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[COLOR="Red"][B][U][COLOR="Blue"]85, 92, 97, 98, 08, 09, 10... Break the curse![/COLOR][/U][/B][/COLOR] -
Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
I was surprised he was still available at pick 19 - you know that. I honestly thought he was in the best 10 players available that year...admittedly a biased view, but he had three things that were always going to separate him:
- Kicking skills.
- Clean hands below his knees.
- Competitive attitude that sees him absolutely burn inside if beaten.
The other thing was that due to his size he was never a dominant junior player - he couldn't just run down/run away from players as a youngster. He had to learn how to run angles and make good decisions just to win the ball/keep the ball. Earlier this year I thought he had become a bit too observant of the 'Take the Space' mantra at the club which led to him getting run down a few times - notice that hasn't happened much lately? He is back playing instinctive footy and trusting himself whilst playing within the plan.
Negatives? He always allowed his opponents a cushion, preferring to sit in space/cut the angles to actually playing one-on-one footy. I think this is a response to his own awareness of his leg-speed...and I would say it drives the coaches insane at times.
I think I have someone better this year as well....and he might be there at our pick!What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
Have mentioned him a couple of times.
There are two first round picks in my current group - well, I think that there are actually 4 first round picks, but two are for next year - and it is the player not named Anthony Morabito.What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
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- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
He has REALLY impressed me over the last 2 weeks he is going to become an absolutely sensational player his attack on the ball is amazing, I remember going to a game and we weren't playing the best there was a contest to be won right near where I was sitting I had the perfect view and Ward hit the pack so hard and won the ball you could hear it up in the stands I just just looked at my brother and was like "damn did you just see that".Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
A bet you would lose.What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
Had to laugh yesterday morning when Mark Robinson brought up Callan Ward and said something along the lines to Terry Wallace; Callan Ward is hard at it etc etc the dogs picked him up with selection 19 which they got in the Jordan McMahon trade.
Wallace replies are you having a dig and Robbo says just stating the facts. lolMore of an In Bruges guy?Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
What has amazed me is how quickly he has fixed problems in his game. Consider his first goal in that first quarter. He pushes up and gathers the front and square from the contest, gathers cleanly at pace as he normally does. That is his bread and butter but what has changed is what he did next. Ten weeks ago he would have gathered it then ploughed into the Brisbane players in front of him. On this occasion he slowed slightly as he picked it up and ran sideways into space . He is now getting to the outside of the contest quicker and giving himself a chance to actually use the ball.
Even the one he scrapped to Aker was an example of him tying to get outside with the ball. I am not sure if this has been coached into him (should be) or if he has just begun learning this skill on his own but it makes him a vastly more damaging player. He is a far better kick in space than he has perhaps been given credit for as well.Comment
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Re: Callan Ward - The REAL Rising Star
His game on Friday was that of a hardened and wise veteran.
Total gun.
Did all the hard things when it counted.Comment
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