Past #45: Oscar Junker - won't be offered a new contract - thanks for your efforts Oscar

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Sep 23, 2005
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Welcome to Oscar Junker

Oscar Junker
193cm, 84kg
Western Jets
Midfielder

From AFL.com.au
The tall, versatile midfielder missed most of the pre-season and the opening two rounds after injuring a shoulder in a surfing mishap but quickly moved into top stride with a series of best-afield efforts for the Western Jets to make the Vic Metro side.

A strong mark and lovely left-foot kick, he can also play at either end and is particularly adept around goal.

From Recruiting Manager Bryce Lewis

“Oscar’s a boy from the Western Jets who has actually been training with Werribee, our VFL affiliate in the lead-up to the Rookie Draft. He’s a really good size at 192 centimetres and has played in all areas across the ground.

“He reads the ball really well, is a very good intercept mark and has a penetrating left-foot kick.

“He had some injury disruption so he didn’t get a lot of exposure at national level, but finished off the year really strongly with the Western Jets.

“As the co-captain of the Jets, he’s highly regarded for his character and leadership and you see that in the way he goes about it in the field."




junker.png
 
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Oscar Junker

Utility | Western Jets/Vic Metro
23/01/1998 | 191cm | 84kg
Player comparison: Luke Shuey

Snapshot:

Oscar Junker is one of those prototype tall midfielders who is able to use his big frame to win the inside ball yet hurt opposition on the outside. A balanced player, Junker wins 48.1 per cent of his possessions in a contest and averages an impressive 4.2 long kicks per game.

His strength is not limited to ground contests, with Junker taking 1.3 contested marks per game, which to put in perspective is just shy of key forwards Todd Marshall and Josh Battle. He is able to find a balance while on the field both racking up inside 50s and rebound 50s, moving around from place to place to effect.

Junker’s versatility is certainly a strength that will come in use at AFL level and whether he is developed into a Marcus Bontempelli-type midfielder or more of a swingman type is yet to be determined. He has all the attributes to be a very good player at the elite level and will look to build on a couple of improvements.

In my opinion he would want to find a little more of the ball, averaging just 16.6 possessions per game, which is arguably all that sits between him and the top group of players in the draft crop. The other is his consistency, which seems to be a trend with most young players. Some weeks they look to tear games open, the others they can go quiet.

If Junker can continue to develop, build his consistency up and get to more contests then he will become a more complete player. I expect he will probably find a home late in the AFL National Draft.

Statistics:

O-Junker.png

Strengths:

  • Inside game
  • Long kicking
  • Versatility
  • Strong overhead
Oscar Junker is a player that certainly attracts the attention with his blond mop and movement around the field. He has no problems using his bigger body to win one-on-one contests and beat opponents both at ground level and in the air.

While his kicking could improve further (62 per cent efficiency), he does win almost half of his possessions in a contest which accounts for the lower efficiency. The fact he wins that much inside ball means he is unlikely to have any problems adapting to the game at the elite level.

Junker’s long kicking is another feature of his game. For a player to only average 16 possessions per game and four of them are long kicks, it means he is taking risks that quite often pay off. It is this aspect about his game that makes him a tantalising prospect to work with and mould into a dangerous wing or half-forward.

In saying that, Junker has also shown he can play in defence, which adds to his versatility. I personally like seeing him stream down a wing and pump the ball inside 50 to a leading forward or play that high half-forward role leading out of the 50 and creating opportunities for teammates. But he does have the experience of being behind the ball, dropping into the hole and taking an important mark before kicking to safety. He will not die wondering with some of his possessions and while they could be risky at times, he has the distance that is a valuable asset.

Finally, Junker has a rare ability to win one-one-one contests in the air against stronger opponents. To average 1.3 contested marks per game is phenomenal for a midfielder, especially at TAC Cup level and if an AFL club can enhance that potential, he could be a very valuable prospect going forward.

Improvements:

  • Ball finding
  • Consistency
As previously mentioned, Junker is likely to find a home later in the AFL National Draft. Most people might wonder why he would slip late with some of the traits he has to offer. Simply, he does need to work on his consistency and also getting to more contests to win the ball.

While averaging 16.6 disposals per game is okay, the top-line under 18s midfielders are either averaging mid 20s or running with a much higher efficiency than Junker. He averaged 62 per cent efficiency at TAC Cup level, which while below average is not as bad for an inside-leaning midfielder. He will look to build on that however going forward as most AFL clubs will be keen to get their players above 65 per cent.

Junker has no problem moving around the ground and getting to contests, he just needs to win the ball a bit more at those contests. There are times where it looks like he could win the ball and hurt the opposition but does not get the chance. This leads into his other improvement of consistency.

Junker will need to build his consistency because he does tend to have up and down games. It is not to say you expect him to dominate every week, more bridge the gap between his best and worst. He had the three games over 20 disposals and five games under 15 disposals, so while there were glimpses, there is still work to be done. Overall though, he has shown enough to suggest his best is good enough.


Summary:

Oscar Junker will be somewhat of a project player at an AFL club. This is not in the traditional sense of Junker needing time to develop, but more so finding a position and role and making it his own. He has the traits to succeed at the top level, he just needs to build his consistency and perhaps find a bit more ball.

His kicking could improve a bit further like most draftees, but the fact he takes the game on with his long kicking can often play a part in lower efficiency. Winning almost half of his possessions in a contest is a big plus and he is unusually strong overhead. Not likely to be called out until later in the draft, he is a player that with the right development could become a late bargain.
 
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giantroo said:
Welcome to Oscar Junker

The tall, versatile midfielder missed most of the pre-season and the opening two rounds after injuring a shoulder in a surfing mishap but quickly moved into top stride with a series of best-afield efforts for the Western Jets to make the Vic Metro side. A strong mark and lovely left-foot kick, he can also play at either end and is particularly adept around goal.


Click to expand...
That's yer McKenzie replacement right there.
 
Oscar Junker = The Simpson
 
Very happy with the pickup. Welcome Oss!
 

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Oscar Junker = The Holden
 
Think his disposal numbers are OK when you consider her had no pre-season. Really enthused by the contested marking numbers.
 
Shermanator said:
Oscar Junker = The Grouch

Good luck young fella and welcome to the best club in the land!
Click to expand...

Oscar Junker = The What You Gonna Do With All That

Needs to hit the weights, but i was hoping we picked him up as a rookie. Could play anywhere with his combo of height/weight after a preseason or 3.

I see i was beaten to the devilfishism lol

Oscar Junker = The De La Hoya
 
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