Begley: Walsh will be a success

[saintlee]

"Colm Begley has tipped Tommy Walsh to make a big impact in Aussie Rules following his move to St Kilda."

http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/othe ... nid-59019/

[bigcarl]

from what i've seen he looks a real prospect. trouble is how do we fit another power forward into a structure that already includes kosi and riewoldt.

but i guess if he's good enough, we'll find a way to get him in there somehow.

[Moods]

May well be the third power/pressure fwd we are looking for. At 194cm and mobile he can contest for marks as well as provide that intense pressure that's needed on the fwd line.

On the other hand he may play back. Less dynamic types like Blake may have his position under threat. Who knows?

[saint75]

The question is, will he play next year? Or will he have to wait for an injury to gain a spot in the team?

It should be interesting and I am definitely looking forward to seeing Walsh play.

[samoht]

Walsh has created a lot of interest/excitement and could perhaps add 5000 to our membership and be self funded, if he plays.

Is there a dashing young Irish mid sized forward / goal scoring ace we can recruit while we're at it?

[saintsRrising]

from what i've seen he looks a real prospect. trouble is how do we fit another power forward into a structure that already includes kosi and riewoldt.

but i guess if he's good enough, we'll find a way to get him in there somehow.

Thing is though is that he is VERY agile..

So is Roo.

So it is not like comparing Roo, Ksoi and GTrain...to Roo, Kosi and Tommy.


Tommy and Roo are both very mobile and can play like flankers.

Early days of course...but Tommy if he can pick up the skills and reading of the game required could play as a HFF..with Roo at FF and Kosi CHF...with 3 smalls.

Not saying he is anywhere near like Buddy...but Buddy is big and agile and often plays off the flank.

[bigcarl]

from what i've seen he looks a real prospect. trouble is how do we fit another power forward into a structure that already includes kosi and riewoldt.

but i guess if he's good enough, we'll find a way to get him in there somehow.

Thing is though is that he is VERY agile..

So is Roo.

So it is not like comparing Roo, Ksoi and GTrain...to Roo, Kosi and Tommy.


Tommy and Roo are both very mobile and can play like flankers.

Early days of course...but Tommy if he can pick up the skills and reading of the game required could play as a HFF..with Roo at FF and Kosi CHF...with 3 smalls.

Not saying he is anywhere near like Buddy...but Buddy is big and agile and often plays off the flank.

same argument for stanley, who reportedly is in the mix for that spot as well.

graded a better athlete than riewoldt, according to BackfromUSA in another thread. both for pace and endurance. and he's 200-plus cms.

i'll be delighted if either can play our gameplan defensively plus contribute goals and potency to a forwardline that was a little one-dimensional during the finals.

[Moods]

from what i've seen he looks a real prospect. trouble is how do we fit another power forward into a structure that already includes kosi and riewoldt.

but i guess if he's good enough, we'll find a way to get him in there somehow.

Thing is though is that he is VERY agile..

So is Roo.

So it is not like comparing Roo, Ksoi and GTrain...to Roo, Kosi and Tommy.


Tommy and Roo are both very mobile and can play like flankers.

Early days of course...but Tommy if he can pick up the skills and reading of the game required could play as a HFF..with Roo at FF and Kosi CHF...with 3 smalls.

Not saying he is anywhere near like Buddy...but Buddy is big and agile and often plays off the flank.

same argument for stanley, who reportedly is in the mix for that spot as well.

graded a better athlete than riewoldt, according to BackfromUSA in another thread. both for pace and endurance. and he's 200-plus cms.

Which means he will make a great ruckmanif he keeps developing - possibly in the Dean Cox mould.

[bigcarl]

means he will make a great ruckmanif he keeps developing - possibly in the Dean Cox mould.

also means he's probably a couple of seasons away if he is considered a ruck prospect only. stanley is 89kg, cox is 104kg.

however, BackfromUSA said in the thread i mentioned that he has good mail that Stanley is definitely in the mix as a forward and is being groomed to replace riewoldt at chf ultimately.

very interesting thread

http://www.saintsational.com/forum/view ... hp?t=58260

[mcadam05]

he looks pretty good

[ace]

Riewoldt's defensive task is to chase opponents into the waiting tackles of our more mobile and agile smaller forwards.
The third forward needs to become one of these tacklers rather than a chaser, so needs to be more agile than Riewoldt.

Tommy is agile, whether he is agile enough to become a tackler we wait to see.

