Academy Watch

[Billy Puller]

so this year is looking real good. Darcy Cameron-reeves, Liam Dawson and Matt Hammelman with the latter two projected right now, rated as first round draft picks. There are also a few guys of this year who actually focus on football and stop pissing there talent up a wall has more natural ability in his left pinkie then all three of those boys. I've also heard last years academy pin up boy Cain Tickner is coming back this year with a vengeance, desperate to make it to the AFL. Many of you have probably heard of Ben Keays I personally don't rate him. Of my opinion that he is the benefactor of the hard work done by the players around him and is made look good through them, as soon as he is forced to do his own ball finding he quickly goes missing.But many do rate him here and of next years crop he really is the only possibility which is why I say it is a lean year. As far as the next year goes well a lot changes and players will no doubt rise up or drop off the radar as there bodies develop but expect a few young midfielders who have already caught my eye. But I would rather comment on them at the end of next year when I have seen more and there bodies do mature.

 

[Covertackle]

so this year is looking real good. Darcy Cameron-reeves, Liam Dawson and Matt Hammelman with the latter two projected right now, rated as first round draft picks. There are also a few guys of this year who actually focus on football and stop pissing there talent up a wall has more natural ability in his left pinkie then all three of those boys. I've also heard last years academy pin up boy Cain Tickner is coming back this year with a vengeance, desperate to make it to the AFL. Many of you have probably heard of Ben Keays I personally don't rate him. Of my opinion that he is the benefactor of the hard work done by the players around him and is made look good through them, as soon as he is forced to do his own ball finding he quickly goes missing.But many do rate him here and of next years crop he really is the only possibility which is why I say it is a lean year. As far as the next year goes well a lot changes and players will no doubt rise up or drop off the radar as there bodies develop but expect a few young midfielders who have already caught my eye. But I would rather comment on them at the end of next year when I have seen more and there bodies do mature.

Any particular age groups you start taking notice? Or do you watch all the rep stuff?

 

[Billy Puller]

Any particular age groups you start taking notice? Or do you watch all the rep stuff?

This years has the potential to be one of the best imo and the 15s look good as well. Only reason I'm familiar with the 14-18s is because I've played with and against a lot of em. As well as seen em play as they are mates younger brothers etc.

 

[Covertackle]

This years has the potential to be one of the best imo and the 15s look good as well. Only reason I'm familiar with the 14-18s is because I've played with and against a lot of em. As well as seen em play as they are mates younger brothers etc.

Brendon Shelton from Toowoomba is u15s this season I think. He's in the Academy. Have you seen the kid? I think he played for the DD Crows on a Sunday (played club footy in Toowoomba on a Saturday) and won best and fairest in the Brisbane juniors. From what ive seen the kid is a gun.

 

[Billy Puller]

Brendon Shelton from Toowoomba is u15s this season I think. He's in the Academy. Have you seen the kid? I think he played for the DD Crows on a Sunday (played club footy in Toowoomba on a Saturday) and won best and fairest in the Brisbane juniors. From what ive seen the kid is a gun.[/quote

Haven't seen him play but I'm currently half cut rims me in the morning and I'll aww I'd I remember

 

[aflmadgirl]

how many of these academy kids could we realisitically expect to play/be drafted to the lions.

Liam Dawson

 

[aflmadgirl]

He is. There are a couple of discrepancies between the those bests and the ones above. I also wouldn't mind betting the Jackson mentioned in the bests is Jackson Dickfos as there was no Jackson in the initial squad.

No when they put names in the best its there surname not first name. So it was nic jackson......

 

[aflmadgirl]

He is. There are a couple of discrepancies between the those bests and the ones above. I also wouldn't mind betting the Jackson mentioned in the bests is Jackson Dickfos as there was no Jackson in the initial squad.

Its nic jackson, goes by surnames not first .

 

[aflmadgirl]

And Dawson too

Dawso

 

[POBT]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-13/clubs-early-talent-test

THE COUNTRY'S most talented group of draft prospects will spend this week entrenched at AFL clubs in an important step in their under-18 season.

Members of the level two AIS-AFL Academy have been distributed among the clubs, and will get a taste of life as a professional player through the week.

The players, who are eligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft, will participate in trainings, recovery, team meetings and be welcomed into inner sanctums.

........

