Francis bolsters Magpie midfield

[Dave The Man]

Collingwood added further depth to its midfield reserves when it acquired Tristan Francis from the Gippsland Power with pick 11 in the 2008 AFL Rookie Draft.

Francis, who ran a 20 metre sprint in 2.9 seconds at the Victoria state screening session last year, has joined fellow draftees Jaryd Blair, Luke Rounds, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, and John Bennell as young, emerging midfielders acquired by the club in this year’s draft.

“It’s been really good,” Francis told CTV after training.

“There have been a lot of differences from back in the under-18 days but I am really enjoying it and really enjoying the facilities and all the boys are really good.”

The 19 year old has joined former Power players, Blair, Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, Tyson Goldsack, Brett McCaffer and veteran Leigh Brown.

“Everyone (here) is a lot more professional and a lot more focused on recovery and getting up for the next session and having to train every day.”

Francis contributed 21 matches for the Power and averaged 19 disposals, four marks and four tackles a game. He played as a midfielder but stated he wouldn’t mind playing another role for the club.

“Never really played much defence it’s a bit of a change but I definitely would like to play in defence or midfield where I spent most of my time back in Gippsland.”

His teammates have already cottoned on to Francis’ nickname that he has carried since playing in the days of “Vic Kick” .

“They call me Trick or Tricka. I have been called that since I can remember so I don’t know why. They call me a few other things too I think.”

Interview Video Shortly

Story Here

 

[shawthing09]

“Never really played much defence it’s a bit of a change but I definitely would like to play in defence or midfield where I spent most of my time back in Gippsland.”

Is it just me or does that make no sense what so ever? FWIW I think the fact that he projects as someone who could do a good role on quicker medium and small fowards as a back pocket player is part of what we drafted him for.

 

[well left]

Seems he has either identified back pocket as his way onto the senior list and into the team or he has been advised that is where they are looking to start him off. I suspect it is the latter and he is happy to take his chance. Either way it is a deficiency that we have and it looks like they are trying to rectify it which I am happy with.

 

[rotten pie]

Good to see another Francis in the team, i hope he turns into a Tony rather than a Matty.

 

[Dave The Man]

Interview Video Here:

[YOUTUBE]nqUNSWpXPXg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

“Never really played much defence it’s a bit of a change but I definitely would like to play in defence or midfield where I spent most of my time back in Gippsland.”

Is it just me or does that make no sense what so ever?

It's incorrectly punctuated and transcribed:

“Never really played much defence. It’s a bit of a change, but I definitely would like to play in defence... Or midfield was where I spent most of my time back in Gippsland.”

Make more sense?

Just another example of Jonothan Bernard being useless.

 

[Dave The Man]

It's incorrectly punctuated and transcribed:

“Never really played much defence. It’s a bit of a change, but I definitely would like to play in defence... Or midfield was where I spent most of my time back in Gippsland.”

Make more sense?

Just another example of Jonothan Bernard being useless.

Agree about Jonathon being Usless where is Nick Hulett?

 

[rotten pie]

Looks to have a bit of size and build about him. How tall is he DTM?

 

[Kirby]

^I was about to post the same thing. He has muscular legs. Looks powerful.

 

[Dave The Man]

Looks to have a bit of size and build about him. How tall is he DTM?

181cm

 

[FIGJAM]

Out of Jaxon, Roundsy and Tricka, we have to get a decent back pocket form them.

If they can midfield it too then all the better!

 

[wicksy]

Agree about Jonathon being Usless where is Nick Hulett?

Can someone honestly tell me how JB got a job?
I mean, what the hell!!!!!

BRING BACK NICK!!! BRING BACK NICK!!!

 

[Dave The Man]

Can someone honestly tell me how JB got a job?
I mean, what the hell!!!!!

BRING BACK NICK!!! BRING BACK NICK!!!

Think he knew someone at the Club and Got a Job from being a Mate

 

[wicksy]

Think he knew someone at the Club and Got a Job from being a Mate

You're kidding right?!!

 

[Dave The Man]

You're kidding right?!!

Well I don't know how he got the job but could be a reason

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Nick Hulett now has an actual job with the club as the media manager.

Probably doesn't really leave him much time to do the interviews and such - It'll be interesting to see if he still hosts "The Squawk" this year, or if we have to put up with Bernard for that as well...

 

[Dave The Man]

Nick Hulett now has an actual job with the club as the media manager.

Probably doesn't really leave him much time to do the interviews and such - It'll be interesting to see if he still hosts "The Squawk" this year, or if we have to put up with Bernard for that as well...

Wasn't Hulett always the Media Manger? He seemed to stop after Dids and Heater Indecent

 

[FloreatPica17]

Can someone honestly tell me how JB got a job?
I mean, what the hell!!!!!

BRING BACK NICK!!! BRING BACK NICK!!!

I'm still trying to work out who is Brett McCaffer

But of course he meant to write Brent Macaffer

 

[Skade]

They should give Johnson#26 the job.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

They should give Johnson#26 the job.

They should give me the job - I've got a Communication degree, some broadcast experience and the audio/video editing skills necessary for it

Of course, I'd probably geek out and ask really nerdy questions whenever I got ahold of one of the players...

 

[The Royal Sampler]

We should post a cheat sheet for Bernard to use in interviews.

Questions
1. You played predominately in <insert position here> in 20__, is that where you see yourself spending most of your time this season or do you have another role mapped out for you?
2. You suffered from <insert ailment here> last season, how are you managing now and what impact has that had on your preparation for round 1?
3. What aspects of your game in particular are you looking to improve this season?

... any other suggestions?

 

[Optimax]

They should give me the job - I've got a Communication degree, some broadcast experience and the audio/video editing skills necessary for it

Of course, I'd probably geek out and ask really nerdy questions whenever I got ahold of one of the players...

You have finished uni already?

Cool apply, you cant be worse then captain canada even if you do ask nerdy questions

 

[FIGJAM]

... any other suggestions?

How many chicks have you bagged as a direct result of being a Magpie, and please elaborate on your answer.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Nice work.

 

[Snoop Dog]

if Jb is the biggest problem the club have then I suspect they are going very well.

Said all along Francis very likely to see game time this yr. He will be the one promoted after Rd 11 under the new rule IMO