Senior Matthew McLeod-Allison

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Aug 17, 2015
45,306
127,288
Victoria
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Matthew Allison




Matthew-Allison-CC-Vic-Metro-Draft-Combine-2020-300x195.png


Height194cm Weight81kg Current TeamCalder Cannons BirthdayJanuary 29, 2002

Image Credit: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos

POSITION: Tall Forward/Wing
DRAFT ANALYSIS: “Allison is a tall utility with terrific endurance, able to present as a key forward or ply his trade as a uniquely versatile wingman.” – Michael Alvaro
Calder Cannons prospect Matthew Allison is one in a number of Victorians to have shot onto the AFL Draft radar in 2020 despite not being able to contribute any top-age football. The 194cm utility managed 10 NAB League games among an improving Cannons list last year, while also earning selection in the Vic Metro Under 17 Futures side. He did not quite make the cut for the most recent AFL Academy intake, but was able to showcase his best traits during a couple of promising preseason trial games, where he averaged seven marks between the outings to further capture the attention of recruiters. While he predominantly proved his wares as a deep-lying key forward on those occasions, Allison was also seen on the wing as a bottom-ager and looked poised to rotate between the two posts this season. Such is his versatility, the Cannons were also prepared to play Allison across half-back, with plenty of potential to harness and an exciting base to develop.
STRENGTHS:
  • Endurance
  • Overhead marking
  • Versatility
  • Upside
IMPROVEMENTS:
  • Strength/power
  • Production
There is a lot of upside to what Allison brings to the table as a raw prospect who is still very much developing. One trait which remains consistent for the 18-year-old is his running capacity, which combines well with his toe off the mark to form an exciting speed-endurance mix. It is perhaps the key to what makes Allison so versatile, as he is capable of presenting as a key forward with his height and ability to gain separation, but can also grow into other roles such as the wing or high half-forward given his work-rate. The Calder prospect’s marking prowess is another attribute which is evident on the eye test, as he can often clunk the ball at its highest point once he has burned or worked over and opponent.
Allison is said to have done plenty of work with former Calder talent manager Tom Lonergan, who has helped him improve his bodywork and power. At 194cm and 81kg, he is still quite lean so a couple of preseasons in the gym should do wonders for his contested marking acumen and explosiveness. The positive with that factor is Allison could develop in those other roles outside of the key forward slot to ensure his ability to jostle with bigger key defenders is at the right level before being thrown in the deep end. His athletic base, particularly endurance-wise is already at a high standard and will aid his potential transition to the elite level even further.
He remains an especially raw type though, and 2020 was set to be the year for Allison to truly show what he is capable of. His averages in 2019; 8.2 disposals, 1.5 marks, and 2.9 tackles, convey quite a low rate of output and Allison only booted two goals for the year – albeit with less permanent time forward. He was set to gain much greater responsibility as one of Calder’s main focal points as a top-ager, which theoretically would have seen his production and consistency improve drastically. That was somewhat proven in his preseason performances, which yielded far better numbers and provided a glimpse into Allison’s eye-catching, high-marking potential.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Late – Rookie
Allison is one of the quintessential high-upside talents available in this year’s draft and is one who could well thrive in an elite environment. His most obvious improvement areas are ones which can be easily developed over a few preseasons and alongside high-level established talent, so perhaps clubs with the capacity to take on those prospective kind of players will look at Allison closely. Having earned a National Combine invite despite overlooked for the 2020 AFL Academy, there is clear interest in the Victorian prospect and his overall potential. The trimmed-down list sizes may see less clubs take on developmental players, but Allison is in the mix in terms of players who fall into said category. His athletic base and versatility will surely appeal to clubs, but they may wish to see him perform consistently in the extended Under 19 competition before acting.
NAB League Boys
SeasonTeamKHBDMCPUPTHOCLRI50R50GLGMKHDMHOTGDC
2019Calder Cannons36468215384429191632103.64.68.21.50.12.90.232
Total-36468215384429191632103.64.68.21.50.12.90.232



















 

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2021 Time Trial Top 10:


  1. Dan Hannebery
  2. Daniel McKenzie
  3. Jack Steele
  4. Jack Sinclair
  5. Sebastian Ross
  6. Ryan Byrnes
  7. Josh Battle
  8. Matthew Allison
  9. Bradley Hill
  10. Dan Butler
Allison begins his time well at the SAINTS....
 
New Saint's family tree is full of premiership branches
Peter Ryan
By Peter Ryan
December 12, 2020 — 4.10pm




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When former Carlton great Peter Bosustow heard St Kilda select Matthew Allison at pick 26 in Wednesday's national draft he thought to himself, "The bloodline continues".
That bloodline would have had Allison, a mobile forward who played football with Strathmore and went to St Bernard's in Essendon, on the cover of a bloodstock sales catalogue if he was a horse.


His father Brian is in Coburg's Hall of Fame and Team of the Century, having moved to the club, after a short stint in the Bombers' reserves, to play 174 games and feature in back-to-back premierships with the Lions in 1988-89.
With Phil Cleary as coach, Allison excelled in the halcyon days of the VFA when rough justice ruled.

"And he doesn't mind telling me about it either, " Matt joked after being drafted.
"He always had a bit of a joke with me: 'Are they drafting you or are they drafting me?' He was a bit of a legend. I never got to see him play but he went all right, Dad."
New St Kilda draftee Matthew Allison has plenty of football in his family tree.

