigley?

 

[Quigley]

Pretty much a classic flanker who can play either end. Around the 190 mark he is strong in the air against guys taller than he is. He reads the play well and knows where to go to get the ball. His skills are solid (others have said they are better than that). He has not done anything really magical when I have watched but just tends to do what he has to do and be in the right place at the right time. A bit of Corey Enright about him perhaps.

He has played a few games with the Lions reserves and has acquitted himself very nicely. I think he played mostly up forward for the Lions (could be wrong) but pretty much just down back in the Champs game I saw. From memory he played in a game against the GC earlier in the year and had an excellent game outplaying Jack Martin who was playing in the same game.