The next generation of AFL players set to strut their stuff
Date
June 24, 2014
Emma Quayle
Football writer with The Age
For the first time ever, the national under-18 championships have been played over six, home-and-away rounds. All four first division sides - Vic Country, Vic Metro, South Australia and Western Australia - have had to give 32 players at least two games throughout the series, making for unsettled sides but giving recruiters the chance to look at more players than usual. Five months out from a draft that looks likely to be dominated by Victorians, here are 25 players to watch for in the final two rounds of first and second division games to be played in Geelong and Melbourne on Friday, Saturday and next Wednesday and Thursday.
Paul Ahern (VM, midfielder)
An onballer with very safe hands - look for him to use them when trapped inside a pack to create space for a teammate. Pacy when he gets out into space, too, with a nice bit of spring.
Connor Blakely (WA, midfielder)
Has had some injury issues before and during the championships but looked good each time he has played. Finds ways to get the ball, is gutsy, and can whisk it away by picking the best spots to run into and getting into them quickly.
Angus Brayshaw (VM, midfielder)
A get-out-of-my-way midfielder who wants to be first to the ball and often is. Has often found himself the player whacking the ball out of traffic and/or trouble with a hurried kick, but has some poise and control over what's happening around him.
Abe Davis (NSW/ACT, utility)
Hard not to notice, given his size (193cm) and athleticism. Can interrupt play with a gutsy mark, has good hands and attacks the game. Very limited pre-season so only just getting going, too. Will more than likely go to the Swans as an Academy player.
Jordan De Goey (VM, midfielder/defender)
Trustworthy, competitve player who loves imposing himself on an opponent, and who can push his own side forward by doing the right things at the right time, often with a bit of pizzazz.
Sam Durdin (SA, tall back/forward or ruckman)
Slow start to the season because of a thumb injury. Hasn’t really got rolling yet. Has spent a bit of time in the ruck but looks a likely key defender at AFL level, and can also play forward.
Liam Duggan (VM, midfielder)
Neat and tidy midfielder who does plenty of good work in close but also has a lovely left foot that can set things up for others. Sometimes it's watching games back that you see how much he did in them. Just does most things well.
Corey Ellis (VM, midfielder)
Brave, committed player who looks out for his team, covers the ground well, takes marks and just seems to be there whenever you look up. A busy player who makes quick decisions.
Hugh Goddard (VC, tall forward/back)
Had a solid first game but has struggled for impact since against faster and more agile opponents. Dedicated, professional and deserves to be looked at with fresh eyes in the last two rounds. They'll say a bit about where he ends up fitting into the order.
Dan Howe (VC, tall utility)
Has come back as a 19-year-old over-ager this year, and played some good, composed and controlling footy in defence.
Isaac Heeney (NSW/ACT, midfielder)
The best, most complete onballer in the draft to this point. Might be the best, most complete player in it. Smart, aware, organised, gutsy and always seems to play well early. Will go first round to Sydney as a Swans Academy player.
Tom Lamb (VC, medium forward/midfielder)
One of the most watchable few players in the draft. All sorts of things happen when he's around the ball, brilliant and mind-boggling. Needs to work hard to stay consistently involved but can run like few players his size and has huge talent.
Jayden Laverde (VM, midfielder/defender)
A tall, running player who knows what to do in most parts of the ground. Creates flow with the way he moves and delivers the ball, likes to take off with it and can take marks through the middle.
Jack Lonie (VC, small forward)
One of the players of the championships, has done all he could to make people take notice. Small - but smart. Small - but sharp, especially around goals. Small - but able to get his team going and involve other players from the first bounce. Fun to watch.
Caleb Marchbank (VC, tall utility)
An excellent championships looks even better when you consider the problems Marchbank has had with his back and other body parts in the last few years. Off very little footy has read the play well, taken marks, run the ball and done good things in almost all parts of the ground.
Brayden Maynard (VM, midfielder)
Catches eyes because he throws himselr at the ball and at anyone who has it. Very competitive midfielder learning how to cover the ground. Came within four games of being father-son eligible for Adelaide.
Patrick McCartin (VC, tall forward)
Big. Strong. Clunks marks. Bowls over anyone in his way, and loves doing it. Played well in game one then missed a few weeks with a quad injury, but the potential No. 1 should play one and hopefully both of the last two games.
