Colin Wisbey on Chaplin, Peel, Symes and Pettigrew

marcuz

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Thread starter #1
Colin Wisby on Chaplin

Thought you guys would be intersted in Wisby's thoughts on Chaplin

Troy Chaplin (North Ballarat Rebels)

194/89 bottom age left foot (dual-sided) CHB.

Well built perfect size CHB who can also play CHF at U18 level. Looked the most promising underage Vic tall in '02 & was BOG in Ireland early this year but his share price went down as the year wore on. Basketball background & plays somewhat outside. Based on last year I was probably his biggest fan and thought he would be right in the mix for a top this year but, despite good U18 Champs form, I have been disappointed with his intensity and pace. Accordingly I have slipped him down to being worth a early 2nd round pick, although I haven't written off his chances of addressing my main concerns. Ready year 2, maybe year 1. Will probably go a bit earlier than I have him.

*STYLE LIKE: Jakovich

*TRADEMARK:

- Pickup or gather inside or around traffic then spot an option and do a long accurate threaded feed.
- Pack mark from behind, or body-on-body one-on-one overhead mark.

*SUMMARY ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATION:

194cm, nice build. Looks a genuine AFL prospect the way he carries himself and the amount of time he seems to have but has yet to stamp himself as an AFL gimme. He visually looks a real foootballer - moves well, well-balanced, smarts, very clean hands at all levels, nice kicking style, good decision-maker and feeder by hand, poise under pressure.

Form this year has been handy but less than what I expected from last year. However I still believe he has the potential to be a very good AFL player. Physically, is arguably the most ready Vic KPP.

He is not as desperate as you want a defender to be but reads the play and the ball extremely well and often gets around 20 possessions (although there is not much in the way of quality opponents this year to measure him against).

It is his lack of intensity which worries me a lot and I am trying to reassure myself by significantly factoring in his being bottom-age. However, he's a bit of a contradiction. He fights hard on the ground when in traffic (and he is very good in traffic) but doesn't choose to enter traffic much, preferring to wait just outside. Can get his own ball but is not an intense hardball get type per se. Is quite a good tackler technique-wise but in 14 of his 21 games in 2 years has failed to register more than one tackle. None whatsoever in 7 of those games. On the other hand, 5 tackles in one U18 Champs game vs SA (but following a combined total of only 2 in the other two games).

There are other contradictions. Sometimes looks almost treacle slow but other times pace seems almost reasonable. Often appears to have an ordinary leap but every so often will surprise eg coming over the top at a throw-in. Has a very useful non-preferred right foot but seldom uses it.

Many of my comments on Chaplin and David Mundy re poise, reading, and lack of intensity and accountability are interchangeable. Like Mundy, Chaplin doesn't usually show his opponent much respect and plays a Paul Roos style - backs his ability to read the game and the ball as a higher priority than manning up on his opponent. Is often good at this - when he is wrong his opponent is often free in space or Chaplin has had to rely on a team mate going to his opponent. Shows snippets of serious quality but interspersed with low-intensity soso stuff. Definite promise but he is no certainty or finished product.

Plays a bit too reactionary and introverted for my liking. Likes to play off his opponent instead of going for first dibs enough.

Is only bottom age, has come from a basketball background, and has grown and filled out a lot since '02 so he deserves to be cut some slack re learning the game, honing his style and adjusting to his much bigger body shape. It may partly account for some of the apparent contradictions and concerns (but definitely not fully). That's why I still rate him as early as a mid 2nd rounder (and he could go earlier) and why I still have serious hopes for him.

However, the bottom line for Troy is simple - you have the potential to have a long term AFL career ... but only if you improve your intensity, hardness and pace (and lateral agility for that matter).

*DISPOSAL, DECISION-MAKING, SMARTS:

- Regularly displays smarts, creates play, brings team mates into the game. Does some clever stuff - tap ons, palm outs etc.
- Very good getter, spotter and feeder inside traffic. Makes the right decisions. Excellent at mopping up and hbg inside traffic.
- Great feeder. Feeding is his speciality. Spots with very good vision and is reliable by hand, including lookaway feeds. Weights well.
- Kicking is a mixed bag though. Style is relaxed but loose - low take, early release, bent leg follow-through, his body sometimes finishing 45d rhs. He can often get good depth but his kicks tend to have long hang time (caused by the early release and lack of punch on impact) and he misses too many targets at this stage. Some of kicks are mongrels/shockers, regardless of whether under pressure or not.
- A left footer who has a very acceptable right foot and is comfortable using it but doesn't do so very often.
- Regularly manages to get his feed off during a tackle and doesn't rush it.
- (other aspects - see above)

*HANDS:

- Clean hands all levels. Very clean in traffic.

*OVERHEAD MARKING:

- Reliable and clean overhead - good judge of a mark and holds his ground well. Takes plenty of contested marks, including pack. Lacks intensity though. Those two statements probably sound incongruous. However he is a basketballer who sometimes waits at the fall of a marking contest in which he should actually be involved. At some other times he doesn't commit himself completely, doesn't attack his marks. That's the major concern of mine, not that he lacks marking ability because he is reliable overhead - when he decides to have a serious crack.

