WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - TOM SPARROW

[John Crow Batty 8,255]

He reminds me a lot of a developing Travis Boak type.

Edited September 29, 2021 by John Crow Batty

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

Cerra’s going to be a star, get him if you can. Sparrow’s going to be a very handy role player, keep him unless there’s a compelling reason to move him. 

You are kidding, surely 

Sparrow has been far more than a role player. I hope he plays 200+ for us
Show some respect 

[DeeSpencer 23,126]

17 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

You are kidding, surely 

Sparrow has been far more than a role player. I hope he plays 200+ for us
Show some respect 

He’s a premiership hero and forever will be, but I see him more of a Harmes level player. I’m not suggesting we turf him out, simply that he wouldn’t be untouchable. I hope he plays 200 games too 

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

He’s a premiership hero and forever will be, but I see him more of a Harmes level player. I’m not suggesting we turf him out, simply that he wouldn’t be untouchable. I hope he plays 200 games too 

You are underestimating Harmesy as well!!

Watch the replay again (off the ball) and you may realize how much work these young kids did. 
over the next 2-3 years we will lose a few players i get that

But i will be very suprised if one of them is Tom Sparrow 

His kicking is deadly accurate

That goal he kicked in the Preliminary after he had been clobbered was superb. 
He has that look in his eyes….

[Deemania since 56 6,135]

16 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Massive fan of this kid. Up until just before the finals series, I thought he was well below Jordon, and would take a couple of years to emerge. But his strength, game play and kicking give him a real presence for being so young. 100% agree with Spalding above: I wouldn't be wasting money or picks on Cerra with Sparrow showing his wares in the finals. Watch his space - his 2022 will be something special. 

Yep, he will be very big for the Dees in 22. His rate of the dreaded 'learnings' as a footballer has been phenomenal. Wonderful footballer with immense potential.

 

[Dee-licious 1,800]

Mentioned here about the work that he does off the ball. Have a look on the AFL site / app of his game. You can watch just his disposals and what he was involved in. First, so many of the big moments have Sparrow in them (which surprised me, I didn't realise) and then what he does after he gets rid of the ball. He protects the kicker and then runs hard. I didnt think that he'd stay in our best 22, but clearly I am wrong, and he is going to be a staple going forward. 

[Tom Dyson 1,492]

Like others have said, i wasn't sure how he would cope with the pressure but he looked so comfortable. 

Anyone else see shades of a young Nathan jones in the way he goes about it, Chunk 2.0 perhaps.

[DeeSpencer 23,126]

49 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

You are underestimating Harmesy as well!!

Watch the replay again (off the ball) and you may realize how much work these young kids did. 
over the next 2-3 years we will lose a few players i get that

But i will be very suprised if one of them is Tom Sparrow 

His kicking is deadly accurate

That goal he kicked in the Preliminary after he had been clobbered was superb. 
He has that look in his eyes….

We’re premiers largely because of how hard and smart our flankers work and their attack at the contest. 

He has a nice set shot routine and the ability to kick a long goal.

But he kicked 1 goal 6 in the VFL this year when his shots came in general play. 

The ball kind of lobs off his boot, it’s not a fluent action at this stage. He’s already improved his kicking and a lot of his game. Look at his junior highlights, he was all over the shop. A rampaging bundle of energy. Maybe he keeps improving year after year to become a prime mover mid, it’s not beyond a possibility, I just think he’s more of a rotational player 

[Vipercrunch 2,804]

I'm not sure yet whether he'll end up as a pure mid, but he knows where the goals are and is dangerous from 50m out off a step, which is a rare comodity.

I need to start calling him Sparrow instead of Swallow though.  It's very embarassing and my son gives me heaps off grief every time I do it.

[DeeZone 7,711]

For those that haven’t already done so go back to Demonlands post page 1 and read his coaches critique he likened him to a Levi Greenwood only better but Tom wants to be a Luke Parker type. Well Tom Sparrow you are on your way young man. Let’s not try to limit him the sky is the limit for Sparrow, Jordon, Bowey, Laurie, Rosman and whoever we pick up this year. We are a Premier Club now who has exploded all the Myths and conventions.!!

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

11 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We’re premiers largely because of how hard and smart our flankers work and their attack at the contest. 

He has a nice set shot routine and the ability to kick a long goal.

But he kicked 1 goal 6 in the VFL this year when his shots came in general play. 

The ball kind of lobs off his boot, it’s not a fluent action at this stage. He’s already improved his kicking and a lot of his game. Look at his junior highlights, he was all over the shop. A rampaging bundle of energy. Maybe he keeps improving year after year to become a prime mover mid, it’s not beyond a possibility, I just think he’s more of a rotational player 

I am more interested in what he has done over the last 4 weeks

He performs on the big stage. His Goal in the 3rd Quarter was a killer Punch…

But you are worried about his kicking action in the VFL

[Mach5 4,482]

I initially saw Sparrow as a Brad Sewell type, then could see the Luke Parker similarities, but why put that sort of limitation on him? He has been exceptional.

