DRAFT CAMP 2008
Nicholas Naitanui (Swan Districts)
This guy is a super athlete, a composed young man and one of the top options available. He equaled the record in the running vertical jump of 102cm Jared Brennan set a number of years ago, but what surprised me was his speed - fourth overall in the camp. As a footballer, he is a back-to-back All-Australian ruckman and has had the benefit of senior playing experience at Swan Districts.
Jack Watts (Sandringham Dragons)
Has got something fairly special in terms of athletic ability, complementing what we have seen on the footy field. At 196cm, he was second overall in the 20m sprints and at one stage was the quickest non-indigenous player tested in 15 years with the time of 2.82 seconds - a super effort from a guy that size.
Daniel Rich (Subiaco)
The footballers’ footballer; a ball-winning midfielder with a thumping kick. A back-to-back premiership winner with Subiaco and also a back-to-back All-Australian at under-18 level. He is a special talent that will play midfield and can also push forward with his ability.
Sam Blease (Eastern Rangers)
Impressed in the national championships playing on the wing for the Victorian Metro side. His quickness is his biggest feature – 2.91 seconds for 20m sprint. Has excellent speed and second efforts that will make him an attractive proposition.
Tyrone Vickery (Sandringham Dragons)
Was one of the tall players that super impressed as an athlete. He’s a guy that can play in the ruck or centre half-forward and is a really attractive proposition at 200cm.
Jamie Sheahan (Murray Bushrangers)
Real live-wire this year. An onballer and good all round athlete, his speed, agility and endurance were all quite prominent at the camp and will hold him in good stead.
Dayne Beams (Southport)
Taking up the option of putting himself in the draft this year rather than looking for an offer from the Gold Coast team. He was Queensland’s best player in the national championship, a prolific ball winner playing in the centre of the ground and may well be the only Queenslander drafted this year.
Steele Sidebottom (Murray Bushrangers)
He has backed up the TAC Cup grand final (32 possessions, 10 goals and 12 marks) performance by being second in the two endurance tests (3km time trial and the shuttle run), making him an outstanding running machine.
Aaron Cornelius (Tassie Mariners)
Tassie produces every year and Cornelius will certainly be among the top picks. A 192cm key forward, has long arms, strong hands, a terrific mark and presents really well inside 50. His work for the Devils and at under-18s level for Tassie makes him pretty highly rated.
Hamish Hartlett (West Adelaide)
Had a brilliant couple of years at underage level, as well as with West Adelaide, where he played some terrific games at senior level. Some of his best work is in the centre of the ground, an elite kick, someone who hits the target and that’s probably one of the main things clubs are after. A very poised player, certain to be a first round draft choice.
Ayce Cordy (Geelong Falcons)
At 202cm, he will take a while to develop physically but his agility is super for a guy of that size, as is his speed. He is an elite young player that may well have gone in the first half dozen in the draft, so I think it’s a bargain for the Bulldogs.
Jack Ziebell (Murray Bushrangers)
A young star, equally capable at half-back, in the centre or as a leading forward. Powerful kick, very competitive, great in the contest, he’s what the clubs want: blokes that can play anywhere and leadership potential to boot.
Michael Hurley (Northern Knights)
He’s produced back-to-back All-Australian as a key defender and plays well in the big games. At 192cm, he is the right size and shape and that makes him very appealing. His speed is OK, his big, strong body, his one-on-one stuff, his spoiling and his use of the ball is what sets him apart from the others.
Rory Sloane (Eastern Rangers)
Had a great year (he won the TAC Cup coaches award) and a top camp. He impressed right across the board and has no weaknesses athletically. He can play in a range of spots from medium defender to midfield.
Nick Suban (North Ballarat)
Left-footer, impressed as a midfielder and a medium defender. One-on-one stuff is outstanding, loves to compete, and has a racking left foot kick that hits his targets.
Speed was good. Has had a great couple of years - it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up and what position he plays in the future because he has all-round capabilities to play midfield or defence.
Shaun McKernan (Calder Cannons)
Big 196cm player who had the biggest hands of anyone at the camp. Very quick, he did a 2.95 in the 20m sprint; that’s elite for 196cm. The package is there – a very quick athletic centre half-forward or a ruckman with a great spring.
Tom Rockliff (Murray Bushrangers)
Thirty-possession, four-goal game in the TAC Cup grand final was a super performance.Very smart player. Not a super athlete but doesn’t need to be in the spots that he plays. Able to use his body well, reads it way ahead of many of the defenders when the ball is in the air.
