Live Event 2017 AFL Draft - #2, #5, #42, #60, #66, #70, #77, #80, #90
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Some of us can't jog 10ks like you Jedi. All my bones rattle after 100metres. Ah forgot...yeah i could walk among the trees
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None of that explains why he just ran an 8 minute 2km TT. That's as slow as treacle. Either he was tanking or doesn't train hard enough. Both are a worry.
That's not to say I wouldn't draft him though. Having never met the kid I don't want to judge his character too quickly.
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Laid up forquite a few weeks along with doing his exams then when recovered enough and exams finished to then get out there and run. Fogarty too not much better but had a longer recovery period before the TT. I don't know what effect being laid up for a month os so will have on times but there are other indicators from the TT (heart monitor/pulse rate) I suspect that suggest he has upside in terms of fitness.
Arcassius
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bozhe moi. Wouldn't a russian girl be better?
How did people establish that Cerra is now a flight risk?
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Many moons ago when I was in good nick, when I got injured I prayed it was only a 2 week at most
After a month you are so far behind the 8 ball ( settle Harley ) it takes another 3-4 weeks to catch up
I'm cutting them some slack
Winter conditions to hit Sydney on Friday with the vengeance of a thousand suns
Yeah well thats it...seems the usual; Vic Metro lad, media interview lets slip has a girlfriend, likes Melbourne, close to family and likes home, says all the right things. So probably he can't wait to get out of the place LOL
If Cerra was from Adelaide or Hobart would he be rated as high?
He doesn't seem to have the track record as the other high end prospects.
He doesn't seem to have the track record as the other high end prospects.
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Got to said Russian girls are hot , not saying you are ugly.
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We are going to reach 250 pages on this thread , And the repetition is quite frankly a little ho hum . But who am i to blow against wind enjoy guys , It will be what it will be , Remember our coach at the time was dead against the recruiting of Fyfe at pick 20 , Now we could say he was more in the know than many on this forum, But if he had got his way he would have been responsible for the biggest recruiting mistake since Mcloed, Just think a senior coach with many years in the industry was going to make that call .I think at the time he wanted Bastinac because he was physically more mature , ironically fyfe would now brush him aside like a postage stamp.
I was UDL and Fog all the way, thinking it may end up UDL and Dow now.
Do not want Cerra, pass on Stephenson (once burnt, twice shy re heart).
Not sold on Brayshaw, heard his interview on SEN, he's a quality kid - just don't know that he's top 5 material. I think the combine results have got the hype wheels a' spinnin
Do not want Cerra, pass on Stephenson (once burnt, twice shy re heart).
Not sold on Brayshaw, heard his interview on SEN, he's a quality kid - just don't know that he's top 5 material. I think the combine results have got the hype wheels a' spinnin
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I went outside tonight!
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Grass is greener perhaps. The eastern bloc produces quality - youre living proof
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David Attenborough said. Nature is not magical.. Mother nature is indifferent. (It mess you up if you get in the way) praise Allah for big footy
I think Rayner would be fine. Perth is a great place to be and he will get lots of media and public attention if he is any good.
Cerra I think is more of a flight risk but most players adapt and then realise they like it here.
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yyou
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We'll get along, so long as we don't talk politics, especially the invader, putin.
I have GOT visions from your post.
my 2 cents worth on Rayner is that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I spoke to someone who played against him & reckons he is an ok fella.
It has been so long since we have had a top 5 pick, exciting times and should setup our midfield perfectly. When
you consider Fyfe was pick 20, Mundy pick 19, SHill is our lowest draft player.
you consider Fyfe was pick 20, Mundy pick 19, SHill is our lowest draft player.
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You face is like a Black Hole ?
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Bennell was pick #2 but not by us obviously. Tempering my excitement of not only our pick #2 and and pick #5 joining us in 2018 but also a former pick #2 effectively starting with us and having a full season also. On top of a Fyfe back to his best, if IRS is anything to go by, could be scary good if it all comes together.
