I think that we can all agree that our Tall forwards remain our greatest area of concern, with perhaps only the ruck the other position we are in need of some help. I for one was and to an extent am still very surprised with our decision to take Gysberts at 11 ILO Talia or another tall forward.
Now I understand the great modern teams are founded on midfields that have elite midfielders as 5th or even 6th change but with the guys we already had and Scully and Trengove already in the bag I thought we would go needs.
However I just noticed that the AFL’s prospectus for 2010 draftees has no less than 7 KPF listed in the top 25. Last year Butcher was the only real stand out, with Talia and Carlisle defenders come forwards. I can’t help but think there was more than just a little method to our madness at the draft table last year…[/B]
For those interested those at TAC level to watch are as follows:
Lucas Cook – 195cm, 80kg – Key Forward – North Ballarat
In 2008 Cook played three matches for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under – 16 Championships, averaging 13 disposals, three marks, and 4 inside 50’s, and also 5 matches for North Ballarat in the TAC Cup. He backed this up to play 15 games as a lead up key forward, scoring 14 goals at an accuracy of 64%. He also tallied 23 score assists – ranked equal 9th in the competition.
Jack Darling – 190cm, 86kg – General Forward – West Perth
Darling is a tall forward with terrific speed and is strong overhead highlighted by his average of more than two contested marks per game in 19 matches Champion Data has covered. IN 2008 he averaged 18 disposals, 8 marks and seven inside 50’s for Western Australia at the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. These figures included an outstanding performance against South Australia in which he had 19 disposals at an efficiency of 88%, nine marks including seven contested, eight tackles, seven inside 50’s, 4 goals and 4 goal assists to accumulate a whopping 308 Champion Data points – the most ever recorded in any game. At the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, although undersized, he played centre half forward and averaged 13 disposals and five marks, while kicking 14 goals and assisting in another 15 scoring shots. He was subsequently selected at centre half forward in the under-18 All-Australian team. At just 17 years of age Darling made his debut at WAFL League level in Round 17, playing 6 matches at an average of 10 disposals, three marks and 2 goals per game.
Sam Day – 196cm, 80kg – Key Forward – Sturt
Day has played high-level basketball and is also an outstanding baseballer. He is athletic, has strong hands, competes well and played 6 matches for Sturt Under-18’s in 2009 as a key forward and ruckman. From those appearances he scored 9 goals and averaged 11 disposals and 10 hit-outs per match. For South Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18’s Championships, he racked up 37 disposals in 4 matches at an elite efficiency of 87%.
Scott Lycett – 202cm, 91kg – Key Forward – Port Adelaide
At 202cm Lycett is a key forward and also more than competent ruckman. IN 2009 he played eight matches for Port Adelaide Magpies in SANFL Under-18’s competition, averaging 16 disposals, five marks and 13 hit-outs per match, while also scoring 18 goals for the season including 5 against Glenelg in Round 10. He played six matches at reserves level and two matches for South Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in which he averaged 11 disposals, four marks, including two contested, and booted 3 goals in total.
Steven May – 190cm, 83kg – Key Forward – Southern Districts
May first appeared at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. He played again at that level in 2008, generating 27 shots at goal in four games for a return of 14 goals, and also played in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships that year. Playing as a key forward at the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships he presented well and provided strong contests to average 15 disposals, five marks, and kick a total of eight goals in five games. His total of eight contested marks ranked him seventh overall in the competition, while his seven marks on the lead ranked him second.
Luke Mitchell – 195cm, 83kg – Key Forward – Calder Cannons
Mitchell is a key position forward who played four matches for Vic Metro in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships and also two games for Calder in the TAC Cup at the end of that season. In 2009 he played 12 matches for Calder and was instrumental in their success. His 28 goals ranked him equal 14th on the TAC Cup goal kicking ladder and his 80 marks at an average of 7 per match was elite, which included 26 contested and 21 on the lead.
Jamie Solly – 190cm, 84kg – Key Forward – Port Adelaide
Solly represented South Australia at the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships where he averaged 15 disposals and scored 11 goals across three matches. Last year he played 16 matches at SANFL under-18 level, averaging 18 disposals and six marks per match while ranking fifth on the goal kicking ladder with 34 for the season. AT the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships he played 3 games to average seven disposals and two marks, while also kicking three goals from eight scoring shots.
