Player Watch #3: Harry Sheezel - 23 AFL RS/NM SBM, AFLPA BYP, '24 AA squad, '24 AFLCA BYP

[Passmore]

Yes and I feel that is the thinking. But on subject, we've too many shitmen down back and should be able to rustle up a semi competitive forward line without Sheezel in it.

I’ve been the leading flag waver for Flyin Flynn, but he ain’t doing much flying at the moment. Looks overmatched. Dunno whether the second knee reco has knocked him. Some VFL time is on the cards. Master that, then maybe try again.

Young appears on the outer, Thomas is, Archer is injured. Does al Clarko want to call on Hall. He’ll probably have to.

All of a sudden the backline stocks are about as thin as Benny McKay’s hair.

 

[SimpinForSimpkin]

Don't know what ppl have against HB - it's an underrated role that requires a very smart footy brain and kick. Which he is.
You get more of the ball and avoid much of the 1on1s required up front. It's perfect a role while you're building up strength.

Agreed. HBF is the most attacking position in the game. With Clarko’s “whirlpool” we’ll need excellent disposal coming from the back half.

 

[Reginald0]

I think the trouble is too much choice with too little availability

Last year we were playing Corr Hall and Young every week when available
We have the possibility of TT Stepho or Harry S as the new Quarterback

There is Dawson
I still think Bonar, like Perez, is not a million miles from performing consistently at AFL level
Archer maybe Drury

And once Tucker comes in that fills another spot

Plenty of talent just need a bit of teamwork

 

[King Corey]

Count me as someone who doesn't want Sheezel across HB.

Looks more dangerous as a forward and feel like we need class there desperately.

Agree. Sheezel seems like one of those players who can miskick it falling over and it still goes through for a goal.

Moving him to HB feels to me like moving an 18yo Wayne Carey to CHB because he can find the ball and use it. Sheezel looks like the guy that makes other teams reorganise their defences, not us reorganising our own.

 

[The acurate one]

I’ve been the leading flag waver for Flyin Flynn, but he ain’t doing much flying at the moment. Looks overmatched. Dunno whether the second knee reco has knocked him. Some VFL time is on the cards. Master that, then maybe try again.

Young appears on the outer, Thomas is, Archer is injured. Does al Clarko want to call on Hall. He’ll probably have to.

All of a sudden the backline stocks are about as thin as Benny McKay’s hair.

If I was rating our backmen in order of ability and of course one must consider how many games a player has had, we dare not to be too hasty.

1. Logue
2. McKay
3.Sheezel
4.Corr
5.McDonald
well it just kind of falls away rather dramatically from there. Could Tucker play down back?

Yeah I know you've been big on Flyin, and nothing wrong with backing in our players. I was also once like that. He just looks so one paced and hasn't got a trait that makes you stop and think. Neither has Bonar.

 

[r00boy96]

Does anyone else see Steele Sidebottom

22

Steele Sidebottom

Age

34

Ht

184cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.4

5star

K

14.1

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

3.7

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

24.0

5star

K

12.0

5star

HB

12.0

5star

M

4.5

4star

T

4.3

5star

CL

2.3

4star

D

31.6

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

17.2

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

6.0

5star

in this kid? Steele was a prolific goal kicker in his juniors and now plays most minutes around the midfield.

They both use the ball incredibly well and appear to just have more time and space than others. I've projected Sheezel to be like Sidebottom from day one

 

[Sphynx]

I don't get why we have to earmark him to a position?

Can't we play him exactly how we did on the weekend?


A dangerous forward > half back - every day of the week.

If he's being frozen out because of lack of I50's or a tight defender, move him back or even in the midfield.

I see no reason why we can't swing him between the arc's regularly. In fact he'd be a nightmare for oppo coaches if he was doing that.

Rotate him as the spare behind the ball, then when we have a rotation move him forward (likely to lose oppo defenders in the transition there etc).

I'd just rotate him back/forward/mid in the bench rotations and hope that the oppo sides lose track of him when he does go forward.


In fact if he's playing forward, starting off the back of the square at half back isn't the worst option either, often Dustin does that and then it plays havoc with the defensive structures as he drifts forward immediately.

You could play +2 in defence at CB's with Sheezel + spare defender there, with Sheezel coming hard off the square for the overlap and then move quickly half forward/deep forward.

 

[Makeshift Park]

If I was rating our backmen in order of ability and of course one must consider how many games a player has had, we dare not to be too hasty.

