Player Watch #28 Kane McAuliffe

[tigerdan]

Is this the Prestia page?

 

[Grrr]

Which players did Prestia deprive of senior experience last year that concerns you?

None last year because most of the developing players were injured.

This season with some luck with injuries we know we have two bona-fide players, Lalor and Hotton who will run through the midfield. Both were injured last year for much of the season. McAuliffe is primed to go but for injury. Smillie picked up 24 possessions in one of his few VFL games last season at 60% game time. He will have spent the next 8 months getting his body right and surely is ready to go. Then we add at least one top line mid this draft. MRJ, Campbell.... they all need midfield time, and we need to see a few of them in there at the same time otherwise we are treading water.

 

[Grrr]

Is this the Prestia page?

Well there is an element of Prestia vs McAuliffe (and a few others) going on, sort of relevant.

 

[Coach_Required]

Even if Kane has an average year in 2026, he will get an extension. We have a lot of players coming out of contract that the club will move on before him, so the doubters will have to cool their jets for another 12 months.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

At pick 126 the chances of that player having an impact is probably less than 5% and most likely provide nothing
Prestia on the other hand provides leadership experience and professionalism and on ground direction for the young players that walked into the club yesterday and more tomorrow

Dead right...the days of playing and beating your oppo onfield with talent alone are long gone...
These days it's all about team structure...structure....where to run, stand, block, position...
Only GUN GOATS like dusty are privileged to play where they want...
The Footy talent is simply spread too thin over 18 AFL Teams...
So the next best thing to do for teams to make up for talent shortfalls
Hone team tactics...simply to make it harder for the oppo...make it an arm wrestle...play for free kicks...try to get an edge onfield...roll the dice with momentum swings...stage...
When the Team can and is playing like one mind...then it's time to tinker...experiment...
I can see footy tactics evolving from the Ross Lyons coaching book...try to do more with less...approach
It's all going to redefine footy coaching...
What sort of side are you going to build and implement...fast...tackling...long kicking...play for frees...focus around one forward?!? Some players just don't have the Footy IQ...it's not easy being the Coach, Club.
Smart players with footy IQ are gold regardless of age and physical shape...spesh for super young sides!
Then God help us all are the annual The AFL Old Boy's Club rule changes...

 

[THE_GUN]

Dead right...the days of playing and beating your oppo onfield with talent alone are long gone...
These days it's all about team structure...structure....where to run, stand, block, position...
Only GUN GOATS like dusty are privileged to play where they want...
The Footy talent is simply spread too thin over 18 AFL Teams...
So the next best thing to do for teams to make up for talent shortfalls
Hone team tactics...simply to make it harder for the oppo...make it an arm wrestle...play for free kicks...try to get an edge onfield...roll the dice with momentum swings...stage...
When the Team can and is playing like one mind...then it's time to tinker...experiment...
I can see footy tactics evolving from the Ross Lyons coaching book...try to do more with less...approach
It's all going to redefine footy coaching...
What sort of side are you going to build and implement...fast...tackling...long kicking...play for frees...focus around one forward?!? Some players just don't have the Footy IQ...it's not easy being the Coach, Club.
Smart players with footy IQ are gold regardless of age and physical shape...spesh for super young sides!
Then God help us all are the annual The AFL Old Boy's Club rule changes...

Dude thats Deep

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Dude thats Deep

I do my best...I personally know you like deep!

 

[THE_GUN]

I do my best...I personally know you like deep! View attachment 2470043 View attachment 2470042

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

 

[ShereKhan]

I'm not sure why people are not more bullish about this guy. I think he suffers from being 'lumped' in with our 2021 pick of Sonsie or earlier pick of Dow as he looks older than he is. This kid is 20yo. He's had 2-years in the system and played just 14-games.

In fact, there were 84 x players who played 3+ games in their first or second year in 2025...here is where McCauliffe ranked of those 84:

Player rating = 14th
Disposals = 7th
Disposals / Clanger = 1st (in other words, he made the LEAST number of clangers per disposal)
Contested Possessions = 2nd (behind only Harley Reid)
Intercept Possessions = 8th
Groundball Gets - 1st
Hard Gets = 7th
Looseball gets = 2nd
Crumbing = 5th
Centre Clearances = 9th
Total Clearances = 6th
First Possessions = 5th
Intercept Marks = 10th
SI's = 15th
SI % = 15th
Tackles = 2nd
Pressure Acts = 4th

McCauliffe is an absolute beauty and if given a half decent run with injury will explode in 2026 and be one of the great 40+ draftees in recent memory.

