Dukes Of Hurley
Team Captain
Hey guys, haven't done an update in a while, but I've been writing plenty on www.boundforglorynews.com. You can check out my work there. I've got a top 30 mock draft at the moment, but this will be updated when all the draft positions are sorted, then again later on in the year.
TOP 30.
1. Carlton- Jacob Weitering - Dandenong Stingrays (Key Defender) 195 cm 94 kg
2. Brisbane- Josh Schache - Murray Bushrangers (Key Forward) 199 cm 96 kg
3. Gold Coast- Aaron Francis - West Adelaide (Utility) 192 cm 89 kg
4. Essendon - Darcy Parish - Geelong Falcons (Outside Midfielder) 181 cm 73 kg
5. Swans- Callum Mills - Northshore (Inside Midfielder) 188 cm 80 kg
6. GWS - Jacob Hopper - North Ballarat Rebels (Inside Midfielder) 186 cm 82 kg
7. Melbourne- Charlie Curnow - Geelong Falcons (Key Forward / Utility) 191 cm 95 kg
8. Saints- Rhys Mathieson - Geelong Falcons (Inside / Balanced Midfielder) 185 cm 79 kg
9. Collingwood- Sam Weideman - Eastern Ranges (Key Forward) 195cm 91kg
10. GWS - Matt Kennedy - Collingullie GP (Inside / Balanced Midfielder) 187cm 84 kg
11. Port - Harley Balic - Sandringham Dragons (Balanced Midfielder / Forward) 186 cm 80kg
12. Brisbane - Ben Keays - Redlands (Balanced Midfielder) 185 cm 82 kg
13. Geelong - Harry McKay - Gippsland Power (Key Forward) 200 cm 85 kg
14. North - Cal Ah Chee - South Fremantle (Outside Midfielder / Small Forward) 182 cm 71 kg
15. Adelaide - Wayne Milera - Central Districts (Outside Midfielder / Utility) 185 cm 75 kg
16. Brisbane- Eric Hipwood - Aspley (Key Forward / Key Defender) 200 cm 82 kg
17. Richmond - Darcy Tucker - North Ballarat Rebels (Small Defender / Outside Midfielder)184 cm 78 kg
18. Western Bulldogs - Kieran Collins - Dandenong Stingrays (Key Defender) 194 cm 94 kg
19. Hawks- Riley Bonner - West Adelaide (Medium Defender) 191 cm 81 kg
20. Eagles - Ryan Clarke - Eastern Ranges (Balanced Midfielder) 180 cm 77 kg
21. Freo - Ryan Burton - North Adelaide (Key Forward) 191 cm 90 kg
22. GC - Mitchell Hibberd - Clarence (Medium Defender / Balanced Midfielder) 191 cm 85 kg
23. Carlton - Luke Partington - Norwood (Outside Midfielder) 182 cm 75 kg
23. GC - Jade Gresham - Northern Knights (Outside / Balanced Midfielder) 177 cm 74 kg
24. Essendon - Josh Dunkley - Gippsland Power (Inside Midfielder) 189 cm 84 kg
25. Demons - Clayton Oliver - Murray Bushrangers (Inside Midfielder) 187 cm 86 kg
26. Saints- Bailey Rice - Dandenong Stingrays (Medium Defender / Inside Midfielder) 184 cm 81 kg
27. Port - Tom Cole - Bendigo Pioneers (Inside Midfielder) 185 cm 76 kg
28. Collingwood - Nick O'Kearney - Calder Cannons (Outside Midfielder) 181 cm 71 kg
29. Geelong - Aidyn Johnson - Bendigo Pioneers (Outside Midfielder) 184 cm 75 kg
30. North - Brayden Fiorini - Northern Knights (Outside Midfielder / Medium Defender) 186 cm 75 kg
Profiles
Top 2 on an AFL List
1. Jacob Weitering
2. Josh Schache
Top 5 on an AFL List
3. Aaron Francis
4. Callum Mills
5. Jacob Hopper
6. Darcy Parish
Top 10 on an AFL List
7. Rhys Mathieson
8. Charlie Curnow
9. Callum Ah Chee
Top 15 players on list quality
10. Ben Keays
11. Matthew Kennedy
12. Harley Balic
13. Kieran Collins
14. Darcy Tucker
15. Riley Bonner
16. Ryan Burton
17. Jade Gresham
18. Ryan Clarke
19. Harry McKay
20. Eric Hipwood
21. Wayne Milera
Best 22 players
22. Luke Partington
23. Josh Dunkley
24. Mitch Hibberd
25. Aidyn Johnson
26. Clayton Oliver
27. Ben Crocker
28. Nick O'Kearney
29. Tom Cole
30. Brayden Fiorini
31. Bailey Rice
32. Sam Skinner
33. James Parsons
Depth Players
34. Nash Holmes
35. Ben McKay
36. Stephen Tahana
37. Kieran Lovell
38. Gach Nyoun
39. Blake Hardwick
40. Greg Clark
41. Will Snelling
42. Mason Redman
43. Matthew Flynn
44. Hisham Kerbatieh
45. Brandon White
High upside / Moderate Risk
46. Alex Morgan
47. Tyrone Leonardis
48. Daniel Rioli
49. Jack Silvagni
50. Callum Moore
51. Cameron Hewitt
52. Reuben William
53. Dan Houston
54. David Cunningham
High Risk / High Upside
55. Shane Yarran
56. Davin Ferreria
57. Yestin Eades
58. Kieran Agius
59. Jock Cornell
60. Darcy McPherson
61. Liam Jeffs
Moderate Upside / No Risk
62. Jesse Glass - McKasker
63. Mitch Brown
64. Michael Hartley
65. Tom Templeton
66. Mark Kovacevic
67. Theo Thompson
68. Tom Phillips
69. Harrison Himmelberg
70. Corey Wagner
Nick Dodge
A+ Profiles
Jacob Weitering
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Position: Key Defender
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 94 kg
Player Comparison: Alex Rance
Weitering's got the whole package. His best asset is his intercept marking. He runs off his opponent and reads the play so well. He's strong enough to not only compete at AFL level, but immediately win contests. He's a terrific overhead mark, and positions himself well. Weitering is a terrific rebounder. He's got a long, classy raking kick and he often puts the ball out into space for his team mates to run into. Athletically, he's got a good leap and he's got great closing speed. I firmly believe he will be one of the two or three best key defenders in the league in years to come.
