Consolidated Draft Profiles

[Couch Coach]

Jarrad Blight - (D) 24 January 1991, 1??cm ??kg. Swan Districts/Midvale JFC*

"chrsco: Blight, there's a surprise for most I would think? He's got all the attributes of a good utility though, I've liked him more and more as the season has gone on."

"stu: Jarrad Blight. Started at Midvale JFC at 4yrs old. Thats right 4 !!. Can play anywhere on the ground. 6ft 3in tall. Can mark over anyone ( including Naitanui ). He and Nicko did allot of ruck work in Juniors and were unbeatable although he is not a specialist ruckman. State schoolboys, State 16’s (CHB), Belt up Cup Dream Team. missed 18’s this year (don’t know why ). Captained almost every team he’s been in.
Has a very very long and accurate kick, both feet, Polly Farmer handball skills, vertical leap only second to Nicko, has a huge engine and can go all day. very very fast. Playing midfield for Swans and killing them. Fairest and Best at Midvale in 14’s and 17’s and runner up to Walters at Swans and Midvale every other year. Will come close in the Fairest and Best count for the Jack Clarke medal.
Closest thing to another JUDD."

"RichardCheeQuee: i saw Blight play reserves last week and he can play, he will get picked in the draft for sure, only 17 and skinny but like Notte will be good in a few years, might even play league this week…"

"chrsco: Jarrad Blight - 190+ cm midfielder who was invited to Draft Camp, who also pinch hits in the ruck and has good kicking and marking skills. Didn't play State U18s but has impressed in the games I have seen. Playing in WAFL colts GF on Sunday so I'll see how he goes there."

 

[Couch Coach]

Casey Sibosado - (KPF/KPD) 13 October 1990, 192cm 85kg. NT/Oakleigh Chargers*

"Gary Moss: ...Sibosado took several big marks and picked up a number of important possessions across the wing and up forward later in the game. …"

"The BRICKSTER: If you want to see lance franklin's younger brother watch this kid play is a freak. Kicked 5 for Oakleigh on the weekend, keeps getting better. draft him at pick 8 or our second round pick lots of clubs are keen on so we need to get him before someone else does.
Casey is about 192cm and an athletic freak. The similarities between him and lance are amazing.Played NT this year and was recently placed on oakleighs list and every club wants him, will test well at draft camp and will go alot higher many people think."

"[/U]Matt Burgan:[/U] He took some really strong contested marks. He's got a good build and has a real presence during the game..."

"[/U]Matt Burgan:[/U] Another one to catch the eye was high-leaping and contested marker Casey Sibosado."

"big jim 3: Sibosado- Started off awsome, but dyed out with the remanmder of the game. good mark and good kick, needs to work on pace from what i can see"

"aintplayingin03: I've watched him closely for a number of years now and I can tell you that he would be an absolute steal if he goes past the first round. You have to actually see the kid play a few times before you can fully appreciate his agility, skills and pace, and he undoubtedly possesses the highly valued X Factor with an uncanny magic when he gets the ball.
His kicking is actually quite good, and he has one of the better kicking styles amongst other TAC players. Admittedly, he has seemed to show some nerves in his first few Oakleigh games, but realistically one cannot expect much more from a kid who hasn't had much experience in TAC (school commitments combined with state games have kept him out.)
He shows a lot of flare when he plays, and doesn't mind the occasional biff either. His freakish athleticism and great skills are his most comparable attribute to the likes of Buddy, and he has dominated his games with Xavier College for the past 2 years.
I think his nomination in the draft camp is a fair indication of how high he will go, and I just hope we can pick him up before anyone else."

"MadMaxx: Casey Sibasado 192CM
Borderbarry, Casey is a mate of mine.
Details - Played for Nt in the NAB Champs, but only as he is bording in VIC (Xavier) and was unable to train for WA locally due to distance. NT called him up. He is from (near) Broome in the Kimberley, and has been on Scholaship to Xavier for 2006-2007-2008.
Height is 192CM
Weight approx 85-90KG
Plays TAC with Oakleigh, and School footy for Xavier.
(FWIW, Kicked 5 on the weekend for Oakleigh, and was named BOG)"

 

[Couch Coach]

Ranga Ediriwickrama - (OM) 10 August 1990, 178cm 79kg. NSW/ACT Rams/Pennant Hills (Geelong NSW Scholarship)

"Matt Burgan: Still only 16 years old, the midfielder/forward of Sri Lankan origin was one of NSW/ACT's best in sloppy conditions at Skilled Stadium, yet it was appropriate he shone at the Cattery, considering he is a scholarship holder with Geelong"

"Jason McCartney: Ranga Ediriwickrama – Ranga continued his great form throughout the carnival with 25 disposals and seven hard-ball gets. He has a terrific work-rate and he's got that ability to win his own footy. He's also got a really good mix of winning contested and uncontested footy and he's starting to use the ball a lot better.
At times, he hasn't been as polished with his disposal, but he's continually working at that and I wouldn't list that as a negative, simply because of the way he gets it and he really does set it up for NSW/ACT. He's been a real barometer for his side and their results have been largely due to Ranga's performances."

"Kevin Sheehan: Ranga Ediriwickrama – His first two games were outstanding, averaging 25 disposals, before a hamstring injury early against Tasmania set him and his team back. His has won 28 contested possessions from nine quarters, which still ranks him second overall. It demonstrates his courage and his attack on the ball. He is a one-touch player and a great reader of play."

"Jason McCartney: Ranga Ediriwickrama - Ranga's performance was so pleasing. He won 25 disposals, 10 hard-ball gets and five tackles. His workrate is phenomenal, even though he turned the ball over a bit. He was up against elite company and *found plenty of the footy. I think Geelong would be absolutely delighted to have picked him up via the scholarship scheme. And he's a real quality kid to back it up with. The word 'can't' is not in his vocabulary. He continually works and works, so it was good to see him go about his business."

"Jason McCartney: Ranga Ediriwickrama - He was really good. He had a high work-rate and won a lot of the footy - he won 32 possessions. Ranga was good in game one, but he was cleaner with his ball-use and gathering. He really led from the front and was outstanding."

"Quigley: Ediriwickrama – the best of the New South Welshmen and a gift for Geelong in this year’s draft. Ranga played in the centre for NSW and picked up a heap of ball. He is a fair bit more solid in the legs and bum than last year and may have lost a little pace although I wouldn’t say he is slow by any stretch. He was quite vocal for NSW and was one of the leaders on the field directing his troops. The biggest advantage that Ranga has is that he has the ability to quickly read the situation and take the best option. He then has the quickness of hand to carry out what he wants to do. His disposal is only average at the moment but I think that will come and that is certainly much easier to teach than the quickness of mind that he currently has. Despite all the positives he was a bit unaccountable against the Qlders and allowed his man to run off him too easily and had a couple of goals kicked on him. Not a big tackler."

