WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - SAM WEIDEMAN

[binman 44,530]

Absolute highest quality kid.

The importance of this can't be underestimate in terms of our decision to draft him. Roos has been unequivocal about the need to build a team of players with strong values and good character. Crucial element of the Roos rebuild of the MFC and the culture he is trying (successfully i believe) to develop.

[Demon_JB 1,389]

The guy can time his leads well but also take a massive pack mark. If he gets his body right and plays consistent footy he will be a very valuable asset for us.

[monoccular 17,642]

We did take Matthew Bate at 15 previously...

Look forward and enjoy - we are essentially a new club now.

And who knows how Matty Bate would have gone with decent coaching and development. (Nobody will ever know of course.)

[Gator 17,972]

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"

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

I prefer to use my eyes and his pace/agility looks good in the clips I've seen.

I don't take too much notice of the 20m sprint. Lachie Whitfield ran 3.15, but doesn't look slow.

Jack Watts ran 2.82, but rarely plays with pace and rarely looks quick, although we all know his speed can be good.

As for Quigley ? I like him, but his rankings are hardly a reliable barometer. He had Eli Templeton at 15 and he wasn't drafted. He was later rookied by the Saints. He said Tom Boyd was just about the best junior key forward he'd seen, which is fair enough, but right now Boyd is a mile off.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

I prefer to use my eyes and his pace/agility looks good in the clips I've seen.

As for Quigley ? I like him, but his rankings are hardly a reliable barometer. He had Eli Templeton at 15 and he wasn't drafted. He was later rookied by the Saints. He said Tom Boyd was just about the best junior key forward he'd seen, which is fair enough, but right now Boyd is a mile off.

Highlights clips are exactly that, you see when the ball is in his area and very rarely do they show the work in the lead up to that or his sprints in order to create a lead. Regardless of your viewing of his highlight clips, did you actually get to see him play football in order to formulate an opinion or do you stick to watching highlights clips to base your views on a footballer. It worked with your initial views of Clayton Oliver, who we picked at three and once it looked like that was going to be the case you backflipped on your views.

The comparisson of Wiedeman to Boyd is a fair one, in my opinion as they are similar type of footballers and whilst i hope nothing more than to see Wiedeman succeed now that he is in a Melbourne jumper, it did not change that before the draft I was underwhelmed by what i had seen of him. I have full faith in Jason Taylor and the recruiting guys and back them in to do their jobs, but that still does not mean that in the game i saw he looked slow and as i did not get to see him at the carnival this year it is the only real vision of him i can run with.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Mad_Melbourne

[mauriesy 7,410]

... in the game I saw he looked slow

One game is hardly a good sample to make a judgement.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

One game is hardly a good sample to make a judgement.

i agree, i have never said that i am correct, all i stated was that he looked slow and had a large turning circle and that was why i was sceptical about him leading into the draft!

although, i feel it would be more matches that most of the posters here were able to see and probably gives a better indication than a highlights package. Does that mean all posts on this forum are basically redundant, especially on draftees as they probably have seen minimal of all players?

Edited November 30, 2015 by Mad_Melbourne

[Gator 17,972]

Highlights clips are exactly that, you see when the ball is in his area and very rarely do they show the work in the lead up to that or his sprints in order to create a lead. Regardless of your viewing of his highlight clips, did you actually get to see him play football in order to formulate an opinion or do you stick to watching highlights clips to base your views on a footballer. It worked with your initial views of Clayton Oliver, who we picked at three and once it looked like that was going to be the case you backflipped on your views.

The comparisson of Wiedeman to Boyd is a fair one, in my opinion as they are similar type of footballers and whilst i hope nothing more than to see Wiedeman succeed now that he is in a Melbourne jumper, it did not change that before the draft I was underwhelmed by what i had seen of him. I have full faith in Jason Taylor and the recruiting guys and back them in to do their jobs, but that still does not mean that in the game i saw he looked slow and as i did not get to see him at the carnival this year it is the only real vision of him i can run with.

Firstly, I changed my view on Oliver in the space of 24 hours (Nov 19). The draft was 5 days later and there were no leaks from Melbourne. Anyway, I'm not swayed by club selections, although I have faith in Taylor and reckon he's earnt the benefit of the doubt.

Secondly, recruiters watch highlight clips all the time. Do you recommend they not waste their time ? Obviously you'll say it's an adjunct to what they've already witnessed "live". And just as obviously, highlight clips give you an idea of a players ability, such as speed, style, courage, skill, aggression, etc. No-one has insinuated it paints the whole picture, so I'm not sure why you need to state the bleeding obvious.

He didn't look "really slow" as you attest and other views that I've quoted are at odds with yours.

Thirdly, Boyd and Weideman are not similar types. Snoop Dog even uses Boyd in an analogy to explain why he's not like Boyd.

"Sam is a natural forward unlike guys like Boyd etc who have been drafted high in previous years. I think coaches really value key forwards that haven't got their success camped in the goal square clunking marks but rather kids who understand how, when and where to lead. He has real speed and many will find it hard to close space on him once he is ahead of them."

Here's Knightmare's bio:

10. Melbourne (via trade) – Sam Weideman (VIC – KPF)

Height: 196cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 26/06/1997

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Range: 3-10

Profile: Explosive marking power forward.