BRISBANE LIONS: Liam Dawson, Matthew Hammelmann

 

[acuguy]

This article above goes to show you don't have to be a world beater at junior level to be an elite player at under 16-18 level. Don't want to peak too early!

 

[Viceregal]

What did Angus Brayshaw and Billy Stretch do wrong?

edit - Ah it was Billy's dad's fault for him

 

[Covertackle]

This article above goes to show you don't have to be a world beater at junior level to be an elite player at under 16-18 level. Don't want to peak too early!

You bring up an interesting point.

Peaking too early. What does that mean exactly? How does one peak too early? If there is such a thing as peaking too early, it would mean being a junior star and not carrying on into the senior ranks. There could be a few reasons for this.


Firstly, the kid may have been really fit and stood out due to elite fitness compared to other kids? As he moves into elite footy, all players are extremely fit. He is suddenly brought back to the pack.

The second, being that as the kid gets into senior footy, the talent pool is suddenly bigger. Playing NEAFL footy for example has no age restrictions and he finds himself against the cream of previous age groups.

But I think 'peaking too early' is a wrongful assumption. As the kid moves into senior footy, or moves into elite junior rep footy, all things being equal, and it mostly is, what sets players apart is 'game sense'. The ability to read a game. To be where the footy is going to be before it gets there. The ability to get back in defence before the attack comes. A conservation of effort due to a player using his footy brain, instead of aerobic capacity. Fitness does what it can, footy smarts does what it must.

If a player doesn't have an elite talent for reading a game, it is doubtful he will ever play elite AFL footy, despite having all the other attributes. I believe 'peaking too early' is often when a player hits the 'game sense' wall.

 

[POBT]

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2014-01-20/a-taste-of-the-big-time

A couple of Queensland's top 2014 draft prospects had a preview of what their future might hold, when Liam Dawson, Matt Hammelmann spent last week training with the Brisbane Lions as part of the AIS-AFL Academy program.
As well as training sessions, the youngsters joined the Lions in their team meetings and gym sessions throughout the week.
Dawson, a standout player for Queensland in the 2013 national U18 championships, said the training was a level above anything he’d done before.
“I didn’t realise how intense or how hard it would be on our bodies and minds,” Dawson said.
“The running, the conditioning side of it (was a surprise). The amount they do in a training session is massive.
“It has given us an idea of what we’re coming into.”
The Redcliffe junior said he relished the chance to mix it with AFL players and take advice from some of the game’s elite.
“Getting to know the big name players (such as) Jonathan Brown, Brent Staker, Simon Black and those boys and being around the club is a highlight for us,” he said.
“I’ve loved every bit of the week.”
Dawson’s state teammate, Hammelmann, honed his contested marking skills in the week, soaking up advice from Lions development coach, Mitch Hahn and testing himself against some of the club’s big forwards.
At 198cm, Hammelmann looms as a key forward prospect for AFL clubs, and said he had learned to harness his size better in his time at the Lions.
“I’ve learnt a lot about how to position my body,” he said.
“It will help a lot, having that experience now to take back to club and the academy and it’ll help me with that.”
“We’ve got a big year ahead so I think it will help us step up in the state games, which will be at that higher intensity, and will help us play well.”

 

[BigCat2]

Already 198cm at 17 years of age, Hammelmann could end up around 200cm tall. Not sure he'll ever play ruck, but his athleticism at his height will be a very useful attribute.

 

[Billy Puller]

Already 198cm at 17 years of age, Hammelmann could end up around 200cm tall. Not sure he'll ever play ruck, but his athleticism at his height will be a very useful attribute.

hes got his head screwed on as well. Of all this years kids hes the one most likely to succeed imo

 

[whatboutbob]

A stiff wind would blow him over. Hope he manages to put some bulk on.

 

[Billy Puller]

[quote="whatboutbob, post: 31510804, member: 37152"]A stiff wind would blow him over. Hope he manages to put some bulk on.[/quote]
He's a lot stronger than you would think

 

[whatboutbob]

He's a lot stronger than you would think

I've heard reports of him out-wrestling Sam Michael last week.

 

[Haso]

Lions academy to develop long term prospects
February 19, 2014
Callum Twomey

WHILE some clubs look abroad to find a recruiting edge, the Brisbane Lions are keeping things local.

