Hawthorn utility Xavier Ellis is threatening to prove his table-topping 136-point effort in last year's AFL Grand Final was far less fluky than his side's premiership victory.
A top-three draft pick, Ellis produced steady but inglorious fantasy performances throughout his 13-game rookie season in 2007.
The same two adjectives apply when describing the start of Ellis' sophomore season before a big-game 99 against Geelong in round 17 kicked him into gear.
Ellis averaged 97 points over his final seven games, including his crowning performance on that one day in September.
An injury-interrupted pre-season, round-three foot injury and round-11 run-in with Barry Hall have this season prevented Ellis from delivering on the potential he showed at the tail end of 2008.
The second half of the season, however, gives a fully-fit Ellis the opportunity to show us believers he's a premium defender in the making.
Not a noted goal-kicker, Ellis instead attracts suitors through his high mark count and, for a skinny bloke, fearless ball-winning ability.
Expect his popularity to nosedive if the fantasy law-makers next year cotton on to the fact that Hawthorn employ him on the ball or on a wing and re-classify him accordingly.
Until then, get on.
submitted by djch00k
Ellis has X-factor
Hawthorn utility Xavier Ellis is threatening to prove his table-topping 136-point effort in last year's AFL Grand Final was far less fluky than his side's premiership victory.
A top-three draft pick, Ellis produced steady but inglorious fantasy performances throughout his 13-game rookie season in 2007.
The same two adjectives apply when describing the start of Ellis' sophomore season before a big-game 99 against Geelong in round 17 kicked him into gear.
Ellis averaged 97 points over his final seven games, including his crowning performance on that one day in September.
An injury-interrupted pre-season, round-three foot injury and round-11 run-in with Barry Hall have this season prevented Ellis from delivering on the potential he showed at the tail end of 2008.
The second half of the season, however, gives a fully-fit Ellis the opportunity to show us believers he's a premium defender in the making.
Not a noted goal-kicker, Ellis instead attracts suitors through his high mark count and, for a skinny bloke, fearless ball-winning ability.
Expect his popularity to nosedive if the fantasy law-makers next year cotton on to the fact that Hawthorn employ him on the ball or on a wing and re-classify him accordingly.
