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08 Pies Draft Profiles from....

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Dave The Man

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AFL Draft Info - Fantastic Video so I be Putting all of the Up he has done:

Jarrad Blight (Swan Districts/WA) – Draft Profile

Height: 189cm
Weight: 73kg
Preferred Foot: Right/Dual Sided
Role: Outside running and marking medium-tall utility
Potential: 6.5-8.5/10

Strengths

> Excellent ball use by hand – sharp reflexes, quick feeds, good power and vision/DM – excellent long sweeping handball to launch an attack
> Dual sided thumping kick (see more below)
> Clean reliable ball handling – one touch at pace and rarely fumbles
> Elite engine and amazing intensity and 2 way work ethic – has both natural and mental endurance – like an energise bunny – never stops running (both ways) – chasing, 1%ers, tackling, providing effective defensive pressure – often produces inspirational efforts i.e. long chase run down tackles
> Good all-round athleticism - Decent pace off the mark, but very good top speed – has the higher gears to click into and go on long piercing runs (ran the length of the field to kick a short range goal in his one and only reserves game), big vertical leap (played stints in the ruck as a junior and in colts 2008), very good evasive ability to get past opponents and buy more space and time for himself in traffic and elite engine (as per already mentioned) - first instinct is to go for a dash
> Good aerial ability – clean grabber with good attack, strong aerial presence (long arms and big vertical leap) and plenty of courage to go back with the flight – however lacks strength to consistently hold his position in contests – effective spoiler too
> Ball magnet (consistently over 20 possession, occasionally over 30, one game 39 possessions) – reads the game very well – good positioning inside and out of contests, anticipates well in defence – very good at dropping back in front as a third man up to take the relieving mark and can read and find the ball at stoppages fairly well.
> Versatility – could potentially play any of: running outside/inside midfielder/floating and rebounding 3rd tall defender/midfield tagger/pinch hitting CHB
> BIG upside – significant improvement shown in 2008 – still raw and physically immature, but his height, work ethic, versatility, athleticism and other attributes will hold him in very good stead for further development at AFL level

Weaknesses

> Often tries to do too much i.e. takes too many on and runs himself into trouble
> Lacks strength, muscle and power
> Kicking technique (see below)
> Unbalanced

Other

> Dual sided thumping kick – goes long whenever possible (lacks short range vision when kicking but can often creates 90m plays) – so-so control and weighting and prone to floaters – long load time (full arm extension but takes it too high) which gets the most out of his current power capabilities, but not economical - loose action, often high trajectory of the boot and lacks power
> Raw – looks to be still “growing into” and getting used to his body
> Bottom aged
> Didn’t make WA U18s squad – however has played schoolboys and U16s – big improver (particularly 2nd half of 2008)
> Very good leadership skills – has captained every team he’s been in according to junior coach
> 2x national 21 and under sailing champion in the “Javelin” class with his brother and holds state titles in several other classes
> Prolific junior basketballer – state squad grade and youth coach wanted him to pursue further

Overall

Blight has a range of very attractive attributes that will hold him in very good stead for the modern game. He won’t go down through lack of effort and I expect him to continue to show great improvement at AFL as he has done in 2008. At best could be one of the competition’s most effective genuine utilities (top 50 AFL player) such is his upside.
 
John Bennell (Peel/WA) – Draft Profile

Height: 174cm
Weight: 71kg
Style: Outside running small wingman/HFF/FP
Preferred Foot: Right/dual sided
Potential: 5-7.5/10

Strengths

> Effective user and creative decision maker by both hand and foot – capable of using both sides – decent penetration – quick hands and reflexes in traffic
> Amazing ball control – appears to have it on a string – freakish one hand scoop pick ups on the run
> Clever footballer with a bagful of tricks and X-factor
> Instinctive, opportunistic crumbing goal kicker – can kick them from anywhere I50 – pushes forward effectively from a wing or a flank - accurate from both set shots and general play
> Very good pace off the mark, very big vertical leap (loves a high flyer) and evasive ability to make defenders look like gooses frequently

Weaknesses

> Sub 175cm
> Lacks body strength
> Lacks aerial/marking presence and ability (high flyers excluded)
> Inconsistent defensive efforts – sometimes good, sometimes bad
> Poor engine – can’t play up the ground for long periods
> Not a big ball winner (mainly due to poor engine and playing a lot on the HFF graveyard)
> Inconsistent performer – both throughout games and game by game – has promise but yet to prove himself against good opposition

Other

> 2008 WA U18 rep and colts team of the year – FP
> Eligible and nominated last year as a bottom ager

Overall

Has plenty of talent and X-factor, but some significant flaws and not enough production at the higher levels to have great confidence in him taking the step up. Will need stick his head down and apply himself very well, as anyone sub 180cm, let alone sub 175cm is up against it for an AFL berth.
 




