Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2014 Phantom Draft

[Masked Magician]

Jason Castagna thoughts KM?

 

[Knightmare]

Jason Castagna thoughts KM?

Haven't watched Northern yet this season but saw a few of his games last year. He was pretty much invisible so I didn't note him but looking at his stats they clearly were among his worse games so I'm probably not the person to ask at this point.

 

[Yoda_]

Hey Knightmare, you catch any of the trial games on the weekend ?

 

[Knightmare]

Hey Knightmare, you catch any of the trial games on the weekend ?

Nope. Will hopefully catch the real stuff though.

 

[JEZZAS BLUES]

One you haven't mentioned is Dean Gore from Sturt who is 17 and is playing well in the seniors ATM and may make a handy midfielder.

 

[Knightmare]

One you haven't mentioned is Dean Gore from Sturt who is 17 and is playing well in the seniors ATM and may make a handy midfielder.

He won't be left out next update. You can count on it.

From what I've heard he played a very good game v Norwood last Thursday and is progressing nicely through the midfield as one of the better contested ball winners in this draft.

Look forward to catching him through the u18 champs and seeing some tape of some of his senior performances over coming weeks.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

KNIGHTMARE whats your opinion of B Walsh i think he is overated at this stage also seems to lack a bit of pace.
I dont think he's as good as a Ollie Wines.
Also Angus Brayshaw seems a little overated as well.
Apart from the tall's there a few others I rate a lot higher

 

[Knightmare]

KNIGHTMARE whats your opinion of B Walsh i think he is overated at this stage also seems to lack a bit of pace.

Apart from the tall's there a few others I rate a lot higher

I like what Walsh brings to the table. He wins it so easily inside the contest reading the ruck taps better than any in the draft and just getting to the best position every time. He does it with the ease of Sam Mitchell.

In making that comment I currently have Walsh in my second round (op to be updated over the coming days) and others will rise up my draft board. Walsh lacks the size and footskills to be a first round selection but second round is my placing of him at this point as a guy who has impressed me in the games I've seen. I particularly liked the signs he showed v Collingwood in the AIS game as the onballer who looked most at home and really found the going rather easy with all the stoppage work even against better competition still pretty easy for him which is impressive against good competition.

 

[markm106]

Do you have any insight as to why Taylor moved to VIC? I'm not even aware if he played any footy last year so it sounds like a sudden decision that he wants to pursue an AFL career. I'm a little concerned about whether he'll stick it out but he'll be interesting to track over the season.

Lachlan George is made of AFL stuff. He's an easy rookie choice in my mind for a team needing a bigger body - great fit for Melbourne and what they want to achieve under Roos.

Owen I am very aware of. Been excellent in the TAC the past few years and he's draftable and one of thedraft snubs and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him have a strong VFL season and get onto an AFL list next season. Nice height. Versatile - mid/fwd/def he can play. Strong 1v1. And has some scope through the midfield with his ability to win his own footy, clean hands and good decision making.
He could very possibly be this years Tom Langdon so I agree he is one to watch.

I think I read somewhere that Taylor may have played local footy in WA last year.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[King Hansen]

Served veteran saints recruiter John Beveridge at work yesterday and he reckons Angus Brayshaw will go top 5.

 

[Knightmare]

Served veteran saints recruiter John Beveridge at work yesterday and he reckons Angus Brayshaw will go top 5.

He's he best midfielder at this point. Doubt many would be disagree with that assessment.

 

[imabowss]

Knightmare what are your thoughts on William Frampton from South Fremantle?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare what are your thoughts on William Frampton from South Fremantle?

Frampton has started the season really well.

Excellent accumulator through the ruck. Moves really well for a guy his height. He's not ruck height or ruck size and not a dominant tap ruckman which are the questions at this stage but someone I'm definitely interested to see more of because he's a rare accumulator for someone at his position if he continues his current pace.

 

[Knightmare]

#1 St Kilda – Christian Petracca (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 92kg, DOB: 04/01/1996
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Range: 1-2
Profile: Powerful midfielder/forward.


#2 Melbourne – Angus Brayshaw (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 09/01/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 1-3
Profile: Dominant midfielder.


#3 Melbourne (via free agent compensation) - Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 95kg, DOB: 19/04/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Range: 1-7
Profile: Dominant key forward.


#4 GWS – Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck)
Height: 203cm, Weight: 102kg, DOB: 08/09/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 1-7
Profile: Dominant key forward/ruckman.


#5 Collingwood (via Brisbane) – Jayden Laverde (VIC – Util)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 12/04/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 5-15
Profile: Damaging utility.


#6 GWS (via Western Bulldogs) – Jake Lever (VIC –KPD)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 2-15
Profile: Key defender who will go early despite missing 2014 through injury.


#7 GWS (via Carlton) – Liam Duggan (VIC – Util)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 11/12/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 5-20
Profile: Classy versatile type.


#8 Gold Coast – Lachlan Weller (QLD – Mid/Def)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 23/02/1996
Recruited from: Broadbeach
Range: 5-20
Profile: Skilled outside type, brother of Maverick.


#9 Collingwood – Darcy Moore (Collingwood - F/S – VIC – KPF/KPD)
Height: 199cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 25/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Range: 1st round.
Profile: Promising key position player.


#10 Geelong (via Adelaide) – Paul Ahern (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 01/08/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 5-20
Profile: Damaging forward/midfielder.


#11 West Coast – Jarrod Pickett (WA – Mid/Def)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Range: 5-15
Profile: Electric outside linebreaker.


#12 Richmond – Kyle Langford (VIC – Util)
Height: 190, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 01/12/1996
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Range: 5-20
Profile: Versatile tall.


#13 Fremantle - Tom Lamb (VIC - Util)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Range: 5-30
Profile: Versatile, athletic tall.


#14 Adelaide (via Geelong) – Sam Durdin (SA – KPD/KPF)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Range: 5-15
Profile: Promising key position player.


#15 Gold Coast (Via compensation pick from Geelong) – Caleb Marchbank (VIC – KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 12/07/1996
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Range: 10-25
Profile: Promising key defender.


#16 North Melbourne – Jordan De Goey (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/03/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Range: 10-25
Profile: Strong marking midfielder/forward.


#17 Essendon (via Port Adelaide) – Hugh Goddard (VIC – KPD/KPF)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Range: 5-20
Profile: Promising key position player.


#18 Sydney – Isaac Heeney (Sydney academy- NSW/ACT - Mid/Def)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 05/05/1996
Recruited from: Cardiff
Range: 1st round
Profile: Complete midfielder.


#19 Carlton (via GWS and Hawthorn) – Corey Ellis (VIC – Util)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/10/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 10-30
Profile: Skillful type.


#20 Essendon (to be taken at end of first round) – Nakia Cockatoo (NT – Mid)
Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 23/10/1996
Recruited from: NT Thunder
Range: 10-30
Profile: Talented midfielder.


#21 St Kilda (via Brisbane from Brisbane from GWS) (end of first round compensation) - Jarrod Garlett (WA –Mid/Def)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Range: 15-30
Profile: Outside linebreaker.


#22 St Kilda – Edward Vickers-Willis (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 190cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 28/03/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 10-30
Profile: Tall, versatile type.


#23 GWS (via Melbourne) - Damien Cavka (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 03/07/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 15-35
Profile: Outside type.


#24 GWS – Jack Steele (GWS academy - NSW – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 13/12/1995
Recruited from: Belconnen
Range: 2nd round.
Profile: Overage midfielder/forward.


#25 North Melbourne (via Collingwood from Brisbane) - Connon Blakely (WA – Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Range: 15-40
Profile: Well-rounded midfielder.


#26 Western Bulldogs – Daniel McKenzie (VIC – Def/Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 17/05/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Range: 20-50
Profile: Damaging rebounding defender.


#27 Western Bulldogs (via free agent compensation) - Connor Menadue (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 188cm, Weight: 69kg, DOB: 19/09/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 15-35
Profile: Explosive type with versatility.


#28 Carlton – Alex Neal-Bullen (SA – Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 09/01/1996
Recruited from: Glenelg
Range: 15-40
Profile: Contested ball winner.


#29 Gold Coast - Peter Bampton (SA - Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 15/04/1996
Recruited from: Norwood
Range: 15-40
Profile: Strong bodied inside midfielder.


#30 Collingwood – Reece McKenzie (VIC – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 28/03/1996
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Range: 15-45
Profile: Big, contested marking key forward.


#31 Hawthorn (via Adelaide) – Touk Miller (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 22/02/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 20-rookie
Profile: Powerful inside midfielder.


#32 West Coast – Jack Lonie (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 174cm, Weight: 67kg, DOB: 13/08/1996
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Range: 20-50
Profile: Lively small forward.


#33 Richmond - Daniel Howe (VIC – Def)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 04/12/1995
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Range: 20-50
Profile: Overage backman.


#34 Fremantle – Tyler Keitel (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 07/02/1996
Recruited from: East Perth
Range: 20-60
Profile: Strong marking key position player.


#35 Adelaide (via Geelong) – Dean Gore (SA – Mid)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 26/06/1996
Recruited from: Sturt
Range: 20-60
Profile: Powerful midfielder.


#36 North Melbourne - Clem Smith (WA - Util)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Perth
Range: 20-50
Profile: The next Byron Pickett.


#37 Sydney (via Port Adelaide) - Keenan Ramsey (SA – Def)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 23/08/1996
Recruited from: Port Adelaide
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Tall rebounding defender.


#38 Sydney – Jack Hiscox (Syd – Academy - NSW – Util)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 23/03/1996
Recruited from: Sydney Uni
Range: 2nd round
Profile: Endurance specialist.


#39 Western Bulldgos (via Sydney free agent compensation) - Jack Cripps (WA – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 198cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 20/01/1996
Recruited from: East Fremantle
Range: 20-60
Profile: High production key forward who can play some relief ruck.


#40 Melbourne (via GWS from Hawthorn) - Oscar McDonald (VIC – KPD)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 18/03/1996
Recruited from: North Ballarat
Range: 20-rookie
Profile: Key defender, brother of Melbourne’s Tom.


#41 St Kilda – Matthew Hammelmann (Brisbane - Academy - QLD – KPF/KPD)
Height: 198cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 08/03/1996
Recruited from: Morningside
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Tall leading forward.


#42 Melbourne - Billy Stretch (Melbourne – F/S – SA – Mid/Fwd):
Height: 182cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 8/09/1996
Recruited from: Glenelg
Range: 3rd round
Profile: Quick, high production outside type.


#43 Adelaide (via Hawthorn from GWS) – Nathan Drummond (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 19/01/1995
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Hard, explosive midfielder.


#44 Brisbane - Liam Dawson (Brisbane academy - QLD – Util)
Height: 188m, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 23/01/1996
Recruited from: Aspley
Range: 3rd round
Profile: Versatile type.


#45 Western Bulldogs - Daniel Capiron (VIC – Def/Mid)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 14/06/1996
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Range: 20-rookie
Profile: Versatile kicker.


#46 Western Bulldogs (via Carlton) - Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (VIC – Def/Mid)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 08/02/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Versatile kicker.


#47 Geelong (via Adelaide, via Hawthorn from Gold Coast) – Josh Glenn (SA – Mid/Def)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB:
Recruited from: Central Districts
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: High production midfielder/back flanker from the SANFL.


#48 Collingwood - Taylor Grace (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 17/04/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: High production overager.


#49 Hawthorn (via Gold Coast, via West Coast compensation selection) - Teia Miles (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 68kg, DOB: 11/02/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Quick, hard midfielder.


#50 Hawthorn (via Adelaide) – Brenton Payne (VIC – KPF/Fwd)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/03/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Tall forward.


#51 West Coast – Jordan Cunico (VIC – Mid)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 07/05/1996
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Outside runner.


#52 Richmond - James Rose (SA – Fwd/Def)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 16/04/1996
Recruited from: Sturt
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Medium forward.


#53 Melbourne (via GWS from Essendon) – Matt Goodyear (VIC – Mid)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 20/07/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Hard, explosive midfielder.


#54 Fremantle - Sam Bevan (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 12/06/1996
Recruited from: Claremont
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Athletic key forward.


#55 Geelong - Daniel Nielson (VIC – KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 09/05/1996
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Strong bodied stopper.


#56 North Melbourne - Oleg Markov (SA– Fwd)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 69kg, DOB: 08/05/1995
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Athletic forward.


#57 Port Adelaide – Cory Gregson (SA – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 175cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 04/09/1996
Recruited from: Glenelg
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Small inside midfielder.


#58 Sydney – Brayden Maynard (VIC – Util)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 20/09/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 20-rookie
Profile: Strong, contested ball winner.


#59 Adelaide (via Hawthorn) - Toby McLean (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 31/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Fast improving marking small forward.


#60 Geelong (via St Kilda) - Jaden McGrath (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 15/06/1996
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Classy midfielder/forward who has missing time this year through injury.


#61 Carlton (via Melbourne) - Thomas Wilkinson (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 07/03/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Outside accumulator.


#62 Essendon (via GWS) - Josh McGuinness (TAS – Def)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 20/09/1995
Recruited from: Lauderdale
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Rebounding defender.


#63 Brisbane - Harris Andrews (Brisbane academy - QLD – KPF/KPD)
Height: 198cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 12/11/1996
Recruited from: Aspley
Range: 4th round.
Profile: Promising tall.


#64 Western Bulldogs - Zaine Cordy (WBD – F/S - VIC – KPD)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 27/10/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Range: 4th round.
Profile: Tall defender.


#65 Carlton - Billy Gowers (VIC – Util)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 10/06/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Versatile midfielder.


#66 Gold Coast - Daniel Butler (VIC – Fwd/Def)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 06/03/1996
Recruited from: North Ballarat
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Speedy linebreaker.


#67 Brisbane (via Collingwood) – Jason Castagna (VIC – Def/Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 12/06/1996
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Lightning running defender.


#68 Hawthorn (via Adelaide) - Billy Evans (VIC –Mid/Fwd)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Tall big bodied midfielder.


#69 West Coast - Alec Waterman (WCE – F/S – WA - Mid)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 19/08/1996
Recruited from: Claremont
Range: Last West Coast pick.
Profile: Strong bodied midfielder.


#70 Richmond - Harrison Wigg (SA – Def/Mid)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 14/10/1996
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: High production, efficient kicking outside type.


#71 Essendon - Ed Langdon (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 02/01/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Smart small forward, brother of Collingwood’s Tom.


#72 Fremantle - Francis Watson (WA – Def/Fwd)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 29/09/1995
Recruited from: Claremont
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Damaging overage defender/forward.


#73 Geelong - Jackson Nelson (VIC – Mid/Def)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 15/03/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Promising midfielder/back flanker.


#74 North Melbourne - Aidan Anderson (WA – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 10/08/1996
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Powerful small forward.


#75 Port Adelaide - Declan Hamilton (SA – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 68kg, DOB: 18/03/1996
Recruited from: Port Adelaide
Range: 40-rookie
Profile: Efficient ball user.


#76 Sydney - Abaina Davis (Sydney academy – NSW – KPF/KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 27/01/1996
Recruited from: UNSW-Easts
Range: 4th round
Profile: Strong bodied key position player.


#77 Hawthorn – Lucas Webb (VIC – Fwd/Def)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 03/04/1996
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Versatile kicker.


#78 GWS - Jeremy Finlayson (GWS - Academy - NSW – KPD/KPF)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 02/09/1996
Recruited from: Hills Eage
Range: Last GWS pick.
Profile: Promising key position player.


#79 Brisbane - Josh Clayton (Bris – F/S - VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 190cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 17/01/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Range: Last Brisbane pick.
Profile: Tall leadup forward who has improved as the season progressed.









Draft evaluation:

The draft has a feel very much like the 2006 draft and has a real depth of high level key position players but is a slightly worse version of this. Overall the draft depth is slightly below average and there are no glaringly obvious franchise quality players in this draft but there is still potential for some late and rookie draft gems to be found with correct talent identification.

2014 draft power rankings:

-- Best few on list quality --

1. Christian Petracca (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

2. Angus Brayshaw (VIC – Mid)

3. Isaac Heeney (Syd – Academy - NSW – Mid)

4. Darcy Moore (Coll - F/S – VIC – KPF/KPD)

5. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF)

-- High level difference makers --

6. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck)

7. Jayden Laverde (VIC – Util)

8. Jake Lever (VIC – KPD)

9. Hugh Goddard (VIC – KPD/KPF)

10. Sam Durdin (SA – KPD/KPF)

11. Caleb Marchbank (VIC – KPD)

12. Kyle Langford (VIC – Util)

13. Lachlan Weller (QLD – Util)

14. Jarrod Pickett (WA – Mid/Fwd)

15. Liam Duggan (VIC – Util)

16. Jack Steele (GWS - Academy - NSW – Mid/Fwd)

17. Jordan De Goey (VIC –Mid/Fwd)

18. Peter Bampton (SA – Mid)

19. Connon Blakely (WA – Mid)

20. Jarrod Garlett (WA –Mid)

21. Reece McKenzie (VIC – KPF)

22. Connor Menadue (VIC – Mid/Def)

23. Dean Gore (SA – Mid/Fwd)

24. Alex Neal-Bullen (SA – Mid)

25. Paul Ahern (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

-- Capable contributors --

26. Oscar McDonald (VIC – KPD)

27. Toby McLean (VIC – Fwd/Mid)

28. Damien Cavka (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

29. Billy Stretch (Melb – F/S - SA – Mid)

30. Caleb Daniel (SA – Mid/Fwd)

31. Nakia Cockatoo (NT – Util)

32. Harris Andrews (Bris – Academy - QLD – KPD/KPF)

33. Jack Hiscox (Syd – Academy - NSW – Util)

34. Tom Lamb (VIC – Util)

35. Liam Dawson (Bris – Academy - QLD – Util)

36. Edward Vickers-Willis (VIC – Util)

37. Daniel Howe (VIC – Util)

38. Daniel McKenzie (VIC – Def/Mid)

39. Jeremy Finlayson (GWS – Academy – NSW – KPD/KPF)

40. Zaine Cordy (WBD – F/S - VIC – KPD)

--Best of the rest--

41. Brayden Maynard (VIC – Util)

42. Josh Glenn (SA – Util)

43. Jack Cripps (WA – KPF/Ruck)

44. Matthew Hammelmann (Bris – Academy - QLD – KPF/KPD)

45.Hugh Beasley (VIC – KPD)

46. Taylor Grace (VIC – Mid/Def)

47. Nathan Drummond (VIC –Mid/Def)

48. Alec Waterman (WCE – F/S - WA - Mid)

49. Clem Smith (WA - Util)

50. Corey Ellis (VIC – Util)

 

[Knightmare]

Detailed bios (my top 50 prospects)


1. Christian Petracca (VIC – Mid/Fwd)Height:186cm, Weight: 92kg, DOB: 04/01/1996
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Draft range: 1-3
Best position/role: Rotational midfielder/forward.
Strengths:
Front half talent –Petracca can play both deep in the front half as a marking target and off a forward flank to a high standard when playing forward. Deep in the front half Petracca provides strong scoreboard impact and is an imposing marking presence with his 1v1 strength, overhead marking ability, marking on the lead and superior ability to read the drop of the ball. He can deep in the front half also win the ground ball. Petracca can also play off a forward flank and have a big impact, he can on a forward flank accumulate the footy in bunches, do damage with his footskills, present as a strong marking target, provide strong scoreboard impact and push up the field.Midfield talent – Petracca is an improved midfielder this year having improved his endurance and decreased his skinfolds. He has a nice mix between inside and outside game. He is a very good contested ball winner and stoppage player and these areas of his game can continue to improve given his size and strength. He is a strong ground ball winner. He is a strong tackler. He also has a rare power to him not only with his strength to bully guys inside the contest but some real explosive power where he can burst through a contest, come up with the ball and break away from the contest at speed. He also has excellent evasiveness and can sidestep guys and burst away with some real explosiveness. Some of his work inside by hand finding targets also is impressive. Outside the contest Petracca shows that he can find the footy but also use it really well utilising his damaging footskills and vision allowing him to find damaging targets up the field. Scoreboard impact – Forward or through the midfield Petracca provides strong scoreboard impact and is capable of kicking multiple goals and breaking games open with his scoreboard impact in any given game whether that be from set shots or in general play.
Strength and power – There are not many 92kg midfielders going around and even fewer with the explosiveness and power of Petracca. He wins his own ball and can either burst through the contest or run around you with ease. He stands up through tackles and has the strength through his core and hips, he can shrug tackles and give a strong don’t argue. In the 1v1 contests he can take advantage of anyone who is not key position sized making him a matchup nightmare. Versatility – Petracca because he can play not only through the midfield but also on a forward flank or deep in the front half as a marking target gives you options and this versatility should also help him receive immediate senior games on any team.
Footskills – Has an excellent mix between footskills hitting his targets around the ground with consistency, vision allowing him to find some really damaging targets in great position but also he has the finishing ability and set shot goalkicking to allow him to make the most of his opportunities in front of goal. I have also enjoyed some of his kicks to target while tackled showing that even when tackled he can still execute and find his targets.
Marking ability – Few if any medium size types have the marking ability of Petracca. He has the 1v1 marking ability, contested marking ability and ability on the lead to take his marks and he has the strength overhead to take them consistently. He also reads the drop of the ball exceptionally well and uses his body well in the contest allowing him to effectively protect the drop zone making him incredibly hard to defend particularly if he can isolate a smaller player defender deep in defence.Weaknesses:Endurance – His endurance is building and has improved significantly this year to an extent where he can play the majority of game time through the midfield but if he hopes to eventually become a full time midfielder further work is still required.
Skinfolds – Like with his endurance his skinfolds have reduced but his skinfolds still appear relatively high and also need to decrease.
Decision making ability – Petracca’s decision making ability while good most of the time can at times can leave something to be desired. Both by hand and foot Petracca with his touches generally looks to do as much meaningful damage as he can but at times as a result of this he can fail to recognise his limitations which can lead to a poor kick or handball and an overall lower disposal efficiency than he might otherwise have.
What I expect will improve:I expect Petracca to continue to improve his contested ball winning and stoppage work and take that area of his game from good to eventually excellent. I also expect his endurance and skinfolds to improve. I also imagine his disposal efficiency to increase as he improves his decision making ability and better learns when he can do damage and when he needs to go the safe option. Who he can become?I anticipate Petracca to develop into a player largely similar to Dustin Martin but without the personal issues. I see Petracca mostly playing as a damaging forward flanker who will at times push deeper into the front half splitting his minutes between playing through the front half and midfield with those midfield minutes increasing as his endurance improves. When will he be ready to play?Petracca is season one, round one ready to play. He I imagine will start off season one mostly playing in the front half and by season two or three likely play more a split between forward and midfield minutes.How to best utilise him?Petracca today is best utilised in the front half because he is just so damaging forward of centre. The hope will be that he becomes more a midfielder but I would look for him to split his minutes between the midfield and front half long term as he is a rare weapon forward of centre. Interpretation of his numbers:Petracca well and truly has the performances on the board and is one of if not the best performed player in this draft class based on his form these past couple of seasons through the TAC Cup and U18 championships. He is finding the footy but also providing heavy scoreboard impact at both levels which such suggests he will provide both a strong immediate impact at AFL level but also that he will become one of the best to come out of this draft with those high production power midfielders who can provide heavy scoreboard impact of strong value to teams.



