Universal Love Brad Close

[Cursed Cat]

Does anyone do the subtle little tap better than this lad in the AFL? No stats for it but he pulls them off every week. Absolute gun. Cleanest hands I’ve possibly ever seem.

Absolutely Mac Straddy - I mentioned elsewhere; Close casually taps the ball to Joel for his last ever AFL goal - brilliant.
What’s even more brilliant is he pulls off the exact same play in the 1st quarter - declines to take possession and simply guides the ball via an open-palmed tap to Blicavs (who kicked a behind).

One of his late 1st quarter paddles was in the forward pocket (I think to Hawkins) was casual perfection, too.

Does stuff like that all the time.

 

[#6 Thorp #7 Selwood LOL]

He wears the sleeves so he has somewhere to hide all of his tricks.

 

[MacStradbroke]

He wears the sleeves so he has somewhere to hide all of his tricks.

I saw him recently away from football and this lad has some proper serious skinny arms! There is nothing of him. If you didn’t already know there’s not a chance in hell you’d pick him for an AFL footballer.

Serious, what an absolute steal and elite talent ID! Every chance he never plays AFL if someone from Catland didn’t see the special ingredients he possesses.

 

[Kitcat]

I saw him recently away from football and this lad has some proper serious skinny arms! There is nothing of him. If you didn’t already know there’s not a chance in hell you’d pick him for an AFL footballer.

Serious, what an absolute steal and elite talent ID! Every chance he never plays AFL if someone from Catland didn’t see the special ingredients he possesses.

Yet I think of him as being a fairly solid build.

 

[MacStradbroke]

Yet I think of him as being a fairly solid build.

Must be wearing a thicker jumper than the others. The only thing solid about him is his footy iq!

 

[Kitcat]

Must be wearing a thicker jumper than the others. The only thing solid about him is his footy iq!

The hoops help. That is why he will never go to Collingwood, Hawks or North.

 

[kittypurry]

I thought I'd mention Brad Close is definitely our pinup boy in the eyes of the youngins. I know that many teenage girls / early twenties who think he is the hottest thing out lmao. Love that for him. And for them.

I see him becoming quite the cult figure at the cattery.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

What a role this gem plays for us - elite pressure , incredible endurance , fumble free and surprisingly tough and hard for his size.
Just love what he brings , especially the decision making as you know he's 2 moves ahead when he takes possession.

Good things happen when he's around the footy , highly skilled natural footballer who doesn't need to take possession to impact - some great taps ( especially to the skipper and Smith) with the over the head handball to Parfitt the icing on the cake

 

[dazbroncos]

I know mid field is where many small forwards want to end up… and I have no doubt he could do it… but his up and back work and his marking and kicking is so good I hooe he stays where he’s at.

So many good 1% eta too… amazing player from a rookie pick.
Will get a good pay rise from rookie to senior list this year. Well deserved

Go Catters

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I thought I'd mention Brad Close is definitely our pinup boy in the eyes of the youngins. I know that many teenage girls / early twenties who think he is the hottest thing out lmao. Love that for him. And for them.

I see him becoming quite the cult figure at the cattery.

I've seen a bit of that too

Heard a young Johnny Depp comparison from somewhere...Johnny might have had a better shimmy in his day, but I think Brad's got a him covered on the football front.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I know mid field is where many small forwards want to end up… and I have no doubt he could do it… but his up and back work and his marking and kicking is so good I hooe he stays where he’s at.

So many good 1% eta too… amazing player from a rookie pick.
Will get a good pay rise from rookie to senior list this year. Well deserved

Go Catters

Stokesy 2.0

So happy we've got him. With him, Stengle and Miers our smalls are set for the next 5-10 years.

 

[CharacterFirst]

Tremendous player.

I think they are grooming him for greater leadership as well.

Seems to have a level head on his shoulders.

 

[Spearman]

I think someone posted before that Close has been in a few grand finals in recent years. He sure seem at home playing in the big one.
We need to remember he's not just some green kid recruited out of school. He's a veteran of the wars. I can see him being a part of leadership, even in a non-LG capacity.