Josh Schache
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Key Forward
Height: 199 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Player Comparison: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
Probably the most promising ‘true’ key forward of 2015, Schache kicked 27 goals from 15 games as a 17 year old. Schache prides himself on his contested marking. His size allows him to bust through packs, but he also takes the ball out at full stretch. Schache is a great player below the knees, and unlike most key forwards, he is a reliable field kick and shot for goal. Schache has speed on the lead and he also likes to use his physicality. Schache can kick a goal from most places on the field, and he’s got a 55 metre cannon too. In terms of agility, Schache is actually quite impressive for his size. He could potentially improve on the defensive side of his game, which is for me, what separates him from Tom Boyd and Patrick McCartin, as they are probably less likely to become well-rounded key forwards. Schache's conversion rate this year has been impressive and he's stood up in key games. Definitely the second best player in the draft for mine.
A Grade Profiles
Aaron Francis
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Utility
Height: 191cm
Weight: 89 kg
Player Comparison: Adam Goodes
Francis is just a shade below the top two in my eyes. He's a terrific intercept mark, has tremendous athleticism and literally plays in every position. Francis has played his best footy as a third tall or key defender, as his intercept marking and ability to rebound are his two best assets. He's also extremely strong around the contest, so he can win his own footy on the inside. His kicking is well above average, and he is quickish, so he's a good player on the outside too. I liked his smarts when playing as a forward. He lead up consistently, and he provides a great target. When the ball hits the deck, he is too big and strong for small defenders, and too agile for bigger ones. The one query I have on him is his goal kicking, but I haven't seen a big enough sample size of him as a forward to say whether that's a true weakness.
Callum Mills
Club: North Shore
Position: Midfield
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Lenny Hayes
Cal is the complete package, and he will head to Sydney through their academy. He surely would have been a top three pick if he was on the open market. Mills is a ridiculous accumulator, as he averaged 32 disposals at 65% through his six TAC Cup games last year as a 17 year old. . He was named in the bests in five out of his six games. Mills also averaged over six tackles and six marks per game in the TAC Cup. Mills is a beast of an inside midfielder. He's fairly balanced, as he gets around 50% of his ball on the outside, as he finds space to take uncontested marks and handball receives. But his courage to throw himself at the ball is incredible. He is impossible to tag. Mills is a leader and works hard defensively.
Darcy Parish
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Player Comparison: Nick Dal Santo (a bit quicker)
Darcy Parish is a classy outside midfielder, who despite his flaws, should be a top 5 pick. Parish is a very slight framed player who has great speed. He runs hard to receive a handball or take an uncontested mark, then will keep zipping past others to break lines. Parish loves to kick, and he can often have 20 or more kicks in a game. Most will hit the targets, as he prefers to do short sharp chips. He's a good decision maker and with that comes a high disposal efficiency. I think at AFL level that efficiency may drop a little as he will be encouraged to be more bold. It’s scary that a player with so much hurt factor still has so much room to grow. Parish has become more of a goal kicker, and he's put on a bit of weight to increase his core strength. He's got room to improve his defensive efforts, as his strong tank and speed should really see him taking down few more players. I see him growing into that Lachie Whitfield mould, but perhaps with a little more pace.
Rhys Mathieson
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Player Comparison: Jordan Lewis
Mathieson, alongside Mills and Ben Keays, look to be the two most developed and well rounded players at this stage. I don’t like to overrate players, but Mathieson has a similar style to Jordan Lewis, in the way he plays on the inside and outside. Mathieson is a big time accumulator, but it’s the way that he does it that really makes his 30 disposal games really impressive, despite being just an above average kick of the ball. Mathieson hunts the ball on the inside. He throws himself at the contest, and despite not being the new prototype big midfielder, his body strength in packs is advanced for his age. He knows how to position himself on the inside, and once he has the ball, he executes handpasses in traffic and out of the bottom of a pack quickly and usually to the best outside option. Mathieson is terrific on the outside too, and this is what makes him such a champion type. Mathieson is fairly quick on the outside, with a solid 20 metre burst that breaks games open. He doesn’t have to run a long distance, because with the separation he creates in a short space, he gives himself enough time to launch a kick into the forward 50. Mathieson has above average skills by hand and foot, and he’s a solid overhead mark too.
Callum Ah Chee
Club: South Fremantle
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Player Comparison: Chad Wingard
Ah Chee offers a bit of a different look this year, and though I suspect he has more potential than most of the players in the top 10, he probably hasn't had the year he would have liked. Ah Chee is lightening quick, in terms of acceleration and over a long distance. There's not too many ultra quick players who have multiple strings to their bow in this year's draft class. Ah Chee is an excellent kick of the football. He gets a fair bit of penetration on it and I've noticed his decision making has improved over the course of this year. Ah Chee is very dangerous around goals. He's an excellent crumber, but as you've all seen with his mark in the AFL Academy game, he's a high flier and a good over head mark, despite his light frame. I'd love to see him build up his tank and also his core strength, as he's struggling to win much of his own footy.
B+ Profiles
Ben Keays
Club: Morningside
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Player Comparison: Christian Petracca
First thought that crossed my mind when I saw Keays for the first time was, gee this guy is another Petracca. Indeed, Keays isn’t nearly as good a forward as Petracca, and his ceiling isn’t as high. But Keays in my mind is a top 10 pick, but he will be going to Brisbane through their academy a little later. Keays is a gut running type, who shows absolute class on the outside most of the time (does make some poor choices some times). Keays has the ability to kick it long or hit short targets with ease. Keays is a really strong body, and his work on the inside is outstanding. Indeed, Keays’ most exciting ‘Petracca like’ feature is his overhead marking and work as a forward. Keays can really dominate up forward with strength, but he can also kick freakish, skillful goals. He fends off players as he takes on the game, and backs himself in to finish off with a goal. He's increased his ability to rack up the football, and as such, his disposal efficiency has dropped off a touch, which I think is why he hasn't been talked about as much in that top 10 equation.
