'I did think the worst': Dog finally has some luck

[Bulldog4life]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-03/i-did-think-the-worst-dog-honeychurch-finally-has-some-luck

MITCH Honeychurch was due for some luck, and the tenacious Bulldog finally found some.

After being starved of senior opportunities since being drafted with pick No.60 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Honeychurch strung together six-straight games midway through 2017 before an "annoying" facial infection left him in hospital and halted his most prolific and promising chapter of his career.

Now, feeling as confident as he has in his time at the Dogs, Honeychurch was carried from Whitten Oval during last weekend's intraclub match with the belief fortune had deserted him again.

An innocuous tackle was the culprit this time around.

"I did think the worst straight away, and there was about a minute (of panic), but the physio tested (my knee) out and there was no swelling," a relieved Honeychurch told AFL.com.au.

"Luckily enough, there was no damage when I got a scan on Sunday, so I needed a bit of luck and I got it on the weekend."

His lack of continuity at the Dogs had him thinking long and hard at the end of last season about an offer from Greater Western Sydney to be the selfless team man to complement its star-studded list.

Honeychurch is admired by all at the Dogs for his hard-nosed and team-first approach, but there isn't a storage of those types at the club, and that left the then unsigned 22-year-old torn.

"I didn't have a contract in front of me at the end of last year from the Bulldogs, so GWS came knocking on the door," Honeychurch said.

"I was thinking of going up there, and they needed a small forward, but it didn't eventuate, and the Bulldogs ended up offering me a one-year contract.

"It's was a tough one because moving up to Sydney would have been a pretty big move and I was pretty keen to stay with the club."

Delighted to be a fifth-year Bulldog, Honeychurch's modus operandi is to adhere to Luke Beveridge's flexibility mantra and cement a dual-role as a defensive forward and an attacking wingman.

Improving his kicking has also been a key focus over his productive pre-season.

And despite only having the security of a one-year deal, the Vermont product is confident he has a bright future in the red, white and blue.

"It will be fifth year now and I've only played (22) games, but I'd like to think I'll play a lot more games this year and have more of an impact," he said.

"It's not necessarily a make-or-break year for me, I've just got get some continuity in my footy and the rest will take care of itself.

"I think round one is (a realistic target) because I feel as fit as I've ever been and think I can take my game to the next level in 2018.

"I just need to grab my opportunity."

[ledge]

Good to read he would love to make it with us and I don't think he would leave unless we were to trade him.
I have a lot of time for this kid he does everything he can to make it.
I hope he does make it , I find him hard at it and leaves nothing in him after a game, he is ferocious and has a good tank, height is his problem and if he does get his kicking right he could be a very good asset.

[Smads57]

Didn't hurt his chances with yesterday's performance in Ballarat I thought.

[Go_Dogs]

Always admired his tenacity - great to see he's confident coming into the season.

[Eastdog]

Things to improve on but yes I thought he was ok yesterday.

[always right]

Jong and Honeychurch have similar challenges and mind sets. They deserve success but I’m just not sure it’s going to come.

[1eyedog]

I think HC can make it. If he just kicked straight last year it would be a different story. He has everything on his side because he is a gut runner, makes contests, and finds space near goal. He's got another season to make all that 'click'.

[ratsmac]

As others have said about Dunkley, Honeychurch gets to the right spots often. He can read the play well. He simply needs to take his chances when they come. He looks to panic at times and can mess up what should be simple opportunities to score. I've seen him at Footscray where there is less pressure but he plays with confidence, he can play.
We need a surprise packet this year that opponents wont be expecting who can get off the leash a bit, much like Stringer when he burst onto the scene. Honey is no Stringer but I can see him being good for 2 goals each week with the occasional 3 if he gets his confidence up.

[hujsh]

As others have said about Dunkley, Honeychurch gets to the right spots often. He can read the play well. He simply needs to take his chances when they come. He looks to panic at times and can mess up what should be simple opportunities to score. I've seen him at Footscray where there is less pressure but he plays with confidence, he can play.
We need a surprise packet this year that opponents wont be expecting who can get off the leash a bit, much like Stringer when he burst onto the scene. Honey is no Stringer but I can see him being good for 2 goals each week with the occasional 3 if he gets his confidence up.

That's 40 odd goals if he plays every game

[bornadog]

That's 40 odd goals if he plays every game

We are going to need a couple of players to kick 30, to 40 this season. Hopefully Dickson comes in with some good form and if Honey (or someone) can snag a few as well, it will go along way to making us a genuine contender.

