Gamble pays off for Thomas

[TradeDraft]

A MILD case of impatience is what influenced Collingwood draftee Josh Thomas to take the biggest gamble of his life nearly four months ago.
The 18-year-old Queenslander had played 11 games for the Gold Coast in the TAC Cup, and had been offered a contract to commit to the incoming AFL franchise.
However, a desire to play the game at the elite level before the Gold Coast's AFL entry in 2012 saw him reject the offer and rely on possible selection in the November NAB AFL Draft.
"I just wanted to get into the AFL environment as soon as I could," he said on Wednesday at the Lexus Centre.
"There were a few clubs that had shown interest. I just had to take the gamble I was going to get picked up.
"It was a risk but I was happy to take it. I'm glad I did now because it's paid off."
The Gold Coast cut him from its squad after he rejected the offer, and he spent the rest of the season rehabilitating a broken foot.
He said advice from 2008 Collingwood draftee Dayne Beams, who faced a similar dilemma in the lead up to his draft, influenced the decision that saw him taken by Collingwood with pick No.75 overall.

Guess they are getting all the ND Interviews out Now

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/88230/default.aspx

 

[mattys123]

I've liked everything I've seen and heard about Josh, and this article is no different.

He seems very eager to make his mark, and that's the reason why he didn't want to sit out for one year and play for the Gold Coast.

Always have to give credit to a kid who's willing to leave home and take a risk, rather then take the easy option of staying with his local team.

Will be good, it's a matter of how good IMO.

 

[JOELY]

His new teammate and fellow draftee Ben Sinclair (selection No.62) is also an inside midfielder, similar to the club's prized pick up of former St Kilda player Luke Ball.
Sinclair, 18, said they would both endeavour to model their games and training styles on Ball's.
"I've been watching the way he trains and he's a very good trainer," he said.
"I'll take a few tips from him."

nice to here. ball already paying off.

 

[TradeDraft]

I've liked everything I've seen and heard about Josh, and this article is no different.

He seems very eager to make his mark, and that's the reason why he didn't want to sit out for one year and play for the Gold Coast.

Always have to give credit to a kid who's willing to leave home and take a risk, rather then take the easy option of staying with his local team.

Will be good, it's a matter of how good IMO.

Agree,

I reckon he has some skills that Judd had as Speed out of Packs and Strength.

Not saying he is as good as Judd but he does some things Similar

 

[Optimax]

Agree,

I reckon he has some skills that Judd had as Speed out of Packs and Strength.

Not saying he is as good as Judd but he does some things Similar

one was pick 3

one was pick 75

Just settle boys, hopefully we have a gun but he was pick 75 lets wait and see

 

[_The_Magpie_Nut_]

one was pick 3

one was pick 75

Just settle boys, hopefully we have a gun but he was pick 75 lets wait and see

Absolutely. Going on what ive seen , he looks good but long way to go. Building up the skinny frame is priority for the kid.

 

[HFF]

Compared to Benny Sinclair, JT sounds like a kid in a candy store.

For such a skinny fella, young Ben has a very strong and deep voice.

Good to see both boys at the club though.

Very pleased to hear that JT was willing to take the risk (and reject an offer from GC) and we rewarded him with a spot on the senior list.

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

For such a skinny fella, young Ben has a very strong and deep voice. .........

Looking outside the box if he doesnt make it at AFL or VFL level he could make a nice little earner as a voiceover for David Neitz or even Mike Tyson.

 

[Joe-time]

I love to discuss everything and anything Collingwood. I also realise it's the off season so any scrap of information is like gold. But is there seriously a need for EVERY article posted on the pies website to have a thread made about it? Surely this discussion would be more appropriately had in the "welcome to collingwood..." threads?

 

[Antz]

I love to discuss everything and anything Collingwood. I also realise it's the off season so any scrap of information is like gold. But is there seriously a need for EVERY article posted on the pies website to have a thread made about it? Surely this discussion would be more appropriately had in the "welcome to collingwood..." threads?

I don't see it being a problem at all.

Can someone youtube the video of Thomas, Sinclair and Buckley please. The Bigpond video just doesn't seem to work for me for some reason.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Agree,

I reckon he has some skills that Judd had as Speed out of Packs and Strength.

