- Dec 1, 2013
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- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
Low point: we can change to "Skinner's injury"
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Pikeys episode is back up, albeit editedGeez .... hope someone managed to tape this (the Pike Episode) ...... seems to have been withdrawn now ..... bummer ....
There aren’t many 20-year-old’s like Harris Andrews.
More than 200cm tall, athletic with long arms and legs, Andrews’ stature alone is enough to turn heads, unusual for an AFL footballer in the rugby-obsessed streets of Brisbane.
But it’s not physically where Andrews impresses most. It’s his behavioursthat those around him value best.
So much so that the Lions’ key position forward has earned a new nickname by his (slightly) younger housemates, and it’s one that’s catching on around the club.
“We started calling him ‘Dad’ a few months back,” Lions teammate, Hugh McCluggage, told AFLPlayers.com.au.
“He’s a 20-year-old with a 30-year-old’s mannerisms. That’s been picked up by a few other boys and that’s pretty much his nickname now.”
McCluggage and Victorian teammate Jarrod Berry moved in with Andrews the moment they arrived in Brisbane last year — a unique situation given players of Andrews’ life experience don’t often take in first-year players.
It’s a testament to how highly the Lions regard their lanky defender off the field as well as on it.
Despite being a smart-ass from time to time, Andrews is an easy-going guy at home. He’s relatively quiet and measured except when you forget to lock the front door, which McCluggage, a country boy, found out the hard way.
But Andrews’ fiery side has its place and is saved for the training track and on game day.
“He’s very loud. At home, he’s a bit quiet but once he gets out on the track he’s as vocal as they come,” McCluggage added.
“He’s always offering feedback and that’s something all the leaders do but the fact that he’s only 20 surprised me in a good way.
“He wants to see his teammates improve and that’s one of his best qualities.”
Andrews’ competitiveness is a stark contrast to the level-headed kid away from the field and he’s impatient when it comes to improving himself and his teammates.
It’s a competitive edge that’s been evident since he was spotted as a goalkicker in Aspley’s under-18 side.
Luke Curran, Brisbane’s Academy manager, remembers a raw youngster, who, as a late bloomer, knew he had some ground to make up.
“He made an impression with his competitiveness and his determination. He worked hard in all areas and always sought feedback,” Curran said.
“A lot of kids are happy to go through the program, play good footy and enjoy themselves but Harris wanted to take the next step.”
Having a level head was never Andrews’ problem, but being a standout contributor on the field was initially.
By his own admission, the Padua College graduate was just an average player at 16 but after a significant growth spurt, he was able to apply his solid skill base in a key position.
“Kids who are 200cm and can catch it don’t come along very often,” Curran added.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. After joining the state team, his first taste of representative footy was against Oakleigh in the TAC Cup.
Andrews, still a forward at the time, recorded six disposals and failed to impact the scoreboard. He thought his dream was all but over.
“That first TAC Cup game wasn’t a good one and he thought he’d go back to local level and continue on there,” Curran said.
“From our point of view, given he was still a bit of an unknown and it was his first state game, which was a fair step up from Aspley under-18s, we knew there’d be more opportunities to adjust.”
Not one to die wondering, Andrews was motivated by the experience.
In less than four months, the forward was thrown into defence in Queensland’s last TAC Cup game against the Geelong Falcons.
And it’s a game that still sticks in the mind of some AFL recruiters, specifically Brisbane’s who realised they had a talent under their noses.
“Every time he played, he got marginally better but there was a game at Werribee against Geelong where the result was hanging in the balance late and Harris really stood tall,” Brisbane recruiting manager, Stephen Conole recalled.
“He took some strong grabs, courageous ones, where he backed back into packs of players. That’s when we started thinking to ourselves, ‘I think this boy’s going to be a nice player’.”
Recruiters circled but the Lions weren’t going to give up their latest academy project and nabbed with a pick below his market value.
The journey was only beginning and Andrews was thrown into the deep end in his first season, facing a baptism of fire as a Brisbane key position defender.
True to his character, Andrews has not only survived but prospered in his first three AFL seasons, playing 56 games in a backline that’s often under siege — a significant achievement that should turn the heads of AFL pundits.
How often does a player who featured in only two NEAFL games in his draft year miss only eight of 66 in his next three seasons at AFL level?