- Doesn't show a great leap. Most of his marks are through holding his ground and using his reach, or virtually plucking from behind. His big plus in offsetting what appears to be soso leaping ability is a 6cm reach advantage (see below).

- Known for his marking but he is susceptible to a spoil from behind as he is inclined to let his opponent see a fair bit of it because he doesn't always protect the ball in the air that well.

- Excellent judge of flight.

- Excellent timing.

- Nice soft hands. Is routinely one-grab.

*ATHLETICISM, INTENSITY, ETHIC, CONSISTENCY:

- Great build. Has grown and filled out a lot since '02. Should finish up 95-100kg within 2 years.

- Lacks pace in games and can look very slow. Got badly exposed late season in particular, including his worst game where he was murdered on the lead by a part time full forward. Played as if he had flu or something but I've heard no suggestion that such was the case. Surprisingly, beat half the 168 attendees at DC/SS over 5m and 20m. Ditto for Beep test. That all offers some hope but begs the question of why he doesn't display that ability in matches. He sometimes has fairly good running style yet at other times he loses that form eg his arms flap. I didn't think to ask and I'm probably wrong but I wonder if he is getting coaching (he should be) and the new running technique is not yet automatic. Was MVP in the Ireland hybrid game and that code requires athleticism so it is not as if he some sort of a slug by any means.

- Lacks intensity, particularly hardness in a marking contest. Although he can take good marks he too often zones off like a basketballer instead of putting himself at the centre of the contest. Waits for the spill or feed instead of creating it. Often fails to pressure an opponent (eg spectates instead of chasing).

- Leap doesn't seem great but he has a healthy 6cm reach advantage compared to the average player of his height and this is a great "attribute" in spoiling or marking and in offsetting any lack of leap per se.

- Tends to park 2m defensive side of stop plays or traffic then spectate, not make first move. That's great for allowing him to mop up when the smalls get it out to him or it spills but I'd prefer to see him inside much more often (feeding it out to the smalls). when he does go into traffic he is excellent ... and that's what is so frustrating. He just doesn't get enough HBGs.

- Straight line agility is fairly reasonable but his lateral agility is not eg 1) he is easily wrong footed. 2) can have difficulty trying to bend a kick back 3) recovery. .DC/SS result for agility had him ahead of 68%. Was best for Aust in Ireland series so much have shown agility etc to be good in that code. That code is non-physical though, which would have suited him.

- Not bad at 1%ers eg blocks.

- Good evasion. Sells the dummy well.

- (other aspects - see above)

*SCI (SCOPE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT):

- Good.
- Has grown and filled out a lot since '02 so perhaps is still growing into his body. His pace may well improve automatically once he becomes more attuned to working with the different body shape than he had, say, early last year.
- Intensity may improve as he gets further away from thinking like a basketballer.

*AFL VERSATILITY:

- Plays mainly CHB. At AFL he may become FB if he can lift his intensity , pace and acceleration. At the moment a leading forward would carve him up. The extra freedom of CHB suits his cruising quarterback tendency. Perhaps he would start out as the 3rd tall defender. He is reasonably versatile in that he can pinch hit at CHF. Fundamentally, he is ideally suited to LMID / 3rd tall defender.

- He is mainly straight-line, which limits his role options.

*QUERY:

- Intensity.
- Pace.

*SOME STATS:

- TAC: Averaged 15 disposals in 14 TAC games 4.9 marks (27th in comp, 10th of the talls). 1.6 tackles, total 6 goals-6. 67% of disposals are kicks. 33% of his possessions are marks. At least 20 disposals in 4 games. (Got a 32 in '02 also). Last 3 games were terrible, av 9d, even allowing for being tired after a long season which included Ireland. If there was any excuse, it wasn't given to me when I inquired.
Mid-way trend .. % change in disposals was -24%. % change in marks was -37%. % change in tackles was 29% but from a very low base.

- Stats summary '03 U18 Champs:

Averaged 16 disposals and 6.0 marks in 3 U18 Rep games.
Kicks vs feeds: favoured kicks 32-14, similar to TAC pattern.
Tackles: 7
S.P. clearances: 4 incl 1 cbc
Gets own ball?: 9/46 TD were HR. 6 HBG
Kicks long vs short: 13-6.
Kicking accuracy: poor. 11/32 were ineff/clang incl 5 clang
Handball accuracy: 2/14 were ineff
Marking: 18 (incl 6 contested)

*OTHER STUFF:

- All Aust TY.
- AIS
- Voted best for Australia vs Ireland early '03.
- 1 Morrish Medal vote, 1 Coaches Award vote.
 

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marcuz

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Thread starter #3
Originally posted by kid Dynamite
Thanks for that, marcuz. I expect Chocco to iron out those creases in the first year or two.
He sounds promising and Colin is usually spot on with his reviews.
If you want more profiles on some other of your draftees just go to the link below as colin will post any profiles of players you want.

Hotrod's Bulletin board
 

Portia

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#6
Here's some more.

