{"id":186846,"date":"2025-04-15T15:44:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T05:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=186846"},"modified":"2025-04-15T20:54:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T10:54:07","slug":"2025-state-game-player-focus-louis-pinnuck-vfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/04\/15\/2025-state-game-player-focus-louis-pinnuck-vfl\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 State Game Player Focus: Louis Pinnuck (VFL)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>THE 2024 Werribee premiership team has produced three AFL exports, with Norm Goss Medallist <strong>Jack Henderson<\/strong> joining <strong>Aidan Johnson<\/strong> at Melbourne, and dasher <strong>Riley Bice<\/strong> being drafted by Sydney. That came after <strong>Shaun Mannagh<\/strong>&#8216;s exploits in the 2023 decider led to him being picked up by Geelong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plying his trade alongside each of those players across 110 games with the Bees has been <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"20944\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/louis-pinnuck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louis Pinnuck<\/a>. A graduate of the Murray Bushrangers program, Pinnuck was invited to two state draft combines (2016 &amp; 2019) and despite strong results to compliment his form, has been overlooked at each draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He put his name back on the radar in Saturday&#8217;s State Game, taking out the Frank Johnson Medal as best afield for the VFL in its first win over the SANFL since 2002. It came after he was forced to withdraw from last year&#8217;s clash with a corkie. We put his performance under the Player Focus microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>    <div class='t1_footy-regular player-detail_card rmc-block'>\n    <div class='player-detail_img'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"408\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Louis-Pinnuck-VFL-2025-Frank-Johnson-Medal.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Louis-Pinnuck-VFL-2025-Frank-Johnson-Medal.jpg 408w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Louis-Pinnuck-VFL-2025-Frank-Johnson-Medal-294x300.jpg 294w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Louis-Pinnuck-VFL-2025-Frank-Johnson-Medal-125x128.jpg 125w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Louis-Pinnuck-VFL-2025-Frank-Johnson-Medal-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><\/div><div class='player-detail_data'><div class='player-detail_team'><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"team-img\" src=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Werribee.jpg\" alt=\"Werribee-logo\" title=\"Werribee-logo\" \/><a class=\"team-link\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/team\/werribee\/\">Werribee<\/a><span class='player-position'>Defender<\/span><\/div><h3 class='heading title h3'>Louis Pinnuck<\/h4><div class='details-wrap'><p class='cmpt-copy'><span class='cmpt-head'>Height: <\/span>187cm<\/p><p class='cmpt-copy'><span class='cmpt-head'>Weight: <\/span> - <\/p><p class='cmpt-copy'><span class='cmpt-head'>DOB: <\/span>24-09-1998<\/p><\/div><\/div>    <\/div>\n<\/div><div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-player-focus\">PLAYER FOCUS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2025 State Game<br>SANFL 15.13 (103) def. by VFL 18.6 (114)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>#9 <\/strong><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"20944\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/louis-pinnuck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louis Pinnuck<\/a> <strong>(VFL)<\/strong><br><strong>Stats: <\/strong>21 disposals (15 kicks), 6 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LOUIS PINNUCK!!!<br><br>?: Watch the AAMI State Game on 7mate and 7plus <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/k0ZOJoEYfa\">pic.twitter.com\/k0ZOJoEYfa<\/a><\/p>&mdash; VFL \/ VFLW (@VFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VFL\/status\/1910962272949633479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FIRST QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinnuck made a bright start, immediately showing pride in the jumper with his efforts in the opening minutes. He first brought down charging SANFL ruck <strong>Cameron McGree<\/strong> to earn a high fend-off free kick, before nearly taking a sensational intercept mark going back with the flight in defensive 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arguably Pinnuck\u2019s best traits are his offensive ones, though, and his penetrative kicking aided Victoria\u2019s lethally efficient attacking swarms. He fanned the play wide to a wing for <strong>Kye Declase<\/strong> to take ground and charge forward for <strong>Corey Ellison<\/strong> to dob the VFL\u2019s first goal, after the SANFL had early field position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, he launched a long rebound 50 kick which snuck over the back onto the wing, allowing the Victorian runners to latch onto it and send <strong>Jacob Heron<\/strong> into goal. Such plays made Pinnuck the source of fruitful transitions, with the VFL being more direct to lead with less forward 50 entries (10-17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SECOND QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinnuck continued to be polished when mopping up the spills across defensive 50, relieving pressure with sharp handling and quick possessions. He just as easily picked off targets in slow play, spreading the ball laterally and taking on kicks which others wouldn\u2019t have the license to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also got to showcase his willingness to compete again when standing under a high ball at the top of defensive 50, accounting for his opponent before snaffling the intercept mark with nice judgement. While unused, Pinnuck generally tracked the ball well through the corridor in attacking phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-186842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-1536x866.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-2048x1155.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/VFL-2025-State-Game-32x18.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The VFL state team celebrates its victory | Image Credit: Kelly Barnes\/AFL Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THIRD QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Croweaters made an early burst, booting three goals in a scintillating six minutes before the Vics had even had an effective disposal. The lead was cut back to two points at three-quarter time thanks to consecutive <strong>Boyd Woodcock<\/strong> goals, with Pinnuck having a hand in the second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a subtle bit of foreshadowing for his fourth quarter exploits, Pinnuck got on his bike to join the VFL\u2019s attack, receiving a handball at half-forward before punting a long kick which again snuck over the back of a contest for Woodcock to latch onto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinnuck had earlier run hard off the line at the centre bounce, generating some overlap with a well-timed receive. He also got a chance at the kick-ins and opted for distance, while continuing to use the ball neatly with quick short-range passes in the VFL\u2019s kick-mark passages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FOURTH QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A see-sawing final quarter was where Pinnuck made his mark. The Vics went bang-bang to take the lead early on, before South Australia snatched it back with three goals in four minutes. Pinnuck would be the VFL\u2019s hero, taking on his moment to kick two of the game\u2019s last four goals for a breakthrough victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A turnover kick into the corridor signalled his intent, looking to make high-risk, high-reward plays to win the match. He went on to sink an absolute bomb to take the lead, boldly wheeling around the man on the mark from inside the centre square before sending the ball through the big sticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinnuck again floated up around centre half-forward as the VFL attacked, and timed his run well in a chain of handballs, getting on the end of the final one to slot his second goal on the run and create a decisive buffer. His deadeye finishing was indicative of the VFL\u2019s overall game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Victorians had 11 individual goalkickers, with Pinnuck among the five with multiples, and booted a winning total with four less scoring shots. Their 18.6 scoreline reflected a ruthlessly clinical performance, and one which Pinnuck put the cherry on top of to ultimately salute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/louis-pinnuck\/\">Louis Pinnuck<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE 2024 Werribee premiership team has produced three AFL exports, with Norm Goss Medallist Jack Henderson joining Aidan Johnson at Melbourne, and dasher Riley Bice being drafted by Sydney. That came after Shaun Mannagh&#8216;s exploits in the 2023 decider led to him being picked up by Geelong. Plying his trade alongside each of those players [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":186843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18050,8,2177,11725,15,16699,20127,3134],"tags":[1164],"class_list":["post-186846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afl-draft","category-news","category-player-focus","category-match-day-sanfl","category-state-leagues","category-vfl","category-vfl-state-leagues","category-victoria","tag-louis-pinnuck"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186846"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":187034,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186846\/revisions\/187034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}