Our new ruckman - Shae McNamara

[TradeDraft]

Hmmm I would think he would be given 3-4 years to make it
what do you think

I have it a 3 Years at the Most to see if he can play AFL

 

[Teak_Pies]

Yeah I would think 3 years is about right

 

[Zahki]

Well, now all of you guys can welcome and really cheer on my nephew. Your first American Footy player, Shae McNamara!

Yay, I look forward to seeing how he goes.

It'll be hard picking up an entirely new game, let alone trying to play it at a professional level, but if he keeps at it I reckon he'll make it. With Jolly, Fraser and Wood our rucks are fine at the moment so that ought to take the pressure off him a bit and let him develop at his own pace.

 

[danielnajdek]

It's worth a shot. If it doesn't work out at least we gave a guy a chance. I like what we're thinking especially with the 2 new teams getting 20 first round picks

 

[Bloben]

It would be impossible for Shae to pick up the game from such a late age if he was playing any other position. As a ruck though he has a good chance. The actual rucking part of football won't take as long to pick up, he just needs to be passable at the other skills.

The part that he will need to concentrate most on though is to read the play, know where to run and when etc. These are things that will take some time but I believe he can do it.

 

[smauge]

ok, my thoughts are he wont make it, no need to call me an imbecile or anything, its just my opinion
theres guys who have played Aussie rules their whole life (jaxson barham, Mcgough, J. king) and have no where near the required standard for kicking in the AFL

I won't call you an imbecile for your opinion on Shae - but don't be knockin' Jax!!! (and I corrected the wrongly spelt name for you too)

 

[bretigan]

Yeah, How long would his Contract be?

Rumor is 2 years. :0

 

[wicksy]

a few things i picked up on in this (call me an idiot, wht ever i dont care)

just a guess, but is he wearing runners ? if so, uncle, tell him to only wear footy boots when kicking the ball, wearing runners while kicking is very different to wearing boots.

also
he"s holding the ball wrong IMO, this can be easily fixed, its like a pure kicker has taught him how to kick (ok if your teaching a kid, but as a fast track id teach him differently), id be pointing both thumbs towards the valve of the ball with all my fingers underneath the ball. this should give him better controll on the drop it would also help him bring the back towards his body instead of away from it, it would also help with the angle of the ball on the boot, its a much easier way to learn, he needs to point the bottom of the ball back more on contact as well as he also over runs the ball on contact costing him distance (needs to slow down a tad as his balance doesnt look right, also, kicking on the run is a very difficult art, as they say, you have to crawl before you can walk, if i were him, id be really slowing my action up with set shots and such, once that felt good id be working on the running kick, it would be easier to learn then ), his contact point is too high (in some cases, a few times he shanks it off his shin) and to low in some cases, also kicking is done with the hands as well, from the looks of that vid, he isnt using his hands enough, what i mean by that is he actually kicks the ball out of his hands, his hands should be dominating where his foot should be, not his foot dominating where his hands should be, if that makes any sense, he can have seperation from hand to boot, maybe leaning back more could help as well, work on the follow through is needed as well. just IMO. id also direct him to stop kicking on his non prefered foot, at least not as much anyway for the time being, he wont be overly popular if he starts wrecking drills at training and such so id be sureing up my natural foot 1st..



man, i wish i could have 2 weeks with the bloke, id sort his kicking out in no time, as we all think we would id guess.

Geez, why aren't you putting your hand up for the rookie list..... Sounds like you are bloody awesome!

 

[collingwill]

Geez, why aren't you putting your hand up for the rookie list..... Sounds like you are bloody awesome!

even more so with a few drinks under my belt, i stand by it though, i was allways considered to be a very good kick of the football, ive taught a few kids as well.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Well, now all of you guys can welcome and really cheer on my nephew. Your first American Footy player, Shae McNamara!

Indeed, I'll be keen to see him play, and he'll certainly be enthusiastically cheered don't you worry.

theres so many different variables, courage being a standout, and not just courage in the air or from hits, gut running courage, like he never knew existed, its hard to explain to someone what their in for in suburb footy, senior VFL/AFL level, well hes in for a shock.

