Dogs' recruit is one to watch

[bornadog]

The Age




IT DIDN'T take long for talk of Zephaniah Skinner to move on from his name. In the blink of a pre-season eye, he has left Western Bulldogs folk caught between the reality that they should not expect too much, and fantasy of the joys he could bring.

Coach Rodney Eade says he wouldn't be surprised if the 21-year-old broke into the senior team as early as round five, nor concerned if he didn't play until round 20. ''He might go through the roof earlier than we think.''

The choice of metaphor is apt. Few new faces in these recent, largely meaningless weeks have caused so many jaws to fall slack, prompted so many lips to mouth, ''Wow!'' And simply by reaching for the sky.

Eade has tempered his initial assessment of Skinner, made after he was taken with pick 88 at last November's national draft. ''The guy can leap tall buildings,'' he said at the time, but settled this week for sketching him as a player with more talent than most, a good attitude, who is quickest at the club and could benefit from the substitute rule.

Oh, and one other thing. ''He's got an enormous leap.''

So much so that he could even be a radical solution to a box that remains unticked in the Dogs' continuing quest for that oh-so-longed-for premiership - a back-up to ruckman Ben Hudson. ''That's a tantalising prospect as well - does he play as the second ruck for us because he can play other positions?'' Eade wonders out loud.

Tavis Perry is an AFL Northern Territory development officer based on Elcho Island, who counts himself lucky to have seen Skinner play and train for NT Thunder last year in the Queensland state competition. Perry filled in for a couple of games, and was subjected to Skinner's standard initiation of new players at the club.

With people asking ''Z-who?'' after draft day, Perry wrote of what happened at the end of his first training session in a profile of Skinner for footyalmanac.com.au. ''One of the players ran up behind me and leapt over me! Note - leapt over me; didn't leap frog me, or push off my shoulders, or even jump over me with legs spread, literally tuck-jumped over me!''

Leaping for a football comes as naturally to Skinner as backflipping from a standing start and landing on his feet. That he has the skills to make it in the AFL is not questioned; his challenge lies in keeping his feet while making a leap that is cultural rather than physical.

Bulldogs development officer Chris Maple learned last week just how true Skinner's words ring when he describes himself as ''a man of the land''.

Skinner had returned home to Noonkanbah, four-and-a-half hours inland from Broome, for two family funerals. Maple traversed the country to accompany him down to Bunbury for the Bulldogs' practice match against Fremantle last Saturday. The experience has inspired him to take as many players back at season's end as he can muster.

Maple describes Noonkanbah as a happy community of around 200, well-organised under the leadership of the head elder, Skinner's grandfather. His uncle Noel is warden, or quasi policeman, as well as the footy coach. It is a dry community, a lifestyle choice driven by its inhabitants.

Three or four households have Foxtel, so the whole community scattered between them when Skinner made his NAB Cup debut last month in Geelong.

On the drive back to Broome, Skinner told Maple the story of his people and his land. ''He told me about the Yungngora Man, how the land was formed, how two snakes created the creek and the river. We talked about hunting, he told me their Dreamtime stories.''

Skinner lived in Perth while playing for Claremont Colts in 2007-08, and Darwin last year while with the Thunder. He is getting better at life away from home, but as Maple says: ''It's still a challenge for him, and it always will be because he loves home so much … Even Broome's a big city for him.''

He lives within walking distance of Whitten Oval, with a host family who understand his need for whatever space he can find. ''Zephi has his own bungalow out the back, so he can play his guitar and have a bit of quiet time,'' Maple says.

''He doesn't like the busy city, (but) he's got a nice backyard, some trees out the back, he can spend some quiet time out there.'' Teammates Brennan Stack and Liam Jones live nearby; Maple says they often get together for a jam session, to shoot hoops, or just hang out.

Adam Goodes' brother Brett has joined Maple in player welfare and is another key player in Skinner's transition, having played with and befriended him at NT Thunder. Visiting Noonkanbah has given Maple a visual on what contact with home entails.

''We encourage Zephi to communicate with home as much as he can, which is difficult because mobile phones don't work out there. We ring the public phone out the front of the general store, and someone goes and gets the people he wants to talk to.''

So far, distance travelled doesn't seem to wear him down. Having spent 12 hours in transit from Noonkanbah to Bunbury last Friday, Skinner played barely half the game against Fremantle, and still kicked four goals.

Humour will help his adjustment. NT Thunder coach Murray Davis says Skinner is ''one of those guys who's got the ability, no matter where you're from or what age your are, to bring a smile to your face''. Much about him is missed around the club, not least his impromptu three-quarter-time speeches.