Luke Rounds (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country) - Draft Profile


Height: 180.9cm
Weight: 74.5kg
Preferred foot: Left/Dual Sided
Playing Style: Outside midfielder
Potential: 6-7.5/10

Strengths

> Excellent all-round athletic package – 2.84s 20m pace, 8.29s agility and 14.5 beep test
> Clean one touch hands at pace – trademark is swooping on loose balls at pace
> Sound aerial ability for his height
> Good vision
> Dual sided, fairly neat user and good penetration by foot
> Tough, hard worker – very good ethic – applies defensive pressure, tackles and gives his all on-field
> Very positive character reports
> Good ball winning ability

Weaknesses

> Short
> Doesn’t use his 2.84s 20m pace on-field to really cut up the opposition and go on long runs – testing specialist?
> Questionable DM at times
> Doesn’t win much of the footy
> Needs to kick more goals as an outside midfielder

Other

> Bottom aged

Overall

Rounds is a player I haven’t seen much of , but from what I have seen looks like he has good enough scope and range of attributes to develop into a more than handy hard working AFL wingman, at worst he’ll be a solid squad player as his ethic seems excellent and all character reports are excellent. Worth investing at the mid to back end of the draft as a bottom ager.
 




Steele Sidebottom (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country) - Draft Profile


Height: 183.6cm
Weight: 80.5kg
Preferred foot: Right/Dual Sided
Playing Style: Creative predator/outside/inside midfielder/5th man in HFF/HBF/leading and marking small forward

Potential: 6.5-8/10



Strengths



> Strong aerial ability for his height – leaps at the footy – good judge off flight - however at a reach disadvantage for his height
> Genuinely dual sided – equal ability on both feet - technically very good
> Exceptional play reading ability and reaction time
> Excellent ethic – hard at the footy, runs all day and gives his all (like a Labrador pup) – > possibly the most enthusiastic player in this draft - routinely chases and tackles tenaciously and produces the 1%ers– has a very good impact defensively too
> Big game player – TAC Cup GF MOTM (10 goals)
> Slippery and evasive – hard to get a handle on – moves well through traffic
> Range of tricks
> Clean hands – swoops on the footy
> Creative and opportunistic football brain
> Good ball winner that wins a large chunk under contested pressure
> Excellent engine – gut runner
> Versatile – can play as a creative rebounding small defender, midfielder in a variety of roles (inside/outside/predator or even run-with) or clever small forward



Weaknesses



> Very slow off the mark - covered somewhat by his exceptional play reading ability/reaction time and perpetual motion style of play – however should never ever take the man on the mark on again
> Kicking lacks penetration over 50m and hurt factor – a lot of short kicks – also not a routinely reliable kick – reliability overrated
> Tends to bomb away quite regularly at clearances in particular (would like to see him distribute it by hand more frequently as he has very good vision) – tends to kick off one step too often
> Lacks lower body strength – particularly evident in his lack of acceleration



Overall



Sidebottom has a range of attractive attributes, however I feel his flaws (particularly his severe lack of pace) will prevent him from ever being an out and out star at AFL. He’s a safe bet though and I think he’ll at least be serviceable best XXII player as he has tremendous work ethic and seems to be one of those types that will leave no stone unturned. I think late 1st round to early 2nd round is a fair price for him.
 

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Jamie Sheahan (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country) - Draft Profile

Height: 178.3cm
Weight: 71.8kg
Preferred foot: Right/Dual Sided
Playing Style: Inside/Outside Midfielder/HFF
Potential: 5-7.5/10

Strengths

> Decent pace (plays quicker than testing time because he’s constantly on the move) and very evasive/quick feet – has initiative too - likes to take the game on and make things happen
> Slippery and can break tackles – stronger than he looks
> Natural roving and crumbing instincts – opportunistic – swoops on the footy
> Massive work-rate and good engine (high 13s beep) – terrier like - bundle of energy on-field and very lively – both ways and likes to be constantly involved
> Plenty of party tricks - good at stripping opponents off the ball then breaking away with it himself
Exciting and has X-factor – sense for the occasion – seems to step up when his team needs it – early against WA and late against SA
> Kicks goals
> Unusual (goose step) but effective set shot technique
> Dual Sided
> Good all-round ball winner

Weaknesses

> Poor inconsistent kick – very low trajectory, but lacks power to send it over 50m and radar is very hit and miss (high clanger rate) – lots of scrubbers
> Iffy decision making
> Iffy balance – prone to loosing his footing often
> Not routinely clean with his hands
> Lack of height and size

Other

> Reportedly and excellent cricketer – best football cricketer combo to come out of Assumption College – some think if he doesn’t make it in football will go onto to be a very good cricketer for Victoria

Overall

Sheahan is a player I’ve enjoyed watching, but his weaknesses are significant and may be too critical to be drafted in the national. However, I do believe he has enough scope to be picked up in the rookie draft (maybe late in the national depending who else is available). At best I think he could be a nippy HFF that can contribute with a couple of goals most games, at worst someone who’ll just be making up the numbers on the list, but not through lack of effort.
 

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