Draft Profile 2021 Draft Player Comparisons

[Bastyy]

Hey all i’ll have my JVR and Amiss comparison up soon

 

[Big_Newon]

draper vs rachele

 

[Bastyy]

Outside of Sam Darcy, two players have dominated the discussion of tall forwards in this years draft; Jye Amiss and Jacob van Rooyen. There are some similarities on the surface, both being from WA, both being relatively close in sign and both being considered first round prospects. But how similar are they actually?

Jye Amiss

Jye Amiss is a tall forward who is deadly accurate in front of goals. Over the course of 2021, Amiss rose into draft calculations by kicking 51 goals and 15 behinds, becoming the WAFL Colt's leading goal kicker and earning himself a spot in WA's u19 team. His work inside 50 has been elite, being the best leading forward in the draft, using his speed and agility to create separation from his opponent. Amiss has been a rapidly improving player this year, which has been even more impressive given the fact he live an hour out from Perth and doesn't partake in a proper training program, showing a player with a great drive to succeed, as well leaving one to wonder how good he could become in the AFL system. It also makes his consistency over the year all the more impressive, kicking multiple goals in all but two WAFL colts games. Amiss' biggest weakness is his contested marking ability, given he is slightly skinny he wasn't participating in one on one marking contests very often.

Jacob van Rooyen


Jacob van Rooyen came into the year as WA's most exciting key forward, but he's finished the year as WA's most exciting swingman. van Rooyen's biggest feature is how physical he is. He's reliable one on one due to his big frame and strength, making him one of the best contested marking players in this years draft. During the year, van Rooyen was flagged as someone who could switch down back due to WA's plethora of tall forwards, and in the U19 championship games van Rooyen was swung back with great success. van Rooyen managed to use his aerial presence and his ability to read the ball to become an elite intercept marker. As a forward, van Rooyen managed to show dominate traits in games across the season, kicking 24 goals in his last 6 colts games and beating opponents in marking contests. van Rooyen suffers when his opponent can get separation from him, with his lack of speed inside 50 hurting him. He also needs to work on being able to run out four quarters

Comparing the Pair

If you're picking Amiss, you're going for a player who can become an elite forward, who will be consistent and accurate every game, as well as having a lot of an upside. If you're picking van Rooyen, you'll be getting a swingman with capabilities both forward and back. In the long run, I see van Rooyen moving to a full-time backman, as he could become a gifted intercepting defender​

 

[PMBangers]

THE BASICS​

[TABLE=alternate,centered]
[TR]
[TD]Josh Ward[/TD][TD]Ben Hobbs[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]181 cm[/TD][TD]183 cm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]79 kg[/TD][TD]80 kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Northern Knights[/TD][TD]GWV Rebels[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VIC Metro[/TD][TD]VIC Country[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Midfielder - Balanced[/TD][TD]Midfielder - Contested[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NAB League Games: 5[/TD][TD]NAB League Games: 5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Disposals: 30.2[/TD][TD]Avg. Disposals: 24.8 (one injury effected game)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Marks: 5.2[/TD][TD]Avg. Marks: 2.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Tackles: 4.8[/TD][TD]Avg. Tackles: 5.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

The Yearly Rundown
Both Ben Hobbs and Josh Ward have had stellar seasons that have seen them linked to top 10 selections since around August, with both performing particularly well in the Country v Metro games played towards the end of the Victorian season. Ward hasn't been able to play absolutely every game of NAB League due to his commitments to APS side Melbourne Grammar, where he was named in the Team of the Season, but when he did he was superb. Ward was solid for the early stages of the season, but an injury to teammate Ned Long allowed him to move into a more focal role on the inside and really break out, with the biggest game of the year coming against the Oakleigh Chargers. From there Ward was locked in to a first round spot and continued to impress.
Hobbs has had a little less luck, copping an ankle injury early in the season which sidelined him for a few months, seeing him miss the AFL Academy game. Since returning though Hobbs has shown exactly why he came into the year as part of the main group of players considered 'elite', his consistency outside of injury effected games has been immense, and his physicality has continued to improve the more he's gotten to play.

