Player Watch #46: Robert Hansen Jnr - Extends to End 2025

[Sphynx]

I would be staggered if Hansen Jr plays 1 good game for us. And by good, I’m talking 2-3 goals, 5 tackles inside 50, 12-15 touches.
Not a 1 goal, 8 touches, 2 tackle game where he “showed something”, or “you liked him” or “something to work with”.

Same position as you mate.

Absolutely bizarre he's this close to team selection after watching almost every minute of VFL football this year. Coaches must be watching different games to me.

"There's something to work with" best describes him. For the other periods of games he's a Phoenix Spicer clone that looks out of his depth with the physical contact at VFL level.

Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[kaboom kid]

Same position as you mate.

Absolutely bizarre he's this close to team selection after watching almost every minute of VFL football this year. Coaches must be watching different games to me.

"There's something to work with" best describes him. For the other periods of games he's a Phoenix Spicer clone that looks out of his depth with the physical contact at VFL level.

Hope he proves me wrong.

I think he's streets ahead of Spicer. He's already got a 4 goal game at VFL level. Doubt Spicer ever did that. He is fast, evasive and his kicking is good. Spicer was quick but nothing else. His dispoasal was woeful and he didn't kick goals. RHJ is only 20 and developing nicely for me.

 

[Sphynx]

I think he's streets ahead of Spicer. He's already got a 4 goal game at VFL level. Doubt Spicer ever did that. He is fast, evasive and his kicking is good. Spicer was quick but nothing else. His dispoasal was woeful and he didn't kick goals. RHJ is only 20 and developing nicely for me.

He's kicked multiple goals twice in the VFL, including that 4 goal game you are alluding to in his 8 games so far at the level.

Spicer has kicked 2 and 3 goals in the last 2 weeks for Footscray in the VFL.


Neither hold a patch on Harvey who has 2 bags of 5, a bag of 4 and 4 other multiple goal games in only a similar amount of games.

 

[kaboom kid]

He's kicked multiple goals twice in the VFL, including that 4 goal game you are alluding to in his 8 games so far at the level.

Spicer has kicked 2 and 3 goals in the last 2 weeks for Footscray in the VFL.


Neither hold a patch on Harvey who has 2 bags of 5, a bag of 4 and 4 other multiple goal games in only a similar amount of games.

Agree Harvey looks really promising. Great finisher and great mark for his size. Looked like he worked really hard on his tank during the off season so the injury setback is a real shame.

 

[WesternRoo]

Nice to see him on the fringes of the senior team. Probably won't play this week but he has a potential defensive forward role or might even be okay on a wing. Has pace, which is also something we need.

We have enough sizzle now, we lack sausage which has been the opposite of our teams for some time.

I’m not sure RHJ provides either.

 

[chubbspeterson]

We're quick to judge these kids. Not sure how you can really judge them with 2 years in an AFL system. Maurice Rioli is really starting to perform consistently this year and had some early stumbles and didn't look great but had some flashes. RHJ is two years younger.

 

[LB2Snake]

We're quick to judge these kids. Not sure how you can really judge them with 2 years in an AFL system. Maurice Rioli is really starting to perform consistently this year and had some early stumbles and didn't look great but had some flashes. RHJ is two years younger.

I like the idea of him off HB. He’s definitely got something to work with.

 

[RossHenshaw]

I like the idea of him off HB. He’s definitely got something to work with.

Body & speed quicker than his head. Would be a turnover king no doubts

 

[footy2016]

Talk about list cloggers….. get rid of immediately.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

The mid season draft is really a crap shoot, and you need a lot of luck to land anyone decent like a Jai Newcombe or a Sam Durham type. From the 2023 class only one of them has played a game this year (Brandon Ryan).

The only question of interest for me is the following. Would RHJ be a better footballer on any of the other 17 lists at this point in time after 12 months of development? Probably yes if at Sydney or Geelong, but no gifted games in the 1sts.

In his last 4 games he has had 30 touches. 2 of those matches we were belted, but seems well off the pace and will be placed in the exit lounge at season’s end.

 

[Devil Fish]

If Hansen Jr resembled anything "half decent" surely he'd be playing in the 1sts. The fact he can't get a game in the bottom team that is SCREAMING out for a small forward speaks volumes of how his game is regarded by those in charge at Arden St.

 

[Marstermind]

The mid season draft is really a crap shoot, and you need a lot of luck to land anyone decent like a Jai Newcombe or a Sam Durham type. From the 2023 class only one of them has played a game this year (Brandon Ryan).

