Two years down the track and after some hard work on the training track, Lee could more than hold his own. ""His marking was something that has improved out of sight,"" the Tassie Mariners' coach said. ""This year though he smashed me in contested marking drills at training.""
Ogilvy coached the key-position player for three years, saying the Mariners invested plenty of time in the Bombers' second round draft pick (selection 30).
""In his second year we did a lot of development with him. I have certainly seen a dramatic improvement in his skills over the three years I have coached him,"" Ogilvy said.
A former state representative at under 16 and under 18 level for basketball, Lee was also a gifted soccer player before he made the switch to football.
""He has always had terrific hands. You could always see little parts of his basketball background coming out in him on the football field,"" Ogilvy recalls.
The Mariners coach said Lee was their focal point in the forward line this year but says he is more than just a key position forward.
""We gave him plenty of game time in different positions including the backline where I think it helped develop him further as a player,"" he said.
""He is a versatile player who I think is capable of playing many positions, not purely in the forward half of the ground.""
But it is Lee’s agility that has many at Windy Hill rubbing their hands together.
""Andrew’s agility, for someone that stands at 195cm is amazing. He was in the top five at the draft camps in agility tests and he set a new record for his height range,"" Ogilvy said.
""It’s an asset that most players his size simply don’t have.""
Another of the youngster assets is his personality, an imprint of his childhood on the north-west coast of Tasmania.
""He’s a terrific kid that has got a lot of time for the people around him. He has got a bit of that surfer, easy going nature about him that makes him a delight to get along with,"" Ogilvy admitted.
""Andrew was always the first to ask for advice. He won’t have a problem settling in at Essendon because he is not afraid to get out there and meet people.""
It is that attitude that has helped him settle into Melbourne life, something Ogilvy believes would have been easy for the former Burnie boy.
""He had already moved away from family and friends in Burnie 12 months ago so I am sure that the move to Melbourne would not have phased him.""
As for a transition into senior football, his former coach believes the jump form under 18 football in the TAC Cup to AFL football will test one of his favourite pupils.
""He has certainly got the attributes and no doubt they (fitness advisers) will bulk him up over summer,"" he said.
""I guess a lot will depend on the set-up Kevin Sheedy goes with but I wish Andrew all the best.""
