Jimmy Toumpas (Coming of age)?

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

We would have to drag him out of the club. He is as loyal as they come.

[Gator 17,361]

...You are a [censored].

And that was in question ?

[Lord Byron 32]

Worked hard today. Only one or two brain freezes.

Jimmy is positioning himself better and not getting caught flat footed after weighing up options.

Adding scoring and tackling to the mix makes him look to be an exciting prospect now.

Kicking to position was faultless as far as i could tell.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Ok been a long time critic and so even though this is one of the worst loses I can remember I must make mention of his effort today!

I thought he was terrific today, won outside and more importantly for me, inside ball and made mostly some good decisions!

I hope he can go on from here because if what he provided today can be continued, then his place in the draft and promise to be lived up to will be

vindicated. 1 great game in three years ! Lets see what he offers next week!

And before you start gloating Dazzle man, get stuffed!!

sometimes it just takes a realisation from the kid/s, that they can survive out there, & not only, they can compete, & they can win.

once that penny has dropped, so does their balls. they can then fight for the ball, & fight for the right. & then fight to win...

[Yossarian 1,820]

One of the highlights of the game for me was seeing how amped ANB was after the Toump kicked one his goals. Toumpas was high-fiving all chilled then ANB ran in beaming and then Toump let it all out. Was so good seeing the two youngsters pumped and celebrating together.

On a side note, ANB out of his depth today, but looks a footballer. Reckon he'll be something.

[dazzledavey36 54,947]

One of the highlights of the game for me was seeing how amped ANB was after the Toump kicked one his goals. Toumpas was high-fiving all chilled then ANB ran in beaming and then Toump let it all out. Was so good seeing the two youngsters pumped and celebrating together.

On a side note, ANB out of his depth today, but looks a footballer. Reckon he'll be something.

They live together so that would explain the excitement

[dee-luded 2,959]

Worked hard today. Only one or two brain freezes.

Jimmy is positioning himself better and not getting caught flat footed after weighing up options.

Adding scoring and tackling to the mix makes him look to be an exciting prospect now.

Kicking to position was faultless as far as i could tell.

He may still put in an ordinary game now and again, but he's learn't he can, now he has to learn to demand more of his talents, slowly building.

but he has crossed one bridge, the first one.

[rjay 24,929]

One thing that might go unnoticed, I loved during a passage of play he stood up and took the tackle, protected the ball and didn't just try and dish it off.

He's learning, sometimes you need to lock the ball down and set up for the next contest. The coaches are coaching well I reckon...

[Akum 2,660]

Reckon he'll leav at years end?

Do you?

[bing181 9,240]

After Montagna streamed in to kick that last goal, I noticed Toump with his hands on his head in anger realising that was his man and he failed to stay with him.

Jimmy did the right thing in trying to tackle the St Kilda player who ran past with the ball, who then passed to Stevens.

There's no single player at fault here, but Viney didn't cover himself in glory - first letting Stevens get the initial disposal out of the centre, then not following him down to stop his subsequent hand pass receive, and finally, letting Montagna run free past him. There were others involved - Viv Mitchie, who was trotting behind Stevens. etc. etc.

Sure, everyone has a player that they're "on", but equally, they're trained to pick up opposing players if the designated player (who presumably would have been Toumpas) is otherwise engaged.

[Nascent 9,215]

Love the fact that discussion around Jimmy is quickly swinging from "is he AFL standard?" to "when is he going to sign a contract extension?" Great to see some genuine improvement and hopefully he gets a decent contract offer soon.

[Sambo06 222]

Ok been a long time critic and so even though this is one of the worst loses I can remember I must make mention of his effort today!

I thought he was terrific today, won outside and more importantly for me, inside ball and made mostly some good decisions!

I hope he can go on from here because if what he provided today can be continued, then his place in the draft and promise to be lived up to will be

vindicated. 1 great game in three years ! Lets see what he offers next week!

And before you start gloating Dazzle man, get stuffed!!

Holy Cow!!!!!!

What the heck do I do with that humble pie I've been baking for you PF? You've gone and baked your own!

Well done. Takes a big man PF.

Edited June 14, 2015 by Sambo06

[Canplay 634]

Works really hard, gets to contests and getting more composure by the week. Will never be the A grader we hoped but should be a really good 10 year servant. Remember, Nathan Jones took time to develop - was a turnover specialist in his first couple of seasons. Great clubman and about time we all gave him a break.

[ChaserJ 5,096]

One thing that might go unnoticed, I loved during a passage of play he stood up and took the tackle, protected the ball and didn't just try and dish it off.

He's learning, sometimes you need to lock the ball down and set up for the next contest. The coaches are coaching well I reckon...

