Ripe pickingsWed 08 Aug, 2012AFL.COM.AU reporters cast their eyes over the nation to reveal the next Michael Barlow or Ian Callinan, mature-aged players ready to step straight into the big time.
VFLLeigh Osborne (Frankston): The 186cm half-back has come from the clouds, or at least East Ringwood in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, to become the most highly rated of the potential VFL draftees. The 22-year-old has a sharp burst of speed and he's a long left-foot kick, making him a classic 80m run-and-carry player.
Khan Haretuku (Frankston): The 199cm and 101kg key forward first picked up a football at 15, after which St Kilda picked him up as a NSW scholarship player. At Frankston he's taken time to develop, but his strong work ethic has served him well. Now 22, he's a strong-marking player with a thumping kick.
Kyle Martin (Frankston): Dolphins coach Simon Goosey had to work hard to persuade Martin to leave south-east suburban club Noble Park, but the 21-year-old has made the step up to VFL level with telling effect. At 182cm, he's a tough, in-and-under player who, despite playing in a team that's on the bottom of the ladder, gets tagged more often than not.
Leigh Kitchin (Frankston): After playing mostly in the reserves at VFL rival the Box Hill Hawks, the 22-year-old has flourished since seeking more opportunities with the Dolphins. At 186cm and 83kg, he's classic midfield size. What he lacks in pace, he makes up for with footy nous.
Dean Towers (North Ballarat): The 22-year-old has emerged from country club Colac to show all the attributes of an AFL player, and he ranks just behind Osborne as the VFL player most likely to be drafted. Think Hawthorn's Isaac Smith. Not only because he's a wingman who’s shot to prominence at North Ballarat, but because he's lanky (189cm), and he has speed and excellent finishing skills.
Adam Marcon (Northern Blues): The 20-year-old is a 180cm midfielder and small forward who has no outstanding attributes, but he's a good, solid footballer who knows his way around a footy oval. He's a good kick and a good mark with neat skills. Call him a natural footballer.
Myke Cook (Sandringham): Now 21, Cook played 14 games in three seasons at Adelaide before flourishing with the Zebras on his return to his native Melbourne. He's a 184cm wingman who's skilled and speedy, and he has a range of tricks. It's likely he'll receive a second chance.
Adam Cockie (Sandringham): The tough midfielder played seven matches at West Coast as far back as 2009, when he was 19, before coming to Melbourne this year to put himself under the noses of more recruiting scouts. He has good skills on both sides of his body and he tackles hard.
Billy Burstin (Port Melbourne): It's said that the 21-year-old forward is only now beginning to realise he can play. He's 192cm and 91kg, which is a reasonable size to play as a third forward. In last year's VFL Grand Final, he kicked a goal on his non-preferred right foot from the boundary line to put the Borough in front.
- Paul Daffey
NEAFL - Eastern ConferenceKade Klemke (Queanbeyan): Having led the Murray Bushrangers to the 2008 premiership in the TAC Cup, Klemke was subsequently rookie-listed to Essendon the following year. But hamstring issues restricted him to six VFL matches and he wasn't able to make his AFL debut. Having just turned 22, the 180cm half-back has spent this season as the Queanbeyan player/coach.
Marcus Crook (Ainslie): The 24-year-old came close to earning a spot on the Greater Western Sydney team, having played in the NAB Cup for the Giants last year. He then went on to be named best on ground in Ainslie's Eastern Conference grand final win over the Sydney Swans. Ainslie coach Chris Rourke is surprised the midfielder/half-forward is yet to receive an AFL call-up.
Josh Bryce (Queanbeyan): The 21-year-old headed north to compete in the NEAFL to keep alive his AFL dream. An under-18s best and fairest winner with the Murray Bushrangers, the half-back was recruited to Werribee in 2009. He was a member of the Werribee leadership group in his final two seasons, although a knee injury curtailed his progress in 2010. However, the 183cm defender has been a regular in the Queanbeyan side this year and still hopeful of an AFL berth.
- James Dampney
NEAFL NorthernRyan Davey (Labrador): The 26-year-old midfield/half forward ran a close second to Dayne Zorko as Queensland's best afield in last year's state game against WA. Davey, 180cm, is a smart player who highly impresses AFLQ general manager of football and former Sydney Swan, Mark Browning, "He's consistently played well every time he steps up a level. If players get exposed to another level and they play well, like Ryan has, that's what I like."
Tom Fields (Labrador): The son of former Essendon and South Melbourne midfielder Neville, 20-year-old Fields is a 192cm raking left-footed defender. Is quick and was an outside runner, but has been asked to take on a more key post this season and risen to the challenge. Plays like St Kilda's Sam Gilbert and will attend the NAB AFL Draft Combine.
Scott Clouston (Redlands): Has already had a taste AFL with two games for the Brisbane Lions in 2008. The 194cm key forward is now bigger and stronger and at 25 is consistently excelling in the NEAFL. Clouston is quick, good on the lead, has good hands and is a thumping kick.