Luke Peel (Sandringham Dragons)

Bottom-age 187cm, perfect build, straight-line outside defender.

Looks and moves like the consummate AFL footballer when he is on the run after receiving. However, is a bit of a one trick pony who must learn to be more accountable and show greater intensity and presence.

If you only focussed on Peel in a game and completely ignored everything around him, you might conclude that, apart from lack of contested overhead marks, he is the real deal. Early season I rated him potential top 10 but his deficiencies became more apparent as the season progressed. He does have potential but at this stage I rate him worth no earlier than a mid-range pick. Even then, I am cutting him a lot of slack based on
1. being so young (would have been ineligible had he been born 5 days earlier)
2. having had a longish season on the back of an Ireland tour
3. not being able to spend much time in the TAC competition due to school footy and being able to get away with millionaire habits in such games.
4. having to play CHB on taller opponents much of the year instead of HBF on a smaller opponent.

*STYLE LIKE: J Bowden?

*TRADEMARK:

Run behind to receive, then run straight and kick long and straight.

*SUMMARY ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATION:

He looks very much the part physically and in the way he moves and carries himself but looks may be deceiving and he may not be as good as I had at first thought.

Moves extremely well through space and has excellent balance in the run but is a mopper-upper who doesn't get his own ball and lacks intensity. His best looks like a smooth, seriously AFL footballer but I now have serious concerns. Looks better than he is effective.

It's not so much what he does that bothers me - it's what he doesn't do. Is simply not accountable or intense enough.

Is very predictable. Run behind to receive, run 20m, kick long.
Doesn't contest enough, preferring to play behind and hope the ball spills from the pack, or letting his opponent get first crack at the ball and sweating on him to make a mistake or ready to nail him.

When his team has the ball, or he hopes they will get it, he is very pro-active and creative and looks a million dollars. At other times he is too reactive.

On face value, often seems extremely assured - exudes confidence, control. However I suspect he is really a confidence player, a worrier who tends to drop his bundle.

Clean hands. Is extremely well-balanced, especially in the run. Moves well, often looks a genuine AFL footballer.

*DISPOSAL, DECISION-MAKING, SMARTS:

- Frustrating. Persists in playing behind. Backs his judgement but is a linkman or mopper upper rather than someone who gets own ball or pressures opponent. Lacks grunt. Gets some ball when in traffic (without charging into the traffic) and feeds well, even under great pressure. However many of his possessions are receives and many of the rest are mopping up spills. Tends to reach in with his hands instead of body. Gets a fair bit of ball but very few possessions come through attack on the ball. Plays outside. Seems to stand and wait outside traffic instead of putting body in. Also seems to rely on opponent error too often. Is not big on hard ball gets.

- Reads the play fairly well and the ball very well but doesn't seem to be a natural footballer. Backs his judgement at all times, without necessarily assessing risks.

- Runs past or forward to present an option (although not always presenting wisely).

- Is very straight line and predictable.

- Unaccountable kick-chaser. Is drawn to kick chasing like a moth to a flame. Has infuriating habit of calling for the ball even when his opp is adjacent to him - will run to present an option then decide he deserves the ball as reward for running to present option. Poor accountability really bothers me. When ball is a long way away, Peel is shoulder to shoulder with opponent but when play gets close to him he loses concentration and/or awareness of where opponent is. He is big on presenting an option but treats that as higher priority than accountability. Doesn't show opponents enough respect and his opponent can slip him without Peel noticing (or when Peel moves off to present an option). His opponents invariably seem to get plenty of ball - and in space.

- Mainly kicks rather than feeds but disposal by hand is very good, often long feeds (good depth and power), & he spots well.

- Early season he was inclined to simply bang the ball onto the ball and blindly kick long without any target in mind. As the season progressed, he improved markedly in this respect, still kicking long and direct but trying to target more often. Overall though, he probably still doesn't hit quite enough targets by foot for a player who is often in space when he kicks. Kicking looks good off the boot - power, balance, depth. However his kicking style still has scope for improvement - has a tendency to tilt left initially, then finish up tilting right (yes, right) and a bit off balance, sometimes with a jump. Sometimes doesn't steady enough on the run, resulting in too much hang time. He seems one-sided. He occasionally does kick on his non-preferred left foot but the only ones I have seen have been fairly ugly.

- Not afraid to leave own opponent to help team mate or cover a team mate's opponent.

*HANDS:

Very clean under no pressure. Fairly clean under pressure.

*OVERHEAD MARKING:

- Very clean uncontested. Doesn't commit to enough contested marks and his lack of leap renders him ineffective at pack marking contests. Averaging 4.4 marks a game in his 5 TAC games and took 10, incl 4 contested, in the '03 Champs but the stats flatter him somewhat. Can take a strong contested mark one-on-one, body on body though.

*ATHLETICISM, INTENSITY, ETHIC, CONSISTENCY:

- Athleticism is a surprisingly mixed bag for someone who looks and moves like an elite, balanced athlete.

- Has good pace over ground, in an effortless, "glide over the turf" style. Loves to dash downfield in cruise mode and does it well.

