2024 Player Reviews: #32 Tom Sparrow

[Demonland 71,868]

Had to shoulder more responsibility as the club’s injury concerns deepened but needs to step up more as he closes in on 100 games.

Date of Birth: 31 May 2000
Height: 186cm

Games MFC 2024: 21
Career Total: 95

Goals MFC 2024: 6
Career Total: 34

Games CDFC: 1
Goals CDFL: 0

[whatwhat say what 22,731]

i'm not convinced he's ever going to be anything other than serviceable 

he doesn't impact enough for a second string mid and he doesn't run hard enough as a fwd / mid to replace the likes of anb

we really need him to step up

[MrFreeze 1,957]

Stagnated more than a pond full of mosquitos 

Young high-level draftees will quickly push him out of his HF role if he doesn't crack in next year 

[Colm 2,151]

25 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

i'm not convinced he's ever going to be anything other than serviceable 

he doesn't impact enough for a second string mid and he doesn't run hard enough as a fwd / mid to replace the likes of anb

we really need him to step up

Agree, has improved since 2021. I really thought after that finals series he would really kick on. Unfortunately if anything he’s gone backwards. 
Hopefully being dropped at the end of the season and some new mids coming in via the draft might give him the motivation to kick in a little bit. 
Might pay to ten down a bit as he doesn’t really used his size. 
 

[Young Blood 2,620]

He's going to have to carve out a role for himself now that other mids are pushing for his midfield rotations (River, Koz, Windsor and the top 10 mid(s) we draft).

Could be as a tagger who can follow a star mid around all day. Will have to continue to build his fitness and size, not to mention getting a bit more nasty perhaps to get under the oppo's skin and really own the role.

We saw with a lot of hard work and dedication what happened with Nibbler in his early 20's when he had to change his primary position from midfielder to high HF. I don't see why at 24 yrs why Sparrow can't do the same. He doesn't have Nibblers attributes but if he can get really fit and just bring consistent intensity I think he can play a role in our best 22.

[Hellfire Dub 160]

He's only 24

[Mt. Dee-Maaan 608]

one of the biggeet/strangest letdowns of 2024 (playing-wise).. he's always liked a goal, which might save him, but didn't even get many of those this year. seems a good young fella, but if it doesn't work out for him in 2025, i'd trade him back to SA.

 

[DeeZone 9,798]

Don’t disagree with any of the above, however Tom Sparrow May have been stifled in the role that he played, I want to see him play with some freedom ala 2021 where he played with confidence freedom and link player. Come on Spaz let’s see your best football in 2025 and beyond.

[roy11 3,846]

4 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

Don’t disagree with any of the above, however Tom Sparrow May have been stifled in the role that he played, I want to see him play with some freedom ala 2021 where he played with confidence freedom and link player. Come on Spaz let’s see your best football in 2025 and beyond.

Yes we don't know his instructions, work-rate still there though

Times Featuring in Top Five Players for Total Distance in 2024
Ed Langdon 21 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 13 times
Tom McDonald 12 times
Tom Sparrow 4 times
Adam Tomlinson 2 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Defensive Work Rate

Alex Neal-Bullen 16 times
Tom Sparrow 12 times
Ed Langdon 10 times
Kade Chandler 7 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 5 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Offensive Work Rate

Tom Sparrow 9 times
Ed Langdon 7 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 7 times
Kade Chandler 6 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 4 times

Source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1686412/gps-numbers-revealed-fittest-and-fastest-demons

Edited November 1 by roy11
added source

[DeeZone 9,798]

Thanks Roy11 , those stats are surprising, indicates that he is super fit so another big preseason should put him in contention for a bigger role next year.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,806]

42 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Yes we don't know his instructions, work-rate still there though

Times Featuring in Top Five Players for Total Distance in 2024
Ed Langdon 21 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 13 times
Tom McDonald 12 times
Tom Sparrow 4 times
Adam Tomlinson 2 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Defensive Work Rate

Alex Neal-Bullen 16 times
Tom Sparrow 12 times
Ed Langdon 10 times
Kade Chandler 7 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 5 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Offensive Work Rate

Tom Sparrow 9 times
Ed Langdon 7 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 7 times
Kade Chandler 6 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 4 times

Source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1686412/gps-numbers-revealed-fittest-and-fastest-demons

Interesting.  Work rate seems to be there, but impact less so, or less obvious.  He's got a great kick on him and a tough/strong body and mindset, so I see heaps of potential upside to Tommy, just needs something to click for him to go to that next level.  Maybe Chunk can help him?