Harley Balic
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Jackson Macrae
Balic is a really classy half forward who can pull off some incredible things. Balic is a terrific overhead mark, and he leads to the right places. His contested marking is incredible for a medium forward. He is a really intelligent forward who pushes up to create space for his full forward to lead in to. He has a very strong body and last year he lacked opportunity in the midfield. His inside game development is arguably the biggest leap of any top talent in the draft this year. Last year I would have said he was a pure outside player, but he has learnt the nuances of the inside game in terms of positioning himself at contests. His developmental curve is extremely encouraging and it's one of the reasons I like him more than most. The fact he is now a balanced midfielder who can find the footy, as well as being a forward with flare makes me believe he has a sneakily very high ceiling.
Ryan Burton
Club: North Adelaide
Position: Forward
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Player Comparison: Brett Burton
It’s a shame that Burton will be missing most of 2015 with a broken leg, because he has an incredible upside. Although he is in that inbetween size, I can see Burton being a key forward. Burton has a massive leap, and his overhead marking is exceptional. Indeed, his game style isn’t too dissimilar to his namesake Brett Burton. Burton is a wonderful kick for goal, and he isn’t shy when it’s a clutch situation. Burton needs to improve his field kicking and forward smarts (ie where to lead and how to space himself). However, one thing that cannot be questioned is his defensive efforts, as he averaged three tackles per game in the Championships as a 17 year old.
Darcy Tucker
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Player Comparison: Sam Docherty
Tucker looks best as a half back in my eyes. He reads the play really well, and he plays pretty wide of the contest, so he's often in a dangerous spot on the rebound if the ball leaks out. He's not a great individual defender, but I can see with his mindset and leadership that his defensive game will grow. As a midfielder, Tucker plays almost exclusively on the outside, but I can see scope for that developing as he seems to have good core strength. Tucker is an excellent kick of the footy. Although he's a bit down the pecking order, I don't think there is a massive class difference between Darcy Parish, Cal Ah Chee and Tucker.
Ryan Clarke
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Balanced / Outside Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 77 kg
Player Comparison: David Zaharakis
Clarke's kicking can be wonderful, but occasionally he’ll spray it horribly. His speed is excellent over the first few steps and he really breaks lines, but he’s probably a couple of rungs slower than the absolute best.He’s an excellent distributor by hand and foot. His decision making and vision is in the top class of this year’s draft, and he backs himself to hit difficult targets. Clarke is a strong runner who loves to break through the middle. He’s also got a fairly long kick too, and on the run he can impact the scoreboard from 55 out. Clarke has the ability to end up with two or three goals, but they’ll usually be as a midfielder on the run rather than a traditional forward’s goals.
He can go forward, but he’s probably got some work to do in that regard. He’s not a great mark overhead, and although he has the physical attributes to be a good crumber, he hasn’t shown that he’s got those talents as of yet. Having said that, he’s kicked seven goals in five games for the Ranges, and troubled the scorers in every game. Clarke’s inside game is developing. He’s got great core strength, so he breaks tackles fairly easily. He reads the tap well and he’s physical, so he throws himself at the footy. Clarke is sharp and quick by hand too, so there aren’t too many doubts over whether he’ll be a well-rounded midfielder. He’s not the prototype big-bodied inside beast that recruiters are infatuated with, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be a clearance machine at the top level, but he’ll be serviceable.
Jade Gresham
Northern Knights
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 74 kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Gresham is one of those players you know what you are going to get. While he does lack that punishing hurt factor that the elite players have, he uses his limitations to the best of his ability. In other words, rather than try and boot a 60m bomb to half forward under pressure, he’ll size up his options and pass laterally to teammates who are more likely to break the lines. In this way, Gresham could be considered a link man who has the intelligence to find the more dangerous players on his team. Defensively, he’s not too bad. He doesn’t rack up a lot of tackles, but he is accountable and he reads the play well enough to choose when to peel off his man as well. Gresham has racked up the most touches of any player to date and his ceiling is around that 40 disposal mark.
Gresham is a outside-leaning midfielder, with the potential to develop an inside game in the future. He reads the ruck taps so well and knows where to run and break away. While he’s not fast, he’s smart and this helps him at stoppages. He is fearless in the way he throws himself into packs, despite being a shorter midfielder. His hands in traffic are really clean and quick. Gresham rarely fumbles and he’s got poise before disposing of the football. Gresham has added goal kicking to his repertoire of late. He hasn’t had the opportunity to play much as a crumbing small forward, but he has kicked a goal per game on average this season, so can kick truly when drifting forward. Gresham looks to be an excellent leader already. His game style is inspiring and he is really vocal.
Gresham isn’t as quick as you’d hope for a smaller player, but he is really agile and he’s got excellent endurance. For all the flaws that he can’t fix, Gresham works hard to cover it up by showing another string to his bow.
B Grade Profiles
Josh Dunkley
Club: Gippsland Powe
Position: Midfield
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Player Comparison: Early years Jobe Watson
Dunkley is an inside midfielder who finds the goals easily. His drive and work ethic is incredible, reminiscent of Jason Johnson in his prime.He uses his size to bully his opponents, which should still work relatively well at AFL level, but he hasn't become the great extractor his skillset should allow him to. Dunkley is an incredible tackler and a strong overhead mark. His leadership is a plus as well. Dunkley averaged 6 and a half tackles in the TAC Cup over 13 games, with an astounding 18 tackles leading the way against the Falcons as a 17 year old. He's a really poor kick and lacks any form of an outside game at this stage. He's pretty sluggish off the mark too, but he's got a pretty good tank. He showed that he can hold his own at VFL level, which is crucial for a player of his ilk.
Sam Weideman
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Key Forward
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 91 kg
Player Comparison: John Butcher
Grandson of Collingwood legend Murray, and son of Mark, Sam Weideman is an extraordinarily talented key forward, who will be available on the open market. His injury issues have made him an intruiging prospect, as he has so much that he must improve on. I genuinely believe that if he played a full year, he could have pushed to the top 6-7 picks, but if he continued in the same form, pick 15 would be adequate. 2014 was an up and down year for the forward. He was able to play 15 games, but only kicked 19 goals and 15 behinds. His statline is poor, but recruiters will look to his best games to find out why he is so highly regarded. Again in 2015, he struggled statistically, despite receiving very good delivery from a strong midfield group. Weideman is a terrific mark of the ball. His contested marking is a standout in pack situations. However, what is most impressive is his ability to take one grab marks on the lead, particularly in sticky situations. You know if the ball is within his long reach, then he won’t drop it. He's a really poor kick of the football, which really hurts me to say. I just want to like him because he's probably one of only a handful of players in this draft class who have one truly dominant skill, but when you cannot convert simple set shots at goal, then it really hurts. Weideman plays as a true leading centre half forward, but he also has the size and skill set to play as a full forward.
