Welcome to Demonland - SAM BLEASE

Blease to prove he is worth the wait - http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tab...px?newsId=70210

2008 Championship highlights -

Eastern Ranges Round 18 Sam Blease - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzyYI05stnA

Eastern Ranges Round 17 Sam Blease - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bXwUIptd8g

Eastern Ranges Round 3 Sam Blease - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3T15zcwgE

2008 NAB AFL Draft prospect Sam Blease in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWVXBOSG1BM

Eastern Ranges / Norwood

19/2/91, 183.7cm, 70.3kgs

Sam is a lightly built midfielder who is an excellent kick on both sides of the body.

Showing tremendous poise and balance with the football, he brings others into the game with his use by hand.

He represented Vic Metro in three matches during the 2008 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and was a key contributor in Victoria’s finals triumph over Western Australia with 12 disposals, two goals and five tackles.

He was among Vic Metro’s top five tacklers despite missing two matches.

Sam played seven matches for the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup due to school football commitments with Yarra Valley, but averaged 17 possessions and four tackles per match. He was at his best against the Northern Territory in Round 10 with 28 disposals and six marks – his running game a feature with 10 handball receives.

He attended the 2008 NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra and impressed with a leap of 70cm in the vertical jump placing him fourth overall, and an equal seventh overall in the 20 metre sprint (2.91 seconds).

Sam is a graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy which toured South Africa in early 2008.

Q&A

What was your 2008 football highlight? Winning the 2008 NAB AFL Under 18 National Championships with Vic Metro. Coming in as underdogs and knocking off Western Australia.

Which AFL players do you watch or model yourself on? I barrack for Richmond so Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Matty Richardson. I play a similar sort of game to Brett Deledio so I like to watch him - he has lots of speed and a great kick.

Which of your peers have impressed you this season? Tom Scully is a close mate and has had a stellar season and I'd expect him to go very high in next season's draft.

What has been your most memorable moment in football so far? Back to back premierships in 2005/06 with Norwood in the EFL. I also kicked a bag of 10 goals against Lilydale once.

- Kevin Sheehan afl.com.au

welcome sam!!

im liking how we getting players with speed and that can hit targets

Bloody awesome pick!

I agree, most of the phantom drafts had us going tall at 17 and 19, but I'm really glad we went for mids after taking Watts @ 1...

did well to get blease at 17, would've liked swift @ 19, but strauss sounds like a player...

will be interesting to see in time how we stack up against west coast this draft... we seem to have taken the safer selections in Watts and Strauss, while West Coast have taken some more risks in taking Naitanui and Swift...

Blease will be a star.

PACE, PACE, PACE !!!

It's what we've needed and we've got it!

This kid will be a gun

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=e7DTWnqlg8E

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GWVXBOSG1BM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzyYI05stnA

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzyYI05stnA

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3T15zcwgE

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbuj3vt3gys

Theres a lot of this kid on you tube! anyone who knows about the draft knows about this kid. Jeez his is skinny though!

Burgos phantom draft pick info:

13 – ST KILDA – SAM BLEASE

Eastern Ranges, VIC, Small/medium midfielder, February 19, 1991, 183.7cm, 70.3kg

(Draft range: 7-18)

Yarran would be snapped up in a second if he fell through to St Kilda at No.13, with Sidebottom and Trengove also in contention. More likely prospects are Blease, Tom Lynch and Roughead. And Blease is the one who has been strongly linked with the Saints all along. Had the Saints decided to pursue Ben Cousins they would have had to take him at No.13, considering the rival Lions had two selections (No.25 and No.41), before St Kilda's next choice.

Heard a shocking story about him on the radio. Was watching TV one night at home with his dad lying down on the other couch, Blease went to say something to his dad and he didn't respond.

Turns out he had a heart attack and died.

I can just tell Blease will make it. He;s motivated and the game really suits him.

GO DEES 2009!

Yeah, apparently he goes over his Dad's notes (he was his coach) every time he plays.

That's a sad story. Glad to see he holds his fathers teachings close to his heart, and is very driven.

Very happy we got him at 17. He's been the one we all wanted for the last 6 months!

Exactly what we need in pace and good skills. His pick ups on the run are amazing! I think there was a few of them in his youtube highlights clip thing, so check it out.

Here's hoping he can put on abit of size thing pre-season and work his way past the injuries to good fitness.

Welcome to the club Sam

great pick up

the club obviously rates him as a safe option and more so that swift

Another Ranga...

I love the look of this kid. I know he's a whippet, but he's strong and a very skillful tackler, (judging by all the footage). great decision making, creative, great kick, and super quick. Looks a little like a lightweight Joel Selwood to me.

That's a really sad story about losing his father.

Got Blistering pace and seems to run away from opponents. I like that.

How do you pronounce his name? Bless E?

That's a really sad story about losing his father.

Got Blistering pace and seems to run away from opponents. I like that.

How do you pronounce his name? Bless E?

Like 'please' with a b.

Unbelievably slid to pick 17 for us. What a steal by the Dees. Touted to fall anywhere from 8 to 14. Great acquisition for the Mfc.

Watched WJ salivating as his name was called out. It was like me when a bowl of trifle is put in front of me.

Line breaker who kicks both sides of the body with precision

Can get his own ball

Nuff said

This kid is gonna light up the MCG.

Line breaker who kicks both sides of the body with precision

Can get his own ball

Nuff said

Averaged 10 possessions per game during the under '18 carnival as an outside mid. I'd hardly describe him as a ball winner.

Also, it was reported in yesterday's Age that he was suffering from OP towards the end of the season, and did his hammy. Doubt that we'll see much of him next year.

From the limited footage I have seen of him - he reminds me of Daniel Ward. I love the fact that Watts, Blease and Strauss have all played together - saw some footage from Vic Metro games - Strauss to Blease, Blease to Watts - goaaaaaaaal!

From the limited footage I have seen of him - he reminds me of Daniel Ward.

Daniel Ward with an elite kick.

Delighted that Sam now a Demon. I commented after the U18 Champoinships that he looked special, and from what I have seen and read since, he has a lot of the key attributes needed to become a top flite AFL player.

Averaged 10 possessions per game during the under '18 carnival as an outside mid. I'd hardly describe him as a ball winner.

Also, it was reported in yesterday's Age that he was suffering from OP towards the end of the season, and did his hammy. Doubt that we'll see much of him next year.

He didn't get alot of game time because they wanted to manage his injuries properly, when fully fit he wins alot of the ball apparently