- Sep 25, 2005
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ROOKIE DRAFT
# 1 Carlton - Nick O’Kearney (Calder Cannons / 180cm / 70kg)
Surprised didn't get drafted. Body size maybe as a few that were light who I thought might go missed so maybe a theme this year. Still a very good natural football with high IQ who is a ball winning magnet who has been a terrific performer for a long time now. Surprising we don’t talk about him going higher but he is on the smaller side than what clubs want. Still I think he will embarrass a few with how well he goes because he is just a natural footballer with plenty of smarts about how to read and play the game and get himself into good spots. Has good endurance, flash of speed when he needs it and tends to make really smart choices with the ball which he gets an abundance of. Wins his own ball, will work as hard offensively as defensively and he is very happy to put his arms around his opponent. Knock on him is he doesn’t really have a ‘trick’.
# 2 - Brisbane Lions (Jackson Paine Redraft)
They have committed to Paine but William is available. What do they do? I'd take William but thats just me.
# 3 Gold Coast - Rueben William (QLD / 182cm / 74kg)
Lions Academy selection who was an AA this year. Pretty impressive year off a HB and has scope to play a few roles. Tipping Suns take him if available albeit maybe looking for a developing key forward like Smith or Moore.
# 4 Essendon - Sam Grimley (Hawthorn)
Dons took plenty of A grade medium types and added Brown and Hartley. Not sold that Brown best spot is KPF and with Worsfold keen for depth there I reckon young Grimley might get a go there. If doesn't I think they may look at Moore as well.
# 5 St Kilda - Cameron Hewett (North Adelaide / 189cm / 76kg)
Another club who I think could well end up taking a key forward early as there aren't many left but have gone with this kid instead. Quite like this kid as presents as a player with a bit of scope in a couple of positions. Think he could play either a HB, Wing or mid type role and he looks to have pretty good footy IQ in the games I saw him in. Was pretty good around the physical stuff at the champs and particularly around the stoppages where he was a real influence at times. Needs to add some weight and probably hasn’t got that stand out attribute but very coachable and doesn’t have any obvious weakness.
# 6 Melbourne - James Parsons (Eastern Rangers / 189cm / 85kg)
Arguably most talented kid left. AIS kid who is a pretty good mover and who can midfield or HF. For mine he presents best at AFL level as a high half forward who has a good motor and can work the arcs pretty well and create scoring opportunities. At his best he is smart forward who knows how to read the play and present, takes a strong mark, can win the ball at ground level and usually uses the thing very well. Works defensivel pretty well and saw a couple of really impressive things during champs to support that theory. The knock is he really doesn’t have a standout feature and his consistency has been up and down but for mine a smart HF who is tall and strong and beaut kick but who could go into the midfield and be a really damaging tall mid who pushes forward.
# 7 Collingwood - Callum Moore (Calder Cannons / 193cm / 85kg)
Was surprised he didn't go in the National Draft as a few clubs looking for key forwards. Pies have put time into him and think he could land there. Extremely athletic kid who has a terrific athletic capability and can really jump at the ball. Works hard, is aggressive at the contest and has speed (20m at 2.9s) for a player his height so should be able to find plenty of ball. Can take a contested mark as well and e is clean on the deck. The knock….his kicking needs work and it’s a question clubs will be asking themselves when they try and place him. Still plenty of players have been able to improve their kicking and am sure a club will back themselves in. Shouldn’t forget he has a basketball background and he is still pretty new to footy so if clubs then he will continue to develop then should get taken. If not him then surely it will be a small forward. Gallucci, Kerbatieh, McAdam?
# 8 GWS - Will Snelling (West Adelaide / 176cm / 75kg)
Terrific little midfielder from SA who has been a standout for some time now. Looks to have a terrific work ethic and the SA coach Phillips speaks very highly about his character. His form in the Champs this year really put him on the radar for a high selection along with his performances at senior level later in the year. He ticks every box insomuch as he reads the game very well, excels at stoppages, has acceleration, he wins his own ball, clean with his hands, good by foot, will tackle with real intent but the fear is his height will probably drop him back a bit. He recorded a fantastic beep result and the combination of all that will see him go and from then on its really up to him.
