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Young Talent Time

Paul Gardner
in Melbourne Demons

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Posted

Michael Gleeson

17 Jul 07

AMID all the fanfare surrounding last week's announcement of the under-18 All-Australian football team, a notable achievement by the Northern Knights went almost unnoticed.

Vic Metro supplied four players to the 22-member squad, after it finished second in Division 1 of the national championships behind the undefeated Western Australia.

Three of those named captain Jack Grimes, ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and key defender Michael Hurley were from the Knights' TAC Cup under-18 team.

It meant Northern provided the most players of any Australian club, with no other side managing more than two.

Grimes, who led by example throughout the carnival with his hard-running and neat disposal, was delighted that his Knights' teammates were also recognised.

``I'm really happy for Michael Hurley. He's a bottom-aged boy and I've seen how hard he's worked around the club to get where he has,'' Grimes said.

``He (Kreuzer) is a freak and sometimes I just stop and watch him play. He just keeps getting better each week.''

Hurley, who only turned 17 last month, is too young to be selected at this year's (2007) AFL national draft.

Having only made his TAC Cup debut this year, Hurley has made astonishing progress over the past few months.

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    what we need is a superstar.

    enough of picking up really solid, but ultimately mediocre draftees----Dunn, Pettard, Garland, Sylvia, Mclean...pretty much our entire team-------

    i want us to pick up a player who actually has the potential, and then turns out to be in the top 50 players in the afl. is it really so much to ask

  • Quote
    Grimes, who led by example throughout the carnival with his hard-running and neat disposal, was delighted that his Knights' teammates were also recognised.

    ``I'm really happy for Michael Hurley. He's a bottom-aged boy and I've seen how hard he's worked around the club to get where he has,'' Grimes said.

    ``He (Kreuzer) is a freak and sometimes I just stop and watch him play. He just keeps getting better each week.''

    Hurley, who only turned 17 last month, is too young to be selected at this year's (2007) AFL national draft.

    Having only made his TAC Cup debut this year, Hurley has made astonishing progress over the past few months.

    great to read about grimes, not only does it sound like he has great skills but u can just tell he is a leader and a great bloke by the way he is so happy for him teammates over himself.

    when he was picked for melbourne, he said to DB "you dont know how much this means to me"

    i just he hope he gets better, he could be a favourite son of ours in the future

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    I was on the Grimes bandwagon when I listened to the name being called out on the AFL draft stream. The only reason why i haven't incorporated his name into my demonland name is last year i jinxed Brock, and a few years before that i put Brad Miller into a hole.

    I mean, a young, hard-running leader with a great work ethic who has decent disposal and attracts the pill.. hrmm could be handy :lol:

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    Lets hope Jack Grimes becomes a very, very good player for us. He seems to have the drive and appetite for hard work.

    Wonder if Hurley will be in the mix around our pick. f he maintains hid development this year he should go early. Plus he is a KPP.

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    what we need is a superstar.

    enough of picking up really solid, but ultimately mediocre draftees----Dunn, Pettard, Garland, Sylvia, Mclean...pretty much our entire team-------

    i want us to pick up a player who actually has the potential, and then turns out to be in the top 50 players in the afl. is it really so much to ask

    A tad harsh mate... all the blokes you have listed are not mediocre (it is too early to class them as anything). Give them some more time... they are all in there early-20s.

    I'll admit, Sylvia is not looking the goods... but there is still 19-rounds left this season, and who is to say he won't come out firing from Round 4-onwards.

    McLean has showed what he is capable of, we just need him to do it more consistently... and that will come with experience

    Pettard... how you classed him as 'mediocre' has me baffled. He is one of the shining lights of our younger group in my opinion.

    Dunn and Garland... these two blokes are key position-sized players, and they obviously take time to develop. Dunn has shown some things that have impressed me, and Garland is as raw a player as I have seen in the red and blue.

    BE PATIENT... I know 43yrs is a bloody long drought, but we can't expect to build a premiership team overnight.

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    •  
    A tad harsh mate... all the blokes you have listed are not mediocre (it is too early to class them as anything). Give them some more time... they are all in there early-20s.

    I'll admit, Sylvia is not looking the goods... but there is still 19-rounds left this season, and who is to say he won't come out firing from Round 4-onwards.

    McLean has showed what he is capable of, we just need him to do it more consistently... and that will come with experience

    Pettard... how you classed him as 'mediocre' has me baffled. He is one of the shining lights of our younger group in my opinion.

    Dunn and Garland... these two blokes are key position-sized players, and they obviously take time to develop. Dunn has shown some things that have impressed me, and Garland is as raw a player as I have seen in the red and blue.

    BE PATIENT... I know 43yrs is a bloody long drought, but we can't expect to build a premiership team overnight.

    Agree with everything you said mate

  • Quote
    Lets hope Jack Grimes becomes a very, very good player for us. He seems to have the drive and appetite for hard work.

    Wonder if Hurley will be in the mix around our pick. f he maintains hid development this year he should go early. Plus he is a KPP.

    Yes but Hurley is a "bottom-aged boy"??? :lol:

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