 

[Couch Coach]

Andrew Browne - (R) 7 July 1990, 202cm 106kg. VicC/Murry Bushrangers/Mansfield

"Jason McCartney: Andrew Browne – Also rucked opposed to Naitanui and competed really well. Was crucial to his side, giving Country a bailout long target and eventually finishing with two goals."

"VicCrow: Thoughts and opinions on the loveable big fella from the Bushies.
I was mightily impressed by his game against the Jets a couple of weeks ago when he plucked down a remarkable eight contested marks. It was more than just a glimpse of what he was capable of IMO because he was playing with a lot more aggression and intent than I had seen from him before. It went a long way towards convincing me about this bloke.
Last year he was just a tap ruckman good for about 8-10 touches per game. In fact, a quick look at his 2007 stats shows that he only broke ten touches three times last year (17, 15, 10).
This year I've only seen one Murray game unfortunately, but as already mentioned, I was excited by his game that day. For his stats this season he hasn't yet had a game where he's got less than 10 touches.
Now I see his stats from this week and he's ripped down another five contested marks to go along nicely with a bag of five goals!
He's got a lovely, strong set of hands and seems to have improved his around the ground work immensely. At 202cm and 106kg he is a big unit. He looks to have grown quite well into his body over the off season. I'd love to hear other thoughts from TAC Cup watchers on Browne, especially those who have seen a bit more of the Bushies because I always liked him from last year." (Vic Crow has PM'd me that his opinions have changed therefore take this into account.)

"Vinnie_Vegas69: I like him - I think his game (and size) is somewhat similar to Will Sullivan from last year, and I'd say he could potentially get drafted in the same range by a team looking for a big, burly ruck prospect. He's not the most mobile chap, but he does the things that you want out of a 106kg ruckman for the most part."

"???: He pushed his way into the Bushies side last year despite McEvoy and Simpson ahead of him as 1st and 2nd round picks, respectively, so he's shown ability for a while. I think he's grown upwards and outwards in the last year, which has only helped his draft chances. There's only place for so many ruckman to get drafted in the National Draft, and I think at this stage he'd be just outside of those few that will be."

"HFF 07: ANDREW BROWNE 202cm 106kg RUCK Murray Bushrangers
Massive kid, has bulked up majorly, is going to be interesting where he ends up, question marks still arise over his kicking and could use his body more in ruck contests.
PROS: - Size
CONS: - Kicking, Mobility,
PREDICTION: 40 - 70"

"foj1:: 37. Andrew Browne 202cm 106kg Vic Country
Huge lump of a lad who has made significant improvement this year as he isn’t rucking behind Dawson Simpson. Has added bulk to his frame and is certainly no pushover. Struggles against super athletic ruckman and needs to use his size more in contests. Kicking is a bit iffy but is a competitor. Like Redden he is against some high quality talls this year."

"ant555: Andrew Browne – 202cm, 106kg –Murray Bushrangers.
Huge Mountain of a kid whose ruck skills are ok but he does not posses a huge leap in the ruck. Relies on his size in the ruck contests. Around the ground he does show a little nous to get to the areas he needs to be in which helps him a lot as he is not overly quick. He can take a good mark but he does have a habit of dropping a few marks per game that he should really take. His kicking is nothing to write home about either.
He has improved his numbers around the ground this year and has also provided a good target when resting forward allowing him to get amongst the goals a bit more this year.
Although his pace and kicking are the question marks I think someone will see him as a project player for late in the draft."

 

[Couch Coach]

Andrew Hooper - (OM / IM) 18 January 1991, 172cm 78kg. VicC/North Ballarat Rebels/Golden Point

"Sportz1: Andrew hooper - this kids amazing the way he gets the footy so often quick great skills great kick for a bloke his size and really hurts where ever he plays . only downside is his hieght tho only to knockers as he plays tall and he doesnt give it off much but very exciting to watch 30+ possie every game and unbeatable most days."

"Sportz1: Hooper is probably to small but will frustrate a few because he gets the footy so much. He needs to use it better tho. He's dominated the junior footy so far so has jumped all the hoops. He will be a very good player in Tac this year and needs some one to take a punt on a little bloke. 09 he may command more respect. He's a real head ache for the recruiters."

"Suspect1: Andrew Hooper- It's all been said about Hooper. great player a little small but so good. Please some one give him a chance. And hoops get a hair cut like sportz1 said ...if a recruiter sees that crap they'll wipe you dont give them that opportunity. He's fast great ball getting skills needs a bit of work on his disposal but he's getting better in all areas."

"Jason McCartney: Andrew Hooper – Andrew was Vic Country's MVP player and full credit to him. He's a strongly built young player. He played in the under-16s last year mainly as a burst player. Country used him as a rebounding back-pocket/half-back and in the second half he went into the midfield and pushed forward. He looks like the type of player you want to play. I honestly don't know how far he will go on, but he's been great."

"ant555: Andrew Hooper – 184cn, 78kg –North Ballarat.
Solid sized bottom age kid who attacks the game like a bull at a gate. Has been used forward and back with some time in the midfield as well. His pace is not overly good but this does not stop him from finding the ball a lot. Runs hard all day and he is a pretty handy small forward when given the chance to play there. His biggest downfall is his kicking. He can make some ordinary mistakes by foot.
Clubs will like his work rate but his lack of genuine pace and kicking skills could see him overlooked."

"harry wong: Andrew Hooper is one of the most talented sportsman in the country for his age. Is a tank can play good pace, good endurance, kicks both feet, creative, kicks goals got everything that recruiters love. Did play 3 years in the Ballarat U15 team in the VCFL championships and kicked 5 in a game in his first year. might have to choose between Footy & Cricket
Jack Ziebell Vic country rep last year can play. Will be a key forward to look out for in the future."

"suspect1: No doubt hoopers got the runs on the board he's a great player but will be to small for afl if you look at him he's as big as he'll get and these days it's to small for afl when you look at centre men voss reccuttio buckley all 188 cm.Kids like hooper who mature early might be great but just to small."

 

[Couch Coach]

Steve Gaertner - (OM / KPD) - 2 January 1990, 198cm 88kg. Vic Metro/Dandenong/Edithvale-Aspendale

"Weaver: Athletic freak who needs to be taught how to play, where to go, how to get the footy and where to kick it. That said he is 196cm, can run like the wind and leap tall buildings in a single bound. Someone will take him as a project player and it will be very early on. If he learns to kick he will compete with Jarred Brennan and Lance Franklin for highlight-reel time. Better prospect than the likes of Tom Williams who went much early too."