# 9 Geelong - Maris Olekalns (North Adelaide / 180cm / 71kg)
Another slight bodied type who plenty thought would go. Very talented though and would be a real surprise not to see him given a chance. Another cricketer who has chosen footy. Was part of the AIS group but he didn’t stay with them this year preferring cricket. Very light kid but he knows how to read the game and find the footy. You worry he is going to snap in half but he has shown he can play inside and with a bit of weight on him could develop that side more. On the outside a very nice mover and he seems to move quickly which gets him into space. Uses it well.
#10 Port Adelaide - Stephen Tahana (North Adelaide / 183cm / 79kg)
Port would be rapt to get this kid. Start of this year he was top 20 and he didn't have a bad year at all! Big fan of this kid and think in years to come we might look back and say should have gone higher. Been a terrific junior who has been exposed and done well at all levels. Really caught my eye last year as a bottom ager at champs when he was really good. Quick, great agility and lateral movement, reads the game well, composed and will take the game on. He tackles well and he has the defensive aspects of his game at a good level. Would think HB / Wing and maybe even a lock down role would suit him best at AFL level. Has got to much talent not to make it I would think.
# 11 Western Bulldogs - Andre Parella (Sturt / 204cm / 104kg)
Along with Nyoun was probably the best performed ruck at the champs. Is only new to footy having focused on tennis and has a couple of decent tricks up his sleeve. Thought his work through the champs with his hands at the ruck contests was elite for a kid that hasn’t played much. Remember Goldstein as a kid had great hands and thought of him when was watching Parella who was getting it down the throat of his mids pretty well. Other thing is for his size he is pretty good ball user by foot and both those elements will stick in recruiters minds if they decide to go with a young ruck prospect. The query….just not sure there were many good rucks so hard to benchmark him.
# 12 Richmond - Jesse Glass-McCasker (Swan Districts / 196cm / 95kg)
He could slip a bit in the rookie as a few clubs stocked up in the National Draft but he surely wouldn't go past Richmond.Really good looking type who is very athletic and has great size and strength about him. Could turn into a type who could handle the bigger full forwards and what I really think clubs will like is he is a type who is happy to run off and create. He is a safe kick but not a great one and he had a few moments in the champs where he is ball use by foot should have been better. Still he wants to do it and recruiters will tell you they would rather a kid have the intent if they think they can clean up his decision making etc. Lot to work with and would think a club would be keen to take him if they think they can work on his kicking and get him to become a bit more offensively clean.
# 13 Adelaide - Tom Keough ( West Adelaide / 195cm / 91kg)
Been a standout in the SANFL this year and had a really good game against Yarran in the state game. I rate Yarran very highly andnot sure Tom was the ideal matchup for him but he applied himself really well and thought notwithstanding Yarran contribution he got the better of him. Tall key back but maybe better suited to the 3rd defensive role where he can use his ability to read the play and then impact the game offensively and defensively either by providing an option as a get out player or come across and intercept. He had a wonderful finals series. The knock is his ball use at times is erratic but to be fair to him I think sometimes that comes from over attacking.
# 14 Sydney Swans - Patrick Levicki (Norwood / 196cm / 94kg)
Played junior footy for SA a few years ago (I think as a ruck) and has really improved. Would get drafted as a key defender and at 196cm is a terrific size but he brings real agility and a bit of speed to his game. Reads the play pretty well and has a good set of hands. Offensively he can kick the ball a mile and he makes pretty good decisions and seems to execute it pretty well. If he can keep improving at the pace he did this year then he becomes a handy acquisition and immediate depth player.
# 15 North Melbourne - Liam Jeffs (Eastern Ranges / 192cm / 78kg)
Hard to know where Liam goes because he has had such an ordinary time with injuries. Was thought highly enough of though to be part of the AIS group after some pretty impressive performances last year. His best go is as an inside midfieler who can use his height (and in time frame) to really impact contests and then use his speed and evasive skills to exit the stoppage. His ball use is very good and he is good by hands as well. Spent time at North this year.
