WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - TOM COUCH

[Demonland 73,140]

Tom Couch.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

Tom Couch.

Any relation to the Tom Crouch which the AFL's own website has claimed has gone to Melbourne. Oh well, welcome to the home of Maloney, Trengrove and Pettard

Edited December 13, 2011 by La Dee-vina Comedia

[Guest Deefence]

No.24 - Tom Couch - Collingwood VFL - Geelong (Bell Park)

The son of 1989 Brownlow Medallist Paul. He is an inside midfielder. He has a strong body, is a clearance specialist and possesses good endurance.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/127103/default.aspx

[rpfc 28,779]

Ok, so a young mid who looks to be inside player?

Defer again to others for training info and comparisons.

[Lutz 76]

Good pick.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Ok, so a young mid who looks to be inside player?

Defer again to others for training info and comparisons.

Another in-depth post about our new rookies thanks RPFC!

From early reports, Tom seemed to be training quite well and the players had accepted him quite well. I'm sure Neeld/Brown would have a great insight in to Tom, and should be good to watch how he progresses throughout the year.

I keep saying to myself "it's only the rookie draft, don't get too excited", but then I look at our form guide!

[daisycutter 29,740]

Ok, so a young mid who looks to be inside player?

Defer again to others for training info and comparisons.

you feeling ok today rfpc?

that's three deferrals in 5 minutes

[rpfc 28,779]

I can't ask my fellow Landers for their "own eye" opinions?

Thanks Billy, I have seen the training reports. They were not reports of Melbourne players.

The next ones will be.

[rpfc 28,779]

Ok, so he is 23.

He's ready to go too.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/persistence-pays-off-for-couch/story-e6frf9io-1226220754107

Looks like we want to find a few bigger bodies desperately...

And Bate has just got two more competitors for that role.

[monoccular 17,574]

Another mature strong "clearance mid" rookie - the coaching and recruiting staff know what is needed for ultimate success.

All these potential additions, as that is all rookies are at least at this stage of the season, potentials, will add pressure to the established mids and can only be good for the team.

And, as others have posted above and in earlier post, we have picked up the odd gem in the rookie draft in the past.

And it is all pretty low risk.

These 'mature aged' guys will also be pretty hungry for promotion - go Dees.

[Carlos Danger 380]

Neeld and Brown rate him highly and his dad is a Brownlow medallist, sounds good enough to me.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Neeld and Brown rate him highly and his dad is a Brownlow medallist, sounds good enough to me.

Like the first point, i dont care who his dad was, he isnt his dad, without be rude to the kid, but you have to be your own man, and he obviously is, He didnt get on an AFL list off his Dads name, he did it when he was 23 and having played his way through leagues states ect, he is the role model and replica of what you want a rookie list player to be, hungry, willing to put in the effort, do the hard yards.

[Carlos Danger 380]

Like the first point, i dont care who his dad was, he isnt his dad, without be rude to the kid, but you have to be your own man, and he obviously is, He didnt get on an AFL list off his Dads name, he did it when he was 23 and having played his way through leagues states ect, he is the role model and replica of what you want a rookie list player to be, hungry, willing to put in the effort, do the hard yards.

It comes across like you don't believe in genetics.

Your right though, it's pretty obvious Gary Ablett's freakish abilities have nothing to do with those of his father. Must be a coincidence.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

It comes across like you don't believe in genetics.

Your right though, it's pretty obvious Gary Ablett's freakish abilities have nothing to do with those of his father. Must be a coincidence.

How many father sons dont even play AFL, genetics? 95%

And no i dont think GAJ gets it from his dad, they have a completely different skill set/position on the ground ect, both talented, but in their own right imo

Edited December 13, 2011 by Jordie_tackles

[Real Demon 232]

Congrats on the opportunity Tom!

Sounds like he has really worked hard to earn this chance, and will give it all he has!

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

How many father sons dont even play AFL, genetics? 95%

And no i dont think GAJ gets it from his dad, they have a completely different skill set/position on the ground ect, both talented, but in their own right imo

You haven't watched enough of Junior or Senior if you don't think they play alike or have similar traits. Junior is really just a much fitter version of his dad without the aerial stuff. But the movement and the strength through the core is all the same, not to mention sublime skills. Junior has shown when he goes forward he can be a super player, and senior played a lot on the wing in his early days.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

You haven't watched enough of Junior or Senior if you don't think they play alike or have similar traits. Junior is really just a much fitter version of his dad without the aerial stuff. But the movement and the strength through the core is all the same, not to mention sublime skills. Junior has shown when he goes forward he can be a super player, and senior played a lot on the wing in his early days.

I just find the whole he is good because his dad was good thing a bit crap. More players arnt as good, or players who's dads were average are great players ect.

[Akum 2,660]

I just find the whole he is good because his dad was good thing a bit crap. More players arnt as good, or players who's dads were average are great players ect.

And ... um ... Jack Viney?

[hardtack 10,627]

And ... um ... Jack Viney?

Ok, we have Ablett and Viney... that's two who have turned out to be top class players in their own right (although Jack Viney is yet to prove it at the top level). It would be interesting to see how many sons of great players actually amounted to anything on the football field... I'm with the genetic schimetics side of the argument I'm afraid. I prefer to think that the skills in sons such as Viney and Ablett are a result of having watched closely and absorbed the way their fathers played the game as well as those other players they would naturally have come in contact with through their fathers' association with the clubs. Yes, their physical attributes are unarguably a result of good genetics, but their skills and application of those skills are more a result of "osmosis" - some are better learners than others.

[monoccular 17,574]

And ... um ... Jack Viney?

Tom Cavanagh, Chris Johnson, a young Seedling that many here were drooling over a couple of years ago ........ & literally 99+% of sons of top AFL players who may not even make it to the school 3rd XVIII.

Sure, genetics can play some role, upbringing probably a hell of a lot more, but that doesn't in any way dampen my excitement at the Viney prospect; it leaves me pretty neutral and open minded re the Sofa.

[Lutz 76]

Personally, I like the pick, but I wouldn't hold out to much hope of him playing a lot of AFL footy.

The pick is more about getting competitive hard bodies into the squad to set the standard for the younger more talented players.

There will be nowhere to hide and no one will get games without earning them.

End result is that I see couch as being like a younger better Valenti.

[Nasher 33,617]

Ok, we have Ablett and Viney... that's two who have turned out to be top class players in their own right (although Jack Viney is yet to prove it at the top level). It would be interesting to see how many sons of great players actually amounted to anything on the football field... I'm with the genetic schimetics side of the argument I'm afraid. I prefer to think that the skills in sons such as Viney and Ablett are a result of having watched closely and absorbed the way their fathers played the game as well as those other players they would naturally have come in contact with through their fathers' association with the clubs. Yes, their physical attributes are unarguably a result of good genetics, but their skills and application of those skills are more a result of "osmosis" - some are better learners than others.

So we've established that young players are either better or worse players than their fathers. Smashing. Glad we've cleared that one up.

[daisycutter 29,740]

So we've established that young players are either better or worse players than their fathers. Smashing. Glad we've cleared that one up.

at least in most cases, nasher

[Demon 16 214]

Jeez the original comment was nothing more than noting he comes from a successful bloodline. No one is saying he is his dad..

Edited December 14, 2011 by Demon 16

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

3 or 4 posts that were on the subject, followed by a throw away line, we then get about 20 posts about genetics in football.

Should I mention Norm Smith & Peter Smith?