Future Father-Sons

[one-eyed]

Tiges yearn for Free
News Limited
May 17, 2009

AFTER a poor start to 2009, Tiger fans are no doubt keeping an eye on the TAC Cup to see who might be on the recruiting radar.

And while there is still a long way to go, there's little doubt young North Ballarat Rebels player Josh Free is causing some excitement.

Free, 17, is the son of former Tiger skipper Tony Free and his name has cropped up on Richmond forums across the internet.

The young midfielder has started this season in blazing form, notching up scores of possessions for the Rebels.

North Ballarat region manager Phil Partington said it wasn't hard to work who was his father.

"He's very similar to Tony," Partington said this week. "Josh has been going very well. He's been in our best in four of his five games."

Free won the club's best first-year player in 2008 and was recently selected to trial with the Victorian Country squad.

Free missed out when the squad was pruned to 40 during the week.

Partington said the Rebels were impressed with Free's team ethic and courage.

"If it comes down to commitment at the footy, he ticks all the boxes," he said.

After 133 games with the Tigers, Tony Free replaced Greg Miller on the Richmond board last year.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25492288-5016140,00.html

[Infamy]

I hope if Josh comes to the club that Tony will step down

[Francois Jackson]

lets hope he grows to somewhere between 178(his old man) and 180.

anything under 175 IMO is too small unless your name is Brent Harvey.

[Smokey]

lets hope he grows to somewhere between 178(his old man) and 180.

anything under 175 IMO is too small unless your name is Brent Harvey.

So if he is 181cm you don't want him?   

[WA Tiger]

Ok so can we get him this year under the father son rule or will those idiots at GC17 have first crack. If we get him don't we have to use the pick in accordance of how good he is as viewd by other clubs, or they can get him??????

[Tigermonk]

as they say he got pruned from the squad which means we dont want him 

[peggles]

still want to get him on the cheap.  can't hurt

[one-eyed]

Free junior named in the bests again yesterday....

North Ballarat Rebels   1.1  3.4  6.6  8.8 (56)
Northern Knights        3.2  3.3  5.8  7.10 (52)

GOALS:
North Ballarat Rebels: Cook 3 Parish 2 Bourke  Close  Gavin
Northern Knights: Boyden  Woods  Taglieri  Briffa  Lambert  Shaw  Walsh

BEST:
North Ballarat Rebels: Bourke Tate Darmody Cowling Peters Free
Northern Knights: Woods Marcon Barden Smith-Whiting Grgic Taglieri

[one-eyed]

Josh Free

Jumper No:  7
Date of Birth:  02/07/1991
Height:  176cm
Weight:  78kg
Local Club:  Swan Hill/Ballarat & Clarendon College



http://www.sportingpulse.com/gallery.cgi?g=10583&c=1-3020-27610-0-0&e=27610&et=3&ci=8&ti=0&a=prev

[Tigermonk]

simple if he cant make a squad of 40 how the hell is he going to play league football. Its telling you he aint got what is required

[wayne]

He is ours if we want. If no-one else wants him we can use pick 70 on him.

Small types are the flavour of the month again.

[TigerLand]

simple if he cant make a squad of 40 how the hell is he going to play league football. Its telling you he aint got what is required

I wouldn't be riding off the worst player at U/18 level just cause they don't make Cup or State teams.

Absolutely ride off players and kids at your peril.

History has shown the quality come through the ranks as rookies etc. Sam Mitchell was evaluated by most clubs and sort as being not good enough. Well his Premiership Captain medal is probably the best way to prove them wrong.

The draft is all about getting the best you can for what you have and if we can pick up Free at worst in the rookie draft if there are other kids further developed then so be it. I think you'd find Josh would develop a lot quicker than other his age and size becasue of of his father and history associated with our club.

I find it genuinely disgusting people can say any 17/18 year old just simply wont cut it at AFL level. Anything can happen in 2-3 years, it's called continium development. Unfortunatly Richmond has been extremely poor in developing recruits over the past few years. Wallace only had a development coach from his 3rd year. - Flabbergasted as to why.

Anyway, I think we should pick him up, he looks good enough for a chance in my book.

[TigerLand]

Another thing James Gwilt was picked off a local club football list, and is in the best 22 of the 2nd best side in the comp.

Just cause a player doesn't go through the perfect climbing tree to AFL means he's no good.

[Infamy]

simple if he cant make a squad of 40 how the hell is he going to play league football. Its telling you he aint got what is required

Very narrow minded view, there are around 150 players picked up in the 3 drafts each year

[Smokey]

Wallace only had a development coach from his 3rd year. - Flabbergasted as to why.

Money - pure and simple. Many will judge the club's 5 year plan on on-field results alone and almost solely apportion blame to Wallace.  The plan has not succeeded but it hasn't been all Wallace's fault by a long stretch.  In racing parlance - he never saw daylight in the run.  Whether the coaching group were the best trainer/jockey combination is another issue entirely.