Widen your knowledge of our ex-Brisbane recruit Patrick Karnezis with collingwoodfc.com.au’s trade week dossier.

What sort of a player is he?
Karnezis is a unique player, for he stands 191cm but has the capacity to play in the midfield as well as go forward where his height stands him in good stead. The 21-year-old was drafted in 2010 as a half forward where he “felt most comfortable” in his junior days as he told The Age’s Julian Trantino on 17 October 2010. He began his days as a Lion playing predominantly in attack, kicking 17 goals in 11 games in 2011 but sought to move further afield in the past two years. He received limited opportunities in 2012, with Champion Data’s AFL Prospectus reporting that he played only 54 per cent game-time that season and he was involved as a substitute in more than half his senior games. His shift into the midfield in recent years is telling. While playing in Brisbane’s reserves team in the NEAFL, Karnezis won 66.3 per cent of his disposals in the midfield in 2012 and 68.4 per cent in 2013. He has averaged at least 27 disposals per game in the NEAFL in the past two years and tallied 45 goals in that time.

How did he perform this year?
The Marcellin College product began the year like the proverbial house on fire, averaging 20.2 possessions (the second highest placed Lion) across four of Brisbane’s five NAB Cup games. 15.2 of his touches were uncontested and he ranked third for average rebound 50s (2.5). Collingwood wasn’t spared in his hot start to the year with Karnezis winning 20 possessions, six marks and three inside 50s in Brisbane’s 34-point win over the Magpies in the third round of the competition. After such a bright start, you would presume that Karnezis would have featured heavily in Brisbane’s home and away campaign. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, as he managed only three senior games and only one after round two. Coincidentally, that one and only game was against Collingwood in round 10 when he won 18 disposals and five clearances in the Lions’ loss at the Gabba.

When playing for Brisbane’s reserves in the NEAFL, Karnezis was a consistent performer, contributing both in the middle and in attack. His season peaked with 41 possessions, 15 marks and six scoring shots against Labrador in round 13. It was one of seven games in which he had more than 30 touches of the Sherrin while he kicked at least one goal in 12 of his 14 games. Karnezis was also strong around the stoppages, winning a season-high 11 clearances against Sydney’s reserves in round 20, a match in which he kicked four goals and three behinds.

Karnezis’ consistency was rewarded when he was named on the wing in the NEAFL Northern Conference’s 2013 Team of the Year.

What was his junior record like?
Quite impressive. Drafted to Brisbane at pick No. 25 in the 2010 National Draft, Karnezis played 10 games for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup that year, averaging 16.2 disposals and three inside 50s per game. Importantly, he kicked 29 goals, took 16 contested marks and had a hand in 20 of Oakleigh’s remaining scoring attempts. He represented Vic Metro at the Under 18 National Championships that season, winning 21 touches and six marks against the Northern Territory Under 18s. He averaged 11.8 disposals across the four games and bagged five goals.

What’s his upside?
Players don’t get selected in the top 25 of any draft for no reason. Karnezis hasn’t been able to make a spot in Brisbane’s first choice side his own but his record in the NEAFL can’t be faulted and proves that he can play both in the midfield and as a marking option in attack. At 190cm, he is one centimetre smaller than Scott Pendlebury and would add some height to a midfield that is powerful but predominantly small. The fact that he went at pick No. 25 in 2010 has some relevance to the Magpies, for it was the selection the club traded to the new Gold Coast team in exchange for the pre-listed Andrew Krakouer and Jonathon Ceglar (as well as selections No. 55, No. 78 and No. 95). The selection was then on-traded to Brisbane in a complicated deal that saw Rohan Bewick become a Lion and the Suns receive pick No. 10. The circle of football life continues!

Can you present us with vital statistics?
AFL Statistics (three games in 2013)
Disposals: 38 (12.7) Marks: 11 (3.7) Tackles: 7 (2.3) Inside 50s: 7 (2.3) Rebound 50s: 3 (1.0) Contested Possessions: 16 (5.3) Clearances: 5 (1.7) Score Assists: 2 (0.7)
Averages in brackets.

