Player Watch #13 Hugo Ralphsmith - Signed Until 2026

[tigs2010]

Is he better than Stephenson on the punt or at least better at hiding it?

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

 

[Soberian Tiger]

I was surprised that the club got Ralphsmith.

I'd forgotten that he was still available...

Needs to get the scissors out, though.

 

[Calcium Man]

Ralphsmith draft profile courtesy AFL Draft Central

DRAFT ANALYSIS: “A talented forward who oozes X-factor, Ralphsmith causes headaches in the air and at ground level with his fantastic leap and line breaking speed.”

EASILY confused with fellow Dragons teammate Miles Bergman as they player in similar positions and both catch the eye with their athleticism, size and blonde locks. If one is quiet, the other is usually causing havoc for opposition defenders. Ralphsmith showed how dangerous he could be in a final against the Calder Cannons kicking three first quarter goals proving too strong in the air and too quick and slick at ground level. He would finish the game with 19 disposals, eight marks and kicking 3.3 in his best performance for the year. Ralphsmith oozes talent and despite underperforming for Vic Metro he was still able to pull of one of the plays of the championships kicking a long range banana and make it look effortless and it’s almost a case of what cant he do as a forward as he ticks a lot of boxes and is the type of player you could see flourishing in a team like Richmond that like to move the ball on at all cost.

STRENGTHS:
X-Factor
Vertical leap
Speed
Work rate
Clean hands

IMPROVEMENTS:
Contested game
Consistency

If the draft was done on a highlights package Ralphsmith would go very early as he displays traits similar to 2018 rising star winner Jaidyn Stephenson as a medium forward at 188cm he can do it all taking overhead marks with his impressive leap and swooping on the crumbs with his speed and clean hands. Ralphsmith is not afraid to fly for high marks and with his timing can even outmark taller players and if he doesn’t take the mark he is quick to recover and quickly gather and look to snap at goal, he can also play on a wing where he likes to run and carry and he is very hard to stop once he gets on his bike and he can glide across the ground effortlessly. Ralphsmith was a strong performer at the combine testing well for speed and leap but it was his 2km time that really impressed and showed his ability to push hard which will be required at the next level whether as a dashing wingman or hybrid forward, to go with the speed and work rate he also has clean hands and rarely fumbles even under pressure which is a great trait to have as a forward especially where there is a lot of pressure to be clean and make the most of your opportunities. If he puts everything together Ralphsmith can be a match winner at AFL level.


Ralphsmith certainly looks good with ball in hand and he gets most of his possession up the ground was a wingman playing an outside role and although his contested numbers are solid for his position it is always something that could improve as he has great hands and speed which could be utilised at stoppages more if he can refine his ability to win the contested ball but he is just so damaging on the outside that its really not a major issue at this stage. Most modern forwards incorporate pressure acts into their game which is an area Ralphsmith could also improve especially with his speed and work rate being so good he could really stroke the perfect balance of attacking flair and defensive acts. When Ralphsmith is up and running he can hard to stop and is usually strong for one quarter, but could have little influence for others and that goes for entire games with half of his games in the NAB League going goalless which is usually fine if the forward has offered a lot of defensive pressure which has not been the case for Ralphsmith and although he has spent a lot of the time on the wing as well his disposal numbers in those goalless games would have to be better as he has only gone over 20 disposals once this year.

View attachment 786560

will learn quickly at Tigers defensive effort is non negotiable.

 

[smasha]

Welcome to our great club Hugo.

 

[TJTIGER]

We now have Hugo & Higgo....

Welcome to RFC Hugo.....

 

[Sir_Loin]

I see this guy as a 200+ game, 250+ goal weapon on a wing.

I reckon he’ll play 400+ games, 500+ goals

 

[Marcel Proust]

09/11/2001

very bottom age, younger than Dow

 

[THE_GUN]

If Hugo has 6/7cm growth spurt in the net 18-24 months

I present you with our Jack Riewoldt replacement , But seriously a fair bit of Jayden Stephenson about him

Like this pick a lot

 

[TJTIGER]

I reckon he’ll play 400+ games, 500+ goals

Welcome to the Tiger board....One of my favorite TV shows growing up "Grasshopper "...

 

[Bojangles17]

Interesting tidbit my old man played Regular tennis with his grandfather at East burwood TC , remember when his son Sean went to hawthorn, HugoS dad ,, yea he wasn’t much chop if I recall

 

[PuntRoad Celt]

Welcome to Richmond Hugo, all the best for the future.

 

[Tiger V]

best of luck for the future young fella , looking forward to seeing you on the "G"

 

[_RT_]

Ralphsmith plays like comparisons from Champion Data

Note - they aren't saying they'll be the same quality, just the type of player they are similar to in style

 

[Stylo]

View attachment 786720

Ralphsmith plays like comparisons from Champion Data

Note - they aren't saying they'll be the same quality, just the type of player they are similar to in style

Caddy was the one who came to mind reading the write up. Good mentor for him

 

[fargothegreat]

Caddy was the one who came to mind reading the write up. Good mentor for him

He'd be much quicker than Cads

 

[Dr Tigris]

Once again we are going for high end talent that needs development. Best club to do it at. Could be a huge steal.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Welcome to the Tiger board....One of my favorite TV shows growing up "Grasshopper "...

thanks mate!

 

[Stan Judkins]

Great pick, welcome "Boss"

 

[THE_GUN]

I dont see the comparisons to the players mentioned above from CD

Hugo is taller and being a bottom age player will grow more imo and is alot more athletic to the players mentioned

I see some stephenson & Rcd in some of his movements

 

[blxx]

I see some stephenson & Rcd in some of his movements

did you watch the entire minute of it though?

 

[Punt rd end]

 

[THE_GUN]

did you watch the entire minute of it though?

Yeah i did and also watched hugo at haileybury as well as at sandi more in 2018 than this year

 

[Turka]

He’s kamlkaze nutso...Like, you want him out there with your colours...

 

[db26]

Do people think he might play on the wing or midfield as he likes to run and carry the footy to.