SCPaige
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Originally published via Bound for Glory News 12/6/2014. See the rest here
http://boundforglorynews.com/paige-cardonas-phantom-draft-1-0/
Pick 1: Greater Western Sydney - Sam Durdin
Position: Utility
Height: 197 cm, Weight: 89 kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Club: West Adelaide
Projected Draft Range: Top five
Plays Like: Ben Reid
Sam Durdin’s National Championships for South Australia will play a huge role in exactly how high he goes in the draft this year, since starting the year late due to a ruptured tendon in his thumb. He started the carnival slowly with lower numbers that his usual quota, but a standout game in round three has seen his average bump up to 12.6 disposals at 70% efficiency, four marks, 6.3 contested possessions and two inside 50s. Durdin is widely regarded as not only as the best swingman on the open market but also as the best key position defender, too. At 197 cm, he’s a touch taller than Hugh Goddard but his athleticism, rangy frame and the way he attacks the ball both in the air offensively and defensively make a compelling statement of the overall player that he is. Durdin has shown an appetite to be utilised in the ruck, where his reach and nous to palm the ball down to his midfielders has won plaudits. Unlike most key defenders who prefer to distribute the ball by hand, Durdin loves to use his raking right boot to hit up targets, not too dissimilar to Collingwood’s Ben Reid and North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson. He moves in a Lachie Henderson-type mould in the sense that he goes well in the air and below his knees. His game against Western Australia was significant; he gathered 17 disposals and four marks, whilst notching 11 hit-outs making a big statement at the top level. He has already shown he’s more than adept to playing senior football, and could very well contest for the number one pick, depending on the final standings.
Pick 2: St Kilda - Patrick McCartin
Position: Key forward
Height: 193 cm, Weight: 95 kg, DOB: 19/04/1996
Club: Geelong Falcons
Projected Draft Range: Top five
Plays Like: Jonathan Brown
Only one bag away from becoming the clear number one seletion, Patrick McCartin might be one of the smartest and influential key forwards in a draft that is rich in key position talent. The big, lead-up forward has a presence on the field, and that’s not just because of the aggression he asserts or the fear he strikes in those looking to get in his way. McCartin has a great turn of foot, and his physicality he displays one-on-one makes him one of, if not the most significant key forwards available in this draft crop. McCartin relishes the one-on-one contest, especially when he’s isolated one-out in the goal square – it’s where he does his best work. With such strong body position, he’s rarely beaten because he understands where to protect the drop of the ball, and how to utilise his strong core and upper body to edge his opponent out of the contest. If he’s unable to clunk a pack mark, which he does often, he’s smart enough to bring the ball to ground and crash packs to spill the ball to the advantage of his smaller teammates. It’s well known McCartin has diabetes, but his professionalism and training loads whilst managing it have been highly commendable. This will no way affect the way he plays football at the next level.
Pick 3: Brisbane - Peter Wright
Position: Key Forward/Ruckman
Height: 203 cm, Weight: 102 kg, DOB: 08/09/1996
Club: Calder Cannons
Projected Draft Range: Top 5
Plays like: Mitch Clark/Matthew Leuenberger
Nicknamed “two-metre Peter”, Peter Wright is an athletic and agile strong marking key forward whose best position, whether ruck or key forward, still causes debate. Up forward, Wright’s leading patterns make him one of the most threatening and dangerous forwards in the competition. He utilises his speed off the mark, which often enables to him to really break away from his opponent, but it’s his marking game which really holds him in good stead. Wright loves to take the ball out in front or overhead, and his reach on the ball is so prolific he marks the ball at its highest point, giving his opponent minimal chance to spoil. The biggest draw card of Wright’s game however, is the depth of his kicking which is coupled with rare accuracy. He gets such range on the ball, and is so precise that he often slots textbook drop punts from well outside 50. This was the case in the game against Geelong under lights, where four of his six goals were from outside the arc. If Wright is struggling to get into the game, his versatility to be thrust into the ruck with impact is something that will be highly regarded in November. As a ruckman, Wright has terrific extension and reads the tap well enough to feed his rovers with first use. The Cannons have been working with Wright this year to see him really use his frame as a weapon, and instil a bit of aggression and physicality in his game, something he has lacked. Although he towers over TAC Cup competition, it’s simple things like throwing an arm back and getting physical that’ll really add another dynamic into his game. Wright has had a quiet start to the championships, averaging just 11.5 disposals at 91% efficiency, 1.5 goals, four marks, 3.5 clearances, four contested possessions and one inside 50.
