U18s potential draftees thread 2012

[one-eyed]

Oliver Wines - A top drop
By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
Wed 21 Nov, 2012



OLIVER WINES
DOB: 07/10/94
Height: 187cm
Weight: 89kg
Club: Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country

VIDEO:  http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/151310/default.aspx#embedvideoplayer

Bio: Strong medium midfielder with a distinct hard edge that wins him contested ball, including at the stoppages. Has elite endurance and can push forward and hit the scoreboard. Ferocious tackler who is a good overhead mark and prolific ball winner. Averaged 24.2 disposals for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year, winning All-Australian honours. AIS-AFL Academy Graduate.

Upside: The Bendigo Pioneers captain has enjoyed a terrific season that has seen him rise up the ranks to be a near certain top-10 selection. He was probably Vic Country's most consistent player at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, and he carried that form through the TAC Cup season with the Pioneers as well. Wines is a tough, strong and physically developed midfielder who throws his size around and wins a lot of his own possessions. After growing several cm in 2011, he added a few more strings to his bow, starting to get on the outside of packs, use his skills to become more damaging and became an option in attack. He's already a clearance specialist, and seems likely to easily make the transition from junior football to the elite level without too many problems.

"A lot of people are a bit surprised at how big he is. He's certainly a really good height for a midfielder particularly with his body strength as well. If he is having a quiet period he's been able to show in games he can fight back into it by doing the grunt work around stoppages and clearances." - Bendigo Pioneers coach David Newett.

Downside: There's barely anything that would worry clubs too much about Wines. He's not a really athletic type but there are no concerns about his pace, and while his kicking might not always look classy, he is an effective user of the ball. Wines is very close to a complete prospect at this stage of his development.

Plays like: A little like Gold Coast turned Geelong midfielder Josh Caddy, Wines is a strong-bodied player who thrives on the contest. It's not unusual to see him dig into a pack and come out with the ball and distribute it to a teammate. The 18-year-old has that special awareness of knowing where the ball is and finding a way to make it his.

Draft range: There's little chance Wines will end up at Greater Western Sydney, despite the club holding the first three selections at the draft. It's more likely he'll land at Melbourne at pick four or the Western Bulldogs at pick five. Wines will add an immediate physical presence to the midfield of either side.

In his own words: "I do the in-and-under stuff, try to get the ball out to the runners, and try to be a big contributor. I'm starting to pick up a fair few more handball receives, so when I'm not trying to get it out I'm being involved outside and working it down."

Stats from 2012 Under-18 Championships:
Matches   Kicks    Handballs    Marks    Disposals    Disposal efficiency    Contested possessions   Tackles   Goals
     4           47            50           19            97                    63.9                              51                          21        2.6

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/151310/default.aspx