- May 15, 2012
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A few other 2005 DOB's moving up the rankings as seen on this WA 2023 thread here Under Age - WA 2023 Draft/18's Prospects - Western Australia’s junior footy talent
Great to see those eight state players getting some serious competition from a large group of up and comers.
Aiden O'Driscoll (P) - Mid/Fwd. Still small and hopefully he grows but has breakaway speed and good evasive skills which enables him to make big territory gains with ball in hand. When he has the ball you feel something good will happen. If you like the way Darcy Jones plays, I think you will also enjoy watching O'Driscoll. Winner of Wesley's 2022 B&F in PSA football.
Jack Saunders (SD) - Mid. Perhaps not a player with obvious AFL traits yet he racks up huge numbers in a team that has struggled because they are rebuilding. Reminds me a bit of Murray Wrensted but that's going back a bit. Substance over style. Wants the ball and involves himself in as many contests as possible. Great work rate.
Reece Torrent (PT) - Mid/Util. Has dropped off slightly in the last 3 weeks but was outstanding before that. Very creative left footer who plays in a variety of positions. Able to work his way out of tight situations and get himself enough space to deliver the ball upfield. Might remind observers of a mix between Riley Hardeman (SD) and Connor Carbone (PT)
Mitch Williams (EP) - Fwd. Has a knee injury and will miss the finals apparently. Has impressed this year as a strong marking key forward. Always competes. Also a very good kick for goal. At the very least he will 50/50 an aerial contest and then go again on the deck. Looking forward to his return in 2023.
Dylan O'Dea (S) - Def. The most dependable small/med defender in the competition. Locks down well, attacks the contest with vigour and is also a creative runner with a piercing left boot. May not look like an obvious AFL style prospect but I think there is a place for pure footballers at state 18's level and then recruiters and observers can take it from there and make a more calculated evidence based decision.
Bailey Harbour (EP) - Def. Highly skilled medium tall defender who started the season as a wil-o-the-wisp mercurial forward. Now he is a mercurial defender with the ability to take a spectacular mark. Often plays on much taller forwards and beats them. He does things that you might expect from a silky forward but does them in defence now.
Lance Collard (S) - Mid/Fwd. Arguably the most naturally gifted player in the WA 2005 age group. Super quick, well balanced, elusive. Has bounced his way from the wing to goals on a couple of occasions. Lightly built, so has plenty of upside but must hit the weights over the summer. Footy still needs x-factor - not just midfield brutes.
Jacob Whan (SF) - Def. Listed as 182cm but looks more like 190-192cm now. Very poised backman who has made significant strides forward in the last 3-4 weeks. Looms as a possible key defender for WA in 2023. In fact, he may well be the main tall defender. Doesn't give an inch and then can mop up and stride away from his fwd opponent.
Eli Alexander (WP) - Fwd. 192cm Forward who has come out of nowhere in the last 5 or 6 weeks. Quite similar to his West Perth key forward team mates Noah Farrow and Jasper Scaife. Perhaps even a little more nimble and sure below his knees. One to watch in 2023 and during the finals.
That's a small sample of some of the other impressive 2005 players. It's a really good year for WA. So many players putting their hand up for state selection next year. It's getting more and more difficult to keep the list to just 50 which is encouraging.
Great to see those eight state players getting some serious competition from a large group of up and comers.
Aiden O'Driscoll (P) - Mid/Fwd. Still small and hopefully he grows but has breakaway speed and good evasive skills which enables him to make big territory gains with ball in hand. When he has the ball you feel something good will happen. If you like the way Darcy Jones plays, I think you will also enjoy watching O'Driscoll. Winner of Wesley's 2022 B&F in PSA football.
Jack Saunders (SD) - Mid. Perhaps not a player with obvious AFL traits yet he racks up huge numbers in a team that has struggled because they are rebuilding. Reminds me a bit of Murray Wrensted but that's going back a bit. Substance over style. Wants the ball and involves himself in as many contests as possible. Great work rate.
Reece Torrent (PT) - Mid/Util. Has dropped off slightly in the last 3 weeks but was outstanding before that. Very creative left footer who plays in a variety of positions. Able to work his way out of tight situations and get himself enough space to deliver the ball upfield. Might remind observers of a mix between Riley Hardeman (SD) and Connor Carbone (PT)
Mitch Williams (EP) - Fwd. Has a knee injury and will miss the finals apparently. Has impressed this year as a strong marking key forward. Always competes. Also a very good kick for goal. At the very least he will 50/50 an aerial contest and then go again on the deck. Looking forward to his return in 2023.
Dylan O'Dea (S) - Def. The most dependable small/med defender in the competition. Locks down well, attacks the contest with vigour and is also a creative runner with a piercing left boot. May not look like an obvious AFL style prospect but I think there is a place for pure footballers at state 18's level and then recruiters and observers can take it from there and make a more calculated evidence based decision.
Bailey Harbour (EP) - Def. Highly skilled medium tall defender who started the season as a wil-o-the-wisp mercurial forward. Now he is a mercurial defender with the ability to take a spectacular mark. Often plays on much taller forwards and beats them. He does things that you might expect from a silky forward but does them in defence now.
Lance Collard (S) - Mid/Fwd. Arguably the most naturally gifted player in the WA 2005 age group. Super quick, well balanced, elusive. Has bounced his way from the wing to goals on a couple of occasions. Lightly built, so has plenty of upside but must hit the weights over the summer. Footy still needs x-factor - not just midfield brutes.
Jacob Whan (SF) - Def. Listed as 182cm but looks more like 190-192cm now. Very poised backman who has made significant strides forward in the last 3-4 weeks. Looms as a possible key defender for WA in 2023. In fact, he may well be the main tall defender. Doesn't give an inch and then can mop up and stride away from his fwd opponent.
Eli Alexander (WP) - Fwd. 192cm Forward who has come out of nowhere in the last 5 or 6 weeks. Quite similar to his West Perth key forward team mates Noah Farrow and Jasper Scaife. Perhaps even a little more nimble and sure below his knees. One to watch in 2023 and during the finals.
That's a small sample of some of the other impressive 2005 players. It's a really good year for WA. So many players putting their hand up for state selection next year. It's getting more and more difficult to keep the list to just 50 which is encouraging.
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