- Excellent endurance.

- However, biggest athletic worry is he has very little leap, so often has trouble spoiling marking contests or taking overhead marks himself. Rarely even tries to leap. He is routinely squeezed out of pack marking contests and I attribute this to his lack of leap, rather than balance. Those in front jump, those behind jump, and Peel is simply squeezed underneath. Major concern. Has good reach though, 4cm longer than the norm for his height.

- He is fundamentally straight-line but has a good sidestep.

- His lateral recovery agility is also not to the standard you might expect. Easily wrong-footed and sails past.

- Never seems ruffled .... or intense! Lacks intensity big-time. Too often you just want to shake him into life.

- Ethic in presenting an option, in running hard, and in blocking, tackling etc is excellent. Ethic re accountability is poor. Is inclined to spectate too much.

- Excellent balance when receiving or gathering or on the run.

- When opponent has the ball, Peel is good at closing him down and also at nagging and stripping.

- Tackling is a mixed bag but is improving. Some of his tackles are excellent but he is still sometimes inclined to tackle with his hands rather than body to body, rendering such attempts ineffective. Is good at corraling / closing down an opponent.

- Spoils well from behind when body on body and not much leap is called for or when he has a big run up. Punchaways or clever, subtle arm spoils. Overall though, is only a soso spoiler but is improving.

- Good strength. eg can wrench himself out of a tackle.

*SCI (SCOPE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT):

- Is so very young and hasn't had much experience in the hurly burly of TAC footy so he has plenty of scope. Leap and agility may be hard to improve but if he can adopt a totally different mindset re intensity, concentration and accountability, his stocks will soar, along with his prospects of a long term AFL career and versatility. He would take a quantum leap if he could effect such change. If he can't, then his improvement will be very limited, regardless of what skills he works on. Physically he has an impressive mature build but I suspect it can be firmed. His recovery agility may improve in the process.

*AFL VERSATILITY:

Fairly limited. Is ideally suited to a loose man in defence role. He is quite straight-line so defence suits him. He feeds well and has a good motor and pace but has yet to show anything like the intensity necessary to play a run-with role. Perhaps that may come in time. In the meantime it is probably HBF or LMID for him, although he might become capable of playing wing.

*QUERY:

- Accountability, intensity, concentration.
- Leap
- Lateral recovery agility.

*SOME STATS:

- TAC:
- Averaged 19 disposals in 5 TAC games (50th in comp). 4.4 marks, 3.9 tackles. Very consistent, ranging from 16 to 22. 74% of disposals are kicks. 23% of his possessions are marks. (Played school footy most of year).

- Stats summary for entire U18 Champs series:
3 U18 Champs games 2003 for 14 disposals (3.3 marks), 12 (2), 15 (3), 15 (5).
Kicks vs feeds: mixed but usual style is to mainly kick.
Gets own ball?: 17/42TD were HR. 6 hbg.
Kicks long vs short: 15-5
Kicking accuracy: 5/26 ineff/clang incl 1 ckang.
Handball accuracy: ok. 4/16 ineff
Marking: 10m incl 4 contested
Tackles: 6

*OTHER STUFF:
AIS.
 

Portia

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#7
Brad Symes (Central District)

186/78 top age right foot (left foot for emergency only) midfielder/flanker.

Work rate, work rate, work rate. Is not particularly quick over a distance but loves a mini dash, runs hard, gets the hard ball and a heap of it, stops opponents getting it first, mops up, presents, links. Ain't pretty but succeeds by weight of numbers. That's Brad Symes the midfielder.

Genuine footballer. Likely AFL especially if he can lift his pace just a bit and improve his kicking accuracy.

I rank him late teens but he will go later. There are various players I have ranked much lower or higher than they will actually go on draft day but I have done so knowingly. At least I was reasonably comfortable with my reasoning at the time, even if the players in question subsequently prove me wrong. I am a little uneasy about my Symes ranking but he is such a worker, improver and quality person that I suspect he will be one of those initially ungainly guys who does whatever is necessary to address his flaws and defies any critics. Ready year 2.

*STYLE LIKE: Lennie Hayes?? (though not the same disposal or smoothness)

*TRADEMARK:

- A HBG or receive at traffic, run 5m into space then a nice long feed or bang the ball onto the boot. Then immediately keep running onto and into another play.
- Flick the ball clear in the air just as an opponent is about to grab it.

*SUMMARY ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATION:

There are various reasons to rate Symes lower. He is not quite as quick as you would like (although nothing like to the extent his DC results might indicate), his kicking often doesn't hurt and he is quite one-sided. However, he reads the play and ball as well as anyone in the draft and he bobs up at play after play after play and gets much more than his share. Has a work rate like Spider Bradley. Granted, his kicking needs improvement and he won't last in AFL unless he addresses it or disposes by hand more often but, when he is getting the ball, the opposition isn't. And that's a lot of the time. I originally had him much lower but I kept coming back to his sheer ability to find the ball, all over the ground and all game and game after game, and to stop others getting it. That, plus his handy height (186cm), athleticism, endurance and versatility make him an attractive package to develop for AFL.