And 2017 has been the best so far for Andrews. His form has been rewarded with selection in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 squad and his story is one that continues to be underrated.
“For a young bloke, his resilience and durability has been great and, even more than that, his leadership is coming through. He’s growing so much as a young man,” Conole added.
“On very few occasions does he get comprehensively beaten, even during some of the games where the side has battled, he usually is able to hold his head high.”
Andrews still obsesses over his performance and is described as a massive footy-head. His love for the game is as great as ever despite the all-encompassing nature of being a full-time footballer.
“He’ll watch all the footy shows if he can,” McCluggage said.
“He’ll watch the whole game a day or two after we play to try and pick up on a few things — he just loves footy.”
McCluggage doesn’t mind more footy at home or getting a lecture because of forgetting to lock the front door because he knows the quality character Andrews is.
All of this from a bloke who wouldn’t even be able to drink in some parts of the world.
“He’s only two years older than us but he’s still someone we’d aspire to be.
“We couldn’t have gotten a better bloke to live with — we’re pretty lucky.”
Visited my grandsons school today.Wonderful piece on Harris "Dad" Andrews with a nice cameo from McCluggage
Interesting in a five win season the player talk is it has been an enjoyable year. Get to 12 or 13 wins and they will be giddy.Brisbane forward Lewis Taylor has bounced back from a tough 2016
Andrew Hamilton, AFL, The Courier-Mail
August 24, 2017 7:27pm
IN a season of across the board improvement at the Lions, Lewey Taylor may sit at the top of the heap.
Last season was an indifferent one for Taylor — he endured a form slump, was dropped for the first time in his career and was locked in tense year-long contract negotiations with the Lions.
It ended on a positive note with him signing a three-year deal and it has proven to be beneficial for both parties.
FULL TEAMS: ALL THE INS AND OUTS FOR ROUND 23
This week he was named as a forward in the 40-man under-22 squad that will be trimmed to 22 in the AFL Players Association’s All Star side for the competition’s rising stars.
Under new coach Chris Fagan, Taylor is playing more directly which is making his possessions more damaging and he is spending time further up the field, which has led to an increased possession count.
Lewis Taylor has turned his form around. Picture: Getty Images
But the statistics that demonstrate the greatest improvement are tackles and contested possessions, which are both well up on last year.
Taylor says Fagan’s arrival has had a major impact.
“We all sat down individually with Fages at the start of the year and mine was a great meeting that really set me up to crack in for a good year,’’ he said.
“He has been really helpful but his positivity is the main thing for me.’’
The most noticeable aspect of the Lions this year has been their ability to trouble oppositions with quick ball movement and foot speed and Taylor is one of their chief weapons.
That pace is set to trouble the Kangaroos at the Gabba on Saturday in the match that will decide the wooden spoon.
Taylor said the positive new vibe at the Gabba this season had created a desperation to finish the season on a high.
“This year has been really enjoyable, we obviously have a big game this week, there is a bit to play for to get off the bottom of the ladder,’’ he said.
“It might not seem like much to other people but to us it does.’’
While all the talk around the Lions has been their attack, they are becoming harder to score against and have even introduced a zone defence over the second half of the season.
“We are playing a brand of footy that challenges a lot of sides,’’ he said.
“The team defence is a work in progress and we will continue to work on it because we believe it is the style that will take us forward.’’
Lewis Taylor in action for the Lions. Picture: Getty Images
Gold Coast’s match against Port Adelaide could also have some bearing on where the Lions finish.
Interim coach Dean Solomon said Gary Ablett was likely to play, having suited up for just two of the past nine games with a combination of hamstring and calf injuries.
“(He’s a) massive chance,” Solomon said.
“If he pulls up well Friday, green light.”
Ablett was named in the Gold Coast team.
Originally published as How Lewis Taylor turned his form around
I think the good thing is that the boys are playing an exciting enjoyable game style making it easier to see where they're headingGetting a lot of love ATM, Brian Waldron said the other day the Lions have to be the best ever last placed team. Makes a nice change from years of negative press.
Not sure this is the best thread - Hipwood and Cox have extended until 2020.
http://www.lions.com.au/news/2017-08-25/hipwood-and-cox-extend
He is a gun already and only going to get betterhttps://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/lions-see-wooden-spoon-clash-as-a-chance-to-build-/3216408/
Brisbane wants wins of change over draft pick
BRISBANE rising star Alex Witherden says he and his teammates are treating any talk of tanking as a joke.