Reminds me of: Josh Walker

I concede that the bolded is stretching it.

This from Chris25:

"I don't think it's out of the question that he would have performed better than Schache at the Championships. I think he's a smarter player and a better kick. I don't understand those saying he gets by on strength alone. That's so far from the truth."

You won't change your view and I won't change my opinion of it.

[Slartibartfast 17,997]

You won't change your view and I won't change my opinion of it.

That's why we have a discussion forum!

[Demon trucker 1,800]

I expect that we will win between 8 to 12 wins, the reason we traded our first round pick next year to use it this year is to fast track the team, so when goodwill takes over the team will hit the ground running.

[nutbean 8,838]

"Sam is a natural forward unlike guys like Boyd etc who have been drafted high in previous years. I think coaches really value key forwards that haven't got their success camped in the goal square clunking marks but rather kids who understand how, when and where to lead. He has real speed and many will find it hard to close space on him once he is ahead of them."

I for one am only working off Weideman's footage I have seen when comparing him to Boyd but I would suggest that Weideman covered more distance in his clips than Boyd has in his career to date.

IMO - To date, Boyd has been a lazy footballer - Weideman moves around the forward line which I like.

[Hobbits's 17]

I expect that we will win between 8 to 12 wins, the reason we traded our first round pick next year to use it this year is to fast track the team, so when goodwill takes over the team will hit the ground running.

Love it!

We've had enough of badwill. It's been holding us back.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Love it!

We've had enough of badwill. It's been holding us back.

Time for a few more Good Wins, now.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,443]

Which has nothing to do with Jason Taylor..

No sh*t

Edited November 30, 2015 by Dr. Gonzo

[What 18,810]

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.

Disagree strongly with the bolded. His turning circle is practically non existent especially for a bloke of his size. It is one of his greatest strengths.

Dont you remember the first game vs the Doggies when he turned Dalhaus inside out on the boundary line? yes, the 175cm lighnting quick and agile Luke Dalhaus

Edited November 30, 2015 by Petraccattack

[Akum 2,660]

i agree, i have never said that i am correct, all i stated was that he looked slow and had a large turning circle and that was why i was sceptical about him leading into the draft!

although, i feel it would be more matches that most of the posters here were able to see and probably gives a better indication than a highlights package. Does that mean all posts on this forum are basically redundant, especially on draftees as they probably have seen minimal of all players?

If a tall player was coming back after ankle surgery ...

... could that perhaps influence his speed and turning circle?

[rpfc 28,906]

I am glad he knows leading patterns - he is going to need that knowledge to be useful in a forwardline that is tailored to someone else.

He won't just sit in the square.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

If a tall player was coming back after ankle surgery ...

... could that perhaps influence his speed and turning circle?

As stated earlier, game was watched last year.

Also stated didn't get the opportunity to see much of him this year.

My main contention was before the draft I felt his athleticism would be an issue for him to progress and lowered his chance of success in my opinion. But I also stated I have complete faith that Jason Taylor and crew know lots better than I do so therefore I am coming round to his many strengths outweighing his, imo, lack of athletic ability.

[Akum 2,660]

As stated earlier, game was watched last year.

Also stated didn't get the opportunity to see much of him this year.

My main contention was before the draft I felt his athleticism would be an issue for him to progress and lowered his chance of success in my opinion. But I also stated I have complete faith that Jason Taylor and crew know lots better than I do so therefore I am coming round to his many strengths outweighing his, imo, lack of athletic ability.

Yeah fair enough.

Let's face it, he's had major surgery on each of his ankles a year or two apart. I guess the main questions are how well he'll recover from the surgery, and whether he's going to be susceptible to further injuries. If he recovers well & avoids further serious injury, the ceiling is very high, especially in combo with Hogan.

Or he could be Gumbleton Mk.II.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

I expect that we will win between 8 to 12 wins, the reason we traded our first round pick next year to use it this year is to fast track the team, so when goodwill takes over the team will hit the ground running.

That's exactly right.

We don't want another 8+ players coming into the club next off season because that will mean those new players will take 12 months to learn the game plan and gel with the team.

The starting 22 needs to be fairly stable by the time Goody take over.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,102]

10. Melbourne (via trade) – Sam Weideman (VIC – KPF)

Height: 196cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 26/06/1997

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Range: 3-10

Profile: Explosive marking power forward.

Reminds me of: Josh Walker

This bit kind of worries me. Comparing him to a totally ordinary and uninspiring player isn't a great look.

[Gator 17,972]

This bit kind of worries me. Comparing him to a totally ordinary and uninspiring player isn't a great look.

It's Knightmare's comparison, not Jason Taylor's.

[Farmer 895]

Anyone else able to lip-read Murray when Sam got selected ?

When Roosy handed Sam his Guernsey, it looked to me like Murray said it's not Black & White or something to that effect.

No-one has mentioned his elbows. His grandfather's were very prominent, and he used them to devastating effect!

[Farmer 895]

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 you please reproduce this article. I don't subscribe to the Herald Sun

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

Could you please reproduce this article. I don't subscribe to the Herald Sun

just type the heading into a google search and you should be able to click a link and read it