1. Logue
2. McKay
3.Sheezel
4.Corr
5.McDonald
well it just kind of falls away rather dramatically from there. Could Tucker play down back?

Yeah I know you've been big on Flyin, and nothing wrong with backing in our players. I was also once like that. He just looks so one paced and hasn't got a trait that makes you stop and think. Neither has Bonar.

If we're talking ability, I'd say The One-Game Goater has already bucked well above Manglin' McDonald.

You may find it spurious, but I wouldn't be surprised if Drury the Furious finds himself in the top 6 not so long after his debut.

 

[kool kangas]

Well as you have pointed out Tarryn Thomas has thrown a spanner or a gold chain in the al clarko works.

So as it is currently

Forwards

Larkey
Comben
CCJ
Ford
Zurhaar
Taylor
Spicer
Curtis
Stephenson

Backs

McDonald
Bonar
Perez
Corr
McKay
Logue
Hall
Young


From what I've heard we haven't worked out Goater's best position.

Going by that it is Sheezel down back and either Stevo, Ford or Taylor gets a run fwd.

Best spot for Goater is the wing but he has to be more mindful of his player getting away from him...

 

[Whereitallbegan]

I don't get why we have to earmark him to a position?

Can't we play him exactly how we did on the weekend?


A dangerous forward > half back - every day of the week.

If he's being frozen out because of lack of I50's or a tight defender, move him back or even in the midfield.

I see no reason why we can't swing him between the arc's regularly. In fact he'd be a nightmare for oppo coaches if he was doing that.

Rotate him as the spare behind the ball, then when we have a rotation move him forward (likely to lose oppo defenders in the transition there etc).

I'd just rotate him back/forward/mid in the bench rotations and hope that the oppo sides lose track of him when he does go forward.


In fact if he's playing forward, starting off the back of the square at half back isn't the worst option either, often Dustin does that and then it plays havoc with the defensive structures as he drifts forward immediately.

You could play +2 in defence at CB's with Sheezel + spare defender there, with Sheezel coming hard off the square for the overlap and then move quickly half forward/deep forward.

Maybe we should rename him
“The Scarlet Pimpernel”
They seek him here,
they seek him there!

 

[LB2Snake]

Does anyone else see Steele Sidebottom in this kid? Steele was a prolific goal kicker in his juniors and now plays most minutes around the midfield.

They both use the ball incredibly well and appear to just have more time and space than others. I've projected Sheezel to be like Sidebottom from day one

I get Stevie J vibes from him....bit would settle for SS as well.

 

[DuckYeah]

The campaigner can play anywhere, his best asset is in the forward 50. You don’t use ya HSV GTS to do skids in the paddock.

 

[DuckYeah]

I get Stevie J vibes from him....bit would settle for SS as well.

Massive SJ vibes, that crumb and snap off the pack on Saturday. Glorious

 

[DuckYeah]

Well as you have pointed out Tarryn Thomas has thrown a spanner or a gold chain in the al clarko works.

So as it is currently

Forwards

Larkey
Comben
CCJ
Ford
Zurhaar
Taylor
Spicer
Curtis
Stephenson

Backs

McDonald
Bonar
Perez
Corr
McKay
Logue
Hall
Young


From what I've heard we haven't worked out Goater's best position.

Going by that it is Sheezel down back and either Stevo, Ford or Taylor gets a run fwd.

Stevo is a forward, just is he good enough at the moment? He can’t play anywhere else, he could be a gun wingman, just shits himself when he sees his own shadow.

One way to turn a kid off his game is when he is a natural forward to put him down back. Don’t do that.. we need to recruit better backs. Simples.

Hunter Clarke - Priority.

 

[DuckYeah]

Agree. Sheezel seems like one of those players who can miskick it falling over and it still goes through for a goal.

Moving him to HB feels to me like moving an 18yo Wayne Carey to CHB because he can find the ball and use it. Sheezel looks like the guy that makes other teams reorganise their defences, not us reorganising our own.

Couldn’t agree more. Complete waste having a player of that talent, in the hardest position on the ground (half forward) wasted in half back.

You put struggling half forwards down back to find the pill. This guy is unbelievably good across half forward.

 

[The acurate one]

The campaigner can play anywhere, his best asset is in the forward 50. You don’t use ya HSV GTS to do skids in the paddock.

