Remove this Banner Ad

#5 Aaron Cadman (Pick 1, 2022 National Draft)

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Giant Strides

Giant Strides

Moderator
GWS Giants Team Board Tipping
Nov 23, 2015
15,055
23,744
AFL Club
GWS
Aaron Cadman.png


Position: Key Forward
Height: 195cm
Weight: 91kg
D.O.B: 03-03-2004
Victorian Country, Greater Western Victoria Rebels

SNAPSHOT: “The premier key position player in this year’s AFL Draft pool off the back of a consistent season for both GWV Rebels and Vic Country as a strong marking forward.”

STRENGTHS:
  • Contested marking
  • Forward craft
  • Leading patterns
  • Mobility
  • Scoreboard impact
  • Strength
IMPROVEMENTS:
  • Set shot consistency
  • Ground balls
Cadman has developed into one of the top prospects in the 2022 AFL Draft, so it is no surprise that there are plenty of strengths to his game that have allowed him sustained and consistent success at elite junior level. His prime strength compared to his peers is his contested marking, with his sticky and safe hands the clear standout trait that has him in the elite category for that area.

What allows Cadman to take so many marks - averaging 5.5 per game at NAB League and 6.3 in the AFL Under 18 Championships - are his forward craft and his leading patterns. He knows when to lead and when to engage in a wrestle, and though his natural body strength is another area that works in his favour, Cadman is best known for finding the space inside 50, leading into the space and taking the ball cleanly.

More than capable of crashing packs, Cadman is more of a clean grab marker that enables him to more often than not pull down the contested grab. He took six of them - at 1.5 per game - for Vic Country and is hard to spoil when his arms are outstretched. Though taller players might have longer reach. Once the ball is in his hands, it is near-impossible to spill it from there.

Cadman plays a simple but effective game for a key forward. He works hard on the lead, picks the right time to go, and has the safest hands to be able to pull down the mark. His mobility - which while not an elite athlete like a Max King - is still an asset, with Cadman able to move reasonably well for a readymade forward who is well along the way to being fully developed. Unlike others who are better described as beanpoles, Cadman has the best of both worlds in being strong, but also mobile.

Once Cadman has done all the hard work of finding the space, leading and taking the mark, his set shot goalkicking can let him down. Though, it is not a case of him being a technically poor set shot for goal. In fact, sometimes Cadman can be nailing majors from anywhere within 60m of the big sticks, but it is more his consistency when it comes to set shots - as it showed when Vic Country fell short of Vic Metro, booting 3.3. Effectively, a confident Cadman is a match-winning dominant player, but he can have his woes in front of goal.

Another area of improvement which is not as crucial to his role as a key forward is his ground ball ability. Cadman is so good in the air, and mobile, that he also competes well at ground level. If he can be a touch cleaner below his knees, he can take his game to another level.

Aaron Cadman
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #8
And there it is ...



Christmas has come early for GIANTS fans with number one draft pick Aaron Cadman signing a new two-year contract extension.

The first overall pick in the 2022 AFL Draft, Cadman was contracted for the 2024 AFL season but has ensured his exciting talents will be showcased in GIANTS colours until at least the end of the 2026 season. An exciting young forward tipped to be the future leader of the GIANTS forward line, the talented 19-year-old played 12 games for the GIANTS in his debut AFL season as he showed glimpses of his enormous potential as a game-changing key forward. Equipped with elite mobility for his size, the hard-running 195cm athletic key forward is strong overhead while also being clean below his knees, giving him all the tools to develop into a star of the competition.