He has brought similar amusement to Whitten Oval, where he responds to requests for jokes in a flash. Maple knows where he gets it from, having met his grandfather and uncles. ''They're very funny men, always happy.''

But as much as everyone enjoys a laugh, it is his football that could prompt the broadest smiles.

Davis reports that the Thunder worked hard on his defensive skills, and reaped immediate rewards. ''We knew he had the speed and athleticism, we worked with him to really use it to pressure the opposition,'' he says of a player who led the club's 2010 tackle count with 95 from 16 games, and made the QAFL team of the year.

At 189 centimetres, he often rucked against and beat 200 centimetre-plus giants; Davis remembers a breakout game against Broadbeach, another against Brisbane Lions reserves. His composure stood out in the three goals he kicked to keep NT Thunder in the elimination final, and his pack marking in pressure situations earlier in the year.

''The ball would go forward, kicked to a big pack, and we just needed someone to take a mark. Zephi would just float across, stick the telescopic arms out and away he'd go.''

Eade says his fitness is better than might be thought of one not long out of community football, where Perry says the norm is to drink Coke rather than water at breaks. ''It's just a matter of him getting used to the grind and the continuity of it, and that probably translates to games, to being involved in the game all the time,'' Eade says. ''But he seems to be coping pretty well at the moment, and that gives us confidence he'll cope when he goes to the next level.''

Today the journey takes him to Ballarat, a steak and chips, Plugger and Spud footy city that finds itself playing host to Zephi Skinner of Noonkanbah versus Majak Daw of Khartoum, Sudan. Davis knows Skinner could find himself back there in deepest winter, when kicks and the smiles are harder to come by. The true test of his mettle is yet to come. ''There's going to be ups and downs - we understand that, and he understands that,'' Maple says. ''It's just limiting how high the ups are, and how low the downs are.''

The Bulldogs - indeed, anyone who has seen Zephi Skinner play - know that if he pulls off his greatest leap, the highs could be very high indeed.

[AndrewP6]

The Age




He is getting better at life away from home, but as Maple says: ''It's still a challenge for him, and it always will be because he loves home so much … Even Broome's a big city for him.''

''He doesn't like the busy city, (but) he's got a nice backyard, some trees out the back, he can spend some quiet time out there.'' Teammates Brennan Stack and Liam Jones live nearby; Maple says they often get together for a jam session, to shoot hoops, or just hang out.

This is often an issue, and the thing that concerns me. Hopefully Maple's visit, and having Goodes on the staff will make it easier.

Interesting article though.

[Remi Moses]

Terrific article .
After all the Stkilda Girl,Fevola saga and Tricky Ricky Nixon it's nice to read something uplifting. It is going to be a rollercoaster ride for the lad but hopefully we get some joy watching him play

[LostDoggy]

Terrific article .
After all the Stkilda Girl,Fevola saga and Tricky Ricky Nixon it's nice to read something uplifting. It is going to be a rollercoaster ride for the lad but hopefully we get some joy watching him play

So True Remi. He is an exciting kid to watch

[chef]

Excellent article, I like the bit about using him as the second ruck.

[Go_Dogs]

Great article.

[LostDoggy]

Is he still wearing a Powerband?
There lies the answer why he is good.

[comrade]

Is he still wearing a Powerband?
There lies the answer why he is good.

Obviously he's on a different frequency wave length to the rest of us. That's why the hologram works for him.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I like the idea of his impromptu three quarter time speeches, it shows leadership and team spirit. Coupled with his sense of humour, not to mention his physical skills, he brings a refreshing set of his own values to the culture.
That smile is more endearing than Johnno's.

[Ghost Dog]

I think we just found a replacement for Brad's smile.
Smiling Assassin Mk II

[LostDoggy]

Found the article very interesting - it is going to be a huge adjustment for him, especially once our winter kicks in! His family and community is obviously very supportive and I hope he find the same support here. Can't wait to see him play a blinder!

[MrMahatma]

Definitely an exciting prospect. Fastest at the club. Good to hear. We've definitely recruited a diverse bunch this year.

Good luck to him. Keep up the good work mate!

[westdog54]

The image in the OP is certainly a far cry from this one when he was drafted.



Looks like two completely different people.

[AndrewP6]

The image in the OP is certainly a far cry from this one when he was drafted.



Looks like two completely different people.

Amazing the difference a smile can make!

[westdog54]

Amazing the difference a smile can make!

And a shave.