2. Angus Brayshaw (VIC – Mid)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 09/01/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Draft range: 2-10
Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.Strengths:
Inside game – Brayshaw has shown dominant contested ball winning ability through both the TAC Cup and U18 Championships. His stoppage work is excellent and he is a strong clearance winner. He has clean hands and is clean below the knees and by hand. He stands up through and shrugs tackles well and has real strength over the ball. Brayshaw is a strong tackler and can really bury guys with aggression when he tackles. His inside game is at a level where he can play right away. He accumulates strong numbers through the midfield and excellent tackle numbers. He is also an excellent height and size for an inside player at 187cm, 87kg.
Footskills – Brayshaw is a very damaging user of the footy on both his right and left sides and is one of the rare few on-ballers who can use it cleanly and consistently on both sides. He is an excellent decision maker with ball in hand and has the vision to find targets in dangerous positions making him a real playmaker through the midfield. He is capable of executing his kicks while getting tackled and still hit his targets. From the midfield both in space and in traffic he also has a rare ability to find and hit the leading forward 50 targets and get it to where they want it. He is also an excellent finisher around goal and can convert from his set shot opportunities. Marking ability – He is a strong mark overhead. He has got the size and strength to beat his opponent in the 1v1 contest but he also reads the flight of the ball exceptionally well and has shown that he can either push back behind the play to take an intercept mark or push forward and be a marking threat on the lead or 1v1.
Work ethic – Brayshaw is a hard worker and has put the time and effort into his game. He has developed the ability to use both sides of his body by hand and foot. He has developed his strength and inside game and this past offseason has put the work in athletically to improve his endurance and pace and I anticipate he will continue from year to year to put the work into his game to achieve that continued improvement and development of his game.
Leadership potential – Brayshaw in 2014 captained Sandringham Dragons demonstrating strong on field leadership and instruction. Given this it is within his capabilities to down the track become either a component of a team’s leadership group or possibly even captain a club. Weaknesses:Endurance – While Brayshaw’s endurance is improving it has been a slow build and still requires work before he has the endurance of a full time midfielder at AFL level. Even in the TAC Cup too often he will be out on his feet and unable to cover the ground an AFL level midfielder needs to cover and it will likely take a few preseasons to completely get his endurance up to where it needs to get to.
Athleticism – Overall Brayshaw is an only average athlete by position. To his credit he has an improved burst of speed which he uses reasonably well in game over 10-50m with ball in hand at times and he can also occasionally provide some run and carry but other than that occasional burst with ball in hand Brayshaw is only average athlete by position. He is not likely to do too many eye-popping things athletically and he is not going to run around or sidestep all that many players with not a great deal of agility, evasiveness or spring in his step but none the less I do not anticipate any significant problems with his athleticism still good enough by position.
What I expect will improve:I expect continued improvement in Brayshaw’s endurance to allow him to cover more of the ground so that at AFL level he can be a full time midfielder. I also expect Brayshaw to continue to improve and expand his inside game and become a more dominant contested ball winner and clearance winner than he already is. Brayshaw I also see continuing to improve as a leader. Who he can become?Brayshaw with his dual sided kicking has a feel not completely unlike a taller, bigger bodied Sam Mitchell but I see Brayshaw becoming a slightly less dominant Oliver Wines. He is that similar tall, strong bodied midfielder who can do damage by foot and have an impact immediately and be a key pillar through the midfield long term but his production I feel in looking at his numbers will be slightly but not significantly lower than the production of Wines.
When will he be ready to play?Brayshaw is round one, season one ready to play. He has the size and production to suggest he can have an impact right away. He can also be a starting midfielder right away but I can see him also receiving some minutes on either a forward or back flank during games as his endurance is not yet quite be up to a level that would allow him to sustain full games at AFL level through the midfield from the outset.
How to best utilise him?Brayshaw is best utilised on the ball through the midfield.Interpretation of his numbers:Brayshaw is arguably the best performed midfielder in this draft class. He is finding the footy both inside and outside the contest. Providing good scoreboard impact. Good tackle numbers and is taking plenty of marks. Has performed strongly through both the TAC Cup and U18 championships. So the indicators are strong and suggest he will play right away and have a long, strong career in our game.




3. Isaac Heeney (Sydney - Academy- NSW/ACT - Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 05/05/1996
Recruited from: Cardiff
Draft range: 1st round
Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.
Strengths:Rapid improvement/work ethic/leadership – Heeney this year is probably the big improver from this draft class and has gone from someone who coming into the season projected as more a second round pick to someone who you could make a case for as being the best midfielder and most complete in the draft class. He has been noted as a hard worker so I expect him to get the most out of his ability and with his rapid footballing growth over the years I expect Heeney the way he is tracking and improve rapidly to become one of if not the best and most complete midfielder in this draft class. He is also considered from what I understand to be an exceptional leader and I expect him to be a part of the leadership group for Sydney down the track.
Complete game – There is no area of the game I can identify from limited viewing of Heeney where he is clearly deficient. He is a high volume ball winner with an excellent balance between inside game and outside game with his ability to use it well by hand and foot as well as a good combination of strength and pace. He is a two way runner and also is a hard worker with strong leadership potential from everything I understand about him.
Competitive instincts – Heeney seems to have a real competitiveness around the ball and what most stands out for me with him is his tackling game with his attack on the man terrific and his attack on the ball also strong. He just plays with a real hard, competitive edge and want which will serve him well at the next level and potentially become a point of difference for him. Inside game - Inside the contest Heeney has demonstrated a real toughness and competitiveness with the way he attacks the ball hard. He is an excellent volume tackler and his tackles stick.He can win his own ball. Can dish off by hand to a target. He can create some more time and space for himself in traffic at times. He can use his pace to burst away from the contest breaking open games. Also while using his burst of pace Heeney can execute by foot and hit the best targets. He also from his clearances is excellent by foot executing and hitting targets cleanly up the field and sometimes even executing some impressive kicks while under pressure or getting tackled. He is excellent at winning the ground balls. He is excellent at reading the ruck taps. Has clean hands in close and below the knees and does not fumble. Outside game – Outside the contest Heeney is a genuine two way runner. He has shown outside the contest that he can work well into space, he will get involved in running chains forward and can link up well and find the footy outside the contest. He is an excellent user of the footy by both hand and foot hitting his targets while also showing excellent vision and decision making ability both in space as well as in congestion. He is a very capable playmaker with ball in hand hitting his targets at times lace out in front in the forward 50. He is also while a midfielder capable as required to push into the front half where he can provide an effective lead up target and with his leap he can also at times be a threat in the air. Heeney can finish around goal and hit the scoreboard but he is overall more a playmaker than finisher and seems to enjoy bringing others into the game and playing a really unselfish game and playing the percentages where if he sees someone inside 50 in better position he will go to them or if on the boundary in a bad position he will look to a central target in better position.
Weaknesses:Lack of one trademark eye-popping trait - Heeney while the best rounded midfielder in this draft does not have any one area of the game that he does to a level better than anyone else in the game. He does not have the rare explosiveness and power of Dangerfield from the stoppages or the rare evasive movement of Pendlebury in traffic. What I speculate will become Heeney’s point of difference will be his hardness and aggression at the contested and his contested ball winning but while he is excellent in these areas he does not in any one category project as rare or a one of a kind. What I expect will improve:I expect continued sharp improvement across the board from Heeney but to identify an area likely I imagine his contested ball winning and stoppage work to be that area he will experience the greatest growth in relative to the other areas of his game.Who he can become?Heeney has the ability to become a similar quality talent to David Swallow as an on-baller with a complete game. When will he be ready to play?Heeney has the ability to earn games from season one. It is unlikely given Sydney’s loaded midfield that he will start in round one but he has got the ability and has proven what he can do with his strong play during the U18 championships and with his strong performances when he received senior opportunities through the NEAFL. I expect season two to be the season Heeney really establishes himself as a regular for Sydney where he proves that he is too good to keep out of the senior side.
How to best utilise him?Heeney is best utilised on the ball through the midfield. Interpretation of his numbers:Best performed division two player through the U18 championships and has also showed in the TAC Cup for NSW/ACT Rams and in the NEAFL that he can find the footy in bunches. His numbers are on the sharp improve from last year and expect that sharp improvement to continue over coming seasons given the continued sharp improvement to this point that he has experienced from season to season.



4. Darcy Moore (VIC – KPF/KPD)
Height: 199cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 25/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh ChargersDraft range: 1st round – 2nd round
Best position/role: Full forward.
Strengths: Ability at ground level – Moore’s greatest point of difference is his ground level work for someone at his height. When the ball hits the deck he picks it up cleanly and without fumbling and does this consistently. When the ball hits the deck and he can pick it up cleanly and often accelerate away into an open goal or also up the field win the ground ball or contested ball cleanly then burst through the contest at speed.
Leadership – Moore is an excellent leader already and has the ability to be a part of the leadership group for a club. On the field he has visibly shown to me that he can give instruction to team mates, he leads by example demonstrating a real hardness and aggressive attack on the ball and a willingness to give the second and third efforts and really bury guys with his tackles and also absorb a hit when required. He has also shown that he can take guys aside and talk to them as required which you rarely see from players in the U18s. Athleticism and strength – He moves like a midfielder and displays rare speed and agility for a tall and rare fluidity to his movement for a tall. Moore uses his burst of speed to effect in the front half after winning a ground ball or bouncing ball he can turn his guy around and at speed run into an open goal leaving guys in his trail looking exceptionally dangerous whenever he runs into an open goal. On the lead he has the ability to create separation. He has also got some real power to him and an excellent burst of acceleration which he can use to burst through traffic while winning his own ball. For a tall Moore is an excellent chase and tackle player who can give the second and third efforts and he shows the necessary commitment to the defensive side to the game, he has a real aggression to his tackles and enjoys really burying guys with his tackles. He is a good leaper and can use his leap to at times take strong marks in the air. He has the core strength and strength through his hips to stand up while tackled and still get a handball off to a target while staying composed and keeping his feet in the tackle. He has a strong frame already and has to this point put on weight without losing his mobility which suggests his body will be able to handle what will be a 100kg+ frame a few years from now.Versatility – Moore has the ability to play forward and back well. Moore I imagine at his height if required could pinch-hit through the ruck and I also speculate he could pinch-hit through the midfield given his ground level ability. As a forward Moore has the right mix of ground level ability, contested marking ability and ability on the lead to experience success and at his height and with his size and movement has a real opportunity to be a high level key forward. Moore this season despite his ability up forward has in the most part played as a dour key defender showing that he can effectively negate the influence of the opposition forward consistently. He has the right mix of speed, agility, leaping ability, strength and discipline to play an effective shutdown role.Marking ability – Moore is a strong mark on the lead and presents strongly up at the footy. Strong contested mark and marks it at the highest point consistently and is a strong mark in the air with his leaping ability. He is also a capable pack mark and often comes up with it. He can improve as a 1v1 mark and become more of a dominant marking presence which will come as he puts on size as he has the right attack on the ball and aggression at the contest. But otherwise his marking ability is strong and has substantial scope to improve with some small inconsistency issues requiring ironing out at this point as he can on occasion drops some easy marks that he should be taking more consistently. Weaknesses:Limited offensive game as a key defender – As a key defender Moore is a stopper only and is not a threat to take many intercept marks, 1v1 marks, find the footy or provide meaningful rebound from the back half by foot. He can run and carry and linkup by hand well but that is the extent to his ability to provide any rebound.Footskills – Moore’s footskills can lack consistency with his kicks to targets, shanking his kicks more frequently than is ideal, often just failing to connect as you would expect him to. In the front half Moore is unselfish and will look for the central option if there is someone better placed and does show at times the vision to find some good inside 50 targets. He is also an inconsistent finisher around goal both from field kicks and from set shots. In his last two performances of the season there was a real turnaround in Moore’s work by foot demonstrating excellent consistency with his execution by foot really using his vision well and converting the majority of his set shots so it is an area of his game that looks to be on the improve and capable of getting to a good standard. Ability to read the flight of the ball – He is a very good marking tall but at this stage he seems to at times lack some ability to read the flight of the ball. He does not read the flight of the ball or get to the drop of the ball consistently enough and he is not always in best position to take the grab sometimes reading where the ball is going too late and that is something he will need to put some work into. He can up forward sometimes, particularly when playing at centre half forward get stuck in no man’s land and between the play which I noticed several times when played forward through the U18 championships which could in part relate to the lack of familiarity with the players he is playing alongside. With Oakleigh particularly late season when used up forward he anticipated and read the ball much better taking some marks off some really high balls, taking some relatively unexpected marks from clearances showing that at times he can read the flight well when completely locked in and mentally focused, showing that reading the flight of the ball is something he can do as an area of his game seemingly on the improve and within his capabilities to develop further. Down back Moore is not at all natural anticipating where the ball is going to drop and can be slow reacting which sometimes allows his opponent to get to best position to win the 1v1 contest or to at other times even on occasion take an uncontested mark in front of him. It seems with Moore to be as far as I can tell less because Moore is not paying attention but more so because he just cannot consistently read the flight of the ball to be in position to affect the contest. I also feel this relative lack of ability to read the flight of the ball impacts on his ability to take intercept marks in the back half and his ability to take 1v1 marks both forward and back. What I expect will improve:Contested marking ability – If drafted by Collingwood he will have the best in the business in Cloke to learn off in his formative years in club land. His contested marking ability is good but not dominant at this stage as it can be and I expect at his height and size he will continue to put time into his contested marking, the consistency of his marking and to put in work on his ability to read the flight and the drop of the ball which should aid him in becoming a stronger contested marking threat in addition to the further muscle he adds which should help him in the 1v1 contests to be more of a threat.Kicking consistency – There were signs late season, particularly in that final v Sandringham where he hit every target and converted every shot on goal and backed that up in the Grand Final v Calder with a further demonstration of his improving footskills so I feel he can iron out the inconsistencies in his kick and become an overall good field kick and set shot goalkicker. Ability to pinch-hit through the midfield – He has the right set of traits to suggest he has got the ability to pinch-hit through the midfield in that role not unlike Jarryd Roughead as that occasional midfielder. Moore has the mobility and movement of a midfielder. He has rare ground ball ability for a tall. He can win the contested ball and has that hard edge in close and around the contest. He has the core strength and strength through the hips to stand up while tackled and has the composure to get it off by hand to a target. He is a strong tackler, really burying guys in his tackles and gives those second and third efforts. He has the acceleration to burst through guys with his power and acceleration. He also up the field links up well by hand and is composed with ball in hand. So having this combination of traits but then the extra extreme height and size by position it is a real point of difference and it is not out of the question that he could at times be utilised through the midfield as a way to get him involved in games if he is struggling to have an impact. He could also be used through the midfield to change the balance in the front half if his team want to go small or if his team are losing the clearance battle badly and want to give the opposition team a different look Moore could also then be used through the midfield. So it is something I would definitely like to see added to his game as it is something his mix of traits suggests should be within his capabilities. Who he can become?Moore’s play stylistically reminds me of a taller but less dominant Jarryd Roughead with his balance between his marking ability and ground level work.
As a key defender Moore is not unlike Collingwood’s Nathan Brown as an effective negating defender who will not provide any significant rebound.When will he be ready to play?As with most key forwards it will take time and Moore is not nearly a ready to go prospect. His first couple of seasons we will only see glimpses of what he can do inconsistently. Season three he is likely start to put things together and start to play some regular games and season four we should see a more consistent picture of what he can do. How to best utilise him?Moore is utilised at full forward.
Interpretation of his numbers:Overall Moore’s numbers have in the most part been pretty poor both through the TAC Cup and U18 championships. The reason for this is Moore in the most part has played as a backman and playing a negating style that is not a role conducive to big numbers. In the minutes he has played forward he has been productive, finding the footy, taking some marks and hitting the scoreboard to a strong standard so I would look less at his overall numbers as much as I would his numbers when played forward based around his performance during those minutes.

