Callum Coleman-Jones traded to Norf [Official]

[one-eyed]

Pre-draft article on Coleman-Jones ...

Sturt big man Callum Coleman-Jones aiming to be a dual force

Andrew Capel,
The Advertiser
9 November 2017

CALLUM Coleman-Jones is trying to learn from the best.

When the standout teenage Sturt tall watches his beloved Port Adelaide play he zeros in on one man, All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder.

“He’s the player I’m trying to model my game on,’’ said the SA under-18 captain, who is a man mountain at 201cm and 98kg.

“I just love the way he goes about it, with his athleticism and the fact that he plays about 70 per cent of the game in the ruck and then goes forward and tries to hit the scoreboard.

“I’d like to be that type of big bloke who can impact the game in the ruck and up forward so I watch closely how he goes about it, his running patterns and where he does the most damage.’’

Coleman-Jones’ size, athleticism and contested-marking ability make him a certain pick in this month’s AFL draft.

Once considered a possible top-10 selection, he is now likely to slip to the second round after a mid-season knee injury not only impacted his form but ended his season prematurely.

Like SA under-18 and AFL Academy teammate Darcy Fogarty, Coleman-Jones battled knee soreness during the AFL under-18 championships and had minor surgery soon after.

“I had a small tear in my (left) patella and it hurt when I was jumping and changing direction,’’ the 18-year-old said.

“It slowly got worse during the season and slowed my movement down a little bit so I decided to have it and a bit of loose cartilage cleaned up.

“I’ve done a lot of rehab and the knee feels good now so there shouldn't be any problems moving forward.’’

While he was handicapped by the injury, Coleman-Jones still enjoyed a strong national carnival, making the All-Australian team and averaging 17 disposals and 19 hit-outs.

He showcased his prodigious talent against the Allies at Adelaide Oval with 28 disposals and five marks.

“Callum's 16th year was very good so he’s been on the radar of AFL clubs for some time,’’ SANFL high performance manager Brenton Phillips said.

“One of his greatest assets is that he is really mobile for a big man and while his contested marking is very good he can pick the ball up off the ground really well. He’s clean at ground level.

“When he starts in the AFL I think he’ll play more as a forward and be nursed into the ruck. But by the time he’s 24 or 25 he’s going to be a very good ruckman.’’

Phillips also hailed Coleman-Jones’ leadership ability, making him captain of his State team ahead of high-quality vice-captains and fellow draft certainties Fogarty from Glenelg and Andrew McPherson from the Eagles.

“Callum is a very well-rounded footballer who not only excels on the field but also off it,’’ he said.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/local-footy-sa/sanfl/sturt/sturt-big-man-callum-colemanjones-aiming-to-be-a-dual-force/news-story/0fc69e8cc9461baf2ed2dfeefeea1511

[Diocletian]

I'm guessing this kid grew up supporting Melbourne.....

....will be interesting tracking his progress against that of Hayes....

[one-eyed]

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2017-11-29/meet-the-201cm-tiger

ARTICLE: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-11-29/colemanjones-in-focus

[one-eyed]

One key explanation as to why we drafted Coleman-Jones and not Hayes.

--------------------------------------------

NEVER before has so much been expected of your No.1 ruckman.

Extensive statistical analysis on the ruck revolution began in 2002 and several key categories peaked or troughed this past season.

The best big men now absorb 76 per cent of the ruck duties and play 83 per cent of game time.

Those figures have steeply risen from 61 and 71 per cent, respectively, a decade ago, when Dean Cox and Brendon Lade were the knights of the centre circle.

But the numbers explain why dual under-18 All Australian ruckman Sam Hayes, with his suspect endurance, slipped from a potential top-10 pick all the way to No.47 in this year's draft.

Richmond's Callum Coleman-Jones (No.20) and Carlton's Tom De Koning (30) – who may end up more of a forward – were taken ahead of Hayes, in part because of their superior athleticism.

AFL clubs selected more than one specialist ruckman just 57 times in the 2017 season, a startling drop from the recorded high of 267 only nine years ago.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-12-06/ruck-and-role-how-the-position-has-evolved

[sabartooth]

Who do you think will be played in the seniors first, CCJ or Balta?

[Diocletian]

Ben Miller

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Ben Miller

Looks the goods

[Slipper]

Ben Miller

Looks the goods

Of course he does. Good WA boy and all.

[Chuck17]

Ben Miller

Looks the goods

Of course he does. Good WA boy and all.

Glad something good comes out of WA, my experience on here has been frightening and I have wondered if there is something in the water over there(Mat aside)

[Slipper]

Ben Miller

Looks the goods

Of course he does. Good WA boy and all.

Glad something good comes out of WA, my experience on here has been frightening and I have wondered if there is something in the water over there(Mat aside)

Given I work for the Water Corporation, the State Govt. owned water utility, I can tell you it isn't that.

[Chuck17]

 

[one-eyed]

Leppa talking about CJ:

Forward craft

“He’s probably the most improved player on our list from where he’s come from. I remember his first training session as a forward – I don’t think he even touched the ball. Now his body positioning, ability to hold out opposition and mark the ball, is excellent. And his finishing . . . he was kicking most of his set shots out on the full, but now he’s got a really good routine and he’s very diligent. So he’s had a great growth of improvement in just a short space of time." 

Modified program

“He’s been on a bit of a modified program this year, which we think has really helped him. We’ve given him a game off every three weeks, just to make sure he stays on top of things. And then he can get an extra bit of weights in and conditioning and stuff like that.”

His endurance and speed

“Endurance, really good. Speed, moderate for a big guy. Where he ends up, whether it be ruck or key forward, or a combination of both, you tend to find out in their third/fourth years. But we’re really excited by his progress.”

Ruck craft

“As I said, he hits the bag really hard, and takes the ball, generally, at its highest point. It’s hard for him at times coming up against guys in the VFL like Braydon Preuss (North Melbourne) . . . seasoned campaigners that are massive and bigger versions than what he is now. So we’ve tried not to over-expose him in the ruck. But when he has gone in there, he’s done some good work.”

Potential role at senior level

“I’ve got a feeling he could, potentially, be an A-grade-type ruckman and maybe a B-grade forward. And that’s a pretty good effort to be that . . . His around-the-ground work is such a strength of his.”

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-08-01/coaches-corner-callum-colemanjones

[mat073]

Ben Miller

Looks the goods

Of course he does. Good WA boy and all.

Glad something good comes out of WA, my experience on here has been frightening and I have wondered if there is something in the water over there(Mat aside)

Lol ...c'mon WAT was great value and Claw was the ultimate super villain.

[Assange Tiger 😎]

PM me

[Diocletian]

The great one still thinks we should've taken Burton over Rioli...