thedrafter.net draftee summaries

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Some draftee summaries from the site thedrafter.net:

KURT TIPPETT

From: Southport, Queensland
D.O.B: 08.05.1987
Position: Ruckman
Height: 200.6
Weight: 95.9

Tippett is a super-tall, athletic ex-under-18 state basketballer who is certain to come under a lot of attention. Yet another of the Queensland raiders who is certain to be a huge hit at this year's National Draft. Impressed for the sunshine state at this year's Under 18 Championships. Played in Southport's premiership team with fellow draft ruck certainty Brent Renouf.
 

BRENT RENOUF 

From: Southport QLD
D.O.B: 03.03.1988
Position: Ruckman
Height: 200.3 cm
Weight: 92.5 kg

Brent Renouf is yet another of the young Queenslanders certain to figure in this year's National Draft. He represented Queensland at the last two Under 18 Championships and performed well. Though not known for his speed across the ground Renouf impressed all at the draft camp with a 93cm running vertical jump and a very impressive 3km time trial.

Joined fellow young ruckman and draft certainty Kurt Tippet in Southport's Senior Premiership win in Queensland.

Renouf is renowned for his fierce competitiveness and in the centre bounce he is hard to beat. His kicking and general polish could still use a little work but there is little doubt that the youngster is a rough diamond whom many AFL clubs would love to polish!
 

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BEN REID

From: Murray Bushrangers, Wangaratta Rovers, Victoria
D.O.B: 29.04.1989
Position: Key Forward
Height: 196.4 cm
Weight: 82.3 kg

An adaptable youngster Ben Reid is a rough chance to climb into the first half of this year's National Draft. Reid is a left footer who represented Victoria Country at the Under 18 Championships at both ends of the ground.

Reid fits the mould for the modern day footballer to a tee with size, lightning pace and strong marking set him mark him above the crowd in this year's draft.

Even without a dominant background at TAC Cup level where his stats were solid without being outstanding he is still certain to be selected according to the good judges.

2006 TAC Cup stats:

Average Possessions 15.27
Matches: 11
Goals: 11
Behinds: 16
Tackles: 29
Hit Outs: 23
 
DANIEL O'KEEFE

From: Geelong Falcons, Warrnambool FC, Victoria
D.O.B: 25.10.1988
Position: Midfielder
Height: 183.7 cm
Weight: 74.1 kg

Daniel O'Keefe is a smart midfielder from Warrnambool who accumulated the 12th most kicks in the TAC Cup in 2006 despite only playing 16 matches. Quick over the ground and also in the air O'Keefe is arguably the best kick in this year's draft as illustrated by his 32 goals 23 from midfield this season.

An under 18 representative for Victoria Country at this year's National Championships the young Falcon is a certainty to be picked up somewhere in the third round at this year's National Draft.

Average Possessions: 20.56
Matches: 16
Kicks: 274
Handballs: 55
Marks: 135
Goals: 32
Behind: 23
Tackles: 50
 

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GARRY MOSS

From: East Perth, WA
D.O.B: 05.07.1988
Position: Midfielder
Height: 179.5 cm
Weight: 69.9 kg

Garry Moss captained WA at U18 level in 2006 and while the team's performances weren't anything to write home about the diminutive midfielder capped a fine Championship with All-Australian selection. The left-footer averaged over 20 possessions per game at the Carnival and went on to play senior football for East Perth late in the season.

A celebrated junior, Moss has long been tipped as a future AFL player. He has followed the traditional path through the AIS/AFL Academy and under-age representative teams and that path seems set to reach a destination on Saturday at the National Draft.

Moss has made every post a winner in 2006 after making a good comeback from a bad shoulder injury last year. He was rewarded for great form in the Colts with a promotion to the East Perth senior team in April and hasn't looked back since.

Club team-mate of Matthew Leuenberger.
 

JARRYD MORTON 

From: Claremont, WA
D.O.B: 05.10.1988
Position: Forward
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 80.7 kg

Jarryd Morton is a highly rated marking forward from the Claremont FC in Western Australia. Jarryd booted 39 goals for the Colts in 2006 and amassed 20 disposals in the WAFL Colts Grand Final. He also represented Western Australia at U18 level this year.

Morton's elder brother Mitch is currently on the West Coast list having been selected under the father/son rule and his younger brother, Cale, has been selected in the Australian Junior International rules team to tour Ireland.

If Jarryd is still around in the mid to later rounds look out for the Eagles to swoop.
 

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BARGAINS OF THE 06 DRAFT
 23.11.2006
by Brent Jarrod

Every year the 1 or 2 clubs come across a bargain in the National Draft. The same will happen this year, only there will be more then 1 or 2 clubs reaping the benefits. Due to the huge amount of talent and potential of this year's Draft certain players who would have gone late 1st round or early 2nd round and even top 10 in previous years will be pushed back in the queue. Because of this clubs may find themselves a champion at pick 18, or pick 25 or even maybe pick 40.

