Player Watch Sam McLarty (Delisted 2018)

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Saintly Viewed

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I can't speak for Sam, but my sister has a cochlear and she struggles to hear when there is a lot of back ground noise. However, she has recently gotten one of the updated models and says she can hear a bit better in those situations now. She's a lot like Sam in that you wouldn't be able to tell she had a hearing problem unless she told you.

I think he'll be fine. He's obviously an outstanding kid with. It's great for the youngsters with the same disability to see Sam getting drafted also. I'm currently teaching at a primary school in East London and in my class there are several children with hearing impairments like Sam. I showed them a picture of him and explained to them about him. They were stoked!!!
And when Sam also comes across as a quality individual, not fake, but genuine quality it's win win for all concerned.
Great work you showing the kids Sam
 

JB1975

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The video the OP posted does have me real excited, he botched some kicks real bad in that.
I'd say that his virtues should be far more apparent to any casual observer than a few ill-directed kicks, but in any case there are a few other clips on this thread which give a fuller picture of his disposal quality. More than decent.

Get happy Happy Red!
 

jackcass

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I wonder if the umps will give him a bit of leeway when calling him back off the mark, it would be pretty hard for someone with normal hearing to hear in front of 90k people, let alone someone who has a hearing issue.
Much like they treat any player wearing a Collingwood jumper...
 

HappyRed

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I'd say that his virtues should be far more apparent to any casual observer than a few ill-directed kicks, but in any case there are a few other clips on this thread which give a fuller picture of his disposal quality. More than decent.

Get happy Happy Red!
I usually am! I like to think I am a pretty positive supporter! Although i have got into trouble on the Essendon and Richmond boards from time to time.

Go Pies!
 

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Apex36

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He doesn't, he can hear very well
Provided he's in the right position, as per his TAC coach. He mentioned that Sam had to be in the right spot in the huddle to be able to hear everything clearly. Please don't make out as if his hearing is as good as anyone's, because clearly it's not. At best you could say it's the equivalent of someone who is deaf in one ear given the position of the microphone on his head. It shouldn't impede him much, but it's not the same as someone who has full hearing in both ears.
 

TradeDraft

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Provided he's in the right position, as per his TAC coach. He mentioned that Sam had to be in the right spot in the huddle to be able to hear everything clearly. Please don't make out as if his hearing is as good as anyone's, because clearly it's not. At best you could say it's the equivalent of someone who is deaf in one ear given the position of the microphone on his head. It shouldn't impede him much, but it's not the same as someone who has full hearing in both ears.
Well Trash Talking might not work on Him;)
 

Saintly Viewed

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I was just remembering another young player (many moons ago) who when he first started was very sweetly innocent in interview. (Club functions was where I heard him.)
Found it hard to get the words out (Sam actually very articulate and has ease in speaking).
But spoke in the honest way that was so refreshing.

Paul Williams.

And he became a top player, even coached senior AFL after a sacking or some such.

Interesting to remember that.

Likewise Sam, A refreshing character, nothing contrived.
 
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He can probably hear better than the average person to be honest because he can turn it up.
So you've done your homework on cochlear implants then? Where does he keep the volume button? Or is it a remote control he has to keep in his socks? Tell us more, we need to know.
 
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So you've done your homework on cochlear implants then? Where does he keep the volume button? Or is it a remote control he has to keep in his socks?
That's just silly Tim to think he carries it on his person.
His parents sit in the crowd, one has the volume button, (connected via bluetooth) and the other has the binoculars.
Sam gives a thumbs up
or down as he deems fit and they adjust it accordingly.
Two thumbs up means level is correct.
To avoid confusion, Sam adopts the goal umpire approach of tapping his chest first so his parents know the next signal is for them.
Otherwise every time he gave his teammates the thumbs up there could be dire consequences.

PS: He has vowed never to do a Dawsy and thump his chest after a goal, for obvious reasons.
 

Apex36

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So you've done your homework on cochlear implants then? Where does he keep the volume button? Or is it a remote control he has to keep in his socks? Tell us more, we need to know.
I know you're being facetious, but the device sitting on his ear looks like a similar design to a regular hearing aid. If that's the case, the volume control will be located on the part that sits behind his ear.
 
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FWIW, and, as I'm sure many of you know, playing local footy, whenever I have to scream for the ball I almost know it's not coming my way. This means:

a) my teammates think I'm useless (possibly...), or

b) most of the game (in my experience) is so fast/one touch that game awareness and vision are much more utilised than hearing

Thus I don't think the kid's hearing (even if slightly impaired, which I don't think it is) will be an issue, and looking forward to his (hopefully) long career
 

ClaytonM

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Some modern hearing aid have separate speaker that can be place in the middle of a table to help the individual hear better.

Think of the possibilities. Give to Pendles, Reidy, a coach to mentor him from a distance during a game, or give it to Dave in the crowd.
 
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