Man ya don't buy of those you invest in a Grp A Brock Plus Pack fyi & FWIW

 

[DuckYeah]

Man ya don't buy of those you invest in a Grp A Brock Plus Pack fyi & FWIW

Have a VR HSV Caprice in the garage mate. I know, and that thing will never do skids in a paddock. Does skids, just not in a paddock

 

[The acurate one]

Have a VR HSV Caprice in the garage mate. I know, and that thing will never do skids in a paddock. Does skids, just not in a paddock

Nice DY pics or it isn't true

 

[DuckYeah]

Nice DY pics or it isn't true

I’ll send you a pic of my feet if you like? My cars are not whores.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Best spot for Goater is the wing but he has to be more mindful of his player getting away from him...

Well that all depends on whether Clarko is planning to have his wings be creative attacking players or negating taggers. It's not so clear cut.

 

[FlyHigh18]

Couldn’t agree more. Complete waste having a player of that talent, in the hardest position on the ground (half forward) wasted in half back.

You put struggling half forwards down back to find the pill. This guy is unbelievably good across half forward.

 

[Kimbo]

...having someone of Stevie J ability around goals is priceless not to mention creating excitement for the long-suffering supporter base.

See him as a Steele Sidebottomtype

Don’t worry about him being forward or back the kid will end up being an elite midfielder.

Time slows down so much when he has the pill, its like he has an eternity to make decision.

The only other person I can compare that trait to is Pendles. One of the greatest modern day mids.

He is our Nick Daicos - need to play him at half-back and make sure that we are getting the ball into his hands as often as possible.

Does anyone else see Steele Sidebottomin this kid? Steele was a prolific goal kicker in his juniors and now plays most minutes around the midfield.

They both use the ball incredibly well and appear to just have more time and space than others. I've projected Sheezel to be like Sidebottom from day one

I get Stevie J vibes from him....bit would settle for SS as well.

Hmmm, lots of odious comparisons going on here. Add in Jordan Lewis' Luke Breust comparison for good measure. (As the Bard said, 'All comparisons are odious.')

...so, what's one more (again)?

Since I posted this post pre-draft, now re-posted below in his own thread; we've thankfully actually gone on to draft young Harry; he's put in the work over pre-season, including bulking up a bit; he's now wearing the same #3 as the great man and; apparently, according to Clarko, now plays for the Hawthorn Football Club.

"I last dropped in to express my joy at the appointment of Alastair Clarkson as our coach and I hope that this post doesn’t evoke a similar “Why can’t we have nice things?” outcome, but I feel compelled to express to a community of people who’ll get it, my excitement at the prospect of drafting Harry Sheezel.

I’m no draft expert and I don’t watch the games nor the footage that the likes of some here do, but from the highlights, which is all I ever see of potential draftees, I’ve not felt as confident in a kid since watching Dustin Martin as an 18 year old. Some players just seem to have ‘it’. Elaboration to follow.

Player comparisons are always fraught, if for no other reason than that they are always imperfect. No two players are identical, of course. But, in order to explain my excitement, my player comparison isn’t Toby Greene or Stevie J, but a player from another increasingly distant era, and who, in my youth, I hated with a passion… because he was that damned good, frankly. IMHO, he is the only player worthy of contesting with Carey the claim as the greatest player of all time, based especially on IMPACT. (Remember folks, the noun, always the noun!)

I don’t wish to put the mockers on him, nor do I wish to draw fanciful comparisons as to what he will produce or what he can achieve in his career, especially as Harry hasn’t even been drafted or played a game at AFL level yet… BUT some of his qualities and style remind me a lot of ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews. (Lethal Sheezel?) I’m well aware those old enough to remember him may decry Matthews as a ‘thug’ etc. but I make a (probably useless) plea to not get sucked into ‘Yeah, but Matthews was a dirty player’. Similarly, ‘Yeah, but Rantall used to take him to the cleaners’ - see what I did there? - or ‘That comparison places an unrealistic expectation on the kid.’

Okay, so here’s why I draw the comparison:

Composure. The kid doesn’t seem to get overwhelmed, particularly when disposing of the ball. He comes across as very level-headed and seems to read each play as it comes. Indeed, he almost appears nonplussed at times, without being disinterested. Unlike the Toby Greene’s and Stevie J’s he doesn’t seem to be overly excitable which, personally, I like. I was always impressed with Matthews’ acceptance of umpiring decisions as an example of this in his case. He always just ‘got on with it'.

