Chris25
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Paul Ahern
Height: 181cm
Weight: 77kg
From: Calder Cannons, Vic Metro
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181cm
Weight: 77kg
From: Calder Cannons, Vic Metro
Position: Midfielder
Continuing the theme of somewhat lesser known players, it's time to look interstate to small Vic Metro midfielder Paul Ahern. There are upwards of 15 players in the Metro squad who are fancied to go higher than Ahern on draft day, but if we're basing things simply on the opening month of the U18 Championships than Ahern may well be a better player than the majority of those. He's also been producing to a similar standard in the TAC Cup, a competition in which I've seen more of this season than in past years.
In terms of performances, Ahern really has been one of the best for Metro so far in the tournament - despite constantly getting overshadowed by those with bigger profiles. But, it's arguably his work which makes them look good. Because without his speed and ball use, the midfield as a whole would be quite one paced and the forwads may find themselves struggling. He's been averaging close to 18 touches for Metro, which isn't quite up to his usual standards for Calder in the TAC Cup where he consistently finishes with 20+ disposals. And impressively, he has recorded three clearances in each of the Championship games - an important point that I will cover later. And not only is he a ball winner, but over the past two years, he has been good for a goal a game too.
His value as a player is pretty obvious just from watching him play, and it's in the fact that he can do pretty much anything you need - he's fast and able to link up on the outside, he reads the ball off the packs up forward and is developing his game in the middle. You probably wouldn't play him down back, but I'm sure he could do that too if asked. But it's high half forward and running through the wings in which he plays his best football. I'm not sure he'll test lightning quick, but he plays fast and runs hard to be the receiver on the outside. And by foot, he uses the ball well - perhaps not elite, but he sums up the situtation well and finds his target more often than not. At the Championships so far, he is going at a tick over 70% efficiency.
But again, why is someone who sounds that good not considered a first round pick? Well, anyone who is 181cm immediately gets marked a little harder - unless you are elite at something. And Ahern probably isn't elite at anything, just good at lots of things. That may be what hurts his draft stock the most of anything. His contested game could still use some work, having typically been more an outside player in his career - but he has shown improvement this year, and is doing well for Metro so far over the past month. And oddly enough, for a player with good foot skills and what appears to be a natural ability in the forward fifty, he isn't exactly a sharp shooter on goals.
So where does all of that leave us? Well, for me Paul Ahern is projecting anywhere from the second to late third round, even though his performances would suggest he goes higher. But all that does is make the comparison to Luke Dahlhaus even more fitting. Like the young Bulldog, Ahern is good but not great at a lot of things and just has that knack for popping up just when his team needs him most. And overall, is just a very good little player.
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