MORE TO COME-I HOPE
Nicholas Naitanui (Swan Districts)
This guy is a super athlete, a composed young man and one of the top options available. He equaled the record in the running vertical jump of 102cm Jared Brennan set a number of years ago, but what surprised me was his speed - fourth overall in the camp. As a footballer, he is a back-to-back All-Australian ruckman and has had the benefit of senior playing experience at Swan Districts.
Jack Watts (Sandringham Dragons)
Has got something fairly special in terms of athletic ability, complementing what we have seen on the footy field. At 196cm, he was second overall in the 20m sprints and at one stage was the quickest non-indigenous player tested in 15 years with the time of 2.82 seconds - a super effort from a guy that size.
Daniel Rich (Subiaco)
The footballers’ footballer; a ball-winning midfielder with a thumping kick. A back-to-back premiership winner with Subiaco and also a back-to-back All-Australian at under-18 level. He is a special talent that will play midfield and can also push forward with his ability.
Sam Blease (Eastern Rangers)
Impressed in the national championships playing on the wing for the Victorian Metro side. His quickness is his biggest feature – 2.91 seconds for 20m sprint. Has excellent speed and second efforts that will make him an attractive proposition.
Tyrone Vickery (Sandringham Dragons)
Was one of the tall players that super impressed as an athlete. He’s a guy that can play in the ruck or centre half-forward and is a really attractive proposition at 200cm.
Jamie Sheahan (Murray Bushrangers)
Real live-wire this year. An onballer and good all round athlete, his speed, agility and endurance were all quite prominent at the camp and will hold him in good stead.
Dayne Beams (Southport)
Taking up the option of putting himself in the draft this year rather than looking for an offer from the Gold Coast team. He was Queensland’s best player in the national championship, a prolific ball winner playing in the centre of the ground and may well be the only Queenslander drafted this year.
Steele Sidebottom (Murray Bushrangers)
He has backed up the TAC Cup grand final (32 possessions, 10 goals and 12 marks) performance by being second in the two endurance tests (3km time trial and the shuttle run), making him an outstanding running machine.
Aaron Cornelius (Tassie Mariners)
Tassie produces every year and Cornelius will certainly be among the top picks. A 192cm key forward, has long arms, strong hands, a terrific mark and presents really well inside 50. His work for the Devils and at under-18s level for Tassie makes him pretty highly rated.
Hamish Hartlett (West Adelaide)
Had a brilliant couple of years at underage level, as well as with West Adelaide, where he played some terrific games at senior level. Some of his best work is in the centre of the ground, an elite kick, someone who hits the target and that’s probably one of the main things clubs are after. A very poised player, certain to be a first round draft choice.
Ayce Cordy (Geelong Falcons)
At 202cm, he will take a while to develop physically but his agility is super for a guy of that size, as is his speed. He is an elite young player that may well have gone in the first half dozen in the draft, so I think it’s a bargain for the Bulldogs.
Jack Ziebell (Murray Bushrangers)
A young star, equally capable at half-back, in the centre or as a leading forward. Powerful kick, very competitive, great in the contest, he’s what the clubs want: blokes that can play anywhere and leadership potential to boot.
Michael Hurley (Northern Knights)
He’s produced back-to-back All-Australian as a key defender and plays well in the big games. At 192cm, he is the right size and shape and that makes him very appealing. His speed is OK, his big, strong body, his one-on-one stuff, his spoiling and his use of the ball is what sets him apart from the others.
Rory Sloane (Eastern Rangers)
Had a great year (he won the TAC Cup coaches award) and a top camp. He impressed right across the board and has no weaknesses athletically. He can play in a range of spots from medium defender to midfield.
Nick Suban (North Ballarat)
Left-footer, impressed as a midfielder and a medium defender. One-on-one stuff is outstanding, loves to compete, and has a racking left foot kick that hits his targets.
Speed was good. Has had a great couple of years - it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up and what position he plays in the future because he has all-round capabilities to play midfield or defence.
Shaun McKernan (Calder Cannons)
Big 196cm player who had the biggest hands of anyone at the camp. Very quick, he did a 2.95 in the 20m sprint; that’s elite for 196cm. The package is there – a very quick athletic centre half-forward or a ruckman with a great spring.
Tom Rockliff (Murray Bushrangers)
Thirty-possession, four-goal game in the TAC Cup grand final was a super performance.Very smart player. Not a super athlete but doesn’t need to be in the spots that he plays. Able to use his body well, reads it way ahead of many of the defenders when the ball is in the air.
MORE TO COME-I HOPE
