2021 Player Reviews: #32 Tom Sparrow

[Demonland 64,412]

Sparrow ramped up his progress as a footballer rising from the fringes of the VFL to medical substitute to a regular starter in the finals with perfect timing.

Date of Birth: 31 May, 2000
Height: 183cm
Weight: 82kg

Games MFC 2021: 21
Career Total: 28

Goals MFC 2021: 7
Career Total: 10

Games CDFC 2021: 5
Goals CDFC 2021: 1

[durango 1,976]

His game in the Grand Final was good but I needs to get better in 2022.

He needs a big pre-season training and some good practice games form just to hold his place in the 22 with competition from James Jordan and Luke Dunstan knocking at the door.

If players like Bailey Laurie or Fraser Rosman get a clear run without injury or limited match practice and show massive improvement, he will be under more pressure to hold his place.

[adonski 9,102]

The most intriguing player on the list

[Ollie fan 2,113]

I thought he was a real dud, particularly in that game where he kicked into the man on the mark, and handballed into the man on the mark, in separate incidents. He proved me completely wrong in the grand final! I love his build (an absolute brick …house), a fantastic long kick, and a good mark. I think he might have real potential.

[Fritta The Hair G.O.A.T. 510]

Sparrow has a lot of great attributes, and people inside the club (especially Yze) rave about how he trains and prepares. With a big preseason and the confidence he would take from 2021, I reckon he could crack the regular midfield rotation. Keep in mind a that plenty of the games he put up good numbers were off ~60% game time - pretty impressive for a youngster. He's a like a proto-Viney but with a booming right shoe.

Here's to more 🤘🤪🤘 celebrations from Sparrow! 

[jnrmac 18,914]

Huge fan of sparrow

Tough, smart, kicks like a mule and runs all day.

Had a great GF.. Was in everything.

[Jontee 3,634]

Always thought that having a player who can kick a very long goal is worth persevering with. Can change the momentum of the game with one kick.  One of my favourites.

[Sir Why You Little 34,409]

To be honest I hadn’t noticed Tom until late in the season. But his Finals Series was superb. He was a serious cog in the midfield. 
His GF Goal in the 3rd Quarter was the moment I knew we were not going to be beaten 

He will get better 

Premiership Player who played well

[Jibroni 4,019]

Improved a lot this year, should be challenging Harmes and Viney for more midfield time next season.,

[demon3165 1,908]

50 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

Improved a lot this year, should be challenging Harmes and Viney for more midfield time next season.,

Duck your head mate mentioning Viney sensitive subject on here.

[DeeZone 7,666]

I really like the look of Sparrow, his junior coach rated him highly said he would play like Levi Greenwood Only better. He was so impressive in the GF, showed a lot of skill, hardness and exuberance and was involved in everything. Tom Sparrow has a lot to like about him and it will take a very good player to push him out of the team.💕❤️💙

[Maldonboy38 5,808]

I didn't rate him at all until late in the year, but he genuinely delighted me in the finals. Not that he got heaps of the ball, but his body strength, booming kick, positioning - a lot to like. The pass to Ben Brown early in the last quarter - the way he read the play before all the Bulldogs boys and ran forward of the play was a thing of beauty (as was ANB's through ball!)

I am happy to go out on a limb and say this bloke will explode in 2022.  He has a touch of the raging bull about him, has a strong physique, and just a little bot of arrogance. I am as excited about this kid as I am about Rivers.

[Vagg 2,422]

Watching the GF replay (again) today, couldn't help thinking he reminded me a lot in appearance to Allan Jakovich.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,569]

Not a chip on Sparrow, who's finals campaign was simply awsome, but I doubt he actually got on the park anything like 21 times this year.

What goose in AFL land thought it was a good idea for the sub to be credited a game to their name whether they actually played or not?

[DeeSpencer 23,058]

Not really sure where I sit on Sparrow. 

I think his kicking and decision making still needs plenty of work. Even choices that paid off in the grand final weren't always the best ones IMO. The low percentage long goal off a step could've been a quick kick to an open Ben Brown 35 out. And the square up kick to Brown early in the last came after a wide open Spargo on a short lead.

But at the same time he often doesn't rush and has the ability to create space for himself and he executed the choices he did make to perfection in the grand final.

And his defensive work rate and physical impact is always really strong. The AFL app has an 'average speed in defence' metric and he's usually right at the top of that. So he motors to defend. 

Mids who can genuinely contribute across half forward and rotate on ball are super valuable and important too. So I've got a lot of confidence in his ability to play a role. I just don't have any conviction one way or another on whether he'll keep improving to become a top line midfielder or not.

[Wrecker46 2,650]

11 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Not really sure where I sit on Sparrow. 

I think his kicking and decision making still needs plenty of work. Even choices that paid off in the grand final weren't always the best ones IMO. The low percentage long goal off a step could've been a quick kick to an open Ben Brown 35 out. 

Are you disappointed Petracca had a low percentage shot from the boundary instead of centering it as well?

Sparrow kicked a vital goal in our first premiership in 57 years and you are questioning if he took the right option.

