Ashley Arrowsmith

[peterss]

Ashley Arrowsmith - Another Rookie List Sensation!

Ashley Arrowsmith – EastKeilor FC/Calder Cannons/West Coast Eagles Rookie Listed Player

Ht: 192 cm Wt: 89 kg
Junior position – Wing
AFL position – Half Back, Wing
Tall wingman who is a strong mark and runs all day. He doesn’t have great pace and can get caught out by the quicker players. Has had a couple of games in defence and has done ok. Likes to play outside and play the link man. His kicking is a bit of a worry as he can be prone to turnovers in some games.
Strengths: Size.; Ability to run all day; Ability to kick goals while playing on the wing
Weaknesses: Lack of pace; Kicking.
Question Marks: The lack of pace and his habit of turning it over by foot are the big queries on him.
Draft Prediction: Pick 30 plus. Someone will take him and hope they can solve his kicking problems. Could make a very good attacking half back with good size.
Stats: Average 20 possessions and kicked 26 goals in 15 regular season games..Named in best 6 times.

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Similiar hairstyle to Matt Priddis and Matt also lacked pace when he was put onto our rookie list and look how good he is now - Methinks Arrowsmoth will be a smiliar player to that of Rosa on the wing.

 

[zing]

i thought he said on the nws his pros is his kicking

 

[RhEF JC]

i thought he said on the nws his pros is his kicking

Yeah, I've heard very mixed reports about his kicking too.

The one thing we can be sure of is that his kicking's not average- it's either very good or very bad

 

[zing]

whats wrong with is pace, by the sounds of it a snail can beat him by the reports i have heard

 

[imright]

Sounds like a bit of a contradiction. A wingman who has lacks pace. Why would you play a player who is supposed to be slow on a wing of all places?

 

[swannies]

whats wrong with is pace, by the sounds of it a snail can beat him by the reports i have heard

Yeah, but to give the kid credit, I heard he had hired a sprint coach to work on his speed after the ND.

The kicking thing puzzles me because he kicks 4 goals from the wing and 1 report says his kicking is a strength and another says that it's a weakness. Maybe kicking for goals is good but field kicking not so hot??

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

Yeah, but to give the kid credit, I heard he had hired a sprint coach to work on his speed after the ND.

The kicking thing puzzles me because he kicks 4 goals from the wing and 1 report says his kicking is a strength and another says that it's a weakness. Maybe kicking for goals is good but field kicking not so hot??

I think it's most likely he gets good penetration on his kicking but doesn't pin point passes well.

 

[Barts]

Lads, I know the boy personally. My family and his have been friends for years.

He is a good, long penetrating kick. But he sometimes misses targets under pressure. He may or may not want me saying this but his speed and overhead marking were the reasons Essendon stated they declined to pick him up.

Works very hard and will be one of the most professional trainers you will meet. He takes his footy very seriously and as far as I know he doesn't drink during the season either.

Most likely to be a wingman 3rd tall forward type player as he has very good endurance.

 

[zing]

bart u make your self sound old with your first line

be interesting that you say could be a third tall fwd. he would struggle get in an eagles fwd line with hansen, kennedy, brown, staker, jones, notte chuck in the resting ruckman

 

[peterss]

From the main eagles board - Heres the full Ashley Arrowsmith interview on East Keilor's site conducted by Chris Pepper.

SOURCE: http://eastkeilorfc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123&Itemid=1

(Chris Pepper) Thanks for your time Ash. You had a great TAC Cup season in 2007 which finished with a premiership medallion and more importantly for you, a Best On Ground performance. What was the reaction from a) yourself and b) the AFL clubs who were looking at you?

(Ashley Arrowsmith) Mate, to be apart of such a successful development club for the majority of 2 years was an absolute honour, and to have been given the opportunity to play on the biggest stage on Grand Final day was just a dream come true. Having lost the Grand Final last year, the boys were more determined this year to make a mark on the competition from round one. With only a select few knowing the importance of winning finals to give each individual maximum exposure to the onlookers from the AFL, Myself, along with many of the other boys, who tasted defeat last year, knew that the last day in September was the last chance we had of impressing the various recruiting staff from each AFL team.

I wanted to do was come away with the win and to be able to say to myself that I left nothing in the tank. To be truthful, the premiership meant more to me than the Best on Ground medallion, because I knew how hard the team had worked to taste success and it was a credit to each player the way they went about their season in the pursuit of the premiership. Sure I was very overwhelmed by the whole Best on Ground presentation, especially when you here the names of the likes of Dale Thomas and Brent Harvey who had been awarded the same medal in previous years. The feedback I was given by the majority of the AFL clubs was very promising and very interesting, but with no guarantees that I was going to be drafted, all I could do was to sit back and wait come draft day for my name to be hopefully called out.

(CP) Which clubs had spoken to you before the AFL draft? Which one gave you the biggest indication that they would pick you up?

