AFL Player #16: Archie Perkins - Re-signed for two more years - 3/6

Beerfish · Dec 9, 2020

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 9, sup3rfish

TheUnicorn · May 30, 2023

bombadeer said:
I think he's stagnated a bit, tends to play fairly selfish football too. Essentially, he's the same player now that he was in his first game - and he's played 50 of them - I'm not really seeing the growth at this stage.

Year	Team	#	GM	W-D-L	KI	MK	HB	DI	GL	BH	HO	TK	RB	IF	CL	CG	FF	FA	BR	CP	UP	CM	MI	1%	BO	GA
2021	Essendon	16	21	11-0-10	5.52	2.76	5.81	11.33	0.43	0.67		2.00	0.10	2.57	0.52	1.95	0.62	0.62	0.10	4.10	7.38	0.24	0.43	0.38	0.24	0.43
2022	Essendon	16	18	4-0-14	8.39	3.78	3.78	12.17	0.89	0.72		2.50	0.39	2.61	0.94	1.56	0.89	0.50		3.94	8.33	0.39	1.06	0.17		0.61
2023	Essendon	16	11	6-0-5	11.00	4.45	3.36	14.36	1.18	0.82		2.73	0.73	4.64	0.45	1.73	0.64	0.73		4.09	10.55	0.09	0.64	0.82	0.18	0.64
Totals	50	21-0-29	388	175	227	615	38	36		117	17	152	33	88	36	30		202	421	13	35	20	7	27
Averages	16.67	42.00%	7.76	3.50	4.54	12.30	0.76	0.72		2.34	0.34	3.04	0.66	1.76	0.72	0.60		4.04	8.42	0.26	0.70	0.40	0.14	0.54

Maxabillions · May 31, 2023

TheUnicorn said:
Year
Team
# GM W-D-L KI MK HB DI GL BH HO TK RB IF CL CG FF FA BR CP UP CM MI 1% BO GA
2021
Essendon
16
21
11-0-10
5.52
2.76
5.81
11.33
0.43
0.67

2.00
0.10
2.57
0.52
1.95
0.62
0.62
0.10
4.10
7.38
0.24
0.43
0.38
0.24
0.43
2022
Essendon
16
18
4-0-14
8.39
3.78
3.78
12.17
0.89
0.72

2.50
0.39
2.61
0.94
1.56
0.89
0.50

3.94
8.33
0.39
1.06
0.17

0.61
2023
Essendon
16
11
6-0-5
11.00
4.45
3.36
14.36
1.18
0.82

2.73
0.73
4.64
0.45
1.73
0.64
0.73

4.09
10.55
0.09
0.64
0.82
0.18
0.64
Totals
50
21-0-29
388
175
227
615
38
36

117
17
152
33
88
36
30

202
421
13
35
20
7
27
Averages
16.67
42.00%
7.76
3.50
4.54
12.30
0.76
0.72

2.34
0.34
3.04
0.66
1.76
0.72
0.60

4.04
8.42
0.26
0.70
0.40
0.14
0.54

Seeing the cold hard stats I have absolutely zero faith he’s going to make it as a ruck.

Pweter · May 31, 2023

Maxabillions said:
Seeing the cold hard stats I have absolutely zero faith he’s going to make it as a ruck.

Yeah but surely you'd still throw him in there to get him into the game.

Maxabillions · May 31, 2023

Pweter said:
Yeah but surely you'd still throw him in there to get him into the game.

Let’s put him up against Goldstein this weekend. Final chance to show he’s got what it takes.

NAB777 · Jun 1, 2023

TheUnicorn said:
Year
Team
# GM W-D-L KI MK HB DI GL BH HO TK RB IF CL CG FF FA BR CP UP CM MI 1% BO GA
2021
Essendon
16
21
11-0-10
5.52
2.76
5.81
11.33
0.43
0.67
2.00
0.10
2.57
0.52
1.95
0.62
0.62
0.10
4.10
7.38
0.24
0.43
0.38
0.24
0.43
2022
Essendon
16
18
4-0-14
8.39
3.78
3.78
12.17
0.89
0.72
2.50
0.39
2.61
0.94
1.56
0.89
0.50
3.94
8.33
0.39
1.06
0.17
0.61
2023
Essendon
16
11
6-0-5
11.00
4.45
3.36
14.36
1.18
0.82
2.73
0.73
4.64
0.45
1.73
0.64
0.73
4.09
10.55
0.09
0.64
0.82
0.18
0.64
Totals
50
21-0-29
388
175
227
615
38
36
117
17
152
33
88
36
30
202
421
13
35
20
7
27
Averages
16.67
42.00%
7.76
3.50
4.54
12.30
0.76
0.72
2.34
0.34
3.04
0.66
1.76
0.72
0.60
4.04
8.42
0.26
0.70
0.40
0.14
0.54

I mean...the guy's playing AFL, and I'm sitting at a desk waiting for an excel macro to finish...but that's pretty unspectacular progress by age 21.