The Lions have been consistent in their message they want to have 20 per cent of their list to have come through their academy. And the signs are there that the club is on its way.

Last week, in the club's heavy NAB Challenge loss to Hawthorn, key forward Jonathan Freeman took a clean mark and kicked a nice goal. Neither of those feats might have happened if not for the Lions Academy, but we'll get to that.

Archie Smith was named in the Lions' squad and didn't make the final cut, but the athletic, jumping ruckman might get a chance before the home and away season, another fact unlikely without the academy.

"We look at it and say, rather than us going to America to find a long-term prospect, our long-term prospects should come out of Queensland," Lions list manager Rob Kerr told AFL.com.au.

"There's limitations on your resources, and I would have thought the resources we're putting in to try to convert non-traditional types in Queensland would be our go. We might have a look at Ireland, but our first preference would be to find kids in Queensland."

The academy is a development and coaching program designed for players between 12-18 years from the Lions' AFL designated Queensland zones and gives them priority access to the players at draft age.

The objectives for the Lions Academy are two-fold: one, to identify Queensland kids with talent and improve them as junior footballers and two, to use the program as a vehicle where they can attract some first-choice athletes to AFL football.

 

[BlackGun1]

Did anyone here watch the Academy trial match on Wednesday night? Watched about three quarters and for
mine I thought nick Jackson was outstanding, absolutely towelled Hammellmann up. Another bloke who hasn't been mentioned a whole lot here but really impressed me was Jacob Watson. Knows how to find the footy, covers the ground really well and can hit a target. Could be one to watch

 

[El_Scorcho]

Did anyone here watch the Academy trial match on Wednesday night? Watched about three quarters and for
mine I thought nick Jackson was outstanding, absolutely towelled Hammellmann up. Another bloke who hasn't been mentioned a whole lot here but really impressed me was Jacob Watson. Knows how to find the footy, covers the ground really well and can hit a target. Could be one to watch

I've posted about Nick Jackson before in this thread. He should have been around the mark to get drafted last year but did his quad in the lead up to the championships. He's still eligible this year as an over ager. Keep an eye out for him, great size and lives and breathes his footy.

 

[BlackGun1]

I've posted about Nick Jackson before in this thread. He should have been around the mark to get drafted last year but did his quad in the lead up to the championships. He's still eligible this year as an over ager. Keep an eye out for him, great size and lives and breathes his footy.

Yeah he seems like a real natural, knows when to spoil and reads the play so well. Has some wheels on him over 20 metres aswell. As a matter of fact he was playing full forward and kicking bags in the Aspley ressies last year, could be a real weapon if his development continues

 

[Haso]

Updated Academy Squads
February 28, 2014
Sam Lord

The Hyundai Brisbane Lions Academy revealed its revised squad list on Thursday, with close to 200 young Queenslanders named across seven different age groups.

U14 Casey Voss (son or three-time premiership Captain Michael) and U18 Jackson Dickfos (nephew of former Bears/Lions defender Danny) are two familiar names who feature as part of the squad.

Also included are AIS/AFL Academy members Liam Dawson and Matt Hammelman, who headline an U18 division which is sure to be closely scrutinised in the lead-up to the 2014 AFL National Draft.Lions fans will get an opportunity to see some of the Academy U18s live in action THIS Saturday 1 March when they face members of the Gold Coast SUNS’ Academy at Yeronga from 1pm.

The Lions Academy hold an enviable 4-0 record against the SUNS’ Academy in competitive U18 matches, and will be hoping to make it five in a row come Saturday.

Will be great to see how Dawson goes compared to, say, Conway, in the draft.

 

[BigCat2]

I see of the over-agers, Tickner, Bertoli-Simmonds, Radford, Uebergang and Jackson have been retained.

Good to see Tickner there. However not sure if he can be selected for the U18 Championships (a pre-requisite to be able to be listed as Academy player at the draft), given he's already played as a 17 and 18 year old. Hopefully injury free, he can step it up another level.

Uebergang was highly rated earlier, but took a year off to concentrate on studies (I think Gibbo mentioned this?), so makes sense for him to get another go. Nick Jackson from above posts sounds like he was affected by injury, and will go around again.

Interesting that there are many more names for 17yos than 18yos. Wonder if that reflects the depth of talent, or just how the Academy looks to tighten numbers getting closer to draft age.