Hawks Continue Their NZ Foray

[Mr.Craig]

First it was Kurt Heatherly and now the Hawks have commited to rookie listing Shem Tatupu...




Birthday - 30/11/95
195cm/95kg
Position - Gorilla

Tatupu been on our radar since last year when we gave him an international scholarship through our HANZ UP! program. A rugby convert with an 80cm verticle leap, he's a monster of a kid who will obviously need to work on his stamina and skills if he's going to get a game in the future. Shem's not a complete novice to the sport though, having played Under 16's with the AFLNZ.

Chris Pelchen says: "...Shem show(s) considerable athletic talent and the capacity to develop the necessary football skills to play AFL at the highest level".

Info about HANZ UP! - http://www.docstoc.com/docs/106057689/HANZ-UP

We have two more New Zealand boys on scholarships too - Ben Miller and Rhys Panui-Leth.






8)

[Scrads]

Thanks Craigy :)

Another few young lads who will one day join the HFC NZ hall of fame alongside Trent Croad and Shane Savage ;)

[JBs-Hawks]

95kg and hes just turned 17, he will make a nice FB to partner Shoey when gibbo and lake retire,

[Grazz]

95kegs at 17  :o

[Ringo]

Most Islanders and Maoris are brought up on Rugby and have larger bodies.  If coming from Rugby the first couple of years will need to be used re arranging his muscle bulk to suit AFL.  Remember Karmichaels huge thighs initially when he came to the Suns  but he has trimmed them down over the season with out losing weight.

[Ziplock]

I dunno, looking at that picture, he seems to have the right build, height and weight already....

[Mr.Craig]

Report from Aust. vs NZ Under 17 match in Wellington...

And Shem Tatupu, who Hawthorn has committed to drafting as an international rookie at the end of this season, showed why the Hawks were so pleased to recruit the former rugby player.

"Shem was exceptional. For a boy who's had three years of footy, but maybe only six games a year of AFL while still playing rugby, he did some fantastic things up forward," Sheehan said.

"He has real presence with the contested ball in the air. He reads it so early and you can see him get into great position early. He kicked the goal of the day when he dodged a few, gave a great big 'don't argue' and snapped the goal over his shoulder."

[Mr.Craig]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-01-29/hawks-snare-another-kiwi?utm_medium=RSS

HAWTHORN'S recruiting network continues to expand abroad, with the club signing another talented New Zealand recruit.   

The Hawks last week committed to 15-year-old Siope Ngata as an international scholarship holder.

Nagata has a background in rugby and was spotted by Hawks scouts last October at a testing session and playing in games for the New Zealand Hawks.

At the New Zealand AFL Combine held last week, the 186cm and 98kg prospect performed strongly in the athletic testing and in the kicking and clean hands drills.

Ngata follows Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu as Hawthorn's New Zealand recruits, with the club already committed to selecting the pair as international rookies at the end of this season.

Hawks national recruiting manager Graham Wright said the club hoped Ngata would be part of the next wave of international recruits for the club.

"That's what we'd like. It's a fair way off for these guys but we enter into this knowing they're going to take some time and some might not get there," Wright told AFL.com.au.

"At this stage Siope will stay in New Zealand [instead of coming to Australia full-time]. Invariably we'll monitor his progress over the next year or two and he'll be involved in our development programs here."

[CrowsFan]

98kg at 15 :o

[Mr.Craig]

They must feed these kids fertilizer.

[Mr.Craig]

Video of Shem. Awww yeah!

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2013-02-18/feature-shem-tatupu.workstation

[Mr.Craig]

Shem update -

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2013-06-12/mark-mckenzie-on-shem-tatupu.workstation

In his two games for the Chargers in April he kicked 4.0 while averaging 6 disposals, 2.5 marks, 3.5 tackles and 3 hitouts.

[Ziplock]

so pretty much all his kicks were goals lol.

[CrowsFan]

Not really. 12 disposals over 2 games (so possibly 12 kicks), is only 33% of kicks are goals

[Ziplock]

ahhh, I misread it was having 6 disposals over 2 games and kicking 4.0 :P