Not saying he is as good as Judd but he does some things Similar

why stop at judd? lets go with Voss or Nathan buckley?

 

[TradeDraft]

I don't see it being a problem at all.

Can someone youtube the video of Thomas, Sinclair and Buckley please. The Bigpond video just doesn't seem to work for me for some reason.

Will have them up for Download Shortly

 

[Antz]

Will have them up for Download Shortly

Good work TD... Bigpond has been buffering for the last 30min LOL.

 

[loki04]

why stop at judd? lets go with Voss or Nathan buckley?

DTM was eluding to him breaking from congestion which does look Judd-esque from his highlights.


Not he is Judd or as good but definitely has the attributes to break clean from the center.

 

[TradeDraft]

DTM was eluding to him breaking from congestion which does look Judd-esque from his highlights.


Not he is Judd or as good but definitely has the attributes to break clean from the center.

That's what I meant

 

[joxstrap]

why stop at judd? lets go with Voss or Nathan buckley?

James Hird.

 

[danielnajdek]

Heard him on SEN earlier on. Sounds like he's fitting in nicely and knows he has to work hard to get into the team. I know every youngster says that but thought you guys would wanna know.

 

[shizzle]

I think Thomas will be a gun, seems like he could be a Sam Mitchell type player with perhaps a bit more pace, interesting to note both Thomas and Sinclair were born on Oct 1 1991.

 

[loki04]

I think Thomas will be a gun, seems like he could be a Sam Mitchell type player with perhaps a bit more pace, interesting to note both Thomas and Sinclair were born on Oct 1 1991.

Sam Mitchell is more known for his in and under work giving off with handballs.

This kid (on highlights) breaks out of congested packs with pace and kicks into the f50, hence the "like judd" calls.

That is not to say he will be the next Judd but that he has the ability to a) read the fall of the ball and b) meet it at pace, break cleanly from a pack and deliver inside 50.

I repeat this is not a Thomas will be the next Judd so all those who love to turn comments around into that can have a cuppa coffee and lie down.

 

[Optimax]

Sam Mitchell is more known for his in and under work giving off with handballs.

This kid (on highlights) breaks out of congested packs with pace and kicks into the f50, hence the "like judd" calls.

That is not to say he will be the next Judd but that he has the ability to a) read the fall of the ball and b) meet it at pace, break cleanly from a pack and deliver inside 50.

I repeat this is not a Thomas will be the next Judd so all those who love to turn comments around into that can have a cuppa coffee and lie down.

I understand what your saying but judd disposes with bullet like kicks into the forward fifty

This kid admittedly from his highlight videos has Shane obree style floating drop punts to his forward.

I can see the breaking from congestion but after the comparison falls down

 

[loki04]

I understand what your saying but judd disposes with bullet like kicks into the forward fifty

This kid admittedly from his highlight videos has Shane obree style floating drop punts to his forward.

I can see the breaking from congestion but after the comparison falls down

Yep he does have to work on his kicking and Judd was better kick (so he should be pick 3 and the other pick 75) but even Judd when he was 1st at WC he often kicked over Q.Lynch head or at his feet (by Judds own admission it was a weaker part of his game) by his 3rd year Judd learned to steady before kicking and became a much better disposer. Thomas action looks fine it looks like he lacks power in his kicks or is running to fast when kicking R.Shaw mk2.

People over looked Judds kicks because of the electric breaking from the pack and Judd had great core strength to break tackles (something that from highlights of Thomas wasn't apparent in his game).

Judd is stronger, better kick, taller, smarter and is actually a tough footballer.

As i said Thomas is not the next Judd but the ability to break cleanly is a great attribute if he can work on his other aspects ie kicking accuracy and depth, core strength ect we will have a player.

 

[Dundalis]

Yep he does have to work on his kicking and Judd was better kick (so he should be pick 3 and the other pick 75) but even Judd when he was 1st at WC he often kicked over Q.Lynch head or at his feet (by Judds own admission it was a weaker part of his game) by his 3rd year Judd learned to steady before kicking and became a much better disposer. Thomas action looks fine it looks like he lacks power in his kicks or is running to fast when kicking R.Shaw mk2.