# 16 Fremantle - Dylan Smith (Swan Districts / 198cm / 81kg)
Presents will all the traits you would want in a big kid. He is tall and covers the ground really well for a guy that is nearly 198cm. Has played back and forward but his results have been a bit inconsistent and whilst he had a really good game vs SA at the champs the rest were a bit disappointing. But hey lot to work with and I reckon a club will take him as a defender and then he will go from there. I’ve seen him there and he looks more at ease to me. Got more into the game and he was willing to give a 2nd effort. He has the size, speed and strength to go with many. I do wonder if Keitel doesn’t get taken then why will Dylan but lets hope so.
# 17 West Coast - Thomas Glen (Dandenong Stingrays / 187cm / 72kg)
Lightly framed kid who tested really well across all the running based tests and the skills tests so he presents as a player a lot of clubs will look as having a fair bit of upside. I think he is probably going to start life as a defender where he likes to attack and run off his opponent and use his speed and endurance to keep doing it. As mentioned is a very good user of the ball and would think does enough to get a rookie spot.
# 18 Hawthorn - Clint Hinchcliff (West Perth / 179cm / 82kg)
Well performed midfielder from WA who had an outstanding Colts year. Inside mid and might be that tough inside player they like who can extract the ball and then push deep. Nice kick on him and a player that am pretty sure will go. Reminds me a bit of Dean Kent at same age.
# 19 Carlton - Greg Clark (Subiaco / 193cm / 82kg)
Geez they got a good haul and if they could add OKearney and Clark to it would be very good. Captain of the WA side this year but whose performances were a bit up and down. Had a terrific game vs Country and at his best he presents as a pretty slick mover who has that size and frame to really dominate the middle which notwithstanding he has played a few different roles I suspect his potential in there is what will get clubs excited. Very good accumulator of the ball and link up player but not overly quick so isn’t going to hurt spreading from the pack but he is a terrific endurance runner (15+) so he will keep going all day. I suspect clubs will see him as a wing / outside midfielder because of his size but they will want to develop the inside aspect of his game (70% of his possessions at champs were uncontested) and improve his marking and kicking. I think he will go a bit later but could be a terrific get if can improve a couple of aspects. Has shown he can already mix it with the big boys.
# 20 Gold Coast - Gach Nyuon (Dandenong Stingrays / 198cm / 81kg)
Be a terrific story if we saw him drafted. Wonderfully athletic kid who has just gotten better and better every time I have seen him and think he will be someone who the scouts can see the improvement in. Equalled the record for the absolute vertical running leap which Nic Nat holds and went at 2.95s for the 20m sprint. The kid has something but he is light and is a work in progress. Having said that he use to just run and jump at the ball but now he gets himself much more involved in the game and is getting smarter at limiting that to handballing in the main.
# 21 Essendon - Bailey Rogers (Claremont / 184cm / 80kg)
I really like this guy and think he presents as a pretty good prospect for someone later in the draft. Good size medium defender who probably doenst have many ‘tricks’ but he never makes bad decisions. In fact in game situations I thought he nearly always made the right choice and at times in the Champs he and the other backs were under some pretty extreme pressure. In that sense he reminds me of a Chris Newman type and is a neat user of the ball and very clean with his hands. Followed closely post champs and had some fine games at reserves and senior level and he looked pretty comfortable to me.
# 22 St Kilda - Dan Houston (Oakleigh Chargers / 187cm / 83kg)
Co Captain of the Chargers this year and from all reports and pretty good kid. Talented medium forward who came into the year pretty well rated after a strong year as a bottom ager kicking 23 goals from 13 games. Has exceptional hands and is a very good kick of the footy. Not sure he had as good a year as hoped but the game vs SA was pretty good for him and he showcased his ability as a medium forward with 4 good goals. Missed the last game but went back and kicked 8 vs Bendigo which was a great effort. Athletically speed looks ok without being elite but he does have decent endurance and you can see it in how he plays and gives repeat leads. The query is how much versatility does he have.