Pick 4: Melbourne - Christian Petracca
Position: Medium forward/midfielder
Height: 186 cm, Weight: 92 kg, DOB: 04/01/1996
Club: Eastern Ranges
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Dustin Martin/Josh P Kennedy
Nicknamed ‘Quadzilla’, Christian Petracca’s game would lead you to believe that he’s a key forward because the stranglehold he puts on a game is unlike any other in the competition. Petracca is physically built for his age, and his development was fast-tracked further at the Ranges in 2013 when fellow forward Tom Boyd was sidelined for several months with an ankle injury. This made him a revelation as the Ranges stormed home to take the 2013 TAC Cup Premiership. Petracca is a man-child at 92 kilograms, but he plays taller than his 186 centimetres. Coming into the 2014 season as a late inclusion into the AFL-AIS side, it was widely regarded that Petracca would have to add another string to his bow to really become an elite player at the next level, and that’s what he’s done. Not to be pigeon-holed as forward, Petracca has since stamped himself as a legitimate midfielder, who has also played roles off half back. Since dropping six kilograms on his 2013 playing weight, Petracca is getting around the ground with ease and so far in the National Championships has displayed the ability to be a high-production midfielder, averaging 29 disposals at 75% efficiency, one goal, seven marks, four tackles, 5.5 clearances, 10 contested possessions and five inside 50s. Up forward, Petracca is rarely beaten. His body positioning is first class, and he edges his opponents under the ball using his backside and protecting the drop of the ball. His leading patterns are well driven, but it’s his scoreboard impact that is incredibly profound. He kicks goals from all angles, he gets depth and accuracy enough that you would back him in from outside 50, and is the type of player who can string together multiple goals in as many minutes to break a game open. Ultimately in terms of development I see Petracca as a Josh Kennedy type who could grow to become an elite inside midfielder who can rest forward and have an impact on the game.
Pick 5: Western Bulldogs – Jarrod Pickett
Position: Small midfielder/utility
Height: 179 cm, Weight: 76 kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Club: South Fremantle
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Lewis Jetta (more consistent)
In a day and age where disposal is king and the need for speed to break lines and hurt teams on the counter attack is highly favoured, Jarrod Pickett can play any role handed to him. which is what makes his projection as a top five talent by some recruiters as one to salivate over. Pickett’s consistency to offer serious hurt factor by foot is his draw card: his kicks are weighted perfectly on either side of his body, and he instinctively understands the momentum of the game which is dictated by his disposal. He knows when to take the game on and play a high risk, high reward football as much as he understands when to maintain possession and take the heat out of a game. That, coupled with his energetic type of play, his pace, x-factor and consistency to hit the scoreboard – he’s kicked goals in all three of his National Championships games so far – makes Pickett one of the most sought after midfield types this year. Pickett was one of a number of bottom-age Western Australians to feature in last year’s National Championships who made a serious impact in each game he played, however he is largely an outside player who wins a good amount of the ball. Given Hugh Goddard is more of a second-tall type, it wouldn’t be beyond the Bulldogs to take a quick, outside midfielder to address speed and play-making ability with so many inside midfielders already at the club. He currently averages 17 disposals, 1.6 goals, 3.3 marks, 2.6 clearances, 7.6 contested possessions and four inside 50’s.