TorinoNineFour · Jun 2, 2023

His numbers in years 2 & 3 are very similar to Connor Rozee’s at the same stage in his career, before he made the leap in year 4. I guess time will tell….

blitzer · Jun 3, 2023

I'm pretty happy with his trajectory so far and importantly he's been able to get continuity which his fellow draftees in Reid and Cox could only dream of. He'll continue to build his tank and get better defensively but at least with him his strength through the hips gives him a real weapon as he often evades/breaks through tackles that would bring other players down. He's goal hungry and I like it as he's the type to rise to the moment.
I see him as our long term HFF. So already basically playing the role he'll continue to play long term.

ant555 · Jun 3, 2023

Next year will probably tell all. They are still giving him new roles to play and he looks like he has hit a plateau now. If he does not find the next level in 2024 then it is unlikely to happen. I still think he is at a minimum a good half forward that would kick you 30 to 40 goals. A nice B grade player. Not what you want from a top 10 pick I suppose but you get what you get.

Lore · Jun 3, 2023

ant555 said:
Next year will probably tell all. They are still giving him new roles to play and he looks like he has hit a plateau now. If he does not find the next level in 2024 then it is unlikely to happen. I still think he is at a minimum a good half forward that would kick you 30 to 40 goals. A nice B grade player. Not what you want from a top 10 pick I suppose but you get what you get.

I think he’ll get to another level still. Some take a bit longer and need the right coach to take an interest in them.

Vindicater · Jun 3, 2023

Third year player who has improved steadily each year.

People need to calm the fun. Will be a 200 gamer.

Gabe251 · Jun 3, 2023

Have a look at Danger's stats for his first four years. Not saying he's going to be Danger, but people need to chiiiiill.

eth-dog · Jun 3, 2023

Vindicater said:
Third year player who has improved steadily each year.

People need to calm the fun. Will be a 200 gamer.

Issue is that his improvements have been marginal at best.

Keystone agony · Jun 3, 2023

Vindicater said:
Third year player who has improved steadily each year.

People need to calm the fun. Will be a 200 gamer.

Shaun Atley was aswell

boncer34 · Jun 4, 2023

I remember Parish copping the same "he hasn't progressed" in his first few seasons.

ant555 · Jun 4, 2023

Vindicater said:
Third year player who has improved steadily each year.

People need to calm the fun. Will be a 200 gamer.

Has he improved steadily ? I think he is doing pretty much the same as he was last year. Not saying he does not have the scope to improve but his midfield game has been no better than previously . He still has large periods of games where he is not in the game as well. Yes he is a third year player and yes he missed all of his under 18 year and is at a disadvantage there as well. He has played more games than anyone in the top 20 and second most in his draft class. The question I have is about him being a midfielder. I have not seen anything at clearance or stoppage to say he can be a quality midfielder. His open play is good and when he is on the move he has some moves in traffic but from what I am looking at the bread and butter stuff is not there. He is not super physical either .Personally I am still thinking he is a half forward / wing . There is a lot of comment around he was going to play midfield in his top age year but we will never know if he would have mastered it. He will play 200 games but I doubt he will be an absolute gun. Think he will be more a player with a bit of X factor and a few moves that will be a 30 to 40 goal forward that can also be used on the wing.

fairbump_playon · Jun 4, 2023

ant555 said:
Has he improved steadily ? I think he is doing pretty much the same as he was last year. Not saying he does not have the scope to improve but his midfield game has been no better than previously . He still has large periods of games where he is not in the game as well. Yes he is a third year player and yes he missed all of his under 18 year and is at a disadvantage there as well. He has played more games than anyone in the top 20 and second most in his draft class. The question I have is about him being a midfielder. I have not seen anything at clearance or stoppage to say he can be a quality midfielder. His open play is good and when he is on the move he has some moves in traffic but from what I am looking at the bread and butter stuff is not there. He is not super physical either .Personally I am still thinking he is a half forward / wing . There is a lot of comment around he was going to play midfield in his top age year but we will never know if he would have mastered it. He will play 200 games but I doubt he will be an absolute gun. Think he will be more a player with a bit of X factor and a few moves that will be a 30 to 40 goal forward that can also be used on the wing.

