Tom Collier (Key Def / Ruck Rover) - 25 March 1989, 192cm 86kg. Tasmania/Lauderdale
"Weaver: Has a reasonable record at CHB where he is a good stopper. What will attract AFL clubs is his ability to influence games when cast as a makeshift ruck-rover. He has good foot skills (on the right at least), can run with the ball, and can find it in the packs. Decision making can get better but defenders who can make a spoil and then switch into midfield-like mode are pretty important in modern footy. Might drop a little because he was elligable last year and overlooked, so there are some question marks there.
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"Recruiter 1: When he was moved onto the ball, he made a big impact in the second quarter. This got Tasmania back into the game. Coming into the championships, Collier had played in the senior state game for Tasmania against Queensland. He was widely considered to be the player to watch entering these championships for them.
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"Recruiter 2: Collier was really good for three quarters, but probably dropped off a bit in the last term. He plays a rugby-style of game, he's not a great decision-maker, but he is developing a strong body.
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"Kevin Sheehan: Tall defender who averaged 23 disposals and showed he could run the lines throughout the championships, providing rebound from the back half. Much improved player who has already been prominent for Tasmanian Devils in the VFL. He was ranked fourth overall in contested possessions, with 11 per match.
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"AFL Insider:
AFL Positions:
AFL teams are going to have very different ideas for where they want Collier to play. Several teams don't have a real full back and Collier could solve that problem. He reads the play very well at half back, so he could fill a role there. He can also run and a spot on the wing, where he can mark in space and also kick goals on the run, would also suit him.
Perfect Fit For:
Richmond don't have Gaspar now and some of their defenders are undersized and played out of position. Collier would help them a lot. It would also continue the Tasmanian tradition that Richmond have developed over the years, and with Riewoldt at one end and Collier at the other they would have some exciting and talented players to rebuild around. But Collier is unlikely to be Richmond's first round pick, as they wouldn’t want to use a top 3 pick on him, and he may not be around for their priority and second round picks.
**********.net prediction:
Maybe somewhere around the second half of the first round. Hawthorn don't have any real draft need, so they might draft Collier and use him all over the ground. In the future, they could put him in the middle with Bailey, Hodge and Mr Kennedy Version 3.0 and have a huge size advantage over their opponents. But next season, it would be expected that Collier would be a tall defensive option. If Hawthorn want to grab another Tasmanian prospect, then Collier is the one they should go for.
AFL Fantasy Outlook:
Like many other players, it will depend on where he is played. Although even at full back he would bring in a useful amount of fantasy points. An advantage that he might have over many other first-year players in 2008 is that he has been a regular for Tasmania in their VFL side, he already has the experience of playing against many AFL-listed forwards, so the step up to the AFL won't be that big for him so he should play many games next year.
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"Quigley: I probably wouldn’t have had him as BOG but he stood out for me as the best draft prospect of any that I saw play over the weekend. He played on ball or at half back and looks like he has all the talent and skills to be a star at the next level. He generally positioned himself behind the ball and would charge through the packs. For a tall guy he worked well in and under and got his fair share of hard balls. What was most impressive though was his running. He has a fantastic burst of speed that takes him away from his marker and through tackles. He is also very elusive, agile and strong which makes a very imposing package when you are matched up against him in the middle. He had two or three jaw dropping runs through the middle of the ground that left defenders sprawled in his wake. His disposal was also first class setting up goals for others. I don’t recall any overhead work so I can’t say how go
od that side of his game is. He had a hard tag the entire game and worked around that fairly well. He didn’t get huge possession numbers but the ones he did get were all class.
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"ant555: Tom Collier – 192cm, 86kg – Lauderdale Tas. Has played a lot of footy at CHB but he showed during the Nationals that he was just as good as a ruck rover. He was overlooked as a bottom age player last year but has come on in leaps and bounds this year. Has VFL experience with the Devils. He isn’t quick but he has good skills and uses the ball well. Likes to run with the footy and is also good at finding the footy in a pack. Was easily Tasmania’s best midfielder in their last champ game. Given his ability to play back or in the middle he will be well sort after.
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"Pykie: With Jesse Smith and Lachlen Hansen, Collier would because the final piece into what, on paper, looks like become the best CHB line in the competition in the future.
Collier posses' great agility for his size, and is the modern footballer, whom coaches love to switch to in a dire crisis. A big man capable of playing on the shorts and talls. He is tall enough to play KP, but smart, and explosive enough to play midfield, where perhaps he may end up later in his career. Already playing in the VFL, and doing exceptionally well, Colliers game is based around his ability to run off his opponent, and break the lines across center half back. He has good footskills, although not to the caliber of his comparisons in Smith and Birchall. However, he has the potential to fill into a very likable frame in terms of AFL ""likeability"". He already has broad shoulders, and is built very nicely for a 18 year old. He would definitely be capable of playing in 2008 for an AFL club, where i think he would become an essential part of the backline/midfield for a decade to come.
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"Ant555: Tom Collier – 192cm, 86kg-Lauderdale TAS. ( RR/CHB). I have Tom in my midfield review as well but he has to be in the backs too given he has played a lot at CHB. Not sure if he will have the height to be an outright KP player but he certainly can play the running half back role and his defensive skills are good. Uses the footy well. Reads the game well. There is no doubt clubs will like his ability to play back or in the middle.
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"AFL Insider:
The Swans are in an interesting situation, they might still have a year or two as a contender before some of their big stars retire, so they might trade for another veteran or could keep their pick but add someone who can make an impact right away. Collier has senior experience at VFL level, and can step right into the lineup with his new AFL club in round 1.
If Kennelly and Malceski are used more in the middle of the ground by Sydney, Collier could take a spot in the back line. Collier is a very versatile defender so he can play on nearly any type of forward, and if he is asked to he can also attack from the back, so at the Swans he would be very similar to Barry and C Bolton, and even a bit taller than those two.
Collier also has shown he can play in the middle of the action, so if Sydney used Collier and Goodes in the middle they would have a lot of size.
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