# 23 Melbourne - Viv Michie (Redrafted)
# 24 Collingwood - Hisham Kerbatieh (Calder Cannons / 179cm / 78kg).....but probably Tim Golds.
Explosive small forward who tested poorly and I suspect as a result dropped a fair bit in Clubs orders. Still at his best he can turn it on and change a game within minutes. Powerful runner with a good burst and a fantastic penetrating kick on him. Kicks low and hard and kicks over long distances. What he isn't is a great endurance runner and on that level he will need time to develop but he has the goal sense and he loves to tackle and run defensively so lots of tools there. Could well be a McAdam or a Gallucci instead and a real left field would be Murray Newman who Id like but zero chance. Realistically probably Tim Golds, Ryan Pendlebury, Gus Borthwick or Dave Mennen. But Tim Golds will certainly be one of the two selections.
# 25 GWS - Jordan Snadden (East Fremantle / 190cm / 79kg)
AIS kid who is a quick midfielder and who big things were expected of this year but been unable to put a solid block of good games together. To his credit he did average 20 touches and 3 tackles a game at Colts level so wasn’t to bad just more that he came into the year very highly rated. He has all the tools with his ability to play inside and out of the contest and as that tall bodied mid he craves the contest and is very happy to take on frontal pressure. Has clean hands, good evasive skill and genuine speed away from stoppages so he could be a weapon. Will get drafted at some stage albeit history says these kids can find it hard. If he does and he can get it together then he may be the bargain of the draft.
# 26 Geelong - Matthew Nunn (Norwood / 180cm / 76kg)
Doesn’t get talked about a lot and ticks a lot of boxes which may see him go a lot earlier. Was captain of the SA U16s side and has played at every level he could have this year. He has high footy IQ and just racks up getting huge touches. Adds to that with genuine speed (2.9s 20m), agility and elite ball use (83% at champs).
# 27 Port Adelaide - Hugh Haysman (West Adelaide / 178cm / 72kg)
Played in the West Adelaide premiership side this year and is very highly rated in SA and particularly by his coach. Wing / HF type who is still very light but has speed (ran a sub 3s for 20m) and a willingness to take the game on. Happy enough to get inside the contest and win his own ball where his clean hands are a real feature along with his evasive skills but probably more his go to get on the outside and use his speed and endurance attributes to spread and carry. Nice finisher and just a player that appears to do everything well without a real standout. Needs to add some weight but a smart footballer and should get a go.
# 28 Western Bulldogs - David Mennen (Murray Bushrangers / 186cm / 80kg)
19yo who I was a bit surprised didn’t get taken last year. His best is absolutely good enough and he possesses a few traits which clubs are in need of. HB / Wing type who loves to run and carry and use his foot skills to really polish off his work. Has got a lovely right foot on him and he wheels onto it whenever possible. One thing that has always impressed me with him is he is happy to go in and win his own footy as well and he does it well and has a bit of speed to accelerate away. His hands are clean on the deck and he is good with them in the air as well. Played well vs Metro at Champs and was in their top 2-3 and also had a couple of games at Collingwood this year as a top up player and did well. I think one of the games was at the G and what I liked about him off HB was his willingness to bring it back through the corridor.
# 29 Richmond - Shane McAdam (Claremont / 181cm / 78kg)
Played 11 games in the seniors this year and whilst he only kicked 19 goals he presents pretty well. Tested well at the State combine as has amazing speed, leap and agility. Offers a more mature body than some of the 18yo’s for clubs looking for that small forward type player who might be able to slot in pretty quickly. The other thing I quite like about the kid is that he works defensively and he reminds me a bit of Charlie Cameron in that regard at roughly same age.
# 30 Adelaide - Brendan Dew (Central Districts / 179cm / 73kg)
Another SA onballer who was pretty prominent at Champs and who am a bit unsure of as to where might land. Exceptional ball user is his trick and still pretty light but suspect will develop into an inside mid who has a touch of speed and can exit the contest. Reminds me a little bit of Matt Goodyear from last year.