 

[Knightmare]

5.Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF) Height: 193cm, Weight: 95kg, DOB: 19/04/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Draft range: 1-5
Best position/role: Full forward.
Strengths:
Go to forward talent – McCartin is one of a small number of key forwards who at AFL level has the scope to be a genuine go to forward. He has the proven performances on the board with dominant performances in the TAC Cup and U18 championships for the past couple of seasons but also has the strong marking ability both on the lead and 1v1 as well as excellent ground level ability.
Marking ability – McCartin has rare marking ability on the lead. His trademark mark is his rare ability to take the mark down low over his toes on the lead with cleanness like you have never seen. He has excellent acceleration on the lead allowing him to create separation and he has clean, strong heads overhead and when taking his marks and out in front and has a real power on his leads where he will knock you out of his way and really launch at the footy at full pace. McCartin is also an excellent 1v1 mark and has the strength, excellent bodywork and superior ability to read the drop of the ball and protect the drop zone which allows him to take advantage of his opponent in the 1v1 contests. He can take you into the goal square and take advantage of you there with his 1v1 ability. He is also a very capable pack mark and if he does not take it he will bring it to ground.Ability below the knees – McCartin has rare ability below the knees. He takes his trademark mark on the lead over his toes. But he also has rare ability as a key forward to pick up the ground balls and bouncing balls clearly with consistency and without fumbling making him a real threat not only as a dominant marking threat but equally so with his ground level game. After picking up the ground ball McCartin can get it onto his boot quickly or sometimes turn you around and go into an open goal or at other times create enough time and space for himself to execute a shot at goal or a pass off to someone else by hand or foot as applicable.Power and strength - On the lead McCartin has a real power to him and will knock anyone in his way out of his path with force, particularly when on the lead at full pace. When McCartin leads he goes on really explosive leads and uses his pace effectively to create separation and also really times his leads well, he leads well finding the best spaces to lead to often electing to lead down the middle when the opportunity is there really reading the play well up the field and anticipating what is going to happen perfectly to then determine where best to lead. He also has a real strength and presence to him in the marking contest to take advantage of his direct opponent. He has the strength through the hips and core to stand up strongly and execute a handball to a target while tackled.
Field kicking and vision – McCartin is a very good field kick and has shown that he can at times lace out hit leading targets in the forward 50. He displays rare vision and a real unselfishness in the front half for a key forward often looking for players in better position.
Weaknesses:Diabetes – McCartin has diabetes which complicates the evaluation slightly. It is an unknown if it will limit him or if so then to what extent he will be limited whether that be with his training or ability to become better aerobically or whatever the case may be. Because he has diabetes it has meant he has needed to approach his footy and diet from a young age more professionally than everyone else which has created the right habits earlier on which is a positive but his diabetes is something that will have to constantly be managed throughout his playing career. Excess weight – McCartin while he is strongly built and very explosive he visibly seems to be carrying more weight than you would like of an elite draft prospect. From everything I hear he is professional and approaches the game with a great attention to detail with his diet and training so it will be interesting to see whether he can decrease his skinfolds and how he goes about maintaining a healthy playing weight. Whether that has any link to his diabetes or management of it I cannot help but suspect it does and while weight loss with work is very achievable in the AFL system generally for almost all draft prospects I do have concerns as whether this is something McCartin can achieve with his skin folds to remain healthy possibly needing to remain relatively high.
Set shot goalkicking – McCartin’s conversion from set shots is below average. He is prone to shanking his set shot attempts and can lose confidence in his set shot goalkicking. It seems to be a really mental thing for him but something given his excellent field kicking I feel can improve to a strong standard. McCartin’s tendency when he starts to lose confidence in his set shot goalkicking is he often will either elect to find a target in better position or will play on or attempt a snap shot at goal, and while I have no issue with this tendency my hope would be that he can get his set shot goalkicking up to a standard where he does not experience that same waver in confidence he seems to experience at the present time and has experienced in years past.
Versatility – While McCartin has some traits to suggest he could play other positions and further up the field in the future at this stage he is very much a full forward only and until he greatly improves his endurance he will remain a full forward only. What I expect will improve:In the most part I expect natural progression in his areas of strength and continued upward growth but the deficiency I feel McCartin can address is his set shot goalkicking and given his generally very good footskills his set shot goalkicking with further work can get up to a strong level and with time develop.
If McCartin can improve his endurance and reduce his skinfolds I also would not rule out given his ground level ability, good overall skillset, size, strength and ability to stand up while tackled to become capable of pinch-hitting through the midfield as he does have that right mix of traits to spend periods on the ball.Who he can become?McCartin reminds me most of Brendan Fevola without the personal issues as a talented but dominant full forward who looks most dominant and best utilised close to goal. When will he be ready to play?McCartin may be ready to play some games from season one but expect him to start to get regular games from season two and start to really establish himself as a go to guy in season three.How to best utilise him?McCartin is best used out of the goal square or as the go to target in the forward 50.
Interpretation of his numbers:Best performed and most dominant key forward in this draft class based on his 2013/2014 TAC Cup and U18 championships stats. Scoreboard impact and marking numbers, both uncontested and contested strong.




6. Peter Wright (VIC – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 203cm, Weight: 102kg, DOB: 08/09/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Draft range: 3-7
Best position/role: Centre Half Forward
Strengths:
Key forward talent – Wright has extreme height at 203cm and already has a strong frame at 102kg which is a major point of difference by position but unlike most other 200cm+ types the key with Wright is he is one of the rare few with front half talent and the ability to take over games with his influence.
Athleticism/movement – Wright has excellent endurance. Repeat speed good allowing him to go on multiple leads. Has excellent acceleration on the lead and the ability to create separation on the lead. Good mobility for his size. Lift on his jump above average also. All terrific signs for a big already playing at near his AFL weight.
Marking ability – Wright most stands out from a marking perspective with his work on the lead where he shows he can lead explosively up at the ball, pushing off his man and go on a powerful lead. He leads to the right spots and open spaces. He reads the flight of the ball well, generally getting to and protecting the drop zone better than his direct opponent or other opposition defenders. His marks are clean one grab marks and he has the ability to take it out in front or at the highest point as required. He is a capable mark in the air and can leap and grab his marks. Wright also has some contested marking ability with the ability to occasionally take some pack marks and 1v1 marks.
Footskills – Has penetration up to 60m and is a reliable set shot goalkicker. Damaging field kick over a variety of distances and would be among the best few kicks in the competition at his considerable height. At times Wright has demonstrated good vision and is capable of finding some damaging targets around the ground and over distance. He also has shown at times that he has the ability to execute his kicks and still hit his targets while getting tackled.
Tap ruck work – Effective tap ruckman who can hit it down to the advantage of his midfielders frequently both around the ground and at centre bounces. He has the size and strength to physically impose himself at centre bounces and ruck contests around the ground.
Ground level ability and followup work – Wright below the knees is dexterous and clean with his pickups for someone at his height. His followup work also is relatively good as someone who can follow-up and win his own footy from those centre bounces and get the clearance himself by getting it onto his boot to a target up the field or off to a running midfielder by hand.
Weaknesses:
In and out of games –He can look unstoppable for periods of games and have a dominant quarter where he is clearly best on ground but also has his quiet periods in games where he is not involved enough or imposing his influence on the game.
Strength of hands overhead – Wright while he has clean hands does not have strong hands overhead and in the marking contest while he has clean hands overhead he does not have those strength of hands to clunk his marks which is the primary thing for me that is keeping Wright from being that dominant key forward he threatens to be at this stage and that primary thing stopping him from being a dominant 1v1 mark and dominant contested mark.
1v1 ability – Wright can struggle to take advantage of capable 1v1 defenders who can match him for strength. He has the size on his frame but needs to improve his body work and become stronger in those 1v1 contests because at this stage if you get a body on Wright and if they can keep their body on Wright in the marking contest, at this point he will rarely take the grab.
Struggles in big games – Wright has struggled in TAC Cup finals games to have his regular impact both in 2013 and 2014 and no suggestions can be made that this will change until he shows us he can elevate his game during finals.
Ability to find the footy around the ground – Wright’s numbers are sufficient when played through the ruck but I would argue that his numbers around the ground should be better than they are. Wright has excellent endurance by position and is a terrific user of the footy so he should be finding and attracting more of the footy than he does at present around the ground. I get the sense through the ruck that Wright does not know where best to be whether it be pushing forward, pushing back or being in position to link up and his running patterns and awareness of where he should be on the field in different situations will need to improve to get more involved in general play.
Aggression - Wright big as he is at this stage for me lacks some aggression. When he tackles at the moment it feels to me like he is gently rolling guys. I would like to see him start to bury guys into the ground with more venom rather than gently rolling them over as he mostly does at the present time almost looking like he wants to not give away free kicks. If he starts to eliminate that caution from his tackling I also feel like it will help to increase his tackle numbers as he will go for his tackles more. Additionally when packs forms Wright does not look to physically look to exert his presence on the contest as much as he could and I would like to see him hit packs harder and attack packs with greater force than he does at the present time. With improved aggression I expect it will help Wright feel like he is impacting games more often and more consistently over the course of games.
What I expect will improve:In the AFL system I expect given Wright’s excellent endurance by position to become a more consistent performer and to be less in and out of games as he better learns how to stay involved in the contest when things are not going his way. I also expect Wright becomes more dominant 1v1 than he is at present with his bodywork in the contest something clubs will work with him on given his significant height and size advantage and I also anticipate he improves the strength of his hands overhead given he is a sound technical mark overhead.
Who he can become?
I see Wright becoming something like Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch as a tall but athletic key forward who can be built around but a slightly less dominant version.
If Wright develops into more a ruckman, while not yet established as still a developing player I see him as being of comparable talent to Billy Longer.
When will he be ready to play?The first couple of seasons we will see glimpses but it will be season three that I anticipate he will start putting some strong performances together and season four when he establishes himself as a very good key forward at AFL level.
How to best utilise him?
I see Wright as being best utilised as a key forward and I would strongly recommend regardless of the vision of the club who draft him that in those first four seasons for Wright only to be played as a key forward. Historically we see those who are thrown into the ruck at AFL level from season one break down with injury and have shortened careers. It is a trend we have seen consistently with those ruckman who have been selected early draft over the years with Naitanui, Kreuzer and Leuenberger all having their issues dealing with injury most years and Josh Fraser also towards the end declining before the age of 30 after carrying the Collingwood ruck division in his early seasons. With key forwards and also those ruckmen who play as key forwards initially in their careers we see no such trend relating to injury or durability concerns and instead often a fast-track of their development. Paul Salmon and Simon Madden are two famous examples of ruckmen who started their careers forward and experienced great success and long careers in doing so. So for this reason regardless of the vision with Wright whether that be to develop him into a key forward or ruckman it is essential to his long term success and essential to maximising his talents that he starts his career as a key forward.
Interpretation of his numbers:Well performed both as mostly a key forward in the TAC Cup playing with some relief ruck minutes and through the U18 Championships playing mostly through the ruck with varying minutes up forward. Contested and uncontested marking numbers strong when played forward. Scoreboard impact strong when played forward. Hitout numbers and hitout to advantage numbers strong. Statistically Wright is among the best performed key forwards and ruckmen overall in this draft class. The main statistical cause for concern is his relative lack of performance in big games and specifically the TAC Cup finals.




7. Sam Durdin (SA – KPD/KPF)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Draft range: 2-10
Best position/role: Centre half backStrengths: Versatility – Plays both forward and back to a high standard. He can also pinch-hit through the ruck as required.Strong overhead mark – Durdin marks at the highest point and has long arms making him incredibly hard to defend when played in the front half. Durdin is most threatening with his ability to mark the ball in the air and can just launch at the ball, elevate and take it one grab. He is capable of taking a pack marks. He can take front position and protect the drop zone well for the easy mark but is not so strong 1v1 that he will take advantage of his direct opponents frequently either forward or back.
Ability to read the flight of the ball – Durdin reads the flight well and uses this ability well both up forward and down back. As a forward this increases the threat of him taking his marks in the air because he knows before he jumps where the ball will land, he also uses this ability to protect the drop zone for easy marks. Down back because of how well he reads the flight of the ball and how well he reads the play he understands when he can leave his opponent for an easy intercept mark. He is also excellent getting the spoil in thanks to his ability to read the flight and is aided by his long arms. Athleticism/mobility – Durdin moves incredibly well for a tall and has excellent mobility and agility to him and moves really fluidly around the ground. He also has good leaping ability which he uses to effect with his marking ability in the air. With his leaping ability and long arms he also has the scope to play some relief ruck minutes as required. He also has the pace to create separation on the lead and the closing speed to shut down an opponent’s lead in the back half.
Ground level ability – Durdin has good co-ordination below the knees and can pick up the ground ball and bouncing ball cleanly. He is also willing to at ground level give a contest and give the second and third efforts and tackle with good intent for a tall.
Good ball user - Durdin is a clean, efficient ball user and you can rely on him to hit his targets around the ground. He demonstrates good vision and has shown that out of the back half he can find and hit some meaningful targets up the ground.
Hard edge – Durdin in the games I have seen of him has shown a real hard edge to him. He will bury guys with force with his tackles and will stand up to contact and not let anyone intimidate him and stand his ground which has impressed me. Weaknesses:Ability on the lead – Durdin is not yet overly natural on the lead as a forward and will need to put the work in on his leading patterns and learn when and where to lead.
Production – This year Durdin has not put forward the numbers anticipated coming into the season. He seems to have struggled due to a hand injury and has not had the preparation he would have liked coming into the season which is the primary reason in my view for his below expectation performances. He put forward some lean performances through the U18 champs and has done the same this year back in SA, though showing better form late season.
Leading patterns as a forward – Durdin due mostly to being unaccustomed to playing forward has when given the chance up forward looked at times lost with his leading patterns particularly a work in progress not knowing where or when to lead to be a target up the field and as a result at this stage looks better suited behind the ball with reading the ball from behind the play more what he is suited to and accustomed to at this point in time. What I expect will improve:I expect Durdin increases his production and if played forward I anticipate with good coaching improves his leading patterns. If he can get his improvement tracking in the right direction again next year I feel he can over time start to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and with time develop into a dominant key position player at either end.Who he can become?Durdin projects to become a similar level talent to Jake Carlisle as that tall, mobile type who can play forward or back well.
When will he be ready to play?
The first couple of seasons we will see glimpses but it will be season three that I anticipate that he will start putting some strong performances together and season four when he establishes himself as a high level key position player.
How to best utilise him?Durdin has key forward talent and the right mix of attributes to experience strong success as a key forward if he fixes up his leading patterns but at this stage Durdin is best suited as a key defender and is a safer bet to become a high level key defender.Interpretation of his numbers:He has struggled to get his hands on the footy this year both when played forward and back. His numbers due to his hand injury have been poor this season so Durdin is someone you draft based on his 2012 performance and the mix of attributes he shows in game and how that mix of attributes can translate at the next level and come together over time.




8. Hugh Goddard (VIC – KPD/KPF) Height: 196cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Draft range: 5-25
Best position/role: Centre Half Back Strengths: Versatility – Goddard has demonstrated that he can play both back and forward well. As a key defender Goddard has demonstrated that he can significantly limit the impact of his direct opponent and at times provide rebound through taking numerous intercept marks and providing run and carry or using it well by foot when he gets his hands on it.As a forward he has shown that he can hit the scoreboard consistently and be an effective mark on the lead, in the air, 1v1 and take the occasional pack mark.
Strength and athletic traits – Goddard is well built at 93kg already and has clearly put the time in through the gym and as a result in the contest he is very hard to beat 1v1 and often in the 1v1 contest takes the intercept mark. He also has an excellent mix of pace, agility and has an excellent leap which suggests that he has the ability as a key defender to become an effective shutdown player. Ability to read the flight – Goddard shows excellent ability to read the flight of the ball both as a forward and when played down back. Down back particularly this has been something he has been able to take advantage of where he has shown excellent ability to take frequent intercept marks and marks 1v1. Shutdown ability – Goddard is an excellent shutdown defender and can greatly limit the influence of his direct opponent and there is a feeling that he has them under control with his ability physically to match his opponents 1v1 but then also the closing speed to go with them on the lead, the motor to go with them up the ground and the leap to go with them in the air.
Aggression – Goddard plays a hard brand of footy. He attacks the footy in the air, will tackle you into the ground with real intent and put his body on the line and go when it is his turn to go.
Leadership and work ethic – From everything I understand Goddard is a hard trainer and works hard to develop his game and puts the time and effort into the gym to build up his body. He also has visibly demonstrated strong leadership ability on the field giving instruction to his team mates and the ability to lead by example.Long kick – Goddard has a 55m kick on him and is a mostly reliable kick to his targets by foot. He has relatively good vision and typically finds good targets coming out of the back half. Also is capable converting from his set shots attempts.Weaknesses:Ground level ability – Goddard at ground level can at times be fumbly and is not as clean as he needs to be. He just lacks that bit of co-ordination below the knees and that cleanness with his pickups and does not take the ball as fluently as he needs to.
Lack of point of difference when playing forward – Goddard while effective on the lead, capable in the air and able to take marks 1v1 and the occasional pack grab in the front half lacks he just lacks that feeling that he will have a big game as someone who can consistently kick two or three goals but never more than that. He lacks that dominant marking ability or freakish ground level ability to be a go to forward or provide that heavy scoreboard impact but he could plausibly be a plausible second option up forward as more a leading forward if required. What I expect will improve:I expect Goddard to incrementally continue to improve from year to year and continue to get better both as a shutdown player and a rebounder.Who he can become?As a key defender Goddard has the ability to become develop into something similar to Eric MacKenzie as someone who can both beat his direct opponent and at times when the opportunity is there take an intercept mark and be involved as a rebounder.
As a forward Goddard’s play reminds me of Sam Day as that tall, athletic type who lacks that point of difference.When will he be ready to play?Goddard will likely start to push for senior games in season three but more likely takes four seasons to establish himself as a part of a best team.
How to best utilise him?Goddard is best utilised at centre half back.Interpretation of his numbers:Goddard particularly through the U18 championships struggled to perform to his 2013 standards to achieve his usual numbers and I imagine his offseason hip surgery played a big part in his largely poor start to 2014. As a key forward particularly through the U18 championships Goddard struggled to have his usual scoreboard impact but when played back both through the U18 championships and particularly late season through the TAC Cup he not only looked settled but he got involved in the play taking excellent contested and uncontested marking numbers by position while also limiting the impact of his direct opponent.

 

[Knightmare]

9. Jake Lever (VIC –KPD)Height:192cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Draft range: 2-15
Best position/role: Centre half back.
Strengths: Terrific 2013 season – In 2013 Lever performed very strongly and was by position one of the standout performers in the TAC Cup. While he has not got the performances on the board this year his strong performances from 2013 are more than enough to suggest he should get drafted and drafted early draft. Ability to read the flight of the ball – Lever does a terrific job of consistently reading the flight of the ball off the boot and knowing where it will go before it gets there. With this ability it helps Lever determine when he can or cannot leave his direct opponent and it helps Lever significantly as an intercept marking threat down back. With the ability to read the flight of the ball it also helps him in the 1v1 contests to protect the drop zone and take some 1v1 marks in the back half. Lever is also terrific in the air and can get the spoil in but is also a significant marking threat in the air and is willing to fly for it and aggressively go at the marking contested and attack it like a forward when the opportunity is there showing strong hands overhead and great timing of his jumps for the mark, more often than not coming down it with. Rebounding ability – Lever is a significant intercept marking threat down back but he also gets very involved in the play out of the back half. Lever for a tall is a very good run and carry player and is willing to take on games with his run. He looks comfortable with ball in hand and he will get involved in linkup chains out of the back half and is willing to run both ways and be involved in transition. He is not afraid to take on the game and push up the field and be a part of linkup chains as essentially another running defender. Lever moves well with ball in hand and looks very much at ease when he has the ball, rarely getting caught and good evasive movement and agility. By hand Lever looks for the most damaging running. By foot Lever demonstrates good vision finding some good targets and in the most part hitting his targets. Competitiveness – Lever is a strong bodied key defender who seems to enjoy and win the majority of his 1v1 contests. He has the core strength to hold his position in the contest and has a good feel for when he can take the mark and when he needs to get the spoil in. While Lever is a very good rebounder by position he is also a capable stopper and can as well as beat them 1v1 also stick with his opponents on the lead and in the air.
Leadership and work ethic – Captained VIC Metro in 2013 as an underager which is a significant endorsement of his leadership ability and suggests he is if not captain material in the future then certainly leadership group material. He is also considered a hardworking, high character guy so it is highly likely he will get the best out of himself and in the future. He is capable of giving on field direction in the back half. Lever this season while working diligently on getting his body right this season on the sidelines has also shown a commitment to the game by getting involved in the coaching side of the game which demonstrates his maturity and interest in furthering his knowledge about the game. Midfield potential – I cannot help but think there could be some scope to possibly pinch-hit through the midfield down the track if a club wants him to. He seems to have the cleanness below the knees, aggression and attack on the ball and also some reasonable evasiveness. He can run and carry the footy and use it cleanly and offensively by hand, looking comfortable with ball in hand. So he ticks the boxes from a trait standpoint and at his height if he can put all those things together then he could have an impact. Weaknesses:No 2014 form to reflect on/evaluate – As Lever has missed the 2014 season with injury it is difficult to evaluate where he is at and what if any improvement he has made.
Height – At 192cm Lever is relatively on the short side for a key defender and may struggle with some of the super tall key forwards but he is still a more than acceptable height by position to experience success at AFL level.
Lack of an x-factor – While Lever is an exceptionally well rounded footballer by position he lacks that one thing that separates him from every other backman.
What I expect will improve:Lever will continue to put size onto his frame and develop both down back as a rebounder and stopper. I also anticipate his leadership ability to continue to grow.
Who he can become?Lever looks like another Tom Harley down back as a quality key defender who can really lead and possibly captain a team down the track. When will he be ready to play?Lever likely will take a couple of years to develop but he has the talent to be ready to play regular senior AFL footy in season three. How to best utilise him?Lever is best utilised at centre half back.
Interpretation of his numbers: Lever’s 2013 numbers were exceptional and demonstrate that by position he is an excellent rebounder and willing to get involved in the play down back. His strong contested and uncontested marking numbers suggesting that he is not only involved as a rebounder from the back half but one of the central reasons for the ball getting rebounded.