"Foj1/SnoopDog: Gaertner is an athletic freak who can run, evade and jump- unfortunately he cannot kick. I see him as a CHB at AFL level and a good long term replacement for Fletcher. How high would he go if he could kick?"

"Ant555: Steve Gaertner-196cm, 83kg-Dandenong Stingrays. (Fwd). Interesting player this bloke. In the games I have seen him play he has certainly looked very athletic with good pace for a big man and pretty good skills. The problem with him when I have been watching is he often looks like he is going to take a game apart only to fade out of the game. Looks like he is on fire but it only last 10 minutes or so. When he is on song he can take a strong grab."

"AFL Insider:
Melbourne need to load up with taller players in this draft and they will have a lot to choose from. With Neitz at the end of his career, Brad Miller looking elsewhere, Lynden Dunn being switched to the midfield, the Demons need to draft key position prospects.
Gaertner is a high-flying player who can take a mark in a pack, or over a pack. He should be a versatile player at AFL level, possibly a more athletic version of Sam Gilbert, so the Demons could use Gaertner in many positions.
It has been a long time since anyone but Daniher has been the coach at Melbourne, so the Demons should bring a new strategy to the draft and also for trade week."

"Nicko4: Gaertner played 11 games for Dandenong in the 2007 TAC Cup but was surprisingly overlooked in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft. He averaged only 13 disposals per match for the stingrays after starting the season well before struggling towards the end. He averaged 16 disposals in his first six games, but that average dropped to less than 10 per game in the final five rounds. In a sign of his ability he had 27 disposals, took 14 marks and scored 4 goals in the round 5 game against Tasmania, but struggled to settle in one position throughout the season which hindered his development."

"ant555: Steve Gaertner – 198cm, 88kg -Dandenong Stingrays
His lack of consistency, average foot skills and a slight lack of footy nous cost him at last years draft but it has been good to see that Steve has gone away and worked on a few areas that have seen his game improve a lot. He has spent more time at half back this year and he does look comfortable in that position. He likes to rebound and carry the ball through the middle and his game sense has really improved a lot this year.
His problem area is still his kicking. Although he is not a really bad kick he can be prone to just throwing the ball onto the boot and trying to unload which leads to mixed results. His defensive efforts at half back have been very good. For a big bloke his pace is pretty good and he can take a strong contested mark.
He is a player I think clubs should look seriously at somewhere in round four or five."

"Quigley: Steven Gaertner – DOB 2/1/90 Ht 196 Wt 83
Everybody I think is more than a little unsure of what the Bombers recruiting strategy will be post – Sheedy. I think they will try and maintain the same strategy that they have done previously and Gaertner would be the type of high risk high reward player that Sheedy would have loved. At 23 the Bombers are not overpaying for a very raw but very athletically gifted key position prospect. He will be given a year or two to develop but with the almost certain departures of all four of their key positions over the next two years they have to do some serious succession planning and Gaertner might well be a nice piece to fit into that puzzle.
Gaertner will be relying solely on his package of great KP height and athletic abilities to get drafted. At the moment he is bottom aged, extremely raw with little football nonce. At the championships he played up forward and looked good on a straight lead where he could use his running ability to good effect. The problem was though that he didn’t get much of it and even when he managed to get the ball close to goal he couldn’t go back and kick the goals. He has a high punch kick action which often goes astray. His positional play is also all over the place and as a consequence he is easily shut down and he has minimal effect on a game. He is very much a work in progress and anyone that takes him will be doing so purely on potential."
Personally I see him as a backman where he can be given a job and he can use his superior athletic ability to blanket and opponent. The only problem with that is that every time he gets the ball his team mates are going to be cringing wondering where the ball is going to go. He is at least 196 cm tall (recent reports suggest he may now be 198), has a great leap (6th at camp for vertical leap – 70 cm), is extraordinarily quick for a big man (2nd at camp for 20 metre sprint – 2.88) and also extremely agile (10th in camp for agility – 8.39). He needs to improve his strength and endurance but that will come and he has a fantastic base to work on. Weaver mentioned that he is much like Tom Williams at this stage and I agree with that. As with Tom a team taking him is going to need to be patient because notwithstanding the great athletic base there are quite a few kinks to work out before he will be a decent AFL player."

"???: Steve Gaertner. Edithvale Aspendale FC. Key position Forward and Back. 198 cm tall. AIS AFL Academy in 07 and played Vic Metro U18 in 07. Steve has a prodigious leap, is very quick, agile and skillful."

 

[Couch Coach]

Luke Stanton - (OM) 8 January 1990, 191cm 83kg. VicM/Northern Knights/Marcellin College

"???: Stanton looks like an AFL footballer however only started playing like one towards the end of the year. Stanton is a bottom aged tall, strong midfielder/ utility who likes to utilise his athletic advantage. He struggles to win his own ball and his kicking will need to improve at the next level however he is well worth the risk with this pick."

"HFF 07: LUKE STANTON 191cm 83kg WING/MID Northern Knights
Tall Athletic wingman who is creative when the ball is in his hands, has improved out of sight this year, is not a KP player but more of a tall running player as he has a big tank.
PROS: - Engine, Marking, Reads play well,
CONS: - Kicking, KPP (he isn't)
PREDICTION: 35 - 50"

"foj1:: 28. Luke Stanton 191cm 83kg Vic Metro
Tall utility type who I think is starting to know his game a lot better now. I much prefer to see Stanton play as a running player and feel that he struggles when required to play as a key position player. Stanton’s kicking and ability to get the footy has improved and I see him as developing into a Jason Blake type of player."

"ant555: Luke Stanton – 191cm, 83kg – Northern Knights.
Tall athletic winger/midfielder who has steadily improved over the last 12 months. Has the ability to kick both sides of the body but he often misfires and does not hit targets. He runs to position well and his pace is pretty good. Knows where to be to receive the ball. Generally looks better playing an outside role but he can win contested footy and has reasonable footy smarts at stoppages. Has also been used at half back with good results. Has played CHB against sides that use mobile players at CHF. Generally very creative by hand.
Would be very surprised if he did not go somewhere between late second round to mid fourth round."

