First it was Kurt Heatherly and now the Hawks have commited to rookie listing Shem Tatupu...
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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 (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/106057689/HANZ-UP)
We have two more New Zealand boys on scholarships too - Ben Miller and Rhys Panui-Leth.
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8)
Thanks Craigy :)
Another few young lads who will one day join the HFC NZ hall of fame alongside Trent Croad and Shane Savage ;)
95kg and hes just turned 17, he will make a nice FB to partner Shoey when gibbo and lake retire,
95kegs at 17 :o
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.
I dunno, looking at that picture, he seems to have the right build, height and weight already....
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."
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http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-01-29/hawks-snare-another-kiwi?utm_medium=RSS (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."
98kg at 15 :o
They must feed these kids fertilizer.
Video of Shem. Awww yeah!
http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2013-02-18/feature-shem-tatupu.workstation (http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2013-02-18/feature-shem-tatupu.workstation)
Shem update -
http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2013-06-12/mark-mckenzie-on-shem-tatupu.workstation (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.
so pretty much all his kicks were goals lol.
Not really. 12 disposals over 2 games (so possibly 12 kicks), is only 33% of kicks are goals
ahhh, I misread it was having 6 disposals over 2 games and kicking 4.0 :P
Just to clear it up, he had 8 kicks in those 2 games. So 50% were goals.
Still not a bad conversion rate. :D
Very raw so will take time to develop but good to see he knows where the goals are :)
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-17/kiwi-kurt-gets-hip (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-17/kiwi-kurt-gets-hip)
KURT Heatherley will play his first game of 2013 next week as Hawthorn's New Zealander finally returns from hip surgeries.
Heatherley, who will be added this year as a Hawks international rookie having been developed through the NZ scholarship program, has been out of action since February after having bone shaved off both hips.
The rehabilitation has been slow but Heatherley targeted a return in late July and will fulfill that aim by playing for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup next weekend.
"The surgery had to be done at some stage and the medical guys thought it was best to have it done this year so he gets a clear run into next year," Hawks list manager Graham Wright told AFL.com.au.
"He's champing at the bit to get out there. He's been in his own pre-season since early May so he's done a lot of work and he thinks he's ready to go, and so do our guys."
Heatherley probably would have played this weekend, but it is a bye round in the TAC Cup competition.
The 192cm prospect is being groomed by the Hawks as a key defender, with his agility and athleticism having impressed recruiters when he was first spotted playing basketball in 2009.
Heatherley has enjoyed picking the brain of fellow Hawks defender Brian Lake while on the sidelines, and Mark McKenzie, the club's recruiter and special projects manager, has overseen his development.
"Mark's been really impressed with the way he's applied himself, especially since he's returned from Europe with the AIS-AFL Academy," Wright said.
Heatherley played his first game of the season last weekend after recovering from his hip issues. Didn't get a heap of it but was named in the best which is a positive. :)
Quote from: Mr.Craig on August 10, 2013, 01:50:19 AM
Heatherley played his first game of the season last weekend after recovering from his hip issues. Didn't get a heap of it but was named in the best which is a positive. :)
For his his first game this year that is a solid effort! good signs!
Last weekend Heatherley had what is probably the best game of his short career.
13 kicks, 4 handballs, 9 marks and 5 tackles. 8)
http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-10-30/hawks-welcome-heatherley-tatupu-as-international-rookies.workstation
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HAWTHORN is pleased to welcome International Scholarship holders Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu to the Club as International Rookies. As part of the first list lodgement process on Wednesday, the Club has listed the pair with the AFL as International Rookies.
Heatherley, a 192cm prospect has been groomed as a defender during his development program with the Club, while Tatupu has played most of his football as a hulking 196cm and 104kg ruckman/forward.
Recruiting and List Manager, Graham Wright says the Club believe the pair has what it takes to make it at AFL level and are excited to officially welcome them to the Club.
"We think both have got real scope to push into the senior team at some stage, we've got really high hopes for them," he told hawthornfc.com.au
"It's been a long wait - we've had them for two-three years as International Scholarship players, so for them to finally come onto our list (is exciting)."
Heatherley, who was signed as a 16 year old in 2009 and moved to Melbourne soon after spent most of 2013 at the Ricoh Centre recuperating from hip surgery before continuing his development program with the Club. He did, however, return late in the year to play a handful of games with TAC Cup side Sandringham Dragons.
During his development training, Heatherley has impressed with his competitiveness, versatility and athleticism thanks to his background in a number of different sports including basketball, cricket, rugby and athletics. Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright believes it's only a matter of time before Heatherley makes an impact at AFL level.
"He performed really well with Sandringham and actually, in every game he got better and better, which is what we thought (would happen)," he said.
"He is primed to have a big pre-season and hopefully isn't too far away from being able to play at the level. We think he will certainly play AFL footy, it's just a matter of how soon.
"He'll develop in the system and I'm sure he'll come through and play at some stage."
Tatupu joined the Club's International Scholarship scheme in 2011 but remained in his hometown, Auckland where he completed development sessions with AFLNZ and Hawthorn. In that time, he has shown great development with his physical strength, marking, speed and agility for his size some of his most impressive attributes.
He has spent time in Melbourne over the past two years to visit the Club and undergo training at the Ricoh Centre. During a visit in mid-2013, he also played matches for TAC Cup side Oakleigh Chargers and a game for Box Hill's Development team.
"We've had less access to him but he's been under a pretty strict program there in New Zealand and has developed as well," Wright said.
"We're looking forward to having him here."
Heatherley will begin pre-season training with the first to fourth year players on 18 November, while Tatupu will begin his training the following week due to schooling commitments in New Zealand.
Kurt Heatherley (left) in his first official training session with the Hawks. :)
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his shoulders don't look in proportion to the rest of his arms... maybe it's just me
Quote from: brad on December 05, 2013, 05:32:24 PM
his shoulders don't look in proportion to the rest of his arms... maybe it's just me
Nope, I see what you're getting at.
Leave the kid alone, he was shredding for stereos!
Looks like he needs to work on his delts...
It might just be the angle/ pose guys :P
Getting to know Shem. (http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/hawthorn/news/2013-12-20/getting-to-know-shem-tatupu.workstation)
Miller was named in the best for NZ in this game (I'll assume it's our Miller). Doesn't seem like the other lads were involved.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-25/australian-under17s-pip-new-zealand-hawks
most important thing to note
Final Score
Australian under-17 4.16 (40) defeated New Zealand Hawks 5.6 (36)
4.16
like...
how. :S
Twas a bit windy I heard.
Shem training with the boys today...
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http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-08/kiwi-closing-on-landmark-debut
Quote from: Mr.Craig on June 08, 2014, 10:20:24 PM
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-08/kiwi-closing-on-landmark-debut
Fantastic news for all parties involved!
Shem Update - 4 games for Box Hill in the Vic Development League so far this year and has been named in the best twice. 8)
Well done to Shem on his senior debut with Box Hill. Kicked 2 goals in a big win vs Frankston.