James Leake

[spirit of norm smith 12,916]

I’m still hoping for Sanders, but would not be too upset to pickup Leake. He reminds me of Trent Rivers. Just his energy and competitiveness are really impressive. 

[DeeSpencer 23,134]

2 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

From the clips I've seen of Leaky playing in the forward line he's very much in the mold of Zac Bailey from the Bears.

I like what i see from the young man.

I don’t really see Bailey, his pace bursting through and away from packs is his strength. Leake is more winning the ball, he’s bigger and more of a long strider.

I’m reluctant to use the F word but I can see why others have gone that far. And if you want to get really crazy go with a hint of a smaller Adam Goodes.

I’d probably go with traits of Elliot Yeo down back and maybe a Kyle Langford up forward. 

[Purple77 957]

McKercher, Sanders, Leake

What a year for Tassy <3

I tend to agree, Leake does seem to have JT hallmarks from the outside looking in!

[fr_ap 2,148]

Not sure if anybody has said it but the comparison is Fyfe. Moves extremely similarly 

Edit: sorry indeed others have said it 

Edited October 30, 2023 by fr_ap

[HarpenDee 174]

Weird how "theres a clear top 8 and then a big gap" and "i cant see any changes to the top end of this draft" has been the narrative for a month and now every club is into Leake having got whisper we like him.

I'd guess this chap was our target/reason for trading for pick 11 and now possibly have to use 6 on him? Who knows. But funny how every club is obsessed at who JT likes.

[stinga 474]

how did he go at the combine testing?  Was he invited?

 

[Swooper1987 2,746]

Moves a bit like James Hird.  The clean marking from some difficult spots, his clean hands around the ball, looks a decent field kick.  187 cm - interesting size. If we don't take him with our first pick he won't be there at our second.

[Binmans PA 26,102]

Don't love his lack of size, but I'm always a bit sizeist as a human being.

His intercept work actually reminds me of Jake Lever.

In JT we trust.

[spirit of norm smith 12,916]

18 minutes ago, Swooper1987 said:

Moves a bit like James Hird.  The clean marking from some difficult spots, his clean hands around the ball, looks a decent field kick.  187 cm - interesting size. If we don't take him with our first pick he won't be there at our second.

Wow. That’s a huge compliment.  I’m still thinking he’s like Trent Rivers.  Energy.  Enthusiasm.  Mid or half back.  Loves a bit of contact and strong tackle.  

[Lord Travis 10,167]

On viewing I thought he played like a shorter Lever, so I'm baffled by the Fyfe, Hird, Bailey and other comparisons...

If JT thinks he can become an elite midfielder, then I'm all for it. That's what we need. Would be a huge call to take him ahead of Sanders, Watson or Curtin if available.

[Dwight Schrute 16,755]

His footy IQ is through the roof, the thing that really stands out to me watching his highlights is how much faster he reads the play than anyone else on the ground!

[Binmans PA 26,102]

4 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

On viewing I thought he played like a shorter Lever, so I'm baffled by the Fyfe, Hird, Bailey and other comparisons...

If JT thinks he can become an elite midfielder, then I'm all for it. That's what we need. Would be a huge call to take him ahead of Sanders, Watson or Curtin if available.

Interestingly enough, some had Lever pigeon-holed as a mid at one stage too.

[Demonsterative 1,920]

This guy has Hird, Fyfe, Fritta, Lever, Matthews, Lockett, Carey, Flower, Hawkins (cats and dogs version) vibes to him. 
 

Will be better than Whitten!

[DeeSpencer 23,134]

36 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

Don't love his lack of size, but I'm always a bit sizeist as a human being.

His intercept work actually reminds me of Jake Lever.

In JT we trust.

He’s undersized in terms of height if you want to play him as a 3rd tall, but I think part of the appeal of drafting him would be he looks to me like he’ll fill out to be a very solidly built mid or utility. 

[FrothiesLiam 32]

I believe he had an injury during the coming and didn't test which was around the same time the Melbourne James leake talk started 

I don't really know who to compare him to but I think Trent rivers is the midfield talent we need and leake would be a great replacement for rivers if Howes isn't suited to HBF 

[Swooper1987 2,746]

57 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

On viewing I thought he played like a shorter Lever, so I'm baffled by the Fyfe, Hird, Bailey and other comparisons...

If JT thinks he can become an elite midfielder, then I'm all for it. That's what we need. Would be a huge call to take him ahead of Sanders, Watson or Curtin if available.

I've not seen any footage of Lever playing forward or mid like Leake. Hird comparison stands up on size, versatility and skills. Seems to know how to lead, how to deliver under pressure and how to be clean in a contest.  Obviously these are highlights only and only give a glimpse, but it's a pretty impressive glimpse.

[Mach5 4,482]

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don’t really see Bailey, his pace bursting through and away from packs is his strength. Leake is more winning the ball, he’s bigger and more of a long strider.

I’m reluctant to use the F word but I can see why others have gone that far. And if you want to get really crazy go with a hint of a smaller Adam Goodes.

I’d probably go with traits of Elliot Yeo down back and maybe a Kyle Langford up forward. 

Definitely gives strong Yeo vibes. 

[durango 1,976]

I have watched some highlights and I don't think he is worthy of a pick 6.

He uses his strength to win the ball but that will not work in the AFL against bigger and stronger bodies.

[Dwight Schrute 16,755]

He's a lot like Gussy Brayshaw, probably more silky, and not quite as bash and crash, but the way he swings onto his left and a lot of his movement has some Gus about it.

[The Jackson FIX 2,293]

We’d have to be looking at him as a mid/frwd option - no way Lexer and May would welcome a Leake in the backline 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,822]

If nothing else, he'd restock our 'James' cupboard.

[Demonstone 19,157]

Older readers will remember Essendon ruckman and later media commentator, Geoff Leek.

Billy Baxter on The Coodabeen Champions said that he saw Geoff Leek and Doug Wade off the ground.  

[Jjrogan 1,197]

14 hours ago, durango said:

I have watched some highlights and I don't think he is worthy of a pick 6.

He uses his strength to win the ball but that will not work in the AFL against bigger and stronger bodies.

Fyfe went from a skinny gangly teenager to beast mode in about 3 years.  If this kid puts on similar size he will be a weapon in this competition. All aboard!!

[deelusions from afar 1,613]

This is not potting anyone that's made the Fyfe references - but isn't he a bit small for this kind of comparison (unless he's still growing)?  I know its only a few centimetres and players can play shorter or taller than their height... but he's currently 3cm shorter than Fyfe.

For context he's 1cm shorter than Rivers and 1cm taller than Petracca.

 

[Males 577]

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

This is not potting anyone that's made the Fyfe references - but isn't he a bit small for this kind of comparison (unless he's still growing)?  I know its only a few centimetres and players can play shorter or taller than their height... but he's currently 3cm shorter than Fyfe.

For context he's 1cm shorter than Rivers and 1cm taller than Petracca.

 

The comparison is in the way he moves, you don’t have to be the exact same height to be compared to someone and 3cm isn’t a big difference. I would understand your point if Spargo was compared to Fyfe. 😉