Yep he has the strength over the footy for an inside game but that’s about it. I have seen nothing in terms of craft.

In old terms he is a classic half forward flanker. When playing well he presents consistently and finds himself in good space on the lead, and wins 50/50 contests as we transition forward. That’s his one wood. It’s difficult to be effective at that across whole games without fading out for patches, unless you develop some other tricks.

boncer34 · Jun 4, 2023

Averaging more disposals, marks, goals, tackles year on year.

Improving nicely.

Lore · Jun 4, 2023

Last year he was out in no man’s land plugging gaps on a wing. Don’t know how much you learn by playing a role that doesn’t get any ball.

ydc55 · Jun 4, 2023

Archie missed out on a lot of footy development due to COVID.
I think a majority of his draft group have been slow to develop.
I have greater concerns for Reid and Cox as they have body issues and no defined position yet. They will need a couple more seasons before we have a tangible idea of if they are going to make it.
I think Archie can be at least be an Alex Neal Bullen type who plays at half forward and runs up and down the field.
hopefully a good player in a premiership side!

TheGreatBarryB · Jun 4, 2023

Brad Scott’s was very bullish about at his presser Thursday ..says he has huge upside. Progressing nicely

Lore · Jun 4, 2023

Looks like Twomey got an interview for the 50 games milestone.

Wants to go into the midfield like everyone else. Trading centre bounces with Stringer at the moment.

Reviews his game every single week with both the forwards and midfield coaches, regardless of how many midfield minutes he gets — not everyone does that.

Sits in line meetings for both the forwards and the mids every week.

Studying global politics and commerce. Got into unimelb which is interesting by itself.

Parents are kiwis and his first sport was skateboarding!

Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow
Archie Perkins continues to grow, with the Bombers forward now 50 games into his career

Jun 4, 2023, 6:00AM

AS ESSENDON prepared to face West Coast last week, the Bombers also took a moment to acknowledge the first milestone of one of their emerging stars.

In a team meeting ahead of the clash, the Bombers congratulated Archie Perkins on his upcoming 50th game and on the big screen pulled up a photo from his draft night, where the about-to-be Bomber donned a fedora hat.

Two-and-a-half years later Perkins stands by the hat (he has lost that wide brim, replacing it with a new one) but isn't sure about the shoulder-length hair he had tucked behind his ears for his draft moment.

"I don't mind the fedora, but my hair was shocking," Perkins told AFL.com.au this week. "I can't believe that I rolled around with that, I'm annoyed someone didn't tell me to cut it. Mum did, but no one listens to their mum about that stuff. It looks better now."

The hat, haircut and beaded necklace was the first little insight for Essendon fans that their No.9 pick was his own man, seeing things in his own way, operating in his own manner. Now they know the lethal sidestep, shrugging of tackles, the clutch goals and clenched fist celebrations from one of their most promising long termers.

Perkins' 50 games have come from a possible 56 – he sits only second to Swan Errol Gulden for the most games played by any 2020 draftee – and this year he ranks third at Essendon for goals (13). His midfield and forward balance is continuing to advance and in Essendon's much improved first half of 2023, Perkins has made a regular impact at crucial times.

"If you looked at my first year, then second year and now my third, I'm making incremental gains. I haven't smashed it or dominated games but I'm building a solid foundation in the role that I'm playing as a high half-forward," he said.

"I'm not trying to go out and get 25 touches – that's not my role in the team – I'm trying to impact games and provide a good contest ahead of the ball."

Perkins' growth hasn't happened by chance. Essendon's forwards coach Dale Tapping rates him as one of the most consistent reviewers of his own game.

At the start of every week, Perkins will sit with Tapping to look through his forward craft, and does the same with midfield assistants Daniel Giansiracusa

Daniel Giansiracusa

Age
42

Ht

182cm

Wt
81kg

Pos.
Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D
17.6

4

K
11.0

4

HB
6.6

4

M
5.1

5

T
2.4

4

G
1.2

4

No current season stats available

D
10.2

3

K
7.4

3

HB
2.8

3

M
5.2

5

T
2.0

4

G
1.0

4

and Ben Jacobs, even when he hasn't played much midfield time. He trains with both groups and sits in line meetings with both, too.

"Some players' reviewing can vary based on how they've played. But Archie does it each week and is really diligent with it," Tapping said.