Nick O’Kearney
Club: Calder Cannons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Player Comparison: Brent Stanton
I like O'Kearney more than most, and I think that comes with accepting that he is a limited role player. His ball winning is incredible, as he averaged 25 disposalsin the TAC Cup as a 17 year old, and he's shown that he can do that again as an 18 year old. Despite playing in a star studded Calder team, O’Kearney took out the Cannons’ best and fairest as a 17 year old, and may do so again. O'Kearney reminds me a lot of Brent Stanton, in that he is a terrific two way runner. He gets 65% of the ball on the outside, but he's improved his inside game as well this year. O’Kearney captained Vic Metro in the Under 16’s and he has natural leadership qualities. However, despite his leadership and high production, there are clear knocks on his game. His kicking is pretty average for someone who is predominately an outside midfielder. It has improved a little bit, but not enough to be a top 25 pick in my eyes. Despite having an excellent tank, O'Kearney hasn't shown much flair around the forward line, but he does rack up tackles, which is really important for an outside player.
James Parsons (Eastern Ranges)
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Midfield/half forward
Comparison: Martin Gleeson
He’s a pure outside midfielder who likes to run and spread, and he could be a very solid wingman at AFL level. He’s got some good running patterns. Parsons’ best asset is his kicking. He is a long kick, and he weights it really well. He’s fairly good on both sides of the body. As a high half forward, he brings class in terms of delivery to the key forwards. He is fine when kicking on the run, although he can struggle a bit when there’s defensive pressure applied. Parsons has gone forward to effect this year. He’s been able to kick two or three goals on several occasions. He’s not a lead up forward type, but he’s able to find space in general play. He reads the drop of the ball well and he can crumb.
Brayden Fiorini
Northern Knights
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Midfielder, utility
Player Comparison: Kade Simpson
I'm a big wrap for Fiorini. He's one of the best ball users in this draft, with a nice left foot kick. He's moderately quick and he finds plenty of the football. Fiorini is a good decision maker, although as he's tried to find more of the football this year, his disposal efficiency has dropped a bit. He's got hurt factor, but I think due to the Knights' style of overpossessing the football, he chips it around quite a bit and a 40 possession game isn't overly astounding.
Fiorini is a solid defender. He's a little unaccountable, but when he's used primarily as an offensive weapon from the back half, that is forgiven. He's actually a fairly strong footballer, who has shown spurts of courage, but I don't think he will build too much of an inside midfield game. I can see him being used primarily as a half back or wingman at AFL level.
C+ Profiles
Greg Clark
Club: Subiaco
Position: Midfield
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Tom Lynch (Adelaide)
I like Clark as a link up third tall forward type. He's very clean in traffic, and he's got a great kick around the body. He's an okay mark, but he's got great endurance so he burns off opponents. He probably hasn't had the year he would have liked. He was meant to be the second bright spot for WA behind Ah Chee, but he went completely under the radar behind the 17 year olds. I think he's going to take time to adjust to AFL level, and clubs are going to have to put a lot of work into finding his best position. I can't see him as a midfielder at AFL level, as he is too slow on the outside and really struggles on the inside, despite the size advantage. He doesn't rack up the ball and he isn't an elite user, therefore he's stuck in that 30-40 range.
Blake Hardwick
Eastern Ranges
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Position: Small forward/inside midfielder
Player Comparison: Mitch Hahn
Hardwick plays out of the goal square, where he beats his opponents consistently on the lead. He’s got some nice acceleration off the mark, but his top speed isn’t terrific. He’s a smart small forward, who knows exactly where to lead. Marking is Hardwick’s strong suit. He’s a sure bet to take a mark on the lead, but he’s also equally adept overhead and in contested situations. He usually takes around five marks per game, and one or two of those will always be contested. Hardwick is the leading goal kicker in the TAC Cup. He has kicked bags of 12, 10 and eight this year and really picked up the slack since Sam Weideman has missed through injury. He’s a wonderful set shot kicker, kicking 45.14 so far. He doesn’t mind if he’s 50 metres out on a tight angle, as his routine is the same for every kick. It’s technically sound and he stays cool under pressure.
He’s got the physical tools to become a decent inside midfielder but he hasn’t really got the tank as of yet. He looks like he’s going to be one of the steals of the draft. The league still has an issue with height bias which should see Hardwick slip, but he’s got plenty to offer.
C Grade Profiles
Kieran Agius
Club: North Adelaide
Position: Forward
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Agius is an athletic prospect who looks best as a forward. He's a good mark overhead and on the lead, but he has struggled more than any other prospect this year. He can't seem to crack into the higher levels, despite having extremely high upside. He's a great kick, he's got a bit of speed and he can kick big bags of goals, although he's only done this at lower levels and has struggled to cut it at higher grades. Many talent managers will try their players in different positions so recruiters can see their versatility. Agius has struggled with these changes and seems like he's a bit immature. I think it's a bit of 'Tom Lamb' syndrome, where he has all these incredible talents, and he's probably not ready for the pressure. Because of this, Agius is trying hard, but it's a bit of a mental battle.
D+ Grade Profiles
Dan Houston
Oakleigh Chargers
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Position: Key forward/third tall
Player Comparison: Aaron Hamill
I like Dan Houston because he does everything you need to do as a key forward well. He is athletic, he is smart, he's a strong mark and he is one of the best shots for goal on the run and from a set shot. Unfortunately, he's about 5-10cm too short to be a key forward, but I still have hope for him.
Houston is an undersized key forward in the way he plays, but he’s got many forward aspects to his game. Houston has a bit of Mark LeCras about him in his game style. He is one of the hardest working players on the lead, as he continually leads up towards the 50, but then he’ll double back and do second or third leads. He’s one of the best key forwards in this year’s draft crop when the ball hits the deck. He has great special awareness, and strength to bust out of tackles. He can duck and weave through traffic and he is a tremendous finisher around the body. He can crumb his own work, so he’s got the ability to fit in any forward line as a unique forward.
The big question mark over Houston is his ability to do it more often. Besides from his four goals against South Australia, he has not set the world on fire at the under 18 championships. He averages seven marks per week for the Oakleigh Chargers, but just 1.6 goals. This is attributed to the fact he spent the first few games in defence – a move that did not work out.