10. Jarrod Pickett (WA – Mid)Height:179cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Draft range: 5-20
Best position/role: Midfield - outside
Strengths: Speed – No one in this draft has the speed of Pickett. He tests at 2.8 seconds over 20m but the critical thing with Pickett is he uses that speed in game and often with his ability to take on the game with ball in hand special as something he does frequently every game. Linebreaking ability and tendency to take on the game every time the opportunity is there – With Pickett while he has the elite speed the critical thing is he uses it in game better than just about anyone in the country. He has a rare ability to take on and inject energy into the game and break the lines and do it frequently and he just has that natural sense for when he can take advantage of his linebreaking gift and use it in game. He is incredibly hard to tackle with his balance and agility allowing him to dodge and weave past guys and continue running. I really enjoy his tendency after a mark or whenever the opportunity is there to work out quickly that he has the opportunity and then he will take off generating some instant offense and meaningful drive through his meaningful ability to break the lines at speed rather than just going back behind the mark and moving the ball forward slowly which does not generate as many meaningful scoring opportunities as what Pickett does. Pickett really understands he can impact games with his linebreaking ability and he sums up the right opportunities to use it and he will break the lines for 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m, 60m and will go as long as you give him the space in front of him to run into.
Ability to hit the scoreboard and use the footy – Pickett as an outside type can really hit the scoreboard in bunches on a wing and is more than capable given his junior goal scoring totals in WA of averaging more than a goal a game at AFL level. He is a very good finisher around goal, knowing where the goals are and is a significant threat running into an open goal and on the run into the forward 50. As a ball user Pickett is very clean by both hand and foot and hits his targets consistently and overall is an above average ball user. He is also an excellent kick on the move at speed and even probably a slightly better ball user on the move than he is after a mark seeming to find some better targets while he is on the move. Pickett can at times make the occasional decision making error, mostly this seems to be after a mark and he can also similarly after a mark also lack the vision to find some better placed targets tending to go long down the line on most occasions but with ball in hand in general play is an excellent decision maker looking cool and composed with ball in hand and even when under pressure or getting tackled finds a way to dispose of the ball cleanly. Ability to find and win the footy – Often with the most damaging outside types it is rare that they can find the footy in bunches and while Pickett is not an elite accumulator he is still a good accumulator for an outside type which is really critical and greatly adds to his value because he is someone where he will do great damage with his touches and through finding it a lot also will break the lines with frequency rather than only occasionally which is what makes him a real top quality prospect in my mind. He is also not allergic to winning the contested footy as many similar outside linebreakers are and while he will remain predominantly outside, winning the contested footy is something he can still at times do for an outside type. These two signs for me are the big factors when you add that to his offensive gifts and linebreaking ability which suggests to me he has a big future ahead of him at AFL level because you know he will find enough of it to be relevant and do damage and break games open often. Ability overhead and at ground level – Pickett has strong hands overhead and seems to consistently take his marks cleanly. He also has the cleanness at ground level to pick up the footy, often on the move and just continue to go at speed without any need to pause. He can occasionally fumble slightly but overall he is clean and reads the bounce well, getting onto it at speed and winning the footy, reacting and reading the bounce quickly and consistently.
Senior WAFL league experience – Towards the end of the season Pickett received valuable senior WAFL league experience playing in the five league level games. Additionally Pickett also performed and looked at ease in the AIS v Collingwood game earlier in the season so he should be able to make the adjustment and continue to have an impact against bigger bodies.
Weaknesses:Defensive running – At this stage Pickett is a one way offensive runner and while he will give maximum effort running and carrying the ball he seems to take it easier on the other side of the ball and to an extent seems to conserve his energy which is a habit he will have to break at the next level if he wants regular senior games.
What I expect will improve:Pickett’s defensive running will surely improve but otherwise I see Pickett largely improving on his strengths and transferring those strengths into an AFL setting and continuing in the most part to do what he does.Who he can become?I see Pickett developing into something similar to Lewis Jetta. Pickett does not have as much penetration on his kick but otherwise I feel Pickett’s numbers and ability to impact games with his line breaking ability to be relatively similar.When will he be ready to play?Pickett has the ability to receive some senior games from season one. He is likely not a round one starter and will likely need to prove himself first in the 2s for a team but with the linebreaking ability and energy he can inject into games he is someone I imagine a team would feel compelled to give senior games to at some point. By season two or three I imagine Pickett will then establish himself in the best team and be a different maker pretty well right away. How to best utilise him?Pickett is best utilised on a wing as an outside linebreaker.
Interpretation of his numbersickett’s numbers have been strong through the U18 champs for these past couple of seasons and he is also performed well in the WA colts, reserves and seniors. He is hitting the scoreboard regularly, collecting strong numbers and also showing he can win some of his own ball which are all strong indicators that his game can transfer to senior AFL level. All his numbers when you look at that and consider the way he plays his footy. He has a real opportunity ahead of him and has the opportunity to be a real difference maker for a team.




11. Lachlan Weller (QLD – Util)Height:181cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 23/02/1996
Recruited from: Broadbeach
Range: 5-25 Best position/role: Midfield – outside
Strengths: Skillset – Weller has a damaging 55m kick on him. He makes the right decisions with ball in hand and has excellent vision and the ability to pick out targets up the field or inside 50m at will. To a target he kicks it out in front for the leading player to run comfortably onto and has the precision kick to consistently get it those few meters out in front of the player. Weller is a good kick both over short, medium and long distance. He is a very capable finisher around goal when he has the opportunity and can finish from outside 50m and is also reliable with his set-shot conversion from various angles. He is also excellent in close with his clean hands and ability to distribute by hand also very good. His disposal efficiency at the various levels he has played at has also been impressive for someone who tends to do damage with his touches.
Speed and athleticism - Weller has an excellent burst of speed which he uses well in game to break the lines and take on the game. He can step through traffic and break away from stoppages with his speed. He has good agility and can at times evade tacklers. He also has some excellent leaping ability.
Versatility – Weller can play on a wing, as a playmaker off a back flank, in the front half as a playmaker or finisher or even on the ball through the midfield as required.
Production – Has performed strongly both through the U18 Championships, the TAC Cup and in the NEAFL, accumulating strong numbers for a damaging outside type.
Not a soft outside player - While Weller is unlikely to develop into an inside midfielder or a dominant contested ball winner, he is not completely limited to playing outside. Weller can win the contested ball to a good standard for an outside player and has a good contested to uncontested ball balance. His work by hand to target is excellent. He is a lively tackler and has excellent tackle per game numbers. He also at times has shown that he can hit the ball at speed and come out the other end with ball in hand, using his run to break away from the contest.
Weaknesses:Light body – Weller at 71kg is lightly built at this stage and will need to put weight onto his frame at AFL level. As a light body it also prompts the question to what extent will he retain his speed as he puts weight onto his frame.
Best position? – Weller is a versatile player and as such I have questions as to where Weller will long term be best suited to playing. Is he best suited on a wing? Forward flank? Back flank? His versatility is a terrific strength but does leave that question in my mind.
Ability to take more easy marks – As an outside player what I find is missing from Weller’s game is the ability to take more easy marks around the ground. Playing alongside teammates with limited skillsets has not helped but it is something I still expect to see more of than I have. He generally seems to read the flight well and the drop of the ball reasonably well and is a relatively sound overhead mark so it is something he can develop but he just does not seem to work hard enough and find those open spaces he needs to at this stage to take as many easy marks around the ground as he could.
What I expect will improve:I expect Weller puts on more weight onto his frame and continues to improve his all-round game over time.
Who he can become?I see Weller as being similar to Zach Merrett as that similar quality silky outside type with some versatility. When will he be ready to play?Weller is ready to play from season one.
How to best utilise him?Weller can be used all over the place and initially I would be inclined to play him on a forward or back flank with the vision to play him more up the field as he develops.
Interpretation of his numbers:
Weller’s numbers have been sound at all levels he has played at, accumulating strong numbers through the U18 Championships and also putting forward some strong numbers against more seasoned bodies in the NEAFL. His disposal per game numbers and tackle numbers by position were both very good, as has been his disposal efficiency. Given his performances on the board as a relatively damaging player Weller has the ability to play from season one.




12. Kyle Langford (VIC – Util)
Height: 190, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 01/12/1996
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Draft range: 5-45
Best position/role: Half forward flank.
Strengths: Movement – Langford for a tall is an excellent mover. He covers the ground exceptionally well and quickly. He has rare agility for tall and has excellent acceleration with ball in hand and is willing to use his pace in game whenever the opportunity is there to break the lines. Marking ability – Langford has strong, sticky hands overhead, marking just about anything and everything in his vicinity. Particularly when played in the front half Langford is a significant marking threat who will read the flight as soon as it leaves the boot, get in the area for the mark and take it. He reads the flight as well as just about anyone and reads and protects the drop zone and in the contest he consistently gets into best position to take the grab. As a marking threat Langford is most dominant on the lead and in the air but he is also a capable pack mark and as he gets stronger he will only become a greater threat. In the TAC Cup Langford has managed a 10, 11 and 12 mark game which from a sample size of seven games is terrific and elite by position. When played in the back half Langford is also a very effective intercept mark and a real intercept marking threat.
Scoreboard impact – Langford when played in the front half is capable of providing heavy scoreboard impact. In the TAC Cup he had two five goal games which for someone who is not a forward 50 only player is very encouraging.
Versatility – Langford has the ability to play forward, back or on a wing. In the forward and back halves he offers significant versatility as someone who can play tall or small, higher up the field or deeper as required.
Skillset – Langford can use both sides by foot. He is a generally efficiency user of the ball, hitting his targets by hand and foot and he is also a capable finisher both in general play and from set shot attempts. Occasionally he will shank a kick when rushed but otherwise most of his work by foot is good.
Linkup ability – I have also been encouraged by Langford’s ability to linkup. In his running chains forward Langford is someone who can be used as an outside runner and linkup well and run in support of team mates on offensive plays as a genuine run and carry guy. He is also effective as a link player by foot as someone who will take the mark and run on if the opportunity is there, handball off to an outside runner or find the next target in the chain by foot.
Upside – Langford gives off the sense that he has significant scope to develop. He has a late year birthday, a very thin body that will surely get stronger as well as some unusual traits by position at his height that suggest he has the scope to develop into something special with rare marking ability, movement, versatility and scoreboard impact.
Clean at ground level – Langford is very good at ground level. He is clean with his pickups, rarely fumbles and can at times pick up the ball on the move.
Tackling ability - His tackling ability is excellent and he tackles with a real energy and will give those second and third efforts. Weaknesses:Light body – Langford at this stage has a very light body at only 73kg and he will need to put further size onto his frame and become stronger to compete at the next level against the more seasoned bodies.
Contested ball winning ability – Langford at this stage is very much an uncontested footballer. At this stage he is not someone who will often go in hard to win the contested footy and is more someone who will skirt around the edges of a contest and out the back of a contest in the hope of receiving a handball and getting involved in the play from there. What I expect will improve:Langford I expect will improve rapidly in an AFL system and get stronger but also further enhance his strengths and take many of them to a dominant level.
Who he can become?Langford’s play feels like it will get to somewhere between Bontempelli and Gold Coast rookie Louis Herbert. Langford has the same type of game as Herbert as a versatile tall with a thin build and strong marking ability but looks a much more dominant and consistently damaging version, and like Bontempelli he is that same rare moving tall who can do damage but without the same strength and contested side to his game. When will he be ready to play?Langford may get a taste for senior AFL footy in season one but given his slight build he is more likely to start to receive regular senior AFL games in season two and look in season three to establish himself as a regular part of a best team.
How to best utilise him?Langford is best utilised as a forward flank.
Interpretation of his numbers:Langford’s numbers overall are encouraging. His mark per game numbers are elite by position. His tackles per game numbers are excellent. When played in the front half his scoreboard impact is strong with his two five goal performances evidence of this. His disposal efficiency is sound. The primary area of weakness is contested ball winning numbers which at this point are low as primarily an uncontested player.




13. Jayden Laverde (VIC – Util)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 12/04/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Draft range: 5-20
Best position/role: Rotational forward/midfielder. Strengths: Evasiveness – Laverde has rare ability to create time and space for himself with his well-timed evasive sidesteps, body movements, ball fakes among other moves with ball in hand that give him more time and space than anyone else out on the field. He avoids tacklers easily by anticipating what they’ll do before they do it making him look that class above with ball in hand.
Athleticism - Laverde in addition to his evasiveness has excellent explosiveness and athleticism. Laverde uses his pace effectively in game and can break the lines and taking on the game with ball in hand and plays on when the opportunity is there and has some real breakaway pace and instant acceleration making him hard to catch. Laverde is a good leaper and is a strong mark in the air. He also has the strength and power to win the 1v1 contests and to win his own ball around the ground. Ball use - Laverde is an excellent user of the footy with his vision allowing him to find the most damaging targets up the field and his ability to execute by both hand and foot also is excellent. When within range from goal Laverde is also an excellent finisher both from general play and set shots and has shown that he can provide heavy scoreboard impact. He can at times make some poor decisions with ball in hand and choose the wrong targets but that has improved as the year has progressed. Versatility – Can play forward or back well and has the scope to develop the ability to play more through the midfield. Front half talent – Laverde in the front half has the ability to do major damage and has that natural intuitive front half talent so few have. He is a capable finisher from his set shots and in general play will run around defenders and run into goal for an easy finish. He keeps his feet in the contest, has a real natural balance to him and can take advantage of guys 1v1 for marks and is also capable in the air and on the lead. He has excellent evasiveness and is hard to lay a finger on. He can win the ground balls and contested footy. He also has the vision to find targets in better position inside 50.Marking ability – Laverde is a strong mark overhead. He will take marks 1v1, in the air and on the lead. On the lead he can create separation effectively for the easy marks. In the air he is strong and has a good leap making him hard to stop. He also has excellent 1v1 strength in the contest and will take advantage of his opponent’s 1v1 taking strong marks against them. When played down back he also shows that he can read it well and be an intercept marking threat.
Weaknesses:Decision making ability - At times with ball in hand Laverde can try to do too much and can at times make the wrong decisions but when he can do what he does I would be giving him the benefit of the doubt on most occasions and let him just play his natural intuitive football, it is something I have seen him improve as the year has progressed so it is not something I am overly concerned by. Ability through the midfield? - The next stage in Laverde’s development is playing more through the midfield and it is something with time given his attributes that he has the scope to develop. With his evasive movement, skillset, size, strength, explosiveness and his contested ball winning ability he has the right mix of traits to play through the midfield but until he becomes a regular midfielder he is not and the question will remain. What I expect will improve:Given Laverde’s traits I see him making the jump into the midfield and gradually with time increasing his minutes. I also expect his strong general improvement to continue over coming seasons.
Who he can become?I see Laverde as something similar to Crameri as a powerful but athletic forward. Laverde is a more evasive less heavy version and may become more of a midfielder later on but I see Laverde as being overall a similar quality player to Crameri and likely to play a similar role as primarily a forward with eventually some midfield minutes down the track.
When will he be ready to play?Laverde should get some opportunities in season one but season two is when I see him most likely establishing himself as a regular for a team.
How to best utilise him?Laverde is best utilised in the front half given his talent and ability to do damage up forward but later on in his career I would like to see him increase his midfield minutes and split his time between the front half and midfield.
Interpretation of his numbers:Laverde this year has shown strong improvement as the season has progressed improving his disposal efficiency, increasing his overall numbers and taking more marks and contested marks. With his numbers trending upward it is a positive indicator that he will continue his strong development over coming seasons. He also had a very strong and productive U18 Championships where he also displayed an excellent disposal efficiency which was an encouraging sign of progress.

 

[Knightmare]

14. Connor Menadue (VIC – Mid/Def)Height: 188cm, Weight: 69kg, DOB: 19/09/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Range: 10-35Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball. Strengths: Explosive sidestep – Menadue probably has a more explosive sidestep than anyone else presently in the game. He has some evasiveness and avoids tacklers to a high level but it is less in that Pendlebury evasive style where he looks like he has more time and space than anyone else but more an explosive, leave you in my wake variation on that. It starts with his explosive first step that he uses to get around guys and avoid tackles, moving explosively sideways to create separation and exploding past you. It is his major point of difference and is something he can use frequently in game whether it is in general play or after a mark.
Acceleration – In addition to the explosive sidestep Menadue has elite acceleration. He has that explosive first step, gets up to top speed quickly and has a top speed few others possess. He can go on long, full exertion runs with ball in hand and break away from the contest or break the lines on the outside to a high level, typically with runs of 20m-40m until he is either in range to finish for a goal or hit a target inside 50 lace out. Skillset – Menadue from a skillset standpoint has it all. He is a precision kick and hits his targets over a variety of distances. He is an excellent kick under pressure and when tackled has shown that he can even in these situations find long targets lace out. He has the vision to find the best targets and the most damaging long targets. He consistently makes the best decisions by foot, looking for open targets rather than going long down the line to a contest. He is also an excellent finisher when within range from goal in general play whether on the run or from a stationary position. His work by hand is also excellent and he also by hand has the vision to find targets over a variety of distances and has the vision to find the most damaging outside runners. Gamechanging ability – Menadue is a real highlight reel player and on his day has the talent to change games with his influence with his mix of traits with his sidestep, acceleration and his footskills and he showed in his only final v Dandanong that he can put forward a game whereby he can really exert his influence on numerous plays across the four quarters. It is also possible given his performance in his one final that he is a big game specialist but a larger sample size of big games would be required to determine this. He also has during the season for Western Jets had his moments where he has lifted in critical moments, exerting his influence which I have also been encouraged by.
Goalkicking – Menadue is a genuine goalkicking midfielder and has managed multiple goals in a number of his games through the midfield this year with his finishing ability from general play excellent. Many of those goals come thanks to his explosive ability to burst through the midfield to around the 50m mark and then kick the 45-55m long goal and it is something I expect to see a lot of at AFL level. He can also when in the forward 50 sidestep guys to create space for the easy finish which is another of his ways from general play to hit the scoreboard.
Versatility – Menadue has shown that he can not only play through the midfield but also be utilised off a back flank as a rebounder with his explosive pace and footskills real weapons if you can get the ball into his hands on a back flank, so he is someone who while best utilised through the midfield can as required get thrown behind the ball.
Upside – Menadue given his mix of dominant traits with his pace, explosive sidestep and footskills gives off the sense that he has tremendous scope to develop. He had that breakout final performance and given he has a light body it can reasonably be assumed that he has significant footballing and physical growth remaining that could further help him elevate his game.
Weaknesses:Light body – Still only 69kg and will need to put substantial weight onto his frame before he is ready to play at AFL level. As such a light body it also brings into question once he puts on the weight whether he will retain that explosiveness, with that an unknown until we see it.
Contested ball winning ability – Still a work in progress and not something he does enough when played through the midfield as more of a receiver at this stage but the hope would be that as he puts more size onto his frame and that the contested side to his game will improve. What he can do well is read the ruck taps to get first possession and then use his explosiveness to burst forward which is one positive sign that he can develop his inside game.
Ability to take easy marks around the ground – While Menadue is capable overhead and capable even of taking some strong contested marks at times he lacks on the outside the ability to be a linkup target in forward chains at this stage as someone who outside the contest does not find much of the ball all that easily and really needs to be fed the ball by hand to get his hands on it much of the time rather than being in position to take those easy marks outside the contest. Understanding this Menadue will need to improve his running patterns in general play and start to work more into space so that he can find more of the ball.
Relatively lean and inconsistent production – Menadue at this stage while a high impact player when he has the ball, does not accumulate big numbers every game. He can at this stage have his quiet games and more quiet games than you would ideally like. He can also get tagged out of games and with it struggle to find the footy. What I expect will improve:I expect Menadue to continue doing what he does but also put weight onto his frame, to find more of the footy more often and to improve his inside game as he has played much of the past couple of seasons in the back half and will with more time on the ball improve his inside game.
Who he can become?I see Menadue as being a slightly less productive Jonathan O’Rourke as a similar tallish but lightly built dynamic midfielder with that same explosive pace and excellent footskills. When will he be ready to play?I see Menadue taking some time and likely looking to establish himself as a regular in season three once he has put some size onto his frame and improved his inside game.
How to best utilise him?Menadue is more an outside type at this point but once he puts some size onto his frame I expect will be best utilised on the ball through the midfield as someone you want around the ball and consistently impacting games.
Interpretation of his numbers:Menadue’s numbers both through the U18 Championships and at TAC Cup level have lacked some consistency and have been only moderate. He has over the second half of the season shown strong signs through the midfield and has hit the scoreboard with frequency which is something he did not do last year or in the first few games this season. His disposal efficiency is excellent both at TAC Cup level and particularly through the U18 Championships with his role primarily in the back half helping with that efficiency through the U18 Championships. His tackle numbers are also very good by position and are helped by his speed and agility. He finds a large proportion of his ball through handball receives and will need to start winning more of his own ball and taking more marks around the ground to take that next step towards becoming a high production player.