Darcy Moore (VM, tall forward/back)
Didn’t do heaps in game one but has looked very capable as a key defender since. Gets to the right places, uses his long arms to spoil and has the athleticism to then bound away. Will go to Collingwood as a round one father-son pick. Plenty of clubs would see him as the best tall in it.
Christian Petracca (VM, half-forward/midfielder)
Has had an excellent carnival, proving he can spend chunks of time in the midfield and use his vision, foot skills and power to good effect in there. Smart, crafty man-child, and a goalkicker.
Jarrod Pickett (WA, midfielder)
Exciting, electrifying, exhilarating: get onto thesaurus.com and take your pick. It’s a pleasure to watch the speedy, skilful Pickett run hard, slice sides up and kick classy goals. Should be a very high pick, and is a possible No. 1 depending which team gets the pick.
Clem Smith (WA, small defender/midfielder)
A rough and tumble defender, who hates being beaten for the ball and will take any chance to be physical. Longs for the team to do well which can lead him to give away too many free kicks, which he needs to fix up. But supporters will fast fall for him.
Ed Vickers-Willis (VM, defender)
Dependable player, who can be really hard to pass in defence. Reads the play well, can make up ground quickly, respects his opponent and is more often than not able to reach a hand in to spoil.
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (VM, midfielder/defender)
A mopper-upper who has looked good sweeping the ball up and getting it out of trouble with a nicely placed pass. Has gotten involved running out of defence and higher up the ground as well.
Lachie Weller (QLD, midfielder)
Good things usually happen when Weller gets the ball - he has a calm mind and plays with poise through the middle and pushing forward. Was well tagged in agme one so it will be interesting to see how he responds.
Peter Wright (VM, tall forward/ruck)
Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether the 203-centimetre, physically-ready Wright is a forward or ruck first. He’s finding his place, is right in the No. 1 mix, is learning to impose himself and has very good hands when the ball falls under his knees. Had his best game in the last round against SA, taking 10 marks, kicking four goals while also dominating the hit-outs and looking lighter on his feet.
Note: Jake Lever (VM), Ed Langdon (VM) and Peter Bampton (SA) are among the injured.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-next-generation-of-afl-players-set-to-strut-their-stuff-20140626-zskft.html#ixzz364jkCySK
Date
June 24, 2014
Emma Quayle
Football writer with The Age
For the first time ever, the national under-18 championships have been played over six, home-and-away rounds. All four first division sides - Vic Country, Vic Metro, South Australia and Western Australia - have had to give 32 players at least two games throughout the series, making for unsettled sides but giving recruiters the chance to look at more players than usual. Five months out from a draft that looks likely to be dominated by Victorians, here are 25 players to watch for in the final two rounds of first and second division games to be played in Geelong and Melbourne on Friday, Saturday and next Wednesday and Thursday.
Paul Ahern (VM, midfielder)
An onballer with very safe hands - look for him to use them when trapped inside a pack to create space for a teammate. Pacy when he gets out into space, too, with a nice bit of spring.
Connor Blakely (WA, midfielder)
Has had some injury issues before and during the championships but looked good each time he has played. Finds ways to get the ball, is gutsy, and can whisk it away by picking the best spots to run into and getting into them quickly.
Angus Brayshaw (VM, midfielder)
A get-out-of-my-way midfielder who wants to be first to the ball and often is. Has often found himself the player whacking the ball out of traffic and/or trouble with a hurried kick, but has some poise and control over what's happening around him.
Abe Davis (NSW/ACT, utility)
Hard not to notice, given his size (193cm) and athleticism. Can interrupt play with a gutsy mark, has good hands and attacks the game. Very limited pre-season so only just getting going, too. Will more than likely go to the Swans as an Academy player.
Jordan De Goey (VM, midfielder/defender)
Trustworthy, competitve player who loves imposing himself on an opponent, and who can push his own side forward by doing the right things at the right time, often with a bit of pizzazz.
Sam Durdin (SA, tall back/forward or ruckman)
Slow start to the season because of a thumb injury. Hasn’t really got rolling yet. Has spent a bit of time in the ruck but looks a likely key defender at AFL level, and can also play forward.
Liam Duggan (VM, midfielder)
Neat and tidy midfielder who does plenty of good work in close but also has a lovely left foot that can set things up for others. Sometimes it's watching games back that you see how much he did in them. Just does most things well.