"rizzo: Luke Stanton - 83kg - 191cm - 08.01.1990
Ready made tall midfielder. A lot of people may not have heard about him, but has been playing some great footy this year. His body is set to go and at his height you can’t look past him. Skills wise he is pretty good. His kicking can let him down at times. Isn’t the fastest bloke, but I would not be calling him a slouch. Will be around for a later pick and will be a solid footballer.
Skills - Height for a midfielder, Ball winning ability, Ability to find space"

 

[Couch Coach]

Scott Reed - (Def) 3 October 1990, 193cm 80kg. NSW/ACT RAMS/Pennant Hills (Collingwood NSW Scholarship)

"Jason McCartney: Scott Reed – Scotty is a Collingwood scholarship holder. He was very prominent early, starting at centre half-back and then changed through the midfield. He's a really good size at 193cm and can play a variety of positions. There is no doubt at the end of the year, from what I have seen over the last couple of years, Collingwood will look very closely at giving him a spot on its list. He had 17 disposals, three hard-ball gets and four inside 50s. Against Tassie, it was one of the best games I have with his kicking. He had really good penetration. His flexibility is great, being able to hold down a key position or push into the midfield. Scott also carries the ball and reads it well. He has zoned off a bit, but that's something he's aware of, but he's had a very consistent carnival."

"Jason McCartney:Scott Reed – I've been really impressed by Scott. He got 16 disposals, but 12 were contested. I know Alan Richardson from Collingwood has been working with him, as Scott is a scholarship holder there. I spoke with Alan and he said they've been very happy with Scott across the carnival. His disposal by foot has improved and I see him as a perfect fit for Collingwood. There is no doubt they will list him at the end of the year."

"Jason McCartney: Scott Reed - I thought Scotty Reed was super. He played wing and centre half-back in game one and played as a key defender in game two. He was not beaten in the one-on-one contests. He ran hard, provided contests and his ball movement and penetration inside forward 50 was good. Scotty had a really positive game and has been solid in both matches."

"Quigley: Reed – I didn’t really notice Reed too much in the first half but the further the game went along the more I liked him. Someone mentioned that he was 6 foot 1 but I would think he was considerably taller than that. He played CHB for NSW and did extremely well. He moves very well for a tall guys and has nice closing speed. He also reads the play extremely well and can take a good mark in contested situations. He had a couple of ordinary kicks but I thought he seemed to mostly be a good kick and usually makes his possessions count. Runs out of defense well. I think he is a very nice prospect for the Pies and they will probably use a draft pick on him to get him into the side."

 

[Couch Coach]

Jay Shannon - (IM) 2 March 1990, 180cm 82kg. SA/Port Adelaide/Tumby Bay

"Jason McCartney: Jay Shannon: I haven’t seen much of Jay in the Championships so far, but he was a real in-and-under type player in the midfield on Saturday. He wins his own footy, is good around the stoppages and finished with 21 disposals and five inside 50s."

"HFF 07: JAY SHANNON 180cm 82kg MID Port Magpies
Really like the way this kid goes about his stuff, attack on the ball is always first class, and reads the play well, and his clearance work in tight was first rate, has a good work ethic and good skills,
PROS: - Hard, Tough, Clearance work, Reads play well,
CONS: - Pace
PREDICTION: 20 - 40 ...saw him at Casey Fields, big unit (Stocky) is a cleance boy though, loves the hard ball, is 180cm, so a good size for the midfield."

"ant555: Jay Shannon – 180cm, 82kg – Port Magpies.
Midfielder/forward with good pace and skills. Did well in the clearances and looks a natural midfielder. Reads the play well and gets in to find the ball. Work rate was very good. Uses the ball well. Gave SA plenty of drive every time he was in the middle. Gets under peoples guard a bit because he does not do a lot excitingly well but what he does do is pretty good. Not your star midfielder but a very good workhorse with good skills.
Prediction – Third round onwards."

"Trucklover: Jay Shannon from the Eyre peninsula. the kid is a gun. won the A grade mail medal wen he was 16 and missed a few games due to playin U/17s with port magpies in adel. i hope that the crows have got onto him and kept him hidden out bush because he will play leagu SANFL footy this year and will play good league footy and get noiced by alot of people and miss out on him if they dont."

 

[Couch Coach]

Mitch Frail - (R) 19 August 1989, 198cm 74kg. NSW/ACT RAMS/Western Suburbs

"Jason McCartney: Mitch Frail – Mitch continued to do a few things again to show he has a future in the game. His third quarter set the game up for NSW/ACT. He kicked two of NSW/ACT's six goals during that period and was playing in the ruck and up forward at the time."

"???: He took a really good overhead mark, backing back with the flight. He then went back and kicked the goal. He also got another goal from a free-kick. It was quite breezy and, although NSW/ACT was kicking with the wind, when he kicked those two goals, it really did lift the team. Once again, he was very good below his knees. He also distributed well by hand and finished with 11 disposals and four clearances for the game, as well as his two goals."

"Jason McCartney: Mitch Frail - He had the massive job of running around for a lot of the game with Nick Naitanui. Mitch is in his first year of footy, but he just did a couple of things that suggested to me that there might be a future there. His footy education is a long way back, but he wasn't overawed at the task of playing on Naitanui. Probably because he doesn't know a lot about footy, it may not have meant a lot to be playing on Nick. He's very athletic Mitch and presented when he went forward and won the ball a few times. His got nine touches, but there is a bit to work with, particularly with his size at 198cm, even though he is living to his name and at 74kg is frail. With time, he could be OK, because he has good agility. He'll learn a lot from this series."

"HFF 07: MITCH FRAIL 198cm 74kg RUCK/FF Western Suburns
Showed some real glimpses throughout the championships, did reasonably well when opposed to some of the heavyweights, and was instrumental in the NSW/ACT win against VicCountry, kicking a couple of crucial goals and doing some nice work around the ground.
PROS: - Mobile, Agile, Good below knees, Marking,
CONS: - none that have been noted
PREDICTION: 80 + Rookie pick??"

"rizzo: Mitchell Frial - 78kg - 198cm - 19.08.1989
This kid REALLY REALLY impressed me. Easily their best tall option in the team. 198 at 18 years old is the perfect, and will probably develop into a 200cm type person. Wasn’t that great in the ruck but when he went back was impressive. Typical rugby type player who is tall and athletic. I would love to see this kid drafted. Think he has a lot to offer.
Skills - Running, Marking, Durability"

 

[Couch Coach]

Tom Salter - (OM / IM) 3 March 1990, 184cm 77kg. Tas/North Launceston

"Jason McCartney: Tom Salter – Tom has been very consistent throughout the championships – he's a hard-working midfielder with great endurance. He's very good at using his endurance and spreading from the stoppages. He's got the ability to break free. His hands are also very good in close, although I would suggest his kicking is marginal at this stage. He had 20 disposals and four inside 50s. Tom was Tassie's leading possession winner against NSW/ACT."