Pick 6: Richmond - Hugh Goddard
Position: Key forward/defender
Height: 196 cm, Weight: 93 kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Club: Geelong Falcons
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays like: Jack Watts
The cousin of former number one draft pick Brendon, Hugh is just as diligent and professional in his approach on and off the field as his successful cousin, and shares similar traits in the way he plays. Goddard, a Melbourne Grammar boy, could have quite easily have elected to play for Sandringham, but travels frequently up and down the highway to and from Geelong for training sessions and games. Goddard was a strong player as a bottom-ager alongside fellow Falcon, Paddy McCartin, however in the National Championships last year Goddard was trialled across defence, a position he grasped with both hands. It has made him one of three elite swingmen in this year’s draft pool. Goddard reads the play exceptionally well as a forward, and he has a quick burst of speed off the mark that helps him break away from his opponent. Down back he’s not afraid to play metres off his man to take an intercept mark and rebound from half back, which is something that comes to him naturally. Goddard’s ground level work for a big guy is quite impressive, also. He gets down low and has really good athleticism and touch to pick up a ground ball, bend his knees and either weave around an opponent or dish off to a teammate to set up goal. One of the real hallmarks of Goddard’s game is his leap. He gets elite extension standing still or on the run, and does have that ability to really break open a game. Although Goddard is still closing the gap to remain in the game across four quarters, he is really yet to make a big impression in any of the National Championships games so far in 2014 with an average of just 7.3 disposals, one goal, two marks, two tackles, three clangers, four contested possessions at 64 per cent disposal efficiency. If he can’t tidy up those numbers, it could see him potentially slide out of the top five. In terms of development, I don’t think he’ll be a dominant key forward at the next level and my guess is that he plays as the second key forward or defender, as he doesn’t crash packs like other big-bodied key forwards.
Pick 7: Carlton - Tom Lamb
Position: Forward/midfielder
Height: 192 cm, Weight: 83 kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Brendon Goddard
It’s pretty easy to take notice of Tom Lamb, and that’s not just because of his mop of shaggy blonde hair. The gun Dandenong forward is one of the most offensive players in the draft, and it’s his ability to find the goals and mark the ball in dangerous areas that makes him such an exciting prospect. Lamb is often considered to be the barometer for Stingrays, and the AFL-AIS member was a standout during the tour of Europe. Impressing as a bottom-age player last season, Lamb initially made headlines for his 10-goal haul in the TAC Cup, but this year his development has seen him enjoy much more time through the midfield, a nightmare for opposition teams given his sheer size, speed, athleticism, strength and that he covers so much territory. Lamb is renowned for kicking bags of goals, whether on the run, from the boundary, a snap or a traditional mark and goal. No matter the situation, Lamb can be counted on to find a path to goal, and quite often is the man to have the final say on the outcome of the game. This was the case against Gippsland Power in round two, where he kicked six goals and single-handedly dragged his Dandenong side over the line, recording a 47-point turnaround to win by a point. He also iced the game against Metro in the Championships opener, kicking two final quarter goals after going largely unnoticed for the day. The next step for Lamb will to offer more of a permanent move to the midfield, where he looks to continue the trend of tall, goal-kicking midfielders. He does have the tendency to give away silly free kicks due to frustration, however he averages 15 disposals, 1.5 goals, 1.5 marks, 2.5 tackles, three clearances, eight contested possessions, three inside 50′s at 70 per cent disposal efficiency.
Pick 8: West Coast – Clem Smith
Position: Utility
Height: 177 cm, Weight: 74 kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Club: Perth
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Byron Pickett
Although not the most polished kick in this year’s draft, Clem Smith is exciting and as electric as they come, and he every bit impressed at the West Coast Eagles in terms of his professionals and training standards during his week-long placement as part of the AFL-AIS program earlier on in the year. Smith, who starred as a bottom-age prospect in last year’s 2013 National Championships, has carried on with that form to become a likely top 10 selection this November. Although small, Smith plays a range of roles and backs his speed to offer line-breaking runs through the midfield, off half back or pushing forward to goal. Recruiters will love the fact he’s having a solid output in the WAFL this year for Perth. He has averaged 16 disposals, slotting in seamlessly among and against his bigger-bodied counterparts. Despite averaging 20 disposals, 3.3 marks, two tackles, two clearances, and 7.6 contested possessions, his disposal efficiency from his three games thus far has been just 62 per cent, including an average of six clangers a game, more than any other player in this year’s championships.