I'll say it again...he's 20yo and played just 14-games. He will be a gun.

 

[4tune8]

I'm not sure why people are not more bullish about this guy. I think he suffers from being 'lumped' in with our 2021 pick of Sonsie or earlier pick of Dow as he looks older than he is. This kid is 20yo. He's had 2-years in the system and played just 14-games.

In fact, there were 84 x players who played 3+ games in their first or second year in 2025...here is where McCauliffe ranked of those 84:

Player rating = 14th
Disposals = 7th
Disposals / Clanger = 1st (in other words, he made the LEAST number of clangers per disposal)
Contested Possessions = 2nd (behind only Harley Reid)
Intercept Possessions = 8th
Groundball Gets - 1st
Hard Gets = 7th
Looseball gets = 2nd
Crumbing = 5th
Centre Clearances = 9th
Total Clearances = 6th
First Possessions = 5th
Intercept Marks = 10th
SI's = 15th
SI % = 15th
Tackles = 2nd
Pressure Acts = 4th

McCauliffe is an absolute beauty and if given a half decent run with injury will explode in 2026 and be one of the great 40+ draftees in recent memory.

I'll say it again...he's 20yo and played just 14-games. He will be a gun.

Agree, and this is why we don't need Sharp. Add Kellaway as inside mid depth.

 

[fargothegreat]

I'm not sure why people are not more bullish about this guy. I think he suffers from being 'lumped' in with our 2021 pick of Sonsie or earlier pick of Dow as he looks older than he is. This kid is 20yo. He's had 2-years in the system and played just 14-games.

In fact, there were 84 x players who played 3+ games in their first or second year in 2025...here is where McCauliffe ranked of those 84:

Player rating = 14th
Disposals = 7th
Disposals / Clanger = 1st (in other words, he made the LEAST number of clangers per disposal)
Contested Possessions = 2nd (behind only Harley Reid)
Intercept Possessions = 8th
Groundball Gets - 1st
Hard Gets = 7th
Looseball gets = 2nd
Crumbing = 5th
Centre Clearances = 9th
Total Clearances = 6th
First Possessions = 5th
Intercept Marks = 10th
SI's = 15th
SI % = 15th
Tackles = 2nd
Pressure Acts = 4th

McCauliffe is an absolute beauty and if given a half decent run with injury will explode in 2026 and be one of the great 40+ draftees in recent memory.

I'll say it again...he's 20yo and played just 14-games. He will be a gun.

Imo the only thing that stops McAuliffe from making it is his body. Might take another couple of years, but once he's fit he'll be a super valuable player for us in the midfield.

 

[T4P]

I'm not sure why people are not more bullish about this guy. I think he suffers from being 'lumped' in with our 2021 pick of Sonsie or earlier pick of Dow as he looks older than he is. This kid is 20yo. He's had 2-years in the system and played just 14-games.

In fact, there were 84 x players who played 3+ games in their first or second year in 2025...here is where McCauliffe ranked of those 84:

Player rating = 14th
Disposals = 7th
Disposals / Clanger = 1st (in other words, he made the LEAST number of clangers per disposal)
Contested Possessions = 2nd (behind only Harley Reid)
Intercept Possessions = 8th
Groundball Gets - 1st
Hard Gets = 7th
Looseball gets = 2nd
Crumbing = 5th
Centre Clearances = 9th
Total Clearances = 6th
First Possessions = 5th
Intercept Marks = 10th
SI's = 15th
SI % = 15th
Tackles = 2nd
Pressure Acts = 4th

McCauliffe is an absolute beauty and if given a half decent run with injury will explode in 2026 and be one of the great 40+ draftees in recent memory.

I'll say it again...he's 20yo and played just 14-games. He will be a gun.

he's also in that sweet spot of experience where we've seen enough of him to get excited and too little for him to be a whipping boy. Once he hits the 30-45 game mark the haters will flock like flies

 

[Moppey]

He adds that real point of difference to Taranto Hopper and Prestia nowdays who has lost pace.

