Past Nicholas Graham

[Ellas Ellas]

As a general rule I don't like comparing players because I think it imposes a limit on a player which can turn out to be negative plus every player is naturally different and each individual player controls their own destiny.However, I compare players' style of football. With Graham, he can win the ball at the coal face and also win uncontested possession as well so he has a well rounded mix which is key nowaday and he's a sound user of the footy. His style in my eyes is similar to Gibbs actually. So how good is Graham going to become ? Well possibly very good because he's a very hard worker which everyone at the club says.

Why does Mick fk him around so much though?

Possibly the only thing he's got going against him is his lack of size but you look at someone like Robbie Gray and he's not really much bigger. Could he become a Robbie Gray for us?

 

[Crippa16]

Not going to compare him to Robbie Gray of course but I believe that he could become just as effective because he's a hard worker

 

[Aphrodite]

Nicky!

 

[Crippa16]

 

[coryne]

Nicky!

Good work for Nick, but pretty damning for the depth of the club !!!!!!!

 

[Blue Pulse]

Brilliant,

"More, We want more"

 

[Cringle]

I hold strong hopes for Nick. Reckon he has what it takes.

If he can build up a little and start having some presence on the field he'll fit well into the midfield. Has the leadership, poise, composure and skills a good midfield has.

 

[Cringle]

Does this guy take 3 showers a day? He's so ****ing clean!!!

Everything he's involved in he seems to do something well with. What a footy IQ.

Even the ol' man is impressed by this kid. Looks like a natural footballer.

If the Trio of Cripps, Graham and Whiley can surface then we'll be a contested midfield machine.

 

[Mr_Plow]

Does this guy take 3 showers a day? He's so ******* clean!!!

Everything he's involved in he seems to do something well with. What a footy IQ.

Even the ol' man is impressed by this kid. Looks like a natural footballer.

If the Trio of Cripps, Graham and Whiley can surface then we'll be a contested midfield machine.

He's a natural footballer with great skills, strong football IQ and vision/awareness.

Graham could well play predominantly on the outside as one of our better ball users.

That which he lacks in leg speed can be compensated for through his football smarts.

 

[Cringle]

He's a natural footballer with great skills, strong football IQ and vision/awareness.

Graham could well play predominantly on the outside as one of our better ball users.

That which he lacks in leg speed can be compensated for through his football smarts.

His speed isn't even THAT bad still. He's at the speed like a Sam Mitchell were you aren't exposed. He's certainly quicker than McLean.

 

[Jatz]

Massive fan of Nick, here's hoping he can continue to push on next season.

Without putting too much pressure on, I'm expecting big things from the kid.

 

[richcogs]

Will he get any games this year? I have him in a keeper league and want to know where he is at? Unsighted in preseason discussion.

 

[HARKER]

Will he get any games this year? I have him in a keeper league and want to know where he is at? Unsighted in preseason discussion.

Not at all unsighted, as his name has regularly come up as one to watch this year.

Graham will always have to work harder than many others as he doesn't really have an elite trick.
He'll likely start in the VFL and again force his way into the team by sheer weight of performance at the lower level.

 

[BM123]

Will he get any games this year? I have him in a keeper league and want to know where he is at? Unsighted in preseason discussion.

Will likely get a few games this year.

His VFL performances are usually consistently good enough to put him in the box seat when someone is injured or rested.

 

[AlecDuncan]

Didn't make much of an impression during the NAB games.

 

[mediumsizered]

Needs to work a bit harder when he doesn't have the ball, including getting into dangerous positions when his teammates have the ball.

Could be a very good player if he consistently does the above.

 

[The Grover]

Not at all unsighted, as his name has regularly come up as one to watch this year.

Graham will always have to work harder than many others as he doesn't really have an elite trick.
He'll likely start in the VFL and again force his way into the team by sheer weight of performance at the lower level.

Agree, he has no attributes which stand out.

Height- no
Agility - no
Skills - ok
Speed - no
Endurance - not sure tbh
Left foot - ????
Build - slight
Contested/aggressiveness - average

Won't make the grade

 

[SickQwon]

Needs to work a bit harder when he doesn't have the ball, including getting into dangerous positions when his teammates have the ball.

Could be a very good player if he consistently does the above.

 

[Jatz]

That's only one example though (albeit a good one).

I'm Graham's biggest fan but I don't think he's in our best 22. And with him being on the list for 3 (?) years now, he'd definitely want to start playing in the AFL more often than not.

 

[slashin_velvet]

Agree, he has no attributes which stand out.

Height- no
Agility - no
Skills - ok
Speed - no
Endurance - not sure tbh
Left foot - ????
Build - slight
Contested/aggressiveness - average

Won't make the grade

Dont agree that his build is slight....for his age, he isnt tiny....but theres obviously room for growth. His endurance at VFL level is good, but at AFL level....its not up to scratch....the best way to develop this is game time as a full time onballer (not the sub).

Strongly disagree about contested/aggressiveness.....at VFL level he plays an inside role and racks up the touches (and has a good contested game)....he hasnt been given the same responsibility at AFL level at this stage, because guys like McLean were keeping him out....and he didnt have the speed to play an outside role.

My expectations are that if Bell or Cripps dont seem to be cutting it by round 5....or we have an injury to one of Murph, Gibbs, Judd or Carrots....then he will get the call up and be a permanent fixture for the remainder of the season.

 

[Feva]

Jeez we're tough on kids sometimes.

Graham is still 20, carved it up in the VFL last year and had a very good finish to the season in the seniors. No one given up on Buckley yet and effectively been at the club for 5 years!

His strengths:
- very smart footballer
- good in traffic
- decent skills on preferred side
- worked hard on being physically ready

Weaknesses:
- lack of pace/explosiveness
- limited to playing on the ball, whereas Mick likes his mids to be able to rotate into another role

My concern is we have a few similar types to Nick at the moment so may struggle to break into the team, but once he does, I think we'll quite a bit of him.

Don't give up on the kid just yet!

 

[Love the Drake]

Looked ok out there on Sunday. Needs a few full games in a row to show what he's got.

Knows how to find the ball and neat skills..

 

[passmark]

We've got injuries and newbies and he can't get more than a 1/4 of football in a side that's running like a busted arse.

I think he needs a run at it, but it's a grudge selection from Mick, he doesn't rate him.

 

[Cringle]

Reminds me of Sam Mitchell....

 

[Space Cadet]

This guy hasn't stopped trying for 2+ years, he deserves a run in the seniors more than any other fringe/youngster imo. Surely he gets a full game next week?