 

[Jontee 3,634]

20 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Not really sure where I sit on Sparrow. 

I think his kicking and decision making still needs plenty of work. Even choices that paid off in the grand final weren't always the best ones IMO. The low percentage long goal off a step could've been a quick kick to an open Ben Brown 35 out. And the square up kick to Brown early in the last came after a wide open Spargo on a short lead.

But at the same time he often doesn't rush and has the ability to create space for himself and he executed the choices he did make to perfection in the grand final.

And his defensive work rate and physical impact is always really strong. The AFL app has an 'average speed in defence' metric and he's usually right at the top of that. So he motors to defend. 

Mids who can genuinely contribute across half forward and rotate on ball are super valuable and important too. So I've got a lot of confidence in his ability to play a role. I just don't have any conviction one way or another on whether he'll keep improving to become a top line midfielder or not.

I know where I sit on Sparrow, absolute fan.

2nd and 3rd efforts are great.

Sparrows kick to Fritta for his first probably would have gone through for a goal.

Agree there were other options other than his long bomb but as ND said 'You can break team rules provided it comes off'.

[demon3165 1,908]

12 minutes ago, Jontee said:

I know where I sit on Sparrow, absolute fan.

2nd and 3rd efforts are great.

Sparrows kick to Fritta for his first probably would have gone through for a goal.

Agree there were other options other than his long bomb but as ND said 'You can break team rules provided it comes off'.

It's called confidence in you kicking ability, also great pass to BB in the last.

[leave it to deever 15,157]

23 hours ago, adonski said:

The most intriguing player on the list

Agreed. I think this bloke has huge potential and we could go close to seeing another Trac.( i said close,).

[leave it to deever 15,157]

1 hour ago, Jontee said:

I know where I sit on Sparrow, absolute fan.

2nd and 3rd efforts are great.

Sparrows kick to Fritta for his first probably would have gone through for a goal.

Agree there were other options other than his long bomb but as ND said 'You can break team rules provided it comes off'.

I thought his kick to Bbb early in the last was a great sign of maturity in that he could have blazed away at the goals. Also a very strong player.

[John Crow Batty 8,225]

His long accurate boot is a rare weapon whether taking pot shots for goal or searching out a teammate at distance or closer. Creates uncertainty and un-predictability to opposition defensive structures. Very few players have that ability.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,569]

2 hours ago, Jontee said:

I know where I sit on Sparrow, absolute fan.

2nd and 3rd efforts are great.

Sparrows kick to Fritta for his first probably would have gone through for a goal.

Agree there were other options other than his long bomb but as ND said 'You can break team rules provided it comes off'.

There was also another kick to the top of the square in that third quarter onslaught, which had it not been contested by Maxy / T Mac and punched over by a good spoil from one of the Bulldogs defenders could well have been either a mark from point blank to us or on target to bounce through for another goal.

One of those players who doesn't necessarily need to get mountains of the pill to be dangerous.  If he marks anywhere within and probably up to just outside 50m on a reasonable angle, he's one of the few players I'm more confident than not will slot it right through the middle.

Only chip on him is possibly that he lacks a combination of either pace, agility or awareness of the opposition players around him, as he seems to get caught holding the ball a bit at times.  Hopefully he improves this part of his game, but I don't see it as a huge deficiency as I think we also need players who are prepared to wear one for the team and do sometimes get caught in the process, but on other occations use their strength and power to break clear, break lines and some bones and spirit of the opposition at the same time.

Edited October 30, 2021 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,089]

2 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Agreed. I think this bloke has huge potential and we could go close to seeing another Trac.( i said close,).

I couldn’t have been more impressed with Spaz for his entire finals campaign. I, like many,  wondered how he’d get a game in home n away let alone finals but he has proven he belongs.

Kept his close friend and housemate Jordon out of the team in finals, both have enormous upside….. but can’t see either getting Trac like standards ( yes I know you said close!! I walked past the 2 of them having a stroll mid year, he is built like an absolute brick sheethouse!!

Has a 200+ game career ahead of him. We have a ripper on our hands!

[monoccular 16,012]

On 10/29/2021 at 2:30 PM, Sir Why You Little said:

To be honest I hadn’t noticed Tom until late in the season. But his Finals Series was superb. He was a serious cog in the midfield. 
His GF Goal in the 3rd Quarter was the moment I knew we were not going to be beaten 

He will get better 

Premiership Player who played well

SWYL he slipped under my radar a bit too, though I th8nk it was v EssUndone that he pinged another vital long goal too.

Very tough, smart thinker, great boot.  

4 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Agreed. I think this bloke has huge potential and we could go close to seeing another Trac.( i said close,).

How unbelievably amazing would that be.  He has many of the attributes. Maybe a Petraviney or a Vintracca?

[Sir Why You Little 34,409]

5 minutes ago, monoccular said:

SWYL he slipped under my radar a bit too, though I th8nk it was v EssUndone that he pinged another vital long goal too.

Very tough, smart thinker, great boot.  

 

He could be a very important part of the team going forward…