TOP 30.
1. Carlton- Jacob Weitering - Dandenong Stingrays (Key Defender) 195 cm 94 kg
2. Brisbane- Josh Schache - Murray Bushrangers (Key Forward) 199 cm 96 kg
3. Gold Coast- Aaron Francis - West Adelaide (Utility) 192 cm 89 kg
4. Essendon - Darcy Parish - Geelong Falcons (Outside Midfielder) 181 cm 73 kg
5. Swans- Callum Mills - Northshore (Inside Midfielder) 188 cm 80 kg
6. GWS - Jacob Hopper - North Ballarat Rebels (Inside Midfielder) 186 cm 82 kg
7. Melbourne- Charlie Curnow - Geelong Falcons (Key Forward / Utility) 191 cm 95 kg
8. Saints- Rhys Mathieson - Geelong Falcons (Inside / Balanced Midfielder) 185 cm 79 kg
9. Collingwood- Sam Weideman - Eastern Ranges (Key Forward) 195cm 91kg
10. GWS - Matt Kennedy - Collingullie GP (Inside / Balanced Midfielder) 187cm 84 kg
11. Port - Harley Balic - Sandringham Dragons (Balanced Midfielder / Forward) 186 cm 80kg
12. Brisbane - Ben Keays - Redlands (Balanced Midfielder) 185 cm 82 kg
13. Geelong - Harry McKay - Gippsland Power (Key Forward) 200 cm 85 kg
14. North - Cal Ah Chee - South Fremantle (Outside Midfielder / Small Forward) 182 cm 71 kg
15. Adelaide - Wayne Milera - Central Districts (Outside Midfielder / Utility) 185 cm 75 kg
16. Brisbane- Eric Hipwood - Aspley (Key Forward / Key Defender) 200 cm 82 kg
17. Richmond - Darcy Tucker - North Ballarat Rebels (Small Defender / Outside Midfielder)184 cm 78 kg
18. Western Bulldogs - Kieran Collins - Dandenong Stingrays (Key Defender) 194 cm 94 kg
19. Hawks- Riley Bonner - West Adelaide (Medium Defender) 191 cm 81 kg
20. Eagles - Ryan Clarke - Eastern Ranges (Balanced Midfielder) 180 cm 77 kg
21. Freo - Ryan Burton - North Adelaide (Key Forward) 191 cm 90 kg
22. GC - Mitchell Hibberd - Clarence (Medium Defender / Balanced Midfielder) 191 cm 85 kg
23. Carlton - Luke Partington - Norwood (Outside Midfielder) 182 cm 75 kg
23. GC - Jade Gresham - Northern Knights (Outside / Balanced Midfielder) 177 cm 74 kg
24. Essendon - Josh Dunkley - Gippsland Power (Inside Midfielder) 189 cm 84 kg
25. Demons - Clayton Oliver - Murray Bushrangers (Inside Midfielder) 187 cm 86 kg
26. Saints- Bailey Rice - Dandenong Stingrays (Medium Defender / Inside Midfielder) 184 cm 81 kg
27. Port - Tom Cole - Bendigo Pioneers (Inside Midfielder) 185 cm 76 kg
28. Collingwood - Nick O'Kearney - Calder Cannons (Outside Midfielder) 181 cm 71 kg
29. Geelong - Aidyn Johnson - Bendigo Pioneers (Outside Midfielder) 184 cm 75 kg
30. North - Brayden Fiorini - Northern Knights (Outside Midfielder / Medium Defender) 186 cm 75 kg
Profiles
Top 2 on an AFL List
1. Jacob Weitering
2. Josh Schache
Top 5 on an AFL List
3. Aaron Francis
4. Callum Mills
5. Jacob Hopper
6. Darcy Parish
Top 10 on an AFL List
7. Rhys Mathieson
8. Charlie Curnow
9. Callum Ah Chee
Top 15 players on list quality
10. Ben Keays
11. Matthew Kennedy
12. Harley Balic
13. Kieran Collins
14. Darcy Tucker
15. Riley Bonner
16. Ryan Burton
17. Jade Gresham
18. Ryan Clarke
19. Harry McKay
20. Eric Hipwood
21. Wayne Milera
Best 22 players
22. Luke Partington
23. Josh Dunkley
24. Mitch Hibberd
25. Aidyn Johnson
26. Clayton Oliver
27. Ben Crocker
28. Nick O'Kearney
29. Tom Cole
30. Brayden Fiorini
31. Bailey Rice
32. Sam Skinner
33. James Parsons
Depth Players
34. Nash Holmes
35. Ben McKay
36. Stephen Tahana
37. Kieran Lovell
38. Gach Nyoun
39. Blake Hardwick
40. Greg Clark
41. Will Snelling
42. Mason Redman
43. Matthew Flynn
44. Hisham Kerbatieh
45. Brandon White
High upside / Moderate Risk
46. Alex Morgan
47. Tyrone Leonardis
48. Daniel Rioli
49. Jack Silvagni
50. Callum Moore
51. Cameron Hewitt
52. Reuben William
53. Dan Houston
54. David Cunningham
High Risk / High Upside
55. Shane Yarran
56. Davin Ferreria
57. Yestin Eades
58. Kieran Agius
59. Jock Cornell
60. Darcy McPherson
61. Liam Jeffs
Moderate Upside / No Risk
62. Jesse Glass - McKasker
63. Mitch Brown
64. Michael Hartley
65. Tom Templeton
66. Mark Kovacevic
67. Theo Thompson
68. Tom Phillips
69. Harrison Himmelberg
70. Corey Wagner
Nick Dodge
A+ Profiles
Jacob Weitering
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Position: Key Defender
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 94 kg
Player Comparison: Alex Rance
Weitering's got the whole package. His best asset is his intercept marking. He runs off his opponent and reads the play so well. He's strong enough to not only compete at AFL level, but immediately win contests. He's a terrific overhead mark, and positions himself well. Weitering is a terrific rebounder. He's got a long, classy raking kick and he often puts the ball out into space for his team mates to run into. Athletically, he's got a good leap and he's got great closing speed. I firmly believe he will be one of the two or three best key defenders in the league in years to come.