NEAFL Statistics (2013)
Disposals: 389 (27.8) Marks: 92 (6.6) Tackles: 41 (2.9) Inside 50s: 61 (4.4) Rebound 50s: 25 (1.8) Contested Possessions: 138 (9.9) Clearances: 58 (4.1) Score Assists: 16 (1.1)
Averages in brackets.

What have they said about him so far?
“Soccer convert has zip and strong hands for a mid-sized forward. Leads long and hard but isn't one-dimensional. Can surprise with his creativity as he works hard to involve teammates. Defensive side needs work,” – Jay Clark, Herald Sun, 5 November 2010.

“''Patty's got some of that freakish ability about him. He's certainly got great hands. When the ball gets into his area, whether it's a ground ball or over his head or to his side, he just doesn't fumble. He's also a great set shot for goal. He's got a great technique and looks very composed and balanced. The creativeness is something that stands out with him. He sets up the game, and that may well come from soccer,” – Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Manager), The Age, 17 November 2011.

“Patrick enjoyed a fantastic start to the year and was our best player through the first rounds. He played metro and school footy and was battling illness late in the season so didn't finish off as healthy and fit as he would've liked,” – Steve Conole (Oakleigh Charges Regional Manager), Herald Sun, 8 November 2010.

“Patrick is one of those guys that everyone rates a little higher than me and subsequently I have become a bit worried I don’t have him as high as I should. Only been playing a couple of years and plays forward. Terrific size and stands well over 6ft so he presents as someone that is going to be difficult to match up on when his body fills out and he gets more core strength. Prospective coaches will be drawn to him because he is a very likeable kid and is very coachable. Add to that his ability to play a few different roles then you have someone who could go anywhere because of his potential. Mobility and smarts are his big strengths whilst his kicking and marking are good. Reminds me of Scott Simpson from the ’07 Draft. Only issue for me is his acceleration – doesn’t test as a speedster. Similar to: Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs),” – Snoop Dogg, one of BigFooty.com’s resident draft gurus, 12 November 2010.


What does the man himself say about his game?
"In soccer, there's a lot of switching the ball and making space. In terms of football today, there's also a lot of switching, then taking it slow and pressing straight away. I've brought that knowledge from soccer to football," – Patrick Karnezis speaks to The Sunday Age’s Julian Trantino on 17 October 2010.


You might also find these facts interesting…

Karnezis graduated from Marcellin College in Bulleen. Other famous footballers to have graduated from the school include Stephen Silvagni, Leigh Montagna, Luke Shuey, David Zaharakis and Collingwood royalty Gavin Brown. Ex-Magpie rookie Tom Gordon also graduated alongside Karnezis in 2010.

In a roundabout way, the acquisition of Karnezis helps fill a gap in Collingwood’s list. After trading out selection No. 25, the very pick that saw the Lions snaffle Karnezis, the Magpies entered the 2010 National Draft at pick No. 45. They didn’t waste it either with Alex Fasolo representing a bargain buy. Unfortunately Paul Seedsman (pick No. 76) is the only other player remaining from the draft on Collingwood’s list. Daniel Farmer, Kirk Ugle and Trent Stubbs have all been and gone while Jarryd Blair, Lachlan Keeffe and Tom Young were upgraded from the rookie and NSW Scholarship lists. So in adding Karnezis to the mix, it helps the Magpies fill out their age profile nicely.

The Brisbane website reports that Karnezis has played football since he was 11-years-old but took five months off to play futsal and club soccer for the Doncaster Rovers in the under 16s before heading to the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup at the age of 15. He stopped playing futsal at the beginning of 2009.

Three of Karnezis’ 21 senior games have been against Collingwood – more than any other club. He has kicked 2.4 and averaged 9.33 disposals across the three games and kicked two majors in Brisbane’s loss in round seven, 2012.

He has played in only three wins from his 21 games, the same amount as fellow recruit Taylor Adams has notched in 31 outings for Greater Western Sydney.