#19 Tew Jiath

[dalyc]

I thought he played well for a first year player built like a toothpick.

Wasn't scared of putting his body on the line, tackled, did the 1%s and showed real composure with ball in hand.

Well done young man.

Agree. Just watched the replay. Apart from getting caught with the ball in the back pocket ( he had microseconds ) he was solid all day. Get the protein into him and the weights and he’ll be a good ‘en.

[stui magpie]

^

Get him into leg weights, he has legs like a Kenyan marathon runner, no calves at all. Also Core weights. His brother's hamstring issues came from a weak core, get in front of the game.

[Dave The Man]

Loved the play in the 3rd Qtr where he took the Game on and Pin Point a Kick to a Forward

​Showing Total Class there

[Haff]

Yeah agree, looked like there was something there. Needs to put on about 20kg and the cramping showed his still got a way to go but well done.
I thought at one stage he had been thrown to the wolves but he worked back into the game… same as plenty of the kids.

[BazBoy]

We are turning over the future of a dynasty. Give it time people

[RudeBoy]

He has future star quality written all over him imo. As others have noted, he is currently way, way too thin to physically match it with his opponents at senior level.

I think Stui is correct about the need to build up his core strength and leg muscles. I'm sure our club's physios have all this in hand, but it may be that his physiology means he will always be somewhat spindly, a la Josh Fraser. In any case, I look forward to seeing him press for regular senior games next season.

[BazBoy]

He will be one of changes when we possibly get back JDG ,Checkers & Pendles

His time will come

[duggieboy]

CFC have put up a very good video on the Pies site, with the build-up to TJ's first game, behind the scenes on game day & a bit on his family's journey from when they were all stuck in a refugee camp.

https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/ ... 8868028001

[SLORT]

Was having a look at his brother CJ. Listed as 185cm and 74kg, drafted in 2018, just turned 25 and has surprisingly only played 56 games. Statistically has gone backward the last couple of seasons. Seems to have become injury prone. It just worries me that Hawthorn hasn't been able to put weight on his frame and if TJ stays the same sort of build then I don't see him progressing much as a defender. TJ is listed 188cm and 72kg. As a comparison Markov is 188cm and 85kg. I think a good defensive player needs to be at least this sort of size (for instance A. Toovey was 189cm and 89kg) so if they don't somehow put the weight on him then I hope that they'll quickly focus on his natural strengths (speed & evasion) and push him up to the wings, perhaps even see what he can offer on a forward flank.

[Durka]

I've seen a lot of Sudanese kids over the years playing basketball. I am about to generalise, hopefully Tew is different. In the younger age groups, from about under 12's to under 18's, the Sudanese kids dominated. They were much taller, having developed earlier. They could jump too. I am talking about the top level athletes, not the lower grades. They were pencil thin though, with narrow pelvises, and slightly built ankles and knees. Over time, the white kids caught up. They became as tall as the Sudanese and by the time of under 18's/20's, the Sudanese were mostly physically inferior as they were not strong enough, having remained thin. My two cents worth is that if you try to pack a lot of muscle on a thin Sudanese frame it will end in injury, especially in a sport as hard as AFL footy.

[SLORT]

After watching TJ's end of year interview I'm excited to see how he comes back next year. Really does seem to have a good mindset and attitude. I wouldn't be too concerned about adding weight (well...maybe a few kg's) after watching what Jase Burgoyne achieved against Hawktuah's the other night. Focus on his strengths, keep him in a position that allows him to grow in confidence, and hopefully he'll be a regular in the seniors by the end of next year. And who knows, if the Hawktuah's salary cap begins to bulge, maybe one day bring his brother over to play on a wing.