Good in close especially centre bounce. Gets own ball but links well also. Runs hard and works hard to get, to present and to give run.

Reads play well, reads ball well. Purposeful in going for the ball. Courageous, keeps eyes on the ball. Very athletic. Good vision.

As a midfielder, operates almost entirely between half back and half forward.

As a HBF, is accountable but also backs his judgement. Is occasionally inclined to not notice his opponent has slipped him though.

As a HFF, he covers a lot of ground, presents well and is handy overhead.

Has been a big improver in the past year, particularly pace, and there is no reason to believe he won't continue to do so. In time I think he will become less ungainly and also fill out (currently slim but nice frame) into a very nice build for an AFL player.

*DISPOSAL, DECISION-MAKING, SMARTS:

- Reads both play and ball extremely well. Is especially good at stealing the spill. Roves the pack as good as just about anyone.

- His stats for effectiveness do not flatter him but a high proportion of his possessions are under pressure right at the play instead of in space so that impacts his stats re accuracy. Nevertheless, he does need to improve his ability to hit targets.

- Feeds well, especially inside traffic and even under a strong tackle. Keeps his feet and, stands to full reach and is adept at keeping his arms free.

- Kicking is a mixed bag and needs to be better for AFL. Any problem is more much to do with steading and sizing up a target than technique. That's why I'm not overly concerned about his ability to address the problem. Kicking style is OK except for very early release sometimes and waving the ball around too much in set shot for goal. At this stage, however, his kicks when he is playing midfeld simply don't hurt anywhere near enough. (Except for the fact that at least his kick puts the ball closer to his team's goal, as he normally kicks fairly direct). Tends to bang the ball onto his boot too much. Many of his possessions are gained under pressure so I'm sympathetic there, and he does regularly try to break free into space first and often succeeds, but he just doesn't hit targets enough when he could be reasonably expected to. Seems to have a reputation for being a good kick. His kicking seems better off half-back than as a midfielder (where he is inclined to rush more) but I can't agree with such reputation on what I have seen. At a much lower level I could see it more likely but we are talking about him in the context of future AFL tempo.

- While he can use his left foot in an emergency, it is often not very effective. On that basis I would class him as one-sided. Even by hand, he is usually inclined to try to squeeze out a somewhat awkward right hand feed when the left is the logical hand to use.

- You almost always see him inside traffic or very close outside it. He tends to run to the actual play and most of the linking he does (which is a fair bit) is by quick receive or gather at the play then move the ball on quickly, rather as a linkman who runs way out into space to offer an option. This is neither praise nor criticism. You need both types. However the latter type is a dime a dozen, the former harder to find. That style suits Symes as it plays to his strengths (especially ability to get it, to stop his opponent being able to get it, and to feed) and leaves the link in space stuff to team mates who are quicker and kick better.

- Tends to try to just brush off or bump-off would-be tacklers to get into space but it sometimes results in him getting scragged and having to rush off an indiscriminate nothing kick. On the whole though, he is good at getting that 5m-10m into space then disposing and it suits his attributes. It gives him that bit extra time to decide what to do with he pill, as compared to a quick feed or smotherable quick kick from inside traffic..

- Has a regular habit of trying to swipe the ball open hand in the air and is usually off-balance when he does so. It came be very effective inside stop plays as a way of flicking the ball clear just as an opponent is about to take it. Even then it is not high percentage because he has no control over where it goes but it at least means one less initial opposition possession. However, where I don't like it is when he is running to an opponent in space with the opponent some metres ahead and looking likely to mark or gather the ball when it arrives. In those cases, better to run closer to the spot where the ball is falling and try to protect the ball from the opponent (steal the opponent's space) and/or (where possible) take the opponent's feet out from under him. Such swipes are poor percentage and also take Symes out of the play as he is invariably off-balance when he lands. There are also times when a punch would be better than open hand.

*HANDS:

- Not as clean as his reputation would have him. Very clean off the ground but at other levels is sometimes a bit 2-grab, especially in/at traffic, but even occasionally under little or no pressure. Tends to snatch. However, at stop plays some of his peers wait to see where the ball will finish if it doesn't come to them initially and that can mean that on the occasions that they do get it, they can look a bit cleaner. Symes' approach tends to be to snatch it before an opponent has a chance. (See above). The bottom line that matters is that he invariably finishes up with the ball, 2-grab or not, and is not stripped very often.

*OVERHEAD MARKING:

- Quite good overhead. He loves a fly and can take an occasional screamer. Doesn't have particularly soft hands in a pack but keeps eyes on ball, shows courage. Takes a fair few uncontested marks linking but also a fair few marks from behind one on one.

*ATHLETICISM, INTENSITY, ETHIC, CONSISTENCY:

- If you went on draft camp times, he is way too slow for AFL, at least at the moment. However, he is definitely quicker than his times. He is definitely not slow but his pace for AFL is probably summed by "adequate". The moment he gets it (if not before) he is immediately on the run and this momentum helps him get through traffic and to shrug tackles. Runs out of traffic much more frequently than many players who are genuinely quick. And getting clear, moving the ball on and getting to the contests you need to is the bottom line for his role, not what your DC times look like. He is not overly quick but he runs through and past traffic to get, then keeps running. And he does that routinely. That is part of what defines him.

