Jason Holmes Journey so far-NEW article

[saintbrat]

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/1 ... rs-profile

[SemperFidelis]

That's a fantastic article, bratty.

[stinger]

great read...very enjoyable...thanks for posting that bratty...hope all three make it...well maybe not the filth player....

[3rd generation saint]

Personally think he could be the surprise packet this year.

[3rd generation saint]

Personally think he could be the surprise packet this year.

[bigballs]

Great article Bratty. Love the way the author explains the game to the yanks.

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

[saintbrat]

Jason Holmes @J_holmes45 ·
I just want to thank @statesidedocker , Gale Griffin for telling an amazing story about 3 Americans & Aussie Rules footy. He worked very
......
Hard to pull this piece together and am very proud to read how well he can paint this picture for not only the footy lover, but sports fans

Everywhere

Footy Dreams

By: Gil Griffin
@statesidedocker

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/1 ... rs-profile …

Jason Holmes @J_holmes45 ·
https://twitter.com/J_holmes45

[bergholt]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

[Bunk_Moreland]

Thought this a great quote from Pelchan

"We asked him if his motivation to come to Australia was financial," Pelchen says, "but Jason has never asked if he could have more money. We learned his basic desire is to take on something new and be the best. He's learned the history of our club on his own initiative. He's representing the USA in the proudest way. He's respectful and cooperative, warm and engaging."

[saintbrat]

Thought this a great quote from Pelchan

"We asked him if his motivation to come to Australia was financial," Pelchen says, "but Jason has never asked if he could have more money. We learned his basic desire is to take on something new and be the best. He's learned the history of our club on his own initiative. He's representing the USA in the proudest way. He's respectful and cooperative, warm and engaging."

that bit is pretty good to

I heard early last year that the young guys had to choose a former player and present to others about him- Maverick was the only one i heard of who went to the Museum more than once to research Nicky Winmar.

[Austinnn]

Great story. Hope he makes it at the Saints.

[saint6709]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

From what I'm reading Hickey might start the season on the LTI list - ( about 5 weeks to resume full training ) so who gets promoted Saad ? Holmes ?

[saint6709]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

From what I'm reading Hickey might start the season on the LTI list - ( about 5 weeks to resume full training ) so who gets promoted Saad ? Holmes ?

Just realised Siposs sure to go to LTI maybe 2 guys made eligible ??

[remboy]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

From what I'm reading Hickey might start the season on the LTI list - ( about 5 weeks to resume full training ) so who gets promoted Saad ? Holmes ?

Everything I've read says that he should be ready round one. If he's five weeks away, that means he'll be in full training by mid feb, which should give him time to be right by the start of the season. Certainly won't be putting him on the LTI list.

[saint6709]

Time will tell - but ruckman and knee sound to me like something that does not want to be rushed - I would notbe surprised if the 4-6 weeks doesn't blow out a bit

[Zed]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

One thing we lost over the off season was our only KP player who can also play as a genuine relief ruckman in Rhys Stanley. Hard to see 1 guy rucking a whole game, so it seems almost inevitable we will experiment with playing 2 rucks in at least some games this year. Given TH's track record with injury, there is a good chance that LP & JH will both be looked at for a call up at some stage of the year.

[gringo]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

One thing we lost over the off season was our only KP player who can also play as a genuine relief ruckman in Rhys Stanley. Hard to see 1 guy rucking a whole game, so it seems almost inevitable we will experiment with playing 2 rucks in at least some games this year. Given TH's track record with injury, there is a good chance that LP & JH will both be looked at for a call up at some stage of the year.

It seems like everyone thought the ruck forward was going to be the most important position on the ground with limited rotations. It never eventuated and while multi faceted players are always handy there is still a place for a quality ruck man. Rhys probably was a victim of not excelling at either so was pushed out by our glut of other specialist rucks. Hickey and Pierce look the only two on that list who could play as more than just a ruck man. Longer was played last year before he was ready as we couldn't get the others fit. I could see using Hickey as a floating back and chop out ruck with a guy like Holmes starting as the main ruck. He's still a way off ATM but he has some serious athletic qualities and a great attitude. He needs the cards to fall his way for senior games this year though.

[plugger66]

On a serious note - I can definitely see Holmes getting a run in the seniors in the very near future if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far.

Good luck to the big guy, seems like a really good bloke and very well liked by all at the club.

Yeah, sounds like he's doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a few others fighting for the same spot:

Holmes, 25 years old, 0 games
Hickey, 24 years old, 30 games
Longer, 21 years old, 25 games
Pierce, 20 years old, 0 games

He'll have to hope for injuries, but you never know your luck. Even if he plays zero games this year, as long as he keeps improving I wouldn't be opposed to them hanging onto him into 2016.

