Geelong’s pre season practice matches were littered with strong performances from the next generation. Hear what Head of Development, Nigel Lappin, had to say when asked about each of our young brigade.

Ollie Henry

“… as we saw last year, a very smart decision maker. His ability to be able to recognise opportunities to get forward, get dangerous and then when he gets his chances to be able to mark the ball as well as he does, his finishing skills have been very, very impressive for us.”

Ollie Dempsey

“He’s just been someone who’s just got better with every week that he’s spent at the footy club. He’s built out a really good frame now to be able to sustain what it means to be an AFL Footballer. Unbelievably high work rate, gets from contest to contest, understands his role really well…just those little finishing touches, the things that he can do that not many others can, that’s going to excite fans for a long time…”

Shannon Neale

“He’s pretty young still, as a key position player and we know they take time. But he’s been really promising in the early games. He understands the system really well and complements the other guys around him and we hope we continues to emerge and knocks down the doors this year.”

Oli Wiltshire

“He reads the game really early, gets himself to dangerous spots an has been very smart. He’s come in, understands the systems and structures and pretty much got them down pat in the first couple of weeks.”

Ted Clohesy

“He’s just the epitome of what we want to stand for as an academy group, but also as a footy club. He values all the right things and it’s a credit to him, he’ll continue to develop because he just puts the work in and is as honest as the day is long.”

George Stevens

“He gets from contest to contest pretty well. His stoppage craft is very good for an 18 year old, but it’s only going to get better. And he combined really well with the other guys that were in their on the weekend.”

Mitch Hardie and Mitch Knevitt

“They’ve played enough footy now, that they’re starting to build some really good chemistry in and around the stoppages there. Their patterns and the systems they play away from the ball have really helped the VFL play really well in the first couple of weeks...”

James Willis

“…the most impressive thing about him, he’s just just rocked up everyday with a great day with a great attitude. Attitude to get to work and prove his body. We know he’s got the footy talent and he’s very good inside mid, with lots of power and good ball use.”

Oscar Murdoch

“He’s had a few injury niggles last year and he’s had a pretty good pre season. He’s just someone that you can just put on one of the oppositions best players and he’s hard to play on. He gets to work on them, and makes it a really difficult day for them..

Jhye Clark

“What you see from Jhye is what you get. He’s an every time competitor. Probably enjoys winning the contest more than anything, but if he’s not doing that, the thing he enjoys the next most is his ability to be able to win the ball back off the opposition, and that was really evident the other night.”

Lawson Humphries

“He brings calmness to our academy group.. he’s got a really calming influence on the group and other people. And you see that with the way he plays… he’s a really good decision maker with ball in hand.”

Emerson Jeka

“He’s come in and had a strong pre season, didn’t miss too much and he’s slotted in really well. His ability to be able to contest really strongly in the air and provide a fair bit of drive, he loves getting the ball in his hand and loves using it well.”

Oisin Mullin

“He’s got some unique abilities. His ability to shut down some of the opposition’s best players, and not just their best players, their fastest ones. And then his want and will to join into the game again.”

Connor O’Sullivan (on his experience playing against Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow)

“Fantastic experience for him. He doesn’t get overawed by that and sees that as an opportunity for growth and as a challenge that he’s willing to take on.”

Joe Furphy

“He’s a big man Joey… he’s put a lot of work into learning the nuances and the craft of the game and we’re excited about what he can deliver.”

Phoenix Foster

“We’re looking forward to him getting out there and putting his best foot forward, he’s developed a lot over his 12 months that he’s been here.”

Mitch Edwards

"He’s going to develop into a really big, strong ruckman. He loves the parts of that game that you want ruckman to love, the aerial contest, he loves hunting the ball.. when he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a really good ball user.”