Pick 9: Adelaide – Jake Lever
Position: Medium/tall key defender
Height: 192 cm, Weight: 84 kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Club: Calder Cannons
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Cale Hooker (more athletic)
Lever is currently sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury sustained in December last year, but that won’t have an impact on his draft stocks in November. He is still regarded as one of the most sought after rebounding defenders, who often plays taller than he appears and has the nice balance in his game to offer a close-checking role, as well as roll-off half back and set up play with a long and precise kick that often finds a target. Lever also adds a touch of mongrel to add to his aggression and physicality. It’s a part of the game he relishes as a defender, he loves to niggle. Lever is at his best when he plays a free-wheeling role as a loose man behind the ball – his marking game is elite, as is his nous to read the play which is equally as impressive. For a tall guy, he moves well with the ball in hand and isn’t afraid to move the ball on quickly, whether that by offering a dashing run from defence, or letting go of a long, direct handball to clear the area. Lever has worked super hard since his injury, and his rehabilitation has shown a lot about his professionalism and character.
Pick 10: Gold Coast – Lachie Weller
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181 cm, Weight: 71 kg, DOB: 23/02/1996
Club: Broadbeach
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Dayne Beams
It could work out as a dream scenario for both parties here should Gold Coast be able to gain access to Lachie Weller who, despite being in the Brisbane Lions Academy for the past few years, cannot be selected by the Lions given he hasn’t lived in Queensland long enough. Nonetheless, Weller is arguably the most well-rounded and polished midfielder in this year’s draft crop. The medium-sized midfielder wins his own ball on the inside, and is full of hurt factor and elite ball use to be damaging outside the pack. He and his St Kilda-listed brother Maverick are polar opposites, but Weller junior is the pick of the two. Weller has terrific hands and an equally brilliant kick. He’s got serious depth in the way he moves the ball by foot, long or short, and is a danger at the stoppages where his clearance and tackling rate elite. Quite a busy, high-production midfielder, Weller has played senior NEAFL football as well as benefiting from having access to the Brisbane Lions as a part of their academy.
http://boundforglorynews.com/paige-cardonas-phantom-draft-1-0/
Pick 1: Greater Western Sydney - Sam Durdin
Position: Utility
Height: 197 cm, Weight: 89 kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Club: West Adelaide
Projected Draft Range: Top five
Plays Like: Ben Reid
Sam Durdin’s National Championships for South Australia will play a huge role in exactly how high he goes in the draft this year, since starting the year late due to a ruptured tendon in his thumb. He started the carnival slowly with lower numbers that his usual quota, but a standout game in round three has seen his average bump up to 12.6 disposals at 70% efficiency, four marks, 6.3 contested possessions and two inside 50s. Durdin is widely regarded as not only as the best swingman on the open market but also as the best key position defender, too. At 197 cm, he’s a touch taller than Hugh Goddard but his athleticism, rangy frame and the way he attacks the ball both in the air offensively and defensively make a compelling statement of the overall player that he is. Durdin has shown an appetite to be utilised in the ruck, where his reach and nous to palm the ball down to his midfielders has won plaudits. Unlike most key defenders who prefer to distribute the ball by hand, Durdin loves to use his raking right boot to hit up targets, not too dissimilar to Collingwood’s Ben Reid and North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson. He moves in a Lachie Henderson-type mould in the sense that he goes well in the air and below his knees. His game against Western Australia was significant; he gathered 17 disposals and four marks, whilst notching 11 hit-outs making a big statement at the top level. He has already shown he’s more than adept to playing senior football, and could very well contest for the number one pick, depending on the final standings.