People over looked Judds kicks because of the electric breaking from the pack and Judd had great core strength to break tackles (something that from highlights of Thomas wasn't apparent in his game).

Judd is stronger, better kick, taller, smarter and is actually a tough footballer.

As i said Thomas is not the next Judd but the ability to break cleanly is a great attribute if he can work on his other aspects ie kicking accuracy and depth, core strength ect we will have a player.

Then why make the comparison to Judd then? Why not to a lesser player with similar attributes to Thomas, like Foley from Richmond?

Some bloke can kick well, so he's the next Nathan Buckley, this other bloke is tough and gets the hard ball, so he's the next Michael Voss, this other bloke is fast so he's the next Judd. If there is only one solitary attribute that is akin to a great player, and nothing else whatsoever, then the comparison is a bit redundant IMO. And from watching the video, he doesn't burst out of packs with anywhere near the same level of explosion IMO, I'd say it looks good more due to a factor of weak competition. So I don't really think he shares anything with Judd to be honest. Plus from what I've heard while he has good speed, speed is not a massive strength for him, which makes me think that's not going to transition that effectively to AFL level.

I think if he ended up a poor man's Foley you would have to be pretty happy. A better comparison though would be a faster Brodie Holland. But because every kid that comes to Collingwood is going to be a star we have to concoct ways of making comparisons to superstars of the game.

 

[King Woodie]

I understand what your saying but judd disposes with bullet like kicks into the forward fifty

This kid admittedly from his highlight videos has Shane obree style floating drop punts to his forward.

I can see the breaking from congestion but after the comparison falls down

I think he was pretty clear that he didn't think the kid was going to be the next Judd, just that he appeared to possess a quality (as does Chris Judd) to accelerate from packs wth the football. Since Chris Judd is the best at this in the game, it is only fair that this quality is almost trademarked Juddy.

I agree. From his highlights (all I have seen from him) he does appear more of an exposive inside mid (which is also what Judd is) than a Sam Mitchell inside mid. I should also note that I consider Judd's kicking also to be possibly the biggest weakness in his game.

Thomas reminds me of a Brodie Holland type inside mid - good acceleration and toughness, but not great kicking skills. Kicks from both Thomas and Holland appear to share the same trajectoy.

 

[loki04]

Then why make the comparison to Judd then? Why not to a lesser player with similar attributes to Thomas, like Foley from Richmond?

Some bloke can kick well, so he's the next Nathan Buckley, this other bloke is tough and gets the hard ball, so he's the next Michael Voss, this other bloke is fast so he's the next Judd. If there is only one solitary attribute that is akin to a great player, and nothing else whatsoever, then the comparison is a bit redundant IMO. And from watching the video, he doesn't burst out of packs with anywhere near the same level of explosion IMO, I'd say it looks good more due to a factor of weak competition. So I don't really think he shares anything with Judd to be honest. Plus from what I've heard while he has good speed, speed is not a massive strength for him, which makes me think that's not going to transition that effectively to AFL level.

I think if he ended up a poor man's Foley you would have to be pretty happy. A better comparison though would be a faster Brodie Holland. But because every kid that comes to Collingwood is going to be a star we have to concoct ways of making comparisons to superstars of the game.

Comprehension isn't your strong point is it?

I didn't call him the next judd, I said his ABILITY to break from the stoppage is Judd esque.

Big difference.

 

[loki04]

I think he was pretty clear that he didn't think the kid was going to be the next Judd, just that he appeared to possess a quality (as does Chris Judd) to accelerate from packs wth the football. Since Chris Judd is the best at this in the game, it is only fair that this quality is almost trademarked Juddy.

I agree. From his highlights (all I have seen from him) he does appear more of an exposive inside mid (which is also what Judd is) than a Sam Mitchell inside mid. I should also note that I consider Judd's kicking also to be possibly the biggest weakness in his game.

Thomas reminds me of a Brodie Holland type inside mid - good acceleration and toughness, but not great kicking skills. Kicks from both Thomas and Holland appear to share the same trajectoy.

Exactly what I was saying.