15. Jordan De Goey(VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/03/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Draft range: 10-30
Best position/role: Rotational forward/midfielder.
Strengths: Marking ability – De Goey has vicelike hands overhead and consistently takes it strongly at the highest point and in this draft is in my view the strongest marking medium sizer. He is a very strong mark on the lead as someone who will frequently take leadup marks in the front half. He is excellent in the air. He can take marks 1v1 and has the strength to outbody opponents and superior ability to read and protect the drop of the ball for easy marks.
Ability to read the flight – De Goey reads the flight superbly. He reads the flight to get into best position to take the mark in the front half. He protects the drop of the ball for easy marks. He can also at times use his ability to read the flight to at times take intercept marks and marks off kickouts.
Footskills – De Goey by foot is a very damaging kick as a capable playmaker and finisher. He kicks it out in front of targets and hits his targets by foot consistently inside the forward 50. Has a good 55m kick. He can finish when within range and concert from his set shot opportunities. He has excellent vision and is very unselfish, constantly looking for options in better position inside 50 for easier shots at goal. He also consistently makes good decisions with the footy, taking his time with his touches and showing real class with each touch. Given this he is someone you want the ball in the hands of as often as possible.
Inside game and contested ball winner – De Goey reads the ruck taps well often taking first possession from the hitout. He has this year developed a strong contested side to his game and his contested ball numbers through the U18 Championships far outweighed his uncontested ball numbers. He also does some good work in close and is generally very good with his work by hand to the outside runners.
Workrate – De Goey’s workrate in game is a real highly for me. He has shown at times up the field that he will kick it short to a target and continue to stream forward and get on the end of the next kick. He also gives the second and third efforts and will go from one contest, into the next, into the next with a real intent, demonstrating that he will not give up on the play. While only an average athlete he also at times will provide some run and carry with ball in hand. He also seems to work both ways well.
Scoreboard impact – As a rotational forward/midfielder his scoreboard impact has been strong through the TAC Cup with 14 goals from 9 games, while also being unselfish and setting up better goalscoring opportunities for others. Weaknesses:Production – At this stage De Goey’s numbers are not as high through the TAC Cup as they should for a rotational midfielder/forward and he will need to improve his numbers to become AFL relevant.
Ability to find easy outside ball – The primary reason De Goey’s numbers are low at this stage is the lack of outside ball he finds and it has been an issue not only through the U18 Championships but also through the TAC Cup. He works his butt off in game, so it is not a lack of effort but he rarely finds the easy outside ball and will need to more often learn to find and work into those open spaces for his numbers to improve. What I expect will improve:I anticipate De Goey will continue to improve at what he does but I also anticipate his production and ability to find the easy outside ball improve. He has a good in game work rate so it will just take some coaching with regards to some running patterns for him to get that inside/outside balance right.
Who he can become?I see De Goey developing into something similar to Colin Sylvia as a damaging forward who can push into the midfield. When will he be ready to play?De Goey will likely take a season or two to adjust and improve his game but come season three I anticipate that De Goey becomes a part of a regular team.
How to best utilise him?De Goey is best utilised in the front half, rotating into the midfield.
Interpretation of his numbers:His disposal efficiency both through the U18 Championships and TAC Cup have been strong. His disposal per game numbers were strong through the U18 Championships due to higher midfield minutes than he normally plays but then by TAC Cup standards his numbers were below average by position. De Goey’s contested ball numbers in both competitions have been strong with his uncontested ball numbers below average. He has demonstrated strong scoreboard impact kicking 14 goals from 9 games in the TAC Cup, and if he was not so unselfish that figure would likely be higher. His most impressive statistic in the TAC Cup has been his marks per game numbers where by position he had excellent mark numbers also taking a number of contested marks.




16. Jack Steele (GWS Academy - NSW – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 13/12/1995
Recruited from: Belconnen
Draft range: 2nd round – 4th round
Best position/role: Rotational midfielder/forward.
Strengths:
Strong overhead – Steele has strong, sticky hands overhead. He marks it consistently at the highest point. He is a strong mark on the lead but also a strong mark in the air and at times capable of taking 1v1 marks. In the marking contested Steele takes front position and shows excellent ability to read the flight of the ball. Even with body contact Steele remains strong overhead.
Tackling – Steele is a strong tackler, in his tackles he really buries guys into the turf. His tackle numbers are also elite whether played through the midfield or in the front half and it is a real feature of his game. Contested ball winning ability – Steele is an excellent contested ball winner and his contested ball winning numbers in all three games during the U18 Championships were higher than his uncontested ball winning numbers. He is hard at the ball and attacks the contest with a real intent. Inside game – Steele’s inside game is a highlight of his game. He wins the clearances, wins the contested ball and tackles strongly and is elite in all three categories. His ball use by hand and foot is good and he is even in traffic composed with his ball use. He also has excellent strength over the ball and the strength to stand up through tackles. Improvement – Steele has improved significantly over the past 12 months going from missing out in last year’s draft to one of the very best performed players in this draft through his play during the U18 Championships and in his games through TAC Cup. Additionally over the course of the season we have seen a rise in Steele’s performance starting off with some lean performances through the NEAFL, playing some TAC Cup games and only playing reasonably, then from mid-year onward in his performances through the U18 Championships and his last three TAC Cup games were dominant and a significant step up from his early season form. And given this rate of improvement it can reasonably be assumed that Steele has significant improvement remaining with the way his form line is trending upward at such a rapid rate with continued match play. Ball use and decision making – Steele by hand and foot is an excellent ball user. By hand he finds the outside runners. By foot he is a reliable kick to a target and demonstrates excellent vision and the ability to lower his eyes and hit the inside 50 targets. With ball in hand he takes his time, summing up his options and consistently making good decisions by hand and foot and choosing high percentage options as opposed to low percentage long kicks to no one. As a result of all this his disposal efficiency for a forward/midfielder is elite. Scoreboard impact – Steele is a clean set shot goalkicker, reliable with his conversation and has a reliable set shot routine and sound technique. He is from general play also an excellent finisher around goal and capable of providing heavy scoreboard impact.Weaknesses:
Athleticism and acceleration – Steele while mobile is not a threat to break the lines or do anything overly freakish athletically as an only average athlete with below average acceleration. His better athletic attributes are his strength and endurance which are both very good.
Injury prone? – Steele in seasons past has missed time with injury so it does prompt the question whether he will continue to have injury issues into the future.Ability to accumulate easy uncontested ball – At this stage Steele while he can play outside, take leadup marks and linkup, push into the forward 50 to take marks and hit the scoreboard he does not at this point find much easy uncontested ball. He is generally someone who will not get many handball receives given when on the move, he is not usually moving so quickly that his team mates feel inclined to use him.
What I expect will improve:With Steele I anticipate strong he continues to improve at what he does and continue to improve his inside game and ability forward of centre in the most part.Who he can become?Steele has the scope to develop into something similar to Luke Parker as a strong contested ball winning and strong marking midfielder/forward, capable of hitting the scoreboard.
When will he be ready to play?Steele has the ability to play as soon as season one and should establish himself as part of a best team within his first two seasons. How to best utilise him?Steele is best utilised as an inside midfielder who rotates forward.
Interpretation of his numbers:
Steele’s contested ball winning, tackling and marking numbers are all elite. His clearance winning numbers when through the midfield are excellent and his scoreboard impact is also excellent. Critical with Steele has been his rate of improvement really lifting from the mid-season point elevating his game from a handy player to one of the best performed players in this draft class.




17. Peter Bampton (SA - Mid) Height:182cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 15/04/1996
Recruited from: Norwood
Draft range: 15-40
Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.Strengths: Inside game – Bampton’s point of difference is his inside game. He is a terrific inside extractor as someone who consistently wins the contested ball and then gives it off to outside runners by hand. He is clean by hand and has the composure inside to find his targets and the best targets inside the contest. He goes in harder than anyone else into the contest showing real aggression and a hard attack on the ball and will consistently win the ground balls. He does all the off the ball work delivering hard bumps and shepherding as applicable. When he tackles guys, he really tackles them with ferocity. He has the strength over the ball where he will not get knocked off it showing the strength to beat more mature competition to the contested ball.
Aggression – Bampton consistently demonstrates a hard edge inside the contest and really attacks every contest with a real hard intent to win the footy, he buries guys in his tackles and will deliver hard bumps around the contest.
Immediate impact – Having performed and performed exceptionally well against men at SANFL league level in 2013 and early 2014 it can reasonably be expected that Bampton can play regular senior AFL games from season one.
Strength – Has good strength in the contest really barrelling through at force and has good AFL weight already on his frame at 83kg.
Endurance – Runs all day and gets to every contest, runs a 15+ beep.
Off the ball work – Bampton frequently when involved inside the contest will give it off by hand and then look to put in a hard bump on opposition players to let them know that he is there. He is also willing to bump around the field and shepherd as appropriate.
Ability to draw free kicks - Bampton has shown a real knack for drawing free kicks as someone who can draw high tackles and by going in lower and harder than others into the contest.
Skillset – By hand Bampton is terrific and is an excellent inside extractor finding the outside runners and in congestion choosing the best option consistently, showing real composure with ball in hand and summing up his options well. By foot while not overly penetrating or damaging he is a mostly safe but efficient kick who shows a willingness to lower his eyes and find the best targets. By foot he is also a relatively good kick into the forward 50 as someone who for leading targets will kick it out in front of them to lead onto. By hand and foot whether in space or congestion Bampton makes the right decisions and it all shows with his excellent disposal efficiency at SANFL league level. Bampton has clean hands and rarely fumbles.
Weaknesses:Outside game – Bampton while an efficient user of the footy is not likely to do much damage outside the contest as not an overly penetrating kick or a threat to break the lines. He also does not find a whole lot of outside ball as a genuine inside player at this stage doing his best work and finding most of his footy inside at this point. He will need to learn where to run and more frequently find the open spaces to present as more of an option around the ground.
Athleticism – As an athlete while Bampton gets by and moves sufficiently well to adjust seamlessly to play at the next level he is not a threat to break the lines, sidestep guys or outleap anyone in game.
Ability forward of centre – Bampton can occasionally sneak forward and hit the scoreboard but at this stage it is not a feature of his game.
What I expect will improve:I expect the natural improvement of Bampton’s inside game to continue and to become more and more dominant. I also anticipate Bampton makes going forward and having an impact a more prominent component to his game. While he likely never becomes overly proficient outside the contest I anticipate Bampton will with time begin to find more outside ball. Who he can become?I see Bampton developing into a player of similar style and quality to Tom Liberatore as that hard but high level contested ball winner. When will he be ready to play?Bampton is ready to play and play well from his first season and if healthy he is capable of debuting in round one if the opportunity is there given his proven performance over the past two seasons at SANFL League level. How to best utilise him?Bampton is best utilised as an on the ball through the midfield.
Interpretation of his numbers:SANFL League numbers these past couple of seasons through the midfield have been outstanding. His contested ball winning numbers are excellent. His disposal efficiency is good. He has shown that he can draw free kicks to a high standard. And he has shown that he can consistently win the contested ball against strong competition and be among the dominant midfielders on the ground which are all signs suggesting he can play right away.




18. Billy Stretch (Melb – F/S – SA – Mid)Height: 182cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 8/09/1996
Recruited from: Glenelg
Draft range: 2nd/3rd roundBest position/role: Midfield – outsideStrengths: Footskills – Stretch is an excellent user of the ball by foot and can find his targets over a variety of distances. What has also impressed me is his execution by foot while under pressure, showing that he can at times while getting tackles or when under pressure he can at times lace out hit his targets. With ball in hand Stretch makes good decisions quickly and has the vision to find good targets long up the field.
Pace and endurance – Stretch has excellent straightline speed and an excellent line breaker, breaking the lines frequently each game. He also has excellent endurance as someone who gives many of those high speed efforts in game but then also covers substantial ground over the court of a game.
Evasiveness – Stretch is not so much someone who will sidestep guys but he uses his pace to run around opposition players and avoid tackles routinely.
Outside game – Stretch has the right mix of footskills, pace and endurance on the outside to experience success. On the outside he runs to the right positions and works hard to get into good positions to link up as well as be involved in running chains forward.
Versatility – Stretch while best suited on a wing does have the ability to play on a forward flank and given his pace and footskills could also likely as required play of a back flank.
Ready to play – Stretch while light bodied was one of SA’s best through the U18 Championships. At SANFL League level he played some excellent football. At both levels he has shown an excellent ability to accumulate the footy, use it well and at SANFL League level he has shown that he can still do what he does against stronger bodies and have a strong impact on games. Given his performance and already proven ability against more mature bodies Stretch light bodied as he is, is capable of playing at AFL level from season one. Weaknesses:
Marking – I have found Stretch at times with his marks to be very two and three grab. He generally takes his marks but he just needs to become cleaner and more one grab. What I do like with his work overhead is his ability to read the flight and read the drop of the ball to consistently get to the right places to take the mark.
Inside game – Stretch while not a soft outside player and at times capable winning of winning his own ball is likely not going to become an inside player. He is a smallish, light body and his contested ball numbers are mild at best. He is not a particularly strong or aggressive tackler, not tackling all that often and is not someone who can forcefully win his own ball. What he can do is use his smarts to opportunistically be in the right place to get the ball but that is about the extent of his inside game.
Light body – At this stage Stretch only weighs 71kg and has a thin frame that suggests he will likely always remain relatively on the light side and remain an outside player. What I expect will improve:With Stretch I anticipate mostly natural and continued improvement of his outside game. I expect he puts on some weight but I still expect he remains a light bodied but very good outside player.
Who he can become?I see Billy Stretch developing into a slightly lower level Bradley Hill as that outside type with elite endurance, pace, a high level skillset but then also the excellent numbers.
When will he be ready to play?Stretch is given his proven ability to play well at SANFL League level has the ability to play from season one.
How to best utilise him?Stretch is best utilised on a wing.
Interpretation of his numbers:Stretch’s numbers and more specifically his uncontested ball numbers have been excellent both through the U18 Championships as one of SA’s leading disposal getters, and using it well but then also at SANFL League level also showing that he can find the uncontested footy to a high level and use it well and take plenty of uncontested marks around the ground. Given this Stretch has the ability to play from season one and develop into a quality, high production outside midfielder.

 

[Knightmare]

19. Caleb Marchbank (VIC – KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 12/07/1996
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Draft range: 5-20
Best position/role: Full back.
Strengths: 1v1 ability - 1v1 Marchbank is excellent displaying strong ability in the contest and ability to hold his position. He has strong ability to read and protect the drop zone and is capable either marking 1v1 or getting the spoil in as appropriate.
Intercept marking – Marchbank is a very good intercept mark with his ability to read the flight of the ball, get to the drop zone and take the intercept mark. He seems to read it earlier off the opposition’s boot. He has a good natural awareness for when he can and cannot leave his direct opponent. He has strong hands overhead and does not often drop his marks. Shutdown ability – Marchbank is an effective stopper and has the strength to contain or beat stronger forwards but also has the closing speed, agility and ability in the air to compete with those more athletic types. He has had success through the U18 Championships and TAC Cup containing some dominant key forwards and preventing them from having their usual influence on the outcome.
Strength and athleticism –Marchbank has excellent closing speed and the ability to shutdown opposition key forwards, he moves fluidly in general play and moves well with ball in hand occasionally showing he can take on the game, has a good leap and good endurance by position. He also has the strength to match and mostly beat his opponents 1v1 in the contest.
Versatility – In addition to playing key defence Marchbank can also be used up forward and prove an effective marking target with his work on the lead particularly impressive, timing his leads well and read the flight of the ball well. Marchbank is also not limited to playing deep in defence and also looks capable when pushing up the ground. Weaknesses:Footskills –Footskills overall are below average but not unworkable. His kicks are relatively imprecise and at times lacks consistency. His kicks are not overly penetrating or damaging either. His vision is limited mostly failing to identify damaging options out of the back half by foot. His decision making ability also is lacking and he can pick the wrong and sometimes unsound options coming out of the back half.
Lack of x-factor – Not that it is a problem but Marchbank is not a highlight reel player who will do anything overly eye-catching offensively that will catch your eye.
Injury prone? - Marchbank while he played all six U18 Championships games this season has only played the four TAC Cup games this year and two in 2013 due to injury. What I expect will improve:I anticipate Marchbank in the most part to improve both as a shutdown key defender but also offensively I expect he continues to improve as a 1v1 and intercept marking defender. Footskills while likely never brilliant can be ironed out.
Who he can become?I see Marchbank as a similar level talent to Ted Richards and similarly a key defender who can beat his direct opponent but also take some intercept marks. When will he be ready to play?Marchbank has the ability from season two to start to get a taste for it but by season three I see him pushing for regular senior selection. How to best utilise him?Marchbank is best used at full back.
Interpretation of his numbers: Strong numbers for a key defender through the U18 Championships particularly where he did an excellent job limiting the impact of his direct opponents and keeping them from achieving their usual numbers while also achieving strong numbers himself. Disposal and mark numbers are very good by position suggesting he is also getting involved as a rebounder. The primary query is disposal efficiency and specifically kicking efficiency which should be higher given he is not overly damaging by foot.




20. Oscar McDonald (VIC – KPD)Height: 196cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 18/03/1996
Recruited from: North Ballarat
Draft range: 20-rookieBest position/role: Centre half back.
Strengths: 1v1 ability – McDonald has the strength to hold his position in the contest and consistently win the 1v1 contests, often outbodying opponents in the contest and generally reading the flight of the ball better. He often takes 1v1 marks and makes the right choices as to whether he can take the mark or needs to get the spoil in.
Ability to read the flight of the ball – McDonald is excellent at reading the flight of the ball anticipating where the ball will go and getting there for the easy intercept mark. He makes good decisions as to when he can leave his direct opponent for the intercept mark or when he needs to stay with them. He also in the 1v1 contest reads it superbly, reading the drop of the ball and protecting the drop of the ball for the easy mark.
Movement and athleticism – McDonald for a tall moves very well. He is very mobile for his height and has very good agility. He has very good closing speed and can stay with opposition forwards. His endurance is good, staying with his opponents and covering the ground well over the course of games. He also has a good leap on him and is competitive and able to get stops in the air whether that be a spoil or mark.
Ability to limit the influence of direct opponent – He is a good height, has the strength to beat his opponents 1v1 in the contest, is good in the air and can shut down his opponents on the lead. The one knock defensively from a shutdown perspective is his second and third efforts can at times be slow and mean he can at times get exposed against if the ball goes to ground and his opponent is quicker following up the ball at ground level. Versatility – While McDonald is best suited as a key defender he has also shown that he can go forward and as required kick a goal. He is relatively clean with his pickups at ground level, tackles strongly and reads it well coming into the front half so while it is not something I would necessarily want him to have to do regularly at AFL level it is something as required he can do.
Rebounding from the back half – McDonald is generally a relatively efficient user of the ball from the back half. He can hit his targets up the ground and at times will kick low, long passes up the ground and be the one starting the offense himself with his drive out of the back half. He is also at times willing when the opportunity is there to provide some run and carry out of the back half.
TAC Cup form – McDonald has had a terrific season at TAC Cup level and was rightly awarded the TAC Cup coaches award. He had a consistent season and has the performances on the board as one of the best performed if not the best performed key defender this year between his ability to negate the influence of his direct opponents and to take intercept marks and provide rebound himself. Weaknesses:Slow when it hits the deck and slow second + third efforts – The main time McDonald gets exposed is when the ball hits the deck, he can at times be slow reacting and if his opponent is a quicker ground level player he can get exposed. Also his second and third efforts are not up to the expected standard at this stage; as good as he moves he lacks that quickness reacting at times to get to that next ball and then move onto that next play quickly enough.
No U18 Championships games – McDonald as terrific as he has been through the TAC Cup has not received the opportunity to play through the U18 Championships and missed that opportunity to play against the better competition in the country and as a result his form may be less exposed compared to some other draft prospects. What I expect will improve:I expect McDonald largely to continue to improve his two way game as a stopper and rebounder and to continue his natural development.
Who he can become?I see McDonald developing into something roughly similar to Alex Rance as someone who can beat his direct opponent but also be involved as a rebounder from the back half. When will he be ready to play?McDonald could receive senior opportunities as early as season two but I anticipate in season three if the opportunity is there that he establishes himself as a regular best 22 player for a team.
How to best utilise him?McDonald is best utilised at centre half back.
Interpretation of his numbers:McDonald’s numbers have been excellent at TAC Cup level by position. He finds plenty of the ball. Takes his mark per game and contested mark per game numbers are excellent by position. His ball use has generally been relatively efficient. He has also done a terrific job limiting the influence of his direct opponents and stopping them from achieving their usual numbers and influence on games.