Corey Ellis (VM, midfielder)
Brave, committed player who looks out for his team, covers the ground well, takes marks and just seems to be there whenever you look up. A busy player who makes quick decisions.
Hugh Goddard (VC, tall forward/back)
Had a solid first game but has struggled for impact since against faster and more agile opponents. Dedicated, professional and deserves to be looked at with fresh eyes in the last two rounds. They'll say a bit about where he ends up fitting into the order.
Dan Howe (VC, tall utility)
Has come back as a 19-year-old over-ager this year, and played some good, composed and controlling footy in defence.
Isaac Heeney (NSW/ACT, midfielder)
The best, most complete onballer in the draft to this point. Might be the best, most complete player in it. Smart, aware, organised, gutsy and always seems to play well early. Will go first round to Sydney as a Swans Academy player.
Tom Lamb (VC, medium forward/midfielder)
One of the most watchable few players in the draft. All sorts of things happen when he's around the ball, brilliant and mind-boggling. Needs to work hard to stay consistently involved but can run like few players his size and has huge talent.
Jayden Laverde (VM, midfielder/defender)
A tall, running player who knows what to do in most parts of the ground. Creates flow with the way he moves and delivers the ball, likes to take off with it and can take marks through the middle.
Jack Lonie (VC, small forward)
One of the players of the championships, has done all he could to make people take notice. Small - but smart. Small - but sharp, especially around goals. Small - but able to get his team going and involve other players from the first bounce. Fun to watch.
Caleb Marchbank (VC, tall utility)
An excellent championships looks even better when you consider the problems Marchbank has had with his back and other body parts in the last few years. Off very little footy has read the play well, taken marks, run the ball and done good things in almost all parts of the ground.
Brayden Maynard (VM, midfielder)
Catches eyes because he throws himselr at the ball and at anyone who has it. Very competitive midfielder learning how to cover the ground. Came within four games of being father-son eligible for Adelaide.
Patrick McCartin (VC, tall forward)
Big. Strong. Clunks marks. Bowls over anyone in his way, and loves doing it. Played well in game one then missed a few weeks with a quad injury, but the potential No. 1 should play one and hopefully both of the last two games.
Darcy Moore (VM, tall forward/back)
Didn’t do heaps in game one but has looked very capable as a key defender since. Gets to the right places, uses his long arms to spoil and has the athleticism to then bound away. Will go to Collingwood as a round one father-son pick. Plenty of clubs would see him as the best tall in it.
Christian Petracca (VM, half-forward/midfielder)
Has had an excellent carnival, proving he can spend chunks of time in the midfield and use his vision, foot skills and power to good effect in there. Smart, crafty man-child, and a goalkicker.
Jarrod Pickett (WA, midfielder)
Exciting, electrifying, exhilarating: get onto thesaurus.com and take your pick. It’s a pleasure to watch the speedy, skilful Pickett run hard, slice sides up and kick classy goals. Should be a very high pick, and is a possible No. 1 depending which team gets the pick.
Clem Smith (WA, small defender/midfielder)
A rough and tumble defender, who hates being beaten for the ball and will take any chance to be physical. Longs for the team to do well which can lead him to give away too many free kicks, which he needs to fix up. But supporters will fast fall for him.
Ed Vickers-Willis (VM, defender)
Dependable player, who can be really hard to pass in defence. Reads the play well, can make up ground quickly, respects his opponent and is more often than not able to reach a hand in to spoil.
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (VM, midfielder/defender)
A mopper-upper who has looked good sweeping the ball up and getting it out of trouble with a nicely placed pass. Has gotten involved running out of defence and higher up the ground as well.
Lachie Weller (QLD, midfielder)
Good things usually happen when Weller gets the ball - he has a calm mind and plays with poise through the middle and pushing forward. Was well tagged in agme one so it will be interesting to see how he responds.
Peter Wright (VM, tall forward/ruck)
Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether the 203-centimetre, physically-ready Wright is a forward or ruck first. He’s finding his place, is right in the No. 1 mix, is learning to impose himself and has very good hands when the ball falls under his knees. Had his best game in the last round against SA, taking 10 marks, kicking four goals while also dominating the hit-outs and looking lighter on his feet.
Note: Jake Lever (VM), Ed Langdon (VM) and Peter Bampton (SA) are among the injured.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-next-generation-of-afl-players-set-to-strut-their-stuff-20140626-zskft.html#ixzz364jkCySK