Impact [n.]. As the kid has said himself, he is less concerned with stats as an end in themselves and more with having an impact with each possession. Pound for pound, that’s why Matthews was, in my opinion, such a good player. More often than not, when he got the ball he did something that significantly influenced what was happening on field. Or could.

Decision-making. Whether it is choosing whether to kick or to handball, to kick for goal or to look for a better option (mostly the best option), or to fly or to stay down, the kid shows similar qualities to Leigh. He doesn’t seem to be a one-trick pony and, therefore, is open to doing what is needed in the moment to influence the play.

Execution. I need to see a larger body of work here, but on the whole, it seems that young Harry is ‘tidy’ at the very least. He seems to have some pretty decent skills, at least good enough to pull off what he’s trying to do. That's really the most important part of the skills: the using. Anybody can just have them. (Bid for Seinfeld as comedy GOAT, for the memes and consistency over a long period.)

Versatility. Sheezel, like Matthews, plays forward, but can play in the middle too. Indeed, Matthews was, in my opinion, at least as influential in the centre as he was in the forward 50, had it existed back then, and played in the middle for a good part of his career. It’s shame his highlights tend to focus so much on his goals. I know the line of thinking with the young kids is often ‘start him forward, then he can transition to the midfield’, and that may well happen, but I see it as irrelevant with this kid. I envisage he’ll play where he’s needed and do well in whichever part of the field he plays, over the course of a game, a season or a career.

Style. What first triggered me to think of the comparison was the style of play. (Once again, don’t be distracted by achievements.) I was struck not by the marking or goal kicking, both of which are impressive, but with the way the kid moves in and around the contest. From what I’ve seen (a big caveat here), his clean takes, his baulks (‘selling candy’ for the kids out there), the way he twists and turns to give himself time and space, how he still makes a play even when he’s lost his feet, his opportunism especially around goal, and his pushing past opponents, are all reminiscent of Leigh Matthews. I note that the two have different body types, although Sheezel seems reasonably powerful in the legs, like Leigh.

For the kids, I encourage you to watch some of Matthews highlight clips, and for the older posters whose memories are failing, remind yourself. Speaking personally, I was reminded that Leigh could take a decent grab too.

If you want to take a closer look, the baseline YouTube clip below, Harry Sheezel is a goal kicking machine, really highlights Harry's style, then check out some of Lethal’s highlights in the following link.

Harry Sheezel is a goal kicking machine

Leigh Matthews - the GOAT

tl;dr? I think Harry Sheezel has some exceptional traits, like VFL great, Leigh Matthews, and has the potential to be a special player for us, should we be lucky enough to draft him.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Whately and Robbo called him “club changing” on AFL360 as they marvelled at his highlights.

 

[ferball]

Hmmm, lots of odious comparisons going on here. Add in Jordan Lewis' Luke Breust comparison for good measure. (As the Bard said, 'All comparisons are odious.')

...so, what's one more (again)?

Since I posted this post pre-draft, now re-posted below in his own thread; we've thankfully actually gone on to draft young Harry; he's put in the work over pre-season, including bulking up a bit; he's now wearing the same #3 as the great man and; apparently, according to Clarko, now plays for the Hawthorn Football Club.

"I last dropped in to express my joy at the appointment of Alastair Clarkson as our coach and I hope that this post doesn’t evoke a similar “Why can’t we have nice things?” outcome, but I feel compelled to express to a community of people who’ll get it, my excitement at the prospect of drafting Harry Sheezel.

I’m no draft expert and I don’t watch the games nor the footage that the likes of some here do, but from the highlights, which is all I ever see of potential draftees, I’ve not felt as confident in a kid since watching Dustin Martin as an 18 year old. Some players just seem to have ‘it’. Elaboration to follow.

Player comparisons are always fraught, if for no other reason than that they are always imperfect. No two players are identical, of course. But, in order to explain my excitement, my player comparison isn’t Toby Greene or Stevie J, but a player from another increasingly distant era, and who, in my youth, I hated with a passion… because he was that damned good, frankly. IMHO, he is the only player worthy of contesting with Carey the claim as the greatest player of all time, based especially on IMPACT. (Remember folks, the noun, always the noun!)

