National Draft Pick #17 - Michael Apeness

[Seppo]

Former club:Eastern Ranges
DOB: 28/01/1995
Height: 199cm
Weight:101kg
Position: Ruckman/Forward

 

[Beeawwb_SP]

Come on, you Apeness; you wanna live forever?!

 

[Redgum]

another ruckman?????? you're kidding me

 

[BleedPurple]

Welcome Michael Apeness! Pumped to see a KPF

 

[theGav56]

Got the gorilla forward we have been looking our for. Welcome, His Apeness.

 

[ROYISHUNGRY]

Foookkkkk more ruck we need KPF could almost think we could take J Marsh at this pick

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

 

[stormee]

He isn't a ruck he's a KPF.

 

[pavsbootlace]

Love the highlights package. This kid has a great set of mitts on him. Exactly what we need. And at 101kgs he might be playing sooner rather than later. Averaged 4.9 marks per game in the TAC cup. Sounds like a good call.

Welcome aboard Apeshit!

 

[muzzington]

Love the highlights package. This kid has a great set of mitts on him. Exactly what we need. And at 101kgs he might be playing sooner rather than later. Averaged 4.9 marks per game in the TAC cup. Sounds like a good call.

Welcome aboard Apeshit!

Best name yet.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Is he a natural ruck or forward?

 

[The Black Sheep]

I wonder if Eddie will make any King Kong references if he ever calls a game with this guy playing in it?

 

[DOCKERZ]

Gotta like the kids kicking action.

 

[Wizard]

Very kurt Tippett like by the look & sound of him.

 

[pavsbootlace]

Is he a natural ruck or forward?

From our recruiters: Michael is a key forward/ruckmen who had a breakout year after coming back to AFL from two years away with the Melbourne Rebels rugby union junior squad. He played mainly at full-forward with Eastern Rangers, but also had stints as a key defender and ruckman. For Eastern, he took 46 contested marks and kicked 25.16 goals for the season. He played more as a ruckman for Vic Metro where he averaged 19 hitouts a game (5.2 to advantage) highlighting his smarts with his tap-work. He also averaged 2 clearances a game, highlighting his second efforts and ability to follow up. Michael is a powerful player who possesses good natural aggression. He's a terrific contested mark, and if he isn't able to mark it he always brings the ball to ground to allow the smalls into the game. The week after Michael played in a premiership for the Eastern Rangers, he went to the draft combine and ran a 10.55 3km time trial, highlighting his endurance. Michael has huge upside given the lack of footy he's played over the past few years.

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2013-11-21/first-draft-pick

 

[FreoBob]

H

Is he a natural ruck or forward?

At 200cm when your an 18 year old, your gonna be put in the ruck sometime. But I believe this bloke is a KPF and also a player we can build a side around when the Pav's career is finished.

 

[Nickos66]

Sweet, Freo finally have their gorilla forward!

 

[yakka man]

Needs based pick. Certainly looks a very good, strong marking prospect.

Can't shake the ACL fears though, but KPP's usually recover better from ACL's.

 

[Darcy 2 Fyfe]

Rugby background too. I reckon he will be busting a few packs open with a full preseason or 2 under his belt. Don't think I'd want to sit in the hole with him steaming out on a lead from FF.

 

[Freo_4eva]

Legitimate Hulking KPF size (almost exact same dimensions as Boyd).. if we couldn't get McCarthy, cant complain that they took the punt

I would say would get some gametime next year too if he has a decent pre season.

 

[more_of_bito]

The Gorilla.

200cm KPF for Vic's, spent 2 years in rugby. Massive upside.

 

[raffrox]

He does look pretty athletic for his size. From reports he is more of a forward which can pinch-hit in the ruck.

If he does develop further this could be a very good pick. Its a pity that we waited so many years to draft a KPF though as we missed Acres because of it.

 

[Dockernut]

Welcome aboard big monkey.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Looks like he can play both FF and ruck. At his age he could develop either way. Let's hope it becomes more the former than the latter. Let's get him up front at Peel and kicking a few goals.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Notice the commentators calling app-ness rather than ape-ness.

Maybe we could come up with a nickname based on app. The goal-kicking App?

 

[Pusswah]

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2013-11-21/first-draft-pick
Michael is a powerful player who possesses good natural aggression. He's a terrific contested mark, and if he isn't able to mark it he always brings the ball to ground to allow the smalls into the game.