The Old Dark Navy's
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Saw an under 18's game at Springwood yesterday between the local Logan City side and the Suncoast Lions who are an amalgamation of a few Sunshine Coast sides from last year. My Dad's girlfriend's son plays for the Lions so I watched the team closely. Firstly they are a strong side but probably only rated middle of the road in the strongest of 3 Under 18 comps in SE Qld. They played just like the Brisbane Lions, quick hands, physical pressure, and running forward of the contests with complete confidence their teammate would win the contested ball and work it forward.
I was near the Logan bench and their coach was muttering about the opposition No.28 who was killing them. His name is Elliott Hohenhaus (a mouthful that one) and at first glance seemed to be like a Darryl White prototype, over 6 foot, plays tall, chimes in with timely marks, superb judgement across CHB not to mention the high hair! In the second and third quarters he excelled especially. More Kouta type qualities, a slightly bigger than usual midfielder who was carving a path in heavy traffic, tapping on to a teammates advantage, tackling, harassing and lightning quick recovery skills. I don't see a lot of this level of footy and I can't compare it to Victorian comps but this guy is a star in this comp and his footy brain seems to be way ahead of the play. Positionally superb and knew were his options were too.
Another player, Max Schlink was playing a Brad Ottens leading full forward role and was easily as big as any of the ruckmen out there but strongly built. One grab mark on the lead and too tall and strong in the square, also very quick for a big man. Kicked about 5 goals in the first half.
Noticed that my star Hohenhaus while still showing some magic in the final quarter seemed to walk with hands on the hips as soon as the ball had gone from his immediate vicinity. Ah ha thought I ... the chink in this kid's armour, no stamina for four quarters, resting on a 12 goal lead. Not a good sign.
I needn't have been concerned about his dropping off a touch or Max for that matter for closer inspection of my record showed that both guys were backing up from a rep game the day before. Pretty chuffed that the two guys I had singled out as being the best were two of the three players to have made this Under 18's rep side from the Lions team (the other did not back up).
I'm really interested in the junior footy now, especially knowing that the Blues will be looking to unexpected and unorthodox recruiting for the next couple of years to try to unearth a diamond in the rough.
I will be at Coorparoo next Sunday to get another look at these young players and see if they can turn it on every week as they really should at this level.
Head out to the local grounds people and see how many unexpected 'diamonds' you can discover and steer in the Blues direction.
I was near the Logan bench and their coach was muttering about the opposition No.28 who was killing them. His name is Elliott Hohenhaus (a mouthful that one) and at first glance seemed to be like a Darryl White prototype, over 6 foot, plays tall, chimes in with timely marks, superb judgement across CHB not to mention the high hair! In the second and third quarters he excelled especially. More Kouta type qualities, a slightly bigger than usual midfielder who was carving a path in heavy traffic, tapping on to a teammates advantage, tackling, harassing and lightning quick recovery skills. I don't see a lot of this level of footy and I can't compare it to Victorian comps but this guy is a star in this comp and his footy brain seems to be way ahead of the play. Positionally superb and knew were his options were too.
Another player, Max Schlink was playing a Brad Ottens leading full forward role and was easily as big as any of the ruckmen out there but strongly built. One grab mark on the lead and too tall and strong in the square, also very quick for a big man. Kicked about 5 goals in the first half.
Noticed that my star Hohenhaus while still showing some magic in the final quarter seemed to walk with hands on the hips as soon as the ball had gone from his immediate vicinity. Ah ha thought I ... the chink in this kid's armour, no stamina for four quarters, resting on a 12 goal lead. Not a good sign.
I needn't have been concerned about his dropping off a touch or Max for that matter for closer inspection of my record showed that both guys were backing up from a rep game the day before. Pretty chuffed that the two guys I had singled out as being the best were two of the three players to have made this Under 18's rep side from the Lions team (the other did not back up).
I'm really interested in the junior footy now, especially knowing that the Blues will be looking to unexpected and unorthodox recruiting for the next couple of years to try to unearth a diamond in the rough.
I will be at Coorparoo next Sunday to get another look at these young players and see if they can turn it on every week as they really should at this level.
Head out to the local grounds people and see how many unexpected 'diamonds' you can discover and steer in the Blues direction.
