Draft Profile Declan Hamilton - 2014 Draft Prospect

[Chris25]

Declan Hamilton
Height: 183cm
Weight: 68kg
From: Port Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder​

One of the bigger surprises to come from not only the South Australian side, but the U18 Championships as a whole, was the form of Declan Hamilton. The nephew of football legends Darren and Andrew Jarman, Hamilton wasn't part of the initial SANFL U18 Academy which was picked towards the end of last year. It was only because of his form at the start of this season that he forced his way into the fold, and he never looked back having played in every game for South Australia.

Unlike a lot of players who are splitting their time between school, club and higher academies, Hamilton has been a fixture of the SANFL U18 scene over the past two and a half years for Port Adelaide. Playing U18s as both a 16 and 17 year old, he has moved into the Reserves side this year - and it was his form here which saw him get a late call up to the SA side. For the Magpies, Hamilton played largely across half back and spent a bit of time in the midfield rotations on a wing. Consistently finishing with 20+ disposals, Hamilton was also able to kick more goals than he has in past seasons. So that was the form which saw him named in the Championships squad, but it's there where he really took his game up a level. Having switched positions, Hamilton was again allowed to run up the ground and play through the midfield but he started largely off of a half forward flank. The idea being that they could use his constant run to impact more plays, and his skills would be best utilised in finishing up front. And it obviously worked, because he was in All Australian form over the first four weeks before unfortunately dropping off a little in the two final televised games. In that first month, Hamilton was averaging just under 20 disposals a game at an efficiency of around 80%. But those last two games, saw his disposals drop to 12 a game with his efficiency around 60%. And the biggest thing was his 6 recorded clangers in those last two games, compared with 0 from the first four. It seemed to almost coincide with the form of Caleb Daniel, with Hamilton no longer being such a focus. But regardless of how it ended, he was still one of South Australia's best players and showed that he is more than just a Jarman nephew.

I think one thing that will draw recruiters to Declan Hamilton, is his versatility. He has proven himself down back, up forward and through the midfield. What I really like, is when a relatively skinny player can still impact on the clearances. It's all well and good for these 90kg midfielders to be racking up the clearances and contested ball, but when a 68kg kid does it it suggests there is something more to his game. And while Hamilton was only getting 1 or 2 clearances a game, he certainly showed something in close. And in terms of his disposal, his handballing is a feature. He has really quick hands even when under pressure, and can set up the play with some of his handballs. At times though, it looks to be his first preference when perhaps he should be kicking. Although I think a lot of that is because he is quite a selfless player, seems to be one of those who is more interested in an assist than a goal himself. As for his kicking, I would say it's neat - not elite. He doesn't make many mistakes, but he isn't the most powerful kick going around - 50m would be his limit.

I said before that he loves the goal assist more than the goal, and part of that may be his goal kicking. His set shot technique isn't exactly textbook. To get this far, it obviously works for him. But I can see an AFL club trying to tighten it up a bit. Because at the moment, his body almost looks to fall away to one side while he runs in the other way. Otherwise, Hamilton is usually good at picking the high percentage play but occasionally does try to force the play a bit too much. Maybe that's just the Jarman coming out in him. But in terms of his athleticism, he is good not great in terms of speed. Although he does have a good engine. And as his body develops and he puts on more muscle, his overhead marking game should develop even further.

There has been lots of talk about South Australia winning the U18 Championships, but not having many players considered early draft picks and Hamilton is exactly one of those players. For all his good performances, he still isn't really seen as a first round pick. He does have a bit of Troy Menzel about him, but in terms of his draft position I'd consider it somewhere around the second to third round - not unlike Essendon's Zach Merrett.

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