I wouldn't back him over 50m and his DC 5m, 20m times were dreadful but where it counts is in the game and his game day first 5-10m when he has or is going for the ball is actually good if you look at how often he breaks out of traffic and how seldom he is nailed over that distance. In short, he is no sprinter but his pace deficiency, where it mainly counts, is very overrated IMHO. Where it does let him down, and where I would agree that he "lacks pace", is when trying to run down an opponent over distance. From the little I saw of him on tape last year, he appears to have lifted his pace this year.

- Terrific ethic.

- Regularly runs on immediately after disposal to present again, even running fair way to do so. Great endurance.

- Except for a very occasional lapse (mainly against a quick player) he is very accountable to any opponent within range. Spoils well. Isn't pretty but does his utmost, in a ball-players sense, to make every effort to prevent the opponent getting the ball in the first place or to have any room if he has it. It costs Symes some frees but I can handle that, given the number of times he is effective.

- Nice, albeit not showy evasion. Has a good sidestep and a good Robert Harvey lateral dance step.

- Big leap, even from a standing start. Combined with being 186cm, he uses it to advantage to spoil when the ball is in the air and the opponent is about to take the mark or the drop.

- Has good natural balance (eg can ride a bump) but currently lacks strength in both body and legs.

*SCI (SCOPE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT):

- Is top age but I think has some significant improvement in him through bulking up and strengthening. This should impact not only his body strength but also his speed, as his legs currently just don't have great power per se, especially from the quads.

*AFL VERSATILITY:
- Possibly start as HBF but can play HFF. Could play wing because of his ground coverage, ability to read, and aerial ability but he would be exposed by a quick opponent on occasions unless he can pick up another metre. Even so, he will get to more ball then his opponent on average. In time I see him as a midfielder, maybe a run-with.

*QUERY:
- Pace (though not too bad)
- Disposal

*SOME STATS:
- Stats summary '03 U18 Champs:
Averaged 27 disposals and 5.3 marks in 3 U18 Rep games.
Kicks vs feeds: 55-26. routinely a 2:1 ratio
Tackles: 11
S.P. clearances: 10 incl 3 cbc & 7 other b/u.
Gets own ball?: Yes. 29/81 TD were HR. 12 HBG
Kicks long vs short: mixed
Kicking accuracy: 9/55 were ineff/clang incl 3 clang
Handball accuracy: 6/27 were ineff/clang incl 3 clang
Marking: 16 (incl 1 contested)
Frees: gave away 2 frees every game.

*OTHER STUFF:
- All Aust TY.
- AIS
- Among best for Aust U17 v Ireland 2002.
- Had to pull out of 2002 Champs just prior due to illness.
- Played SANFL Reserves '03.
 

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#8
Michael Pettigrew (West Perth)

193/80 top-age right foot athletic versatile tall who is invariably described as a key defender but who may be best suited to a flank.

Best U18 position is possibly CHB but he is very versatile at U18 level because of his combination of speed, leap and height. He would need another 15kg before he could be considered for AFL KPP. He is no Polak. Has played in virtually all roles, from FB to CHB to CHF and from HBF to wing to ruck, but is not a natural footballer and is best suited to defence where he can be led to the ball and best utilise his main attributes of accountability, leap and straight-line pace. The weight issue (see below) bothers me so I've had to make some assumptions. At the risk of criticism, I've assessed him not as a potential KPP but as a probable flanker /wing so if it turns out that my concern re adding weight was unfounded and he bulks up to KPP size, so much the better.

Last year he struck me as more an opportunist athlete than a 6'4" natural footballer, let alone a potential AFL KPP. On draft camp results and his athleticism he is very likely to be drafted and he has improved throughout the past year but I'm still agnostic. Taking the conservative position that he may be only ever flanker strength, he might still be worth a pick because of his potential versatility and upside. However, only with a late pick, even in a draft that cries out for talls of any sort, because I'm sceptical about whether he has sufficient raw footballing ability to succeed at AFL level. I believe he will go much earlier than I have him.

*STYLE LIKE: B Hart.

*TRADEMARK:

1. (backman) Glove punchway from behind in one-on-one marking contest.
2. (forward) One grab mark on a lead 2m in front of his opponent.

*SUMMARY ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATION:

Outstanding speed athlete with equally outstanding leap but questionable endurance. Can look smooth but doesn't get quite enough of it when he has the chance to to convince me he is AFL.

I am concerned that he doesn't appear to have added any weight since mid '02. I hope this concern is unfounded but it is why I have down-played his KPP potential in this assessment, not because he is currently 80kg per se. (Although needing to add so much weight is in itself not a plus).

Could theoretically be AFL versatile but I'm unsure about his ability to bulk up and not convinced of his decision-making / smarts, endurance and kicking.

Played combination of Colts and Reserves in '03, after a slow start. Named among Reserves best about 3 times, which is encouraging

Plays behind as a defender and in front as a forward.