Now I understand the great modern teams are founded on midfields that have elite midfielders as 5th or even 6th change but with the guys we already had and Scully and Trengove already in the bag I thought we would go needs.
However I just noticed that the AFL’s prospectus for 2010 draftees has no less than 7 KPF listed in the top 25. Last year Butcher was the only real stand out, with Talia and Carlisle defenders come forwards. I can’t help but think there was more than just a little method to our madness at the draft table last year…[/B]
For those interested those at TAC level to watch are as follows:
Lucas Cook – 195cm, 80kg – Key Forward – North Ballarat
In 2008 Cook played three matches for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under – 16 Championships, averaging 13 disposals, three marks, and 4 inside 50’s, and also 5 matches for North Ballarat in the TAC Cup. He backed this up to play 15 games as a lead up key forward, scoring 14 goals at an accuracy of 64%. He also tallied 23 score assists – ranked equal 9th in the competition.
Jack Darling – 190cm, 86kg – General Forward – West Perth
Darling is a tall forward with terrific speed and is strong overhead highlighted by his average of more than two contested marks per game in 19 matches Champion Data has covered. IN 2008 he averaged 18 disposals, 8 marks and seven inside 50’s for Western Australia at the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. These figures included an outstanding performance against South Australia in which he had 19 disposals at an efficiency of 88%, nine marks including seven contested, eight tackles, seven inside 50’s, 4 goals and 4 goal assists to accumulate a whopping 308 Champion Data points – the most ever recorded in any game. At the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, although undersized, he played centre half forward and averaged 13 disposals and five marks, while kicking 14 goals and assisting in another 15 scoring shots. He was subsequently selected at centre half forward in the under-18 All-Australian team. At just 17 years of age Darling made his debut at WAFL League level in Round 17, playing 6 matches at an average of 10 disposals, three marks and 2 goals per game.
Sam Day – 196cm, 80kg – Key Forward – Sturt
Day has played high-level basketball and is also an outstanding baseballer. He is athletic, has strong hands, competes well and played 6 matches for Sturt Under-18’s in 2009 as a key forward and ruckman. From those appearances he scored 9 goals and averaged 11 disposals and 10 hit-outs per match. For South Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18’s Championships, he racked up 37 disposals in 4 matches at an elite efficiency of 87%.
Scott Lycett – 202cm, 91kg – Key Forward – Port Adelaide
At 202cm Lycett is a key forward and also more than competent ruckman. IN 2009 he played eight matches for Port Adelaide Magpies in SANFL Under-18’s competition, averaging 16 disposals, five marks and 13 hit-outs per match, while also scoring 18 goals for the season including 5 against Glenelg in Round 10. He played six matches at reserves level and two matches for South Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in which he averaged 11 disposals, four marks, including two contested, and booted 3 goals in total.
Steven May – 190cm, 83kg – Key Forward – Southern Districts
May first appeared at the 2007 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. He played again at that level in 2008, generating 27 shots at goal in four games for a return of 14 goals, and also played in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships that year. Playing as a key forward at the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships he presented well and provided strong contests to average 15 disposals, five marks, and kick a total of eight goals in five games. His total of eight contested marks ranked him seventh overall in the competition, while his seven marks on the lead ranked him second.
Luke Mitchell – 195cm, 83kg – Key Forward – Calder Cannons
Mitchell is a key position forward who played four matches for Vic Metro in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships and also two games for Calder in the TAC Cup at the end of that season. In 2009 he played 12 matches for Calder and was instrumental in their success. His 28 goals ranked him equal 14th on the TAC Cup goal kicking ladder and his 80 marks at an average of 7 per match was elite, which included 26 contested and 21 on the lead.
Jamie Solly – 190cm, 84kg – Key Forward – Port Adelaide
Solly represented South Australia at the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships where he averaged 15 disposals and scored 11 goals across three matches. Last year he played 16 matches at SANFL under-18 level, averaging 18 disposals and six marks per match while ranking fifth on the goal kicking ladder with 34 for the season. AT the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships he played 3 games to average seven disposals and two marks, while also kicking three goals from eight scoring shots.