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I've found some really good interviews on a site called Footyology (run the The Age's Rohan Connolly). Most of the reviews/draft rankings are the same, but some of the Q&A sections are pretty well done:
No. 12 – DARCY FOGARTY
South Australia (Glenelg)
Half-forward
Born: 25/9/1999
Height: 192cm
Weight: 92kg
SANFL STATS
Disposals: 7.9
Kicks: 3.2
Handballs: 4.6
Handball efficiency: 72%
Kicking efficiency: 54%
Marks: 1
Tackles: 2.7
Goals: 0.5
One elite attribute: Versatility. The great unknown of the draft is a strong tall forward who is uniquely capable of playing large stints in the midfield and down back.
Best-case comparison: Jake Stringer
WHAT HE’S GOT
Mobility: Fogarty covers the ground exceptionally well for his size and when his tank improves this will be a massive asset.
Strength: Tosses his opponents around like rag dolls and puts his powerful core to good use up forward. Ready-made for AFL football.
Versatility: He’s not as tall as Justin Westhoff, but he’s capable of playing that do-it-all role for extended periods of a game. Was trialled down back this year and held his own.
WHAT HE LACKS
Ball-winning ability: This is more an issue with his tank and footy IQ, so he can address it pretty quickly in the right system with a few pre-seasons. Averaged eight touches in the SANFL and 11.5 in the AFL under-18 championships.
Continuity: Missed second half of the year with a meniscus tear but should be right for his first pre-season.
BEDE BRISCOMB CHATS WITH DARCY FOGARTY
Eighteen-year-old forwards standing 190 centimetres and 90 kilograms who can play consistent minutes in the middle are pretty hard to come by, but that’s just what Darcy Fogarty is. The South Australian has sat out most of the 2017 with a knee injury, but showed enough before that to suggest he’s going to be a very valuable player in the AFL. Footyology sat down with Fogarty to discuss all that and more.
What do you think is the hardest position to play in footy and why?
I reckon it’s centre half-forward. You usually get caught in the middle of the play a lot and the ball flies over your head, so you’ve got to lead up to get the first kick from defensive 50 and if you don’t do that you can caught in the middle and have a pretty quiet day. You’ve got to put in a lot of hard work to get used and if you don’t you get caught out. Centre half-back is probably the easiest position.
How do you assess your own performance after a game? Do you look at the stat sheet and have a set KPIs you want to hit or is it something else?
It’s pretty cruisy for me. I usually have a good feel for whether I played well or not. I don’t go into the game with any real goals.
Obviously, you’ve been injured for a large part of this year, but before that how would you grade your season?
D.
Why so low?
I wasn’t having an influence on games as much as I would have liked. I wasn’t shutting down my opponent and wasn’t getting much of the ball.
What do think is the one thing you are elite at?
Probably my physicality and aggression around the ball.
Which AFL player do you look at now and say: “That’s the player I want to be at my absolute best”?
I don’t really model my game after any specific player. I just try to take things from different players and incorporate them into my game and if they work I’ll keep doing them.
Do you consume much footy in your spare time?
I do, but not as much this year, being in a boarding house and having Saturdays taken up by playing footy. But Sundays and Fridays I watch most games.
Given you’re tall and strong and you’re a fluid mover with a nice tank, you’ve probably got some of the highest potential in the draft. How do you go about fulfilling that potential?
Trying to get fitter and be able to run out games. I think that will come by doing more and more pre-seasons. I’d like to have a bit more of an impact late in quarters instead of five-minute bursts here and there.
Have you been told you need to hit a specific weight?
No. Because I’m still growing, they’re just letting me find what weight I’m going to be around. Obviously if I get too heavy it’s going to make it harder to run out quarters, so if that starts to happen, I’ll know that I need to lose a bit of weight.
How have you managed to cope with the frustrations of a long-term injury and seeing all these guys shoot up the draft board playing good footy?
It’s been pretty hard, especially on the good sunny days where it’s perfect for a game of footy. I sort of got a bit jealous, but still being around the football club was good and keeping active in the gym and doing jobs on game day.
Do you have a number in mind in terms of where you want to go?
No. Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity somewhere.
Is there a specific AFL team out there that you think you would fit into especially well?
Not really.
Do you have a goal in mind for year one in the AFL?
Just to play as soon as possible. And for the pre-season, it would be to just build on my tank and have the capability to run out games.
What’s your biggest concern competing at the next level?
It’s not a concern, but probably the full-on days could get pretty draining. But I think I’d adjust to it.
What’s the one criticism about your game that you keep hearing that you don’t actually agree with?
I don’t know. The one that comes up is my fitness and I agree with that. It’s something I need to address and it’s been a big focus for me. But there hasn’t been anything that I’ve disagreed with that’s been said.
Let’s say you’re playing AFL and you start to hear some negative things toward you from social media trolls or get taunted at a game, how do you think you’ll react?
I don’t think it would faze me too much. There are voices inside the club that are more important that are worth listening to.
Flip it around. Let’s say you’re playing really good footy and the Wayne Careys of the world are saying you’re a star and worth a massive contract, how would you react to that?
Same as the negative stuff. Block it out and listen to the people at the club.
You’ve said the biggest things you value in life are your family and your home. You’re most likely going to be living in another state. How do you think you’ll go with that?
I don’t worry about it. It’s another opportunity to see more of Australia and experience something new.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had this year?
To stay diligent in my rehab while I’m injured and remain disciplined with the dietary component of training.
Do you put on weight easier than most people?
No. My skinfolds and my weight are pretty consistent. Living in a boarding house I’m always pretty active, so it’s quite hard to put on weight.
Do you think you could contribute in an AFL grand final as the player you are today?
I’m not too sure. That’s a tough question. At this stage probably not, but once I get a pre-season under my belt and with the year-long experience of being in an AFL environment, I think I would be able to be an influence in a grand final.
No. 12 – DARCY FOGARTY
South Australia (Glenelg)
Half-forward
Born: 25/9/1999
Height: 192cm
Weight: 92kg
SANFL STATS
Disposals: 7.9
Kicks: 3.2
Handballs: 4.6
Handball efficiency: 72%
Kicking efficiency: 54%
Marks: 1
Tackles: 2.7
Goals: 0.5
One elite attribute: Versatility. The great unknown of the draft is a strong tall forward who is uniquely capable of playing large stints in the midfield and down back.
Best-case comparison: Jake Stringer
WHAT HE’S GOT
Mobility: Fogarty covers the ground exceptionally well for his size and when his tank improves this will be a massive asset.
Strength: Tosses his opponents around like rag dolls and puts his powerful core to good use up forward. Ready-made for AFL football.
Versatility: He’s not as tall as Justin Westhoff, but he’s capable of playing that do-it-all role for extended periods of a game. Was trialled down back this year and held his own.
WHAT HE LACKS
Ball-winning ability: This is more an issue with his tank and footy IQ, so he can address it pretty quickly in the right system with a few pre-seasons. Averaged eight touches in the SANFL and 11.5 in the AFL under-18 championships.
Continuity: Missed second half of the year with a meniscus tear but should be right for his first pre-season.
BEDE BRISCOMB CHATS WITH DARCY FOGARTY
Eighteen-year-old forwards standing 190 centimetres and 90 kilograms who can play consistent minutes in the middle are pretty hard to come by, but that’s just what Darcy Fogarty is. The South Australian has sat out most of the 2017 with a knee injury, but showed enough before that to suggest he’s going to be a very valuable player in the AFL. Footyology sat down with Fogarty to discuss all that and more.
What do you think is the hardest position to play in footy and why?
I reckon it’s centre half-forward. You usually get caught in the middle of the play a lot and the ball flies over your head, so you’ve got to lead up to get the first kick from defensive 50 and if you don’t do that you can caught in the middle and have a pretty quiet day. You’ve got to put in a lot of hard work to get used and if you don’t you get caught out. Centre half-back is probably the easiest position.
How do you assess your own performance after a game? Do you look at the stat sheet and have a set KPIs you want to hit or is it something else?
