2015 u18 Carnival

[Go_Dogs]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Number 29 from SA has caught my eye.

Riley Bonner. What a left leg.

Though I'm happy to never draft another 'elite kick' from SA ever again after Howard and Fuller

He's a very smooth mover too. Almost reminded me a bit of a Wingard/Griffen combination from their junior days.

Milera is another who caught my eye for SA and Francis has showed he's got a few tools to make it at AFL level.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Parfitt from NT will rise up the draft board next year. Looks an AFL player.

Was getting quite a bit of attention wasn't he. He looks a likely type.

I liked the look of Tilmouth-Turner as a tall utility type. He's no ruckman but if he could get his aerobic fitness up and kick the ball a bit neater he has the size and ability at ground level to be an AFL player.

[comrade]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

He's a very smooth mover too. Almost reminded me a bit of a Wingard/Griffen combination from their junior days.

Milera is another who caught my eye for SA and Francis has showed he's got a few tools to make it at AFL level.

Tahana is a good size, too. Laid a massive tackle on Ryan Clarke that was designed to hurt.

Clarke's another that impressed me, and Balic reminds me a little of Travis Boak.

What a win by Metro. Looked dead and buried at quarter time, but got on top in the midfield and pinched it at the end.

[ledge]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Smelling from SA certainly a high pick

[comrade]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Smelling from SA certainly a high pick

Think it's Snelling.

Looks a player but at 177cm, he's not the type we need.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Ok, so some players that caught my eye on Wednesday.

NT:-

Rioli - Had a few moments, particularly in the second when he had a bit of a purple patch which included a few good lead up marks and a nice goal kicked from a tight angle. Spent a bit of time around the ball and down back. Potential draftee.

Hagan - Small and slight, but has good pace and looked a neat user. Didn't accumulate a lot but ran hard to receive and create an option. Could be in the mix for a main list or rookie spot, quite young so may still be growing.

Tilmouth-Turner - Mentioned him earlier. Played predominately in the ruck and around the ball. Good sized tall utility, midfielder who moves very well and is great at ground level. Needs to improve his aerobic capacity and kicking, but offers a good package to work with. I'd take a punt on him late or as a rookie selection, based on yesterday. Listed at 191cm and 92kgs.

Ferreira - Didn't get much of it at all, but is a smooth mover who had a neat kick on him. Based on his numbers it wouldn't appear he is in the mix, but I liked the look of him. Would be a slow burner so a rookie selection would be where you'd punt on him. Size also counts against him.

Frank - Another who didn't get a lot of it, but was a smooth mover who showed the ability to finish around the goals. Listed at 192cm and 79kgs, another who would take some time but looked to have a few tools to work with, albeit he could've been stronger in the air.

Hampton - My notes say neat player, good mover. Showed an ability to get the ball and at 186cm is a good size to play at AFL level.

Parfitt - Another mentioned earlier, a smaller player but one who copped a bit of attention and looks like he has some tools which could see him make the grade.

Overall, a lot of players who have a few attributes to make the transition, but it's very hard to get a feel for how they stack up in the Div 2 competition and what type of players they project as at AFL level. That being said, in a shallow draft the above names are ones I'll keep an eye on.

Tasmania:-

Lovell - Gathered a lot of the ball, showed he could take a good mark and finish around the goals. Again on the smaller side, but showed some AFL traits and will be one a lot of recruiters are talking about.

Gardner - Took a few big grabs and at 196cm looks a good size for a KPP at AFL level. His kicking let him down a few times, but he attacked the ball well and generally seemed to be OK moving around the ground.

Hibberd - Another who accumulated and looked every bit a potential AFL player. Has good skills by foot, made good decisions and was well composed around congestion. Was able to spot up good passes I50. Definitely one who will be drafted onto a senior list.

Franks - Think he may be underage but showed some signs with his reading of the ball in defence and had a neat kicking action. Perhaps one to watch for next year.

As few more definite players in this list who will be picked up.

South Australia v VM

I ended up being more enthralled with the game rather than focussing on individual players after the early part of the game, and hence my notes are more reflective of the SA players who dominated the opening of the game. The general consensus seems to be the VM side lacks the depth and quality of previous years, which I would agree with based on yesterday. Will be interesting to see how the TAC Cup finals go and whether any late bloomers really put their names forward.

Milera - SA good size for AFL and got a lot of the ball. Better suited outside at this stage although was effective inside and around the congestion where I think he has good vision and composure. Will end up a top 30 pick I'd say.

Redman - SA another good sized player who showed courage and good ability to mark the ball. Used the ball pretty well and was able to weight a couple of nice passes. Think he has some tools to make it.

Bonner - SA again, mentioned earlier. Caught the eye as a good mover and neat user. Will be drafted although not too sure on his range. Think he'll be around the top 30 picks though.

Francis - SA probably the surest thing I saw yesterday, a good size who can roost a ball and has most of the tools required for the level. A couple of times his work in the air wasn't quite as good and pronounced as I thought it needed to be. I think he'll go pretty early and could play a few roles at AFL level.

Morgan - VM had a few nice moments where he showed some dash, but also showed some good one on one ability at ground level, making the body contact coming into a contest when he needed to and turned his opponent out of the contest with some good awareness and movement.

Balic and Gresham VM both accumulated quite a bit of the ball and are ones that I will look out for over the balance of the season as they will certainly be in the mix for AFL list spots come November.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2015 u18 Carnival

Thanks for the write up Go Dogs. a few quick observations of my own,

Ezekiel Frank is the one from NT to watch for my money. He's a class finisher from open play and I think he would be a better player on a half forward line. Playing TAC again next year will be great for him.

Nick Dodge from Tas is another with a good eye for goal. i'd be surprised if he's not picked up as a small forward. Has got quite a few tricks.

Steve Ladhams a ruckman from SA was a highlight for me. Another bottom ager and won't be eligible til next year. So thats impressive in itself. loved that he could take a strong mark and kick a goal. Has star quality.

Kieran Lovell from Tas has a lot of a young Sammy Mitchell about him but is not dual sided. This boy is an old fashioned footy smart midfielder who will give you 30+ earnt possies a game.

Rhys Mathieson - of the highly rated midfielders he was my pick. Very Scott West like in that he was always in the play, sometimes a bit untidy, but just kept getting it and driving his team forward.