"Jason McCartney: Tom Salter – The Tassie captain was impressive throughout the carnival – I don't think he played a bad game. His kicking has been marginal at times, but he looks like a quality kid with a high work-rate. He gets a lot of uncontested possessions because of that high work-rate. Tom's very tough, a good tackler and loves the contest. He had 17 disposals against Vic Country, capping off a very consistent carnival."

"HFF 07: TOM SALTER 184cm 74kg MID North Launceston (TAS)
The Tasmanian captain, had an outstanding championships, was one of the few highlights from the Tasmanian camp. Won alot of ball and used it extremely well, will be interesting to see where he goes come draft day.
PROS: - Leader, Uses ball well, Endurance, Strong hands, Tackling,
CONS: - Kicking
PREDICTION: 25 - 40"

"BluesFan78: Haha you must be joking. you cant have actually watched any of this kids games if you think he used it extremely well. He is probably the worst kick in that Tassie team and the coaches will even tell you that. I have watched alot of him, his work rate and endurance cannot be questioned however his kicking, handballing and decision making are emtremely poor, and if you watched the game on FOX even jason Mccartney says that. His pace is also not very good. Your the first person i have ever heard say something positive about his skills. Most people will agree that his only upsided are fitness and work rate. Wouldnt expect him to be called out come draft day. Plenty of kids are just fit, need that something special which he just has not got."

"GreaT SourcE: You're right, I don't think he uses the ball well either but at least he gave it a try, so full marks to HFF for having a good stab at it."

"ant555: Tom Salter – 184cm, 77kg – North Launceston
Midfielder from Tasmania who had an up and down champ series. His pace is only average but he does find a lot of the footy and he can run all day. He tackles his heart out and has a great work ethic but his kicking is a real problem. In the game against WA his disposal was reasonably good but in general his kicking during the champs was on the poor side.
Very late in the draft or maybe rookie draft is my prediction if he gets picked up."

"Jason McCartney: Tom Salter - He got 24 possessions in game one and got 19 in his second match. He was good, in and around the contests, and started the game really well. I had a question mark against him in game one - he turned it over a couple of times - but he didn't miss a target in game two, so that was really good."

"rizzo: Tom Salter - 77kg - 184cm - 03.03.1990
Hard running ferocious midfielder. He attacks the ball and the man very well. He is an accumulator of possession, the type of guy when you look at the stats sheet and are in shock he has as many as he does. I love his long penetrating kicks and his willingness to break the lines.
Skills - Kicking, Running, Attack on the man"

 

[Couch Coach]

Andrew Renton - (R) 29 March 1989, 202cm 94kg. Eastern Ranges/North Ballarat

"Weaver: Developing tall tap-ruckman. At club level has shunted Matt Lobbe out of the centre and claimed the number 1 ruck spot. Showing a rapid rate of improvement from week to week and should sneak ahead of Sullivan (at least) by season end. Capable of snagging a goal or two resting up forward and around the ground work is improving.

"ant555: Andrew Renton - Probably the one out of the group who will be drafted. His tap work is pretty good and when he does actually jump he is hard to beat in the ruck. Needs to find a lot around the ground but clubs will like his size (202cm) and the fact he can get first hands on the footy. he has pretty reasonable skills and is a good kick of the footy."

"Ant555: Andrew Renton-202cm, 94kg-Eastern Rangers. (Ruck). Good size ruckman who has done well for Rangers this year. His tap work is good but he could learn to better direct some of his hit outs. He also has to learn that he must jump at all the ruck contests as he sometimes tries to rely on just his height. When he actually does jump at a contest he looks very good. He is a good mark and his kicking is reliable but he needs to do more around the ground and he wanders from contest to contest a lot of the time rather than getting involved. Can take a grab and kick a goal when he is up forward. Someone will take a punt on him and hope they can get his work rate up to match his raw talent."

"mjp: The Dogs need a ruckman and Renton has been coming along in leaps and bounds - showing capability as a tap ruckman, up forward and around the ground. He really seems to be a true ruck option, and has the capability of leading an AFL ruck division for 10 years if his development continues...this really is a good draft for rucks."

"ant555: Andrew Renton – 202cm, 98cm –Eastern Rangers.
Ruckman who is in his third season of TAC Cup footy as an overage player for Rangers. Injured his knee last year and missed the end of the season and did not get picked up in the draft. Wins a lot of taps but he does not really posses a leap in the ruck. He is steady around the ground but it always looks like he is going half pace. His skills are ok for a ruckman. He can get forward and kick goals although it has not been on a consistent basis.
He will probably be passed over again but if someone can find some angry pills and get him to fire up a bit they may get a good ruckman out of him."

"Quigley: Andrew Renton Ht 202 Wt 94
Melbourne have very little ruck depth and given this is the draft with the best ruck depth in living memory they are likely to ruck somewhere. Renton is one of several options which they might consider.
Of the ruck prospects Renton probably finished the year the strongest and accordingly would have impressed the most when the most people were watching. He has very nice height and his ruck skills are probably amongst the best of the rucks available this year. His skill level is also good pretty good for a ruckman. Around the ground though his work rate is probably below a lot of other guys he is competing against and there is question marks about his endurance and his willingness to do the work needed out on the ground. How high he goes is probably going to be dependent on what the recruiters like and the extent to which they think they can fix his shortcomings."

 

[Couch Coach]

Alex Stopp - (D) 18 March 1990, 189cm 86kg. SA/Norwood/Keith

"HFF 07: ALEX STOPP 189cm 86kg hbf/mid Norwood
Tall mobile half back wingmanm Stopp was good throuhout the champs, was used mainly as a running half backmen/link man for SA, is capable to go into the midfield, has good vision and is a nice kick on the right side.
PROS: - Engine, Right foot, Competitive, Size,
CONS: - none to note so far
PREDICTION: 45 - 70"

"ant555: Alex Stopp – 189cm, 86kg – Norwood.
Another player who is probably outside the view of most people but did have a very good champ series. He is a tallish midfield/half back with good pace and nice skills on the right side. Played a lot at half back and was very impressive in his ability to run and be the link man coming out of defence and through the middle of the ground. Solid bodied kid with good pace and good vision.
Someone clubs should have a look at in the third or fourth round."

"Anonymous: Alex Stopp: About 190-192 cms, 85-87kgs? Running/rebounding CHF. Has had a fantastic season with the Redlegs in the Reserves this year featuring in the best players most weeks. Alex is a super fit key post player who held down CHB for S.A. U/18s this year. Alex represented Rostrevor College last year and was a strong contibuter in that side. His run off half back has set up many scoring opportunies for Norwood this season. Can lose his opponent on occassions however his fitness and speed for a big man usually makes up for it."