The next step, Perkins hopes, is to continue his midfield build. Essendon coach Brad Scott said this week he wasn't sure what Perkins becomes positionally – "I don't have the answer, but all I can see is the unbelievable attributes he has," Scott said – but the 21-year-old knows what he's hunting, having swapped centre bounces with Jake Stringer

20

Jake Stringer

Age
30

Ht

192cm

Wt
92kg

Pos.
Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D
12.9

3

K
8.5

3

HB
4.4

3

M
3.3

3

T
2.5

4

G
1.8

5

D
8.5

2

K
7.0

3

HB
1.5

1

M
2.8

3

T
3.8

4

G
2.5

5

D
7.2

2

K
4.8

2

HB
2.4

3

M
2.6

3

T
1.4

4

G
1.4

5

in recent weeks.

"Eventually I'd like to feature in the midfield more often than not and the people here and the coaches have a faith in me that I'm going to be able to do that and I do as well," he said.

"When that time comes I'm going to take the opportunity but the strength of our team is that we've got a lot of guys who can be in there so my versatility helps in that sense and I think I play forward line pretty well as well.

"I look at those strike players like Shai Bolton

15

Shai Bolton

Age
26

Ht

176cm

Wt
77kg

Pos.
M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D
12.3

3

K
6.9

3

HB
5.4

4

M
2.8

3

T
2.9

4

CL
1.4

4

D
12.7

3

K
9.2

4

HB
3.5

2

M
3.0

3

T
2.7

4

CL
1.8

4

D
9.2

3

K
4.6

2

HB
4.6

4

M
2.0

3

T
2.6

4

CL
0.0

1

or Connor Rozee

1

Connor Rozee

Age
24

Ht

185cm

Wt
79kg

Pos.
Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D
14.6

4

K
7.6

3

HB
7.0

4

M
3.3

3

T
3.6

5

CL
1.0

3

D
12.8

3

K
7.4

3

HB
5.3

3

M
2.9

3

T
2.4

3

CL
1.6

4

D
16.4

4

K
8.0

3

HB
8.4

5

M
4.2

4

T
3.4

5

CL
0.8

3

and they are probably more of the type of player that I think I can become with work."

Perkins has already shown an appetite for the crunch moments. "He feels comfortable on the big stage," Tapping said. "He has some confidence but underneath it all, he really cares about his performance."

Perkins' goal haul this year has included a range of plays – front and centre roves, left and right-foot snaps, on-the-run bombs and classy set shots – and on Anzac Day he tackled Collingwood's John Noble

2

John Noble

Age
27

Ht

180cm

Wt
72kg

Pos.
Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D
16.3

4

K
9.2

4

HB
7.1

4

M
3.5

4

T
2.0

4

MG
186.1

3

D
14.2

3

K
7.7

3

HB
6.5

4

M
3.2

3

T
1.8

3

MG
149.7

3

D
18.8

5

K
11.0

4

HB
7.8

5

M
4.0

4

T
2.2

4

MG
229.8

4

and slotted the long shot after winning the holding the ball free kick – and holding off Stringer for the kick.

"I had a sore ankle that day and Jakey claims he thought I had a sore ankle so he thought he better take it but if you watch the vision I had more of the tackle. That's Jakey for you, but I was pleased with that one," he said.

"Sometimes players can go into their shell a bit on game day but I find I'm not someone who does that. I have the confidence in myself to get it done in pressure situations.

"It comes back to not fearing failure. I've had that throughout my whole sporting journey, really. I don't really fear stuffing up."

The same applies for the trademark sidestep, which has caught a number of opponents unawares – but not his skipper.

"Zachy Merrett gets me all the time at training. He's the best tackler and the best chaser so sometimes he gets me. It all happens really quickly, I don't really see it coming and think 'I'm going to take this guy on' – I just find myself in the position and it's a quick reflex," Perkins said.

The attacking, "fighting forward" play is part of Perkins' appeal, with the Bomber rising in popularity among the Essendon faithful. More and more No.16 jumpers are at games, his badges often sell out on game day and his emergence pre-game is met with some of the loudest photo and autograph requests.

It's a humbling thing for Perkins, who comes at his football from a different perspective to some.

He first picked up a footy later than others at school, skipping Auskick, before growing up an avid Cats and Paul Chapman

Paul Chapman

Age
43

Ht

179cm

Wt
87kg

Pos.
Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D
19.7

5

K
12.8

5

HB
6.9

4

M
4.7

4

T
3.5

5

G
1.3

5

No current season stats available

D
6.6

2

K
4.0

2

HB
2.6

3

M
1.0

1

T
1.8

4

G
0.2

3

fan. His parents are from New Zealand, and Perkins was a regular skateboarder until too many rolled ankles saw him stop that, but he has wider interests too, having studied global politics at school and now commerce at Melbourne University, albeit part-time ("I couldn't tell you how I'm going with it," he said).