I don’t wish to put the mockers on him, nor do I wish to draw fanciful comparisons as to what he will produce or what he can achieve in his career, especially as Harry hasn’t even been drafted or played a game at AFL level yet… BUT some of his qualities and style remind me a lot of ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews. (Lethal Sheezel?) I’m well aware those old enough to remember him may decry Matthews as a ‘thug’ etc. but I make a (probably useless) plea to not get sucked into ‘Yeah, but Matthews was a dirty player’. Similarly, ‘Yeah, but Rantall used to take him to the cleaners’ - see what I did there? - or ‘That comparison places an unrealistic expectation on the kid.’

Okay, so here’s why I draw the comparison:

Composure. The kid doesn’t seem to get overwhelmed, particularly when disposing of the ball. He comes across as very level-headed and seems to read each play as it comes. Indeed, he almost appears nonplussed at times, without being disinterested. Unlike the Toby Greene’s and Stevie J’s he doesn’t seem to be overly excitable which, personally, I like. I was always impressed with Matthews’ acceptance of umpiring decisions as an example of this in his case. He always just ‘got on with it'.

Impact [n.]. As the kid has said himself, he is less concerned with stats as an end in themselves and more with having an impact with each possession. Pound for pound, that’s why Matthews was, in my opinion, such a good player. More often than not, when he got the ball he did something that significantly influenced what was happening on field. Or could.

Decision-making. Whether it is choosing whether to kick or to handball, to kick for goal or to look for a better option (mostly the best option), or to fly or to stay down, the kid shows similar qualities to Leigh. He doesn’t seem to be a one-trick pony and, therefore, is open to doing what is needed in the moment to influence the play.

Execution. I need to see a larger body of work here, but on the whole, it seems that young Harry is ‘tidy’ at the very least. He seems to have some pretty decent skills, at least good enough to pull off what he’s trying to do. That's really the most important part of the skills: the using. Anybody can just have them. (Bid for Seinfeld as comedy GOAT, for the memes and consistency over a long period.)

Versatility. Sheezel, like Matthews, plays forward, but can play in the middle too. Indeed, Matthews was, in my opinion, at least as influential in the centre as he was in the forward 50, had it existed back then, and played in the middle for a good part of his career. It’s shame his highlights tend to focus so much on his goals. I know the line of thinking with the young kids is often ‘start him forward, then he can transition to the midfield’, and that may well happen, but I see it as irrelevant with this kid. I envisage he’ll play where he’s needed and do well in whichever part of the field he plays, over the course of a game, a season or a career.

Style. What first triggered me to think of the comparison was the style of play. (Once again, don’t be distracted by achievements.) I was struck not by the marking or goal kicking, both of which are impressive, but with the way the kid moves in and around the contest. From what I’ve seen (a big caveat here), his clean takes, his baulks (‘selling candy’ for the kids out there), the way he twists and turns to give himself time and space, how he still makes a play even when he’s lost his feet, his opportunism especially around goal, and his pushing past opponents, are all reminiscent of Leigh Matthews. I note that the two have different body types, although Sheezel seems reasonably powerful in the legs, like Leigh.

For the kids, I encourage you to watch some of Matthews highlight clips, and for the older posters whose memories are failing, remind yourself. Speaking personally, I was reminded that Leigh could take a decent grab too.

If you want to take a closer look, the baseline YouTube clip below, Harry Sheezel is a goal kicking machine, really highlights Harry's style, then check out some of Lethal’s highlights in the following link.

Harry Sheezel is a goal kicking machine

Leigh Matthews - the GOAT

tl;dr? I think Harry Sheezel has some exceptional traits, like VFL great, Leigh Matthews, and has the potential to be a special player for us, should we be lucky enough to draft him.

Matthews certainly had "impact" lol.

Great write up tho. Matthews was a gun and had a good footy IQ as his coaching career showed. I always remember him as a goal scoring mid, but in the days when mids were rovers or ruck rovers. The chapter he wrote in the How to Play Australian Football book I had as a kid was about roving, timing runs at packs for the crumbs, positioning - how to get F&C at speed or when to attack the side or back of a marking pack as well as how to attack packs on the ground etc etc.

There is something about Harry, you can see he has "it". Thomas shows similar signs, Wells, did. Some of those injured flankers we had 10 or 15 years ago as well. But Harry has it in spades.

 

[JGreezy]

You guys can call HBF a waste of talent and hiding him away or whatever you want, but the reality is that moving the 18 year old kid from the forward picket to the HBF completely changed the entire structure and flow of the team on the weekend.

You could not ask for a bigger impact from a positional change. It was night and day.

I wish that we had two of him.