With a bright future ahead, Cadman’s commitment to the GIANTS signifies a dedication to the club’s aim for immediate and long-term success on the back of a brilliant 2023 season under new coach Adam Kingsley. GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, was thrilled to lock away Cadman. “Aaron is a player with huge potential, and we are delighted to secure his services for a further two years on top of next season, “McCartney said. “We traded up in last year’s draft to take him with the number one pick because we know what a special talent he is and his decision to stay a GIANT long term is fantastic for the club and we can’t wait to see him thrive in orange and charcoal. It takes time for young key forwards to develop within the AFL system and for Aaron to play 12 games at AFL level in his first season was a great achievement and we are excited about what he’s going to develop into for us. At just 19 years old he’s got so much room to grow, and we see him as a huge piece of our future, and we can’t wait to help him become the player we know he can be as we strive towards future success.”

 
  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #11
www.afl.com.au

'That's what you play for': Finals berth spurring young Giant

Aaron Cadman says missing last year's finals was tough to take, but he's hopeful he can feature this year after a breakout game against the Lions
www.afl.com.au www.afl.com.au

IT WAS the biggest performance of his short career, and Aaron Cadman feels it's the game that can set him up for more match-defining displays in the big time in the future. The 2022 No.1 draft pick took five marks and kicked three goals, including two late, to help put a massive contest to bed in the Giants' barnstorming, come-from-behind victory over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday.

After being dropped in the middle part of the season, Cadman's round 22 performance looms as his breakout encounter moving forward and is the finest yet from 31 AFL games. "Especially in the last quarter there, it was pretty satisfying," Cadman told AFL.com.au after the game. 'I had my moments and took them. It was good to back myself in, in those moments and get the rewards. Just to know that I'm capable, I think this game is going to be a gateway into some bigger performances for me."

It was a critical display from Cadman, who stood up in the absence of fellow key forward Jake Riccardi and with Toby Greene being well held in attack. The most pleasing aspect of the Gabba triumph for the Giants would be the likes of Cadman and Darcy Jones delivering in a pressurised situation and daunting environment to lead them to victory. The young duo kicked the last four goals of the game between them, diluting some of the talk that the Giants' forward line is too reliant on Greene and Coleman Medal leader, Jesse Hogan.

"It's really exciting. Darcy and I have talked about these moments and taking them," Cadman said. "I think Darcy in the coming years is going to be an absolute star, hopefully the next Toby Greene. Hopefully we can keep doing this for years to come. I think it's just my teammates backing me in to go at the contest, at all times. It also helps that Jesse's (Hogan) such a big force in the League at the moment, so he's getting so much attention and it allows me to go at some point. When 'Ricca' (Riccardi) is not playing I also get little bit more game time. We're missing Ricca but I was just glad to get my opportunities and I took them."

more in the story
 
  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #12

No.1 draft pick in 2022 - Aaron Cadman has been a slow burn for GWS so far. After six goals in his 12 games across his debut season in 2023, and 30 in 23 games last season, fans have been waiting to see the best of the 195cm key forward.

In his 49th game against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday, Cadman exploded with five goals, 13 marks and 19 possessions to be among the match-winners in the Giants 11-point victory. Previously, Cadman's best haul of goals had been three, kicked on three occasions in 2024, while the 13 marks taken against Brisbane shattered his previous best mark of seven. The young Giant was helped out by an injury to key Brisbane defender Jack Payne leaving the Lions defence quite short for talls, meaning Eric Hipwood had to slide into the backline.
 
  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #13
www.afl.com.au

'I know what I'm capable of': Giant ready to make big impact

Giants forward Aaron Cadman admits the pressure of being the No.1 draft pick has weighed on him early in his career
www.afl.com.au www.afl.com.au

FRESH off the biggest goal haul of his blossoming career, Aaron Cadman feels he has shed the pressure that comes with being the No.1 draft pick.

The Greater Western Sydney key forward will bring up game No.50 against Gold Coast at Engie Stadium on Sunday after slotting five majors at the Gabba on the weekend as the inconsistent Giants secured another big win on the road. It's been billed as Cadman's breakout game despite three-goal hauls on big stages at the end of last season – away to Brisbane once more in round 22 and in the qualifying final against Sydney.

