One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on November 21, 2024, 07:22:46 PM
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Welcome to Punt Rd, Tom :)
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Back the recruiters, a bit mind boggiling we have drafted 3 key fwds and Jobe Shanahan is still there but Simms.
Also a bit odd that we didn't downgrade as I'm sure Simms would have been there in the 30s.
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Thomas Sims
height: 199cm
D.O.B: 12-05-2006
Position: Ruck Forward
Club: Northern Knights
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys
SNAPSHOT: “An intimidating physical presence either inside 50 or at the stoppages who covers the ground exceptionally well for his size with outstanding athleticism.” – Adrian Dixon
Thomas Sims from the Northern Knights is another exciting dual position prospect for many clubs ahead of the draft. The Parade College product boasts excellent athleticism and mobility for a player of his size and has quite strong hands, boasting plenty of upside overall.
Coming from an athletics background, Sims first started his junior football in the Northern Football League with Wallan before moving to Montmorency at 11 years old, where he would go on to represent the competition in interleague football at Under 15 level.
Sims would make his debut for the Northern Knights Under 18s as a bottom-ager in 2023, managing eight games for the season and kicking six goals. He also featured for the Montmorency Under 19s on eight occasions, kicking 15 goals and went on to make his senior debut for the club that same season.
Heading into 2024, Sims had not earned selection in either Vic Metro or the AFL Academy to start the season, however from Round 1 he made most, if not every post a winner. He started the season off with five goals in a big seven-goal win over the Western Jets and a few weeks later made the most of his opportunities against the Oakleigh Chargers with seven goals.
He would play a key role in Vic Metro’s National Championships title win which included a three-goal haul against Western Australia and also managed to play for Parade in the Herald Sun Shield finals win in August. To top it off, Sims’ testing at the National Combine recently was exceptional where he managed top 10 finishes in the running vertical jump and agility tests.
Along with partner-in-crime Gabriel Stumpf, Sims is also another Northern Knight key forward who models his game on Geelong star Jeremy Cameron. He also draws some comparisons to Kieran Briggs of the GWS Giants with regards to his physicality with his ruck work.
(https://cdn.central.rookieme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/VM-Thomas-Sims.jpg)
https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/thomas-sims/
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Teams gonna continue to waltz out of our forward line - on the rare occasions our still far too thin & slow midfield actually gets it down there.... :help
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VIDEO:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Un9Gf72r60/maxresdefault.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Un9Gf72r60)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Un9Gf72r60
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I'd imagine we'd develop him more as a ruck than forward??
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More videos:
Thomas Sims - Big 7 Goal Bag - Talent League Round 6
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FvAcuRvT3PM/maxresdefault.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvAcuRvT3PM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvAcuRvT3PM
Sims’ sizzling three-goal day catches the eye
Thomas Sims produces a towering performance to notch seven marks and three goals
(https://resources.afl.com.au/photo-resources/2024/06/23/f8d3dcc5-8031-4b23-951c-dbe9c9245afa/twzDArGs.jpg?width=1064&height=600) (https://www.afl.com.au/video/1156802/sims-sizzling-three-goal-day-catches-the-eye)
https://www.afl.com.au/video/1156802/sims-sizzling-three-goal-day-catches-the-eye
Collingwood MUST draft this key forward (if he slides) | Thomas Sims
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UIWMwcEus00/sddefault.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIWMwcEus00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIWMwcEus00
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Sims leaps into Tigerland
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2024/11/21/d376c169-e10a-4329-b3ce-3ce408cdd3d0/Pick-28_Sims_Article-Image.png?width=1064&height=600)
Richmond has selected leaping forward Thomas Sims with selection No. 28 overall in the Telstra AFL Draft.
The 199cm Sims has jumped out to Richmond recruiters with his vertical power, overhead marking, athleticism and agility.
Sims booted five goals in the Northern Knights’ Coates Talent League season opener and continued his strong form across the year, including a bag of seven against Oakleigh in Round 6.
The impressive tall was also a key part of Vic Metro’s undefeated National Championships, playing a role as a marking forward.
Sims, a Montmorency product booted three goals against Western Australia in his most productive performance with the ‘big V’ on his shirt.
Richmond Victorian Recruiting Manager, Rhy Gieschen said that Sims caught the recruiters’ eye with his March fitness testing and early season form.
“Tom is a genuine key position size at 199cm, and can mark the ball at the highest point, or bring the ball to ground in high numbered marking situations, a trait we value highly,” he said.
“His game against Oakleigh where he kicked 7.4 and took 10 marks really showcased his wide range of attributes.
“Tom is an energetic, bubbly character who is well liked by teammates and coaches, and we are excited to welcome him and his family to Richmond Football Club.”