PS Those Irish tackles in the videos don't count, they can not legally retard or throw an opponent to the ground.

[samoht]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison ... c_football

I found it interesting that they play on after marking (catching) the ball in Gaelic football - so it's a non-stop action/running game and less stop /start than Aussie Rules..
There's probably no place for non-mobile big men - one dimensional markologists in Gaelic football.

So Walsh's instincts would be to run /play on at all times, continue to be a running big man.

Also they can't tackle but you can bump the opponent with the ball , block/smother his passes/kicks or corral him - so even if you're not being tackled you're still being chased,bumped and harassed.

But even if he hasn't experienced tackling pressure - on the other side of the ledger I'm sure Walsh can develop as a ferocious tackler himself - and I reckon those powerful long legs of his (which offer plenty of leverage) would see him break through tackles anyway - he comes well equipped.

[sendmehomehappy]

Stanley Walsh...Tommy's gun twin...coming along as well

[samoht]

Stanley Walsh...Tommy's gun twin...coming along as well

What's you talking about Willis ?

- just amended to Walsh of course, I don't know where Stanley came from ? - just testing if everyone is alert.

[DWOODROW]

Everyone seems to forget that Ross Lyon expects youngsters to do their apprenticeship. Will be lucky to get a game next year but maybe up for a run in the NAB cup I would think as will others.

[yipper]

Everyone seems to forget that Ross Lyon expects youngsters to do their apprenticeship. Will be lucky to get a game next year but maybe up for a run in the NAB cup I would think as will others.

Absolutely. That's the main reason I enjoy the NAB cup - to see the lesser lights getting a run. Who knows Tommy may well just blitz them in the NAB and demand a spot for Rd 1.

[bigcarl]

Everyone seems to forget that Ross Lyon expects youngsters to do their apprenticeship.

unless they are very special, i think, is how he puts it.

[samoht]

Absolutely - let's just enjoy Walsh's journey - there's no guarantees at the end.

.. but geez he moves well, he's so agile for a big man - you can't help jumping to conclusions and getting excited (along with Begley and our recruiters obviously).

[DWOODROW]

Everyone seems to forget that Ross Lyon expects youngsters to do their apprenticeship.

unless they are very special, i think, is how he puts it.

The nail on the head. We will see if he is in NAB hopefully.

[matrix]

half forward flanker, centre half back
i for one will follow this lad closely

young
built
quik

palease
gonna dominate

[BringBackMadDog]

Generally with the Irish players, most if not all end up playing as defenders because it requires less natural football instincts than playing forward. Defenders can be more reactive and run directly at the play whereas forwards have to know where and when to lead and the the best place to position yourself to win the ball its a far more proactive area to play and therefore much harder to teach a bloke who has never played the game. I think Walsh could be a fantastic CHB, great height plenty of dash.

[S.A Saint]

Generally with the Irish players, most if not all end up playing as defenders because it requires less natural football instincts than playing forward. Defenders can be more reactive and run directly at the play whereas forwards have to know where and when to lead and the the best place to position yourself to win the ball its a far more proactive area to play and therefore much harder to teach a bloke who has never played the game. I think Walsh could be a fantastic CHB, great height plenty of dash.

Might be another reason why goose was delisted??

[thirty-seven!?]

Generally with the Irish players, most if not all end up playing as defenders because it requires less natural football instincts than playing forward. Defenders can be more reactive and run directly at the play whereas forwards have to know where and when to lead and the the best place to position yourself to win the ball its a far more proactive area to play and therefore much harder to teach a bloke who has never played the game. I think Walsh could be a fantastic CHB, great height plenty of dash.

Worth remembering though that he has played his gaelic career as a forward - not a wingman like many of the other irish recruits. But i do see your point. Hopefully the awareness of and ability to use space which is needed in AFL is also applied in Gaelic footy... One can only hope. Also, playing as a forward, one would hope he can kick the thing straight...

[St Fidelius]

Generally with the Irish players, most if not all end up playing as defenders because it requires less natural football instincts than playing forward. Defenders can be more reactive and run directly at the play whereas forwards have to know where and when to lead and the the best place to position yourself to win the ball its a far more proactive area to play and therefore much harder to teach a bloke who has never played the game. I think Walsh could be a fantastic CHB, great height plenty of dash.

I understand what you're saying, but Setanta O'hailpin's background is hurling and not football at all, yet he now plays CHF for Carlton (albeit he played a few years down back first)