21. Reece McKenzie (VIC – KPF/Ruck)Height: 196cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 28/03/1996
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Draft range: 20-60
Best position/role: Full forward. Strengths: Go to guy talent – McKenzie with his size, presence and contested marking ability is a genuine go to guy in the front half. He has the performances on the board and proven production. He can draw double and triple teams and is a handful for any key defender to contain particularly deep in the forward 50 with his contested marking ability.
Contested marking/marking ability – McKenzie has strong hands overhead and can take the big contested grabs. He has a rare presence in the front half when he goes for his marks. He takes advantage of smaller opponents 1v1 and can bully anyone physically at TAC Cup level in the contest. He takes the big pack grabs. He crashes packs. He is an excellent mark in the air and is near impossible to stop when he launches at the ball due to his size, strength and power. His contested marking numbers are strong. He is also a capable mark on the lead with his leading patterns good and with his size and strength he is hard to stop.
Size/strength/leap/power– At 100kg McKenzie has excellent size and strength for his age and he has clearly put the time and effort in, in the gym. 1v1 McKenzie has rare strength in the contest and is a near immovable object with the strength through his legs and core strength. Additionally he has excellent leaping ability for his size and is a significant marking threat in the air with his hands overhead strong in the air.
Scoreboard impact – McKenzie is one of leading goalkickers in the TAC Cup and has shown he can have some dominant games where he can individually take over games.
Capable of big games v weak opposition – McKenzie has had some big games. He kicked 10 goals v a weak Eastern Ranges. 7 goals and 5 behinds v a small Northern Territory and 16 goals for Marcellin v Yarra Valley. He will capitalise if he gets the flow of entries or if he is playing against a smaller or less capable 1v1 opponents.
Strong improvement as year has progressed suggesting significant upside – McKenzie from July onward made the shift from playing a mix of forward and ruck minutes to a full time key forward and since then he has significantly lifted his scoreboard impact and contested mark totals. His numbers over the second half of the season have been a significant improvement on what he was showing over the first half of the season and while the role change to permanent forward has definitely helped him in achieving this it is difficult to ignore the sharp improvement in his scoreboard impact and contested marking totals. Given this sharp improvement in production I evaluate McKenzie’s upside to be exceptionally high with his numbers evidence of the speed with which he is improving and I anticipate that sharp improvement to continue into the future. Additionally having spent last year playing basketball instead of football I cannot help but think the fact that he is putting up these numbers having not played TAC Cup last year suggests strong upside and substantial scope to improve further as he plays more.
Weaknesses:Does not have the same impact against better opponents – McKenzie has capitalised against weaker opponents in a big way but has up to this point failed to kick a big haul against better opposition and that will be the next step for him in his development.
Ability to hit the scoreboard from general play – McKenzie is very much a mark and goal forward who will get a large volume of set shot attempts at goal but few if any shots at goal from general play. If you have a guy who can match McKenzie for size and strength at the next level it is likely that he will get shut out of games as his game is very much just going out there and marking everything. At ground level McKenzie is dexterous and can pick up the footy relatively cleanly off the deck but he is not a goal scoring threat when he wins it at ground level as he lacks the ability to turn opposition players around and run into an open goal or create adequate time and space for himself at ground level to get it onto his boot.
Slow getting up to speed – McKenzie has a slow first step and slow first few steps on the lead. He also takes a number of steps to get up to full acceleration and does not have that immediate burst of speed allowing him to go from stationary to full speed quickly. The main limitation of this is it prevents McKenzie from turning guys around and running into an open goal. It also limits him from making quick, agile steps to create the time and space for himself after winning a ground ball to get it onto his boot for a shot at goal. As a result after winning a ground ball he will just be handballing it off to a team mate which is fine, but he is just not going to kick a whole lot of goals through this avenue during his career.
Followup work through the ruck – At McKenzie’s height and size and with a good leap he is a reasonable tap ruckman who could if required play some backup ruck minutes but at ground level again because he lacks that immediate acceleration from zero his followup efforts are slow and as a result he is not going to win much of the footy through there ruck or lay many tackles.
Set shot goalkicking – McKenzie’s conversion is above 50% but ideally he would be converting at a higher % than he is at the present time.
What I expect will improve:McKenzie I feel will continue in the most part make his strengths more dominant and take his dominant contested marking and scoreboard impact to the next level.
Who he can become?McKenzie plays that Travis Cloke style of game as that similar contested marking, mark and goal forward but I see him becoming something closer to a slightly more dominant Levi Casboult.
When will he be ready to play?McKenzie I anticipate will take four years before he establishes himself as a regular for a team and until season six before McKenzie really realises his potential and becomes a genuine go to guy. As a big marking forward he is not going to be able to take advantage of guys physically at AFL level right away so there will be an adjustment period but at his size and with his dominant marking and contested marking ability I see him taking more than enough grabs and providing enough scoreboard pressure to with time become a go to key forward.
How to best utilise him?McKenzie is best used at full forward as the go to target in the front half.
Interpretation of his numbers:McKenzie has put some dominant performances forward through the TAC Cup and for his school. His numbers are clearly best when utilised as a full time key forward as evidenced by his much improved mark, contested mark and goal scoring totals over the second half of the season. His numbers are trending sharply upward as the season which suggests he will continue this trend over coming seasons. His scoreboard impact and marking over the second half of the season have been outstanding and after Patrick McCartin has been arguably the next most dominant key forward with his contested marking numbers the strongest in this draft class.




22. Toby McLean (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 31/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Draft range: 30-rookie
Best position/role: Small marking forward.
Strengths: Marking ability – McLean’s point of difference is his marking ability. He has overhead genuine sticky hands, rarely dropping a mark. His aerial work is terrific, reading the flight of the ball consistently and he is capable of taking high flying marks frequently. He is a very strong mark on the lead and often finds space inside 50 or around the ground for easy uncontested marks. He can also take some strong contested marks at times.
Improving – His numbers over the second half of the season were a significant improvement over his numbers through the first half of the season while also keeping up his scoreboard impact.
Ability to push up into the midfield – As the year has progressed McLean has received more opportunities to push up the ground into the midfield.
Scoreboard impact – McLean in a rotational forward/midfield role this year averaged more than 1.5 goals per game to finish in the top five goal kickers in the TAC Cup.
Athleticism – McLean has an incredible leap for a small that allows him to play taller than his height but he also is an excellent mover as someone who can with his pace take on the game.
Evasiveness – McLean has excellent agility and lots of evasive tricks in his arsenal as someone who can run around opposition players, show the opponent the ball and go the other way, avoid tackles, use timely spin moves or just shrug tackles. He also draws lots of free kicks from high tackles.
Strength through the hips - When he does get tackled he has the strength through the hips to stand up through tackle and be able to deliver a clean handball to a target or get a clean kick away or sometimes when within range finish for the goal.
Skillset – McLean by hand and foot is a reliable user of the ball and demonstrates good vision and composure with ball in hand. He consistently makes good decisions and rarely wastes any of his possessions.
Big game player – A best on ground in the TAC Cup Grand Final is a good sign that he will be able to cope during big finals games at the next level.
Weaknesses:Light body – At 70kg McLean is still some way away from building up an AFL body as someone who physically will early on get pushed around and pushed off the ball.
Tackling ability – McLean is a capable tackler and his tackle numbers are about average but he is not a high volume tackler, pressure specialist or chase down tackle specialist in the front half at this point.
Contested ball winning ability – McLean can win some of his own ball but at this stage but as a smaller bodied player he is not likely to become a dominant contested ball winner.
What I expect will improve:I imagine McLean will put some further size onto his frame but otherwise I imagine he will continue to improve at what he does and look to continue to build upon his existing strengths so as to become an effective forward at AFL level.
Who he can become?McLean has the ability to become something like a poor man’s Jamie Elliott. When will he be ready to play?McLean from season two I imagine will start to receive some senior AFL opportunities and season three I expect he will establish himself as part of a best team.
How to best utilise him?McLean is best utilised in a forward pocket, occasionally rotating up the field as required. Interpretation of his numbers:Marking numbers by position are elite. Goalkicking numbers by position are excellent. His disposal per game numbers are excellent, as is his disposal efficiency by position. His numbers have also over the course of the season trended upward suggesting strong continued improvement which is an encouraging sign that he will continue over future seasons to continue his development.




23. Jarrod Garlett (WA –Mid)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Draft range: 15-35
Best position/role: Midfield – outside
Strengths: Speed and endurance – He has excellent pace and can really break the lines at speed and has that real willingness to take games on with ball in hand but he also has the endurance to compliment that pace. Garlett’s endurance in game allows him to make many high pace efforts throughout games and it allows him to cover a lot of ground over the course of games. Garlett is not just someone who is quick on the track but he is someone who also critically uses his pace well in game. He also in game gives excellent second and third efforts as someone who when around the ball really exerts maximum effort, providing excellent tackling energy or going in to snatch the ground balls when there is the opportunity.
Skillset – Garlett by foot is duel sided and uses it relatively well on both sides. He has very clean hands, rarely fumbling it and can pick it up cleanly of the deck and often pick it up on the move, not breaking stride and continuing to accelerate as he picks it up. His work by hand is well directed to his intended targets. He is a good finisher when within range. His footskills are silky looking and technically sound but he tends to kick at his targets rather than out in front of his targets and too often he kicks long to a contest to as opposed to a target, so he will need to learn more to lower his eyes and start finding more targets around the ground to round out his skillset.
Production – Garlett for a damaging outside runner accumulates well and it is that mix between ability to do damage when he has ball in hand with his run and the ability to find good numbers for a player of his type that will serve him well at the next level.
Scoreboard impact – Garlett does not provide heavy scoreboard impact but he has shown both through the U18 Championships and in the WA Colts, Reserves and League competitions that he is good for a goal a game and is a relatively good finisher.
Versatility – Garlett is best suited on a wing but has also shown that he can push into the front half and provide some scoreboard impact or as required push back across half back.
Ability to read the play and the flight of the ball – Garlett is an effective intercept mark and on a wing has a good feel for when to push back behind the ball as someone who has a good sense for when to go back and help out the other defenders. He then also shows very good ability to read the flight of the ball and get to the drop of the ball to take the easy intercept mark. Garlett also has a big leap on him and will fly for the ball, really attacking the ball in the air with purpose, so while he is excellent at ground level overhead he also has some ability.
Evasive ability – Garlett has a few tricks to avoid tackles. He is when on the run with ball in hand near on impossible to chase down. He can when on the move step around guys. He occasionally sidesteps guys. In addition to his running ability he also can evade tackles by doing the occasional spin move or by offering the occasional ball fake.
Weaknesses:Inside game – Garlett at this stage is an outside only player. He has no inside game at this stage and is not a threat to win much of his own ball, with his ball coming primarily outside the contest.
Strength – Garlett at this stage is lightly built and can get pushed off the ball and will accordingly need to put on some further muscle without losing his running ability.
Linkup ability – Garlett on the outside does not take many marks in space and is also not a reliable kick to a target at this stage as someone who feels like he lacks predictability to his teammates and tends too often with his kicks to kick long to a contest rather than to a target up the field. What I expect will improve:I expect Garlett to largely improve at what he does and add some but not a whole lot of muscle to his frame as someone who most critically needs to remain a linebreaker first.
Who he can become?Garlett has a feel not unlike Travis Varcoe as that similar outside linebreaker who can at times really tear games apart with his speed.
When will he be ready to play?Garlett may receive a taste at AFL level in season one but I expect more likely in season two or three that he establishes himself as a regular.
How to best utilise him?Garlett is best utilised as a linebreaker on a wing.
Interpretation of his numbers:
His numbers through the U18 Championships, WA Colts and WA Reserves competitions have been strong. At WAFL League level he has only found limited ball to this point. At all levels he averages a goal a game, finding other than at WAFL League level good numbers, his tackling numbers are good and his disposal efficiency while on the low side for an outside player, given the damage he looks to do with his touches is fine.




24. Connor Blakely (WA – Mid) Height: 186cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Draft range: 15-40Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.
Strengths: Inside game – Showed through the U18 Championships excellent inside ability winning the contested ball, winning the clearances, reading the ruck taps well to get first hand on it, tackling strongly and moving evasively in traffic which has allowed him substantial time and space in traffic to use the ball efficiently. He gives the second and third efforts inside. Typically Blakely is someone who hits the ball at speed which gives him in traffic a feeling in traffic of explosiveness. Season one ready – Has performed and performed strongly against men at senior WAFL league level and has coped well against the stronger bodies which suggests that he can make the transition to playing from season one at AFL level.
Evasive movement in traffic – His real athletic gift that pops out at you is his explosive ability to sidestep that he uses in traffic. With his explosive sidestep he can effectively create significant time and space for himself to dispose of the ball effectively by hand and foot which particularly when playing on the ball greatly helps his disposal efficiency. He also uses quick, small steps brilliantly and frequently in traffic to also create time and space for himself as with those smaller steps he can change direction more quickly, allowing for that creation of space.
Skillset – Blakely is an efficient user of the footy. By hand he inside the contest can work effectively as an inside extractor finding the outside runners or creating space to get a clear pass off by hand to a target in more space. By foot he will look in general play to work into space before kicking, executing his kicks to a target when he has the time and space to deliver. He has good vision finding the best the targets in best position, making good decisions and shows a willingness when he has time with ball in hand to lower his eyes and find the best targets. He also can at times use his opposite side as required. He also when tackled has the strength to release by hand to a target.
Outside game – Blakely while he played as an on-baller through the U18 Championships has relatively good outside ability for an inside player who can also outside the contest get involved in the play but also use it well. Weaknesses:
Pace – Blakely while he has an incredible ability to create space in traffic and to sidestep guys he is not a linebreaker with only average pace and a relative lack of straightline speed.
Ability forward of centre – Blakely can on occasion hit the scoreboard through the midfield but at this stage he is not someone you would put in the forward 50 as someone who is neither a natural crumbing forward or a marking forward for him to be a real threat.
Marking ability – Blakely at this stage can take uncontested marks around the ground but is not a marking threat as some other tall midfielders are. He has clean hands overhead but not strong or sticky hands. On the lead Blakely with limited straight-line speed lacks the ability to create separation. Additionally he is no threat to take 1v1 marks or pack marks, limiting his potential to play in the front half. What I expect will improve:I expect Blakely will continue to improve his inside game which is where he has real scope to develop but also at the same time add some further strings to his bow.
Who he can become?Blakely through the midfield reminds me of a poor man’s James Kelly as a similar type of midfielder. When will he be ready to play?Blakely has the ability to play as soon as season one and fit in at AFL level given his WAFL League performance.
How to best utilise him?Blakely is best utilised through the midfield on the ball.
Interpretation of his numbers:Blakely’s numbers through the U18 Championships were excellent as WA’s best midfielder. His disposal numbers were excellent. His contested ball winning, tackle and clearance numbers were all excellent, as was his disposal efficiency by position. His numbers at WAFL league level have been excellent similarly demonstrating strong disposal and tackle numbers against men suggesting he is capable of playing at AFL level from season one.

 

[Knightmare]

25. Alex Neal-Bullen (SA – Mid)Height: 182cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 09/01/1996
Recruited from: Glenelg
Draft range: 15-40Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.
Strengths: Work by hand –What most stands out with Neal-Bullen is his awareness in traffic to find the best player by hand, he will at times gamble looking for the opening but he typically finds the most damaging target.
Inside game – In addition to what Neal-Bullen does by hand he at stoppages is consistently in close, in the best positions to either win his own contested ball or to receive the inside ball to win the clearances. He had the highest clearance winning total through the U18 Championships and has shown at SANFL League level that he can also win the clearances. He has excellent contested ball winning numbers and is a terrific contested ball winner showing hardness at the footy, and a real cleanness at ground level.
Endurance – Neal-Bullen has among the best endurance of the midfielders in this draft and it is obvious watching how much ground he covers in game and how many contests he gets to. He is someone who just never seems to stand still in game really showing in game a terrific work rate.
Season one ready – Neal-Bullen has played and played very well at SANFL League level showing that he can compete against men and find and win his own footy against men which suggests that he can from season one play senior games if the opportunity presents. Versatility – Although he by far and away is best suited on the ball through the midfield he has also spend time in the back half this season so while he probably will be more a pure midfielder he can as required be played in the back half.
Pace - Neal-Bullen is not a plodder and can at times use his pace in game. He can provide some run and carry with ball in hand or break away from the contest and occasionally can get himself out of trouble in traffic to then get a handball off to a target or a quick kick away.
Weaknesses:
Footskills under pressure and decision making – Neal-Bullen in traffic by foot will often just get the ball onto his boot hoping it hits a target, really at this stage just lacking composure. Because he gets so much ball in close making it a reoccurring theme and a constant frustration with his game. Give him time and space and his footskills while still slightly inconsistent are on the most part generally good mostly hitting his targets over a variety of distances, making better decisions and occasionally doing damage and even at times lowering his eyes but on the inside he just needs that bit more composure and needs to take more time on his kicks than he does at the present time.
Outside game – At this stage Neal-Bullen finds a high proportion of his ball inside the contest and surprisingly despite his endurance and work rate he finds limited outside ball as someone who is very much an inside midfielder first at the moment. What I expect will improve:I mostly with Neal-Bullen anticipate the natural and continued improvement in the areas that he performs strongly in and specifically his inside game. Who he can become?Through the midfield Neal-Bullen is of similar quality and production to Anthony Miles. When will he be ready to play?Neal-Bullen has the ability to play as soon as season one and fit in at AFL level given his strong SANFL League performance.
How to best utilise him?Neal-Bullen is best utilised on the ball through the midfield.
Interpretation of his numbers:Neal-Bullen’s numbers have been exceptional both through the U18 Championships and at SANFL League level this season and is among the best performed players in this draft class. Through the U18 Championships he led all participants in clearances and was also one of the dominant contested ball winners throughout. What was troubling was troubling through the U18 Championships his low disposal efficiency of 54%. Through the SANFL at league level Neal-Bullen has shown that he can not only play at the level but also find strong numbers suggesting that he will be able to make the adjustment to playing at AFL level and if opportunity presents from season one.




26. Dean Gore (SA – Mid) Height: 183cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 26/06/1996
Recruited from: Sturt
Draft range: 20-60Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.
Strengths: Contested ball winning ability – Gore is a strong contested ball winner and attacks the ball at pace, more often than not coming out with it. He is strong over the ball and is clean with his pickups off the deck and can take it off the deck on the move. His contested ball winning numbers were strong both through the U18 Championships and at SANFL League level.
Strength and power – Gore has a strong body and uses it to his advantage. He seemingly never goes to ground. He uses his strength over the ball to firstly win the contested ball but then can also bully his way through the contest with his forward momentum. He hits the contest at pace and has the strength and low centre of gravity to stand up in the tackle and the forward momentum to keep moving forward with the ball even through the tackle, such is his strength through the hips or get a clean handball off to a target. He will bury guys in his tackles and do some real damage when he takes guys to ground. He has the strength in the 1v1 contest to beat his guy.
Pace and endurance - Gore also for such a big bodied midfielder has some explosiveness, really in traffic almost always moving at full pace and going on 10m to 15m high speed bursts, exploding through the contest. He seems to have very good pace over 20m and also overs the ground well and has good endurance which is pleasing for a big bodied midfielder.
Tackling – Gore has excellent tackle numbers but in addition to that he also attacks the man with real ferocity really burying guys in his tackles and knocking the stuffing out of them making it a real strength of his game.
Skillset – Gore has a very good skillset by position. He has a long 55m kick on him and can finish on goal from range. To a target Gore is very good over short and medium distances and can when he has time and space lower his eyes but over long distances he has shown a tendency too often to blast away to a contest. By hand Gore is reliable in finding his targets consistently and in delivering cleanly.
Marking ability – Gore is a strong mark overhead and has a real strength of hands overhead. He can take marks on the lead and is also a strong mark 1v1 and can out-body his opponent in the contest for the mark.
Versatility – Gore while a midfielder first can also play in the front half and present as a marking target, provide some tackling pressure and hit forward 50 targets or hit the scoreboard. It is also not out of the question that he could as required play in the back half as he has a strong body but then also athletically and from a skill standpoint is more than good enough to make that transition into the back half if required. Weaknesses:Kicking under pressure - Under pressure in the contest by foot he can rush it onto his boot and kick it forward without look more than he perhaps needs to when he stands up so strongly though the tackles of opposition players.
Ability to accumulate outside – At this stage Gore as with most inside players at this stage does not find much ball outside the contest and still needs to learn where to run outside the contest to get more involved in general play.
Ability to do damage outside – Gore while quick inside the contest is not a threat at this stage to break the lines on the outside or break games open with his kicking or do anything game changing outside the contest. What I expect will improve:I expect Gore to continue to improve his inside game and as he progresses, to become more of a weapon in the front half as well as also learn how to find more ball outside the contest.
Who he can become?I see Gore developing into someone similar to Josh Caddy as that similar big bodied midfielder who can at times rotate forward.
When will he be ready to play?Gore has the ability to play as soon as season one and fit in at AFL level given his proven performance at SANFL League level.
How to best utilise him?Through the midfield on the ball with occasional stints in the front half.
Interpretation of his numbers:Numbers through the U18 Championships were strong collecting excellent contested ball numbers and tackle numbers. He has also in his play at SANFL League level showed that he can play and play well against the older bodies collecting strong numbers and also with strong contested ball numbers, strong clearance numbers, excellent marking numbers, a very good disposal efficiency with both his work by hand and foot good, as well as the ability to hit the scoreboard most games. Going off his play at SANFL League level Gore is capable of playing in season one.


