1. Blake Acres
Blake Acres managed 9 matches for West Perth this season, averaging 25 possessions, and a little over a goal a game. What's all the fuss about? It's the quality of the touches. I'd be struggling to recall more than 10 poor disposal from the tally of 222 at colts level.
Acres is clean, crisp and any other adjective you want to use to describe an elite ball user and here's the big one, an elite decision maker, there are no hail marys, no long bombs, no kicking for touch. Acres hates to waste the ball, think of a Pendlebury or a Mundy, these players wait that extra half second to identify a more advantageous target and have the required skill, by both hand and foot to hit these targets 9 times out of 10. It opens up the play, it's an intangible that will never show up on any stat metric, the ability to weight a foot bass, or a handball so a teammate doesn't have to break stride is gold, absolute gold.
Acres also jumps to the top of the pile on the back of his ability to play just about anywhere and impact the contest. Acres was pulling in 20+ possessions each week, despite averaging less than 70% game time. Toward the end of his 9 matches Acres pushed forward and provided West Perth with a marking target through half forward, I cannot describe how poor this side was in 2013, his last 4 games netted 9 goals. Acres also played a sweeping role across half back and simply read the play better than any who went to him to quell his influence.
The fact that he has grown a further 2 cms since testing at Arena earlier this year only heightens his standing, he is now a genuine tall midfielder, the type that clubs are happy to push forward rather than rolling off the bench, this allows the other less flexible players to rest on the bench, an important factor to consider when thinking of the upcoming cap. His aerial capabilities make him a genuine threat forward of the play, whilst definitely not in the Fyfe bracker, he is more than capable of dragging in genuine contested marks and his set shot is smooth, with an uncomplicated kicking action to match.
Now we turn to his frame, his scope for growth and the stock he has come from. There are no holes. Both parents were both very athletic, home life has been stable and he has had a sibling of a similar age to build a competitive edge. If any had noticed his brother Dan Acres and his ferocity at the man, it's fair to say Blake knows how to compete, how to take a tackle and how to shake a tag. This is crucial for me, it develops and competitive drive which holds players in great stead down the track. Look at the Selwood brothers, now look at Jack Watts, it can't be taught, the willingness and want to compete, regardless of whether there is impact.
Acres for me, is the complete package from WA, he's won the gene lottery, he has had a brother to torment and compete against, honing his skills from an early age on the field and at home, his ball winning ability is unquestionable. Decision making is elite, a capable overhead mark with an instinct for goal.
He has scope to grow into his size, is fit as a fiddle and comes from a very stable environment, the only downside to Acres is an inability to grow facial hair, he really needs to get rid of the mo.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/wa-draft-standing.1036736/