The only question of interest for me is the following. Would RHJ be a better footballer on any of the other 17 lists at this point in time after 12 months of development? Probably yes if at Sydney or Geelong, but no gifted games in the 1sts.

In his last 4 games he has had 30 touches. 2 of those matches we were belted, but seems well off the pace and will be placed in the exit lounge at season’s end.

In a crap shoot we just get the crap - Hansen, Edwards and Hosie had/have no place on an AFL list. Kal Dawson remains a 'wait and see.'

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Have been reliably informed that he is struggling with homesickness. I think it really shows with how he is playing at the moment.

Freo were really keen on him in the MSD last year and could look to get him as a rookie come years end.

 

[remfan101]

Have been reliably informed that he is struggling with homesickness. I think it really shows with how he is playing at the moment.

Freo were really keen on him in the MSD last year and could look to get him as a rookie come years end.

Sad to hear, but understandable. I honestly think he has the talent in the right environment, but there are no shortage of reasons why that might not be with us at the moment.

 

[King Corey]

Have been reliably informed that he is struggling with homesickness. I think it really shows with how he is playing at the moment.

Freo were really keen on him in the MSD last year and could look to get him as a rookie come years end.

He has some talent, we need to get around him if that's the case.

 

[Merlin007]

He has some talent, we need to get around him if that's the case.

He doesn't look to have his heart in it on the field, and there's no crime in that, a young bloke a long way from home.

 

[King Corey]

He doesn't look to have his heart in it on the field, and there's no crime in that, a young bloke a long way from home.

Our current losing culture probably doesn't leave many players looking beyond themselves to bring these guys along for the ride.

That's a big difference for clubs like eagles and Richmond who are also flirting around the bottom of the ladder but have enough players with successful resumes that they are assured enough to worry about the next generation.

Similar to what Stevens, King, Archer, Grant, McKernan et al were able to do for us 20ish years ago.

 

[kool kangas]

Have been reliably informed that he is struggling with homesickness. I think it really shows with how he is playing at the moment.

Freo were really keen on him in the MSD last year and could look to get him as a rookie come years end.

l wouldn't mind if he went back home if he's having trouble adjusting to life here and missing his family.

 

[King Corey]

l wouldn't mind if he went back home if he's having trouble adjusting to life here and missing his family.

True but it'd be better if we can get better at addressing player homesickness and help them want to be here.

Perennially losing matches obviously doesn't help.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Do we know if Hansen Snr played a decent level of football?

 

[tazaa]

Could be worse. At least he won’t be leaving us to film a series on The Amazing Race.

 

[RossHenshaw]

Do we know if Hansen Snr played a decent level of football?

Why do u ask ?
Is Brady thinking of drafting him this year?

 

[Devil Fish]

Sad to hear, but understandable. I honestly think he has the talent in the right environment, but there are no shortage of reasons why that might not be with us at the moment.

“Has the talent in the right environment”????? What sort of cop out is that???
We picked him up to play AFL football. It’s obvious he’s not up to it.

The right environment? Sure, he’d probably be ok at EDFL level. But how does that help us?

 

[BlueandWhiteinmyBlood]

Annoying to hear/read this to be honest - all I read when we drafted him was what a solid citizen he was, great family background and upbringing, so happy to come to North ect. Fully over this homesickness cop out, you are still in the same country as your family with a club that gave you a chance after 17 others didn’t in the previous national draft prior to the MSD. I recently listened to a podcast and it was a young Australian professional soccer player, whom to become a professional had to move to Russia, live in a one bedder by himself in a building that resembled our flats here in Melb, didn’t know the language, didn’t know anyone, snowed every day ect - you can imagine. He said when he heard about AFL players crying home sickness, he laughs - and I don’t blame him, harden up RHJ.

 

[koshari]

Annoying to hear/read this to be honest - all I read when we drafted him was what a solid citizen he was, great family background and upbringing, so happy to come to North ect. Fully over this homesickness cop out, you are still in the same country as your family with a club that gave you a chance after 17 others didn’t in the previous national draft prior to the MSD. I recently listened to a podcast and it was a young Australian professional soccer player, whom to become a professional had to move to Russia, live in a one bedder by himself in a building that resembled our flats here in Melb, didn’t know the language, didn’t know anyone, snowed every day ect - you can imagine. He said when he heard about AFL players crying home sickness, he laughs - and I don’t blame him, harden up RHJ.