He is big powerful quick fast and explosive all words sum up his game. He is a brute of a tackler only 20 and is one of not many mids we have who looks capable of going from inside a contest to outside with ease.

On the mid debate in general i would argue very strongly that the case is not to get rid of mids like Prestia at this point in time, and the number one reason really is we already have a lack of numbers.
we need to be adding to our mid stock pile and we need our share of experienced mids to guide the youngsters coming thru even if that means he ends up in the vfl.
Just to get a good list balance in mids. We can also certainly do with his experience and know how.

Just about every genuine mid we have will be in the senior team regardless, with few remaining in the Reserves team.
McAuliffe is a certainty for the senior team imo.

We may well have the 7 or 8 mids we need for the seniors.
The job in hand is to now build the list of mids we can develop who will put the pressure on those 7 or 8 mids we have. pla
Hopefully they will be good enough to force them out. Given our place on the so called premiership clock we are in a perfect position to do this without excessive expectations.
I hope there are no half builds like we did in the past.

 

[THE_GUN]

He adds that real point of difference to Taranto Hopper and Prestia nowdays who has lost pace.

He is big powerful quick fast and explosive all words sum up his game. He is a brute of a tackler only 20 and is one of not many mids we have who looks capable of going from inside a contest to outside with ease.

On the mid debate in general i would argue very strongly that the case is not to get rid of mids like Prestia at this point in time, and the number one reason really is we already have a lack of numbers.
we need to be adding to our mid stock pile and we need our share of experienced mids to guide the youngsters coming thru even if that means he ends up in the vfl.
Just to get a good list balance in mids. We can also certainly do with his experience and know how.

Just about every genuine mid we have will be in the senior team regardless, with few remaining in the Reserves team.
McAuliffe is a certainty for the senior team imo.

We may well have the 7 or 8 mids we need for the seniors.
The job in hand is to now build the list of mids we can develop who will put the pressure on those 7 or 8 mids we have. pla
Hopefully they will be good enough to force them out. Given our place on the so called premiership clock we are in a perfect position to do this without excessive expectations.
I hope there are no half builds like we did in the past.

I just like the mix of Lalor - Smillie - Cumming - Robey - Hotton - McAuliffe - Campbell as the group of mids in 3-4 years that will be taking the club to finals and beyond. We can add some preed along the way the next 3 years but its a great mix of inside / outside mids with foward presence and craft and speed. Just need more speed off HB/Wing

 

[Grrr]

He adds that real point of difference to Taranto Hopper and Prestia nowdays who has lost pace.

He is big powerful quick fast and explosive all words sum up his game. He is a brute of a tackler only 20 and is one of not many mids we have who looks capable of going from inside a contest to outside with ease.

On the mid debate in general i would argue very strongly that the case is not to get rid of mids like Prestia at this point in time, and the number one reason really is we already have a lack of numbers.
we need to be adding to our mid stock pile and we need our share of experienced mids to guide the youngsters coming thru even if that means he ends up in the vfl.
Just to get a good list balance in mids. We can also certainly do with his experience and know how.

Just about every genuine mid we have will be in the senior team regardless, with few remaining in the Reserves team.
McAuliffe is a certainty for the senior team imo.

We may well have the 7 or 8 mids we need for the seniors.
The job in hand is to now build the list of mids we can develop who will put the pressure on those 7 or 8 mids we have. pla
Hopefully they will be good enough to force them out. Given our place on the so called premiership clock we are in a perfect position to do this without excessive expectations.
I hope there are no half builds like we did in the past.

Whilst I agree with much of this, the one problem we have when trying to run 7/8 mids is that Hopper, Prestia and McAuliffe have only really on position. Taranto could play half forward, but with Lalor, Hotton, ND#3/4, Campbell, Ross, plus our 2/3 talls, there isn't much room for resting mids, especally slow ones.

So how do you run 4 centre square mids through there. We need to add pace, so McAuliffe is needed in there, and I would like one one of Hotton or Lalor in there as well to fast track them and add speed. Can't see how they all fit.