Josh Schache
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Key Forward
Height: 199 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Player Comparison: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
Probably the most promising ‘true’ key forward of 2015, Schache kicked 27 goals from 15 games as a 17 year old. Schache prides himself on his contested marking. His size allows him to bust through packs, but he also takes the ball out at full stretch. Schache is a great player below the knees, and unlike most key forwards, he is a reliable field kick and shot for goal. Schache has speed on the lead and he also likes to use his physicality. Schache can kick a goal from most places on the field, and he’s got a 55 metre cannon too. In terms of agility, Schache is actually quite impressive for his size. He could potentially improve on the defensive side of his game, which is for me, what separates him from Tom Boyd and Patrick McCartin, as they are probably less likely to become well-rounded key forwards. Schache's conversion rate this year has been impressive and he's stood up in key games. Definitely the second best player in the draft for mine.
A Grade Profiles
Aaron Francis
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Utility
Height: 191cm
Weight: 89 kg
Player Comparison: Adam Goodes
Francis is just a shade below the top two in my eyes. He's a terrific intercept mark, has tremendous athleticism and literally plays in every position. Francis has played his best footy as a third tall or key defender, as his intercept marking and ability to rebound are his two best assets. He's also extremely strong around the contest, so he can win his own footy on the inside. His kicking is well above average, and he is quickish, so he's a good player on the outside too. I liked his smarts when playing as a forward. He lead up consistently, and he provides a great target. When the ball hits the deck, he is too big and strong for small defenders, and too agile for bigger ones. The one query I have on him is his goal kicking, but I haven't seen a big enough sample size of him as a forward to say whether that's a true weakness.
Callum Mills
Club: North Shore
Position: Midfield
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Lenny Hayes
Cal is the complete package, and he will head to Sydney through their academy. He surely would have been a top three pick if he was on the open market. Mills is a ridiculous accumulator, as he averaged 32 disposals at 65% through his six TAC Cup games last year as a 17 year old. . He was named in the bests in five out of his six games. Mills also averaged over six tackles and six marks per game in the TAC Cup. Mills is a beast of an inside midfielder. He's fairly balanced, as he gets around 50% of his ball on the outside, as he finds space to take uncontested marks and handball receives. But his courage to throw himself at the ball is incredible. He is impossible to tag. Mills is a leader and works hard defensively.
Darcy Parish
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Player Comparison: Nick Dal Santo (a bit quicker)
Darcy Parish is a classy outside midfielder, who despite his flaws, should be a top 5 pick. Parish is a very slight framed player who has great speed. He runs hard to receive a handball or take an uncontested mark, then will keep zipping past others to break lines. Parish loves to kick, and he can often have 20 or more kicks in a game. Most will hit the targets, as he prefers to do short sharp chips. He's a good decision maker and with that comes a high disposal efficiency. I think at AFL level that efficiency may drop a little as he will be encouraged to be more bold. It’s scary that a player with so much hurt factor still has so much room to grow. Parish has become more of a goal kicker, and he's put on a bit of weight to increase his core strength. He's got room to improve his defensive efforts, as his strong tank and speed should really see him taking down few more players. I see him growing into that Lachie Whitfield mould, but perhaps with a little more pace.
Rhys Mathieson
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Player Comparison: Jordan Lewis
Mathieson, alongside Mills and Ben Keays, look to be the two most developed and well rounded players at this stage. I don’t like to overrate players, but Mathieson has a similar style to Jordan Lewis, in the way he plays on the inside and outside. Mathieson is a big time accumulator, but it’s the way that he does it that really makes his 30 disposal games really impressive, despite being just an above average kick of the ball. Mathieson hunts the ball on the inside. He throws himself at the contest, and despite not being the new prototype big midfielder, his body strength in packs is advanced for his age. He knows how to position himself on the inside, and once he has the ball, he executes handpasses in traffic and out of the bottom of a pack quickly and usually to the best outside option. Mathieson is terrific on the outside too, and this is what makes him such a champion type. Mathieson is fairly quick on the outside, with a solid 20 metre burst that breaks games open. He doesn’t have to run a long distance, because with the separation he creates in a short space, he gives himself enough time to launch a kick into the forward 50. Mathieson has above average skills by hand and foot, and he’s a solid overhead mark too.
Callum Ah Chee
Club: South Fremantle
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Player Comparison: Chad Wingard
Ah Chee offers a bit of a different look this year, and though I suspect he has more potential than most of the players in the top 10, he probably hasn't had the year he would have liked. Ah Chee is lightening quick, in terms of acceleration and over a long distance. There's not too many ultra quick players who have multiple strings to their bow in this year's draft class. Ah Chee is an excellent kick of the football. He gets a fair bit of penetration on it and I've noticed his decision making has improved over the course of this year. Ah Chee is very dangerous around goals. He's an excellent crumber, but as you've all seen with his mark in the AFL Academy game, he's a high flier and a good over head mark, despite his light frame. I'd love to see him build up his tank and also his core strength, as he's struggling to win much of his own footy.
B+ Profiles
Ben Keays
Club: Morningside
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Player Comparison: Christian Petracca
First thought that crossed my mind when I saw Keays for the first time was, gee this guy is another Petracca. Indeed, Keays isn’t nearly as good a forward as Petracca, and his ceiling isn’t as high. But Keays in my mind is a top 10 pick, but he will be going to Brisbane through their academy a little later. Keays is a gut running type, who shows absolute class on the outside most of the time (does make some poor choices some times). Keays has the ability to kick it long or hit short targets with ease. Keays is a really strong body, and his work on the inside is outstanding. Indeed, Keays’ most exciting ‘Petracca like’ feature is his overhead marking and work as a forward. Keays can really dominate up forward with strength, but he can also kick freakish, skillful goals. He fends off players as he takes on the game, and backs himself in to finish off with a goal. He's increased his ability to rack up the football, and as such, his disposal efficiency has dropped off a touch, which I think is why he hasn't been talked about as much in that top 10 equation.
Harley Balic
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Forward / Midfield
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Jackson Macrae
Balic is a really classy half forward who can pull off some incredible things. Balic is a terrific overhead mark, and he leads to the right places. His contested marking is incredible for a medium forward. He is a really intelligent forward who pushes up to create space for his full forward to lead in to. He has a very strong body and last year he lacked opportunity in the midfield. His inside game development is arguably the biggest leap of any top talent in the draft this year. Last year I would have said he was a pure outside player, but he has learnt the nuances of the inside game in terms of positioning himself at contests. His developmental curve is extremely encouraging and it's one of the reasons I like him more than most. The fact he is now a balanced midfielder who can find the footy, as well as being a forward with flare makes me believe he has a sneakily very high ceiling.