# 1 Carlton - Nick O’Kearney (Calder Cannons / 180cm / 70kg)
Surprised didn't get drafted. Body size maybe as a few that were light who I thought might go missed so maybe a theme this year. Still a very good natural football with high IQ who is a ball winning magnet who has been a terrific performer for a long time now. Surprising we don’t talk about him going higher but he is on the smaller side than what clubs want. Still I think he will embarrass a few with how well he goes because he is just a natural footballer with plenty of smarts about how to read and play the game and get himself into good spots. Has good endurance, flash of speed when he needs it and tends to make really smart choices with the ball which he gets an abundance of. Wins his own ball, will work as hard offensively as defensively and he is very happy to put his arms around his opponent. Knock on him is he doesn’t really have a ‘trick’.
# 2 - Brisbane Lions (Jackson Paine Redraft)
They have committed to Paine but William is available. What do they do? I'd take William but thats just me.
# 3 Gold Coast - Rueben William (QLD / 182cm / 74kg)
Lions Academy selection who was an AA this year. Pretty impressive year off a HB and has scope to play a few roles. Tipping Suns take him if available albeit maybe looking for a developing key forward like Smith or Moore.
# 4 Essendon - Sam Grimley (Hawthorn)
Dons took plenty of A grade medium types and added Brown and Hartley. Not sold that Brown best spot is KPF and with Worsfold keen for depth there I reckon young Grimley might get a go there. If doesn't I think they may look at Moore as well.
# 5 St Kilda - Cameron Hewett (North Adelaide / 189cm / 76kg)
Another club who I think could well end up taking a key forward early as there aren't many left but have gone with this kid instead. Quite like this kid as presents as a player with a bit of scope in a couple of positions. Think he could play either a HB, Wing or mid type role and he looks to have pretty good footy IQ in the games I saw him in. Was pretty good around the physical stuff at the champs and particularly around the stoppages where he was a real influence at times. Needs to add some weight and probably hasn’t got that stand out attribute but very coachable and doesn’t have any obvious weakness.
# 6 Melbourne - James Parsons (Eastern Rangers / 189cm / 85kg)
Arguably most talented kid left. AIS kid who is a pretty good mover and who can midfield or HF. For mine he presents best at AFL level as a high half forward who has a good motor and can work the arcs pretty well and create scoring opportunities. At his best he is smart forward who knows how to read the play and present, takes a strong mark, can win the ball at ground level and usually uses the thing very well. Works defensivel pretty well and saw a couple of really impressive things during champs to support that theory. The knock is he really doesn’t have a standout feature and his consistency has been up and down but for mine a smart HF who is tall and strong and beaut kick but who could go into the midfield and be a really damaging tall mid who pushes forward.
# 7 Collingwood - Callum Moore (Calder Cannons / 193cm / 85kg)
Was surprised he didn't go in the National Draft as a few clubs looking for key forwards. Pies have put time into him and think he could land there. Extremely athletic kid who has a terrific athletic capability and can really jump at the ball. Works hard, is aggressive at the contest and has speed (20m at 2.9s) for a player his height so should be able to find plenty of ball. Can take a contested mark as well and e is clean on the deck. The knock….his kicking needs work and it’s a question clubs will be asking themselves when they try and place him. Still plenty of players have been able to improve their kicking and am sure a club will back themselves in. Shouldn’t forget he has a basketball background and he is still pretty new to footy so if clubs then he will continue to develop then should get taken. If not him then surely it will be a small forward. Gallucci, Kerbatieh, McAdam?
# 8 GWS - Will Snelling (West Adelaide / 176cm / 75kg)
Terrific little midfielder from SA who has been a standout for some time now. Looks to have a terrific work ethic and the SA coach Phillips speaks very highly about his character. His form in the Champs this year really put him on the radar for a high selection along with his performances at senior level later in the year. He ticks every box insomuch as he reads the game very well, excels at stoppages, has acceleration, he wins his own ball, clean with his hands, good by foot, will tackle with real intent but the fear is his height will probably drop him back a bit. He recorded a fantastic beep result and the combination of all that will see him go and from then on its really up to him.
