Past Sam 'Horse' Michael (2012-2014)

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There is a lot of love for Charlie Dixon on the Lions board and he is one who looked like crap early in his career as well. Sam I think could be a very similar player for us. He had a couple of great games recently which should give him enormous confidence coming into next year and just as importantly should give the coaching staff confidence in him.
 

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TomFC said:
I wonder if he's spent much time working with Hudson. Reminded me a lot of Big Ben the way he was turning his body into the contest in the ruck yesterday.
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Yes saw a bit of that in his ruckwork too. Utilising his size as an advantage. Is pretty aggressive as well so has obviously been working on that side of his game with Charmo :D If we could get Lisle to show that kind of aggression on the field that would be another massive positive.

Think we are all much more bullish on his prospects than a month ago where I know I for one had him as possibly getting the chop from the rookie list.
 
Now listed at 200cm and 93kg which IIRC is 2cm taller than last year. Probably needs to add 5+kgs for seniors but certainly very promising form of late and could well be ready for elevation next year if any LTI's happen (heaven forbid).
 
Sam Michael 2012 End of Season Review
by PattyKisagun

Senior games: 0
Goals: 0
Dreamteam: 0
Supercoach: 0
Club Best and Fairest votes: 0

6921156128_a985666857_z.jpg

Image (2012 preseason) courtesy of Mr Ripper

Sam Michael’s first year in the AFL system is best categorised into two segments – the regular NEAFL Northern conference season, and the finals. This split is necessary as his performances in the former were far more inconsistent and, on the whole, disappointing as opposed to what he showed in the latter; the makings of a potential star.

It wouldn’t be fair to write off the entire early part of his season, but his performances were often underwhelming and even resulted in him being dropped from the reserves side back to Redlands, the club he was drafted from, at one stage in the year. While the likes of Beams, Karnezis, Clarke, Lisle and Green excited fans in the reserves each week, Michael was barely mentioned. But he was a rookie after all – so how much was really expected of him?

It’s fair to say that many put his recruitment down to our lack of back-up tall options. What Sam provided was a player with alright skills who could not only play in a key position post at either end, but could also go into the ruck when needed (most notably against the Suns in round 17 of the NEAFL). But despite these occasionally satisfactory performances, the general consensus among reserves watchers was that he’d lose his spot at season’s end due to the AFL-wide reduction in size of club rookie lists.

But then came August 25th, and a final against Southport at Coorparoo in which Michael undoubtedly announced himself as more than just a stop-gap option. A particularly memorable third quarter emphasised an absolutely dominant performance, in which he initially started in defence before moving forward following the injury of his direct opponent. His ability to stand up in not just both of these positions but also all over the ground well and truly justified reserves coach Nathan Clarke naming it Michael’s best game for the club “by an absolute mile”, a claim backed up by many in attendance who were of the view that they’d just witnessed Sam’s breakout game.

And he didn’t stop there. The following week against the Northern Territory in Darwin, his potential was on display for all to see with a few very strong marks and two long range goals making up a performance to rival that of the previous week – or at least sit on an even ledger with it. Add to this a more than handy role in the club’s first reserve grade premiership since 2001 two weeks later, and a seemingly underwhelming season had well and truly transformed into one which ended with some fans calling him the next Jonathan Brown.

Of course, it would be remiss not to mention the game that was the exclamation mark at the end of his promising year. While his finals form had already well and truly surpassed even the most optimistic of expectations, his final match for the year – the NEAFL Cross-Conference Championship against Queanbeyan – went to yet another level. With the side’s primary ruckman in Billy Longer sitting out after a long first season, Michael was asked to step up and shoulder the responsibility for the day. He undeniably didn’t disappoint. Not only was he exceptional in the ruck, but his influence was felt all over the ground and his pack-crashing skills were more evident than ever. The majority of times the ball was kicked to a marking contest in the middle of the field, Michael would be there to take the mark or hit it to advantage. The sight of a versatile forward who can provide a marking option from not just kick-ins but also in transition into the forward fifty is a considerably foreign one to Lions fans of late (especially with Matthew Leuenberger sitting out for the majority of the year), and underpinned a brilliant performance that was capped off with him winning the Andrew Ireland Medal for best on ground in the grand final.

