The Filth Wizard
Just here for the zipline
- Jul 26, 2007
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- #576
So I've watched his school footy games from earlier this year. No better description then him being a men amongst boys.
Things that stood out that I didn't get a good perspective of in his NAB League games:
- Consistently worked hard to get back and position defensively to take intercept marks and make spoils (having the opportunity to play full games in the ruck allowed him to show this off)
- Deftness of touch with his hands in the ruck was very good
- So. bloody. agile. Follow-up work after ruck contests and ability to be clean and quick picking up the ball was something I knew he had, but he showed this off to another level.
- Tackles and generally applies defensive pressure with real intent and aggression.
Someone asked me the other day where I would place Edwards in my rankings for this year's draft right now and I said late teens. After watching these 3 games I'd say he would be in my top 10 and closer to 5 than 10. This isn't me getting carried away by watching him against a lower level of competition either. It was things like his athleticism being better than my initial impression and footy nous that really stood out rather than his ability to monster the opposition in the ruck, in marking contests or dominating physically.
Kid's going to be a serious player if we can be patient and develop him properly. If anyone's watched Carlton this year then he's basically Sam De Koning.
Stats comparison between the two leagues he's played in this year:
NAB league averages ~50/50 forward/ruck split (3 games): 12 touches, 4 marks, 1.5 clearances, 2.5 tackles, 1.7 goals ~ 107 ranking point average
School footy averages ~mostly ruck (3 games): 26 touches, 9 marks (5 contested), 6 clearances, 3 tackles, 1.3 goals - ~190 ranking point average
I recall in the interview with Gerard Healy and Gary Lyon he said he considered himself a De Koning type so you're both astute there.