And someone compared him to Harmes? Please. Much more valuable.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

Tom is certainly not built like a sparrow. Strong and tough with a beautiful kick just like Jack Watts. That pass to BB in last quarter and goal off one step in the third  good examples of his ability. Going to be a great is my humble prediction.

[Fritta and Turner 3,653]

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

We’re premiers largely because of how hard and smart our flankers work and their attack at the contest. 

He has a nice set shot routine and the ability to kick a long goal.

But he kicked 1 goal 6 in the VFL this year when his shots came in general play. 

The ball kind of lobs off his boot, it’s not a fluent action at this stage. He’s already improved his kicking and a lot of his game. Look at his junior highlights, he was all over the shop. A rampaging bundle of energy. Maybe he keeps improving year after year to become a prime mover mid, it’s not beyond a possibility, I just think he’s more of a rotational player 

Obviously we shouldn't play him in the VFL

[loges 6,026]

Took a little while to settle into the pace of AFL, but has just kept improving, tough and a very good kick.

[Diamond_Jim 11,747]

Nice to think that there's some upside in a few players after such a big win.

Sparrow is definitely one and I think Rivers has AA potential in 2023.

Both however certainly did their bit at the 2021 big dance

[jnrmac 18,954]

19 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Garry Lyon compared him to Tim Watson when they did the presentation on Sunday at the Perth mall.

I've never seen Tim Watson play.

I think that is a good comparison. Similar body shape, penetrating kick, tough and really strong hands. He's a beauty

[dimmy 1,114]

19 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

He’s definitely not a better kick, nor does he have Cerra’s class and decision making.

But he might have a little more punch as a forward and his pressure and work rate are both great. 

It shouldn’t be one or the other really tho.

Cerra’s going to be a star, get him if you can. Sparrow’s going to be a very handy role player, keep him unless there’s a compelling reason to move him. 

For some reason we tend to over rate players from other teams. In Sparrow we have : a Premiership player who has shown us all the way through the finals just how improved he was PLUS how well he handles playing against the top notch sides. We do not know how Cerra handles the pressure of finals.

It is a bit like a test batsman who values making runs against the est Indies (1980's) vs DImboola B Grade.

[wizardinoz 2,015]

Tom will be on SEN before 6pm on the Bob & Andy show. Looking forward to hearing him.

[Demon17 4,543]

4 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Yep, he will be very big for the Dees in 22. His rate of the dreaded 'learnings' as a footballer has been phenomenal. Wonderful footballer with immense potential.

 

Plus he jumps in the air with excitement when something good happens.

Just so engaged as a team player. 

[faultydet 7,593]

If he went back to Adelaide I woukd feel the same as when Scott Thompson left.

 

Yep,  i think he can be that good. 

[Demon17 4,543]

30 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Tom is certainly not built like a sparrow. Strong and tough with a beautiful kick just like Jack Watts. That pass to BB in last quarter and goal off one step in the third  good examples of his ability. Going to be a great is my humble prediction.

2 huge game breaking moments. Will stand up in all pressures. You can't teach that. Can Cerra?

Who knows?

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,153]

I'll never get sick of replaying that goal he kicked off 1 step from 52 in the granny.

[rpfc 27,451]

The problem for Tom is that the midfield is a tough place to break into in any meaningful way. Viney and Harmes being injured was a blessing for Sparrow and Jordon and with our mids being in their primes - we are going to struggle to keep those pushing to replace them.

[DeeSpencer 23,126]

26 minutes ago, dimmy said:

For some reason we tend to over rate players from other teams. In Sparrow we have : a Premiership player who has shown us all the way through the finals just how improved he was PLUS how well he handles playing against the top notch sides. We do not know how Cerra handles the pressure of finals.

It is a bit like a test batsman who values making runs against the est Indies (1980's) vs DImboola B Grade.

Richmond fans have been saying that Castagna, Rioli and McIntosh are better than some of our best players for years too. Once their guns dropped off that was quickly shown to be incorrect.

I do like Sparrow but just in the last page of this thread he's been compared with:

Luke Parker
Tim Watson
Scott Thompson
Travis Boak

When I think I'm not being harsh by saying let's see if he can stay ahead of Jordon and beat out Harmes for our 4th best inside mid spot.

So I don't think it's Cerra that has been the one overrated in this thread lately.

I also stress that we really shouldn't be comparing the two. Different players and circumstances. But when it does come Cerra standing up in finals - he's a player of real class. The only guys on our list with similar class I'd say would be Salem, Bowey, Petracca, Fritsch and Oliver. He needs to get stronger and more physical and yes, he  hasn't played in finals, but he's a quality young midfielder. I wouldn't be at all worried about Cerra playing well in finals.