Ryan Burton
Club: North Adelaide
Position: Forward
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Player Comparison: Brett Burton
It’s a shame that Burton will be missing most of 2015 with a broken leg, because he has an incredible upside. Although he is in that inbetween size, I can see Burton being a key forward. Burton has a massive leap, and his overhead marking is exceptional. Indeed, his game style isn’t too dissimilar to his namesake Brett Burton. Burton is a wonderful kick for goal, and he isn’t shy when it’s a clutch situation. Burton needs to improve his field kicking and forward smarts (ie where to lead and how to space himself). However, one thing that cannot be questioned is his defensive efforts, as he averaged three tackles per game in the Championships as a 17 year old.
Darcy Tucker
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Player Comparison: Sam Docherty
Tucker looks best as a half back in my eyes. He reads the play really well, and he plays pretty wide of the contest, so he's often in a dangerous spot on the rebound if the ball leaks out. He's not a great individual defender, but I can see with his mindset and leadership that his defensive game will grow. As a midfielder, Tucker plays almost exclusively on the outside, but I can see scope for that developing as he seems to have good core strength. Tucker is an excellent kick of the footy. Although he's a bit down the pecking order, I don't think there is a massive class difference between Darcy Parish, Cal Ah Chee and Tucker.
Ryan Clarke
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Balanced / Outside Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 77 kg
Player Comparison: David Zaharakis
Clarke's kicking can be wonderful, but occasionally he’ll spray it horribly. His speed is excellent over the first few steps and he really breaks lines, but he’s probably a couple of rungs slower than the absolute best.He’s an excellent distributor by hand and foot. His decision making and vision is in the top class of this year’s draft, and he backs himself to hit difficult targets. Clarke is a strong runner who loves to break through the middle. He’s also got a fairly long kick too, and on the run he can impact the scoreboard from 55 out. Clarke has the ability to end up with two or three goals, but they’ll usually be as a midfielder on the run rather than a traditional forward’s goals.
He can go forward, but he’s probably got some work to do in that regard. He’s not a great mark overhead, and although he has the physical attributes to be a good crumber, he hasn’t shown that he’s got those talents as of yet. Having said that, he’s kicked seven goals in five games for the Ranges, and troubled the scorers in every game. Clarke’s inside game is developing. He’s got great core strength, so he breaks tackles fairly easily. He reads the tap well and he’s physical, so he throws himself at the footy. Clarke is sharp and quick by hand too, so there aren’t too many doubts over whether he’ll be a well-rounded midfielder. He’s not the prototype big-bodied inside beast that recruiters are infatuated with, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be a clearance machine at the top level, but he’ll be serviceable.
Jade Gresham
Northern Knights
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 74 kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Gresham is one of those players you know what you are going to get. While he does lack that punishing hurt factor that the elite players have, he uses his limitations to the best of his ability. In other words, rather than try and boot a 60m bomb to half forward under pressure, he’ll size up his options and pass laterally to teammates who are more likely to break the lines. In this way, Gresham could be considered a link man who has the intelligence to find the more dangerous players on his team. Defensively, he’s not too bad. He doesn’t rack up a lot of tackles, but he is accountable and he reads the play well enough to choose when to peel off his man as well. Gresham has racked up the most touches of any player to date and his ceiling is around that 40 disposal mark.
Gresham is a outside-leaning midfielder, with the potential to develop an inside game in the future. He reads the ruck taps so well and knows where to run and break away. While he’s not fast, he’s smart and this helps him at stoppages. He is fearless in the way he throws himself into packs, despite being a shorter midfielder. His hands in traffic are really clean and quick. Gresham rarely fumbles and he’s got poise before disposing of the football. Gresham has added goal kicking to his repertoire of late. He hasn’t had the opportunity to play much as a crumbing small forward, but he has kicked a goal per game on average this season, so can kick truly when drifting forward. Gresham looks to be an excellent leader already. His game style is inspiring and he is really vocal.
Gresham isn’t as quick as you’d hope for a smaller player, but he is really agile and he’s got excellent endurance. For all the flaws that he can’t fix, Gresham works hard to cover it up by showing another string to his bow.
B Grade Profiles
Josh Dunkley
Club: Gippsland Powe
Position: Midfield
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Player Comparison: Early years Jobe Watson
Dunkley is an inside midfielder who finds the goals easily. His drive and work ethic is incredible, reminiscent of Jason Johnson in his prime.He uses his size to bully his opponents, which should still work relatively well at AFL level, but he hasn't become the great extractor his skillset should allow him to. Dunkley is an incredible tackler and a strong overhead mark. His leadership is a plus as well. Dunkley averaged 6 and a half tackles in the TAC Cup over 13 games, with an astounding 18 tackles leading the way against the Falcons as a 17 year old. He's a really poor kick and lacks any form of an outside game at this stage. He's pretty sluggish off the mark too, but he's got a pretty good tank. He showed that he can hold his own at VFL level, which is crucial for a player of his ilk.
Sam Weideman
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Key Forward
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 91 kg
Player Comparison: John Butcher
Grandson of Collingwood legend Murray, and son of Mark, Sam Weideman is an extraordinarily talented key forward, who will be available on the open market. His injury issues have made him an intruiging prospect, as he has so much that he must improve on. I genuinely believe that if he played a full year, he could have pushed to the top 6-7 picks, but if he continued in the same form, pick 15 would be adequate. 2014 was an up and down year for the forward. He was able to play 15 games, but only kicked 19 goals and 15 behinds. His statline is poor, but recruiters will look to his best games to find out why he is so highly regarded. Again in 2015, he struggled statistically, despite receiving very good delivery from a strong midfield group. Weideman is a terrific mark of the ball. His contested marking is a standout in pack situations. However, what is most impressive is his ability to take one grab marks on the lead, particularly in sticky situations. You know if the ball is within his long reach, then he won’t drop it. He's a really poor kick of the football, which really hurts me to say. I just want to like him because he's probably one of only a handful of players in this draft class who have one truly dominant skill, but when you cannot convert simple set shots at goal, then it really hurts. Weideman plays as a true leading centre half forward, but he also has the size and skill set to play as a full forward.
