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In other threads, I have mentioned my believe with the trends in modern footy we lack two distnict types of player types, quality medium forwards and speedy goal kicking mids.
Yes we have a heap of medium forwards most a small mark on the lead forwards who are not that great with the ball on the grass.Its why Dog Johnson stands out in our side, hes one of very few guys who can threaten backlines.Its for this reason I've nominated the name Ben McKinley for sometime.The Sun had a page which showed him talking to Bomber so at least we know they are looking.
The other type, a goal kicking nippy mid, in the mould of an Ackermanis is need to complement of tough contesters in crowded close contests. I look at our midfield and I see a group who can "out-dour" most groups. We have the group of player that can beat Sydney in their bogged down slow tempo mode.What we lack is guys who create score board pressure running of the packs , braking the lines, picking pockets and gennerally cleaning up contested ball from less than pefect passes.
Now a kid I watched and noted in the Champs has well and trully let the Cat out the bag. Dale Thomas kick 4 on GF day and he fits the Ackermanis/Mathew Lapin mould to a T. He showed in draft camp he is quick over 20M and all clubs are now well aware of his talent. I'm not sure if he will last to 15 but I can hope that hes considered alight weight mid and most go for the tallish players. He is more icing than cake but hes the icing we need IMO.
Todays Hun has a little blurb on him , read below
Drounin kid has touch of Gazza
Jackie Epstein , Herald Sun Oct 2, 05
A freakish talent from Drouin with a penchant for the outrageous. It sounds eerily like the description of young Gary Ablett when he arrived at Hawthorn in 1982.They are big shoes to fill, but Dale Thomas grew up hoping to follow in the football steps of his idol.A forward with flair for the Gippsland Power, Thomas has stormed into first round calculations for this years National Draft.
“I live in Drouin, Gary Ablett country and growing up I used to barrack for Geelong and he was always someone I loved to watch” Thomas ,18 said.“He was a fair bit bigger than me, but he enjoyed kicking a goal and taking a big mark and so I enjoy doing that”.“I was always running around with the No5 on my back, but the they lost the premierships in 94 and 95 so I jumped of them and currently, I don’t barrack for anyone”
Never one to take a backward step, Thomas has backed up his four goal BOG performance in the TAC GF with impressive results in Draft Camp in Canberra. The 182cm utility gave recruiters more to consider with his 2.93sec in 20M sprint.
“I like to see myself as a smart, fast forward who can go into the midfield and just loves kicking a goal .As a junior, being one of the smaller ones, my skills have had to carry me through. I don’t mind dancing around a few people or jumping on someone’s head, that’s for sure”.
Thomas was refreshingly honest during his 15 interviews last week. The only club he didn’t speak with was Adelaide.
“It’s been a pretty hectic week on that front, with a couple of late nights”. “Most clubs have been pretty laid back, generally trying to get to know you”. “The most daunting was Port Adelaide because apparently Mark Williams is supposed to get stuck into you a fair bit, but that was probably the most fun I had in the interviews, so it turned out all right”
Thomas won All-Australian honors during the National Champs as well as selection in the TAC Cup of the team of the year. His coach , Paul Hudson described him as a flashy player and the pick of his bunch. AFL talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said there was no doubt that that Thomas’s star is on the rise.
Among other draft hopefuls are half back Xavier Ellis and mids Scott Pendlebury and Robert Eddy. Gippslands 169cm onballer Rick Delphine has given Power plenty of drive, while defenders Craig Flint and Lachlan Hansen also played crucial roles this year
Thomas comes from an Athletic family: his sister Jess,21, is in the Melbourne Phoenix netball squad. He has an Aunt living in Melbourne but is un fazed about a move anywhere. When he returns home after a busy fortnight he will finish his year12 exams.
“Its been my dream since I was a young bloke to play AFL footy”, Thomas said. “No clubs have indicated anything, so I’ll be rapt if I get picked up”
Yes we have a heap of medium forwards most a small mark on the lead forwards who are not that great with the ball on the grass.Its why Dog Johnson stands out in our side, hes one of very few guys who can threaten backlines.Its for this reason I've nominated the name Ben McKinley for sometime.The Sun had a page which showed him talking to Bomber so at least we know they are looking.
The other type, a goal kicking nippy mid, in the mould of an Ackermanis is need to complement of tough contesters in crowded close contests. I look at our midfield and I see a group who can "out-dour" most groups. We have the group of player that can beat Sydney in their bogged down slow tempo mode.What we lack is guys who create score board pressure running of the packs , braking the lines, picking pockets and gennerally cleaning up contested ball from less than pefect passes.
Now a kid I watched and noted in the Champs has well and trully let the Cat out the bag. Dale Thomas kick 4 on GF day and he fits the Ackermanis/Mathew Lapin mould to a T. He showed in draft camp he is quick over 20M and all clubs are now well aware of his talent. I'm not sure if he will last to 15 but I can hope that hes considered alight weight mid and most go for the tallish players. He is more icing than cake but hes the icing we need IMO.
Todays Hun has a little blurb on him , read below
Drounin kid has touch of Gazza
Jackie Epstein , Herald Sun Oct 2, 05
A freakish talent from Drouin with a penchant for the outrageous. It sounds eerily like the description of young Gary Ablett when he arrived at Hawthorn in 1982.They are big shoes to fill, but Dale Thomas grew up hoping to follow in the football steps of his idol.A forward with flair for the Gippsland Power, Thomas has stormed into first round calculations for this years National Draft.
“I live in Drouin, Gary Ablett country and growing up I used to barrack for Geelong and he was always someone I loved to watch” Thomas ,18 said.“He was a fair bit bigger than me, but he enjoyed kicking a goal and taking a big mark and so I enjoy doing that”.“I was always running around with the No5 on my back, but the they lost the premierships in 94 and 95 so I jumped of them and currently, I don’t barrack for anyone”
Never one to take a backward step, Thomas has backed up his four goal BOG performance in the TAC GF with impressive results in Draft Camp in Canberra. The 182cm utility gave recruiters more to consider with his 2.93sec in 20M sprint.
“I like to see myself as a smart, fast forward who can go into the midfield and just loves kicking a goal .As a junior, being one of the smaller ones, my skills have had to carry me through. I don’t mind dancing around a few people or jumping on someone’s head, that’s for sure”.
Thomas was refreshingly honest during his 15 interviews last week. The only club he didn’t speak with was Adelaide.
“It’s been a pretty hectic week on that front, with a couple of late nights”. “Most clubs have been pretty laid back, generally trying to get to know you”. “The most daunting was Port Adelaide because apparently Mark Williams is supposed to get stuck into you a fair bit, but that was probably the most fun I had in the interviews, so it turned out all right”
Thomas won All-Australian honors during the National Champs as well as selection in the TAC Cup of the team of the year. His coach , Paul Hudson described him as a flashy player and the pick of his bunch. AFL talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said there was no doubt that that Thomas’s star is on the rise.
Among other draft hopefuls are half back Xavier Ellis and mids Scott Pendlebury and Robert Eddy. Gippslands 169cm onballer Rick Delphine has given Power plenty of drive, while defenders Craig Flint and Lachlan Hansen also played crucial roles this year
Thomas comes from an Athletic family: his sister Jess,21, is in the Melbourne Phoenix netball squad. He has an Aunt living in Melbourne but is un fazed about a move anywhere. When he returns home after a busy fortnight he will finish his year12 exams.
“Its been my dream since I was a young bloke to play AFL footy”, Thomas said. “No clubs have indicated anything, so I’ll be rapt if I get picked up”
