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I was looking to see if Colin Wisbey's profiles were out yet (they aren't) and found this piece on Tim Walsh from last year. I get the impression Colin thinks Tim lacks a little intensity.
Tim Walsh (Northern Knights)
194+/81 bottom-age right-footer (dual-sided). Style like early Chris Grant.
Bottom-age athletic, stylish versatile tall. So much to offer but very seriously lacking in intensity.
U18 CHF and part-time ruck who can run, jump, catch, kick both feet, and pick-up like a rover ..... but is too often a spectator. Has good character, good ability. If he had half-decent intensity he would be worthy, in a draft like this, of a top 10 pick as many suggest. I’ve seen players conquer a host of weaknesses but I can’t recall too many players turning around a distinct lack of instinctive intensity. Tim’s almost complete lack of intensity scares me to the extent that, for that reason ALONE, I rate him worthy of no higher than a 2nd round pick at best. Some will argue that I’m putting too much emphasis on his intensity but its the one problem he has in which I am not confident of him being able to make sufficient improvement to allow him to fully utilise his otherwise impressive attributes.
As with Johnson, I acknowledge that this puts me out of sync with mainstream thinking. He seems a great kid and certainly has a lot of very appealing attributes and I hope he proves me wrong, but to be honest I would not be in a rush to draft him as a potential key position player. He will definitely get drafted and definitely early. I think that is a shame as I suspect another year of U18s would have helped him learn to take more responsibility during a game and stamp his authority on a game.
I first noticed him in a game against Dandenong last year and I instinctively formed the opinion that “this kid could be anything – he has the lot”. I posted the same on the internet at the time. Subsequently, however, I have become more and more uneasy and disappointed in his continuing lack of intensity.
Broke collarbone early in game 1 of the 2002 U18 Champs and ran out of time to be ready for 2002 finals.
? Athleticism, Mobility:
Has a huge leap, even from a standing start, but particularly when he has a run-up. He’s a bird.
He does move very stylishly – smooth running style, nicely-balanced. Generally looks agile.
Sometimes looks to have quite good pace but occasionally looks a bit slow. I have trouble getting a handle on his pace. I am not sure about his stamina either, despite his athletic appearance. Sometimes he appears to run out of puff (and when he does he can look a bit slowish).
? Marking:
Can take a very big grab, especially over the top. Can mark from in front also but his best is possibly on a lead (his leads are good and tend to be quick, direct and purposeful) or coming from behind. Generally has good hands overhead. Can rise high enough to take a chest mark where others might have to mark it overhead.
? Hands:
Very clean hands generally but exceptional off the carpet for one so tall.
? Disposal:
Is dual-sided.
Is excellent with the hands – quick spotting, quick reaction, sharp decision-making, excellent accurate powerful feeds short or long, clear air or through traffic. As soon as he hears the call, he usually spits it out straight to the caller – even if the caller is not in his line of vision. (Is primarily a right footer but seems to handball mainly with his left?) In general, I would describe his kicking as a mixed bag. I definitely believe it does need work but I am confident it can be improved and that ultimately he can become a reliable kick.
Has nice style kicking on the run. His kicking often looks quite good off the boot but his kicks too often drop short – especially attempted passes less than 30m.
For set kicks, sometimes tends to get too close to man-on-mark or try a too-cute dinky pass off virtually just one step. With some of his set shots for goal, he tends to have a stuttering run-up – almost like a medium-pacer in cricket who runs 20m to the wicket then virtually stops before bowling the ball off virtually one step. (He can look on such occasions almost as if he is kicking off the wrong foot, although he isn’t).
He is also capable of fairly regular pin-point passes and some long kicks. Some of his short passes that drop too short tend to be stabbed.
? Intensity:
Woeful. Often he just doesn't seem to really want to make the ball his own or even go for it – all too often he seems to adopt a wait and see attitude.
If he contests a mark and the ball spills free, he too often just stands there and spectates.
If he is bumped off a contest, he too often just stands there and spectates.
He too often stands back leaving a small team-mate to go in for the ball while he spectates..
If he doesn’t think he will be able to mark the ball he too often just stands there and spectates while an opponent takes the uncontested mark under no pressure.
If he is forced to the ground he too often just stays there and spectates instead of quickly getting back to his feet and involving himself.
He very often fails to commit his body to an awkward marking contest or oncoming pressure.
He will feed to a team-mate but then spectate when he should instead move on to lay a block for the team-mate.
He often doesn’t chase.
In fairness, every so often I get a pleasant surprise. Eg in a trial game, I had been noting (for not the first time that day even) his lack of intensity. Shortly after, he put in a big effort to keep chasing Brennan and throw himself at him and effect the spoil. (However, soon after, he was easily bumped off the ball and he then just stood there).