I think courage is possibly the least likely attribute to trip up Shae in his quest to become an AFL footy player. We like to bang on about how courageous you have to be to play AFL footy, and it's true; but it's not unique to our sport. There's plenty of courage required in American football, ice hockey, etc. He'll be fine in this regard.

The part that he will need to concentrate most on though is to read the play, know where to run and when etc. These are things that will take some time but I believe he can do it.

Agree on that. This is what separates the athletes from the genuine footballers, and it's tremendously hard to learn at a later age, or teach for that matter. Best of luck to him and if he's committed, he's not without a chance.

 

[TradeDraft]

I think courage is possibly the least likely attribute to trip up Shae in his quest to become an AFL footy player. We like to bang on about how courageous you have to be to play AFL footy, and it's true; but it's not unique to our sport. There's plenty of courage required in American football, ice hockey, etc. He'll be fine in this regard.

So that means he could be a Crash and Bash Ruckman?

Agree on that. This is what separates the athletes from the genuine footballers, and it's tremendously hard to learn at a later age, or teach for that matter. Best of luck to him and if he's committed, he's not without a chance.

Be the Things to say if he makes it our not

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

............how courageous you have to be to play AFL footy, and it's true; but it's not unique to our sport. There's plenty of courage required in American football, ice hockey, etc. He'll be fine in this regard...quote]

Some basketballers like Charles Barkly and Moses Malone had some mongrel in them and probably could have physically dominated in the AFL given a different life.

I expect at ground level Shae will play more like Scott Pendlebury than like Dean Brogan.

Shae also had a go at playing B/ball for Dachau (Germany) (2008-09).

http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=GER&PlayerID=91133&AmNotSure=1

 

[TradeDraft]

............how courageous you have to be to play AFL footy, and it's true; but it's not unique to our sport. There's plenty of courage required in American football, ice hockey, etc. He'll be fine in this regard...quote]

Some basketballers like Charles Barkly and Moses Malone had some mongrel in them and probably could have physically dominated in the AFL given a different life.

I expect at ground level Shae will play more like Scott Pendlebury than like Dean Brogan.

Shae also had a go at playing B/ball for Dachau (Germany) (2008-09).

http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=GER&PlayerID=91133&AmNotSure=1

Well he would be a New Kind of Ruckman if he played like Pendles.

They have him at:

203cm

 

[collingwill]

just one more know it all post from me, i promise.

i think a very good kicking drill for shae would be to put a witches hat 60 mtrs away, have a bloke on the sidelines with a whistle, tell shae, to start running at the witches hat (bouncing the ball the required amount) and when the whistle blows he"s to kick the ball within 3/4 steps at the hat, this would put him out of his comfort zone and prepare him to kick on short notice at a target on the run. kicking is really just about balance, and the quicker you can call on that balance the better, IMO.

kicking on the run is one thing but training to do it under pressure would help i reckon.

 

[FootyontheBrain]

just one more know it all post from me, i promise.

i think a very good kicking drill for shae would be to put a witches hat 60 mtrs away, have a bloke on the sidelines with a whistle, tell shae, to start running at the witches hat (bouncing the ball the required amount) and when the whistle blows he"s to kick the ball within 3/4 steps at the hat, this would put him out of his comfort zone and prepare him to kick on short notice at a target on the run. kicking is really just about balance, and the quicker you can call on that balance the better, IMO.

kicking on the run is one thing but training to do it under pressure would help i reckon.

Collingwill, you make some very good points re: how to teach a newbie the basic skills. First off, There are 3 videos out there showing his skill training. These videos span a distance of time of little more than a month. Having played footy in the states for 12 years, I can tell you I've never seen someone even come remotely close to Shae's skill progression.

Secondly, he doesn't have a preferred side. That's what's so freakyabout the kid.

Regarding his hand placement, the dude is 202cm. His hands literally wrap 2/3 of the way around the ball. I'll be honest, I wouldn't have clue about what's right or wrong in that regard.

