NZ teen signed by Saints

[Con Gorozidis]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-spor ... cholarship


St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said Baker-Thomas' 1.93m, 87kg frame and his athleticism made him an obvious target.

"While he's new to the game we think it's a great opportunity for him to develop into a player of the future," Pelchen said.

"His athleticism stood out to us. He'll predominantly play centre half back, centre half forward as he develops. He'll stay residing here in Wellington [this year] and then we'll review it with an open mind about him moving across. We'd expect over the next 12 months to sign another three or four [Kiwi players]."

[SaintWodonga]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-04-26/s ... -kiwi-call

Intresting indeed! A recruiting network there, why not?

[joffaboy]

Nice timing Saints.

Well played

[gringo]

Heatherly that the Hawks got was the one we should have picked up- he has a head like a Murray cod but he is an awesome athlete and tested amazingly.

[saintspremiers]

Is he an Islander?

Doesn't look like a Maori to me.

[Munga]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2013-04-2 ... -kiwi-ties

Loves the Saints already, he's a quick learner haha.

[bigcarl]

Can we make it an exclusive St Kilda zone? After all we are the only club that plays home matches there.

[saintbrat]

http://aflnz.co.nz/talented-kiwi-teen-t ... rough-afl/

“I’m getting the hang of it now,” Baker-Thomas said yesterday.

“The first thing to learn was passing with your fist, compared to rugby. Our first XV played today but it’s strictly AFL at the moment. It’s quite hard seeing them play and not being able to, but then again this is an opportunity you’ll probably get only once in your lifetime.

“Some of my mates are impressed, some a bit jealous.”

Baker-Thomas stayed with St Kilda’s giant ruckman Ben McEvoy during his visit to Melbourne – “he’s a real Aussie farm boy and cooks a nice soup” – and soaked up the atmosphere at the club’s game against Geelong.

He is being earmarked as a centre half forward or centre half back and is being trained and mentored by AFL New Zealand coach Shannon Wall, a Tasmanian now living in Wellington.

“We catch up twice a week, go through skills and drills,” Wall said.

“I look after his weights programme and go through video footage and teach him the rules and tactics. He’s doing really well and is a great kid to coach. He knows if he works really hard at it, he can make a career out of AFL.

“I feel for him because he wants to be with his mates. But he knows it’s a wonderful opportunity. He’s got a great leap, a great sized body and endurance so he’s got the raw tools.”

Baker-Thomas and the national under-18 side will take on a Victorian amateur team on October 5 and 7 in Auckland.

He will then play for the North City Demons in the Wellington senior club competition while St Kilda monitor his progress.

[Dis Believer]

http://aflnz.co.nz/talented-kiwi-teen-t ... rough-afl/

“I’m getting the hang of it now,” Baker-Thomas said yesterday.

“The first thing to learn was passing with your fist, compared to rugby. Our first XV played today but it’s strictly AFL at the moment. It’s quite hard seeing them play and not being able to, but then again this is an opportunity you’ll probably get only once in your lifetime.

“Some of my mates are impressed, some a bit jealous.”

Baker-Thomas stayed with St Kilda’s giant ruckman Ben McEvoy during his visit to Melbourne – “he’s a real Aussie farm boy and cooks a nice soup” – and soaked up the atmosphere at the club’s game against Geelong.

He is being earmarked as a centre half forward or centre half back and is being trained and mentored by AFL New Zealand coach Shannon Wall, a Tasmanian now living in Wellington.

“We catch up twice a week, go through skills and drills,” Wall said.

“I look after his weights programme and go through video footage and teach him the rules and tactics. He’s doing really well and is a great kid to coach. He knows if he works really hard at it, he can make a career out of AFL.

“I feel for him because he wants to be with his mates. But he knows it’s a wonderful opportunity. He’s got a great leap, a great sized body and endurance so he’s got the raw tools.”

Baker-Thomas and the national under-18 side will take on a Victorian amateur team on October 5 and 7 in Auckland.

He will then play for the North City Demons in the Wellington senior club competition while St Kilda monitor his progress.

We know GT loved Bakes, is this kid their love child ??