Strengths
Lets start with Ward for his strengths over Hobbs. The two main ones for Ward are versatility and disposal by foot when compared directly to Hobbs, with Ward more capable of playing forward, wing and in the defensive half than Hobbs, which is aided by his more precise disposal by foot and just opportunity to show that versatility which Hobbs hasn't had anywhere near as much. Another facet of that versatility is how they approach the game as a rover/ inside midfielder, whilst Hobbs can win it as a receiver, he doesn't do it as consistently as Ward does when they don't win the clearance personally.

Hobbs biggest strengths over Ward are his contested game and physicality, whilst there's not as much to talk about with these Hobbs is genuinely the top of the class when it comes to consistently putting his body on the line to win a contested ball, at times even running through his own teammates to get the footy.

The similarities and traits that are so close are a long list so a few of the main ones I want to mention here are;
- Athleticism
- Quick Hands
- Work Rate
- Consistency

All 4 traits are so close between the two but are some of the focus points that people look at when trying to decide which players they like best. Neither are overly athletic but it's not quite at the level you'd consider it a deficiency for either, especially when you through in the high work rate and footy IQ of the two. Their consistency speaks for itself, but they'll both be the classic 20-games of 25+ disposals a season players, and I'd argue that's the lower end of what they'll become at the next level

AFL Player comparisons
There's a few thrown around for both that are decent enough to agree with, I don't remember much of how Luke Power played but that's been the one that some of the watchers I respect the most have gone with for Josh Ward. For Ben Hobbs, Taylor Adams hits it pretty well.

Comparing the pair
Both of these guys are safe bets to hit 200-games and be really well appreciated by the supporters of the side that picks them, and whilst they have some limitations, there's not enough for anyone to be worried about. If it were up to me, I'd be picking Hobbs for most sides in the competition if both were available, but there's no disappointment in selecting either.​

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Kai Lohmann - Blake Howes PMBangers

Ronny Fejo Jr - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera eDPS

James Willis - Zac Taylor Pie 4 Life

Josh Gibcus - Leek Aleer Knightmare

I suggested Toby Conway and Isaiah Dudley to PMBangers no deal

 

[Mutineer]

I suggested Toby Conway and Isaiah Dudley to PMBangers no deal

I don't think my comparators are quite that far off the mark by position's played are they?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

I don't think my comparators are quite that far off the mark by position's played are they?

Haha nah, but Bangers also failed to mention who was taking part in this. Can’t say I’m twiddling my thumbs at any stage in November, so was just being a smart arse if he thinks I’m doing any extra work this time of year

 

[PMBangers]

The Basics​

[TABLE=alternate]
[TR]
[TD]Campbell Chesser[/TD][TD]Darcy Wilmot[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]186 cm[/TD][TD]183 cm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]83 kg[/TD][TD]75 kg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sandringham Dragons (Murray Bushrangers if he didn't board)[/TD][TD]Northern Knights[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VIC Country[/TD][TD]VIC Metro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Midfielder - Balanced/ Rebounding Defender[/TD][TD]General Defender - Well Rounded[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NAB League Games: 3 (one injury effected game)[/TD][TD]NAB League Games: 7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Disposals: 18.3[/TD][TD]Avg. Disposals: 15.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Marks: 3[/TD][TD]Avg. Marks: 2.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Avg. Tackles: 1.7[/TD][TD]Avg. Tackles: 2.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

The Yearly Rundown
It was a tail of two different seasons for the pair, for Chesser he started well in his opening outing against the Oakleigh Chargers playing predominantly on the wing in the exciting win for the Dragons, looking every bit a top end pick as he was spoken up to be. His next game against the Knights was a good one as well but came at a cost of injuring his meniscus and requiring surgery. He was expected to miss 4 weeks but due to complications in rehab he wouldn't return until the Dragons played against Tasmania, and then the week after for VIC Country v Metro Challenge match.
Wilmot has enjoyed a strong season where he has propelled himself up rankings as arguably the best 'exclusive' defender in the pool, playing a key part in the Northern Knights successful season prior to the season ending shortly and making the VIC Metro squad. While Wilmot hasn't had any 'standout' games, it's been his consistency in his application and defensive work that's really impressed more than anything else