One thing we lost over the off season was our only KP player who can also play as a genuine relief ruckman in Rhys Stanley. Hard to see 1 guy rucking a whole game, so it seems almost inevitable we will experiment with playing 2 rucks in at least some games this year. Given TH's track record with injury, there is a good chance that LP & JH will both be looked at for a call up at some stage of the year.

It seems like everyone thought the ruck forward was going to be the most important position on the ground with limited rotations. It never eventuated and while multi faceted players are always handy there is still a place for a quality ruck man. Rhys probably was a victim of not excelling at either so was pushed out by our glut of other specialist rucks. Hickey and Pierce look the only two on that list who could play as more than just a ruck man. Longer was played last year before he was ready as we couldn't get the others fit. I could see using Hickey as a floating back and chop out ruck with a guy like Holmes starting as the main ruck. He's still a way off ATM but he has some serious athletic qualities and a great attitude. He needs the cards to fall his way for senior games this year though.

There is no way a side would play a ruckman and a floating back ruckman in the same side. Hasn't happened for years. The days of 2 ruckman in a side is over unless at least one of them can play forward. I still haven't worked out how all our ruckman play apart from injury. I cant even see how both Longer and Hickey play in the same side let alone this guy.

[saintbrat]

an Update on Jason's story
http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/1 ... n-football

IF it weren't for a far-fetched dream in a far-flung land, Jason Holmes would have been by his older brother's side as he waited for his wife-to-be to walk up the aisle.

It was late 2013 and Holmes had to decide between best man duties, and trying to forge an unlikely career in a sport he'd only recently heard of -- Australian Rules football.

The thoughtful Holmes has made every post a winner since taking a chance on a sport basically unknown in his home country, but he is aware of the precariousness of his situation. At 26 -- middle aged, in AFL terms -- he is in his third year as a rookie, and out of contract at the end of 2016. He knows he has to improve his follow-up work, tackle pressure, and spread from stoppages if he is to write another few chapters of his already incredible story.

He has already stunned AFL onlookers with how far he has come in such a short period of time, and Holmes can't help but sometimes sit back in amazement of his journey.

"It kind of blows me away sometimes too," he says.

and an associated article
http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/1 ... s-play-afl

There isn't as much demand for the 6'8" power forward-types, and they have dreams to do something amazing, but then [if they don't make the NBA] it's 'wait a minute, I might be at home making pennies and playing in front of [only] a few hundred every night, and there's this amazing sport that looks exciting, and I might have the potential and I love a challenge -- why not'?

"And you fall in love with [AFL] so quickly, you really do."

The 203cm, 100kg big man is in his third year on St Kilda's rookie list, having begun his journey began when he received an invitation to try out for the sport he'd never heard of. After watching several highlights videos, Holmes was desperate to give it a shot.

"It all made sense," he told ESPN.

[saintbrat]

an Update on Jason's story
http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/1 ... n-football

IF it weren't for a far-fetched dream in a far-flung land, Jason Holmes would have been by his older brother's side as he waited for his wife-to-be to walk up the aisle.

It was late 2013 and Holmes had to decide between best man duties, and trying to forge an unlikely career in a sport he'd only recently heard of -- Australian Rules football.

The thoughtful Holmes has made every post a winner since taking a chance on a sport basically unknown in his home country, but he is aware of the precariousness of his situation. At 26 -- middle aged, in AFL terms -- he is in his third year as a rookie, and out of contract at the end of 2016. He knows he has to improve his follow-up work, tackle pressure, and spread from stoppages if he is to write another few chapters of his already incredible story.

He has already stunned AFL onlookers with how far he has come in such a short period of time, and Holmes can't help but sometimes sit back in amazement of his journey.

"It kind of blows me away sometimes too," he says.

and an associated article
http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/1 ... s-play-afl

There isn't as much demand for the 6'8" power forward-types, and they have dreams to do something amazing, but then [if they don't make the NBA] it's 'wait a minute, I might be at home making pennies and playing in front of [only] a few hundred every night, and there's this amazing sport that looks exciting, and I might have the potential and I love a challenge -- why not'?

"And you fall in love with [AFL] so quickly, you really do."

The 203cm, 100kg big man is in his third year on St Kilda's rookie list, having begun his journey began when he received an invitation to try out for the sport he'd never heard of. After watching several highlights videos, Holmes was desperate to give it a shot.

"It all made sense," he told ESPN.