Past Rhan Hooper (2006-2009)

[chopperduck]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Interesting observation. He's certainly not having anywhere near the impact he was having last season. Probably a bit better than last week but he will need to improve to keep his spot in the team.

i think once ash is back in the team, hooper will start having more of an impact. he really isn't a goal crumber tho. still just can't position himself right, altho was close a few times and it was wet, so wont be too harsh there. but from contests and packs, we weren't a threat, pies were, they had guys crumbing and kickin him if the ball spilted.

however, he is still worth having in the team for his preasure, tackling and speed. he was still going full tilt at the end of the game when many weren't. he also isn't a bad kick. id persist with him, id want to have both ash and hooper in before thinkin bout droppin him.

 

[Cousin Jed]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Its cruel to pick on a bloke when we are getting belted. But Rhan Hooper, who I believe is definitely in our best 22, just is offering nothing to this team right now.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Its cruel to pick on a bloke when we are getting belted. But Rhan Hooper, who I believe is definitely in our best 22, just is offering nothing to this team right now.

Not even laying the tackles at the moment. I just cant work it out.

 

[Warwick]

Re: Rhan Hooper

That goal was one for the ages.

 

[xplo]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Yeah, he and Stiller had very average nights, but clutch goals buy you some cred.

 

[acuguy]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Those goals might just give them the feeling that they contributed to the win, sometimes just feeling like you contributed can lift the confidence tenfold.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Link

While a final score of 19.23 (137) was evidence of inaccuracy in front of goal, young forward Rhan Hooper showed improved efficiency with a haul of 4.2.
“We’ve put in a lot of work with Rhan with his finishing and he’s starting to look confident in front of goals,” Matthews said.
“His problem has been that he rushes himself and he rushes himself at training as well. We’ve done a lot of work at training on that and not practicing missing, but practicing kicking goals for when opportunities come during games.
“What I’ve said to Rhan is that if he’s going to run 5m with the ball, there probably isn’t going to be anyone around to catch him because he has such speed.
“So he can actually run 10m or 15m more without being caught. It’s about not rushing himself and making sure he’s balanced on his last few strides.”

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Picture taken (and photoshopped) by Mrs Browndog.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Link

A little over a year ago Rhan Hooper's career almost ended when he walked out on the Lions during the pre-season. This summer Hooper returned to work overweight, once again stretching his coach and teammates' patience to the limit.

"He's two months late, but he has now got his condition to a level where he can maximise his speed," coach Leigh Matthews said of Hooper. "Anthony has been going really well, both he and Rhan have got leg speed and you need that within any team really to keep up with the speed of the game."

Hooper is starting to do the right stuff.
"I was a bit overweight, the skin folds were a bit high at the start of the season," he said. "I'm starting to get fit and obviously it is starting to show in the games week to week.
"I just have to build on that every week, try to lose a bit more and I should be back to my top peak."
Goal kicking has been a problem area for Hooper, but special one-on-one sessions with Matthews seems to be rectifying that.
"It has been really good for me getting my confidence up around goals," he said. "The key is to stay relaxed, Leigh wants me to use my leg speed to get into space, straighten up and take more time having a shot."
But technique wasn't the only problem for Hooper, he also had to change his mindset to become more attacking.
"I have been a bit different to the other forwards, I was more about tackling than anything else," he said. "Leigh has always wanted me to be defensive, but he has said to not hold back and wait for tackles, but to be more attacking and go kick some goals."

 

[POBT]

Re: Rhan Hooper

That explains a lot. So many people say "why don't we have anyone front and centre?" The reason is, because it is hard! You have to be fit because, as a small forward, you are not only required to work up the ground but you also do a lot of short sprint stuff. If you don't have the base level fitness to be able make all of the contests you are supposed to make, then the likelihood of getting crumbing goals is diminished. The reality is that you could get front and centre 15 out of 20 times and not kick a goal because the only times the ball spilled to the front were the times you weren't there. As a small forward, it is about making contests. Yes, a midfielder like Simon Black has a brilliant aerobic fitness level but a small forward has to be able to put in repeated, high intensity efforts. He might be able to rest for 5 minutes when the ball but then for the next 5 minutes, he's expected to work hard for as long as the ball is in his vicinity. If he can't, then he increases the likelihood that he won't be in position to take a scoring opportunity.

 

[acuguy]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Here I was thinking that Rhan bulked up for the summer on purpose, it didn't work and has slimmed back down, when really he was just tucking into too many pies. Just good to see him playing good footy, he is one of our most important players.

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Rhan Hooper

he will learn from this year, watch him to be firing early next year. this really was his first proper pre season, so its no surprise he didn't nail it. will learn as he goes on and improve each year as he learns what he has to do to get back into shape

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Here I was thinking that Rhan bulked up for the summer on purpose, it didn't work and has slimmed back down, when really he was just tucking into too many pies.

I think most people went through the same thought process. It's interesting that they decide to tell the story now (in hindsight). I guess they thought it was best to get through it without the scrutiny. But it does raise the question whether he should have been playing in the first few rounds.