[Twodogs]

In 2016 we had four players kick 20+ goal kickers. Bont 26, Redpath 20, Dickson 40 and Stringer 42. And we had nine players who kicked between 10-19 goals so we do need to develop some goalkicking options. I'm not sure that Easton Wood is the answer to our problems though.

[jeemak]

If he averages 1.3 goals a game and plays 15 games as a reasonably consistent figure in the team then a return of 20 goals or thereabouts would be amazing.

I reckon he can do it, but I’m a bigger believer than most.

[hujsh]

If he averages 1.3 goals a game and plays 15 games as a reasonably consistent figure in the team then a return of 20 goals or thereabouts would be amazing.

I reckon he can do it, but I’m a bigger believer than most.

Yeah that seems like a more realistic target for Honey. If he ever has a 2 goal a game season it'd be an amazing return/turnaround.

[bornadog]

If he averages 1.3 goals a game and plays 15 games as a reasonably consistent figure in the team then a return of 20 goals or thereabouts would be amazing.

I reckon he can do it, but I’m a bigger believer than most.

The one thing is he does get the ball and has a shot. It is now just a matter of accuracy.

[soupman]

It does sound stupid but he easily gets 3 goal scoring opportunities a game. Honestly if he was reasonably accurate and played every game he could do it.

[ratsmac]

That's 40 odd goals if he plays every game

That does sound like a bit much for a bloke struggling to even be in our best 22 doesn't it. Maybe 1-2 goals is a lot more realistic but for a forward line player surely that is just a par. We are desperate for a small to mid size forward to kick that 40ish goals a season (especially now Stringer is with the drug cheats) and Honeychurch is the player who is at the right age and has had enough time and preseasons to be that player. It's definitely the last roll of the dice for him.

[jeemak]

That does sound like a bit much for a bloke struggling to even be in our best 22 doesn't it. Maybe 1-2 goals is a lot more realistic but for a forward line player surely that is just a par. We are desperate for a small to mid size forward to kick that 40ish goals a season (especially now Stringer is with the drug cheats) and Honeychurch is the player who is at the right age and has had enough time and preseasons to be that player. It's definitely the last roll of the dice for him.

But that sort of return has been considered elite for a long time, prior to the game changing to the point where small forward is now the hardest position in the game to register an impact week to week.

I had a hit of golf with a third year player on the weekend who plays with a side blessed with many small and competent forwards. Where it gets difficult for these blokes is that when they play at the next level down, they dominate and learn how to play in the middle of the ground, rather than focusing on their forward craft. Or conversely, get left to learn their forward craft (which is largely defencively minded in this day and age) in an environment where skills are poor and defenders don't attack like they do at the top level. In addition to that, when they get promoted and the team doesn't perform well, they are starved of opportunity when forward, but get limited time in the middle to show their worth.

Honey is playing the AFL's biggest bastard of a position now. One that has changed 100 fold since Brad Hardy revolutionised it over thirty years ago.

People say CHF is the hardest spot on the ground. That's bullshit.

[Twodogs]

40 years since Hardie won the Brownlow? Make it 30 please G. I'm old enough as it is.

[jeemak]

Can’t help sorry TD, time bending is not my specialty.

As a five year old sleeping in my mum’s bed Brownlow night, I remember her looking extremely happy as she told me Brad Hardy had won, as she woke me up to take to bed.

For some reason I keep losing these memories.....

[Twodogs]

Can’t help sorry TD, time bending is not my specialty.

As a five year old sleeping in my mum’s bed Brownlow night, I remember her looking extremely happy as she told me Brad Hardy had won, as she woke me up to take to bed.

For some reason I keep losing these memories.....

I vividly remember my 5 yo memories. Man on the moon, it snowed in Yarraville.

[Mantis]

Honey is playing the AFL's biggest bastard of a position now. One that has changed 100 fold since Brad Hardy revolutionised it over thirty years ago.

People say CHF is the hardest spot on the ground. That's bullshit.

Brad Hardie was a BP... Didn’t see HC down back last week, more so across HF and on the wing.

[jeemak]

Brad Hardie was a BP... Didn’t see HC down back last week, more so across HF and on the wing.

Sorry, I have only posted part of what I meant to post and can understand the confusion.

Hardy was ahead of his time as a back pocket player. The back pocket (if the role exists) has now become an attacking role, meaning the role of a forward pocket (once again, if it exists) has changed significantly to the point where I genuinely think it's the hardest area on the ground to have a non-defencive impact. If the team isn't moving the ball well, you're not likely to get a kick in a forward pocket, and conversely, the chances your defender will get plenty of the ball increase.

Even if the team is going well, it's not hard to miss out and not see the footy a great deal as a forward pocket.