27. Caleb Daniel (SA – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 167cm, Weight: 66kg, DOB: 07/07/1996
Recruited from: South Adelaide
Draft range: Late-rookie
Best position/role: Rotational forward/midfielder.
Strengths: Disposal efficiency – Through the U18 Championships from his three games Daniel had a rare disposal efficiency of over 90% which is staggering given he averaged 20 disposals per game over three games and his disposal efficiency at SANFL League level similarly has been outstanding.
Footskills – By foot Daniel can do it all. He is the most efficient kicking midfielder/forward you will ever see but then he is also a very damaging kick. He is the best kick to a target in this draft as someone who over short and medium distances particularly seems to just about never miss a target. He also has penetration out to 50m which as required he can use. He executes to targets perfectly both when in space on the outside or under pressure in congestion. He is a terrific playmaker in that he consistently finds the inside 50 targets or targets around the ground better positioned to generate meaningful offensive drives. He is also a capable finisher when within range from goal, he can finish with drop punts, snaps or and kick required depending on the circumstance and is a reliable converter both from field kicks and set shots. When within range from goal he consistently displays a real unselfishness whereby if he is in a low percentage position and unlikely to kick the goal he will look to find a target in better position to finish for the goal.
Vision – Daniel has excellent vision and consistently finds the best targets up the field or around the ground, he consistently lowers his eyes and because of it consistently finds the highest percentage targets around the ground and inside 50.
Decision making ability – With ball in hand Daniel just about never makes a mistake, consistently identifying the highest percentage option and hitting them by hand and foot. He will rarely kick it long to a contest or just kick it long without purpose if it is not to a target, he will generally look to with every touch identify and find the best targets around the ground.
Ability to execute under pressure – Daniel regardless of how much pressure he is under by hand and foot continues to execute his skills and hit his targets and has a real cleanness with everything he does. He just has a real composure with ball in hand, seemingly never fumbling or looking rushed. It is not even using any special evasive tricks in traffic; he just quickly identifies a good option and executes his skill to a target, no dramas. He also in general play with ball in hand will continue running, draw some opposition tacklers then last second deliver a handball out to a target which I also really like, with his timing spot on.
Endurance – Daniel out on the field is constantly on the move and never seems to stop. He is constantly running and working his man over to get into space on the outside and in traffic he is constantly on the move and buzzing around. At the draft combine he scored an elite 16.1 so this should not come as a surprise.
Inside/outside balance – Daniel to his game has a nice inside/outside balance. He is not a dominant contested ball winner and will be an outside player at the next level but he can certainly win his own ball and has good contested ball winning numbers and uses the ball particularly well in congestion but then on the outside he also has the work rate to work into space and find lots of the footy and use his run and use the ball efficiently so he is the complete package.
Weaknesses:Small – At 167cm Daniel is by AFL standards in the extreme category of small but in saying that Brent Harvey is the same height and has no issues so while ideally he would be 15cm or 20cm taller, he still even at 167cm has a real chance to make it, particularly given his ability with ball in hand.
Pace – Daniel because he is always on the move looks quick and he can at times run around guys and take on the game with some run and carry, but he is not all that explosive which as an extreme small will be a drawback given he is more an outside type.
Not suited as a crumbing forward – Daniel can do some of the things crumbing forwards can do, he finishes well around goal, can convert from his set shots, hit targets in better positions to finish and at ground level he is terrific and clean but it is not a role I see him or being overly dominant in at AFL level with no one thing he can do deep in the front half that makes him suited to playing a crumbing forward role. Daniel is overall more a high motor guy who is better suited up the ground finding targets and accumulating rather than being locked into playing permanently in the front half. What I expect will improve:I do not see Daniel’s game changing all that much other than adjusting to the AFL level game. He will continue to refine what he does but in the most part what you see is what you get.
Who he can become?Daniel has the feel of a poor man’s Brent Harvey as a slightly less quick and less dominant version.
When will he be ready to play?Daniel has the ability to play from season one, and I would be inclined to say as soon as round one depending on whether the opportunity is there. He is, short and small as he is an immediate player.
How to best utilise him?Daniel is best utilised on a forward flank, rotating up onto a wing.
Interpretation of his numbersaniel’s numbers at SANFL League level and through the U18 Championships have been outstanding. His ability to accumulate both the inside and outside ball are strong. His tackling numbers are fine. His disposal efficiency is through the roof, with a disposal efficiency of above 90% through his three games during the U18 Championships. He hits the scoreboard at a good rate. All the signs suggest that he can play from season one at AFL level and that he the size of the bodies will not be a problem given he has already proven he can play against men at SANFL League level and with his strengths skill and endurance related, his strengths will at the next level remain strengths.




28. Liam Dawson (Brisbane - Academy - QLD – Util)Height:188m, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 23/01/1996
Recruited from: Aspley
Draft range: 2nd/3rd roundBest position/role: Half back flank
Strengths:
Ability to read the flight of the ball – What Dawson does best at this point is reading the flight of the ball. Particularly down back he reads it extremely well consistently getting in position to take intercept marks, and getting to the drop of the ball. He has an excellent awareness for when he can leave his direct opponent for the easy intercept mark.
Versatility – Dawson has the ability to play back, forward or through the midfield in outside or inside roles. He also can at times play taller than his height and matches up well on players of varied heights.
Ability overhead – Dawson is a very strong mark overhead. He has strong, clean hands and also in the 1v1 contest is a strong mark and also has strong contested marking ability.
Scoreboard impact – Dawson has shown at times when pushed forward he can hit the scoreboard. In two of his games representing Queensland in the TAC Cup he kicked four and three goals in those games. From general play he is a good finisher and can make the most of his opportunities.
Outside run and linkup ability – Dawson is while only an average to above average athlete is someone who is a smart outside runner and seems to run to the right spaces, really working hard to find the ball and run into the spaces to be used as a link in a chain up the field.
Production – Dawson is a well performed player who has through the U18 Championships in 2013 and in his first game this year performed strongly. His play for Queensland in the TAC Cup this year has also been strong. At both levels he has shown that he can find strong numbers and take lots of intercept marks, marks around the ground and contested marks.
1v1 ability – Dawson is a capable 1v1 player and forward or back in the contest has the strength to outbody and superior ability read the ball better than his direct opponent to more often than not beat them in the marking contest. He also in the back half has the ability to complete a shutdown role if required given his strength in the contest and ability to play on opponents of varied sizes and types. Weaknesses:Contested ball winning ability – While Dawson can win some of his own ball it is not a feature of his game at this point as someone who finds most of his ball on the outside or from marks.
Inside game – Dawson has at times played on the ball but of the positions he plays it is at this point his least natural. He can at times read the ruck taps and his tackling is sound but his hands in close and at ground level lack some cleanness and generally seems cleaner with time and space on the outside and with his contested ball winning also not dominant it is not a position he is likely to play at AFL level.
Ground level ability – At times at ground level Dawson can fumble and he lacks the cleanness of some of the really high end midfielders.
Footskills – Dawson can at times be a playmaker and do damage by foot with his long 55m kick but at other times can also lack some consistency and use it inefficiently, missing some targets. He has good vision and can find some dangerous targets up the field over long distance but at times his decision making is not up to the level it needs to be.
What I expect will improve:With Dawson in the most part I anticipate that he will continue to improve at what he does but I think he has some ability to improve the contested side of his game and become cleaner and more consistent with his ball use.
Who he can become?I see Dawson developing into something similar to Garrick Ibbotson in the back half as someone who likes to be released and given the freedom to at times play as a loose defender.
When will he be ready to play?Dawson as good as his production has been I expect will take at least a year if not two to adjust to the pace at AFL level. He may receive some senior AFL opportunities from season one but I anticipate that it will be in season two or three that he establishes himself as a regular at AFL level.
How to best utilise him?Dawson looks best utilised across a back flank but he also as required depending on team needs on the day has the ability to play other positions or other roles as required.
Interpretation of his numbersawson’s numbers through the U18 Championships in 2013 were terrific and then in game one this year similarly he again put forward a strong performance. In the TAC Cup for Queensland he has also performed strongly and put forward strong performances. His disposal per game numbers have been excellent whether played back, through the midfield or in the front half. His mark and contested mark per game numbers for a sub 190cm player are elite. When played in the front half he has shown that he can hit the scoreboard. His disposal efficiency and contested ball numbers are lower than would be ideal but otherwise he is a very well performed player.




29. Nakia Cockatoo (NT – Mid)Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 23/10/1996
Recruited from: NT Thunder
Draft range: 15-45
Best position/role: Midfield – outside
Strengths: Linebreaking ability – Cockatoo after Pickett is that next most outstanding linebreaker in this draft class. Like Pickett, Cockatoo similarly whenever the opportunity is there will use his acceleration to break the lines at top speed and provide meaningful, explosive run and carry. He can on his runs cover substantial ground and will run and carry it 50m or 60m if you let him. He can step through traffic superbly and also get around opposition players easily. Cockatoo v the U17s at one point got carried away with his run and carry and forget to bounce whereby he ran what seemed to be 50m or 55m without bouncing it but if he remembers to bounce the ball earlier every time then his linebreaking ability will be a significant weapon and point of difference at the next level. For pace Cockatoo tested in the top six for the 20m sprint and the top overall for repeat speed but more importantly he not only has that speed, he applies it in game as well as anyone bar Pickett in this draft.
Evasiveness –Cockatoo in addition to his acceleration also is excellent at evading tackles and has numerous tricks to help him deal with tacklers to stop them from getting their hands on him. He can spin out of trouble to avoid a tackler. He can shrug tackles and at times draw free kicks by doing this. He can at times sidestep players to go by them. Cockatoo can also run around guys. This evasiveness only makes him even more of a linebreaking threat.
Gamechanger – Cockatoo with his linebreaking ability can inject significant energy into games and can change the complexion of games and with his linebreaking ability. An example of Cockatoo’s gamechanging ability is from one centre bounce Cockatoo managed to read the ruck tap and take it cleanly and he individually took it from that centre bounce, ran it at full acceleration to 40m directly in front to then finished for the easy goal, and it will be explosive, gamechanging players like this that will become routine for Cockatoo.
Versatility – Cockatoo has the versatility to play through the midfield in outside or inside roles; he can play off a back flank as a linebreaker or even push into the forward half.
Work at ground level – Cockatoo is very clean at ground level and is excellent at winning the ground ball with his pickups clean, rarely fumbling.
Skillset – Cockatoo by hand and foot is a good ball user and is also a natural finisher when within range of goal.
Strong overhead – Cockatoo from a limited viewing sample seems a strong but not mark overhead and has shown that he can read the flight of the ball well and get to the drop of the ball.
Coachable – From reports Cockatoo is highly coachable and plays his football with a real enthusiasm.
Weaknesses:Decision making ability – Cockatoo at times with ball in hand can try to do too much and go long at ill-advised times when sometimes lowing the eyes and finding the easier, shorter option is better, overlooking the higher percentage option in favour of going with what he thinks may generate a more meaningful drive forward. He also at times looks to have long shots at goal that are beyond his limitations.
Contested ball winning ability – Cockatoo while he can win some of his own ball still is not a high volume contested ball winner or such a high level contested ball winner that he would be a suitable player to play on the ball at AFL level for more than brief minutes.
Tackling ability – Cockatoo while he is among the quickest in this draft I have no seen lay many tackles or give a great deal of tackling effort at this point in time, albeit from a small sample size and it is something I would be looking for him to develop into a feature of his game.
Ability to find the easy outside ball – At this stage Cockatoo is more someone who in the most part will get his ball through receiving by hand and struggles at this point to all that much find easy, uncontested ball on the outside. Cockatoo is someone so damaging with ball in hand that you really want to see him have the ball in his hands more than he does at the present time.
Small sample size of games/limited exposed games – Cockatoo has missed most of the season with injury and there is a limited formline to go off with that game v the AIS underagers his only game in the past six months.
Best position? – At this stage Cockatoo lacks an easily identifiable best position and will over the coming years need to find out where he is best suited. I assume giving his linebreaking ability most likely on a wing or otherwise a back flank. What I expect will improve:I expect Cockatoo to continue doing what he already does but also I expect he will add a dominant tackling energy game to his arsenal. I also expect he cleans up his decision making ability with time in the system.
Who he can become?I see Cockatoo as something like Gary Rohan. Hopefully less injury prone but like Rohan, Cockatoo is a similar height but also possesses that same gamechanging acceleration with ball in hand and similar ability to influence games without finding a large volume of ball. When will he be ready to play?Cockatoo will take time to develop. It is not out of the question that he receives games from season one depending on whether his team needs an injection of pace but I see him as more likely to establish himself around season two or three. How to best utilise him?It is not completely clear where Nakia will be best utilised but I anticipate he will look best suited as an outside linebreaker on a wing.
Interpretation of his numbers:Sample size of the stats I have access to are too small to make any conclusions

 

[Knightmare]

30. Liam Duggan (VIC – Util)Height: 183cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 11/12/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Draft range: 5-30Best position/role: Midfield – outside
Strengths: Versatility – Duggan has excellent positional versatility. He can play through the midfield in an outside or inside role; he can also play off a back or forward flank.
Second and third efforts – Duggan around the ball gives excellent second and third efforts, really going after the ball and contest and will really put in the effort to keep going after it whether it be laying an extra tackle or two or going in to win the ball.
Intercept marking – Excellent intercept mark off a back flank. He reads the flight of the ball exceptionally well, often anticipating where it will go earlier than others and he gets to the drop of the ball well for easy intercept marks across a back flank.
Footskills – Duggan does at times kick on both sides and he is not hesitant to use his right foot when required but his right foot can at times be hit and miss and is not as reliable or damaging as his left foot. Duggan by foot is most damaging when he has time and space on the outside with ball in hand where he can sum up his options well and find damaging targets up the field. With time and space Duggan will run his 15-20m and kick it 55-60m to a target. When pressured Duggan is more inclined to kick short and tends to look more rushed. His disposal efficiency overall and kicking efficiency is excellent. His kicks generally I find are high, long kicks, particularly from kickouts rather than low, quick through the air daggers but none the less the result is more often than not a good one when he goes long.
Pace and agility – Duggan has above average acceleration as someone who can provide good run and carry with ball in hand. Duggan as a run and carry player is also useful with his linkup work by hand, Duggan routinely will run with ball in hand, give off by hand and continue running and provide support for the other outside runner, not giving up on the offensive play as someone who will provide support in numbers. Scoreboard impact – Duggan has shown this season that through the midfield or when pushing forward that he can hit the scoreboard averaging more than a goal a game at TAC Cup level.
Weaknesses:Needs time and space to operate – Duggan when under pressure can with his disposal look rushed and the hurt factor of his disposals are greatly reduced with Duggan under pressure typically going for safe, short options, particularly by foot. Struggles handling a tag – Duggan whether it is through the midfield or off a back flank struggles to impact games when playing on an accountable opponent with his influence able to be negated. When tagged Duggan’s numbers reduce significantly as does his influence on the outcome with fewer damaging touches.
In and out of games – Duggan has a tendency to be in and out of games. He can have a big quarter or period through the game but he is not someone who always feels like he is influencing the game and having an impact over the full four quarters at this stage.
Contested ball winning ability – While Duggan can play inside and win some contested ball he is not a dominant contested ball winner and more an energy ball winner as someone who through his hustling effort will at times win his own ball.
Ability to beat his man down back – At this stage in the back half Duggan is more an intercept player/rebounder first and when made to be accountable in the back half can at times get exposed in the 1v1 contests.
What I expect will improve:I expect Duggan continues to expand his outside game and continues in the most part to improve at what he presently does.
Who he can become?Duggan has the feel of a poor man’s Kade Simpson as a versatile, outside type who is best suited on a wing or back flank.
When will he be ready to play?Duggan may receive some senior opportunities from season one but I tend to see him as more likely from season two to break into a team as a regular.
How to best utilise him?Duggan I feel is best utilised on a wing.
Interpretation of his numbersuggan has overall performed strongly through the U18 Championships and TAC Cup, he has had his inconsistencies with overall up and down numbers which have come due to the attention he receives in some games from his direct opponents. His disposal efficiency is excellent. His ability to hit the scoreboard by position is excellent averaging more than a goal a game through the TAC Cup. His tackle numbers are excellent. And his marks per game numbers are good. His numbers overall suggest that he has the opportunity to make the grade at AFL level.




31.Paul Ahern (VIC – Mid/Fwd) Height: 181cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 01/08/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Draft range: 5-30
Best position/role: Rotational forward/midfielder.Strengths: Pace - Ahern has excellent pace and linebreaking ability. He has excellent acceleration and picks his times to accelerate well having an excellent awareness of who is around him and whether he can take advantage of them or not. He can burst through the traffic and he also has the ability to run around opposition players.
Footskills – He is a very damaging user of the ball by foot and can do damage with his vision and decision making both excellent allowing him to find dangerous targets around the ground. and in the forward 50. He also has the finishing ability from general play to go with it. Front half talent – He is a really clean one touch with his groundball pickups and has a real knack when it comes to winning those ground balls. He is a very balanced player and keeps his feet.
He is a strong mark overhead at his size and can win his 1v1 contests. He works into space very well and just seems to know where those spaces are. He is a capable crumber. He also has the ability to provide strong scoreboard impact. Improved contested ball winning ability -Before this year Ahern struggled winning his own ball but he has shown improvement playing more on the ball than he has in the past and showing that it is something that he has added to his arsenal demonstrating at times he can win his own ball through the U18 Championships. At AFL level Ahern still looks like he will remain more an outside player but one who rotates between playing forward and up the ground on a wing.
Strong U18 Championships - During the TAC Cup season Ahern’s numbers have been relatively lean and inconsistent but through the U18 champs in his four games he has performed to a higher standard achieving stronger than usual numbers while also giving stronger than usual scoreboard impact and having a significantly greater influence on the outcome. Part of this could be due to some of the TAC Cup teams giving him more attention and playing a more accountable game on him.Weaknesses:Consistency – Ahern can have his big games where he has a significant influence on the outcome and some other games where he does not contribute enough and does not find enough of the footy to put his imprint on the outcome.
Inconsistent with the hard stuff – Contested ball winning while through the U18 championships he showed that he can win his own ball it is something over the season he has not done consistently enough. His tackling has also left something to be desired as a low volume tackler who does not bring as much intent to the contest as he could.
Struggles when tagged – Ahern has struggled this year against the players who give him some attention and play a relatively more accountable brand of footy. Tag him and he gets tagged out of game. He will need to continue to improve his contested ball winning and running to help him improve his ability to find more of the footy when receiving attention. What I expect will improve:I expect in the most part with Ahern general improvement over time as opposed to improvement in one specific area of his game, with his weaknesses in my view likely remaining. Perhaps he improves his consistency and improves his inside game further but otherwise just general improvement and slightly improved numbers over time.
Who he can become?Ahern I see as having the scope to develop into a similar type and quality of player to Richmond’s Shane Edwards as a quick forward who can push up into the midfield. When will he be ready to play?Ahern likely some time in year two starts to receive a taste for senior AFL footy and should in season three be pushing for regular senior AFL selection.
How to best utilise him?Ahern is best utilised in the front half and pushing up the field onto a wing.
Interpretation of his numbers:Strong numbers through the U18 championships demonstrating that he can play well against the best players in the country, also showing some promise with his contested ball winning numbers surprisingly strong. His TAC Cup numbers have in my view been underwhelming and inconsistent demonstrating strong fluctuations from game to game and also demonstrating that he struggles when getting some closer attention.




