Houlihan Herald-Sun Article

OZBomb

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Thread starter #1
Really enjoyed the piece on Houlihan and lets hope he has a real breakout year... or enough that he's valuable at trade time.

Good to see Josh playing at the Bullants... He's great at that level and with the new 12-10 rule players like him and Diggers will really help.

RYAN Houlihan is acutely aware his time is now as an AFL footballer.

For all the talent he has displayed since making his Carlton debut as a 17-year-old in 2000, it will mean very little if Houlihan doesn't make 2006 the season where he becomes part of the AFL elite.

Twenty-four last month and with 117 games behind him, the man known as "Hoops" (hoola-hoop) has prepared himself like never before so he can become a bona-fide member of Carlton's midfield.

At 186cm and 86kg his physique stood out this week in Newcastle as the Blues' players went on their daily swimming routine.

It has been a conscious effort from Houlihan to prepare himself for the rigours of regularly playing in the midfield, a role he knows he must take on.

"I'm 24 and people have been saying I was finished when I was 21. So I'm used to criticism, but I accept this has to be a good year for me," Houlihan said.

"I haven't had the endurance at the elite level to play regularly in the midfield, but now I'm very confident that I could go with anyone in the competition.

"Because I knew I was going into the midfield, I got stronger and fitter. I was at a stage last year where I was getting tagged in the midfield and couldn't find the ball.

"Denis (Pagan) put me to the half-back line so I could run off. I was hiding away, but now I've come to the realisation that I've got to take the next step for the club and myself."

Houlihan is part of a gifted quartet, his brothers Damian (Collingwood, North Melbourne) Adam (Geelong, Richmond) and Josh (St Kilda) all having been drafted.

Only Josh hasn't played a senior AFL game, although at 22 he hasn't given up hope and is planning to pursue his dream with the Northern Bullants this year after spending 2005 at Coburg.

Then Houlihans from Wahgunyah are proud of what they've achieved, although Ryan knows there is a school of thought that considers them largely to be wasted talents.

That's another reason why he's desperate to become an elite midfielder, as distinct from a talented kid who never quite grasped the chance.

"I don't want to get washed away so we are known as a family of wasted talent. A lot of people could say there's a lot of talent there so I want to be the one who does go on," he said.

"Damian is retired and raising a family at Sunbury after winning a flag with Corowa-Rutherglen and another couple with Gisborne under Mick McGuane.

"Adam has been training jockeys in Nick Ryan, Matt Pumpa and Mark Pegus, doing really well at it. And Josh is trying to have a good year to get another chance."

To back up Houlihan's belief that he's in the best condition of his career, he recently ran 11.05 and 11.06 around Princes Park – 35 seconds better than his previous best.

He plans to learn from teammates such as Anthony Koutoufides and Nick Stevens on how to play in the middle.

"I'm not a dumb footballer, but in the midfield I have a lot to learn. I like watching Kouta around the contests. I've learnt a lot from him, how to work and get into position, how to read the ball off the hands, whereas I would go and stand at contests and hope to get it on the fly and be out and all clean," he said.

"Nick Stevens finds a way to get the ball by running, he'll run anyone off their legs or go in and get it when necessary."

Houlihan is also making plans for life after football, his interest being in fashion where he hopes to start working each Thursday on his day off. Nothing fancy, just store work for a start so he gets a feel.

But he hopes that contingency plan is a long way off as he strives to become Ryan Houlihan the elite midfielder from Ryan Houlihan the kid with promise.
Source Herald-Sun
 

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Silvagnis

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#2
Ditto Ozbomb.

I'm expecting a big year from Houlihan forward of the centre next year and he would probably be our silkiest player when on song. :thumbsu:

I just hope the experiment with him down back has improved his accountability and increased his respect for the job defenders have when your midfield doesn't apply pressure.
 

Stig O'Hara

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#3
cypher said:
I just hope the experiment with him down back has improved his accountability and increased his respect for the job defenders have when your midfield doesn't apply pressure.
Good point.
Whether he has learned from this will determine his future.
 

gandaal

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#4
His best game last season was against Port in one of the early rounds where he played entirely in the midfield, and he was easily best on ground. It's the position he needs to play and it's the position we need him to play if we're going to improve.
 

HBF

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#9
Anyone who posseses the skill that Hoops has should be a very good footballer at worst. Like i've said before, he just needs to improve his accountability and his attack on the ball. Looking forward to a big year from him this year.
 

audas

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#10
strawberry pancakes ?

