Welcome 2022 ND - Pick 34 - Toby McMullin

[Giant Strides]

Position: Small forward/midfielder
Height: 182cm
Weight: 83kg
D.O.B: 06-08-2004
Teams: Victoria Country, Sandringham Dragons

SNAPSHOT: “Toby McMullin is an athletic forward-midfielder who has some explosive elements to match his clean skills and defensive pressure”

STRENGTHS:

• Dual-sided
• Work rate
• Defensive pressure
• Explosive speed
• Composure

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Production
• Endurance

Already one of the AFL Draft crop’s top improvers in season 2022, Toby McMullin is a talent who has further scope for improvement going forward. Only joining the Sandringham Dragons for the first time this year, the forward-midfielder who was particularly prolific for Melbourne Grammar in the APS, is not a massive ball-winner, but makes the most of it when he does have it.

He is a neat player who ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to overall profile. Having performed across multiple teams and leagues and played a mixture of forward and midfield, the Dragons utility prides himself on both his skills and explosive speed. Though he does not always show that explosive speed in-game consistently, McMullin has the potential to do a lot of damage at the stoppages, clocking up a blistering 2.88-second 20m sprint at the recent National Draft Combine.

McMullin admits he still has to work on his endurance, having played "catch-up" with his Dragons teammates over the Summer and the course of the 2022 NAB League season. Along with his endurance, McMullin's production could certainly improve, with his stats across both the NAB League and AFL Under 18 Championships hardly setting the world on fire. For the Dragons, McMullin averaged 11.1 disposals, 2.4 marks, 1.6 tackles and booted three goals across his seven games, while for Vic Country, the forward picked up 8.0 disposals, 2.0 marks, 2.0 tackles and 3.0 inside 50s, while booting the two goals in his three outings.

Though not always rewarded for his tackling, McMullin is a player lauded for his defensive pressure and intent, so even if a physical tackle does not stick, his quick bursts put pressure on opponents to turn the ball over. Outside of his three-goal haul for Vic Country in the trial match against Vic Metro, McMullin has not been able to do a lot of damage on the scoreboard, but has still been able to hold his spot for the Dragons, and provide a critical defensive presence both inside 50, on a wing, or when rotating through the stoppages alongside some highly touted names.

Those areas of improvement go hand-in-hand, and McMullin's value to a team far outweighs his visible statistics. The Dragons and Country forward-midfielder is clean by hand or foot on both sides of his body, and it makes him more difficult to predict. He has composure with ball-in-hand and a high work rate, which allows him to make use of those traits. Though his endurance needs to improve to have a consistent impact on games, which McMullin conceded were "difficult" at times, he has the athletic capacity to be a longer-term prospect for a club willing to take him on. His neat skills on both sides of his body are reliable and with his dedicated attitude, is exactly what clubs look for in a balanced forward-midfielder.

 

[Giant Strides]

Pick 34: Toby McMullin

The GIANTS have selected Toby McMullin with pick 34.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

With pick 34 in the 2022 NAB AFL Draft, the GIANTS have selected forward Toby McMullin.

The key details:

Drafted from: Sandringham Dragons/Vic Country

Position: Forward/midfielder
State: Vic
Height: 182cm
Weight: 83kg
Date of Birth: 06/08/2004

Bio:

McMullin is a medium forward and midfielder who has footy smarts and is a powerful and penetrating kick, which makes him dangerous around goals. Has shown glimpses of real talent playing for both Melbourne Grammar and the Sandringham Dragons, which led to him being selected to play for Vic Country at the National Championships. Arguably his best game for the season was produced in the NAB League Grand Final, when he amassed 17 disposals and displayed his explosiveness to help steer the Dragons to victory. Tested very impressively at the Draft Combine, with his 2.88 seconds for the 20m sprint and 8.28 seconds for the AFL agility run both exceptional results. Is the son of former Collingwood and Essendon player Ian McMullin.

What National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso says:

Toby is really strong fundamentally and showed at the Combine that he has an athletic profile to match. We see him as adding a different dimension to our forward-line and he is a strong character, which is important for our club.

 

[Hendo_21]

Can't say I remember hearing his name get mentioned once throughout the entire lead up to the draft, another great athlete with defensive pressure mindset.

 

[GWS Goose]

The highlights really highlight his composure, those squaring balls were really top class and the soft kicks to players leading into space just looked like he was completely in control.
Highlights are highlights, but I liked what I saw

 

[Hendo_21]

The highlights really highlight his composure, those squaring balls were really top class and the soft kicks to players leading into space just looked like he was completely in control.
Highlights are highlights, but I liked what I saw

Composure + forward half pressure is a good combo to have in that role, makes him useful even without kicking goals. Gives him multiple avenues to impact positively up forward.

 

[Giant Strides]

 

[Giant Strides]

Sunsmart ... I like this kid!