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2024/11/21/2b85fff0-1e8a-4f4a-9f47-42a2259c4e85/MNCU18BSAVM24SR01887-COPY.jpg?width=1064&height=600)
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2024/11/21/69f56727-45d6-4377-9bfe-c9fbe78507d2/ME140824DP052821667.jpg?width=1064&height=600)
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1695371/sims-leaps-into-tigerland
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At worst, he is a good prospect as a 2nd ruck / forward
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When Tom Sims became a Tiger (https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f973.svg)
VIDEO: https://x.com/Richmond_FC/status/1859550903402996025
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Well he looks happy as a pig in it to be a tiger
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Back the recruiters, a bit mind boggiling we have drafted 3 key fwds and Jobe Shanahan is still there but Simms.
Also a bit odd that we didn't downgrade as I'm sure Simms would have been there in the 30s.
Totally different profile to the others his 200cm and a ruck forward not a primary KF. His ruck work has been impressive.
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Teams gonna continue to waltz out of our forward line - on the rare occasions our still far too thin & slow midfield actually gets it down there.... :help
Mate you need to be able to get the footy first in your hand that's what Lalor, Smillie, and Hotton a for, and then you get your line breakers. We aren't even getting our hands on the footy at the moment
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The Tigers pulled a selection stunner, selecting Northern Knights forward Thomas Sims.
Sims is an athletic tall forward who also has the ability to chop out in the ruck, with his versatility particularly appealing.
Sims has thrived under the tutelage of Collingwood champion Anthony Rocca at the Knights and was the third tall forward selected by the Tigers in the 2024 draft alongside Jonty Faull and Harry Armstrong.
“This boy emerged this year… he looks like he could be anything,” Fox Footy draft expert Kevin Sheehan said.
Fox Footy draft guru Mick Ablett likened Sims to Port Adelaide’s Tom Marshall
“I really like his ability to create separation from his opponent, he’s got a well-rounded athletic profile,” Ablett said.
“For a guy of that size to be able to move laterally and show that speed off the mark is really impressive.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2024-talking-points-analysis-from-night-two-best-and-worst-picks-camporeale-twins-to-carlton-academy-players-ignored-port-adelaide-winners/news-story/bda3802bcada93c6dff5e73f1eb789f7
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Back the recruiters, a bit mind boggiling we have drafted 3 key fwds and Jobe Shanahan is still there but Simms.
Also a bit odd that we didn't downgrade as I'm sure Simms would have been there in the 30s.
Sims had at least one game last season where he was the only ruck and it sounds like he did pretty well.
There rumors clubs were keen on him and willing to trade so perhaps a downgrade was too risky?
I liked the sound of Shanahan but not going in the top30 raised some question marks.
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Sims soars
Richmond had no hesitation in calling out Tom Sims’ name with the prized first pick on the second night of the 2024 AFL Draft.
It was a dominant best-on-ground display by Tom Sims for Northern Knights against Oakleigh Chargers in round 6 of the Coates Talent League this year that really made the AFL talent scouts sit up and take notice.
The big key forward took 10 marks and booted seven goals that day and subsequently clinched a place in the Vic Metro squad for the 2024 under-18 national championships.
He booted three goals against Western Australia in what was his best performance of the national championships and continued to showcase his impressive skill set for the remainder of the season with Northern Knights and his school team at Parade College, as well as some valuable versatility.
Richmond, with the first pick (No. 28 overall) on the second night of the 2024 AFL national draft, rejected several offers for that prized selection and had no hesitation in calling out Tom Sims’ name.
“Tom played some really good footy as a forward with (Vic) Metro and Northern Knights, but then, in the back half of the year, he spent a little bit more time in the ruck,” Richmond’s General Manager of Football Talent, Blair Hartley, said on the Talking Tigers podcast.”
“He’s around 199-200cm now, he’s still growing as well. He can really jump, and he’s a really strong contested mark.
“So, he’s that point of difference tall.
“We’re trying to build a strong spine for the future, and he’s got a lot of upside given his exposure to the talent pathway and training history and everything else.
“He’s grown (as a player) throughout the course of the year and he’s a pretty special athlete.
“We’re looking forward to what he can do.”
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1701594/sims-soars
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If he can become a mobile strong marking ruckman that can competently go forward and kick some goals then this pick will be a massive win.
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Total agree , have a look at his ruck-work on the videos , he is still growing , has courage , and jumps like a kangaroo, I just hope he gets the right development, smart pick imho
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Yze's tiger cub watch - Tom Sims
“He’s been impressive. We thought he might take a little bit longer to fill into his body and understand AFL standards, but he’s been impressive with his forward-line craft, his work-rate, and he likes to crash a pack as well. The fact that he can play second ruck, he’s probably going to push closer to selection than a couple of the others. So, he’s in a good spot . . .”
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2025/03/09/8fb1b4a0-61b0-49fd-82ec-237fefe85fb6/54370486299_9765978a98_3k.jpg?width=1416&height=2124)
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1728155/yzes-tiger-cub-watch