WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - SAM WEIDEMAN

[Swampfox 190]

Well i never thought i would see the day when someone called Weideman was playing for Melbourne

Looks classy and polished

Could be the one to watch

[P-man 13,367]

https://chimericalredamancy.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/why-im-not-a-grammar-nazi/

"Learning a language is never easy, especially to someone who hasn’t been given a shot at as good an education as they would’ve liked. And when people like that have the courage to try their hand at communication in a world where scrutiny, scorn and criticism is just a less than perfectly prounounced vowel away, it’s pretty remarkable. Shooting them down by disparagingly ‘correcting’ them will eventually discourage them from learning."

...or participating.

Tough love my foot. IDAD is right. Lay off him.

[DeeZee 7,463]

I doubt whether he would play Full forward or Centre half forward to begin with.

The Roos way is to play the kids on the flanks and pockets to ease them in.

If his pre season or Casey form is very good he will probably get a few games as third tall.

[Matt Demon 1,578]

I said gday to him at training yesterday, he's a good kid but let's give him dome time. He's pretty lightly built still & obviously needs to build that tank. 2016 is purely a development year.

[Tyson4Brownlow 154]

Revealed in Sam's diary column in the Herald Sun that he will wear #26 for the Dees

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

I really don't think the Weed will or should play seniors next year. They need to take their time and make absolutely sure that his ankle problems are behind him before anything else. Then they can build his fitness base over the course of a few years and by the time we're really challenging we'll have a fit and firing forward pair.

[dazzledavey36 55,983]

Take the time out to read this great article written by none other then Sam himself.

A very impressive individual.

Sam Weideman documents his draft experience before and after joining Melbourne

[Salems Lot 2,691]

He certainly speaks candidly; I guess most of us can relate to a moment in life when we find ourselves thinking "wow this is actually happening to me". He told of if very clearly. Love the references to his family. Thy appear to be the double generation blended family. V 21st Century!

[ILLDieADemon 804]

He's going to be a good player

[DeeSpencer 26,478]

Chuck him in the locker next to Tom McDonald and let him be mentored on his fitness and professionalism. They'll be more good numbers available by the time he's ready to play consistently!

[monoccular 17,697]

I really don't think the Weed will or should play seniors next year. They need to take their time and make absolutely sure that his ankle problems are behind him before anything else. Then they can build his fitness base over the course of a few years and by the time we're really challenging we'll have a fit and firing forward pair.

He should and will play when he is ready. It is strange to say he shouldn't play next season - he could be burning it up at Casey, and looks to be a decent build already. I trust our management, now.

[DeeSpencer 26,478]

I really don't think the Weed will or should play seniors next year. They need to take their time and make absolutely sure that his ankle problems are behind him before anything else. Then they can build his fitness base over the course of a few years and by the time we're really challenging we'll have a fit and firing forward pair.

If you compare with some of the bigger heavier key forwards who have had injury issues at some early stages in their first year: Boyd 9 games. McCartin 6 games. Hawkins 9 games. Patton 7 games.

If he breaks through for 1 game he's likely to get a stretch of a few games, especially if it's late in the year at that junk time stage of the season.

My advice would be don't play him until he's really ready and had a consistent run of form, not just one or two games but a month mostly in the best at Casey. Then when you are ready to pick him wait another week just to be sure! If all that happens by mid year then throw him in then. If not just keep waiting.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

I just think we should be really careful with those injuries. It's not such a big deal if he misses games in his first year making sure he's fit, but if they develop later into a problem it's going to be much worse.

[Neitz the Great 555]

Take the time out to read this great article written by none other then Sam himself.

A very impressive individual.

Sam Weideman documents his draft experience before and after joining Melbourne

could someone copy this article, please??

[Macca 17,120]

Well if Hogan is to play further out from goal (but not too far) then Weideman may end up playing more games than would otherwise be expected ... 8-14 possible games for Sam as a deep forward with a variety of others to rotate as the 3rd tall forward in a variety of roles as that 3rd tall forward.

Dawes, Watts, maybe O-Mac, Frost, vanders and Petracca could fulfill that 3rd tall forward role with any of those 6 to be used in Weideman's role when he's not playing. T-Mac shouldn't be ruled out either - Pedersen is another option. Obviously Frost, vanders, Petracca, Watts, Pedersen & T-Mac can play in a number of other positions as well (mostly back or midfield)

It seems that Roos would prefer to have quite a number of tall forward options when we consider that we drafted Hulett as well - Hulett is another who could be rotated through the forward line ... like Weideman, it will depend on whether the Match Committee reckon he's ready or not.

Weideman could effectively come into the team as part of a cog of a wheel rather than thrust into a key forward position that he may not be ready for. Same for Hulett ... O-Mac is in the same category but he may be better suited back (if he can force his way into the team of course).

[Roger Mellie 4,179]

Nice hat!

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

I personally am not sold on Wiedeman, athletically I think he will struggle, that being said, the more i read about him and a few of the conversations i have had with people who know what they are talking about, think that he would have been the premium forward in the draft had he played the carnival.

Either way, he interviews really well, he comes across as a really good kid and that is a great start, now he just needs to put the effort in on the track and put some good performances in at VFL and we will be laughing.