# 9 Geelong - Maris Olekalns (North Adelaide / 180cm / 71kg)
Another slight bodied type who plenty thought would go. Very talented though and would be a real surprise not to see him given a chance. Another cricketer who has chosen footy. Was part of the AIS group but he didn’t stay with them this year preferring cricket. Very light kid but he knows how to read the game and find the footy. You worry he is going to snap in half but he has shown he can play inside and with a bit of weight on him could develop that side more. On the outside a very nice mover and he seems to move quickly which gets him into space. Uses it well.
#10 Port Adelaide - Stephen Tahana (North Adelaide / 183cm / 79kg)
Port would be rapt to get this kid. Start of this year he was top 20 and he didn't have a bad year at all! Big fan of this kid and think in years to come we might look back and say should have gone higher. Been a terrific junior who has been exposed and done well at all levels. Really caught my eye last year as a bottom ager at champs when he was really good. Quick, great agility and lateral movement, reads the game well, composed and will take the game on. He tackles well and he has the defensive aspects of his game at a good level. Would think HB / Wing and maybe even a lock down role would suit him best at AFL level. Has got to much talent not to make it I would think.
# 11 Western Bulldogs - Andre Parella (Sturt / 204cm / 104kg)
Along with Nyoun was probably the best performed ruck at the champs. Is only new to footy having focused on tennis and has a couple of decent tricks up his sleeve. Thought his work through the champs with his hands at the ruck contests was elite for a kid that hasn’t played much. Remember Goldstein as a kid had great hands and thought of him when was watching Parella who was getting it down the throat of his mids pretty well. Other thing is for his size he is pretty good ball user by foot and both those elements will stick in recruiters minds if they decide to go with a young ruck prospect. The query….just not sure there were many good rucks so hard to benchmark him.
# 12 Richmond - Jesse Glass-McCasker (Swan Districts / 196cm / 95kg)
He could slip a bit in the rookie as a few clubs stocked up in the National Draft but he surely wouldn't go past Richmond.Really good looking type who is very athletic and has great size and strength about him. Could turn into a type who could handle the bigger full forwards and what I really think clubs will like is he is a type who is happy to run off and create. He is a safe kick but not a great one and he had a few moments in the champs where he is ball use by foot should have been better. Still he wants to do it and recruiters will tell you they would rather a kid have the intent if they think they can clean up his decision making etc. Lot to work with and would think a club would be keen to take him if they think they can work on his kicking and get him to become a bit more offensively clean.
# 13 Adelaide - Tom Keough ( West Adelaide / 195cm / 91kg)
Been a standout in the SANFL this year and had a really good game against Yarran in the state game. I rate Yarran very highly andnot sure Tom was the ideal matchup for him but he applied himself really well and thought notwithstanding Yarran contribution he got the better of him. Tall key back but maybe better suited to the 3rd defensive role where he can use his ability to read the play and then impact the game offensively and defensively either by providing an option as a get out player or come across and intercept. He had a wonderful finals series. The knock is his ball use at times is erratic but to be fair to him I think sometimes that comes from over attacking.
# 14 Sydney Swans - Patrick Levicki (Norwood / 196cm / 94kg)
Played junior footy for SA a few years ago (I think as a ruck) and has really improved. Would get drafted as a key defender and at 196cm is a terrific size but he brings real agility and a bit of speed to his game. Reads the play pretty well and has a good set of hands. Offensively he can kick the ball a mile and he makes pretty good decisions and seems to execute it pretty well. If he can keep improving at the pace he did this year then he becomes a handy acquisition and immediate depth player.
# 15 North Melbourne - Liam Jeffs (Eastern Ranges / 192cm / 78kg)
Hard to know where Liam goes because he has had such an ordinary time with injuries. Was thought highly enough of though to be part of the AIS group after some pretty impressive performances last year. His best go is as an inside midfieler who can use his height (and in time frame) to really impact contests and then use his speed and evasive skills to exit the stoppage. His ball use is very good and he is good by hands as well. Spent time at North this year.