It’s pretty cruisy for me. I usually have a good feel for whether I played well or not. I don’t go into the game with any real goals.
Obviously, you’ve been injured for a large part of this year, but before that how would you grade your season?
D.
Why so low?
I wasn’t having an influence on games as much as I would have liked. I wasn’t shutting down my opponent and wasn’t getting much of the ball.
What do think is the one thing you are elite at?
Probably my physicality and aggression around the ball.
Which AFL player do you look at now and say: “That’s the player I want to be at my absolute best”?
I don’t really model my game after any specific player. I just try to take things from different players and incorporate them into my game and if they work I’ll keep doing them.
Do you consume much footy in your spare time?
I do, but not as much this year, being in a boarding house and having Saturdays taken up by playing footy. But Sundays and Fridays I watch most games.
Given you’re tall and strong and you’re a fluid mover with a nice tank, you’ve probably got some of the highest potential in the draft. How do you go about fulfilling that potential?
Trying to get fitter and be able to run out games. I think that will come by doing more and more pre-seasons. I’d like to have a bit more of an impact late in quarters instead of five-minute bursts here and there.
Have you been told you need to hit a specific weight?
No. Because I’m still growing, they’re just letting me find what weight I’m going to be around. Obviously if I get too heavy it’s going to make it harder to run out quarters, so if that starts to happen, I’ll know that I need to lose a bit of weight.
How have you managed to cope with the frustrations of a long-term injury and seeing all these guys shoot up the draft board playing good footy?
It’s been pretty hard, especially on the good sunny days where it’s perfect for a game of footy. I sort of got a bit jealous, but still being around the football club was good and keeping active in the gym and doing jobs on game day.
Do you have a number in mind in terms of where you want to go?
No. Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity somewhere.
Is there a specific AFL team out there that you think you would fit into especially well?
Not really.
Do you have a goal in mind for year one in the AFL?
Just to play as soon as possible. And for the pre-season, it would be to just build on my tank and have the capability to run out games.
What’s your biggest concern competing at the next level?
It’s not a concern, but probably the full-on days could get pretty draining. But I think I’d adjust to it.
What’s the one criticism about your game that you keep hearing that you don’t actually agree with?
I don’t know. The one that comes up is my fitness and I agree with that. It’s something I need to address and it’s been a big focus for me. But there hasn’t been anything that I’ve disagreed with that’s been said.
Let’s say you’re playing AFL and you start to hear some negative things toward you from social media trolls or get taunted at a game, how do you think you’ll react?
I don’t think it would faze me too much. There are voices inside the club that are more important that are worth listening to.
Flip it around. Let’s say you’re playing really good footy and the Wayne Careys of the world are saying you’re a star and worth a massive contract, how would you react to that?
Same as the negative stuff. Block it out and listen to the people at the club.
You’ve said the biggest things you value in life are your family and your home. You’re most likely going to be living in another state. How do you think you’ll go with that?
I don’t worry about it. It’s another opportunity to see more of Australia and experience something new.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had this year?
To stay diligent in my rehab while I’m injured and remain disciplined with the dietary component of training.
Do you put on weight easier than most people?
No. My skinfolds and my weight are pretty consistent. Living in a boarding house I’m always pretty active, so it’s quite hard to put on weight.
Do you think you could contribute in an AFL grand final as the player you are today?
I’m not too sure. That’s a tough question. At this stage probably not, but once I get a pre-season under my belt and with the year-long experience of being in an AFL environment, I think I would be able to be an influence in a grand final.
palomelto
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No. 5 – JAIDYN STEPHENSON
Victoria (Eastern Ranges)
Half-forward/wingman
Born: 15/01/1999
Height: 189cm
Weight: 76kg
TAC CUP STATS
Disposals: 22.6
Kicks: 15.1
Handballs: 7.5
Kicking efficiency: 48%
Handball efficiency: 68%
Tackles: 5.5
Marks: 4.7
Goals: 0.9
One elite attribute: Athleticism. He’s aggressive, has breakaway speed, and saves his best games for the big stage, but needs to address kicking if he wants to be a permanent wingman.