 

[chopperduck]

Re: Rhan Hooper

I think most people went through the same thought process. It's interesting that they decide to tell the story now (in hindsight). I guess they thought it was best to get through it without the scrutiny. But it does raise the question whether he should have been playing in the first few rounds.

with ash not available i guess he was probably the next best option at the time. they did need a speedy player

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Link

BRISBANE Lions small forward Rhan Hooper says Melbourne simply had more energy after the Demons upset his team by one point in a thriller at the MCG on Sunday.
Hooper booted two goals in the 14.9 (93) to 13.14 (92) loss, a match in which the Lions struggled to impose themselves upon throughout after Melbourne gained the ascendancy early in the contest.

When posed the question if it was difficult finding motivation to tackle the league’s worst-performed side on a cold, wintery Melbourne day, Hooper replied: “It all depends on the person and how they go about each game, each week.
“When you’re trying to get into a fired-up mode, obviously everyone’s probably thinking of the bye … I’m not sure how everyone else is feeling.
“I try to get fired up every game that I get.”
Hooper admitted several Lions were now looking forward to having a break.
“Obviously most of the guys, like 'Browny' and that, have played pretty much every game,” he said.
“So all the boys are just looking forward to resting up for the three days off that we’ve got, and hopefully we can come back firing.”

 

[freq]

Re: Rhan Hooper

I am gonna put this on the table and will probably cop a lot of flack but here it goes;

Rhan Hooper simply isn't doing enough to live up to expectations. Sure laying a lot of tackles is good but he is also there to score goals and setup chances which he is doing very little of. He needs to capitalise on his oppurtunities a lot more than what he is currently.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

I don't think many will disagree with that freq. A fair few are saying he should be dropped.

 

[konstas_87]

Re: Rhan Hooper

how many 26-27 year olds forward pocket players are consistent??
Milne?? Farmer?? I dont think so.

How can we expect a 20 year old to be consistent in that position...

Having said that he needs to start getting double digit possessions a bit more often, and make sure he's at least getting in the right positions when the ball is coming in.

Another thing to note is that its been impossible for our forward to look potent in the last 2 games with the midfield performing as poorly as it has.

 

[Kochie 16]

Re: Rhan Hooper

I read somewhere Sunday that Hooper is top 10 in tackles with 78 or something!

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

how many 26-27 year olds forward pocket players are consistent??
Milne?? Farmer?? I dont think so.

How can we expect a 20 year old to be consistent in that position...

Having said that he needs to start getting double digit possessions a bit more often, and make sure he's at least getting in the right positions when the ball is coming in.

Another thing to note is that its been impossible for our forward to look potent in the last 2 games with the midfield performing as poorly as it has.

It is true that it's hard for forward pockets to be consistent, and can go from match winner to unsighted in the space of a week. The problem for Hooper is he hasn't had those really good games, and has been fairly quiet for most of the season. Last year he hit a patch of form that was really quite awesome, and this year he has got nowhere near that.

I read somewhere Sunday that Hooper is top 10 in tackles with 78 or something!

Even his tackling I would argue has not been as effective as last year. Before he was running smart by mixing up his speeds, and it was catching people out. Now he seems to have reverted more to the headless chook style of just going flat out all the time. No doubt he is trying his guts out, but that doesn't always translate into effectiveness.

 

[Kochie 16]

Re: Rhan Hooper

It is true that it's hard for forward pockets to be consistent, and can go from match winner to unsighted in the space of a week. The problem for Hooper is he hasn't had those really good games, and has been fairly quiet for most of the season. Last year he hit a patch of form that was really quite awesome, and this year he has got nowhere near that.

My mistake.

 

[Tassie4ever]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Not doing enough, not nearly enough- he can't retain a spot solely on tackling skill, which in any case he isn't maintaining at a consistent level. Needs to kick a goal or two each game, something he has shown he is more than capable of.

One of a number who are lucky to be in the side, perhaps due to lack of pressure from below.

 

[Old Den]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Why should Hooper be seen as a forward pocket - it seems to me he has pace,endurance,evasive skills and can get in and under after the ball - can't see why he can't be a midfielder if playing at he best - I agree he has been somewhat disappointing this year when we all expected,or at least hoped for,improvement

It is true also that he can be a good crumber and can do well at the base of contested marking groups anywhere on the ground

 

[mish33]

Re: Rhan Hooper

He has definitely had the opportunities over the last couple of weeks. He had 5 scoring shots against Melbourne and could've kept us in the game in the last quarter against Essendon when he had 2 or 3 chances to goal.

Looks like he has been rushing himself in front of goal again, because his field kicking is generally very good. He must be feeling the pressure, with Leigh saying that we need crumbers etc.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Rhan Hooper

Link

Topping the goal kickers' list for the home side alongside Brown was Rhan Hooper, who by any measure has had a disappointing year. But the 20-year-old answered his coach's call, booting three goals from three kicks.
"He's been a bit nought out of three lately, so we've been doing a bit of work with him on his finishing, and hopefully that will be good for his confidence," Matthews said of Hooper.