The Lions host North Melbourne at the Gabba today, with the loser to finish last and claim footy's double-edge sword - the wooden spoon and the No.1 pick in the national draft.
It's a "prize" the Lions are determined to avoid.
"It does come up. (Coach) Chris Fagan brings it up in every meeting pretty much," the 18-year-old said.
"He's been saying it for the last month. We want to finish this season as strongly as possible.
"He's really big on momentum.
"We beat Gold Coast the other week. We gave Melbourne a red-hot crack. We'll be going out against North Melbourne with every intention of playing some good footy and beating them - put a few things in place that we're looking to implement next year.
"The whole tanking debate is a bit of a laugh really. The game's gone past that nowadays."
Melbourne and Carlton infamously played off for the "Kreuzer Cup" in 2007 when the loser of their final-round clash got the opportunity to snare the talented young ruckman Matt Kreuzer.
Jamie Cripps of the West Coast Eagles and Alex Witherden of the Brisbane Lions.TONY MCDONOUGH
With no clear-cut top selection this year, the No.2 pick could be as good as the No.1. Regardless, for the Lions and Roos, it's more important to finish the season on a high.
"I know a few of the boys at North Melbourne," said Witherden, ironically a Kangaroos supporter growing up in Victoria. "They've been getting stuck into me, letting me know they're pretty keen to get the win as well.
"It's a couple of young groups coming up against each other, so it's important to win these games.
"In the next couple of years we might be playing for something a little bit more important in the last game of the season."
Brisbane can testify to not requiring the top draft pick to obtain some quality youth.
Think Josh Schache (at No.2), Eric Hipwood (14), Hugh McCluggage (3), Jarrod Berry (17) and Witherden (23) himself over the past two years when finishing second last.
Witherden has become a revelation for the Lions in the second half of the season, slotting in across halfback.
Alex Witherden of the Lions looks to pass the ball.Will Russell/AFL Media
A hallmark of his game has been his deadly accurate kicking coupled with a willingness to take the game on from his debut.
"Fages has always backed us in to play our natural game, back your ability," he said.
"Having the support of the coaching staff and the players, it didn't really leave me with a lot of nerves.
"A couple of times it (risky passing) hasn't come off and it's burnt my teammates the other way. I've just got to make sure I get that balance right.
"It's about me just picking the right option to take at the right time.
"In some circumstances, it's better to just go long down the line than trying to create something."
Of all 22 Rising Star nominees, Witherden is a clear No.1 for average disposals (23), collecting 29 against Essendon in just his second game and a couple of hauls of 28.
Witherden honed his kicking ability while growing up in Barwon Heads along Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula.
"It's a pretty important skill of the game and I knew if I wanted to play at the highest level it was something I had to get right," he said.
"I'm still working on it now. I'm not even close to where I want to be in terms of how I kick the ball. There's still a lot of improvement to come."
Alex Witherden of the Lions (second from left) is showered with sports drink after the round 15 match against the Bombers.JULIAN SMITH
Witherden was part of the Geelong Falcons TAC Cup production line, and probably could have gone a lot higher in the draft if not for suffering a broken leg last year.
"Initially I was pretty frustrated about it all, not knowing how it was going to unfold," he said.
"But as the weeks go by and a few recruiters get on to you ... they are pretty good are reassuring you that you'll get picked up.
"It was just about doing the rehab and ticking all the boxes off field.
"The main goal was to get on a list and hopefully come to a footy club in decent nick."
Witherden had no problem being recruited by Brisbane, where he has settled in with alongside McCluggage, Berry and Hipwood.
"It was just about getting that opportunity in the big time," he said.
"Whether you're moving from Geelong to Melbourne or Geelong to South Australia or wherever it might be, it's going to be different not living at home and out of your comfort zones early days.
"But as the day, weeks, months, roll on it becomes a little more normal."
Witherden will play his ninth game today.
"I didn't have any expectations going into this year, so everything that has come so far has been a bonus, something to build on for next year," he said.
"The club is in a pretty strong position."
Yep Hippy did well but as usual Gilly hadn't done his homework .Just watched Eric Hipwood on Marngrook. Top young bloke. We are blessed to have him.
But Gilly McAdam going thru our good points - and going on about Craig Lambert and Mel's cooking...............