 

[Sky]

“Premiership forward Brad Close”

Come on you did it for Rhys Stanley

1

Rhys Stanley

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

6.4

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

27.6

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.5

3star

CL

5.0

5star

HO

21.5

5star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

6.4

4star

CL

3.0

5star

HO

33.0

5star

 

[Heckler]

Good players get the ball then look to do something with it.
Champs know what to do before they take possession.
Close does his magic without needing possession.
His ability to anticipate the unfolding play is elite.
It is though he resides one step ahead of the play.
In a blink, out of nowhere the unexpected happens.
His deft taps and pokes etc, create possessions for teammates.
Leaving us bewildered only after his magic happens.
Like the Swans after his overhead handball to Parfitt.
Not just now and again, but a number of times per game

Combined with exceptionally clean skills, Smart decisions
Relentless hard running and calmness under pressure
He may be small, but his value to the team is immense.

 

[Turbocat]

One would think a few recruitment managers would be asking how he failed to get drafted?

 

[Mattttty]

Good players get the ball then look to do something with it.
Champs know what to do before they take possession.
Close does his magic without needing possession.
His ability to anticipate the unfolding play is elite.
It is though he resides one step ahead of the play.
In a blink, out of nowhere the unexpected happens.
His deft taps and pokes etc, create possessions for teammates.
Leaving us bewildered only after his magic happens.
Like the Swans after his overhead handball to Parfitt.
Not just now and again, but a number of times per game

Combined with exceptionally clean skills, Smart decisions
Relentless hard running and calmness under pressure
He may be small, but his value to the team is immense.

Love this! So true. A really unique and special player. He's getting more notice but still flies under the radar and deserves the praise.

 

[FredLeDeux]

One would think a few recruitment managers would be asking how he failed to get drafted?

They were probably concentrating on Tim Kelly instead

 

[Heckler]

One would think a few recruitment managers would be asking how he failed to get drafted?

1: They have a preset idea of what they are seeking.
2: They don't appreciate what is in front of them.
3: They are quick to discard for minor flaws.
4: They can't think outside the box.
5: They don't understand X-factor
6: They are scared to take a risk.
7: They are not visionary.

 

[jim boy]

One would think a few recruitment managers would be asking how he failed to get drafted?

To be fair - we overlooked him on multiple drafts. You see his skill, but you also see he is 180cm and 68kg and you think that he is just going to be pushed off the ball too easily in the big league. An advertised kicking efficiency of 51% didn't help. Definitely huge risks there. But he has always be a tenacious competitor and has the right character, so we took a big punt. A big punt that has had a big payoff.

 

[Turbocat]

To be fair - we overlooked him on multiple drafts. You see his skill, but you also see he is 180cm and 68kg and you think that he is just going to be pushed off the ball too easily in the big league. An advertised kicking efficiency of 51% didn't help. Definitely huge risks there. But he has always be a tenacious competitor and has the right character, so we took a big punt. A big punt that has had a big payoff.

still... the gf would have some searching their notes. Better credentialed players have not played as well as he did.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I know mid field is where many small forwards want to end up… and I have no doubt he could do it… but his up and back work and his marking and kicking is so good I hooe he stays where he’s at.

So many good 1% eta too… amazing player from a rookie pick.
Will get a good pay rise from rookie to senior list this year. Well deserved

Go Catters

True Daz but I think Close and Miers are de facto midfielders in that they roam all over the ground and are link players between the arcs , as well as forward threats - a testimony to their incredible endurance. Even Stengle and Rohan were playing further up the ground than usual towards the end of the season.

Incredible how we've gone from trying to keep the ball inside F50 with pressure forward like Dalhaus and Atkins a few seasons ago to having our small forwards wreak havoc all over the field this season.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

1: They have a preset idea of what they are seeking.
2: They don't appreciate what is in front of them.
3: They are quick to discard for minor flaws.
4: They can't think outside the box.
5: They don't understand X-factor
6: They are scared to take a risk.
7: They are not visionary.

8. They want to land the superstar. Buddy. Tim. Half the budget on a single player.

 

[PzBlinky]

I'm only here because player name threads getting bumped at this time of year - especially players of Brad's calibre - make me nervous.

 

[4quarter_cat]

He was great. Lots of people laud the recruitment of Stengle but given he kicked 50 odd in the SANFL it was only a matter of where he ended up. Close could legit still be playing in the SANFL if we didn't select him, his numbers never jumped off the page, absolute diamond in the rough selection.

Did close ever play SANFL? I thought he came straight from North Gambier via the Western Boarder Football League (Max Rooke's stomping ground, John Mossop too I believe)