 

[THE_GUN]

Whilst I agree with much of this, the one problem we have when trying to run 7/8 mids is that Hopper, Prestia and McAuliffe have only really on position. Taranto could play half forward, but with Lalor, Hotton, ND#3/4, Campbell, Ross, plus our 2/3 talls, there isn't much room for resting mids, especally slow ones.

So how do you run 4 centre square mids through there. We need to add pace, so McAuliffe is needed in there, and I would like one one of Hotton or Lalor in there as well to fast track them and add speed. Can't see how they all fit.

We think this until we actually put the team on paper and have a look at the best 23
with 5 on the bench you easily see that

 

[Grrr]

We think this until we actually put the team on paper and have a look at the best 23
with 5 on the bench you easily see that

Easier. But doesn't stop the situation of Prestia, Hopper and Taranto being in there together, with Ross next in. So slow.

 

[THE_GUN]

Easier. But doesn't stop the situation of Prestia, Hopper and Taranto being in there together, with Ross next in. So slow.

Make your best 23 and add in 4 emergencies as we every team has atleast 4 injuries
you will find they fit easily and dont bother adding Prestia as he is finished

Id like to see your team

 

[Forensi Tiger]

I think he is good overhead mark for his size too

 

[Grrr]

Make your best 23 and add in 4 emergencies as we every team has atleast 4 injuries
you will find they fit easily and dont bother adding Prestia as he is finished

Id like to see your team

B: Vlastuin Miller Balta
HB: Brown Gibcus Banks
C: Broad Taranto Ralphsmith
HF: Mansell, Faull Campbell
F: Hotton, Lynch Armstrong
R: Nank, McAuliffe, Lalor
Int: Trainor (back), Short (back/wing), Sims, Hopper, Ross

Em: MRJ, Algar, Gray, Green, Prestia, ND#3 or 4

I would like to see Trainor as a permanent back, so Broady and Short up the ground. Can both rotate back if need be.
It's a bit risky asking McAuliffe and Lalor as starting mids, but let's back them in. Taranto, Hopper and Ross will go through there. Would like to start our $3 and or $4 picks but let's no rush in a young side.

So yes they fit, but it is more about backing in the young mids as first choice mids so that some of the older mids might play less game time and not be relied on so much.

 

[THE_GUN]

B: Vlastuin Miller Balta
HB: Brown Gibcus Banks
C: Broad Taranto Ralphsmith
HF: Mansell, Faull Campbell
F: Hotton, Lynch Armstrong
R: Nank, McAuliffe, Lalor
Int: Trainor (back), Short (back/wing), Sims, Hopper, Ross

Em: MRJ, Algar, Gray, Green, Prestia, ND#3 or 4

I would like to see Trainor as a permanent back, so Broady and Short up the ground. Can both rotate back if need be.
It's a bit risky asking McAuliffe and Lalor as starting mids, but let's back them in. Taranto, Hopper and Ross will go through there. Would like to start our $3 and or $4 picks but let's no rush in a young side.

So yes they fit, but it is more about backing in the young mids as first choice mids so that some of the older mids might play less game time and not be relied on so much.

McAuliffe , Ralphsmith , Green , Hotton ,Campbell , Alger , Rioli Mansell and even Lalor
None are slow and have ample speed to creat and break lines. Taranto & Hopper are these players considered slow but with a 5 man bench i really dont see that as a major issue.
Collingwood are not ultra fast team but move the ball fast and that to me is just as important

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Imo the only thing that stops McAuliffe from making it is his body. Might take another couple of years, but once he's fit he'll be a super valuable player for us in the midfield.

In a couple of years, other players will have gone past him

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Once he hits the 30-45 game mark the haters will flock like flies

The only issue I have is durability as to date he has been unable to stay on the field.

 

[Grrr]

McAuliffe , Ralphsmith , Green , Hotton ,Campbell , Alger , Rioli Mansell and even Lalor
None are slow and have ample speed to creat and break lines. Taranto & Hopper are these players considered slow but with a 5 man bench i really dont see that as a major issue.
Collingwood are not ultra fast team but move the ball fast and that to me is just as important

Yes my main objection was most people having Prestia in the side and in the guts, his only position. He will play, as he should given what he has done for the club, but if he's not up to it, he should not be an automatic selection. Shane Edwards was pretty bad in his last year but played every game. It's what clubs generally do.