(AA) I had spoken to 11 clubs before draft day and to tell you the truth not one sounded overly interested. Some of mates had been told by their respected clubs that they are now affiliated with that if they were still available that they would take them in the National draft. Prior to the draft I had 3 interviews with West Coast and they were the team that seemed the most interested, although as mentioned before they didn’t give any indication that they would take me if I was still available.

(CP) AFL Draft Day arrived. Where about did you think you would be called out (number range)?

(AA) A few days before the draft the AFL released a top 30 draft prospects list and much to my surprise I was mentioned. The day before the draft a phantom draft was released which had me going in the mid 30's to the Kangaroos. After all this hype my hopes were quite high and I was thinking that I would be called out anywhere in the top 40..... Not to be.

(CP) You listened to the draft on the radio as most of us did. What were your feelings as the names kept getting read out and none of them were yours?

(AA) Yes a few mates dropped past to listen to the call with me on the radio. By the time the first 50 had been called out I literally had no fingernails left and started to become agitated as more and more names were being revealed. I kept thinking maybe, just maybe someone will get me, they had to right, all these things in the press about me, today was meant to be a happy day.....WRONG! Pick 75 past, my name wasn’t called out and the quietness in the house signified the shock and disbelief of each and everyone that stood stunned before the radio aware of what had taken place.

(CP) When the realisation hit that you weren't drafted, what was that first thing that came to mind? What was the support like from family and friends?

(AA) Disbelief. I felt that I had given myself every opportunity to get onto a list and had worked overly hard over the off season to prepare myself for the step up to AFL football. However only 75 kids were drafted out of over 1700 applicants and unfortunately my name was not called out. Mum and Dad were awesome, as shocked as they very well were they offered fantastic support and were very quick to point out that not all was lost, the rookie and preseason drafts were just around the corner.

(CP) You were invited down to Essendon to train with them in the hope that they may pick you in the rookie draft. What was that opportunity like and how keen were they to select you?

(AA) Essendon were fantastic, they contacted myself and my manager straight after the draft and organised for me to venture down there to train with the senior group in the hope of being selected in either the preseason draft or the rookie draft. I had been approached by Hawthorn to train there but after consultation with my folks and my manager we decided that Essendon was ideal, as it was around the corner and that I would be given every opportunity to excel there. The experiences I had at Essendon were second to none, from the coaching staff to the property steward; they were extremely helpful and very welcoming. However yet again I was never given any indication that Essendon would take me in the upcoming drafts.

(CP) Did any other clubs show interest besides the Dons (and of course East Keilor)?

(AA) As mentioned above Hawthorn was keen to get me down to training. My manager was getting good vibes from the Kangaroos and Geelong and I had spoken to West Coast a few days prior to the draft, but yet again no solid evidence that I was going to be selected by either of the interested parties. My experiences at training with East Keilor were somewhat interesting. If Chris Pepper wasn’t trying to convince me to sign a contract worth a lousy $1000 dollars a game, then the senior coach, Peter Baxter was on my back about working harder and setting a better example to the group.

(CP) Then it happened: Pick 28 - West coast Eagles select 'Ashley Arrowsmith (Calder Cannons)' Your AFL dream is now a reality.

(AA)Well what a relief, I won’t mention what I said to my manager, but I will confirm that it contained a few expletives in an overly joked manor. Finally I had been given that opportunity that I need to get a foot in the door at a club and to prove to West Coast and myself that I am willing to give it my best shot and do myself and my family proud.

(CP) When do you leave for Perth?

(AA) I head off on the 1st of January at about 3pm; return on the 6th for a 3 day player induction into the AFLPA and then return to WA for the remainder of the football season to play in the WAFL, and hopefully one day get my chance to play a senior game in the AFL.

(CP) Finally Ash, how important has the East Keilor Football Club been to you?

(AA) Well from day 1, in the U/10's of 98', coached by the great man himself, Robert Linardon, I have had nothing but overwhelming support and guidance from the plethora of individuals who have slaved to make the club attractive to young individuals interested in perusing a career in AFL football. It is a credit to the hard work and dedication of the people who have worked behind the scenes to make the club successful on and off the field. My highlight of my East Keilor career would have to be winning the U/14 Grand final in 2003, where although we were not the most decorated side, we formed a bond that will stick with each of us forever. East Keilor has given me every opportunity I required to play at a higher level, from exceptional and dedicated coaching staff, to giving me the opportunity to gain exposure in the EDFL representative sides from 1999 to 2005. From there I was fortunate enough to be selected in the Calder Cannons regional side in the TAC Cup and here I am now. Without the countless hours that coaches spent with me from the East Keilor Football Club I wouldn’t be where I am now. 'The Family Club', says it all really, because that is what it is. The East Keilor Football Club will forever be kept close to my heart, it is apart of me and I have no hesitation in calling EAST KEILOR home!

(CP) Thanks for you time again Ash and the entire East Keilor Footy Club wish you all the best and will follow your career with great intrest.

(AA) Thanks Peps and Go Cougars!