Best-case comparison: Will Hoskin-Elliot combined with Andrew Gaff
WHAT HE’S GOT
Spring: Stephenson times his leaps to perfection and always gets up over his opponent. Occasionally gets pushed under the ball due to his light frame – a smart AFL player will be able to exploit that.
Goalkicking: Kicked plenty of goals as a forward and when he moved to the midfield nothing changed. Had 22 disposals and three goals in the NAB AFL All Stars game and kicked four goals in the opening 16 minutes of the first round in the TAC Cup.
Speed: Guys with Stephenson’s electric pace can usually go in short intervals. Not this kid; he’s got the endurance to sustain that damaging run over four quarters. Also has a quick side step.
WHAT HE LACKS
Ball skills: His kicking action is awkward and slow and it’s going to be a massive hurdle at the next level. Funnily enough, he’s a beautiful kick for goal. Handball technique needs work, too.
Strength: This will only be a problem if he’s being played as a half-forward. If he’s a permanent wingman he doesn’t necessarily need to be super strong through the upper body.
BEDE BRISCOMB CHATS WITH JAIDYN STEPHENSON
It’s not every day that a player like Jaidyn Stephenson comes around. The unique prospect from the Eastern Ranges is tall, skinny, fast, springy and he stuffs the stat sheet with goals and touches like few can. The challenge is going to be translating all of those talents into AFL success. Footyology sat down with him to discuss just that.
What do like most about football?
Probably the competitive side of it, competing against someone one-on-one and the challenge of trying to beat that person. Sometimes they’re going to be taller, stronger, quicker than you, so it’s just trying to find a different way to beat a new opponent each and every week.
What do like least about football?
There’s nothing I don’t like. I live and breathe footy and sport in general. When I get home I turn on the sport channel and watch whatever’s on. Darts, snooker, footy – it doesn’t really matter.
What do you think is the hardest position to play in footy and why?
Definitely full-forward. There’s a lot of times where the ball doesn’t come down so you can have dry spells. You’re also relying on other people to hit you up and if the kick isn’t right then you’re not getting the ball. You’ve also got an opponent where all he’s got to do is punch or tap it, whereas you actually have to mark the ball with pressure.
How do you assess your own performance after a game? Do you look at the stat sheet and have set KPIs you want to reach or is it something else?
As I come off I usually know when I’ve played a good game, but I think it’s more on impact; you can run around and have 25 touches and not really impact the game and you can have 12 touches and really impact the game. I think it’s more just watching the game footage and assessing from that rather than the stat sheet.
You said earlier this year that your season has been quite average. What specifically haven’t you liked about your season?
When I said that I was referring to the start of my season. In the first six or seven games I set lofty standards for myself and I wasn’t really reaching them. And then I realised midway through the season that it was the best for me because I could have sat at full-forward and kicked lots of goals, but then I’d be getting drafted as a 190-centimere, 78-kilogram forward, which isn’t really practical. And because I wasn’t playing too well, I got the opportunity to go on the wing, where I think I learned a lot and was able to show my versatility.
What AFL player do you look at now and say to yourself: “That’s the player I want to be when I’m at my absolute best”?
Obviously you want to be the best, so I’m going to say Patrick Dangerfield. I don’t have the same strength as him, but I love the way he bursts from stoppages and takes the game on and I think I can resemble that.
I’ve seen you projected to go as high as No.1 on draft day, which would mean you’d play in Queensland. Given you’re from Victoria, do you mind playing interstate?
I’m honestly open to anything. I’m a Brisbane Lions supporter myself, and I’ve got a lot of family up in Queensland, so I think I’d have the right support around me if I was to be drafted by Brisbane or Gold Coast.
You predominantly played as a forward growing up. Given your pace and ball-winning ability, do you think you could play off half-back in the AFL?
Yeah, certainly. I played with Blake Hardwick at the Eastern Ranges and he was one of the best forwards I’ve ever seen, and now he’s playing as a half-back flanker for Hawthorn – so it’s certainly a possibility, but I think I’d be more suited to a wing or, when I get a bit stronger, go into the midfield.