Is accountable and a good spoiler from behind but lacks strength.

The '03 U18 Champs were almost devoid of tall inside KPPs and that flattered his form. The only genuine big-marking CHF with any claims that he played on was Watts and Pettigrew had to be moved off him after Watts was on fire early. And even Watts is only 86kg. (In fairness, Pettigrew had his left elbow strapped during the Champs but I don't know the background to that). Pettigrew did move back on to Watts 10 minutes into Q4 and had 4d to Watts 1d but Watts was limping badly the whole time, having been injured earlier.

On the other hand I was quite impressed with the small-man attributes he displayed in Q1 on the HBF (wing?) against Vic Country (although his main opponent Buckland got some easy ball). Pettigrew collected 6 disposals, got his own ball and showed very clean hands off the ground and some courage, balance and ability to read the ball and to pick up and feed in the same motion.

I wish he were more physical though. Tends to been a spectator at times. I'm not sure how much is an issue of intensity and how much is simply lack of instinctive decision-making, not being sure whether to come or go.

He can certainly jump high and is certainly quick and agile but he doesn't seem big on skills.

*DISPOSAL, DECISION-MAKING, SMARTS:

- Is still more athlete than footballer but is improving. Is possibly best in a role where he is led to the ball.

- Kicking accuracy is mixed bag. Policy is fairly predictable - goes for depth. Is not a reliable kick but there are plenty worse and he can get good distance when he hits it right. He can kick goals from outside 50.

- Kicking style is not quite right - early (high) release, both arms 45deg at impact, high bent leg follow through across his body, poor finish - tilt left with left arm bent in front of face & right arm almost punches his face.

- If you only saw him once or twice you could be excused for thinking he is one-sided (right). I can't recall more than one non-preferred left foot kick. However, it was a good one, off 2 steps and under great pressure and it had good depth.

- Feeds well and as quickly as required. Accurate, and can routinely pick up and feed in same motion.

- Last year he seemed a receiver. This year he gets enough of his own ball.

- Decision-making is a mixed bag. Doesn't seem to be instinctive and sometimes seems a slow thinker. Can do some clever things but also some things that are downright dumb. Often seems uncertain whether to attack the ball, watch his man or present an option.

- Looks good when running away from traffic and in an open space but sometimes when under a bit of pressure he can lack poise and judgement. Not great awareness of time and pressure. Sometimes gets nailed through taking too long. Inclined to panic a bit and fumble or rush his kicks. Less so this year than last though.

*HANDS:

- Not reliably clean but often does a very clean pick up off the ground on the run and under pressure and is probably cleaner below the knee than overhead. Had hard hands last year but has improved..

*OVERHEAD MARKING:

- Not prolific but can take a very big grab, typically by virtue of his leap. Took 3 contested marks in the '03 Champs but I would not call him a reliable contested mark. Is better from behind but is susceptible to a spoil when in front and is vulnerable against big marking and/or big bodied opponents.

*ATHLETICISM, INTENSITY, ETHIC, CONSISTENCY:

- Has great speed, both off the mark and over distance.

- Huge leap.

- I haven't been able to get a handle on his endurance games but Draft Camp tests came up very poor for endurance. Unless there is a one-off excuse, this would be a major concern as he needs to add a lot of weight, he is already very fit, and he would want to be able to capitalise on his running speed all game. Adding the 15kg he needs is not going to enhance his endurance.

- Determined, aggressive tackler even if he occasionally lacks the strength to properly impede. Good spoiler from behind when he can use his leap or isn't at too much of a strength disadvantage.

- Generally very accountable and certainly tries to be but he sometimes loses concentration momentarily such that his opponent finishes up in space in the danger zone. Seems better in that regard when his opponent sticks to the corridor. Gets lost a bit with a flanker opponent who moves around.

- Is very light (80kg for top age 193cm) and lacks strength. When he is grabbed, he lacks strength and seems to be fairly easily stripped. Despite lack of weight he has good balance. Generally keeps his feet and can ride a bump.

- Has improved his intensity a lot, although he still often seems uncertain. I'm not suggesting a courage issue - he just hesitates too often, apparently through not knowing what to do.

- He shows courage but in '02 he looked like a pure receiver whereas he now gets some of his own ball. Has the courage to back back for a mark.

- As a defender, I think he needs to capitalise on his speed advantage more often. Has the capability to run the lines and that could be a great asset to his team, one which would require a bit more risk-taking but not unduly detract from his accountability if, and it is an if, he is capable of exercising appropriate judgement.

- Good ethic. Determined, big on 1%s. Prepared to block after feeding off and is good with 2e's after the spill of a marking contest.

- Tends to play fairly straight-line but has shown good evasion skills.

*SCI (SCOPE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT):

- 193/80 who will improve with more weight. That's the theory but there may be a question mark over his ability to add weight.
- He still strikes me as an athlete who is still learning the game. If so, he may improve by virtue of pure experience and tuition.