Pick 2: St Kilda - Patrick McCartin
Position: Key forward
Height: 193 cm, Weight: 95 kg, DOB: 19/04/1996
Club: Geelong Falcons
Projected Draft Range: Top five
Plays Like: Jonathan Brown
Only one bag away from becoming the clear number one seletion, Patrick McCartin might be one of the smartest and influential key forwards in a draft that is rich in key position talent. The big, lead-up forward has a presence on the field, and that’s not just because of the aggression he asserts or the fear he strikes in those looking to get in his way. McCartin has a great turn of foot, and his physicality he displays one-on-one makes him one of, if not the most significant key forwards available in this draft crop. McCartin relishes the one-on-one contest, especially when he’s isolated one-out in the goal square – it’s where he does his best work. With such strong body position, he’s rarely beaten because he understands where to protect the drop of the ball, and how to utilise his strong core and upper body to edge his opponent out of the contest. If he’s unable to clunk a pack mark, which he does often, he’s smart enough to bring the ball to ground and crash packs to spill the ball to the advantage of his smaller teammates. It’s well known McCartin has diabetes, but his professionalism and training loads whilst managing it have been highly commendable. This will no way affect the way he plays football at the next level.
Pick 3: Brisbane - Peter Wright
Position: Key Forward/Ruckman
Height: 203 cm, Weight: 102 kg, DOB: 08/09/1996
Club: Calder Cannons
Projected Draft Range: Top 5
Plays like: Mitch Clark/Matthew Leuenberger
Nicknamed “two-metre Peter”, Peter Wright is an athletic and agile strong marking key forward whose best position, whether ruck or key forward, still causes debate. Up forward, Wright’s leading patterns make him one of the most threatening and dangerous forwards in the competition. He utilises his speed off the mark, which often enables to him to really break away from his opponent, but it’s his marking game which really holds him in good stead. Wright loves to take the ball out in front or overhead, and his reach on the ball is so prolific he marks the ball at its highest point, giving his opponent minimal chance to spoil. The biggest draw card of Wright’s game however, is the depth of his kicking which is coupled with rare accuracy. He gets such range on the ball, and is so precise that he often slots textbook drop punts from well outside 50. This was the case in the game against Geelong under lights, where four of his six goals were from outside the arc. If Wright is struggling to get into the game, his versatility to be thrust into the ruck with impact is something that will be highly regarded in November. As a ruckman, Wright has terrific extension and reads the tap well enough to feed his rovers with first use. The Cannons have been working with Wright this year to see him really use his frame as a weapon, and instil a bit of aggression and physicality in his game, something he has lacked. Although he towers over TAC Cup competition, it’s simple things like throwing an arm back and getting physical that’ll really add another dynamic into his game. Wright has had a quiet start to the championships, averaging just 11.5 disposals at 91% efficiency, 1.5 goals, four marks, 3.5 clearances, four contested possessions and one inside 50.
Pick 4: Melbourne - Christian Petracca
Position: Medium forward/midfielder
Height: 186 cm, Weight: 92 kg, DOB: 04/01/1996
Club: Eastern Ranges
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Dustin Martin/Josh P Kennedy
Nicknamed ‘Quadzilla’, Christian Petracca’s game would lead you to believe that he’s a key forward because the stranglehold he puts on a game is unlike any other in the competition. Petracca is physically built for his age, and his development was fast-tracked further at the Ranges in 2013 when fellow forward Tom Boyd was sidelined for several months with an ankle injury. This made him a revelation as the Ranges stormed home to take the 2013 TAC Cup Premiership. Petracca is a man-child at 92 kilograms, but he plays taller than his 186 centimetres. Coming into the 2014 season as a late inclusion into the AFL-AIS side, it was widely regarded that Petracca would have to add another string to his bow to really become an elite player at the next level, and that’s what he’s done. Not to be pigeon-holed as forward, Petracca has since stamped himself as a legitimate midfielder, who has also played roles off half back. Since dropping six kilograms on his 2013 playing weight, Petracca is getting around the ground with ease and so far in the National Championships has displayed the ability to be a high-production midfielder, averaging 29 disposals at 75% efficiency, one goal, seven marks, four tackles, 5.5 clearances, 10 contested possessions and five inside 50s. Up forward, Petracca is rarely beaten. His body positioning is first class, and he edges his opponents under the ball using his backside and protecting the drop of the ball. His leading patterns are well driven, but it’s his scoreboard impact that is incredibly profound. He kicks goals from all angles, he gets depth and accuracy enough that you would back him in from outside 50, and is the type of player who can string together multiple goals in as many minutes to break a game open. Ultimately in terms of development I see Petracca as a Josh Kennedy type who could grow to become an elite inside midfielder who can rest forward and have an impact on the game.