# 16 Fremantle - Dylan Smith (Swan Districts / 198cm / 81kg)
Presents will all the traits you would want in a big kid. He is tall and covers the ground really well for a guy that is nearly 198cm. Has played back and forward but his results have been a bit inconsistent and whilst he had a really good game vs SA at the champs the rest were a bit disappointing. But hey lot to work with and I reckon a club will take him as a defender and then he will go from there. I’ve seen him there and he looks more at ease to me. Got more into the game and he was willing to give a 2nd effort. He has the size, speed and strength to go with many. I do wonder if Keitel doesn’t get taken then why will Dylan but lets hope so.
# 17 West Coast - Thomas Glen (Dandenong Stingrays / 187cm / 72kg)
Lightly framed kid who tested really well across all the running based tests and the skills tests so he presents as a player a lot of clubs will look as having a fair bit of upside. I think he is probably going to start life as a defender where he likes to attack and run off his opponent and use his speed and endurance to keep doing it. As mentioned is a very good user of the ball and would think does enough to get a rookie spot.
# 18 Hawthorn - Clint Hinchcliff (West Perth / 179cm / 82kg)
Well performed midfielder from WA who had an outstanding Colts year. Inside mid and might be that tough inside player they like who can extract the ball and then push deep. Nice kick on him and a player that am pretty sure will go. Reminds me a bit of Dean Kent at same age.
# 19 Carlton - Greg Clark (Subiaco / 193cm / 82kg)
Geez they got a good haul and if they could add OKearney and Clark to it would be very good. Captain of the WA side this year but whose performances were a bit up and down. Had a terrific game vs Country and at his best he presents as a pretty slick mover who has that size and frame to really dominate the middle which notwithstanding he has played a few different roles I suspect his potential in there is what will get clubs excited. Very good accumulator of the ball and link up player but not overly quick so isn’t going to hurt spreading from the pack but he is a terrific endurance runner (15+) so he will keep going all day. I suspect clubs will see him as a wing / outside midfielder because of his size but they will want to develop the inside aspect of his game (70% of his possessions at champs were uncontested) and improve his marking and kicking. I think he will go a bit later but could be a terrific get if can improve a couple of aspects. Has shown he can already mix it with the big boys.
# 20 Gold Coast - Gach Nyuon (Dandenong Stingrays / 198cm / 81kg)
Be a terrific story if we saw him drafted. Wonderfully athletic kid who has just gotten better and better every time I have seen him and think he will be someone who the scouts can see the improvement in. Equalled the record for the absolute vertical running leap which Nic Nat holds and went at 2.95s for the 20m sprint. The kid has something but he is light and is a work in progress. Having said that he use to just run and jump at the ball but now he gets himself much more involved in the game and is getting smarter at limiting that to handballing in the main.
# 21 Essendon - Bailey Rogers (Claremont / 184cm / 80kg)
I really like this guy and think he presents as a pretty good prospect for someone later in the draft. Good size medium defender who probably doenst have many ‘tricks’ but he never makes bad decisions. In fact in game situations I thought he nearly always made the right choice and at times in the Champs he and the other backs were under some pretty extreme pressure. In that sense he reminds me of a Chris Newman type and is a neat user of the ball and very clean with his hands. Followed closely post champs and had some fine games at reserves and senior level and he looked pretty comfortable to me.
# 22 St Kilda - Dan Houston (Oakleigh Chargers / 187cm / 83kg)
Co Captain of the Chargers this year and from all reports and pretty good kid. Talented medium forward who came into the year pretty well rated after a strong year as a bottom ager kicking 23 goals from 13 games. Has exceptional hands and is a very good kick of the footy. Not sure he had as good a year as hoped but the game vs SA was pretty good for him and he showcased his ability as a medium forward with 4 good goals. Missed the last game but went back and kicked 8 vs Bendigo which was a great effort. Athletically speed looks ok without being elite but he does have decent endurance and you can see it in how he plays and gives repeat leads. The query is how much versatility does he have.