[saintbrat]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2013-12-1 ... e-the-move

In an announcement today, St Kilda's New Zealand international scholarship holder Joe Baker-Thomas will relocate to Melbourne from his home town of Porirua City in Wellington in early 2014.

Since being signed with the Saints in April this year, the 17-year-old has been based in Wellington undertaking an AFL development program implemented by St Kilda, and supported by AFL New Zealand.

“Joe has come a long way in a short space of time considering he wasn't even aware of the AFL 12 months ago. He has progressed significantly with his football skills and we hope to build on this development through his training in the Saints Player Academy program in 2014,” said St Kilda Head of Football, Chris Pelchen

[bigcarl]

Is he an Islander?

He must be. It's not a Kiwi accent. I'll follow this kid with interest. Like the looks of him.

[bigcarl]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sp ... -big-break

he is an islander, but it doesn't say which island. Maybe Samoa

[saintsRrising]

I hope he makes it.....but right here and now his main value will be the PR angle as we attempt to build a membership base in NZ.

Having Savage and him on our lists gives us a NZ connection that will be vital in this endeavour.

[The Fireman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sp ... -big-break

he is an islander, but it doesn't say which island. Maybe Samoa

I don't think he is Tasmanian.

[Saints43]

I hope he makes it.....but right here and now his main value will be the PR angle as we attempt to build a membership base in NZ.

Great point. I'm sure that no-one on this forum outside of you had considered that. Once again, thank you.

[saintbrat]

http://aflnz.co.nz/ais-academy-edge-haw ... -thriller/

St Kilda International Scholarship holder Joe Baker-Thomas played a tremendous match as a forward, picking up a crucial goal from open play.

[Con Gorozidis]

That is pretty positive news bratty - considering that AIS side has the likes of Billings and Boyd etc etc in it

[saintbrat]

http://aflnz.co.nz/video-of-new-zealand ... demy-2014/

[howlinwolf]

http://aflnz.co.nz/video-of-new-zealand ... demy-2014/

Thanks for your tireless work Bratty. I very much appreciate your efforts

[saintbrat]

Joe's take on the 3 days
http://www.saints.com.au/video/2014-02- ... s-nz-kiora

"Stayed with the Team at Rydges Wellington _ was way better than were we stayed around the corner with AFLNZ- Backpakers-- Way better really"

Comes over to stay for the year when the team Reps return home Tomorrow

[Zed]

Great job with the anzac jumper but i fear we may be moving too slow to capitalise on capturing the bulk of the NZ market. I would like to see a game played in Auckland next year as well as the Anzac game in Wellington. If another team secures a game in Auckland before we do we will risk losing momentum. 2 games a year based on where we are at in our development isn't going to hurt. By the time our team starts CLImbing the ladder in 2016 onwards we will have done the hard yards in educating the kiwis and they will start jumping on board. Revenue from merchandise sales a limited membership of some kind and inevitably sponsorships. We let Tassie slip - let's not let this one slip. There is money to be made there.

[Junior]

We have some work to do the New Zealand side runs with the nickname "Hawks" and I note that the balls being used in the video were Hawthorn footballs.

[Con Gorozidis]

So the hawks are taking over tassie & nz?

Does it seem odd to anyone that we are re-locating this kid permanently now? Has he finished school?

Is he playing in the TAC cup this season?

[70s sainter]

Great job with the anzac jumper but i fear we may be moving too slow to capitalise on capturing the bulk of the NZ market. I would like to see a game played in Auckland next year as well as the Anzac game in Wellington. If another team secures a game in Auckland before we do we will risk losing momentum. 2 games a year based on where we are at in our development isn't going to hurt. By the time our team starts CLImbing the ladder in 2016 onwards we will have done the hard yards in educating the kiwis and they will start jumping on board. Revenue from merchandise sales a limited membership of some kind and inevitably sponsorships. We let Tassie slip - let's not let this one slip. There is money to be made there.

Do we really want to commit to Auckland as well?
If we sell every game we will be a rich club who would care - not me.

[magnifisaint]

He's played the game for 5 minutes. He's long odds to make it. Would expect anything from him for 5 years