Pick 5: Western Bulldogs – Jarrod Pickett
Position: Small midfielder/utility
Height: 179 cm, Weight: 76 kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Club: South Fremantle
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Lewis Jetta (more consistent)
In a day and age where disposal is king and the need for speed to break lines and hurt teams on the counter attack is highly favoured, Jarrod Pickett can play any role handed to him. which is what makes his projection as a top five talent by some recruiters as one to salivate over. Pickett’s consistency to offer serious hurt factor by foot is his draw card: his kicks are weighted perfectly on either side of his body, and he instinctively understands the momentum of the game which is dictated by his disposal. He knows when to take the game on and play a high risk, high reward football as much as he understands when to maintain possession and take the heat out of a game. That, coupled with his energetic type of play, his pace, x-factor and consistency to hit the scoreboard – he’s kicked goals in all three of his National Championships games so far – makes Pickett one of the most sought after midfield types this year. Pickett was one of a number of bottom-age Western Australians to feature in last year’s National Championships who made a serious impact in each game he played, however he is largely an outside player who wins a good amount of the ball. Given Hugh Goddard is more of a second-tall type, it wouldn’t be beyond the Bulldogs to take a quick, outside midfielder to address speed and play-making ability with so many inside midfielders already at the club. He currently averages 17 disposals, 1.6 goals, 3.3 marks, 2.6 clearances, 7.6 contested possessions and four inside 50’s.
Pick 6: Richmond - Hugh Goddard
Position: Key forward/defender
Height: 196 cm, Weight: 93 kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Club: Geelong Falcons
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays like: Jack Watts
The cousin of former number one draft pick Brendon, Hugh is just as diligent and professional in his approach on and off the field as his successful cousin, and shares similar traits in the way he plays. Goddard, a Melbourne Grammar boy, could have quite easily have elected to play for Sandringham, but travels frequently up and down the highway to and from Geelong for training sessions and games. Goddard was a strong player as a bottom-ager alongside fellow Falcon, Paddy McCartin, however in the National Championships last year Goddard was trialled across defence, a position he grasped with both hands. It has made him one of three elite swingmen in this year’s draft pool. Goddard reads the play exceptionally well as a forward, and he has a quick burst of speed off the mark that helps him break away from his opponent. Down back he’s not afraid to play metres off his man to take an intercept mark and rebound from half back, which is something that comes to him naturally. Goddard’s ground level work for a big guy is quite impressive, also. He gets down low and has really good athleticism and touch to pick up a ground ball, bend his knees and either weave around an opponent or dish off to a teammate to set up goal. One of the real hallmarks of Goddard’s game is his leap. He gets elite extension standing still or on the run, and does have that ability to really break open a game. Although Goddard is still closing the gap to remain in the game across four quarters, he is really yet to make a big impression in any of the National Championships games so far in 2014 with an average of just 7.3 disposals, one goal, two marks, two tackles, three clangers, four contested possessions at 64 per cent disposal efficiency. If he can’t tidy up those numbers, it could see him potentially slide out of the top five. In terms of development, I don’t think he’ll be a dominant key forward at the next level and my guess is that he plays as the second key forward or defender, as he doesn’t crash packs like other big-bodied key forwards.
