AFL draft 2015: Rhys Mathieson’s footy talents are no joke
FOR as long as Rhys Mathieson’s been a prankster always capable of generating a laugh, he’s been a junior footy star bound for the AFL.
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RHYS Mathieson’s footy strength is his innate ability to hunt the ball.
But when the Sherrin bounced towards the fence during a lunchtime kick at school this year the ferocious onballer applied his skills laterally.
Mathieson and his mates found a dead mouse, scooped it up in a lunch bag and dropped it into top-five prospect Darcy Parish’s locker.
“Except it somehow ended up in another mate’s locker and stayed there for the weekend,” dual All-Australian Mathieson said at draft combine.
“We got back on Monday and the whole locker room was stinking and was tipped upside down pretty much.
“It was revolting, I swear I could taste the smell that’s how bad it was. Oh, and it was actually a dead rat — but it’s all just fun and games.”
Mathieson and best mate Parish are jokers off the field and damaging clearance winners on it.
Parish is likely to join Melbourne or Essendon’s midfield as a platinum pick and Mathieson should follow in the top 25, where he would add instant physicality to perhaps St Kilda, Hawthorn or the Bombers.
“I definitely love to have a crack with a bit of grunt work on the inside, that’s what I love about the game,” Mathieson said.
“I’m a physical, contested mid who hunts the ball. For me hunting the ball is the only way — I want to be the first one with hands on it.”
Mathieson describes himself as a rowdy bloke always capable of generating a laugh and recruiters believe in a strong environment he could thrive.
And for as long as he’s been a prankster, he’s been a junior footy star bound for the AFL.
“Yeah, there’s plenty of other pranks. I might have nailed a mate’s book to another book in woodwork and put a few thumb tacks on chairs,” he said.
Geelong Falcons talent manager Michael Turner says Mathieson — the winner of six best-and-fairests and four league medals — is a “footy bogan” and compared him to North Melbourne workhorse Ben Cunnington.
“That’s not being disparaging, he just loves football and can’t get enough — we sometimes we have to hold him back,” Turner said.
“He’s got a hard edge and combative spirit, like (Luke) Hodge had when he was with us.”
Turner expects Mathieson to start his AFL career in the forward line with his tank still building, but Mathieson should feel at home in front of the sticks.
He once kicked “about 26 goals” in a school game against new outfit Lutheran College, albeit with his underprepared opponents wearing runners instead of boots.
That mega bag contained no behinds with Parish winning “about 100 touches in the middle and bombing it down my throat in the goalsquare”.
Mathieson’s endurance results at the combine weren’t flash but he excelled in the clean hands test and as Turner says: “He’s a natural footballer. He might test average but he doesn’t play average”.
The kid with swagger has excelled at every level he’s played, averaging 25 TAC Cup disposals this year and winning 17 touches and seven clearances in a VFL appearance for Geelong.
Mathieson’s mum represented Australia in cricket while the Saints fan contacted last year’s No. 1 pick and former teammate Paddy McCartin recently for advice.
“Paddy said it’s all pretty cruisy if you work hard enough and you’ll be right and get treated pretty well,” Mathieson said.
But should Mathieson’s future teammates be wary about letting him into the locker room?
“I think those (dead rat) days will be done by then. There won’t be any of that going on.”
RHYS MATHIESON
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 186cm
WEIGHT: 82kg
CLUB: Geelong Falcons
POSITION: Inside midfielder
SUPERCOACH AVG: 122 (TAC Cup)
PLAYS LIKE: Ben Cunnington/Matt Priddis
PREDICTED DRAFT RANGE: 10-25
IN THE MIX: Carlton (11/19), St Kilda (14), Hawthorn (15/18), Essendon (24/25)
Originally published as AFL draft 2015: Rhys Mathieson’s footy talents are no joke
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