This is something that Watt's is starting to do more of, and both he and Jimmy look so much better for it.

I might have read in one of the training threads that Goodwin took these two aside to work on tackling/physical work. Looks like it's paying off for both players.

[binman 42,986]

One thing that might go unnoticed, I loved during a passage of play he stood up and took the tackle, protected the ball and didn't just try and dish it off.

He's learning, sometimes you need to lock the ball down and set up for the next contest. The coaches are coaching well I reckon...

Good get, i noted that as well. It caught my attention because he had made an earlier where in our back half he hand-balled, whilst being pressured, to someone too close who immediately got tackled. It occurred to me that perhaps a coach had told him to take the tackle, which as you say he did in that instance (and i think still got it off?).

The play i loved from the Toump was his shimmy in the centre square that wrong footed a would be tackler and gave him time and space. Great stuff.

[binman 42,986]

This is something that Watt's is starting to do more of, and both he and Jimmy look so much better for it.

I might have read in one of the training threads that Goodwin took these two aside to work on tackling/physical work. Looks like it's paying off for both players.

Also a good call. Watts did it a couple of times didn't he. In fact he was surprisingly strong when getting tackled, holding the ball and then still being able to get a handball off. There was a few examples where he got caught and i though oops he is gone but he was able to give it off.

I heard Stan Alves criticize Watts for his laconic style and lack of physicality, in reference to the tackle he got caught in in the last when trying a baulk. Honestly i wonder if some of those commentators watch the same game as i do. This was a match to highlight his improved physicality and intensity not to lament their absence. And as for the tackle he go caught but i for one love it when he takes them on and i reckon he should do more of it.

[binman 42,986]

Will never be the A grader we hoped but should be a really good 10 year servant.

Disagree. I reckon there is every chance he will be an A grader. He is competitive, self driven and has the tools.

[nutbean 8,838]

He is building nice but I have been taken in by too many false dawns on players that have apparently arrived. Ill keep my powder dry for a while longer yet.

What I will say is that he has played 25 games and is 21 years old. Many are way too quick to make judgement. I understand the debate around the likes of Bail and McKenzie - we are at a stage where we know what their best is going to be. We certainly need to give youth time to develop.

[nutbean 8,838]

Also a good call. Watts did it a couple of times didn't he. In fact he was surprisingly strong when getting tackled, holding the ball and then still being able to get a handball off. There was a few examples where he got caught and i though oops he is gone but he was able to give it off.

I heard Stan Alves criticize Watts for his laconic style and lack of physicality, in reference to the tackle he got caught in in the last when trying a baulk. Honestly i wonder if some of those commentators watch the same game as i do. This was a match to highlight his improved physicality and intensity not to lament their absence. And as for the tackle he go caught but i for one love it when he takes them on and i reckon he should do more of it.

Couldn't agree more.

The ability ( and more importantly the desire ) to take a tackle so you can release another player is a great skill and yes - he did caught in the last quarter - but he did this a few times this match an the week before and got the ball off to a man who then had space and time. If you can get tackled and release to a free player, it takes an opposition player out of the picture.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

Disagree. I reckon there is every chance he will be an A grader. He is competitive, self driven and has the tools.

I don't there's any hope he'll be an A-grader. I'm guessing you mean the Selwood, Pendlebury level. He won't get there. But he is similar in style to Leigh Montagna who has had a very servicable career. Montagna isn't overly fast but runs hard and distributes the same way.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

Coming along ok. Plenty worse than him.

[chook fowler 19,459]

Ollie who?

[Nasher 33,616]

I don't there's any hope he'll be an A-grader. I'm guessing you mean the Selwood, Pendlebury level. He won't get there. But he is similar in style to Leigh Montagna who has had a very servicable career. Montagna isn't overly fast but runs hard and distributes the same way.

Would you say no to a Montagna type? I know with a pick 4 we expect a cream of the crop, but history shows that even with top 10 draft picks, the average-good players and outright lemons far outweigh the stars. If Toumpas became a 200 game average-good player, that would be an adequate result for mine.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

Would you say no to a Montagna type? I know with a pick 4 we expect a cream of the crop, but history shows that even with top 10 draft picks, the average-good players and outright lemons far outweigh the stars. If Toumpas became a 200 game average-good player, that would be an adequate result for mine.

Nope, totally agree. And to be honest I'd written Toumpas off after his horror outing against Hawthorn. To see him bounce back and look like he may in fact not be a poor pick after all, is very pleasing.

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

Didnt he and watts get some special training together this week? That's not an aphorism or innuendo.

What was the training and who did it cause it might have worked.