As an asides how impressive is it for a player of Tommy Mac's size and age to be still right up there for distance covered.  He was always the top distance athlete, but to keep kicking on at his age and with some of the injuries he's had is amazing.  Nothing but respect for T Mac.

Edited November 1 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[dazzledavey36 54,772]

Trade at the end of next year please.

[Hopeful Demon 1,517]

Been disappointing for me. I was really excited by him at the end of '21 but he hasn't progressed at all since then. I struggle to really see what his role is at the moment.

It's all very well to point at his workrate but getting 15 disposals (with the occasional goal thrown in) nearly every week is simply not enough for someone who spends as much time in the midfield as he does.

[Sir Why You Little 37,016]

I would give him a more attacking role next year, he can kick long goals. 
Will be very interesting to see how the new midfield coaches use him. I still believe Tom can get a lot better, he is still young…

[Demon Disciple 12,109]

Wouldn’t be the worst idea for him to slim down a bit over pre-season and get super fit. pair him with Langers

[DubDee 25,763]

Needs a new challenge

He can’t just be the defensive running guy

Tagger?

He can kick a long goal, patches fwd?

[Little Richard 6,262]

Seems unable to take that next step to impact games and become more consistent, disappointing because he has some great attributes. 

[Little Richard 6,262]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Trade at the end of next year please.

What do you think we'd realistically get for him Daz? Don't think he has much currency at all tbh.

[demon3165 2,717]

If he's going to improve he needs to slim down shape wise he is not a quick player but needs to find some pace other wise he might struggle to stay in the side in the next year or so.

[monoccular 17,418]

23 hours ago, roy11 said:

Yes we don't know his instructions, work-rate still there though

Times Featuring in Top Five Players for Total Distance in 2024
Ed Langdon 21 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 13 times
Tom McDonald 12 times
Tom Sparrow 4 times
Adam Tomlinson 2 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Defensive Work Rate

Alex Neal-Bullen 16 times
Tom Sparrow 12 times
Ed Langdon 10 times
Kade Chandler 7 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 5 times

Matches Featuring in Top Five Offensive Work Rate

Tom Sparrow 9 times
Ed Langdon 7 times
Alex Neal-Bullen 7 times
Kade Chandler 6 times
Koltyn Tholstrup 4 times

Source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1686412/gps-numbers-revealed-fittest-and-fastest-demons

Interesting set of data for someone who seems to get regularly talked down.  
He did show what he could do offensively in the 2021 but maybe his role has changed and he is being given different challenges.  
I have faith where others don’t. 

[The Taciturn Demon 483]

My ultra-amateurish take is that sideways movement is a big problem for Sparrow. With the ball he seems to get caught a lot. Without it, he seems to let opponents get around him too easily. 

I have hope if he can improve this. 

[whatwhat say what 22,731]

17 hours ago, Little Richard said:

What do you think we'd realistically get for him Daz? Don't think he has much currency at all tbh.

i'd say a mid-late second round, high third round pick

same 'value' as anb, jj

Edited November 2 by whatwhat say what

[durango 2,007]

I am sorry to say he looks like Tarzan plays like Jane.

 

[Little Richard 6,262]

8 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i'd say a mid-late second round, high third round pick

same 'value' as anb, jj

That would be very optimistic in my opinion.

[adonski 12,043]

Tom's 5 minutes patch in the 2021 GF was great but before and after that moment he's done bugger all

Gotten as many games as he has given our ordinary midfield depth combined with Goodwin's strange affection for him

Likely to be delisted at the end of his contract if we draft a couple of decent midfielders over the next 12 months