Here is a list of players to get excited about when your club picks them up after the top 10 selections of the Draft:

Clayton Collard - Any other year this boy would be a definite top 10 selection. Lightning quick, immaculate skills and the ability to play forward and in the midfield. The indigenous player played along side Leroy Jetta at South Fremantle this year, and may be over-shadowed by the profile of Jetta, but this kid has just about as much ability as the Jet.

Daniel Connors - Likely to slip outside of the top 10, but boy can this kid play. Good pace, beautiful skills and hard at the pill. Would be a handy pick up for the teams vying for players outside of the top 10.

David Armitage - Rated top 10 by many experts, but is a chance to fall out of the elite top 10 group. But don't worry this kid is elite. Will be a star at AFL level playing across half back or in the middle.

Jack Riewoldt - Once again many experts rate Jack top 10, but due to the other key position players available early he may just slip through. The Bulldogs would likely pounce at pick 11 if he was there. Will be gift wrapped if he falls through the top 10.

Nathan Djerrkura - If not for his height he would be rated top 10. A Northern Territory project player, with freakishly quick legs and harder than a rhino's arse. Some experts say he will make it past the top 20, so you'd be blessed to get the next Byron Pickett with a 2nd round pick.

Bachar Houli - In my opinion one of the best players I have ever seen play TAC Cup. Just your good honest, perfect midfield player. Can be dominating at his best. Like Djerrkura may fall outside the top 20. What a prize.

Alwyn Davey - Aaron's brother. Just as quick, and talented, but has spent his time playing at lower levels. Needed the commitment to the game to make it and now has that. Likely to be pick outside the top 30, and 15 clubs may pay the price just like they did with his brother.

Brent Renouf - Due to needs is unlikely to be picked up until late first round. Talented ruckman/key position player. If available at Carlton’s 2nd pick he will be snapped up before you can blink.

Also look out for Eric Mackenzie, Clint Benjamin, Travis Boak, Nathan and Mitchell Brown, Tom Hislop, Garry Moss, Ben Reid and Ricky Petterd, because you may just get a champion out of this bunch. Thank your lucky stars if your club get any of these blokes with a 2nd round selection.

http://www.thedrafter.net/articles/articles.asp?ad_id=55

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DANIEL CONNORS

Position: Midfield
D.O.B.: 22/9/1988
Club: Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca
Height: 182cm
Weight: 77kg

Echuca youngster Daniel Connors looks set to be snapped up in the first round of this year's AFL National Draft. The left-footed youngster has already drawn obvious comparisons to St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo who also plied his trade for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup.

Connors strengths, like Dal Santo's, lie in his skills by hand and foot. He tested well in his speed, leap and agility at the Draft Camp and while not overly tall he is certainly strong overhead.

A prolific ball gatherer, Connors topped the Pioneers in average disposals in season 2006 with more than 22 per game. He finished the season with 14 games under his belt racking up 5 marks per game and averaging 4 tackles.

Daniel also enjoyed a superb National Under 18 Championships where he starred for Victoria Country and capped off a fine carnival with an All Australian selection on the wing. He also pulled in one of the marks of the championships. He capped off his carnival with an impressive six marks in extremely wet conditions in the final match.

While not a noted goal-kicker and prone to the occasional lapse in concentration Connors is certainly a prospect with almost limitless potential.


DAVID ARMITAGE
 
Position : Midfielder/Defender
D.O.B.: 16/6/88
Club : Morningside Queensland
Height: 183cm
Weight: 79kg

The long list of impressive Queensland prospects at this year's draft continues to grow with the emergence of midfielder/defender David Armitage. While maintaining consistently impressive performances for his state, Armitage was never expected to challenge the blue-bloods from the southern states for a place in the first round. However, with an impressive performance in the National Championships, capped off with an All-Australian selection on the half back flank, his prospects quickly soared.

A feature of David's play is his strong attack on the ball and quick hands in traffic. Profiled as a neat left-footer, he averaged 20 possessions and provided Queensland with consistent drive throughout the under 18 championships.

If selectors were still searching for a missing ingredient to separate the young champ from the rest they certainly would have found it at this year's Draft Camp where he smashed his competition in the agility test. Armitage stopped the clock at 7.88 seconds and if that wasn't enough, he went on to finish in the top ten for both the shuttle run (beep test) and the three-kilometre time-trial.

In a competition where athletic ability is becoming a key differentiator in the top end group of talented players, AFL recruiters are certain to be monitoring young Armitage closely.

Our discerning readers at the theDrafter have tipped him to be taken with selection 11 in this year's draft which would see him end up with the Western Bulldogs. Far from an unrealistic notion given the fact that his pace and running ability would fit the new mould at Whitten Oval to perfection.