"Norwood FC:Bio: A key position player / ruckman with the Norwood under 17's in 2007, Alex is strongly built with a very good aerobic capacity. He is a member of the 2008 SANFL under 18 academy squad."

 

[Couch Coach]

Joseph Daye - (KPD) 2 February 1990, 194cm 79kg. QLD/Zillmere

"Recruiter 1: Daye is an athlete. He's left-sided but has no right-side at all, so that does limit his ability going forward. Tasmania tried to force him onto his right foot and he always tried to get back onto his left. He was inconsistent across the game and his kicking can be erratic. He has talent, but he needs to play four quarters before people can be confident that he should be drafted.

"Recruiter 2: I thought he was a bit disappointing today. He can certainly kick the ball with his left foot and is very athletic, but I don't think he works hard enough or reads the play well at all."

"Quigley: As opposed to Zorco, Daye just looks like a modern footballer. He is long and lean with a frame that looks as though it will fill out nicely. He is aboriginal or islander and very athletic and covers the ground very nicely. He has big, flat, left foot kick that easily travels 50m. On the negatives, he doesn’t have a right foot to speak of at the moment and generally his skills are not fantastic. I would expect someone to take a chance on him probably in the third round and given a couple of years to develop (note he is bottom aged at the moment) could be a very good player. AIS Academy player."

"Quigley: For Brisbane I am changing who I was originally going to take for another player who I thought would already be off the board. I am surprised Joey Daye is still available and I would be shocked if he lasted to the mid fourth round on draft day. He is the type of player that teams love. Tall, athletic with a big kick and plenty of development left in him. He is bottom aged as well and a member of the AIS.
Daye is very fortunate in that he just looks like a modern footballer. He is long and lean with a frame that looks as though it will fill out nicely. He is aboriginal or islander and very athletic and covers the ground very nicely. He has a big, flat, left foot kick that easily travels 50m. On the negatives, he doesn’t have a right foot to speak of at the moment and generally his skills are not fantastic. He will also fade in and out of games. I would expect someone to take a chance on him probably from the third round on. He is bottom aged and I think if a team is prepared to be patient with him he could be a very good player. He is an AIS Academy player."

"Quigley: Joey Daye – DOB 2/2/90 Ht 194 Wt 79
We all know how rabid the Carlton fans get defending Walker well here is another guy that they could be just as passionate about. He will probably end up playing as a third tall in defence and give Carlton’s shortage of quality backmen he would fit in very nicely once he has had a year or two’s development. As a bottom aged player he is extremely good value at this pick. Carlton supporters love Walker and Daye is a similar type of player. The combination of the two of them on the half back line going forward could give them enormous run and carrying ability.
When you see Daye play the first thing you notice is the way he moves. For a tall guy he covers the ground very nicely and is the definition of a smooth mover on the field. You will also notice early is that he has a terrific left foot. Off the left he is extremely long (55+) and it is laser like on occasions. He is long and has a classic lean aboriginal frame at the moment but he does look as though he will fill out nicely. After being initially very impressed you will quickly notice that he really is still pretty raw and doesn’t have a right foot to speak of at the moment and generally his skills are not fantastic. For someone with his package of attributes he also does not have the kind of influence you would expect on a match. It is worth noting that he is bottom aged and according to reports still growing. At the moment he doesn’t really have a position and tends to play on the HBF or wing. As he continues to grow and get stronger I expect him to settle into half back for a team. I think if a team is prepared to be patient with him he could be a very good player. He is an AIS Academy player."

"Jason McCartney: Joey Daye - He was really good. We know he can provide run-and-carry and that's when he's at his best, so it was really pleasing to see him get it inside the corridor. He got his hands on the footy and used it well."

"Quigley: Daye – should have been playing CHB for Qld where his height (around 195), agility and run off ability would have been a huge asset for the Scorpions and would have allowed them to play another running player. As it was he played onball and was definitely one of the better players for Qld. He has developed nicely since last year when he was a player without a position. Now you can be pretty confident he could become a pretty decent wing for an AFL side. He has great height, has a frame that looks like it can carry some more weight and moves exceptionally well. He also has a good set of hands and a booming left foot kick. He was one of the few Qlder to provide good run through the middle and break tackles. He will occasionally not do the sensible thing but he has come a long way in this regard. Think of him as a less athletic version of Jared Brennan with better kicking skills. If he goes into the draft someone would pick him up."

 

[Couch Coach]

Xavier Gotch - (IM / OM) 22 May 1990, 175cm 71kg. VicM/Oakleigh Chargers/De La Salle

"Alan McConnell: Xavier Gotch - He picked up good numbers in terms of possessions - he got 21 disposals the most for his side."

"HFF 07: XAVIER GOTCH 175cm 71kg MID Oakleigh Chargers/De La Selle
Not much of him, but gives his all at every contest, just like his old man (Brad) is hard and tough, is good around the stoppages, and reads the play well.
PROS: - Stoppage work, Good vision, Goal sneak, Pace,
CONS: - Work rate, Ball skills,
PREDICTION: 50 - 75"

"ant555: Xavier Gotch – 175cm, 71kg – Oakleigh Chargers/De La Selle
Like his old man there is not much of him but he knows how to find the ball. Works the clearances well and has good vision and hands in close. His skills are pretty good but he can be prone to wasting the ball at times. I have seen some games where I think he could work a bit harder but generally he is pretty good. His pace is good and he can kick goals when he goes forward.
Possible third round or later."

"heraldsun: Xavier Gotch, the son of former Fitzroy player Brad Gotch"

 

[Couch Coach]

Liam Shiels - (IM / OM) 29 April 1991, 183cm 78kg. VicM/Eastern Rangers/The Basin

