FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Herald Sun
Couch time finally arrives
By Jon Anderson
THOMAS Couch knew at 23 he didn't have that many shots left when it came to getting some love at draft time. So he got on the front foot and rang new Melbourne coach Mark Neeld, someone he knew from when his father Paul played with Neeld at Geelong in the 1990s. Couch got Neeld's answering machine, so he left a message asking if he could do some fitness tests with the Demons before Christmas. He hoped it might lead to a chance to show Neeld his football skills but you can't get on the phone and ask an AFL coach to draft you. A couple of days went by before Neeld rang back to ask Couch if he would be prepared to train with the Demons for three weeks leading up to yesterday's rookie draft. Couch would have been there in five minutes if needed but they settled on the next day.
The Age
Demons leagues apart in recruiting key forward
By Will Brodie
For the second year running, Melbourne has gone outside usual recruiting channels to nab a promising player in the rookie draft, the Demons selecting 21-year-old key forward Leigh Williams from Eastern Football League club Norwood. Williams did not play for a TAC Cup under-18 team, the usual pathway for promising youngsters to ply their wares to AFL recruiters. Last year, Melbourne selected speedy flanker Daniel Nicholson from Melbourne's VAFA amateur league. Nicholson had played for his school St Patricks, then University Blues, also attracting attention despite being out of the usual loop. He played nine games in a promising debut season. Four other EFL players were given a chance at the highest level via today's rookie draft: Ling Jong and Alex Greenwood (Western Bulldogs); Shane Biggs (Sydney); and Dylan Orval (Adelaide). But Williams was the only one who had not played at state league or TAC Cup level. Norwood coach Kevin Tibaldi said he was very happy for Williams, but pointed out that the recruitment was also good for the league. "Hopefully this will give encouragement to other young fellas out there," he said this afternoon. He said Williams had "really developed well" and "hasn't looked back" since moving to the forward line five rounds into the 2010 season.
Herald Sun
Couch time finally arrives
By Jon Anderson
THOMAS Couch knew at 23 he didn't have that many shots left when it came to getting some love at draft time. So he got on the front foot and rang new Melbourne coach Mark Neeld, someone he knew from when his father Paul played with Neeld at Geelong in the 1990s. Couch got Neeld's answering machine, so he left a message asking if he could do some fitness tests with the Demons before Christmas. He hoped it might lead to a chance to show Neeld his football skills but you can't get on the phone and ask an AFL coach to draft you. A couple of days went by before Neeld rang back to ask Couch if he would be prepared to train with the Demons for three weeks leading up to yesterday's rookie draft. Couch would have been there in five minutes if needed but they settled on the next day.
The Age
Demons leagues apart in recruiting key forward
By Will Brodie
For the second year running, Melbourne has gone outside usual recruiting channels to nab a promising player in the rookie draft, the Demons selecting 21-year-old key forward Leigh Williams from Eastern Football League club Norwood. Williams did not play for a TAC Cup under-18 team, the usual pathway for promising youngsters to ply their wares to AFL recruiters. Last year, Melbourne selected speedy flanker Daniel Nicholson from Melbourne's VAFA amateur league. Nicholson had played for his school St Patricks, then University Blues, also attracting attention despite being out of the usual loop. He played nine games in a promising debut season. Four other EFL players were given a chance at the highest level via today's rookie draft: Ling Jong and Alex Greenwood (Western Bulldogs); Shane Biggs (Sydney); and Dylan Orval (Adelaide). But Williams was the only one who had not played at state league or TAC Cup level. Norwood coach Kevin Tibaldi said he was very happy for Williams, but pointed out that the recruitment was also good for the league. "Hopefully this will give encouragement to other young fellas out there," he said this afternoon. He said Williams had "really developed well" and "hasn't looked back" since moving to the forward line five rounds into the 2010 season.