New St Kilda draftee Matthew Allison has plenty of football in his family tree.Credit:Getty Images
Brian's cousin is Brett "Fruity" Allison, a dual premiership forward with North Melbourne who kicked 276 goals in 219 games with the Kangaroos, slipping around Wayne Carey's feet to pounce on whatever the champion centre half-forward dropped, as well as winning mark of the year in 1991.
Another cousin of Brian's is "the Buzz", a nickname familiar to all footy fans of a certain age, but particularly fans of Perth and Carlton where Bosustow played in four flags.

APpearing in 1981 to win mark and goal of the year on his way to back-to-back premierships in 1981-82 under David Parkin before returning to Perth in 1984 with 65 games and 146 goals at the Blues to his name.
The 63-year-old "Buzz" laughs when he says he doesn't mind talking about himself but all his thoughts this week were for his cousin's son, proud that he will get a chance at the Saints.
"This is quite a unique [family line]. He will be the fifth one in the Bosustow-Allison clan if you want to call it that," Bosustow said.
That clan extends to Peter's late father Bob, who played 20 games for Carlton wearing the same No.4 as Peter in 1955-56, and married Victoria, or Vicky as she is known, who was an Allison.

Her brother was Brett's dad and Peter and Brian's uncle, Tom, who went to St Kevin's and played for West Coburg before playing 106 games for North Melbourne between 1963-1970.
He represented Victoria and was placed in a best and fairest before he moved to Canberra for work, which is how Brett came to grow up in the nation's capital before becoming a shinboner who ended up playing nine games with Sydney in the final year of his career.
Matt knows that background won't help him get a kick in a Saints' jumper, but when you hear him say that although he is happy to play anywhere he feels most comfortable playing as a high half-forward, you understand why.
Allison has always had good hands but growing about 10 centimetres in the last 18 months has helped him outreach his opponents in the air more often.

He has good speed and endurance too, posting a sub-three-second 20-metre sprint at the Vic Metro combine and recording the seventh-best time in the two kilometre time trial when measured nationally.
Most of all he is a grateful character with a booming smile who appreciates his dad's role and his mum's, Sharon McLeod, in preparing him for an adult life that starts at St Kilda.
And he might find a role in the marketing team too, such was his enthusiasm for what lies ahead at Moorabbin.
"I'm so pumped. They had an awesome year, the Saints, and they are only going to keep getting better. Fingers crossed they can win the flag next year," Allison said.
 
Zebras V North Melbourne

Zak Jones and Brad Crouch have helped propel Sandringham to a dominant 42-point win over North Melbourne in the club's second practice match of the season......
Leo Connolly added to the backline armada with his clean use off half-back, while Matthew Allison served as a focal point of the attacking 50.
The Saints' first-round draft pick found himself in good positions throughout the game, with time spent on burlier opponents set to accelerate his development, according to Batchelor.
 
BATCH's REVIEW


Mathew ALLISON's performance against the Kangaroos 2nd Practice Match
Matthew Allison

"Matty showed some really good signs with his patterning and was able to get to some good spots. Early days he was a little fumbly, but the pleasing thing was he actually got heaps of chances.


"He ran to the right spots, he did some good work, it was just a little bit of polish in the end that cost him a few marks. He’s our main St Kilda player down in the forward line at the moment, so he’s got a big workload and he’ll play on some bigger blokes.

Allison.jpg




"For him to continue to get better, he’s got to figure out ways to play on different opponents while he’s developing.


"He’s a great runner, but at times he’s going to have to be a key position player. When our ball movement improves throughout the year as well, he’ll reap the rewards."
 
Matthew Allison
"Matty is in a similar boat to Leo as well. He had some really good contests ahead of the ball and his running patterns are still going to be a big focus for him.

"Werribee had some really mature bodies, so like last week he’s going to find himself playing on some bigger bodies if he’s our key forward down there at the moment.

Matty.jpg


Matty Allison. Photo: Corey Scicluna.
"He might get that third tall defender a bit later down the track, which might allow him to showcase his strengths a little more.

"This is an exciting challenge for him over the next couple of weeks (about) how can he keep working through these different types of opponents."
 
“Matty played down back for us again, and while he didn’t have a huge amount of disposals, he still did a lot of things right.

“Matt did the right things with his defensive patterns, and the things that you don’t necessarily see, he was doing well for us.

“Little things like decision making around whether he goes up for a ball, or stays on the ground to defend will come for Matt.”
 

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Matthew Allison in BATCH's Review 29th June,2021
Allison.jpg



Matthew Allison at training. Photo: Corey Scicluna.
“Matty is progressing well.


“He’s had a couple of weeks where he’s been able to play with Darragh and Clav, and a couple of other experienced defenders at Sandy.


“We’re just keeping it really basic with him, things like getting to the correct side on defence, competing well in the air.


“The more consistent they get, the more we can start to progress the development of his other defensive traits.


“He’s picking it up really quickly, he’s desperate to learn and he’s heading in the right direction.”
 
BATCH'S REVIEW AGAINST THE BOMBERS RE Matty ALLISON


“Matty is improving a lot, he’s finding the ball a lot more and he’s feeling confident with the ball in his hands.


“He is starting to understand that his strengths allow him to have time with the ball and run with it.


“We’re now seeing the addition of him flying for his marks a little bit more, and the work he has been doing with Dylan Roberton has been great.


“We are now seeing it come through on game day.”
 
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