"Article: AFTER JUST two years of competitive football, Boronia’s Liam Shiels was last week named as one of the country’s hottest AFL prospects.
Having turned heads with his performances for The Basin Football Club, Eastern Ranges and Vic Metro, the 16-year-old’s meteoric rise up the junior football ranks has now earned him a spot in the Australian Institute of Sport’s AFL Academy squad.
As a member of the 30-man squad, Shiels will undergo an intensive 12-month non-residential training program, which will include school holiday camps and an international trip to either Ireland or South Africa.
While the magnitude of the opportunity had not yet dawned on him after the announcement last week, Shiels can be excused for feeling like it has all happened a little quickly for him since joining The Basin two years ago.
Having represented Victoria in indoor soccer, Shiels says he decided to ditch the round ball for Aussie Rules because a lot of his schoolmates at Aquinas College played for the Bears.
While Shiels has played just five games with The Basin this year because of Eastern Ranges commitments, Under 16 coach Mark Pascoe says the versatile young gun has left his mark on the club.
Pascoe lists a strong pair of hands, the ability to recover quickly from a contest and a desire to get his teammates involved as Shiels’ defining attributes.
“I overheard a couple of our boys on our bench a while back saying ‘I just love watching him play’,” Pascoe recalled.
“That’s the sort of player he is, he’s the total package.”
Having played centre-half-forward for the Bears, Shiels, who stands 181cm, excelled in a variety of roles with the Ranges this year.
When Vic Metro threw him into the middle against South Australia in the national U16 carnival, he compiled 27 possessions and kicked a vital goal.
Having been named in the 11th AIS-AFL Academy intake, Shiels has joined some illustrious footballing company.
Names like Chris Judd, Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin and Cameron Ling are among 135 current AFL players to have graduated from the program – which equates to 19 per cent of the league.
Shiels says the prospect of being drafted has entered his mind, but he is certainly not getting ahead of himself. “I just can’t wait to start the program,” he said."

"foj1:: 32. Liam Shiels 183cm 78kg Vic Metro
Bottom aged prolific ball winner who just keeps on getting the footy. Had a very impressive U/16 carnival and should develop into an able AFL midfielder. Isnt super fast but has a good tank which should continue to develop. Is able to play both inside and outside the contest."

"HFF 07: LIAM SHIELS 183cm 78kg MID Eastern Rangers/The Basin
Bottom aged mid, is a prolific ball winner in the juniors and had a standout under 16s carnival.
PROS: - Ball winner, Clearance player, Engine, Nice Size,
CONS: - Younger, Pace,
PREDICTION: 55 - 80"

"ant555: Liam Shiels – 183cm, 78kg – Eastern Rangers.
Midfielder who has pretty good pace and is good at getting in and finding the ball. He is a very strong tackler and he does kick goals when he is resting in the forward line. Has a good work rate and reads the play well. Like a few others his down side can be his kicking. He can spray the ball around a bit or kick to contests on his bad days.
Has been a consistent performer for Rangers all year.
Being bottom age he will look attractive late second round and onwards."

 

[Couch Coach]

Tyson Davis-Neale - (F) 20 March 1991, 185cm 75kg. SA/South Adelaide/Encounter Bay

"Tyson plays footy in South Africa
MICHAEL SIMMONS
17/04/2008 8:01:54 AM
FOOTBALL: Tyson Davis-Neale has just returned from representing his country in South Africa playing AFL football.
The 17-year-old from Victor Harbor spent 18 days playing football against a South African team and was voted best on ground in the match at Potchefstroom.
The youngster is going through all the right steps to play AFL football and is reaping the rewards for his determination and sacrifices.
After playing junior football at Encounter Bay, Tyson progressed through the South Adelaide development squads to the under 17s and in 2007 was chosen to play for South Australia in the national under 16 carnival in Brisbane.
Fine performances at those championships had Tyson selected in the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) squad and in the state under 18 squad.
Tyson is raising interest from AFL scouts nation-wide with his impressive effort in front of top judges such as former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy.
We were coached by Michael Voss, Nathan Buckley and Luke Darcy and it was a great trip.
It was a real opener and not what I expected.
The townships and poverty really shocked me, but the people were proud with what they had.
The footy is going well, we played two Western Australian Football League teams in Perth, one before we left and the other on our return.
My form so far is up to standard with my goal in 2008 to be drafted to an AFL club, Tyson said.
Now Tyson is working hard at his game playing for South Adelaide under 17s, training three times a week, once with the league squad and twice with the underage teams.
I am enjoying playing for South and it's a pathway that has enabled me to have the opportunities I am being given.
Hopefully in the second half of the year I can break into senior ranks," Tyson said."

"Draft Prospectus: Davis-Neale averaged 12 disposals and scored four goals in the 2007 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships for South Australia. While not a huge ball winner, he showed signs across half forward that he could potentially be a high selection in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. He booted 20 goals in 13 games at SANFL Under 17 level for South Adelaide last season."

 

[Couch Coach]

Mitch Clisby - (OM) 15 January 1990, 180cm 70kg. NSW/ACT RAMS/North Adelaide

"Jason McCartney: Mitch Clisby – Mitch played on the wing. He really worked hard both ways – in defence and carrying the ball through the midfield and inside 50. He was really good against Vic Country. He worked hard with 17 disposals and five inside 50s. He was quite prominent."

"Jason McCartney: Mitch Clisby - Mitch had 16 touches, but he was good with his ball use."

"ant555: Mitch Clisby – 180cm, 70kg –NSW/ACT Rams / Nth Adelaide.
Busy little midfielder who played mainly as a winger for NSW. Finds a lot of the ball and tries really hard. Has a good work rate and is prepared to work back into defence as well as push forward. His pace is pretty good and he gets through traffic well.
What does let him down is his kicking which can be ordinary and contain a number of miss hits during a game.
Can’t see him making the main draft but could be an outside chance for the rookie draft."

 

[Couch Coach]

Zachary Clarke - (R) 28 September 1990, 203cm 77kg. VicM/Oakleigh Chargers/Surrey Park

"foj1:: 47. Zachary Clarke 203cm 77kg Vic Metro
Very tall, very light beanpole. Clarke is a long way off being competitive in the AFL however the rewards could be significant if he comes on. There is a touch of Robert Warnock about Clarke and clubs are simply much more patient with big blokes. A club like Brisbane who have Charman, Lueuenberger and Mitch Clark is the perfect club for this project."

"HFF 07: ZACHARY CLARKE 203cm 84kg RUCK Oakleigh Chargers
A bean pole of a ruckmen, could be a project type for AFL clubs this year, is a mobile player, does not win alot of hitouts but is competitive enough for a big bloke.
PROS: - Mobile, Competitive, Contested Marking,
CONS: - Tap outs, Marking,
PREDICTION: 40 - 70"

"ant555: Zachary Clarke – 203cm, 84kg – Oakleigh Chargers
Vic Metro’s fourth string ruckman who has had a reasonable year for the Chargers so far. Has split his time with some ruck duties as well as playing at FF. He does not win as many taps as he should for a player of his height but he has done pretty well in the games I have seen him play. His has good skills by foot and by hand and is pretty mobile with good pace for a tall. Has shown he can take a good contested mark but it is also one area of his game that could improve a bit more. He gets to the rights spots but has spilled a couple grabs that he should have taken at various times during games. His goal kicking is pretty good and he has been in Oakleigh’s better players on a number of occasions this year. Not a player I expect to go second or third round but certainly a player worth looking at when the fourth round comes along. Could possibly sneak into the third round but I suspect he will be picked fourth round or later if he goes."