*AFL VERSATILITY:

- Is theoretically very versatile. However, ability to put on a lot of weight might become an issue. At U18 level he can play any KP, has the speed to play wing and the leap to pinch hit in ruck contests around the ground. However, he is way too skinny for AFL KPP (80kg for 193cm) without adding another 15kg. That could be a key factor in his potential AFL versatility or any AFL career at all. With enough weight he could eventually be suited to full back. In the meantime, I have considered him as a potential HBF or HFF (and maybe even wing) who would have the speed to at least match opponents and a great height advantage (especially with his leap). On this basis, IF he has the ability to play AFL, he might provide opposition coaches with match up nightmares. Even then, while he has great agility, he does not act or react instinctively / quickly and there is the above concern re endurance and smarts generally. Even if he puts on the 15kg, his best role may be non KPP.

*QUERY:

- Endurance.
- Kicking accuracy.
- Ability to put weight on. (He needs 15kg).
- Decision-making.
- Left elbow was bandaged at '03 Champs

*SOME STATS:

- Stats summary '03 U18 Champs:
Averaged 10 disposals and 2.0 marks in 3 U18 Rep games.
Kicks vs feeds: mixed
Gets own ball?: yes. only 7/27TD were HR. 6 hbg.
Kicks long vs short: 10-2
Kicking accuracy: 5/17 ineff/clang incl 2 clang.
Handball accuracy: ok
Marking: 6m incl 3 cont.
Tackles: 9, incl 5 vs SA
S.P. clearances: 1 cbc, 3 t/i.
Frees: ok

*OTHER STUFF:
- AIS
- Didn't nominate for 2002 draft.
- Played combination of Colts and Reserves in '03. Named among Reserves best about 3 times '03 after slow start to season in Colts.
 
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#9
Nice work Porthos, nice work Colin.

I havent seen any of these kids play so I dont think I can comment too much as yet. Give me a year of trecking around Adelaide to SANFL games to keep an eye on them before I can say anything.
 

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#10
Sounds about what you get with non-top 10 picks.

Players with upside but also downsides.

After that it comes down to coaching and attitude (much of which is coaching).
 

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Moderator #12
These are so comprehensive and yet he's forgotten one obvious piece of information about Brad Symes ... has a dog called Spot that lives under the stairs at home.

Maybe Spot ate the Collingwood recruiting scout ...
 
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#13
Originally posted by Porthos
The only concern is that what they seem to be lacking (specifically Chaplin & Peel by those profiles) is what the guys we already have seem to be lacking. Intensity and attitude.
Perhaps old Mark "8 days a week" Williams can lend them some of his.
 

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#14
Peel sounds a bit like Nick Stevens. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. :eek:

It's not so much what he does that bothers me - it's what he doesn't do. Is simply not accountable or intense enough.
...
When his team has the ball, or he hopes they will get it, he is very pro-active and creative and looks a million dollars. At other times he is too reactive.


If I may add about Nick Stevens. IMO..."When his team is getting done over he goes missing". Let's hope that is not Peel as well.
 
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Moderator #15
Originally posted by PAfolwr
Peel sounds a bit like Nick Stevens. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. :eek:

It's not so much what he does that bothers me - it's what he doesn't do. Is simply not accountable or intense enough.
...
When his team has the ball, or he hopes they will get it, he is very pro-active and creative and looks a million dollars. At other times he is too reactive.


If I may add about Nick Stevens. IMO..."When his team is getting done over he goes missing". Let's hope that is not Peel as well.
Funny, same thought crossed my mind! The review of Symes sounded uncomfortably like Brayden Lyle to me too!
 
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Moderator #17
Work rate, work rate, work rate. Is not particularly quick over a distance but loves a mini dash, runs hard, gets the hard ball and a heap of it, stops opponents getting it first, mops up, presents, links. Ain't pretty but succeeds by weight of numbers. That's Brad Symes the midfielder. Likely AFL especially if he can lift his pace just a bit and improve his kicking accuracy.
You have to admit that sounds like Brayden!
 

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#18
Sure, but what about

Reads play well, reads ball well. Purposeful in going for the ball. Courageous, keeps eyes on the ball. Very athletic. Good vision.

Quite good overhead. He loves a fly and can take an occasional screamer. Doesn't have particularly soft hands in a pack but keeps eyes on ball, shows courage. Takes a fair few uncontested marks linking but also a fair few marks from behind one on one.
 
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Moderator #23
In the true spirit of positivity I've decided, based on a few highlights viewing, being a quarterbacking CHB and physical size at 17, that Troy Chaplin is a 194cm Greg Phillips. Surely that's less outrageous than the new Brereton lobbing across the road? ;)
 

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#25
Originally posted by Ford Fairlane
In the true spirit of positivity I've decided, based on a few highlights viewing, being a quarterbacking CHB and physical size at 17, that Troy Chaplin is a 194cm Greg Phillips. Surely that's less outrageous than the new Brereton lobbing across the road? ;)
Its kinda funny how the comparisons people make are based almost solely on appearance.

Reminds me of Cosgrove playing for SA on the weekend who was compared to Lehmann by almost every body. Sure they are both left handers and 'large'. But that is about it.
 
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