2014 Draft Profile: Connor Blakely
Connor Blakely (Swan Districts) Height: 186 cm Weight: 81 kg Position: Midfielder Strengths: Inside ball winning, evasion Areas of improvement: Speed Player comparison: Callan Ward/Blake Acres A hard working inside midfielder, Connor Blakely’s inside work is more delicate, calculated and composed instead of the bash and crash style we’re beginning to see more of at […]
2014 Draft Profile: Nakia Cockatoo
Nakia Cockatoo (Southern Districts/NT Thunder) Height: 188 cm Weight: 84 kg Position: Utility Strengths: Acceleration, athleticism, damage Areas of improvement: Consistency Player comparison: Patrick Dangerfield The best prospect to come out of the Northern Territory this year, Nakia Cockatoo is an interesting utility who’s had his season destroyed by injuries. Missing the championships, Cockatoo hasn’t had much opportunity to prove […]
2014 Draft Profile: James Rose
James Rose (Sturt) Height: 186 cm Weight: 78 kg Position: Forward Strengths: Football IQ, courage Areas of improvement: Accumulation, kicking Player comparison: Aaron Edwards A medium sized marking forward who can play all over the ground, James Rose is the type of player who flies under the radar but still performs a role coaches love. From the prestigious Scotch College in […]
2014 Draft Profile: Oleg Markov
Oleg Markov (North Adelaide) Height: 187 cm Weight: 70 kg Position: Midfielder Strengths: Athleticism Areas of improvement: Accumulation Player comparison: Dean Towers The son of Australian outdoor pole vault record holder Dmitri Markov, the Belarusian born Markov is an interesting story and one of the biggest unknowns in the draft. Having broken his collarbone twice […]
2014 Draft Profile: Jack Steele
Jack Steele (Belconnen) Height: 186 cm Weight: 82 kg Position: Midfielder/forward Strengths: Accumulation, work below the knees, decision making Areas of improvement: Straight line speed, body strength Player comparison: Robbie Gray (pre-2014) Jack Steele is an overaged mid/forward tied to Greater Western Sydney via the academy system. Having missed seven months in 2013 with a knee injury, he was overlooked […]
2014 Draft Profile: Jeremy Finlayson
Jeremy Finlayson (Hills Eagles) Height: 195 cm Weight: 84 kg Position: Key position utility Strengths: Versatility, work rate, football smarts Areas of improvement: Field and goal kicking, contested marking Player comparison: Jack Watts (less skilled but works harder) Jeremy Finlayson is possibly the most unappreciated player in this draft crop. A versatile key position player, […]
2014 Draft Profile: Angus Brayshaw
Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons) Height: 187 cm Weight: 86 kg Position: Midfielder Strengths: Strong around the contest, finding the ball, offensive and defensive balance Areas of improvement: Break away speed Player comparison: Luke Hodge Touted as a very high draft prospect, Angus Brayshaw is a very exciting talent heading into the AFL. Having a strong body with good speed and […]
2014 Draft Profile: Alec Waterman
Alec Waterman – Claremont Height: 183 cm Weight: 89 kg Position: Midfielder Strengths: Ball winning ability, strength, disposal Areas of improvement: Pace Player Comparison: David Mundy Son of former West Coast Eagle Chris, Alec Waterman is eligible to be selected by West Coast as a father-son selection. A big bodied inside-leaning midfielder, Waterman’s championships began […]
2014 Draft Profile: Matthew Hammelmann
Matthew Hammelmann (Morningside) Height: 197 cm Weight: 86 kg Position: Key forward/back Strengths: One on one marking, marking on the lead, work rate, work below the knees Areas for improvement: Not a dominant force, contested marking Player comparison: Ben Griffiths/Josh Jenkins Matt Hammelmann is one of Brisbane’s academy selection options. Liam Dawson, Harris Andrews and Matthew […]
2014 Draft Profile: Paul Ahern
Paul Ahern (Calder Cannons) Height: 181 cm Weight: 77 kg Position: Midfielder/forward Strengths: Vision, composure, x-factor, anticipation, balance, acceleration, creativity, influence Weaknesses: Strength, tackling Player comparison: Steele Sidebottom Paul Ahern is a composed and damaging midfielder with the ability to create opportunities in pressure situations and congestion and hit the scoreboard consistently. Ahern has been a […]