You’ve arguably got the highest potential out of anyone in this year’s draft. What do you think you need to do to fulfil that in the AFL?
Body size and strength is the main one. I’m still quite a skinny fella. My kicking is the other one. As a kid I was a decent kick, but since I’ve gone into the midfield that extra pressure and less time to dispose of the ball has been a challenge.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had this year?
Just play the game. Lots of coaches tell me: “Take the game on. We don’t mind if you get caught with the ball”. So just play the game your way and don’t over-complicate things.
When you hear people say negative things about you and/or your game on the street, at the stadium, on Twitter or Facebook – how do you think you’ll react?
It honestly doesn’t bother me at all. Everybody has their own opinion and that’s fine. I don’t agree with a lot of them and when I do I take steps to address it.
Conversely, say you have a blinder next year and the media “next-big-thing” you saying you’re worth five years and $1.2 million, how would you react to that?
That’s harder than the negative stuff because there’s a lot of expectation. I always try to be humble and take everything as it comes. If I’m playing good footy, I’ll just try to perform the same way week-in-week-out.
Do you have a specific number in mind for where you’ll like to be drafted?
No, but I’d like to go top 10.
How would you react if you weren’t drafted in the top 10?
I think I’d end up a better player because I’d have a lot to prove and I’d want to prove the recruiters wrong. Show them they’ve made a mistake.
How does it affect you when you hear people say negative things about your game?
I’m a pretty laid-back guy. I don’t really worry about it. Just let my footy do the talking.
Do you think you could contribute in an AFL grand final as the player you are today?
I think I could. I’ve played against guys like Daniel Rioli and Jacob Weitering, and I think I held my own. Obviously I wouldn’t star, but I think I could hold my own.
Victoria (Eastern Ranges)
Half-forward/wingman
Born: 15/01/1999
Height: 189cm
Weight: 76kg
TAC CUP STATS
Disposals: 22.6
Kicks: 15.1
Handballs: 7.5
Kicking efficiency: 48%
Handball efficiency: 68%
Tackles: 5.5
Marks: 4.7
Goals: 0.9
One elite attribute: Athleticism. He’s aggressive, has breakaway speed, and saves his best games for the big stage, but needs to address kicking if he wants to be a permanent wingman.
Best-case comparison: Will Hoskin-Elliot combined with Andrew Gaff
WHAT HE’S GOT
Spring: Stephenson times his leaps to perfection and always gets up over his opponent. Occasionally gets pushed under the ball due to his light frame – a smart AFL player will be able to exploit that.
Goalkicking: Kicked plenty of goals as a forward and when he moved to the midfield nothing changed. Had 22 disposals and three goals in the NAB AFL All Stars game and kicked four goals in the opening 16 minutes of the first round in the TAC Cup.
Speed: Guys with Stephenson’s electric pace can usually go in short intervals. Not this kid; he’s got the endurance to sustain that damaging run over four quarters. Also has a quick side step.
WHAT HE LACKS
Ball skills: His kicking action is awkward and slow and it’s going to be a massive hurdle at the next level. Funnily enough, he’s a beautiful kick for goal. Handball technique needs work, too.
Strength: This will only be a problem if he’s being played as a half-forward. If he’s a permanent wingman he doesn’t necessarily need to be super strong through the upper body.
BEDE BRISCOMB CHATS WITH JAIDYN STEPHENSON
It’s not every day that a player like Jaidyn Stephenson comes around. The unique prospect from the Eastern Ranges is tall, skinny, fast, springy and he stuffs the stat sheet with goals and touches like few can. The challenge is going to be translating all of those talents into AFL success. Footyology sat down with him to discuss just that.
What do like most about football?
Probably the competitive side of it, competing against someone one-on-one and the challenge of trying to beat that person. Sometimes they’re going to be taller, stronger, quicker than you, so it’s just trying to find a different way to beat a new opponent each and every week.
What do like least about football?
There’s nothing I don’t like. I live and breathe footy and sport in general. When I get home I turn on the sport channel and watch whatever’s on. Darts, snooker, footy – it doesn’t really matter.