Strengths
Looking at what Chesser has over Wilmot in terms of strengths and it's a pretty flattering list; ball use, speed, composure and versatility all lean in Chesser's favour here, as one of the better users when he's up and about in the draft class, it was his piercing kicking from half back as a 16-year-old that first brought his name up as one to watch for this year, when mixed with his speed that's been developed well in his athletics work, his composure in traffic and his versatility to play further up the field, it's a dangerous package no matter how you look at it. You could argue that production should be a strength in Chesser's favour here, but with the comparison mainly looking at the two as defenders I don't think it matters all that much, especially when Chesser was mostly a midfielder this year.

For Wilmot, you're looking at a defensive specialist that needs to work a little on his rebound game, some of his strengths over Chesser for me include; two way running, tackling, defensive craft, durability. Simply put, Wilmot is a real 'defenders defender' with his accountability and defensive focus in the back half, it's rare you'll ever see an opponent beat Darcy because he wasn't working hard enough or had a lapse in his defending, he's truly the definition of 'making them earn their goals.'

Their similar traits isn't a long list, and I think that's why there's such a difference in opinion on who people would rather at their club, but for a basic list I've gone with;
- Footy IQ
- Work Rate
- Leadership

AFL Player Comparison
This is a fairly difficult one, my first thought with Chesser is someone like Mitch Duncan, because I see him as a midfielder long term. I preface this by saying I didn't watch a lot of AFL footy this year, but I can see a bit of Christian Salem in how he goes about it from the backline. With Wilmot it's hard for a like for like, I think he's a bit of Brayden Maynard with better foot skills though.

Comparing the pair
This one is actually a lot more cut and dry than I expected, I'm really high on both of these guys and after rewatching Chesser footage for this he's jumped back up in my rankings, I back him in to make it despite the interrupted year, but I'm also high on Wilmot and think he's one of the safest bets to be an AFL level player for 200+ games in the pool. Johnny Bananas asked about them both as half backs however, and for that I have to go with Darcy Wilmot as a more accountable option, but I think with two late teens picks and a need for both general defenders and outside class, both players would fit Brisbane well​

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Johnny Bananas asked about them both as half backs however, and for that I have to go with Darcy Wilmot as a more accountable option, but I think with two late teens picks and a need for both general defenders and outside class, both players would fit Brisbane well​

Thanks, very comprehensive analysis. If the Lions were only going to draft one of them, it feels like it'd be dependent on whether Starcevich can move into midfield, as he plays the lockdown defender role currently. If the club are confident in him to do so, I can see us starting Wilmot, and if not, I can see us going for Chesser (or Sinn if he falls to us, or both).

 

[bird_man]

PMBangers I'd love to see a comparison between Josh Goater and Josh Sinn

In particular the thoughts on the following..

Safest bet
Higher ceiling
Most likely to become a genuine mid

 

[theGav56]

I'd be interested in a comparison between Hough, Chesser and Howes, especially regarding their midfield-wing potential.

Chris25

 

[briztoon]

PMBangers I'd love to see a comparison between Josh Goater and Josh Sinn

In particular the thoughts on the following..

Safest bet
Higher ceiling
Most likely to become a genuine mid

Safest bet: Josh Sinn
Higher ceiling: Josh Goater
Most likely to become a genuine mid: Josh Goater

 

[fightingfury_88]

I'm keen on a late draft SA comparison battle between the SA half backmen - Lewis Rayson and Alastair Lord.

 

[Davo-27]

I'm keen on a late draft SA comparison battle between the SA half backmen - Lewis Rayson and Alastair Lord.

they are basically the same players, athletic small flankers with speed, Rayson is solely a half back whereas Lord is both a half back and a forward, both mid/late draft potentially.