Being an early draft pick to one of the competition's biggest clubs has meant the spotlight has followed Perkins more than he has chased it and he isn't one to promote his own work or seek plaudits, but don't confuse his approach with any complacency: Perkins is striving for the glory (just maybe not the fame) and doing it in his own style.

"I know within myself, which is the most important thing, that I've got an intense desire to be the best player I can. And nobody can take that desire away from me. If I have faith and trust in that then I believe I can get that out of myself," he said.

Archie Perkins runs with the ball during an Essendon training session on February 14, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos
"I'm not one of those guys who is just living and breathing footy in and away from the club who is going to do 10,000 extra things. That's not the way I tend to go about my business.

"I put a lot of emphasis on the big aspects of footy. I pride myself on my work on the training track and really getting as much out of myself as I can there and in the gym.

"I think about the game a lot in reviewing my performance and my mentality of not fearing stuff, believing in myself and knowing my strengths are going to be good enough holds me in good stead. I've definitely got a really big desire and hunger to be the best player I can."

Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow

Archie Perkins continues to grow, with the Bombers forward now 50 games into his career

www.afl.com.au

ant555 · Jun 4, 2023

People can judge the improvement how they want. My focus has been what he has done in the midfield. Anyway some stats.

Disposals - 2021 (11.3) 2022 (12.2) 2023 (14.4)
Kicks - 2021 (5.8) 2022 (8.4) 2023 (11)
Handball - 2021 (5.8) 2022 (3.8) 2023 - (3.4)
Marks - 2021 (2.8) 2022 (3.8) 2023 (4.5)
Marks inside 50 - 2021 (0.4) 2022 (1.1) 2023 ( 0.6)
Contested Marks - 2021 (0.2) 2022 (0.4) 2023 (0.1)
I50 - 2021 (2.6) 2022 (2.6) 2023 (4.6)
Tackles - 2021 (2.0) 2022 (2.5) 2023 (2.7)
Tackles inside 50 - 2021 (0.7) 2022 (0.6) 2023 (0.7)
Center Clearance - 2021 (0) 2022 (0.1) 2023 (0)
Stoppage Clearance - 2021 (0.5) 2022 (0.6) 2023 (0.5)
Contested possessions - 2021 (4.1) 2022 (3.9) 2023 (4.1)
Score Involvements - 2021 (4) 2022 ( 4.6) 2023 (5.9)
Pressure acts - 2021 (13.4) 2022 (15.5) 2023 (15)
Goals - 2021 (0.4) 2022 (0.9) 2023 (1.2)
Behinds - 2021 (0.7) 2022 (0.7) 2023 (0.8)
Goal assist - 2021 (0.4) 2022 (0.6) 2023 (0.6)

Don Won · Jun 4, 2023

Lore said:
Looks like Twomey got an interview for the 50 games milestone.

Wants to go into the midfield like everyone else. Trading centre bounces with Stringer at the moment.

Reviews his game every single week with both the forwards and midfield coaches, regardless of how many midfield minutes he gets — not everyone does that.

Sits in line meetings for both the forwards and the mids every week.

Studying global politics and commerce. Got into unimelb which is interesting by itself.

Parents are kiwis and his first sport was skateboarding!

Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow

Archie Perkins continues to grow, with the Bombers forward now 50 games into his career

www.afl.com.au

Thanks for doing these summaries. A good time saver!

Happyskeret · Jun 4, 2023

Lore said:
Looks like Twomey got an interview for the 50 games milestone.

Wants to go into the midfield like everyone else. Trading centre bounces with Stringer at the moment.

Reviews his game every single week with both the forwards and midfield coaches, regardless of how many midfield minutes he gets — not everyone does that.

Sits in line meetings for both the forwards and the mids every week.

Studying global politics and commerce. Got into unimelb which is interesting by itself.

Parents are kiwis and his first sport was skateboarding!

Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow

Archie Perkins continues to grow, with the Bombers forward now 50 games into his career

www.afl.com.au

Good article. I like this kid he doesn’t get ahead of himself. Knows where he is at and what he needs to work on.

Megabattimus · Jun 4, 2023

If he does become a midfielder, he'll be like Petracca and take a bit to prove he belongs there.

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AFL Player #16: Archie Perkins - Re-signed for two more years - 3/6

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Striving for glory in his own way: Fearless Bomber continues to grow