He is a great footballer, no boubt. Does have a shirking problem however the blues are a new team so hopefully hoops can re-invent himself. If he can we are looking a lot better, maybe even good, in the midfield. Lets get behind him and give him the encouragement he needs.

Leyton says COME ON !!
 

OZBomb

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Thread starter #11
audas said:
strawberry pancakes ?

He is a great footballer, no boubt. Does have a shirking problem however the blues are a new team so hopefully hoops can re-invent himself. If he can we are looking a lot better, maybe even good, in the midfield. Lets get behind him and give him the encouragement he needs.

Leyton says COME ON !!
I've boycotted Leyton ever since the incident where he suggested the lines-man kept calling balls in because his opponent had the same colour skin.
 

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cypher said:
I think Thrawn retired too early!
Maybe but then I think he also has a point. Every year we get feel good stories about players entering make or break years. Every year we hear how this year will be different. Most years those players end up on the scrap heap.

I have to wonder what is happening with these players who take 6 years to have this epiphony and realise they are throwing their careers away. You'd think the coach barking at you all the time and getting dropped back to the VFA would be a good indicator that you have to knuckle down.

Some people are naturally apathetic and it will take a great deal of mental strength for those types not to slip back into bad habits.

Good luck Houla, hope you tear it up, but I won't be cashing all my excitement chips just yet.
 

Funkalicous

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#17
The Old Dark Navy's said:
I have to wonder what is happening with these players who take 6 years to have this epiphony and realise they are throwing their careers away.
I think that might just be part of growing up. You'll find a lot of players love their footy, but don't enjoy the other stressful obligations attached to being an AFL player. Training would be the most obvious one. Not to mention preparation and dedication.

There's more to footy than just being talented. I'm sure no one is reminded of this more than Fevola and Houlihan.

But I agree that these articles are little more than 'feel good' stories. Every club has them. Luckily most people take them with a grain of salt, otherwise we'd be having 16 different "Sylvia Dominates" type of threads on page 1 of the main board. :thumbsdown:

Having said that though, I've always had time for Houlihan. Since the night he was a match winner against Essendon, I've been a real advocate of his. Even when his form has deserved the opposite.
 

mojo31

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#18
The Old Dark Navy's said:
Maybe but then I think he also has a point. Every year we get feel good stories about players entering make or break years. Every year we hear how this year will be different. Most years those players end up on the scrap heap.

I have to wonder what is happening with these players who take 6 years to have this epiphony and realise they are throwing their careers away. You'd think the coach barking at you all the time and getting dropped back to the VFA would be a good indicator that you have to knuckle down.

Some people are naturally apathetic and it will take a great deal of mental strength for those types not to slip back into bad habits.

Good luck Houla, hope you tear it up, but I won't be cashing all my excitement chips just yet.

Have to agree ODN.

Another fluff piece on a player wanting to be a midfielder. Betts and now Houlihan.
They might be a part of a rotation and be the 7th and 10th player used for a bit of a spurt through there but they are better forward of the ball. Setting up goals and carrying the ball in Houla's case and snagging a crumb in Betts situation.

Houlihan does not have the appetite for the crunces in the packs and we dont have Diesel, Ratten and Kouta feeding him the ball to be able to get away with it. Play him on the wing at times and the rest on the half forward flank. We will be competitive in the ruck and thats all and cant afford to attack to much around the stoppages with only Kouta capable of being a consitent cleareer of the ball. An improved Bentick should help but at best we can only be considered competitive.
What we do lack is pace and skills and thats where Houla can excel and he is better in space rather than in congestion. So the forward line is where he is suited flashing in and out of games. With the occasional run on the ball to keep the other mids fresh and to throw a different look at teams and mix it up.
 

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#19
He will get plenty of time in the middle as we lack silky players who have good foor skills, whether he makes it there is another question.

Old habits die hard and having played and coached at a good level for years I know players like Houlihan don't change with a click of the fingers and some increased work in the gym. It's all in the mind, simple as that!

Having said that, with a bigger body size and increased fitness level he will have the confidence to have a crack in the middle but I'm not holding my breath, he has plenty to prove and much to lose!

At AFL level those that succede have mental toughness and a strong work ethic in any situation in all types of weather - can Houlihan do this?
 
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