"That's how it is as a young key forward, every time you kick a couple of goals everyone thinks it's a breakout game," he said. "The last few weeks I've been building really well with my personal game, just bringing down marks that I usually wouldn't. I've got confidence in my hands and everything stems from that."

And Cadman says the pressure of needing to perform as a No.1 draft pick impacts him far less now that he's in his third season. "I've kind of forgotten about that now in a way. In my first two years it was something that weighed on me a little bit. Now I know what I'm capable of," he said. "I know that I can be hopefully one of the top players in the League. I've just got to keep on trying to show that."

Cadman's confidence has also been helped in a large way by the Giants' unrelenting belief in him.

more in the story
 

Remove this Banner Ad

  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #14
Cads.png

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Cadman Commits

Aaron Cadman has signed a four-year contract extension with the GIANTS.
www.gwsgiants.com.au www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS are thrilled to have secured the long-term future of emerging star forward Aaron Cadman, with the young gun signing a four-year contract extension.

Already contracted until the end of 2026, Cadman has committed to the GIANTS for a further four years which will see the star 21-year-old remain in orange and charcoal until at least the end of the 2030 AFL season. Taken with the number one pick in the 2022 AFL Draft, Cadman has continued to elevate his game in each of his first three seasons to cement himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the competition.

After kicking 30 goals last year in just his second season, the extremely athletic 195cm key forward has taken his game to greater heights this season with a host of eye-catching performances to highlight exactly why he’s tipped by many to be one of the competition’s next big star forwards. Equipped with elite mobility for his size and a great work rate, Cadman’s incredible leap and strong hands, as well as his cleanliness below his knees and his deadly left foot, give him all the tools to develop into a star of the competition. Having recently brough up his 50th AFL game, Cadman’s new deal comes off the back of two match-winning performances in the last month – including a best-on-ground display in Saturday night’s crucial 29-point win over Geelong.

Less than a month after a breakout performance against the Brisbane Lions in round 14 – where he finished with 19 disposals, 13 marks (five of which were contested), and five goals in a match-winning display against the reigning premiers – the emerging star was back at it on Saturday night where he kicked a new career-high six goals against the Cats in another best-on-ground display. Now a GIANT until at least the end of 2030, Cadman has kicked multiple goals in six of his past seven goals and already has 32 majors for the season in a promising sign of things to come from the high-flying young forward.

GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, said Cadman’s contract extension was significant for the club. “It’s fantastic to have him locked away for the next five seasons through until the end of 2030,” McCartney said. “We obviously traded up in the 2022 draft to get Aaron with the number one pick because we could see what a talent he is and we’ve been rapt with his progression so far and the player that he’s becoming for us. He’s shown a great desire to improve over each of his first three seasons and be the best player he can be and some of his performances this year have shown exactly the sort of player we’d envisioned he could be for us.

“Getting to learn alongside the likes of Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene has been huge for Aaron and we’re really starting to see the fruits of his hard work and we’re extremely excited about what he can produce for us not only in the present but well into the future.”
 
  • Thread starter
  • Moderator
  • #15
Last edited:

Remove this Banner Ad

#5 Aaron Cadman (Pick 1, 2022 National Draft)

Similar threads

Giant Strides
#45 Finnegan Davis (Pick 51, 2025 National Draft)
Replies
6
Views
436
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#34 Oskar Taylor (Pick 15, 2025 National Draft)
Replies
9
Views
427
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#19 Harrison Oliver (Pick 19, 2024 National Draft)
Replies
7
Views
989
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#13 Oliver Hannaford (Pick 18, 2024 National Draft)
Replies
4
Views
871
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#36 Logan Smith (Pick 71, 2024 National Draft)
Replies
2
Views
916
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#28 Jack Ough (Pick 36, 2024 National Draft)
Replies
12
Views
1K
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
Giant Strides
#29 Cody Angove (Pick 24, 2024 National Draft)
Replies
19
Views
2K
Giant Strides
Giant Strides

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top