# 23 Melbourne - Viv Michie (Redrafted)
# 24 Collingwood - Hisham Kerbatieh (Calder Cannons / 179cm / 78kg).....but probably Tim Golds.
Explosive small forward who tested poorly and I suspect as a result dropped a fair bit in Clubs orders. Still at his best he can turn it on and change a game within minutes. Powerful runner with a good burst and a fantastic penetrating kick on him. Kicks low and hard and kicks over long distances. What he isn't is a great endurance runner and on that level he will need time to develop but he has the goal sense and he loves to tackle and run defensively so lots of tools there. Could well be a McAdam or a Gallucci instead and a real left field would be Murray Newman who Id like but zero chance. Realistically probably Tim Golds, Ryan Pendlebury, Gus Borthwick or Dave Mennen. But Tim Golds will certainly be one of the two selections.
# 25 GWS - Jordan Snadden (East Fremantle / 190cm / 79kg)
AIS kid who is a quick midfielder and who big things were expected of this year but been unable to put a solid block of good games together. To his credit he did average 20 touches and 3 tackles a game at Colts level so wasn’t to bad just more that he came into the year very highly rated. He has all the tools with his ability to play inside and out of the contest and as that tall bodied mid he craves the contest and is very happy to take on frontal pressure. Has clean hands, good evasive skill and genuine speed away from stoppages so he could be a weapon. Will get drafted at some stage albeit history says these kids can find it hard. If he does and he can get it together then he may be the bargain of the draft.
# 26 Geelong - Matthew Nunn (Norwood / 180cm / 76kg)
Doesn’t get talked about a lot and ticks a lot of boxes which may see him go a lot earlier. Was captain of the SA U16s side and has played at every level he could have this year. He has high footy IQ and just racks up getting huge touches. Adds to that with genuine speed (2.9s 20m), agility and elite ball use (83% at champs).
# 27 Port Adelaide - Hugh Haysman (West Adelaide / 178cm / 72kg)
Played in the West Adelaide premiership side this year and is very highly rated in SA and particularly by his coach. Wing / HF type who is still very light but has speed (ran a sub 3s for 20m) and a willingness to take the game on. Happy enough to get inside the contest and win his own ball where his clean hands are a real feature along with his evasive skills but probably more his go to get on the outside and use his speed and endurance attributes to spread and carry. Nice finisher and just a player that appears to do everything well without a real standout. Needs to add some weight but a smart footballer and should get a go.
# 28 Western Bulldogs - David Mennen (Murray Bushrangers / 186cm / 80kg)
19yo who I was a bit surprised didn’t get taken last year. His best is absolutely good enough and he possesses a few traits which clubs are in need of. HB / Wing type who loves to run and carry and use his foot skills to really polish off his work. Has got a lovely right foot on him and he wheels onto it whenever possible. One thing that has always impressed me with him is he is happy to go in and win his own footy as well and he does it well and has a bit of speed to accelerate away. His hands are clean on the deck and he is good with them in the air as well. Played well vs Metro at Champs and was in their top 2-3 and also had a couple of games at Collingwood this year as a top up player and did well. I think one of the games was at the G and what I liked about him off HB was his willingness to bring it back through the corridor.
# 29 Richmond - Shane McAdam (Claremont / 181cm / 78kg)
Played 11 games in the seniors this year and whilst he only kicked 19 goals he presents pretty well. Tested well at the State combine as has amazing speed, leap and agility. Offers a more mature body than some of the 18yo’s for clubs looking for that small forward type player who might be able to slot in pretty quickly. The other thing I quite like about the kid is that he works defensively and he reminds me a bit of Charlie Cameron in that regard at roughly same age.
# 30 Adelaide - Brendan Dew (Central Districts / 179cm / 73kg)
Another SA onballer who was pretty prominent at Champs and who am a bit unsure of as to where might land. Exceptional ball user is his trick and still pretty light but suspect will develop into an inside mid who has a touch of speed and can exit the contest. Reminds me a little bit of Matt Goodyear from last year.
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