? Work ethic:
Other than the above, he actually has quite good on-field work ethic in some ways. He always presents as a target for his team-mates. As a CHF, he straightens the team up as they go forward.
Covers a lot of ground.
? Poise under pressure:
When he happens to find himself in traffic or under great pressure or even outnumbered or any combinations of these, he typically shows good poise, evasion skills and traffic management skills generally – he doesn’t panic, he does look for options. He moves very well through traffic. Ironic, and frustratingly so, given his general lack of intensity.
Occasionally he lacks a bit of awareness and seems to think he has more time than he actually does. On these occasions he can be inclined to not know what to do – but he is probably smart enough to get on top of that in time with more experience in games at a predictable tempo.
? Ruckwork:
Can do some part-time ruck work. Some of his hitouts are very well targeted. A fair few are Stynes-like though i.e. where he gets clear purchase but just taps it to his feet thus not giving a team-mate an advantage. Has genuine potential as a 6’5” -ish part-time ruck though.
? Versatility, build:
Handy height (nudging 6’5” and possibly still growing). Only 81kg but is bottom-age and has a frame which should furnish into a really nice footy build.
Has the height for a key and at least adequate enough pace and agility for a wing/flank. Frankly, the latter is where I suspect his AFL future may lie – as a tall, hard-to-match up “HFF” (although most would presumably argue that he is suited to CHF instead). Technically he even has a lot to offer as a “ruckrover” but, unless he can completely turn around his lack of intensity, his traffic management attributes are likely to be more than offset by failure to pressure the opposition when he doesn’t have the ball.
Query:
- Intensity (!!!!!)
- Hard to gauge his physical strength because of the way he currently plays. I’ve no reason to be overly concerned. I just don’t have a handle on it.
- Doesn’t yet take a game by the scruff of the neck. Sometimes threatens to but can then go missing.
- Stamina? Occasionally looks like he is unduly puffed-out. In such circumstances he can look surprisingly slow. I don’t have a handle on whether this is even a pattern or whether I just noticed a couple of random occurrences that don’t mean much. Regardless he is naturally athletic so, at worst, he probably just needs some conditioning.
Some TAC stats:
8 games 2001, 4 2002, so not statistically a great sample for this season. FWIW though, double-digit disposals in only 4 of those 12 games, and nothing over 16. Max marks 6.
Other stuff:
- Son of Geoff Walsh (Kangaroos Football Mgr).
- I think he was also a basketballer until recently when he decided to concentrate on footy.
Tim Walsh (Northern Knights)
194+/81 bottom-age right-footer (dual-sided). Style like early Chris Grant.
Bottom-age athletic, stylish versatile tall. So much to offer but very seriously lacking in intensity.
U18 CHF and part-time ruck who can run, jump, catch, kick both feet, and pick-up like a rover ..... but is too often a spectator. Has good character, good ability. If he had half-decent intensity he would be worthy, in a draft like this, of a top 10 pick as many suggest. I’ve seen players conquer a host of weaknesses but I can’t recall too many players turning around a distinct lack of instinctive intensity. Tim’s almost complete lack of intensity scares me to the extent that, for that reason ALONE, I rate him worthy of no higher than a 2nd round pick at best. Some will argue that I’m putting too much emphasis on his intensity but its the one problem he has in which I am not confident of him being able to make sufficient improvement to allow him to fully utilise his otherwise impressive attributes.
As with Johnson, I acknowledge that this puts me out of sync with mainstream thinking. He seems a great kid and certainly has a lot of very appealing attributes and I hope he proves me wrong, but to be honest I would not be in a rush to draft him as a potential key position player. He will definitely get drafted and definitely early. I think that is a shame as I suspect another year of U18s would have helped him learn to take more responsibility during a game and stamp his authority on a game.
I first noticed him in a game against Dandenong last year and I instinctively formed the opinion that “this kid could be anything – he has the lot”. I posted the same on the internet at the time. Subsequently, however, I have become more and more uneasy and disappointed in his continuing lack of intensity.
Broke collarbone early in game 1 of the 2002 U18 Champs and ran out of time to be ready for 2002 finals.
? Athleticism, Mobility:
Has a huge leap, even from a standing start, but particularly when he has a run-up. He’s a bird.
He does move very stylishly – smooth running style, nicely-balanced. Generally looks agile.
Sometimes looks to have quite good pace but occasionally looks a bit slow. I have trouble getting a handle on his pace. I am not sure about his stamina either, despite his athletic appearance. Sometimes he appears to run out of puff (and when he does he can look a bit slowish).
? Marking:
Can take a very big grab, especially over the top. Can mark from in front also but his best is possibly on a lead (his leads are good and tend to be quick, direct and purposeful) or coming from behind. Generally has good hands overhead. Can rise high enough to take a chest mark where others might have to mark it overhead.