- Michael Whiting
Tasmanian State Football LeagueJosh Woolley (Launceston): The 192cm half-back played in the Under-18 National Championships with Tasmania in 2010, but only now, at 20, is he coming in to his own. He's a smooth mover and an excellent left-foot kick who played in Launceston's 2011 premiership team. This year he represented the state against the VFL.
Brady Jones (Clarence): The 23-year-old is arguably the story of the draft prospects given that he played in his state's Sheffield Shield team as a wicketkeeper, only to decide to give footy a go when Tasmanian cricket authorities failed to renew his contract. He's a midfielder who's 181cm and 80kg. He's a tough, inside player with a penetrating right-foot kick who's thriving after not playing footy for several years because of his cricket commitments.
Jaye Bowden (Glenorchy): At 23, Bowden has played more than 100 state-league games with Glenorchy, where's he's the captain, but through sheer weight of performances over a long period of time he's considered a chance to be picked up at the top level. At 188cm and 82kg, he's a wiry midfielder who can go forward and kick goals. Widely regarded as the best player in the Tasmanian competition, he's having a particularly strong season in 2012.
- Paul Daffey
SANFLMitch Clisby (North Adelaide): Clisby possesses great pace and sublime skills and has certainly taken his game to another level in 2012. At 182cm, he has the height to make it at the next level but would need to bulk up a little to match it with bigger bodies. He uses the ball well as a link player at North and at just 22, he has his best football in front of him. He's been in North's best in seven of his 16 games in 2012.
Nathan Batsanis (Norwood): Batsanis has already spent time on the Power's rookie list and, after training with Carlton last summer, was told to head to Norwood. He's been a standout in a Redlegs side that has only dropped one game, featuring in the best in five of his 15 games. The 180cm, 79kg midfielder has booted 11 goals this year and is heading towards a SANFL premiership after winning the VFL flag with Port Melbourne last year.
Nick Liddle (South Adelaide): Liddle won the Panthers' best and fairest in 2010, having won VFL club Coburg's in 2009, and has taken out the last two Players' Player awards at South Adelaide. He was runner-up in the Magarey Medal last season and will be around the mark this year having been consistently prolific. The 178cm 24-year-old is on the small side, but he knows how to find the ball and disposes of it well. His side has struggled, but Liddle continues to trouble opposition sides.
Chris Schmidt (West Adelaide): Schmidt has spent time with the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide in the past, but is still only 23. After he was delisted by the Crows at the end of last season, the 189cm midfielder (82kg) has shown he's not a spent force, featuring in the best players 10 times so far this year. His maturity as a player was recognised when he was made vice-captain of the Bloods this season.
Andrew Bradley (Glenelg): From the same country region as Melbourne captain Jack Trengove and Fremantle's Alex Forster, 21-year-old Bradley is the perfect example of a hard-nosed, country footballer. What he lacks in size (178cm, 80kg) he easily makes up for in his attack on the ball and has been a clearance king at Glenelg this year. He's been in the best players on nine occasions this season, great consistency from someone who has only played 36 senior SANFL games.
- Harry Thring
WAFLTom Lee (Claremont): The 194cm key forward has enjoyed an outstanding WAFL season and is considered a near certainty to earn a second AFL chance. Lee spent 2009 on Adelaide's senior list but was cut after one season without playing a game. The 21-year-old has grown since, trained with Fremantle last pre-season and has kicked 39 goals in 15 games for the Tigers this year. The Mosman Park product was best afield in the recent Foxtel Cup Grand Final, booting six goals at Patersons Stadium.
Ben Saunders (South Fremantle): The 20-year-old medium forward is currently leading the WAFL with 59 goals, booting a bag of six at the weekend. Originally from Mount Barker in south-west WA, the 187cm goalkicker moved from Claremont to the Bulldogs this year in search of opportunities. He had played just three senior WAFL games before this season and has improved his defensive pressure.
George Hampson (Subiaco): A skilful 188cm half-forward, Hampson battled to get on the park as a teenager, undergoing two knee reconstructions before he was 20. Now 22, he is enjoying a consistent WAFL season and attracting AFL interest. Has kicked 20 goals in 15 games and averaged 17 disposals, earning an invite to the WA State Combine in October.
Max Duffy (East Fremantle): A mercurial 188cm forward who was part of the 2010 AIS-AFL Academy, Duffy fell off the radar in 2011. Quick and boasting X-factor, he has resurfaced this year as a draft prospect, playing 15 games with East Fremantle and kicking 33.32.
Callum Sinclair (Subiaco)A mobile 201cm key forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck, Sinclair moved to Subiaco from VFL club Port Melbourne this season and made an immediate impact, averaging seven marks and three goals in his first month. The 22-year-old has had knee problems and was considered a strong draft chance in 2010.
- Nathan Schmook
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/143912/default.aspxA number of Fothergill-Round Medallists (best U23 player in the VFL)) have been drafted in recent years: our own Robbie Nahas, Ahmed Saad (St Kilda), Michael Barlow (Fremantle) and Michael Hibberd at Essendon.
Sam Gibson (North Melb.) and Orren Stephenson (Geelong) were also drafted from the VFL last year.