32.Jeremy Finlayson (GWS - Academy - NSW – KPD/KPF)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 02/09/1996
Recruited from: Hills Eage
Draft range: 2nd / 3rd round
Best position/role: Centre half back.
Strengths: Ability to find the footy – Finlayson is an unusually high volume accumulator who consistently pushes up the ground, getting involved whether that be taking a mark up the field on a wing or after making a lead and getting overlooked to then work to get involved in a handballing chain sequence to then push forward hard again. His numbers through the U18 Championships and TAC Cup have been solid but through the NEAFL for GWS he has in many of his games found more of the ball than GWS’ other young key position players which speaks volumes about his production with his season high coming in round 19 with a 27 disposal, 13 mark, two goal performance which is terrific performance against more mature bodies.
Endurance – Finlayson is an elite endurance athlete by position and he is constantly moving, working his opponent over, going on multiple leads or making a lead and pushing back hard towards goal. He can go all day up forward and down back has the ability to go with anyone else.
Athleticism – Finlayson in addition to his endurance also has excellent pace and can on the lead create excellent separation or in the back half use his closing speed to stop the oppositions leading forwards.
Leading patterns – Finlayson’s leading patterns are terrific, leading to the open spaces and continually working into space up the ground or at times open spaces in the forward 50. In addition to his elite running ability it allows him to take so many uncontested marks.
Versatility – Finlayson while he has mostly played forward has the ability to play at both ends well. He is best suited in more of a high role whether that is at centre half back or centre half forward but he can at times also be played closer to goal. He has also at times pinch-hit through the ruck and shown that he gets involved around the ground but given he is only 195cm he is not likely to play any minutes through the ruck at AFL level.
Ability to read the play – Finlayson is terrific at reading the play for intercept marks and he does it routinely both in the front and back halves. Behind the play his ability to read the play and peel off his man other than his ability to for pace and endurance stay with most forwards is that other point of difference and if given a stretch of games in the back half I imagine his intercept mark numbers would be excellent.
Ground level ability – Finlayson is not freakish at ground level but certainly very clean and one grab with his pickups off the deck.
Weaknesses:Contested marking – While Finlayson has relatively clean hands overhead and is a very effective uncontested mark and mark on the lead he is not a threat to take contested marks. He lacks that strength in the marking contest and is someone who more so sits back and waits for the ball to come to him for the mark rather than actively attacking the ball in the air or looking to crash packs or take commanding pack marks. It is just not his game at this stage.
Lack of physical edge – Finlayson at this point lacks a physical edge to his game and does not give the sense that he will crash a pack, or impact on opposition bodies in any way. He does not attack the contest or win much contested footy as a tall primarily getting his ball in uncontested situations.
1v1 ability – Finlayson at this stage lacks the ability in the 1v1 contest to consistently beat his opponent.
Strength – Finlayson at this point still is developing his frame and he is starting to put some weight onto his frame but that is still at this point a work in progress.
Tackling ability – Finlayson as the season has progressed has improved his tackling but at this stage he is not laying as many tackles as someone with his motor and movement should be and he also could with his lacking as a big guy be doing some more damage and really looking to bury guys in his tackles more.
Scoreboard impact – In the front half Finlayson can at times kick two or three goals but at this point he does not give the sense that he will go off and kick a bag of goals.
Skillset – Finlayson by hand is reliable and finds his targets. By foot he has a nice long 55m kick on him and his set shot conversion is fairly good. He also at times shows that he can find some really good leading targets long up the field or inside 50. In saying that his kicking while good in some respects is not up to the level it needs to get to. He is not a natural finisher from general play around goal at this stage and his kicking efficiency is also lower than it needs to be, too often he kicks long to a contest rather than lowering his eyes and finding a higher percentage option. And he can at times also shank some of his kicks, lacking some consistency at times at this point. What I expect will improve:I expect Finlayson to become stronger and develop his body to some extent and I imagine his skillset and hard edge will to some extent improve but otherwise I imagine he will continue to improve upon his areas of strength at the next level.
Who he can become?As a forward Finlayson has a feel not unlike a poor man’s Adam Tomlinson as a high production centre half forward who will find a lot of his ball up the field.
As a backman I feel Finlayson can develop into something like a poor man’s Lachlan Hansen as a tall intercept marking threat in the back half. When will he be ready to play?Finlayson will take time and likely will be hoping in season four to become a regular at AFL level. How to best utilise him?Finlayson while he has not played all that much in the back half I sense that will be his best opportunity to make the grade. Key forwards at AFL level need to be dominant and special talents and I do not see that with Finlayson. Down back though given his speed and endurance I feel he has an opportunity to develop into a very good centre half back and given his ability to read the play I sense he would in the back half have the ability to develop into a very good intercept marking backman.
Interpretation of his numbers: Finlayson is well performed and is an elite accumulator by position finding lots of the ball around the ground and taking elite uncontested mark numbers but he does not win much contested ball or take many contested marks. His disposal efficiency is lower than ideally would be the case and his goal per game numbers are only average.




33. Harris Andrews (Bris – Academy - QLD – KPF/KPD)
Height: 198cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 12/11/1996
Recruited from: Aspley
Draft range: 2nd/3rd round
Best position/role: Full back.
Strengths: Versatility – Can play key forward, key defence or ruck well. As a forward he has shown that he can hit the scoreboard and provide strong scoreboard impact. As a key defender he has shown that he can shut down opponents. And as a ruckman while he more likely is a part time ruckman his tap work has also been very good.
Athleticism – Andrews is an excellent athlete by position. He is strong and looks like he will continue to add size to his frame and get much stronger but he also moves exceptionally well and has nice pace, agility, endurance and leaping ability for someone his size.
Late bloomer/upside – Andrews from what I understand grew later and has only over the past year or so really added weight to his frame and with that being the case often comes strong scope to further improve. He has as the season has progressed improved significantly which can be seen in his upward trending numbers through the TAC Cup and his other late season performances and with this the case it can reasonably be assumed that he will continue improving at a strong rate over coming seasons. Additionally the December birthday only increases the this feeling with Andrews.
Shutdown game – In the back half Andrews is an effective shutdown key defender as someone who 1v1 has the strength to stay in the contest and get a spoil in. He also has good closing speed and can stick with his opponents on the lead.
Contested marking ability – A high proportion of Andrews’ marks are contested, particularly in the back half where he is in the most part reluctant to leave his opponent to take intercept marks instead sticking with them and taking the occasional 1v1 mark or pack grab. Also impressive with his marking ability is his ability to take the mark at the highest point, which as a guy as tall as Andrews is, is hard to defend. He can at times drop some marks and even some easy uncontested marks but in the most part his work overhead has been impressive. In the front half Andrews is mostly a marking forward as someone who can take pack marks, 1v1 marks, marks on the lead and at times some marks in the air.
Scoreboard impact – When played in the front half Andrews has shown in the past that he can provide strong scoreboard impact kicking big goal totals weekly at the lower levels in Queensland.
Skillset – Andrews for a tall has a relatively sound skillset. His disposal efficiency is excellent and by hand and foot he has the ability to hit his targets and he can convert from his set shot opportunities in front of goal.
Weaknesses:Ability to find the footy – While he is finding more of the footy and getting more involved as the season has progressed Andrews at this stage forward, back and through the ruck is a relatively low production player.
Uncontested ball winning ability – At this stage Andrews collects an exceptionally high proportion of his ball from contested situations and at this stage struggles to find much easy, uncontested ball.
Unproven goalkicker against better competition – At this stage Andrews has only dominated in the front half against young Queensland competition and while he is against better competition capable of kicking the occasional goal we have not yet seen him out and out dominate against better competition. But then against he has received limited opportunities to do this playing much of the season as a key defender, and when he has played forward he has often also had to take on some ruck minutes which has limited his potential for heavy scoreboard impact.
Intercept marking ability – At this stage Andrews is a relatively unproven intercept mark as a low volume intercept mark at this stage, who in the most part sticks to his role of beating his direct opponent. What I expect will improve:I expect Andrews to continue to build his strength and continue to become a stronger 1v1 player. I anticipate he develops into more a key defender so I expect the negating aspects of his game improve and for the intercept marking side of his game to grow.
Who he can become?Andrews has the scope to develop into something similar to Joel Tippett as a similar tall, strong, athletic type who can play a role in the back half.
When will he be ready to play?Andrews will take time to develop and I imagine season three we will start to see him and season four will be the season he looks to establish himself as part of a best team.
How to best utilise him?Andrews looks best utilised at full back as a tall key defender who has the body to develop the strength to go with the bigger key forwards in the game.
Interpretation of his numbers:Andrews’ numbers are relatively lean overall but trending sharply upward. Most of his touches at this point come from contested possessions and a high proportion of his marks are contested marks. His disposal efficiency for a big is also excellent.




34. Edward Vickers-Willis (VIC – Util)
Height: 190cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 28/03/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Draft range: 15-45
Best position/role: Half back flank.

Strengths: Disposal efficiency – Vickers-Willis is an efficient user of the ball by hand and foot using it efficiently both through the TAC Cup, but then also through the U18 Championships where he had a disposal efficiency of above 80%.
Skillset – Vickers-Willis is a clean user of the ball by hand and foot. He hits his targets and by foot has penetration out to 55m. He can occasionally both by hand and foot put a bit too much force behind his touches and slightly overkick/overhandball but otherwise his action is clean and the results good as someone generally has some time and space with the foot and has a good feel for who is around him. He consistently makes good decisions with ball in hand and shows good vision, at times finding good targets up the field.
Movement – Vickers-Willis has a real fluidity to his movement. He is not a freak athlete who will break the lines at pace or do anything freakish but he moves well and looks natural with ball in hand and covers the ground reasonably well and has good endurance.
Linkup ability – Vickers-Willis is a capable linkup player as someone who has good running patterns, can find some space on the outside at times and can take marks around the ground but then also uses it well by hand and foot.
Versatility – Given his well-rounded game Vickers-Willis has the versatility to play down back, through the midfield in inside or outside roles or in the front half.
Ability in the back half – Vickers-Willis in the back half is an effective rebounder as a very good intercept mark who reads it well in the back half and is a reliable mark. He provides good, reliable rebounding with his footskills to a target good. He also is capable of beating his direct opponent and limiting their influence as someone who can stay with his opponents 1v1 but also is quick enough to stay with them around the ground.
Upside – Vickers-Willis has shown strong continued improvement going from where he was at last year to continuing to improve this year, have a strong U18 Championships and close out the season well. He is also said to be a hard trainer and as a taller type who is on the improve it can reasonably be assumed that he has good scope to further improve his game.
Weaknesses:Ability to influence matches – At this stage Vickers-Willis can sometimes have up to 25 disposals you may not notice him once. His touches feel quiet and you do not necessarily notice any of them unless watching him closely. He just looks like another player out there and he just feels like another player participating in the game rather than someone who is actively influencing the outcome making any one game changing or meaningful play.
Scoreboard impact – To this point Vickers-Willis has not demonstrated heavy scoreboard impact, only kicking the one goal through the TAC Cup this season and no goals through the U18 Championships. What I expect will improve:Vickers-Willis has the ability to become a more damaging player and hit the scoreboard more frequently given his relatively long kick and as a taller type with a body that is developing well there is also the opportunity that he further improves the contested side of his game.
Who he can become?Vickers-Willis has the scope to develop into something similar to Andy Otten as a similar quality player with similar versatility at his height.
When will he be ready to play?Vickers-Willis may start to see game time at AFL level in season two and likely come season three will be looking to establish himself as a regular at AFL level.
How to best utilise him?Vickers-Willis looks best utilised as a tall back flanker as someone who seems to have a good balance between defence and offense.
Interpretation of his numbers:His disposal per game numbers are only average through the TAC Cup but trending upwards based on what he did last year and earlier in the season. He has excellent numbers through the U18 Championships and had a disposal efficiency of over 80% which is elite. He has a good balance between contested and uncontested ball winning numbers. His mark per game numbers are excellent and he is capable of both taking intercept marks and linking up. His scoreboard impact is poor and tackles per game numbers are below average.

 

[Knightmare]

35. Tom Lamb (VIC – Util)Height:192cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Draft range: 10-35 Best position/role: Medium forward.
Strengths:Endurance and athleticism – Lamb has excellent endurance finishing sub 10 minutes over 3km and scoring a 15+ beep score. In game Lamb at times shows his very good leaping ability and also shows in game some above average pace for someone his height. I also after marks like his tendency to play on and take the game on, he often recognises when the man on the mark is tired and will go at the right times when he is confident he can get by the man on the mark. Versatility – Lamb has at times played forward, back and through the midfield, getting opportunities in each area of the ground.
Ground level ability – Lamb is clean below the knees with his pickups. He has some natural crumbing ability and can be used at times as a front and centre option. His second and third efforts also are excellent and he will go from one contest onto the next contest.
Hits the ball at pace – Lamb has shown on many occasions that he can hit the ball at pace and win it and continue accelerating without any pause, such is his cleanness.
Offensive positioning – Lamb, particularly when played behind the ball will continually be running behind a player or behind the back of a pack giving his teammates an option to pass to as security and as a result he finds lots of easy uncontested ball through this method.
Ability to read the flight of the ball – Lamb reads the flight of the ball well and generally does a good job getting to the drop of the ball.
Scoreboard impact – When given regular opportunity in the front half while it might not happen every week Lamb can on his good days provide some heavy scoreboard impact and as he showed in round one v Gippsland Power with his six goals in that game.
Weaknesses:Inconsistent – From game to game Lamb does not always bring the same effort and intent at the contest as a result from game to game has mixed and inconsistent results.
Intensity – Lamb often lacks intensity to his game and can at times lack that intent to go for and win the contested ball. He is capable of winning the contested ball and his contested ball winning numbers are reasonably good, but he can at times pick and choose when he goes and he does not always bring the physical presence around the contest that he at his height should.
Work by hand – Lamb by hand while he has improved as the season has progressed he is still very poor and sloppy with his work by hand, rarely connecting sweetly with the ball. He can often miss his targets by hand and when rushed or under pressure will often miss targets by hand altogether, just lacking that bit of composure.
Defensive smarts – Lamb when played in the back half too often loses his opponent and does not often enough sit between his opponent and the oppositions goals or pay enough attention to his direct opponent. He also too often protects the wrong spaces in defence and just needs to go through the learning of where he needs to be, when. At the moment the question of whether it is just laziness or lack of understanding whether to be springs to mind but his positioning is just that bad, that often at the moment I can only assume it is a lack of understanding where to be.
Marking ability – Lamb is a threat on the lead and in the air to take some marks, and is hard to defend as a result but overhead can at times lack consistency and drop some marks he should consistently take.
Decision making ability – Lamb with ball in hand is prone to making poor, rushed decisions by hand and foot lacking composure. Footskills – Lamb’s footskills at the start of the year were poor with his field kicking to targets inconsistent and his set shot goalkicking inconsistent but as the season has progressed he has shown significant improvement, particularly in his ability to hit his targets over a variety of distances and also has shown improved vision finding some good targets at times up the ground when he has time and space with the ball which is encouraging. Next he will need to improve his work when he does not have as much time to dispose of the ball with that still seeming to be a challenge for Lamb.
Lack of a best position – At this stage given Lamb has been thrown around and played in so many different positions it is hard to say with certainty where his best position is.
Disposal efficiency – Lamb’s disposal efficiency is poor with a disposal efficiency through the U18 Championships of less than 60% and similarly poor through the TAC Cup. A lot of it has to do with his poor work by hand and his poor ability to dispose of the ball while under pressure. What I expect will improve:I think Lamb can continue to improve his footskills given the improvement he was showing us this season and he has an opportunity to find a best position with continued play in a set position or role I feel Lamb will remain a frustrating and inconsistent player throughout his career.
Who he can become?I see Lamb as being similar to Mitch Morton. Terrific talent and like Morton I feel Lamb is best suited and Lamb similarly can also in the front half at times do some real damage but I also expect similar frustrations and inconsistencies with Lamb.
When will he be ready to play?Lamb I anticipate will take some time to develop and in season two I imagine he will be starting to push for some senior AFL opportunities and come season three I imagine he will be working towards regular senior AFL games.
How to best utilise him?Lamb I feel is best utilised in the front half as a medium forward. He has the talent to on his day hit the scoreboard in bunches and given his endurance he is someone who I can see working over some opposition defenders with his ability to push up the ground.
Interpretation of his numbers:Lamb’s numbers by position are good but not dominant and are up and down from game to game. His disposal efficiency is below average. His mark and tackle numbers per game are both fairly good. His scoreboard impact when forward while inconsistent is also relatively good.





36. Clem Smith (WA - Util)Height:177cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Perth
Draft range: 10-35
Best position/role: Forward pocket as a tackling specialist.
Strengths: Does all the hard stuff – Smith is not a big guy and not tall either but he has a rare presence to him with the way he hits guys, bumps, tackles and hits the contests harder than anyone else on the field. Acceleration – Smith has excellent linebreaking ability and enjoys taking on the game and proving meaningful run and carry which he does frequently in game.
Chasedown tackling - In addition to using his pace to take on the game Smith also uses his pace very well to chase down and the opposition player with ball in hand and is someone who will find that extra gear to go even harder after the man whenever there is a chance to tackle them, just enjoying that side of the game to that extent.
Versatility – Smith has the ability to play in the back half as a linebreaker, in the front half and occasionally push into the midfield.
Bodywork in the contest – Smith uses his body well in the contest and has the ability to work into front position and protect the drop zone, reading the flight of the ball well.
Goalsense – Not that Smith has played forward much but in the small glimpse I have seen of him forward he has shown good goal sense and the quick ability to get the ball onto his boot.
Proven performer – Smith both in 2013 and 2014 has been among WA’s best performed players, really putting his stamp on games and finding strong numbers. He has also this year in WA played 10 games at League level and on game at reserves level, and in all games had 10 or more disposals which suggests to me that he will have no difficulty playing against bigger bodies at AFL level.
Weaknesses:Footskills – Smith’s work by foot is a work in progress and at this point badly lacks consistency, often either over or underkicking the ball, also shanking it too frequently. He also lacks composure and when under pressure will look to just get it onto his boot quickly and blast away to no one in particular.
Tackling – Hard and aggressive as he is with his tackling just burying guys in his tackles, he consistently goes in too high with his tackles and at too great a speed, hitting the man at full pace, without slowing up for that one step to bend the knees and get down low for the tackle. The result of this is he led all comers through the U18 Championships in free kicks against, with too many free kicks against given directly as a result of his poor method of technique.
Lack of discipline – There is a difference between intent to win the ball and intent to injure guys and Smith is current on the intent to injure guy’s side of the spectrum. He has some real fight and aggression to him which is terrific but channelling that aggression and hard edge I expect will remain a challenge.
Endurance – Smith badly lacks endurance at this point, testing poorly for endurance at the draft combine. He visibly has high skinfolds and I imagine it would be a combination of poor diet and laziness contributing to this. What I expect will improve:I expect Smith while he can improve to overall remain much the same player he is today as a smaller type who has a feel where he will always be rough around the edges. I imagine he will continue into the future to frustrate with his footskills, lack of discipline, lack of endurance and his high tackling so he is someone you take based on whether you are happy with who he is today.
Who he can become?Clem Smith has long had Byron Pickett written all over him as that undisciplined but talented sub 180cm indigenous footballer. When will he be ready to play?Smith is season one ready to play if looking for an injection of hardness and physical play given what he has already achieved through the U18 Championships and at WAFL League level.
How to best utilise him?Smith’s best chance of making the grade and becoming a long term player I feel will be in the front half in a forward pocket as a small pressure forward who while he has mostly played up the field feels uniquely suited to this role as someone key forwards who I imagine love to play alongside.
Interpretation of his numbers:Smith is an exceptionally well performed footballer accumulating excellent numbers through the U18 Championships for the past two seasons and also showing that he is capable of playing against more seasoned bodies at WAFL League level, finding 10+ disposals in each of his 10 games and averaging over 15 disposals per game. His free kicks against numbers both through the U18 Championships and at WAFL League level are concerning and far too high with his free kick against numbers the highest of all participants through the U18 Championships. His disposal efficiency is also low and will need to improve.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

#38 Fremantle - Alex Urban (VIC – Mid)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 27/07/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Style: Sam Mitchell
Player comparison:
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Urban is one of the really high quality smaller inside midfielders in this draft. He’s a hard, high production contested winning midfielder with excellent strength in the contest and the strength to not go to ground when getting tackled with his core strength and strength through the hips excellent. He’s also for an inside player an excellent user of the footy both by hand and foot.

Played footy from under 12's to under 16's with Alex. If he is picked in the 30's he is a genuine steal. Have never seen someone change a game like he did.

 

[Dav1d]

It will be terrifying if Gold Coast land Weller & Duggan; so many classy mids as it is

I'd love the Bulldogs to grab Pickett as well at this point, haven't got a young player outside of VIC for a while(with the exception of the mature ager Fuller)

 

[Jars458]

Any decent rucks this year? Boy do we need one.