? Hands:
Very clean hands generally but exceptional off the carpet for one so tall.
? Disposal:
Is dual-sided.
Is excellent with the hands – quick spotting, quick reaction, sharp decision-making, excellent accurate powerful feeds short or long, clear air or through traffic. As soon as he hears the call, he usually spits it out straight to the caller – even if the caller is not in his line of vision. (Is primarily a right footer but seems to handball mainly with his left?) In general, I would describe his kicking as a mixed bag. I definitely believe it does need work but I am confident it can be improved and that ultimately he can become a reliable kick.
Has nice style kicking on the run. His kicking often looks quite good off the boot but his kicks too often drop short – especially attempted passes less than 30m.
For set kicks, sometimes tends to get too close to man-on-mark or try a too-cute dinky pass off virtually just one step. With some of his set shots for goal, he tends to have a stuttering run-up – almost like a medium-pacer in cricket who runs 20m to the wicket then virtually stops before bowling the ball off virtually one step. (He can look on such occasions almost as if he is kicking off the wrong foot, although he isn’t).
He is also capable of fairly regular pin-point passes and some long kicks. Some of his short passes that drop too short tend to be stabbed.
? Intensity:
Woeful. Often he just doesn't seem to really want to make the ball his own or even go for it – all too often he seems to adopt a wait and see attitude.
If he contests a mark and the ball spills free, he too often just stands there and spectates.
If he is bumped off a contest, he too often just stands there and spectates.
He too often stands back leaving a small team-mate to go in for the ball while he spectates..
If he doesn’t think he will be able to mark the ball he too often just stands there and spectates while an opponent takes the uncontested mark under no pressure.
If he is forced to the ground he too often just stays there and spectates instead of quickly getting back to his feet and involving himself.
He very often fails to commit his body to an awkward marking contest or oncoming pressure.
He will feed to a team-mate but then spectate when he should instead move on to lay a block for the team-mate.
He often doesn’t chase.
In fairness, every so often I get a pleasant surprise. Eg in a trial game, I had been noting (for not the first time that day even) his lack of intensity. Shortly after, he put in a big effort to keep chasing Brennan and throw himself at him and effect the spoil. (However, soon after, he was easily bumped off the ball and he then just stood there).
? Work ethic:
Other than the above, he actually has quite good on-field work ethic in some ways. He always presents as a target for his team-mates. As a CHF, he straightens the team up as they go forward.
Covers a lot of ground.
? Poise under pressure:
When he happens to find himself in traffic or under great pressure or even outnumbered or any combinations of these, he typically shows good poise, evasion skills and traffic management skills generally – he doesn’t panic, he does look for options. He moves very well through traffic. Ironic, and frustratingly so, given his general lack of intensity.
Occasionally he lacks a bit of awareness and seems to think he has more time than he actually does. On these occasions he can be inclined to not know what to do – but he is probably smart enough to get on top of that in time with more experience in games at a predictable tempo.
? Ruckwork:
Can do some part-time ruck work. Some of his hitouts are very well targeted. A fair few are Stynes-like though i.e. where he gets clear purchase but just taps it to his feet thus not giving a team-mate an advantage. Has genuine potential as a 6’5” -ish part-time ruck though.
? Versatility, build:
Handy height (nudging 6’5” and possibly still growing). Only 81kg but is bottom-age and has a frame which should furnish into a really nice footy build.
Has the height for a key and at least adequate enough pace and agility for a wing/flank. Frankly, the latter is where I suspect his AFL future may lie – as a tall, hard-to-match up “HFF” (although most would presumably argue that he is suited to CHF instead). Technically he even has a lot to offer as a “ruckrover” but, unless he can completely turn around his lack of intensity, his traffic management attributes are likely to be more than offset by failure to pressure the opposition when he doesn’t have the ball.
Query:
- Intensity (!!!!!)
- Hard to gauge his physical strength because of the way he currently plays. I’ve no reason to be overly concerned. I just don’t have a handle on it.
- Doesn’t yet take a game by the scruff of the neck. Sometimes threatens to but can then go missing.
- Stamina? Occasionally looks like he is unduly puffed-out. In such circumstances he can look surprisingly slow. I don’t have a handle on whether this is even a pattern or whether I just noticed a couple of random occurrences that don’t mean much. Regardless he is naturally athletic so, at worst, he probably just needs some conditioning.
Some TAC stats:
8 games 2001, 4 2002, so not statistically a great sample for this season. FWIW though, double-digit disposals in only 4 of those 12 games, and nothing over 16. Max marks 6.
Other stuff:
- Son of Geoff Walsh (Kangaroos Football Mgr).
- I think he was also a basketballer until recently when he decided to concentrate on footy.
