mjp
14-09-2008, 05:01 PM
My notes only. I have tried to do it in the order I currently have them rated, but there are a few line balls and a few where it depends on what you want.
1/.Daniel Rich - Midfielded - Subiaco
Really classy inside-outside midfielder. Not super quick but certainly quick enough, Rich is a very good decision maker and excellent by foot. Has been criticised for his performances in the carnival - fair enough. But that was not a real representation of where he is at/what he is capable of. Holding down a spot in Subi's senior side - a very strong unit - and playing midfield/half-forward he has shown the ability to play senior footy and continue to make good decisions/hit targets under the extreme pressure of senior finals.
2/.Stephen Hill - Midfield - West Perth
To me he is that Del Santo type player. Elite kicking skills, good speed...but always has time with the ball. Another who has spent a lot of time playing in the 1's post-carnival, he probably hasn't had the impact his coach was looking for but certainly flashed a lot of ability. Left footer as well.
3/.Nic Natanui - Anywhere/nowhere - Swans
The enigma of the draft. Some say superstar, some say will never make it...I have two main concerns.
- His kicking is very up and under (often made worse as he makes some average decisions).
- He runs to some horrible spots...has a long way to go if he is going to play key position.
That said, there is a bit of 'see ball, get ball' about him when it is in his area - he will aggressively get after the footy - or the man with the footy (1%'er efforts are a highlight) -and is prepared to run and carry through traffic. Who is going to risk it all for this kid?
4/.Jarrad Blight - Mid/HB - Swans
Run and carry specialist. Cut his teeth at half back then moved into the midfield - elite speed and kicking skills. I think he could be absolutely anything...Judd is a bad comparison for anyone, but that is kind of how he plays (a bit more outside though) - grabs the ball, accelerates hard and hits targets.
5/.Chris Yarran - Forward - Swams
Funny thing. Yarran could probably play round one next year...but I am not sure you would want that. He is laconic to the point that you need to check his eyes are open at times, but he can (and does) kick goals on a very regular basis, and his kicking skills are superb. I dont see him as a midfielder though - more a Medhurst/Daniel Motlop type forward who needs the ball kicked too him one on one to be at his most effective.
6/.Michael Walters - Small forward/mid - Swans
Honest to goodness rover - and there are not a lot around. Good front and centre player, hard running, good foot skills...I worry about him being left in a pocket for extended periods - he is a very different player to Yarran - but will win the ball and provide good link up around the ground.
7/.Hayden Ballantyne - Small forward - Peel
Small (175'ish) small forward who has just turned 20, Ballantyne is QUICK. If the ball hits the ground after a marking contest, he will get it - he simply will. Can play through the midfield as well, but 75 goals as a small forward in a senior comp? Would you really want him too. Does like to lead for the footy though Phil Matera style which will drive supporters dead-set insane.
8/.Clancee Pearce - Half-back/Mid - Swans
Has been captain of every side he has ever played in I think - good runner, committed footballer, good kick. I guess he makes me think a little bit of a young Ryan Griffen though without that confidence in himself that made/makes Griffen such a talent. Would be a good selection and seems to me a candidate for a 200 game career...I guess a bit like the kid from Northern who got drafted last year (and whose name escapes me).
9/.Neville Jetta - Mid/Forward - Swans
Midfielder who seems to excel when able to play as a link-up player. Will work hard to receive the footy, and equally hard back to defend - but seems to prefer guarding space to playing ON anyone. Will stick his head over it, hits targets, run and carry...going to be a good player.
10/.Kane Lucas - Mid/Half-back - East Fremantle
Another from the factory at Moss St. Tall'ish, prototypical mid from East Fremantle who really stood up for WA in the Vic Country disaster. Strong over the ball and in the contest, flashes a heap of potential and seems to me destined for an AFL club's leadership group with 5 years. Good skills, hard worker...
11/.Todd Bandield - Mid - Swans
Adam Cooney look-alike. Very quick and not scared, has contributed well at senior level for Swans this year. I have seen him fumble below his knees a bit which is a bit of a worry, but good pace, good kick...
12/.Alroy Gilligan - Mid/forward - Claremont
Missed out on the numbers game that was the WA u18's, and reacted as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Moved from half-forward ==> midfield, upped his work rate and simply exploded....run and carry, chase down tackles...seemed to be doing it all. Can he when the pressure is on though?
13/.Dylan Ross - Key Position - Claremont
Funny type of player at times. I guess I always expect him to do just that little bit more-and I never though is that is because of the ability he flashes or simply his size? No matter, big kids are rarely at their best at 17 and I doubt this kid will be...
14/.Derek Murray - Ruck - East Perth
The 'other' ruckman in the WA 18's who *should* have played there more. Very skilful and talented, big worry is whether or not it means that much too him, questioning commitment etc. Good grab and an aggressive player, I like to think he could develop into a Hudson type, super hard, super competitive ruckman but with the bonus he would be a marking threat resting forward.
15/.Keiran King - Mid - East Fremantle
Elite runner, but can he play? I think someone will pick this kid, simply because he has speed like no-one else in the draft. His skills are pretty good as well, but his game sense/game impact is often poor. If a side was prepared to stick him on a half back flank in the seconds for two years and teach the kid how to play, then - then you might really have something.
