Why Sturt draft prospect Tom Lewis wants to be like Jack Viney
TOM Lewis plays with a bit of grunt and mongrel. And the hard-nosed Sturt midfielder is making no apologies for it as he aims to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Aussie Jack Viney into the big league.
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TOM Lewis admits he has white line fever.
And he is making no apologies for it.
“I’m pretty competitive, I like to go in hard, win the tough footy and get it out to teammates,’’ the Sturt hardman said.
“That’s the way I was raised, to play with a bit of grunt and mongrel and do the hard work for my team.
“I love doing that and will continue to play that way.’’
Lewis — an unheralded member of South Australia’s AFL under-18 championship-winning team this year — models his game on Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney, who has been described by former Demons star David Schwarz as “one tough little hombre’’.
“Just head over the footy, no nonsense, just hard at it,’’ Schwarz said of Viney.
While Lewis has drawn comparisons with Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell — “Tom’s a gun so it is flattering,’’ he said — it is Viney’s style he is trying to replicate.
“He’s the player I believe I most play like and certainly am striving to be like,’’ the 18-year-old midfielder said.
“Viney’s got that real grunt and mongrel about him, which I love, and while I don’t try to start fights I do play angry with the focus of getting the job done for my team.’’
Lewis — from the south east country town of Meningie — says his tough approach to the game has been instilled in him by his dad Michael and former state under-age coaches Brenton Phillips and Julian Farkas.
“I’m not the biggest or quickest player going around so dad wanted me to be one of the hardest players on the field in my junior days with the Meningie Bears,’’ left-footer Lewis said.
“And when I got into the state programs Julian and Brenton also pushed that point with me, that playing with a bit of mongrel could get me somewhere.’’
A 179cm ball of muscle, Lewis’s lack of pace has been a sticking point in him not being spoken about as a top draft pick alongside more heralded SA teammates Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine, Connor Rozee and Jackson Hately.
But SA under-18 coach Tony Bamford is in no doubt he can make a good fist of an AFL career.
“I love Tommy because he just bleeds for the team,’’ he said, adding Lewis’s leadership skills are elite.
“He becomes emotionally attached to the game, plays on the edge and leaves everything out on the oval.
“He’s a contested ball and pressure player who is going to help his team win the football.
“And he’s got a body that is ready to go, so he could play in round one next year.’’
Lewis’s contest work was illustrated in the under-18 nationals when he averaged 9.3 contested possessions and 9.5 tackles.
His tackle numbers were 2.5 higher than the next-ranked Croweater, Hately, while only captain Luke Valente (9.5) won more contested ball.
Lewis, who has had eight AFL clubs interview him, said he is leaving no stone unturned to get quicker, undertaking sprint training with an athletics coach twice a week.
But he notes that Viney, Mitchell and star Geelong captain Joel Selwood aren’t blessed with speed but have carved out stellar on-ball careers.
“I’m always looking to get better but I know what my strength is and that’s to win the ball inside the contest and get it out to my teammates,’’ Lewis said.
He is so dedicated to his task that he has this year kept a diary of his training, eating and sleeping habits.
“I went into this year saying I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned to try to make it to the AFL — that’s been my goal since I first touched a footy — so I’ve kept a record of everything to make sure I have done the right things,’’ Lewis said.
“Time will tell whether I get drafted but I can sleep well at night knowing that I’ve given it my all.’’
andrew.capel@news.com.au