Welcome to Collingwood #13 Harry DeMattia

[BazBoy]

He comes across in the You Tube interview as a leader

Said he has been doing it since Under 12 footy

[lazzadesilva]

I like his speed, strength, and chase down tackling.

That's about it though. Skills look poor. Bounces the ball like he hasn't played much footy. Kicking a bit mechanical and awkward.
Maybe that's the modern footballer though. Hard to find natural footballers combined with the athletic profile they are looking for at this age, especially around pick 25 anyway.
As a Tay Adams replacement? Yeh but not exactly aiming for the stars there.

I reckon you are being extremely harsh about a young player who is yet to play a game, speculating that he will be struggling to exhibit skills at the level required for the AFL. So I shall also speculate that he will be a gun for us in the long run. We can revisit this thread in a couple of years and then decide who was right in their forecasting

[Charlie Oneeye]

Rewatched the highlights, a little more carefully.

Every kicking highlight was either kicking straight on his left, or in space without opponents on his left side, swinging onto his left foot.

No baulking to go right, no composure to change flight path, preferring the handball. The few times (in the highlights), when average pressure was there on his left, resulted in miss kicks.
So far, a good, experienced AFL opponent would have it easy.


Not taking anything away, With a foot in 2 sports codes, and 2 years out of football due to Covid can stifle progress. So far, raw natural talent and drive has got him this far.

If this is the year of picking the underdeveloped diamond in the rough, DeMattia certainly is in contention.

[LaurieHolden]

^ that's a great interview Baz. Comes across as someone who has been at the Club for 5 years.
With his elite level cricket training and footy, he's clearly adopted and projects what's required at an elite level.

I don't often get too excited about draft picks, but he already has got what it takes above the shoulders. I won't be at all surprised if he becomes a leader on the training track and attaches himself to the likes of Crisp, Daicos, Mitchell.
All going well his football smarts and disposal matches his mental application and he emerges as a senior player come 2025.

[BazBoy]

Glad you checked it out Laurie.

I had a feeling he works toward sucsess in all its facets
Training
Communication
Sleep
Diet

All things ad more he mentions

[think better]

Maybe a strange comparison but I reckon we have gone for Glen Jackovich as opposed to Wayne Carey.

Harry looks like he can be a great attacking stopper with real on field leadership.

He might not be the 'classy superstar' but would be your first choice to stop the opposition's classy superstar. He would then run off them when he gets the chance and/or win the ball himself.

[Seth]

185cm is a decent size. You know what for years I’ve dissected analyses been jubilant criticized the picks that we’ve made but then against everything I’ve ever felt good and bad with the recruiting of the club we go and win a premiership that I would never thought possible at this time. Who am I to judge, welcome Harry, you have joined the greatest club in the land with the best supporter base, how good will it be on the MCG in front of 90000 people.

[BazBoy]

Has to make his bones !!!

There are the Allens -the Jakobs. And don’t forget Fin McRae ahead in the queue

He has to prove his AFL belonging like all recruits and if I read his story right
he will give it a big crack

[BazBoy]

Simmo Paul Admin. Face Book

Collingwood Football Club.

A call from the coach. A face time call Craig to Harry

[aus50ford]

Slowly building a whole team of Beau's ....

Future is looking good

[BazBoy]

Gee with his flowing locks he does appear McCreery like

That’s good. Two “Beau,s”. More arrows

[slangman]

Looks like the singer from Thirsty Merc.

Wishing Harry a long and prosperous career at the Pies!!

[dalyc]

He's recruited to replace Adams
I hope he has a good pre-season and we see him in the side next year.

Get in line. There’s a few closer than him I’d say. Macrae, Allen, Reef to name just 3

[piffdog]

In a couple years looks like a straight swap for Adams (with a Trent Cotchin ball drop style)

Also. The stats (lies) tell me the average career of a pick #21-30 is 86 games, 9.3 Brownlow votes and it will (on average) take 8 years to accumulate 50 games experience. Hopefully this can be the minimum of the young guys’ contribution.

[Kingsofclutch]

kicks 5 goals up forward, shuts down The Wizard in the backline, lazy 30 disposals in the midfield.

If the kid can't ruck we'll have to delist him, you can't win em all.