 

[Couch Coach]

James Klause - (KPD) 22 August 1989, 195cm 89kg. WA/Claremont

"foj1:: 42. James Klause 195cm 89kg WA
Strong hard at it unit who goes about his work with a minimum of fuss. Has AFL quality size- the question will be how does his athleticism stack up. I have seen him burnt on the lead too often yet I have also seen him be more than competitive in one on one situations."

"HFF 07: JAMES KLAUSE 195cm 89kg KPP Claremont
Tall backmen who is more than handy in one on one situations, has been led to the ball on the lead on more than one occasion, will be interesting to see how his draft results stack up,
PROS: - Strength, Size, Competitive
CONS: - Pace, Explosive Pace, Athleticism
PREDICTION: 45 - 70"

"GoDons:: James Klause's name's been thrown up a bit around this parts as well. Personally, I think his lack of foot skills will work against him as it did Dave Gourdis last year."

 

[Couch Coach]

Josh Bryce - (D) 12 November 1990, 186cm 82kg. NSW/ACT RAMS/Murry Bushrangers

"Jason McCartney: Josh Bryce – He played at full-back on Aaron Cornelius. Aaron started well and was pretty lively, but after the first quarter Josh got right on top of him. Josh only had the 10 disposals, but he had five hard-ball gets and he had some really strong efforts overhead. He was rated by the NSW/ACT coaching staff as its best player. Josh also had a good game on Cornelius in the division two final, so he's been able to back that up. What's impressed me about Josh is his ability to play key position and hold his own, although he's 186cm. He's also run through the midfield, so he's got adaptability, because at 186cm, he's not going to regularly hold down a key position. So he was quite good again against Tassie."

"Jason McCartney: Josh Bryce – He's only 186cm, but he has been used by NSW/ACT as a key defender and he has played well on most key forwards, including Tasmania's Aaron Cornelius. He started on Jack Watts and did okay. He is disciplined, and although he doesn't get a lot of the footy, he rarely gets beaten one-on-one. Josh was then moved to Tom Lynch in the second half and Lynch had a very good first half, as a lead-up forward, but Josh really quelled Tom's influence in the third quarter. So without winning a lot of the footy and looking at the coaches' votes for NSW/ACT, Josh was rated pretty highly again. He's been playing out of position and he normally plays half-back/wing for the Murray Bushrangers, but he has been a key position player for NSW/ACT and he can hold his head up high again."

"Quigley Bryce – FB and he did well matched up on Thompson. He took a couple of nice marks but the most memorable thing he did was make a nice one handed pickup on the run. Seems to move nicely and is pretty agile."

 

[Couch Coach]

Aaron Purves - (F) 8 March 1990, 187cm 82kg. VicM/Dandenong Stingrays/Rowville

"foj1:: 39. Aaron Purves 187cm 82kg Vic Metro
Purves is a hard player to get a handle on. He can do the freakish and then put in an ordinary effort on the footy field. However, when on Purves is a tallish utility who can make things happen. He is dangerous forward and can take his turn through the middle. He always looks like he is coasting to me but they may be his laconic nature. His testing results will be very important to his draft chances but he has a lot of natural talent."

"HFF 07: AARON PURVES 187cm 82kg HFF/FP Dandenong Stingrays
Purves is a unique player, can do the amazing, but can then make the easy look dificult, is a tallish utility who plays his best footy as a forward, is a laconic player who seems like he is coasting.
PROS: - Marking, Natural Talent, Speed, Tough,
CONS: - Coasting, Agility,
PREDICTIONG: 60 - 90"

"ant555: Aaron Purves – 187cm, 82kg – Dandenong Stingrays.
Young Aaron is a little bit of an enigma. Lovely moving forward who is a strong mark and has pretty good pace. When you see him playing he just looks classy but he does not always turn it on for you to see. At his best he can break games apart very quickly but he has struggled to put that sort of form together consistently over all games or even all quarters of games. His skill level is good although he can have goal kicking problems.
I don’t think he will be passed over. Third round or later."

 

[Couch Coach]

Will Martiniello - (OM) 15 June 1990, 175cm 76kg. VicC/Murry Bushrangers/Benella

"Jason McCartney: Will Martiniello – Played in the midfield and was extremely disciplined. He had the task of running with Daniel Rich and really did the job. When you go to a great player like Rich, it's not about just sitting on him, you need to put some pressure back on your opponent and get the ball yourself. He did that and when he had it in his hands he used it well. He found the ball 19 times and had three clearances. But it wasn't so much about the negating role - he went and got the footy."

"ant555: Will Martiniello -175cm, 75kg –Murray Bushrangers.
Had a couple of run with roles during the champs and did them pretty well while still finding a bit of the ball himself. He is not overly quick but reads the play well enough to find the ball and his tackling is very strong. His kicking can be a bit dodgy but he can kick goals when he plays forward.
Because he is not overly outstanding in any one area he will probably miss out. Maybe a rookie draft selection."

 

[Couch Coach]

Daniel Murray - (R) 30 May 1990, 200cm 90kg. WA/East Perth

"foj1:: 22. Daniel Murray 200cm 86kg WA
Athletic big man who has been living in Natanui’s shadow. Murray has good size and a nice leap in the centre square. He moves to the right places as a ruckman and is beginning to hold his marks. I may well have rated him higher than he deserves but he looks to have the right stuff to develop into a very good big man."

"ant555: Daniel Murray – 200cm, 96kg – East Perth.
WA’s second ruckman who is a very big lump of a kid. From the limited games I have seen him play he looked ok in the ruck as far as Tap work goes but he was quiet around the ground and his kicking was ordinary. His pace is nothing to get too excited about.
Could find a place late in the draft or the rookie draft."

 

[Couch Coach]

Kieran King - (OM) 5 March 1991, 181cm 81kg. WA/East Fremantle/Rossmoyne

"Nicko4: King is an Australian junior running champion but proved in the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships that he is also a talented footballer. He averaged 19 disposals in the three games playing across half forward using his pace to full effect by ending the carnival with the second most running bounces of any division one player (13). He was able to do so because only 26% of his possessions were won in a contest, and he posed a threat pushing forward with an average of five inside 50s and two goals per game."

"TheBigUnit: Kieran King - bottom ager, not sure what's happening with him re:athletics, becuase he's run some incredible times for a kid (national junior 400m champion), but footy-wise solidly built, lightning quick outside ball carrier. Only a SS invite though, which is surprsing."