Pick 7: Carlton - Tom Lamb
Position: Forward/midfielder
Height: 192 cm, Weight: 83 kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Plays Like: Brendon Goddard
It’s pretty easy to take notice of Tom Lamb, and that’s not just because of his mop of shaggy blonde hair. The gun Dandenong forward is one of the most offensive players in the draft, and it’s his ability to find the goals and mark the ball in dangerous areas that makes him such an exciting prospect. Lamb is often considered to be the barometer for Stingrays, and the AFL-AIS member was a standout during the tour of Europe. Impressing as a bottom-age player last season, Lamb initially made headlines for his 10-goal haul in the TAC Cup, but this year his development has seen him enjoy much more time through the midfield, a nightmare for opposition teams given his sheer size, speed, athleticism, strength and that he covers so much territory. Lamb is renowned for kicking bags of goals, whether on the run, from the boundary, a snap or a traditional mark and goal. No matter the situation, Lamb can be counted on to find a path to goal, and quite often is the man to have the final say on the outcome of the game. This was the case against Gippsland Power in round two, where he kicked six goals and single-handedly dragged his Dandenong side over the line, recording a 47-point turnaround to win by a point. He also iced the game against Metro in the Championships opener, kicking two final quarter goals after going largely unnoticed for the day. The next step for Lamb will to offer more of a permanent move to the midfield, where he looks to continue the trend of tall, goal-kicking midfielders. He does have the tendency to give away silly free kicks due to frustration, however he averages 15 disposals, 1.5 goals, 1.5 marks, 2.5 tackles, three clearances, eight contested possessions, three inside 50′s at 70 per cent disposal efficiency.
Pick 8: West Coast – Clem Smith
Position: Utility
Height: 177 cm, Weight: 74 kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Club: Perth
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Byron Pickett
Although not the most polished kick in this year’s draft, Clem Smith is exciting and as electric as they come, and he every bit impressed at the West Coast Eagles in terms of his professionals and training standards during his week-long placement as part of the AFL-AIS program earlier on in the year. Smith, who starred as a bottom-age prospect in last year’s 2013 National Championships, has carried on with that form to become a likely top 10 selection this November. Although small, Smith plays a range of roles and backs his speed to offer line-breaking runs through the midfield, off half back or pushing forward to goal. Recruiters will love the fact he’s having a solid output in the WAFL this year for Perth. He has averaged 16 disposals, slotting in seamlessly among and against his bigger-bodied counterparts. Despite averaging 20 disposals, 3.3 marks, two tackles, two clearances, and 7.6 contested possessions, his disposal efficiency from his three games thus far has been just 62 per cent, including an average of six clangers a game, more than any other player in this year’s championships.
Pick 9: Adelaide – Jake Lever
Position: Medium/tall key defender
Height: 192 cm, Weight: 84 kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Club: Calder Cannons
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Cale Hooker (more athletic)
Lever is currently sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury sustained in December last year, but that won’t have an impact on his draft stocks in November. He is still regarded as one of the most sought after rebounding defenders, who often plays taller than he appears and has the nice balance in his game to offer a close-checking role, as well as roll-off half back and set up play with a long and precise kick that often finds a target. Lever also adds a touch of mongrel to add to his aggression and physicality. It’s a part of the game he relishes as a defender, he loves to niggle. Lever is at his best when he plays a free-wheeling role as a loose man behind the ball – his marking game is elite, as is his nous to read the play which is equally as impressive. For a tall guy, he moves well with the ball in hand and isn’t afraid to move the ball on quickly, whether that by offering a dashing run from defence, or letting go of a long, direct handball to clear the area. Lever has worked super hard since his injury, and his rehabilitation has shown a lot about his professionalism and character.
Pick 10: Gold Coast – Lachie Weller
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181 cm, Weight: 71 kg, DOB: 23/02/1996
Club: Broadbeach
Projected Draft Range: 8-15
Plays Like: Dayne Beams
It could work out as a dream scenario for both parties here should Gold Coast be able to gain access to Lachie Weller who, despite being in the Brisbane Lions Academy for the past few years, cannot be selected by the Lions given he hasn’t lived in Queensland long enough. Nonetheless, Weller is arguably the most well-rounded and polished midfielder in this year’s draft crop. The medium-sized midfielder wins his own ball on the inside, and is full of hurt factor and elite ball use to be damaging outside the pack. He and his St Kilda-listed brother Maverick are polar opposites, but Weller junior is the pick of the two. Weller has terrific hands and an equally brilliant kick. He’s got serious depth in the way he moves the ball by foot, long or short, and is a danger at the stoppages where his clearance and tackling rate elite. Quite a busy, high-production midfielder, Weller has played senior NEAFL football as well as benefiting from having access to the Brisbane Lions as a part of their academy.
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