[H_T 3,049]

I personally am not sold on Wiedeman, athletically I think he will struggle, that being said, the more i read about him and a few of the conversations i have had with people who know what they are talking about, think that he would have been the premium forward in the draft had he played the carnival.

Either way, he interviews really well, he comes across as a really good kid and that is a great start, now he just needs to put the effort in on the track and put some good performances in at VFL and we will be laughing.

If you take on board conversations from people who know what they are talking about, you might be sold.

If you take on board from people like B.Sanderson who has said just as much. Including his All Stars game v Blues, you will be confident in knowing that he is athletically gifted, and took the game apart in one half highlighted by all his leading and contested marks.

And if you ask me, a guy on limited preparation due to niggle (coming off no base), injuries and very limited footy in 2015 at 196cm testing at 12.4 in the beep is not concerning one bit. No matter the howlers here that say it's a poor return. There were 'mids' post season, injury free, that returned mid 13's.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

If you take on board conversations from people who know what they are talking about, you might be sold.

If you take on board from people like B.Sanderson who has said just as much. Including his All Stars game v Blues, you will be confident in knowing that he is athletically gifted, and took the game apart in one half highlighted by all his leading and contested marks.

And if you ask me, a guy on limited preparation due to niggle (coming off no base), injuries and very limited footy in 2015 at 196cm testing at 12.4 in the beep is not concerning one bit. No matter the howlers here that say it's a poor return. There were 'mids' post season, injury free, that returned mid 13's.

I was not so concerned by his beep, it does usually take a little bit longer for the taller players to build a tank historically, but from his footage and a game i saw of him (granted it was last year) i thought he looked really slow and had a turning circle of a truck, this really reminded me of Tom Boyd and I personally think that those charecteristics really make it tough to succeed in a key position at AFL. That said, he attacks the ball so well in the air and finishes his work, it is tough to make the tranisition to AFL level and I would love for him to be a success story. Before the draft i was not as sold, but that said as we picked him up I probably was a bit more easily swayed.

Sanderson has a great footy mind, I remember once having a quick chat to him at an airport lounge and he was really accomodating, but i doubt he would say a bad word about the draft class as it is not in anyones interest for him to really harp on the negatives.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

I personally am not sold on Wiedeman, athletically I think he will struggle, that being said, the more i read about him and a few of the conversations i have had with people who know what they are talking about, think that he would have been the premium forward in the draft had he played the carnival.

Either way, he interviews really well, he comes across as a really good kid and that is a great start, now he just needs to put the effort in on the track and put some good performances in at VFL and we will be laughing.

I spoke to a club recruiter on the weekend and he had Weideman at #2. said he could be anything. Can play FF/CHF or he thought he would make a great CHB. Absolute highest quality kid.

[Gator 18,009]

I was not so concerned by his beep, it does usually take a little bit longer for the taller players to build a tank historically, but from his footage and a game i saw of him (granted it was last year) i thought he looked really slow and had a turning circle of a truck, this really reminded me of Tom Boyd and I personally think that those charecteristics really make it tough to succeed in a key position at AFL. That said, he attacks the ball so well in the air and finishes his work, it is tough to make the tranisition to AFL level and I would love for him to be a success story. Before the draft i was not as sold, but that said as we picked him up I probably was a bit more easily swayed.

If he was slow with the turning circle of a truck why on earth would Taylor draft him in the top 10 ? It doesn't make sense. And if it doesn't make sense then I doubt what you say is true.

There's not too much talk around the traps re his pace, but here are a couple of descriptions ...

Snoop Dog:

Sam is a natural forward unlike guys like Boyd etc who have been drafted high in previous years. He has real speed and many will find it hard to close space on him once he is ahead of them.

Knightmare:

He has a nice physical profile with his height and size. He is an above average athlete with reasonably good pace and leaping ability without being a freak athlete.

Edited November 29, 2015 by ProDee

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

If he was slow with the turning circle of a truck why on earth would Taylor draft him in the top 10 ? It doesn't make sense. And if it doesn't make sense then I doubt what you say is true.

From the game I watched, his turning circle looked rather large, thats not to say you cant be a good footballer with one e.g. Travis Cloke, even Jesse Hogan has a reasonably large turning circle. Athletiscism is not all that is required to play as a good key position forward, but it is clearly a debatable issue.

Key forwards running 3.24 in the 20m is not good speed and he does not look quick on the field, but he does as stated by Jason Taylor "attack the ball in the air"

It is clearly an opinionated statement, but it was from watching him play in a game for the eastern ranges last year. My view on players is hardly gospel, but how many times did you see him play in order to form an opinion or is it all based off other peoples views?

Quigley has a good eye for talent and had him at 18...

[Neitz the Great 555]

I spoke to a club recruiter on the weekend and he had Weideman at #2. said he could be anything. Can play FF/CHF or he thought he would make a great CHB. Absolute highest quality kid.

Would you mind telling which club they were from??

[Dr. Gonzo 24,457]

If he was slow with the turning circle of a truck why on earth would Taylor draft him in the top 10 ? It doesn't make sense.

We did take Matthew Bate at 15 previously...

[dazzledavey36 55,983]

We did take Matthew Bate at 15 previously...

Which has nothing to do with Jason Taylor..