STRENGTHS: Accumulation, consistency, poise, versatility
IMPROVEMENTS: X-factor

SUMMARY: South Australian utility Aaron Nietschke proved he was a class-above in his eight games at SANFL Under 18s level, where he took out the league Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Able to be deployed on a wing or across-half back, the Central District product averaged 32 disposals, 14 contested possessions, nine marks, five clearances, three tackles and a goal throughout the season, before making his way up the ranks to eventually feature in three SANFL Macca's League matches. Here, he fitted in seamlessly on the wing in a Bulldogs side also featuring fellow Under 18s Jez McLennan and Jackson Hately. Nietschke played in three games for South Australia during their National Championships-winning campaign, primarily as a rebounding half-back where his poise and composure with the ball was put to good use. There are not too many deficiencies in Nietschke's game, but he might be seen as a jack-of-all-trades yet master-of-none type, with clubs perhaps questioning his point of difference or x-factor. However Nietschke has come on in leaps and bounds in 2018 with his accumulation, consistency and versatility set to have clubs weighing up his name.