If the adage that states that the best players stand up in finals is true, there is a great deal of hope for the future of Sam Michael. While he’s likely to still be on the rookie list for next season with a few others still ahead of him in the line for a senior list upgrade, a sense of optimism surrounds him that was absent for the majority of the year. If he’s able to continue his late 2012 form into the 2013 season, the club will have a very handy key forward (or key back, or even ruckman) at its disposal, and a senior debut won’t be far away.
 
Would love to know what Voss & Co think of Sam. That bit of teasing at the end of this year could see us draft a gun midfielder over a tall in the first round. If was just a bit of purple patch in his career we miss 12 months to develop a key forward but if he turns to be in our best 22 we get another high quality mid.

Just how good are you "Horse"?
 
The games that I saw he took some big contested marks, but they were on or beyond the fifty line. They may want to see him take some marks closer to goal and get some big hauls of goals before they give him a game in the seniors.
 
Grimreepah said:
The games that I saw he took some big contested marks, but they were on or beyond the fifty line. They may want to see him take some marks closer to goal and get some big hauls of goals before they give him a game in the seniors.
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With the tank he's got I'd rather see him roaming far and wide.

Nuggo said:
Would love to know what Voss & Co think of Sam. That bit of teasing at the end of this year could see us draft a gun midfielder over a tall in the first round. If was just a bit of purple patch in his career we miss 12 months to develop a key forward but if he turns to be in our best 22 we get another high quality mid.

Just how good are you "Horse"?
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The club making a big play for Hogan may hint at their opinion. Having said that, I reckon both would have worked in the same forward line.
 
He may have the tank, but I don't think he has the agility to play CHF at AFL level.

If he is to cement a spot, it is as the deep forward/ruck. His tank should be useful as a ruck.

If I'm coaching the ressies, Michael and Longer swap FF/Ruck. Helps both players development.
 
thoselionslads said:
He may have the tank, but I don't think he has the agility to play CHF at AFL level.

If he is to cement a spot, it is as the deep forward/ruck. His tank should be useful as a ruck.

If I'm coaching the ressies, Michael and Longer swap FF/Ruck. Helps both players development.
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I guess I was picturing long searching leads down the wing. I think in a post-Brown era we can carry a less agile CHF, especially if the likes of Bewick and Karny (and Mayes :) ) are down there.
 

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Agree with Bob, and it's why I like Mayes, I think he can play a roll we don't have, and fit in well with Beams, Rocky, Green, Zorko, Bewick as the smaller options. A combo of Longer/Bergs as the resting ruck with a Lisle and Michael would be hard to contain. It is a bit slow due to poor agility from the likes of Lisle and Michael, but you can make up for this with strong marking options with Bewick and Mayes and tidy small work from Green, Zorko and hopefully Bartlett. It's a dangerous mix that could be exposed on the rebound, but you have to play to your strengths and make the defense worry covering your forwards, not worry how your forwards can contain the backs. And decent supply of ball from the midfield will keep defenders nervous.
 
I would be really intrigued to see a reserves lineup that had Horse had CHF and Longer at FF, this would probably mean that Martin would be first choice ruck with Longer winning the role in the seniors.

I am seriosuly warming too Mayes in the first round as well (with this set up in mind), could cause a lot of damage in an open forward line.
 
Rookies in State squad
April 23, 2013

Brisbane Lions rookies Sam Michael and Jordon Bourke have been named in the NEAFL Northern Conference (QLD/NT) representative squad, which will face off against the best of the SANFL in Adelaide next month.

It is due reward for the born-and-bred Queensland pair, who have played key roles in the Lions Reserves’ undefeated start to the NEAFL season.

Michael, meanwhile, was a member of last year’s Queensland’s State U21.

Michael_Training-article.jpg
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Reserves Wrap

Harding said the turnaround was sparked by an inspired midfield performance led by ruckman Sam Michael.

“We were getting beaten in clearances for the day, but got the first one of the last quarter which resulted in a goal only 12 seconds in,” he said.

“We got the next three clearances as well, which really started to put them under some pressure.

“The drive came largely from Sam Michael, who was just super against Swans big man Jesse White.

“Sam really got hold of him in the last quarter. It was his best game for the year by far.

“Patrick Karnezis and Richard Newell were on the end of some of Sam’s good work and converted goals.
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Past Sam 'Horse' Michael (2012-2014)

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