Young guns: 16 players to watchafl.com.au
By Jason McCartney
Thu 20 May, 2010NEW SOUTH WALES/AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Anthony Miles (North Albury)
February 28, 1992, 181cm, 76kg
Anthony has great ability to win the contested footy. He uses it effectively, which sets him apart from many others. His work rate is outstanding and is matched by his energy and fanaticism to do the extra things, which complements his game well.
Trent Stubbs (East Coast Eagles)
March 26, 1992, 186cm, 71kg
Trent's a Hawthorn scholarship player. He's a high-marking half-forward and is very talented.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Curtly Hampton (Pioneer)
March 10, 1993, 187cm, 85kg
Curtly is an exciting indigenous player. He plays predominantly forward and through the midfield. This year he demonstrated elite physical testing for speed, agility and endurance. He's an AIS-AFL Academy graduate.
Steven May (Southern Districts)
January 10, 1992, 190cm, 93kg
Steven is an AIS-AFL Academy graduate. He is a strong marking key position player and a proven goalkicker. He is looking to develop his game as a key defender and will play there in the championships to improve his overall development.
QUEENSLAND
David Meli (Papua New Guinea/Southport)
September 10, 1992, 178cm, 78kg
David is a tough half-forward/midfielder with excellent skills on both sides of the body. He is an international scholarship player with Essendon, currently playing with the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup.
Joel Wilkinson (Broadbeach)
November 29, 1991, 183cm, 78kg
Joel is an exciting player. He has an athletics background and didn't play football until 2008. He has showed immediate potential and has quickly come through the ranks.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Sam Day (Sturt/Prince Alfred College)
September 6, 1992, 195cm, 90kg
He's an AIS-AFL Academy graduate. He's a mobile, key position tall who can play in the ruck and played centre half-back in last year's championships. He has fantastic athletic qualities. His vertical leap, speed and agility are in the top echelon. He's also a multi-talented sports player, having played baseball at state level. Sam played all games in the championships last year, bar one, and is an elite basketballer as well.
Jared Polec (Woodville West Torrens/Seaton Ramblers)
October 12, 1992, 188cm, 77kg
Playing for Woodville-West Torrens, he burst on the scene late last year, playing senior football. A goalkicking wingman, he played seniors in the SANFL and held his spot during the finals and was one of the better players. He has good balance and poise. He's got a lot of AFL attributes.
TASMANIA
Josh Green (Clarence)
August 24, 1992, 179cm, 78kg
Josh is an excellent ball-winner with balanced skills. He loves kicking a goal and he's an expert around the stoppages.
Joseph Groenewegen (Launceston)
October 25, 1991 198cm, 85kg
Joseph struggled with injury last year. He had constant battles with his groins. Joseph is a ruckman/key position player. He has very strong hands, is good below his knees and agile for his size.
VIC COUNTRY
Shaun Atley (Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Bulldogs)
September 13, 1992, 187cm, 83kg
Shaun is a hard-running midfielder. He has been a standout this year for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup. He can also play across half-back and played VFL recently for Geelong.
Luke Parker (Dandenong Stingrays/Langwarrin)
October 25, 1992, 182cm, 82kg
Luke's a very talented midfielder. He has a fantastic attack on the football and his work rate is first class. He actually achieved a level 15 beep test this year. Luke's also got the ability to go forward, as he is strong overhead.
VIC METRO
Thomas Liberatore (Calder Cannons/St Kevin's)
May 16, 1992, 182cm, 77kg
Thomas is an in-and-under midfielder who is excellent at the stoppages. He's very much similar to his Brownlow Medal winning father Tony - but taller! He's a good little player.
Dion Prestia (Calder Cannons/Assumption College)
October 12, 1992, 175cm, 81kg
Dion is a very balanced onballer with great ball-winning ability. He also has the capacity to execute his disposal accurately on both sides of his body. He's one of the elite midfielders in the TAC Cup competition.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Harley Bennell (Peel Thunder/Pinjarra)
October 2, 1992, 180cm, 70kg
An AIS-AFL Academy graduate, Harley is a high-possession winner at senior WAFL level for Peel Thunder. He plays half-back and half-forward. Harley reads the play really well and has electrifying speed. He is a good decision-maker.
Jack Darling (West Perth/Sacred Heart College/Sorrento Duncraig)
June 16, 1992, 190cm, 86kg
Jack is a strong-marking key position forward with great agility. The standout feature of his game is his second and third efforts, along with his quality forward pressure. He's a leader of Western Australia's academy program. Jack's also a member of the AIS-AFL Academy from last year. He was also an under-18 All-Australian in 2009.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/94630/default.aspx