What do you think is the hardest position to play in footy and why?
Definitely full-forward. There’s a lot of times where the ball doesn’t come down so you can have dry spells. You’re also relying on other people to hit you up and if the kick isn’t right then you’re not getting the ball. You’ve also got an opponent where all he’s got to do is punch or tap it, whereas you actually have to mark the ball with pressure.
How do you assess your own performance after a game? Do you look at the stat sheet and have set KPIs you want to reach or is it something else?
As I come off I usually know when I’ve played a good game, but I think it’s more on impact; you can run around and have 25 touches and not really impact the game and you can have 12 touches and really impact the game. I think it’s more just watching the game footage and assessing from that rather than the stat sheet.
You said earlier this year that your season has been quite average. What specifically haven’t you liked about your season?
When I said that I was referring to the start of my season. In the first six or seven games I set lofty standards for myself and I wasn’t really reaching them. And then I realised midway through the season that it was the best for me because I could have sat at full-forward and kicked lots of goals, but then I’d be getting drafted as a 190-centimere, 78-kilogram forward, which isn’t really practical. And because I wasn’t playing too well, I got the opportunity to go on the wing, where I think I learned a lot and was able to show my versatility.
What AFL player do you look at now and say to yourself: “That’s the player I want to be when I’m at my absolute best”?
Obviously you want to be the best, so I’m going to say Patrick Dangerfield. I don’t have the same strength as him, but I love the way he bursts from stoppages and takes the game on and I think I can resemble that.
I’ve seen you projected to go as high as No.1 on draft day, which would mean you’d play in Queensland. Given you’re from Victoria, do you mind playing interstate?
I’m honestly open to anything. I’m a Brisbane Lions supporter myself, and I’ve got a lot of family up in Queensland, so I think I’d have the right support around me if I was to be drafted by Brisbane or Gold Coast.
You predominantly played as a forward growing up. Given your pace and ball-winning ability, do you think you could play off half-back in the AFL?
Yeah, certainly. I played with Blake Hardwick at the Eastern Ranges and he was one of the best forwards I’ve ever seen, and now he’s playing as a half-back flanker for Hawthorn – so it’s certainly a possibility, but I think I’d be more suited to a wing or, when I get a bit stronger, go into the midfield.
You’ve arguably got the highest potential out of anyone in this year’s draft. What do you think you need to do to fulfil that in the AFL?
Body size and strength is the main one. I’m still quite a skinny fella. My kicking is the other one. As a kid I was a decent kick, but since I’ve gone into the midfield that extra pressure and less time to dispose of the ball has been a challenge.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had this year?
Just play the game. Lots of coaches tell me: “Take the game on. We don’t mind if you get caught with the ball”. So just play the game your way and don’t over-complicate things.
When you hear people say negative things about you and/or your game on the street, at the stadium, on Twitter or Facebook – how do you think you’ll react?
It honestly doesn’t bother me at all. Everybody has their own opinion and that’s fine. I don’t agree with a lot of them and when I do I take steps to address it.
Conversely, say you have a blinder next year and the media “next-big-thing” you saying you’re worth five years and $1.2 million, how would you react to that?
That’s harder than the negative stuff because there’s a lot of expectation. I always try to be humble and take everything as it comes. If I’m playing good footy, I’ll just try to perform the same way week-in-week-out.
Do you have a specific number in mind for where you’ll like to be drafted?
No, but I’d like to go top 10.
How would you react if you weren’t drafted in the top 10?
I think I’d end up a better player because I’d have a lot to prove and I’d want to prove the recruiters wrong. Show them they’ve made a mistake.
How does it affect you when you hear people say negative things about your game?
I’m a pretty laid-back guy. I don’t really worry about it. Just let my footy do the talking.
Do you think you could contribute in an AFL grand final as the player you are today?
I think I could. I’ve played against guys like Daniel Rioli and Jacob Weitering, and I think I held my own. Obviously I wouldn’t star, but I think I could hold my own.
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