Lastly, Shae is an elite athlete. There has never been anyone even close to his athleticism in USFooty...American or Aussie, and we've had some former AFL players pass thru the game over here.

 

[collingwill]

not doubting his athletic ability.

i think even supporters from other clubs would like to see him make it, it would be great for our game and if he does make it there will be plenty more similar US athletes give it a try, it doesn't really matter if i think he"ll make it or not, the important thing is shae thinks he can make it.

 

[bretigan]

not doubting his athletic ability.

i think even supporters from other clubs would like to see him make it, it would be great for our game and if he does make it there will be plenty more similar US athletes give it a try, it doesn't really matter if i think he"ll make it or not, the important thing is shae thinks he can make it.

Hi,

"There is no try. Do or do not." A wise old guy once said. I truly do not know who Shae would have to beat off the team to make the team. I can tell you that he is a team player and will put his confidence in the coaching staff. If the coaches can train, Shae will learn. Shae, like I said in another post, he excelled in track and field. I don't think he will get "home sick" as he spent a year in Germany with people who, well, spoke German. Now, that can get you homesick! The only thing that no one knows, probably even Shae himself, if he can take punishment during a game? If he can, then by golly, I will fly to Australia to watch him play!

Bret

 

[King Woodie]

not doubting his athletic ability.

i think even supporters from other clubs would like to see him make it, it would be great for our game and if he does make it there will be plenty more similar US athletes give it a try, it doesn't really matter if i think he"ll make it or not, the important thing is shae thinks he can make it.

And the even more important thing is if Mick et al think he can make it...

 

[collingwill]

And the even more important thing is if Mick et al think he can make it...

i guess thats important too lol.

anyone think if shae comes along quickly in the pre season they may give a run in the NAB cup, i doubt they"d want to play fraser or jolly in that comp (much anyway), it could be a way to show him whats required of him in senior AFL football without risking anything, are we allowed to play rookies in the NAB cup ?

 

[King Woodie]

i guess thats important too lol.

anyone think if shae comes along quickly in the pre season they may give a run in the NAB cup, i doubt they"d want to play fraser or jolly in that comp (much anyway), it could be a way to show him whats required of him in senior AFL football without risking anything, are we allowed to play rookies in the NAB cup ?

There is just no way this will happen.

Jolly / Wood will do most of the rucking (even in the NAB Cup) and after that it would come from L Brown, Fraser, even Keeffe. Dawes would get a run in the ruck before Shae. Macnamara is NO chance of getting a NAB Cup start. IT is just not Mick's style to play the ultra raw kids in the Nab Cup.

Even Keeffe is a very long shot to play

 

[Zahki]

Hi,

"There is no try. Do or do not." A wise old guy once said. I truly do not know who Shae would have to beat off the team to make the team. I can tell you that he is a team player and will put his confidence in the coaching staff. If the coaches can train, Shae will learn. Shae, like I said in another post, he excelled in track and field. I don't think he will get "home sick" as he spent a year in Germany with people who, well, spoke German. Now, that can get you homesick! The only thing that no one knows, probably even Shae himself, if he can take punishment during a game? If he can, then by golly, I will fly to Australia to watch him play!

Bret

Your words fill me with confidence, Bret.

If what you say is true then Shae will make it, no worries about that. He's already a great athlete all he needs to do is put in the effort to learn the game, and all signs point that he'll do exactly that.

I really hope he does, an American playing in the League might give the sport the kick start it needs in the states. The US produces some of the best athletes on earth, if somehow the AFL could entice a few more to come over and play our game I think it'd be fantastic. Getting Shae playing might be the first step along that road.

 

[TradeDraft]

At Training today

 

[collingwill]

At Training today

he's a lump of a lad isnt he, 203cm at 21/22 yrs of age with a build like that, OMFG,. i can see why we're keen, MASSIVE shoulders, perfect build really.

 

[danielnajdek]

will be interesting to see if he can read the play in a game. certaintly looks fitter then shannon cox think anyone would be

 

[TradeDraft]

Why is on Premmision to Train List and not Re-Rookied yet?