The sort of Kid we need

Turbocat

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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”
 

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GeeCat

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#2
Weaver raised some interesting points on Thomas, most of which has turned to be food for thought on the player in question.

I've only seen the boy play that once, so I can't really refute nor affirm Weaver's points, but I'd certainly give some thought to what he raises.

Thomas is indeed playing for a dominant Gippsland outfit, and as such can be made to look a class above whilst enjoying the ride. We've seen how many of these 'finishing' type players (more often than not confidence players as well) can get an easy ride in dominant teams. Look at guys like Headland, and perhaps to a lesser extent, players like Copeland, who can look alot better than themselves.

Looking back at arguably one of the most dominant TAC teams of the past decade, Calder, it's the 'grunts' who have gone onto more successful careers (think J.Johnson, Chapman, Kelly, McLean) as opposed to the 'finishers' of those respective sides (think Reilly, Rodan, R.Crawford, B.Murphy).

Now, that's certainly not to suggest we stay away from these classy finishing type players, but moreso be careful when drafting them. Very careful. I don't want another Houlihan on our hands.

I personally liked the look of Thomas, and hope we are at least given the oppurtunity to consider taking him. He's definitely got the skill, talent, and x-factor about him. But then again, so did the Houlihan's of this world. Hope like hell Thomas is one of the odd ones out in such a case.
 

Seb

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#3
He looked like a cross between Jason Akermanis, Adam Cooney and Dog Johnson. Both physically and the way he plays.
 

Turbocat

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GeeCat said:
Weaver raised some interesting points on Thomas, most of which has turned to be food for thought on the player in question.

I've only seen the boy play that once, so I can't really refute nor affirm Weaver's points, but I'd certainly give some thought to what he raises.

Thomas is indeed playing for a dominant Gippsland outfit, and as such can be made to look a class above whilst enjoying the ride. We've seen how many of these 'finishing' type players (more often than not confidence players as well) can get an easy ride in dominant teams. Look at guys like Headland, and perhaps to a lesser extent, players like Copeland, who can look alot better than themselves.

Looking back at arguably one of the most dominant TAC teams of the past decade, Calder, it's the 'grunts' who have gone onto more successful careers (think J.Johnson, Chapman, Kelly, McLean) as opposed to the 'finishers' of those respective sides (think Reilly, Rodan, R.Crawford, B.Murphy).

Now, that's certainly not to suggest we stay away from these classy finishing type players, but moreso be careful when drafting them. Very careful. I don't want another Houlihan on our hands.

I personally liked the look of Thomas, and hope we are at least given the oppurtunity to consider taking him. He's definitely got the skill, talent, and x-factor about him. But then again, so did the Houlihan's of this world. Hope like hell Thomas is one of the odd ones out in such a case.
Some great points there G. Basically agree with all you have said there. As far as players in general like him, it makes sense that they would struggle in sides with less opitunities just like a player like Fev would be better served in the WC side.As I said we are at the stage of looking for the icing, our cake is baked with guys like Ling,Bartel,Kelly,Chapman etc and to me we need to perhaps take the riskier road to try to give us an extra dimension.
 
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#7
“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”
Loyal Kid!
 

Turbocat

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scottydeewah said:
Loyal Kid!
Every kid out there that plays at this level is really more focused on their performance than supporting a club so , I wouldnt be too fussed on him jumping off.Lets face it how many barracked for other clubs than who they end up playing for and yet it doesnt detract from their effort on the ground.
 
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