Nick O’Kearney
Club: Calder Cannons
Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Player Comparison: Brent Stanton
I like O'Kearney more than most, and I think that comes with accepting that he is a limited role player. His ball winning is incredible, as he averaged 25 disposalsin the TAC Cup as a 17 year old, and he's shown that he can do that again as an 18 year old. Despite playing in a star studded Calder team, O’Kearney took out the Cannons’ best and fairest as a 17 year old, and may do so again. O'Kearney reminds me a lot of Brent Stanton, in that he is a terrific two way runner. He gets 65% of the ball on the outside, but he's improved his inside game as well this year. O’Kearney captained Vic Metro in the Under 16’s and he has natural leadership qualities. However, despite his leadership and high production, there are clear knocks on his game. His kicking is pretty average for someone who is predominately an outside midfielder. It has improved a little bit, but not enough to be a top 25 pick in my eyes. Despite having an excellent tank, O'Kearney hasn't shown much flair around the forward line, but he does rack up tackles, which is really important for an outside player.
James Parsons (Eastern Ranges)
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Midfield/half forward
Comparison: Martin Gleeson
He’s a pure outside midfielder who likes to run and spread, and he could be a very solid wingman at AFL level. He’s got some good running patterns. Parsons’ best asset is his kicking. He is a long kick, and he weights it really well. He’s fairly good on both sides of the body. As a high half forward, he brings class in terms of delivery to the key forwards. He is fine when kicking on the run, although he can struggle a bit when there’s defensive pressure applied. Parsons has gone forward to effect this year. He’s been able to kick two or three goals on several occasions. He’s not a lead up forward type, but he’s able to find space in general play. He reads the drop of the ball well and he can crumb.
Brayden Fiorini
Northern Knights
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Midfielder, utility
Player Comparison: Kade Simpson
I'm a big wrap for Fiorini. He's one of the best ball users in this draft, with a nice left foot kick. He's moderately quick and he finds plenty of the football. Fiorini is a good decision maker, although as he's tried to find more of the football this year, his disposal efficiency has dropped a bit. He's got hurt factor, but I think due to the Knights' style of overpossessing the football, he chips it around quite a bit and a 40 possession game isn't overly astounding.
Fiorini is a solid defender. He's a little unaccountable, but when he's used primarily as an offensive weapon from the back half, that is forgiven. He's actually a fairly strong footballer, who has shown spurts of courage, but I don't think he will build too much of an inside midfield game. I can see him being used primarily as a half back or wingman at AFL level.
C+ Profiles
Greg Clark
Club: Subiaco
Position: Midfield
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Tom Lynch (Adelaide)
I like Clark as a link up third tall forward type. He's very clean in traffic, and he's got a great kick around the body. He's an okay mark, but he's got great endurance so he burns off opponents. He probably hasn't had the year he would have liked. He was meant to be the second bright spot for WA behind Ah Chee, but he went completely under the radar behind the 17 year olds. I think he's going to take time to adjust to AFL level, and clubs are going to have to put a lot of work into finding his best position. I can't see him as a midfielder at AFL level, as he is too slow on the outside and really struggles on the inside, despite the size advantage. He doesn't rack up the ball and he isn't an elite user, therefore he's stuck in that 30-40 range.
Blake Hardwick
Eastern Ranges
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Position: Small forward/inside midfielder
Player Comparison: Mitch Hahn
Hardwick plays out of the goal square, where he beats his opponents consistently on the lead. He’s got some nice acceleration off the mark, but his top speed isn’t terrific. He’s a smart small forward, who knows exactly where to lead. Marking is Hardwick’s strong suit. He’s a sure bet to take a mark on the lead, but he’s also equally adept overhead and in contested situations. He usually takes around five marks per game, and one or two of those will always be contested. Hardwick is the leading goal kicker in the TAC Cup. He has kicked bags of 12, 10 and eight this year and really picked up the slack since Sam Weideman has missed through injury. He’s a wonderful set shot kicker, kicking 45.14 so far. He doesn’t mind if he’s 50 metres out on a tight angle, as his routine is the same for every kick. It’s technically sound and he stays cool under pressure.
He’s got the physical tools to become a decent inside midfielder but he hasn’t really got the tank as of yet. He looks like he’s going to be one of the steals of the draft. The league still has an issue with height bias which should see Hardwick slip, but he’s got plenty to offer.
C Grade Profiles
Kieran Agius
Club: North Adelaide
Position: Forward
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Agius is an athletic prospect who looks best as a forward. He's a good mark overhead and on the lead, but he has struggled more than any other prospect this year. He can't seem to crack into the higher levels, despite having extremely high upside. He's a great kick, he's got a bit of speed and he can kick big bags of goals, although he's only done this at lower levels and has struggled to cut it at higher grades. Many talent managers will try their players in different positions so recruiters can see their versatility. Agius has struggled with these changes and seems like he's a bit immature. I think it's a bit of 'Tom Lamb' syndrome, where he has all these incredible talents, and he's probably not ready for the pressure. Because of this, Agius is trying hard, but it's a bit of a mental battle.
D+ Grade Profiles
Dan Houston
Oakleigh Chargers
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Position: Key forward/third tall
Player Comparison: Aaron Hamill
I like Dan Houston because he does everything you need to do as a key forward well. He is athletic, he is smart, he's a strong mark and he is one of the best shots for goal on the run and from a set shot. Unfortunately, he's about 5-10cm too short to be a key forward, but I still have hope for him.
Houston is an undersized key forward in the way he plays, but he’s got many forward aspects to his game. Houston has a bit of Mark LeCras about him in his game style. He is one of the hardest working players on the lead, as he continually leads up towards the 50, but then he’ll double back and do second or third leads. He’s one of the best key forwards in this year’s draft crop when the ball hits the deck. He has great special awareness, and strength to bust out of tackles. He can duck and weave through traffic and he is a tremendous finisher around the body. He can crumb his own work, so he’s got the ability to fit in any forward line as a unique forward.
The big question mark over Houston is his ability to do it more often. Besides from his four goals against South Australia, he has not set the world on fire at the under 18 championships. He averages seven marks per week for the Oakleigh Chargers, but just 1.6 goals. This is attributed to the fact he spent the first few games in defence – a move that did not work out.
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