There are quite a few other names on my list, but that is where I am at for now.
1/.Daniel Rich - Midfielded - Subiaco
Really classy inside-outside midfielder. Not super quick but certainly quick enough, Rich is a very good decision maker and excellent by foot. Has been criticised for his performances in the carnival - fair enough. But that was not a real representation of where he is at/what he is capable of. Holding down a spot in Subi's senior side - a very strong unit - and playing midfield/half-forward he has shown the ability to play senior footy and continue to make good decisions/hit targets under the extreme pressure of senior finals.
2/.Stephen Hill - Midfield - West Perth
To me he is that Del Santo type player. Elite kicking skills, good speed...but always has time with the ball. Another who has spent a lot of time playing in the 1's post-carnival, he probably hasn't had the impact his coach was looking for but certainly flashed a lot of ability. Left footer as well.
3/.Nic Natanui - Anywhere/nowhere - Swans
The enigma of the draft. Some say superstar, some say will never make it...I have two main concerns.
- His kicking is very up and under (often made worse as he makes some average decisions).
- He runs to some horrible spots...has a long way to go if he is going to play key position.
That said, there is a bit of 'see ball, get ball' about him when it is in his area - he will aggressively get after the footy - or the man with the footy (1%'er efforts are a highlight) -and is prepared to run and carry through traffic. Who is going to risk it all for this kid?
4/.Jarrad Blight - Mid/HB - Swans
Run and carry specialist. Cut his teeth at half back then moved into the midfield - elite speed and kicking skills. I think he could be absolutely anything...Judd is a bad comparison for anyone, but that is kind of how he plays (a bit more outside though) - grabs the ball, accelerates hard and hits targets.
5/.Chris Yarran - Forward - Swams
Funny thing. Yarran could probably play round one next year...but I am not sure you would want that. He is laconic to the point that you need to check his eyes are open at times, but he can (and does) kick goals on a very regular basis, and his kicking skills are superb. I dont see him as a midfielder though - more a Medhurst/Daniel Motlop type forward who needs the ball kicked too him one on one to be at his most effective.
6/.Michael Walters - Small forward/mid - Swans
Honest to goodness rover - and there are not a lot around. Good front and centre player, hard running, good foot skills...I worry about him being left in a pocket for extended periods - he is a very different player to Yarran - but will win the ball and provide good link up around the ground.
7/.Hayden Ballantyne - Small forward - Peel
Small (175'ish) small forward who has just turned 20, Ballantyne is QUICK. If the ball hits the ground after a marking contest, he will get it - he simply will. Can play through the midfield as well, but 75 goals as a small forward in a senior comp? Would you really want him too. Does like to lead for the footy though Phil Matera style which will drive supporters dead-set insane.
8/.Clancee Pearce - Half-back/Mid - Swans
Has been captain of every side he has ever played in I think - good runner, committed footballer, good kick. I guess he makes me think a little bit of a young Ryan Griffen though without that confidence in himself that made/makes Griffen such a talent. Would be a good selection and seems to me a candidate for a 200 game career...I guess a bit like the kid from Northern who got drafted last year (and whose name escapes me).
9/.Neville Jetta - Mid/Forward - Swans
Midfielder who seems to excel when able to play as a link-up player. Will work hard to receive the footy, and equally hard back to defend - but seems to prefer guarding space to playing ON anyone. Will stick his head over it, hits targets, run and carry...going to be a good player.
10/.Kane Lucas - Mid/Half-back - East Fremantle
Another from the factory at Moss St. Tall'ish, prototypical mid from East Fremantle who really stood up for WA in the Vic Country disaster. Strong over the ball and in the contest, flashes a heap of potential and seems to me destined for an AFL club's leadership group with 5 years. Good skills, hard worker...
11/.Todd Bandield - Mid - Swans
Adam Cooney look-alike. Very quick and not scared, has contributed well at senior level for Swans this year. I have seen him fumble below his knees a bit which is a bit of a worry, but good pace, good kick...
12/.Alroy Gilligan - Mid/forward - Claremont
Missed out on the numbers game that was the WA u18's, and reacted as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Moved from half-forward ==> midfield, upped his work rate and simply exploded....run and carry, chase down tackles...seemed to be doing it all. Can he when the pressure is on though?
13/.Dylan Ross - Key Position - Claremont
Funny type of player at times. I guess I always expect him to do just that little bit more-and I never though is that is because of the ability he flashes or simply his size? No matter, big kids are rarely at their best at 17 and I doubt this kid will be...
14/.Derek Murray - Ruck - East Perth
The 'other' ruckman in the WA 18's who *should* have played there more. Very skilful and talented, big worry is whether or not it means that much too him, questioning commitment etc. Good grab and an aggressive player, I like to think he could develop into a Hudson type, super hard, super competitive ruckman but with the bonus he would be a marking threat resting forward.
15/.Keiran King - Mid - East Fremantle
Elite runner, but can he play? I think someone will pick this kid, simply because he has speed like no-one else in the draft. His skills are pretty good as well, but his game sense/game impact is often poor. If a side was prepared to stick him on a half back flank in the seconds for two years and teach the kid how to play, then - then you might really have something.
There are quite a few other names on my list, but that is where I am at for now.